I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 292 The Tulip Earl's Reminder
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"Okay, Durant, you've learned to be flexible."

Rhodes smiled and said, "I will consider your suggestion, including the high-ranking knights we captured before."

"But before that, keep a close eye on them for me and find out what kind of people they are."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Durant nodded in agreement and said, "Sao, Ryan, and Sejuani are all back. Are you going to throw a banquet to celebrate them?"

"Let's skip the banquet; Gunle is still out in the cold wind."

Rhodes thought for a moment and then instructed, "Let them come over first, and distribute their rewards to them."

"Ok."

Durant nodded and bowed, then immediately turned and left to relay the order.

Not long after, the figures of Sao and his two companions entered the hall one after another.

"My lord." "Holy Lord."

The three of them bowed in unison.

Rhodes nodded and gestured for the three of them to sit down. The fox woman stepped forward and poured tea for each of them.

“I have never liked to say useless pleasantries to my most trusted subordinates. Doing so makes me feel distant from you.”

"Just like I rarely teach Gunther etiquette."

Rhodes looked at the three of them with a smile, "But I still want to say thank you all for your hard work in ensuring the caravan's safe arrival."

"It is our honor to serve you." The three men rose again and bowed.

Rhodes waved his hand.
"Alright, that's enough of the pleasantries."

Rhodes looked at Sao, "Are you still living in the military barracks dormitory?"

"Yes, Holy Lord."

São stood up and replied respectfully, "I like it there, you don't need to worry about me."

“Your current position is different, and it’s time for you to settle down and start a family.”

Rhodes tossed a key to São, saying, "You'll have a place in my castle in the future, but for now, you should have your own yard."

"Also, how is Otto's daughter?"

Rod smiled broadly. "Although Otto is short, fat, and ugly, his daughter is a beautiful woman."

“I will follow your instructions, Holy Lord,” Sao replied honestly.

Without wasting words, Rod said directly, "Okay, I'll arrange the dowry for the girl."

"Thank you for your kindness." Sao bowed.

Rhode waved for Sao to sit down, and Raine and Sejuani turned around and congratulated him.

Rhodes then looked at the fox spirit Fischl beside him.

The latter immediately understood, got up and went to the studio, then brought out two wooden boxes and placed them in front of Rod.

A long wooden box, and a delicate little jewelry box.

"This contains a magic steel armor-piercing arrow, forged by the newly arrived Master Senda. In addition to its armor-piercing properties, it also has the special effect of tearing open wounds."

Rhodes pushed the long wooden box in front of Renn. "Thirty of them, all yours."

Renn's face lit up with joy, and he was about to get up when Rhodes stopped him.

"Here is a pearl necklace, a reward for you."

Rod laughed and said, "Logically, you should give it to Luna, but if you have other lovers, I can't stop you."

"No, sir, I only have Luna as my lover."

Raine rose and bowed, "Thank you for your kindness. Luna will certainly love your gift."

"It's just you, I don't know what to give you."

After gesturing for Raine to sit down, Rhodes looked at Sejuani.
"It's a pity that no more Ice Clan members have been found in the Icefield Mountains, otherwise, I could have done something for your clan."

“Or what do you want, and what can I do to help you?” Rhodes asked.

"I want children."

Sejuani replied without hesitation, "My lord, do you have feelings for me now?"

"My lord, I think we should keep an eye on those young lads in the hunting party."

Before Rhodes could speak, Raine stood up first and said respectfully, "Please allow me to step down first."

“Okay, you can go ahead and get busy.” Rhodes nodded.

Renn gave a slight bow, and just as he was about to leave, he noticed that Sao hadn't made any move. He immediately reminded him in a low voice, "Sao, weren't you going to inspect the Knights?"

Sao was slightly taken aback, then stood up as well. "Yes, Holy Lord, I need to train the new recruits of the Knights."

Rod understood what the two meant and waved his hand casually.

After everyone had left, Rhodes looked at Sejuani with a slightly apologetic expression.
"Not yet."

"It's not just about feelings,"

Rhodes looked at Sejuani seriously. "You should be able to understand."

Sejuani was silent for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully.

Sejuani now understands the importance of offspring to the nobility.

Especially the first child.

Sejuani then stood up and walked to Rhodes. "So, my lord, you now acknowledge me?"

"Just like you said, this is beneficial to all of us."

Rhodes nodded, stood up and looked at Sejuani, "And you are beautiful and capable, with a straightforward personality. Although you are as burly as a bear, you are still within my definition of beauty."

"That's good."

Sejuani nodded slightly, and the next moment she suddenly reached out and pulled Rhodes into her arms, kissing him fiercely!

Vivian instinctively drew her embroidery needle in response to the sudden attack, but released her sword after confirming that Sejuani had only made a kissing motion.

Then she crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to examine everything.

"Ugh... How dare you!"

Rhodes pushed Sejuani away forcefully, and as he was about to say something, he suddenly felt his lips were warm and slippery.

He reached out and dipped his hand in it, holding it up to his eyes; the clear water stain contained traces of blood.

"This is my reward this time, my lord."

Sejuani licked her lips and bowed. "Thank you for the reward. If there's nothing else, I'll go back and rest."

"You stop!"

Rod grabbed Sejuani's arm and forcefully threw her onto the table, pinching her chin and biting her hard in retaliation!
"I won't allow you to be so presumptuous again!"

A moment later, Rhodes looked up, squeezed Sejuani's huge bear-shaped teddy bear hard, and then stepped back to release her.

Sejuani rose slowly with a broad smile on her face. Without saying anything, she bowed again and then turned to leave.

What is she laughing at?

Rhodes licked his lips with a smile. "Sejuani wasn't like this before. Why has she suddenly become so wild? Is it her period?"

“Master, this is how the Ice and Snow Clan treats their men.”

The fox-woman Fisil stood up and carefully explained, "If you don't fight back today, according to the tradition of the Ice Clan, you will always be forced into a corner and may be abandoned at any time."

"Fortunately, you fought back."

"What do you mean?" Rod pressed.

"From now on, you will have the greatest power in the family."

Fischer smiled charmingly: "I think Lady Sejuani's smile is because you are stronger than her, proving that her choice was correct."

"What barbaric and primitive customs?"

Rod wiped his lips with the back of his hand; blood was still flowing.

Vivian, who had been silent beside him, suddenly reached out a finger and gently touched Rhode's lips.

Then she looked at Rod, slowly put her finger in her mouth, sucked on it hard, and her eyes lit up slightly.

Rhodes was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant.

"Vivian, you're not allowed to do that!"

……

……

border town.

sunny.

The backyard of the Rose Manor is filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Lady Rose, dressed in an elegant gown, was bending over, gracefully pruning the blooming roses in the yard with scissors.

She strode into the courtyard, her boots making a heavy thud on the stone bricks.

Just then, a series of strong footsteps sounded.

A tall, slender young woman clad in armor broke the tranquility of the manor and stormed into the courtyard.

The guards at the gate were about to step forward to stop the uninvited guest when a soldier following the woman immediately pressed a longsword against their throats.
The guards dared not make any rash moves and could only watch helplessly as the woman broke in.

"Viscount Winnie."

Lady Rose was not flustered by the sudden intrusion.

She smiled gently and bowed gracefully to the woman. However, the woman known as Viscount Winnie ignored her completely, walking past Lady Rose with a cold expression and heading straight into the main hall of the manor.

A barely perceptible hint of helplessness flashed across Lady Rose's face.

She then turned to her attendants and instructed them, "Don't let anyone else disturb us."

After saying this, Lady Rose straightened her skirt, calmly walked into the main hall, and closed the door.

Winnie stood in the center of the hall, one hand on the hilt of her longsword and the other on her hip, exuding a fierce aura.

“It is my honor to see you again, Your Excellency Viscount Winnie.”

Lady Rose maintained her warm smile.

“But I don’t want to see you, Ruth.”

Winnie turned around abruptly, her tone icy.
"But now I have no choice but to come and see you."

Anger burned in Winnie's eyes.
"Knight Cook told me everything that happened at Eagle Ridge."

Winnie stared at Lady Rose, approaching step by step.

"Your foolish plan has cost our Coldblade family two precious high-ranking knights!"

“I am fully aware of the seriousness of this matter, Lady Winnie.”

Lady Rose lowered her head slowly, her voice filled with apology.

"This is my fault. I will apologize to the Marquis and take full responsibility."

"Excuse me?"

Winnie slowly walked forward, staring at Lady Rose.

"How do you plan to apologize? By bending over in bed and moaning like you always do?"

"The value of two high-ranking knights far exceeds that of you!"

"Viscount Winnie, as the highly respected eldest daughter of the Coldblade family and the ruler of Windbell Town,"

Lady Rose's expression remained calm, but her voice carried a hint of determination.
"Please give me, your advisor, the most basic respect."

Lady Rose looked directly into Winnie's eyes.

"The plan did fail, but everything I did was for the benefit of the Hanren family."

"respect?"

Winnie sneered, bringing her face close to Lady Rose's. "You, a lowly prostitute, dare to call yourself a strategist?"

Winnie's eyes flashed with undisguised contempt.

Lady Rose remained unfazed and calmly replied, "Are you saying that your father, the esteemed Marquis of Coldblade, spends his days with a prostitute?"

These words instantly brought the atmosphere in the hall to a freezing point.

Winnie's gaze changed abruptly. She grabbed Lady Rose by the collar and swiftly drew a dagger from her waist, the tip pointing directly at Lady Rose's cheek.

"Since you're a strategist, you shouldn't need a pretty face,"

Winnie's voice was chilling as she pressed the dagger against Lady Rose's face. "I'll chop you up. I guess you'll still have some value then?"

The coldness of the metal made Lady Rose tremble involuntarily, and the calm on her face was replaced by fear.

No matter how eloquent the words, they all seem pale and powerless in the face of a real blade.

Lady Rose's voice trembled, "Your Excellency, you are only making things worse by doing this."

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

Only the sound of their rapid breathing echoed in the air.

Time seemed to stop flowing.

After a long while, Winnie took a deep breath, slowly released her grip on Lady Rose's collar, and tucked the dagger back into her waistband.

“I have no interest in who my father sleeps with, but the interests of the Hanren family must not be harmed by anyone.”

Winnie's tone softened slightly, "Hand over all the power you have. You have too much authority."

Lady Rose breathed a sigh of relief, her voice slightly hoarse.
“That was the right your father gave me…”

"Don't test my patience, Ruth!"

Winnie suddenly raised her voice, her shrill tone echoing through the hall.
"It turns out that your abilities are limited to the bedroom, not the battlefield."

"I'll handle the rest."

Winnie pointed at Lady Rose with a fierce expression, her words full of warning.

"I'm only giving you one day. I hope I can see everything I want by tomorrow."

After saying this, Winnie didn't wait for Lady Rose's reply, and walked to the door without looking back, then pushed it open and left.

Lady Rose was left standing alone in the hall.

“Madam, I was raised by you. I am not willing to serve others. Nobles will not care about the life or death of us rats.”

A thin man emerged from the back corner.

“But you saved me with your broth, so I’ll do whatever you tell me to do, even if it’s following those nobles…”

"Am I a prostitute, skinny rat?"

Lady Rose suddenly interrupted the skinny mouse.

"Of course not, Madam!"

The skinny rat stared wide-eyed and said without hesitation, "You are noble, elegant and beautiful. No one but Marquis Hanren can offend you. You are the most beautiful woman in our hearts!"

"What's the use? People will still point fingers and call you a prostitute."

Lady Rose chuckled self-deprecatingly, “Well, at least prostitutes don’t have to be as loyal as knights.”

"Madam, please don't say that..."

The skinny rat hurriedly said, "You are far superior to those lowly women in the tavern!"

"I'm not as fragile as you think, Slim Mouse, you don't need to worry."

Lady Rose remained calm. "But Winnie made me realize that even if our loyalty is worthless."

"You mean..." the skinny mouse asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Contact Baron Rhodes for me."

Lady Rose's gaze changed abruptly, her words turning cold and devoid of emotion.
"From now on, we'll help whoever gives us money."

……

……

Gangle has already gone to take up his post on the west side of the border town.

Madre disappeared, and the Red Griffin family's caravan set off again, carrying goods such as salt, new paper, maltose, and dried seafood from Black Pine Ridge towards the Red Griffin family.

Makuru did not linger, but embarked on a new caravan journey westward.

Black Pine Ridge has temporarily fallen into a state of tranquility.

Rhodes was awakened every day by the sounds of soldiers training, and then he would be busy dealing with various affairs of the territory.

The rest of the time was spent cultivating and making potions to strengthen his Winter Knights.

Occasionally, he would ride Thunder to the east coast to check on the progress of the rock ridge construction.

During this time, Rhodes wrote a letter to the Dawn Society, inquiring about the well-being of Lucien and Linda, and expressing his concern about the missing knight and his speculation about the undead.

They also asked about some of my personal matters.

Before the Dawn Society could reply, Count Tulip's messenger arrived in Frostleaf Town.

"Your Excellency, in just a year and a half, your town has become full of life, and you have such a city wall that can stop all enemies."

In the lord's hall, the messenger sat in a chair with a face full of reverence.

"This is simply a miracle in the wasteland!"

"Perhaps you deserve more fertile land, then your achievements should be far greater than what you have now!"

"Do not question the Earl's decision."

Rod smiled politely. "Alright, let's get down to business. What is the purpose of the Earl sending you here?"

"I am very sorry, please forgive me for being so captivated by the miracles you have created."

The messenger spoke sincerely, stood up, and presented the letter to Rhodes with both hands.

"This is a letter from Earl Tulip to you. We also have a caravan that wants to change its route to your Black Pine Ridge in the future."

Vivian stepped forward, took the letter, opened the envelope, and handed it to Rhodes.

Rhodes opened the letter, glanced at it briefly, and then closed it. He said to the messenger, "There's a lot of information here. I need to read it slowly. You should go and rest."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

The messenger stood up, bowed respectfully, and then followed Lawrence away.

After the messenger left, Vivian sat down at the table and looked at Rhodes with great interest.

"Although I don't know the specific contents of the letter, it sounds like your father is starting to value you."

"Yes, first they blessed our marriage and said they would send the gift soon."

Rhodes chuckled and said, "Then he reminded me that this marriage would bring the Red Griffin family and the Tulip family closer together, and told me to be nicer to you and not to take mistresses for the time being."

“Your Excellency’s concern is somewhat unnecessary.” Vivian’s legs swung in the air.

"They also told me not to be afraid of my two neighbors, and that the Tulip Family would provide assistance if needed."

Rod ignored Vivian's words, and sighed with a smile.

"Also, he hopes to receive a gift from his fourth son on his birthday at the beginning of next month."

(End of this chapter)