Days of laziness couldn't last forever.
Ye Liang stared at the ceiling, then down at the foolish commoners worshiping below. He felt homesick—yearning for those charming women, those lovely faces, those tender beauties who felt like silk against your skin.
The God declared!
He's craving women!
His melancholy didn't escape the old lady's notice.
She coughed awkwardly, waiting until all the "worship Ye Liang" devotees had left before slowly approaching him.
"Has something troubled our Divine Lord today? Is there some trouble?"
That's what they say about old age—wisdom comes with gray hair. She saw right through his thoughts.
"I miss my wives. Can you bring them here for me?" Ye Liang glared at her unhappily. Though life was leisurely, how would these fools understand the loneliness at the peak?
"I get it! I totally get it!" The old woman teased with a smirk, then quietly turned and left.
"You don't get anything, nutcase—I don't even fully understand myself…"
Afternoon.
Suddenly, news about the God holding a beauty contest spread among the villagers.
Ye Liang: "What the hell…"
Inside the Daimyo's Mansion, Ancestral Nation.
Courtyard.
The rumor that the Matsushita family had invited a god reached the ears of the Tennō of Ancestral Nation. The Daimyo of Ancestral Nation simply called himself the Tennō, with no surname.
Today,
This Tennō summoned many military commanders—seasoned veterans from border regions—and even invited a foreign leader, Shizhi Xiao.
Shizhi Xiao was an elder. He was quite surprised when he received the invitation from the Tennō.
Relations between their two nations had been tense lately, filled with frequent clashes. Logically speaking, there was no reason for the Tennō to invite him now.
But!
As the ruler of a powerful nation, Hitsu no Kuni, Shizhi Xiao had to come.
Otherwise, that would be a slap in the face to the Tennō!
"Your Highness Tennō, may I ask what urgent matter brought me here today?" The Old Man bowed respectfully.
The Tennō didn't answer immediately. Instead, he signaled someone to pour wine for the old guest.
Then personally raised his cup toward him.
In fact, during this warring states era, nobles like daimyos usually didn't personally toast guests—they held too high a status. Usually attendants handled such tasks. This gesture by the Tennō was indeed exceptional.
Eyeing him strangely, the Old Man waited patiently for him to speak.
"Old Brother Shizhi, I won't beat around the bush. Do you still remember the Matsushita clan?"
"Matsushita clan? Isn't that just a ruined branch of our house? Why bring them up?"
"Sigh!" The Tennō deliberately sighed helplessly. "To be honest, dear brother, our ancestors wiped out the Matsushita family long ago, but a few surviving bloodlines must've hidden themselves away." He clapped his hands.
A heavy sack containing something alive was thrown forward by the guards. The sack stirred—it was still breathing!
"What exactly do you mean by this?" The Old Man asked, deeply confused. His eyes swept across the Tennō, then followed the guards as they opened the sack.
Out stumbled a ragged samurai, distinctive topknot disheveled, with a gag in his mouth—he couldn't speak.
"This is the direct bloodline descendant of the Matsushita family."
"I originally planned to find an excuse to kill him after this war," said the Tennō.
The old man's expression shifted slightly.
The Tennō and the old man had started this war together!
"What excuse?"
"Treasonous communication with the enemy."
"Treasonous with me?"
"Exactly!"
"Hmm." The old man remained silent for a moment, then suddenly threw down the wine cup in his hand. "What are you trying to say? Even if you need a reason to kill Matsushita, there's no need to drag my identity into it! You're putting me in a difficult position!"
"That was indeed my original plan."
A bitter smile appeared on the Tennō's face.
In this era, getting implicated with former lords could lead to endless troubles—the old man might be attacked by other traitors!
Seeing he was angry, the Tennō waved his hand and ordered a servant to bring another cup of wine for the old man. "Today, Ichiro Matsushita somehow found an impostor posing as a deity!
This false god is fairly capable; I've sent multiple waves of soldiers, but all were defeated."
"What exactly are you saying?" The old man's expression turned odd. "Just an imposter deity—shouldn't those several hundred elite guards you privately maintain be enough to deal with him?"
The Tennō's expression changed slightly.
He suppressed his urge to kill the old man on the spot and continued, "It's not that I'm unwilling to send more soldiers, but using so many private troops against a mere false deity really does seem unreasonable."
"What then? Let this false deity strut around freely in the capital?! Young Tennō, don't blame me for not warning you.
Divine Mandate![Divine Right of Kings]
Once such religious superstition takes hold, even seizing the Daimyo's status wouldn't be out of reach!"
"I naturally understand that!"
"This morning, this fake deity actually had the audacity to proclaim openly selecting consorts within our nation's capital! He dares to do such foolish things—he's practically begging for death!"
The Tennō's face darkened momentarily before calming again: "Indeed, I heard recently you secretly trained a group of female assassins.
Although they may not match my regular army, they should be more than capable of eliminating a false deity."
The old man involuntarily tightened his grip, "Crack!" as he slammed his hand onto the table, glaring at the Tennō through gritted teeth: "Fine!"
They exchanged knowing smiles.
"Bring another cup for Lord Xiao!"
As for Ye Liang—
He watched the beauties for selection walk past him with a helpless look.
His expression was pained.
Damn ugly!
It wasn't that women in this era were generally unattractive—it's just those brought here by the old lady weren't impressive!
Daughters of merchants wouldn't join such a selection anyway; those from noble families would consider it beneath them. Truthfully, in this tough agrarian age, besides the two categories mentioned above, commoner girls usually had rough skin and calloused hands.
How could Ye Liang possibly appreciate such sights?
"Not bad, not bad. Lord Life, don't be too picky. These girls I gathered are all innocent maidens—you should see how broad their hips are.
Perfect child-bearing figures!"
"If they're so great, let Haruo marry them!"
Ye Liang shook his head in exasperation: "Granny Matsushita, I just mentioned it offhandedly this morning, and besides, I already have a wife. Please stop this at once!"
"We ordinary women simply can't match those heavenly maidens of the Celestial Court. I understand now." The old lady cast a resentful glance at Ye Liang before walking out of the hall.
The selection process continued.
Ye Liang had intended to call everything off, but many young ladies had already signed up.
Since the old lady had left in dissatisfaction, he now had no choice but to dismiss them one by one...
This task lasted until midnight.
Finally, a selected maiden who entered caught his attention.
She had an excellent figure.
"If you're here for the selection, won't you at least take off your headscarf?" Ye Liang asked.
The woman had an attractive hourglass figure and wore a kimono (traditional Japanese attire). Though he couldn't see her skin tone, something about her presence made Ye Liang feel certain her complexion was flawless.
His eyes drifted to the veil covering her head.
She took it off.
"You're... Nao?"
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