Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 275 All the extraordinary women in the world are now in his possession; he returns.

Time flies by like a fleeting moment.

After the Battle of Nanhe County, the entire Great Chen Dynasty ushered in an unprecedented period of stable development.

Three years is enough time for many things to change.

Under the diligent governance of Empress Wu Zhao and the full support of the new elite faction led by Chen Wan'er, the power of the Great Chen Dynasty was growing day by day, the people lived in peace and prosperity, the world was at peace, and all nations came to pay tribute, showing signs of the prosperous scene at the beginning of the founding of the dynasty.

And behind all of this is one name – Chen Ye.

Although he had long since resigned from all his posts in the Xuanjing Division and lived a secluded life, never appearing in court, his reputation was as scorching as the sun high in the sky, and no one dared to ignore it.

Everyone knows that this young Marquis of Tinglan is the true pillar of the Great Chen Dynasty.

As long as he is there, no villain dares to harbor any disloyal thoughts.

Tinglanxuan has become the most unique and awe-inspiring place in the entire capital city, and even in the entire Great Chen Dynasty.

For the past three years, Chen Ye has been living a very comfortable life.

His daily life consisted of spending time with his family, handling some household chores, occasionally giving guidance to a few women on their spiritual practice, or discussing the true meaning of life with them.

For a time, the Chen family mansion was filled with beauties, each with their own unique charm, attracting envy and jealousy from countless people in the capital.

But to everyone's surprise, the inner quarters of the Chen family were not in chaos like other wealthy and powerful households; instead, they were harmonious and orderly.

All of this is thanks to Xie Weining.

After experiencing initial bitterness and discomfort, this legitimate matriarch of the Chen family quickly demonstrated remarkable wisdom and skill.

She treated Wu Mengwei, who had just entered the household, with courtesy and affection, like a sister, and never slighted her because of her status or position.

He maintained sufficient respect and distance towards Bai Yingluo and Xia Lingshuang, two so-called maids but actually his own concubines from the Demonic Sect.

She used both kindness and strictness, and her rewards and punishments were clear, managing the vast Chen family mansion's inner quarters like an iron barrel.

At the same time, her virtue and generosity not only won the respect of everyone in the mansion, but also made Chen Ye increasingly fond of and rely on her.

Chen Ye was happy to be a hands-off manager.

He delegated all worldly power and devoted more of his energy to the in-depth development of the profession of Lord of Desire.

In the past three years, although his strength has not broken through in terms of realm, his understanding and application of the power of desire has reached a whole new level.

He discovered that the desires of all beings are not limited to negative ones such as greed, fear, and hatred.

There are also positive ones, such as hope, joy, love, and protection.

These positive desires can also become a source of his power, and their purity and magnitude far surpass those of negative desires.

When a mother unleashes fearless courage to protect her child, the power of that desire is enough to move mountains and rivers.

When a scholar dedicates his life to the pursuit of truth, his unwavering dedication is enough to make even ghosts and gods retreat.

Chen Ye began to try to guide and gather these positive desires.

He instructed Xie Weining and Bai Jie to use the Chen family's wealth to open soup kitchens in Beijing and across the country to provide relief to disaster victims; and to establish schools so that children from poor families could have access to education.

He instructed Wu Daofu to use his power as Grand Tutor to promote new laws, reduce taxes, and allow the people of the land to recuperate and thrive.

He even suggested to Empress Wu Zhao through Chen Wan'er that a shrine be built for the soldiers who died on the battlefield, so that their deeds would be remembered for eternity and revered by all people.

These actions brought him an unimaginable, pure, and powerful force of positive desire.

These forces constantly cleanse and nourish his soul, making his throne of desire increasingly solid and radiant.

He felt a closer connection to the world than ever before.

Chen Ye even had the illusion that, if he wanted, he could easily mobilize the entire fate of the Great Chen Dynasty for his own use.

This feeling both captivated and alarmed him.

He knew that his time in this world might not be long.

The boat on the other shore will eventually set sail.

……

On this day, a loud cry of a baby suddenly came from Tinglanxuan.

The sound of crying brought genuine joy to everyone's faces.

Chen Ye's eldest son was born.

Outside the delivery room, Chen Fangshi, Chen Wan'er, and others waited anxiously.

When the midwife came out carrying a swaddled baby, her face beaming with joy, and exclaimed, "Congratulations, Your Excellency! Congratulations, Your Excellency! It's a little prince!" Chen Fangshi was so moved that tears streamed down his face, and he almost fainted on the spot.

"My Chen family has an heir! My Chen family has an heir! Hahahaha!" He laughed incoherently, carefully taking his grandson from the midwife's hands, unable to get enough of looking at him.

"Ono, hurry up, give my precious grandson a name!"

naming?
Chen Ye pondered for a moment, then said, "Let's call him... Chen An."

"Chen An, Chen An..." Chen Fangshi repeated twice, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Good! Good name! Peace and joy, simple, easy to remember! Let's call him Chen An!"

And so the name of Chen Ye's eldest son was decided.

Chen An's birth brought endless joy and laughter to the entire Chen family, and just six months later, another happy event arrived.

Wu Mengwei also gave birth to a daughter for Chen Ye.

The birth of their daughter also brought joy to the entire Chen family.

Chen Ye named her Chen Nian, meaning he had both a son and a daughter, making a perfect family.

On this very day, deep within the palace, Empress Wu Zhao, having finished a day's work, leaned wearily against the dragon throne, rubbing her throbbing temples.

Over the past three years, she has been diligent in her duties, cared for the people, and acted decisively, bringing order and efficiency to the entire Dachen region.

But she is a woman after all.

In the quiet of the night, she also feels lonely and tired.

Especially when she heard news from outside the palace about Chen Ye's happy family and the presence of both a son and a daughter, an indescribable bitterness and...envy would well up in her heart.

She felt gratitude, dependence, and awe towards Chen Ye... and a hint of love hidden deep within her heart that she herself was unwilling to admit.

Just as Wu Zhao was feeling dejected, a familiar figure appeared silently in the hall like a ghost.

"Your Majesty, you are unable to sleep so late at night. Is something troubling you?"

Upon hearing this voice, Wu Zhao's body trembled, and she abruptly raised her head.

Under the moonlight, Chen Ye, dressed in black, stood with his hands behind his back, looking at her with a smile.

"Chen... Chen Qing?" Wu Zhao was both surprised and delighted, and subconsciously stood up. "You... how did you get here?"

This is the inner palace, heavily guarded. How did he manage to enter silently?
“I wish to see His Majesty, and the palace guards cannot stop me.” Chen Ye stepped forward slowly, his tone calm yet brimming with unparalleled confidence.

Wu Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and looking at the man in front of her who was becoming increasingly unfathomable, she was at a loss for words.

At this moment, Chen Ye walked up to her, looking at her intently, his deep eyes seeming to burn with seven-colored flames.

In an instant, all the hidden emotions and suppressed desires deep within Wu Zhao's heart were displayed clearly before Chen Ye, like a painting.

That desire for power, that desire for security, and that deep, unspoken love for him.

“Your Majesty,” Chen Ye’s voice seemed to possess a bewitching magic, “you, you desire me, don’t you?”

boom!
These words struck Wu Zhao like a thunderbolt, exploding in his mind.

He ruthlessly exposed her biggest secret!
"You...you're talking nonsense!"

Wu Zhao's cheeks flushed red instantly, filled with shame and anger, and she instinctively wanted to reprimand him.

As the supreme ruler and Empress of the Great Chen Dynasty, when had her inner thoughts ever been so openly scrutinized and analyzed?
This made her feel an unprecedented sense of shame and panic.

"Is that so?" Chen Ye's lips curled into a playful smile, then he took a step forward, standing very close to Wu Zhao, almost able to feel each other's breath.

He gazed into her phoenix eyes, which trembled slightly with fear, his voice deep and magnetic, like the whisper of a devil.

"Then why did His Majesty unconsciously write my name when reviewing the memorials?"

"And why did you sit alone in the Imperial Garden all night after hearing the news of my children's birth?"

With each sentence Chen Ye spoke, Wu Zhao's face grew paler.

These are her deepest secrets, private thoughts she has never told anyone.

How...how could he have known?!

Could he really read people's minds?

At this moment, Wu Zhao felt as if he had been stripped naked and exposed to this man, all his pretense and pride shattered.

Thinking of this, she staggered back a step, trying to distance herself from Chen Ye, but because she was in a state of mental confusion, she lost her footing and was about to fall to the ground.

Just then, a strong arm caught her slender waist and pulled her steadily into a warm and firm embrace.

"Well……."

Wu Zhao's body stiffened abruptly, and his nose was instantly enveloped by a uniquely masculine scent.

She had fantasized about this embrace countless times in her dreams. But now, when she was actually in it, her mind went completely blank.

"Your Majesty, what are you afraid of?" Chen Ye's voice rang in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

"Afraid of worldly judgment? Or afraid of the so-called ethics between ruler and subject?"

"You've forgotten that in this world, the rules are made by the strong."

"And I am the strongest."

His words were full of arrogance and domineering, yet they also carried an irrefutable truth.

Yes.

He could even slay the world-destroying demon and shake the will of this world.

How could mere secular ethical norms bind him?

Wu Zhao's heart, which had been pounding violently with fear and shame, miraculously calmed down at this moment.

She looked up, staring blankly at the face so close to hers, a face that was almost too handsome.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a hazy and mysterious glow on his profile, making him appear less like an ordinary person and more like a king descended from the divine realm.

"Why?" she asked almost unconsciously, her voice trembling slightly without her even realizing it.

"Why?" Chen Ye chuckled softly upon hearing this. "Because I also yearn for Your Majesty."

He said this and slowly lowered his head.

In Wu Zhao's suddenly contracting pupils, Chen Ye's lips gently pressed against hers.

In that instant, Wu Zhao felt a current travel from her lips throughout her body, making her feel weak and powerless.

Her reason and defenses, which she had maintained for many years as an emperor, completely collapsed at this moment.

Inside the main hall, the scent of ambergris was gradually replaced by a more ambiguous atmosphere.

This night was long and crazy.

Empress Wu Zhao, the most noble woman in the Great Chen Dynasty, was completely captivated by the dream that Chen Ye had woven for her.

After everything calmed down, Wu Zhao collapsed weakly into Chen Ye's arms, her eyes glazed over with contentment.

"Minister Chen..." she murmured softly, "From now on, how... how should I face you? And how should I face the entire court?"

Although her body had achieved ultimate satisfaction, a trace of imperial rationality and worry still remained in her heart.

Her affair with a courtier would cause a huge uproar and shake the foundations of the state if it were to become public.

"No need to face it." Chen Ye gently stroked her smooth back, his voice calm and indifferent.

"From now on, you will still be the diligent, loving, and dignified empress."

"But I remain the reclusive Marquis of Tinglan, who stays out of the world and doesn't concern himself with its affairs."

"What happened tonight is known only to you, me, heaven, and earth."

No third person will know.

His voice carried a powerful confidence that instantly calmed Wu Zhao's unease.

Yes, with his abilities, blocking a message would be a piece of cake.

“But…” Wu Zhao still hesitated, “We…we will…”

"From now on?" Chen Ye lowered his head and gently kissed her smooth forehead. "From now on, whenever I miss you, I will come."

"And all you need to do is open the doors of Chengtian Palace for me in the dead of night."

If anyone else had said this domineering and unreasonable declaration, Wu Zhao would have been furious.

But hearing it from Chen Ye's mouth gave her an unprecedented sense of peace and sweetness.

She said nothing more, but simply hugged Chen Ye even tighter.

She knew that from this moment on, her life was completely intertwined with this man's.

She was not only the ruler of a country, but also his...woman.

……

Since that night, some subtle changes have occurred in the court of the Great Chen Dynasty.

Everyone noticed that Her Majesty the Empress seemed to have become more radiant and more confident and composed than before.

When handling government affairs, she remained as decisive and efficient as ever, but her brows showed less of the usual aloofness and weariness, and more of the gentleness and charm that belonged to a woman.

Some astute ministers vaguely sensed something, but no one dared to ask too many questions, much less investigate.

They discovered that whenever they tried to discuss topics related to Marquis Tinglan, Her Majesty the Empress would subtly change the subject with various excuses.

Marquis Chen Ye of Tinglan became even more low-key than before.

He almost completely cut off contact with the outside world, spending his days in Tinglanxuan with his family and enjoying life, as if he had truly become a wealthy and idle person who lived a life of peace and tranquility.

Only a very few people vaguely sensed something, but dared not show it in the slightest.

Chen Wan'er was one of these few people.

But Chen Wan'er chose to turn a blind eye to all of this.

She could only sigh helplessly in her heart, and then she devoted herself even more diligently to handling state affairs for the Empress and taking care of all the "worries" for her troublesome younger brother.

Meanwhile, changes were also taking place in the inner quarters of Tinglanxuan.

After Xie Weining and Wu Mengwei gave birth to a son and a daughter for Chen Ye, their positions became increasingly secure.

With her wisdom and virtue, Xie Weining managed the entire household in an orderly manner, becoming Chen Ye's most indispensable and capable assistant.

Wu Mengwei, on the other hand, was simple-minded and disliked fighting. She spent her days taking care of her husband and children, playing the zither and painting, living the peaceful life she wanted.

Zhou Yuru and Bai Jie have also found their own place.

Zhou Yuru used her business acumen to manage the Chen family's businesses successfully, earning the Chen family a great deal of wealth.

Bai Jie, on the other hand, used her expertise in welcoming and seeing off guests to take charge of the Chen family's external reception. She was shrewd and meticulous, shielding Chen Ye from a lot of unnecessary trouble.

As for Bai Yingluo and Xia Lingshuang, these two former Holy Maidens of the Demonic Sect had long been accustomed to their roles as maids.

One of them managed the money, and the other managed the people. They managed the internal affairs of Tinglanxuan with even greater rigor than the Imperial Household Department of the palace.

The competition between them also changed from initial jealousy to intense competition at work.

If you make the accounts look better today, I will train the servants to be more obedient tomorrow.

This healthy competition saved Chen Ye a lot of trouble.

Everything seemed to be moving in a perfect direction.

Looking at all that he had created with his own hands, Chen Ye felt a great sense of satisfaction.

He had a harmonious family, both a son and a daughter, and many beautiful women in the court and among the people. Even the most noble woman in the world became his bedmate.

It can be said that Chen Ye has now reached the pinnacle of life in this world.

However, beneath this extreme sense of satisfaction, a strange emptiness began to quietly grow in his heart.

He knew that this was the ship on the other shore sending him a warning.

This world no longer presents any challenge for him.

He's like a player who's completed all the levels in a game and earned all the achievements; there's no point in staying any longer.

So, it's time to leave!
So on this day, after Chen Ye had finished dealing with everything, he sat alone in the quiet room and then summoned the Other Shore Boat in his sea of ​​consciousness.

In an instant, the phantom of a magnificent ship, so grand that words could not describe it, slowly appeared.

This ship was larger than any Chen Ye had ever seen before. It seemed to be woven from the light and shadow of countless worlds, exuding a vast aura that transcended time and space.

When Chen Ye chose to return, a series of images flooded into his mind.

That was the whole process of his growth from a despised playboy to a Casanova, then to the master of desire, and finally to the king who controlled desire.

Every scene represents the profound mark he left on this world.

Immediately afterwards, the ship on the other shore shone with dazzling light, and then the professional marks of [Wanderer], [Love Saint], and [Lord of Desire] flashed by in turn, finally settling on the profession of Lord of Desire.

Chen Ye was not surprised at all, because he had achieved a very high rating in this life, so it was perfectly normal for him to obtain the powerful profession of Lord of Lust.

Immediately afterwards, the Ship of the Other Shore carried Chen Ye into the vast river that stretched across the endless void ahead.

The scene was still familiar; every wave and every surge in the river seemed to reflect the cycle of birth and death of a world.

Countless microcosms of familiar or unfamiliar worlds rise and fall in the waves, born, then vanish, in an endless cycle.

However, this magnificent sight was fleeting.

The next second, Chen Ye felt himself plummet downwards, as if he had fallen from a great height without warning. The intense feeling of weightlessness made his heart tighten, and his consciousness was plunged into darkness.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a stone house on the island.

(End of this chapter)