You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Lu Zuo had always wanted to subdue the Hundred Trades Gang, but every time he brought it up, Shen Luoyan would change the subject with other topics.

He thus realized that the other party had already decided not to be loyal to him, and gradually gave up on the plan.

Unexpectedly, during my visit today, I met the leader of the Hundred Trades Gang.

This man was tall and handsome, with clear features and a calm and refined demeanor. He was a young man who made people feel comfortable at first glance.

He waved his hand: "Chief Lu, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise."

Immediately, he walked to Shen Luoyan's side and sat down next to her in a generous manner: "I have spoken with Luoyan several times before, wanting to meet Chief Lu, but she has politely declined each time."

"At that time, I wondered, what exactly does the leader of this Hundred Trades Gang look like?"

"Is he a burly man, or a decrepit old man?"

"Today, I am surprised to find that Chief Lu is so young."

This emperor is quite easygoing...

Lu Shiyu was also quite surprised by Lu Zuo.

It wasn't for any other reason, but rather the calm and composed demeanor he exuded, unlike that of a member of the royal family.

in other words……

He has lost some of his aloofness and gained more of his approachable and casual demeanor.

Most of the time, the first impression one person makes on another is very important.

From the moment Lu Zuo entered, the leader of the Hundred Trades Gang had a very good first impression of him.

"This is not Luo Yan's fault."

Lu Shiyu smiled and said, "It is this humble subject who does not wish to see Your Majesty."

Lu Zuo knew what the other person was thinking, so he naturally wouldn't dwell on the topic, but he was still a little curious about Lu Shiyu.

"I find it rather strange. Chief Lu looks to be only in his early twenties. How did he manage to build such a massive gang?"

"It's not really a big gang." Shen Luoyan moved to the side, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction. "It's just a group of artisans from various trades coming together to help each other."

Understood…….

Lu Zuo nodded: "No wonder you all hate Su Chenghua so much. I suppose your family members, and even the members of your gang, have all been affected by the disaster in Yunyang?"

Upon hearing this, both of them fell silent.

"Starved corpses littered the fields, and people even exchanged their own children to eat each other."

After a long silence, Lu Shiyu finally replied with eight words.

Shen Luoyan sighed softly and replied indifferently, "Many people have starved to death..."

Lu Zuo couldn't imagine that scene; he had never seen anyone lack food in his entire life.

But he knew that a person who is starving to a certain degree is no longer human.

He also understood why the Hundred Industries Gang hated corrupt officials so much, and why they hated themselves so much.

The incompetent ruler and treacherous ministers who bring disaster to the common people are truly hateful!

"well……"

He stood up and sighed softly, "As you two just discussed, I am indeed a puppet emperor."

"Most of the power in the court was in the hands of powerful aristocratic families."

"There are some things that even I am powerless to change."

Perhaps it touched on a painful memory, because Shen Luoyan, who already had no respect for the emperor, scoffed, "What does this prove besides your incompetence?"

An emperor's failure to perform his duties, resulting in the loss of power, is a sign of incompetence!

Shen Luoyan is right...

But I'm not Chen Shubao!

Lu Zuo smiled, offered no explanation, and said to himself, "I did indeed intend to keep Miss Shen for a while longer."

"But now... I've changed my mind."

As he finished speaking, his eyes sharpened: "Today, we will kill Su Chenghua!"

"But before that, I need one more favor from you two."

.......

Two hours later, at the Zhang residence, in the main hall.

A pear wood octagonal table was placed in the center, with Lu Zuo sitting alone in the main seat. Yu Wanyin poured wine for him on his left and Hua Xiangrong served him food on his right.

Behind him were Zhang Youyuan's other two wives, Liu Yanyan and Li Qingmei, who were massaging his shoulders.

Below, sitting opposite Lu Zuo, were the husbands of these women, Zhang Youyuan and Su Chenghua.

The Southern Chen dynasty had nine prominent families, in order: the Shen family of Wuxing, the Lu family of Wujun, the Xie family of Kuaiji, the Yu family of Donghai, the Su family of Qiantang, the Gu family of Jurong, the Wei family of Guangling, the Song family of Lingnan, and the Zhang family of Nanhai.

The nine great families not only control the military and have their cronies spread throughout the court and the country, but they are also martial arts families.

If any disciple of the clan enters the imperial court as an official and has a low level of cultivation, the clan will assign a bodyguard to protect them.

Yu Wanyin originally did not receive this treatment, but after her husband became an official, the Yu family of Donghai assigned her a bodyguard.

Shen Luoyan's only way to assassinate Su Chenghua is to lure away his guards.

For Emperor Lu Zuo, this was an extremely easy task.

"Your Majesty, I would like to offer you another cup."

Yu Wanyin's eyes sparkled as she leaned against Lu Zuo's chest, her fingertips holding a jade wine cup, which she then brought to his lips.

"Hahahaha..."

"I must drink the wine offered by my wife."

Lu Zuo put one arm around her slender waist and drank the wine.

This scene almost made Su Chenghua vomit blood!

Even though they had built up their mental defenses, no man could withstand such blatant humiliation!

This also includes Zhang Youyuan, who is single-mindedly focused on climbing the social ladder!

What did this tyrant do?

Suddenly, he summoned them over for drinks and called their wives to accompany them.

He even groped the ladies in front of them without any restraint.

What's even more infuriating is...

He also said some very offensive things, such as that your wife is "very succulent".

Wearing a green hat is no big deal to them; the two had already mentally prepared themselves.

But this is a direct humiliation...

It's so infuriating!

But what can they do?

What are you willing to do?

These two had no idea that Lu Zuo was a puppet with no real power, and could only put on a smiling face and swallow his anger.

"Come, come, my two beloved subjects, don't just stand there watching, drink with us!"

Lu Zuo put one arm around Yu Wanyin and the other on Hua Xiangrong's chest: "We agreed to enjoy ourselves together as ruler and subject today."

Screw your idea of ​​the emperor and his subjects enjoying themselves together!

You're laughing, but we're about to vomit blood!

The two cursed inwardly, then simultaneously picked up their glasses and drank a mouthful of bitter wine.

After drinking for a while, Lu Zuo, seeing that it was about time, looked up at the door and said, "Su Qing, your guard has a deep aura and is very vigorous; he must be quite capable, right?"

"Your Majesty, this person's name is He Zhui, and he is a Xiantian martial artist."

"Oh?"

"Wouldn't that be the same as my Black-Clad Guards?"

Su Chenghua quickly put on a smiling face and said, "He Zhui is just a mere martial artist from the Jianghu. How can he be compared to the Black-Clad Guards who are well-versed in the martial arts of the imperial family?"

"That's not how you say it."

Lu Zuo waved his hand: "If we're talking about the path of martial arts, the Jianghu (martial arts world) has its own unique aspects."

"This drinking session lacked atmosphere; only the two ladies could pique my interest."

The two men turned pale, and then Lu Zuo said, "How about this, let your guards have a match with the Black-Clad Guards to liven things up."

"Oh, right, Su Qing."

"Just now, your wife said that she would go to the bedroom in the backyard to dance for me later. Go home and fetch her dance dress."

Dancing in the bedroom...

Su Chenghua clenched his fist and said with an awkward smile, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go right away."

With that, he knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and turned to leave the Zhang residence.

.......

Half an hour later, in a lavishly decorated carriage.

"You bastard!"

"A tyrannical ruler!"

"You have insulted me far too much!"

Su Chenghua dared not shout loudly. He could only clench his fists, grit his teeth, and curse in a voice that only he could hear, inside the carriage!

"I haven't seen her dance since she married into the family..."

"You! You!"

"Ughhhhh, I'm so angry!"

Thump!

Suddenly, a muffled thud came from the roof of the carriage, like the sound of a heavy object falling.

Meanwhile, the carriage stopped.

"What's going on? Why aren't you...?"

As soon as Su Chenghua lifted the carriage curtain, he saw a woman with an icy expression, holding a long sword, standing in the alley.

At her feet, her servants, who had followed her for many years, lay dead on the bluestone ground, their throats slit.

"Who...who are you?"

"Who are you?" Shen Luoyan sneered, "I'm a vengeful ghost coming to collect debts!"

"And me!"

Lu Shiyu jumped down from the carriage, his calm demeanor gone, replaced by overwhelming hatred and murderous intent!

"And me!"

"And me!"

"And me..."

One after another, experts from the Hundred Trades Gang emerged from the shadows and surrounded the carriage.

"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"

.......

The front courtyard of the Zhang residence.

Lu Zuo sat generously on a sandalwood chair, while Hua Xiangrong and Yu Wanyin knelt at his feet to massage his legs.

Zhang Youyuan's other two wives were still standing behind him, massaging his shoulders.

As for the man known as "Skin-Peeling Zhang" by the common people, he stood obsequiously to the side, occasionally stealing glances at the fawning behavior of his three wives, his heart bleeding.

Bang!

A muffled thud was heard as Su Chenghua's guard was kicked in the chest by the black-clad guard Shangguan Jing. His body was sent flying into the air, sliding several feet backward before crashing heavily to the ground.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, quickly got up, bowed to Lu Zuo despite the pain, and then stepped aside.

Looking at Shangguan Jing, although he had won, he was panting heavily, sweating profusely, and had a cut on his forehead.

Although the wound wasn't deep, if it had been just an inch lower, one of his eyes would have been ruined.

"The strength of this aristocratic family should not be underestimated."

"Su Chenghua is not favored by the family, yet they have already sent such a skilled bodyguard."

"Just how deep must the foundation of the Su family of Qiantang be?"

Lu Zuo began to understand why the Southern Chen court was in such chaos, and why the Sui Dynasty had not launched any attacks or invasions.

Not only does the State of Chen have the power to resist, but so do these powerful and influential families!

Despite their deep fear of the Empress's maternal family's power, Shi Wenqing and Li Chengan only dared to target themselves and not dared to do anything to the Shen family of Wuxing.

It's also because they're wary of the Shen family's resources!

but……

Although powerful aristocratic families were strong, they were also drinking the blood of the imperial court and eating the flesh of the common people!

Although their formidable strength made the Sui Dynasty wary, it was also the root cause of the country's downfall!

Forget it, why think about it so much?

These are not things I should be considering right now. My immediate priority is to detoxify and become stronger.

Lu Zuo stood up from his seat, put his arm around Hua Xiangrong's waist, and said, "Minister Zhang, I'm a little tired."

"Make yourself at home. I need to go to my bedroom with your wives to rest."

These are words that strike at the heart!

These are words that strike at the heart!

Zhang Youyuan's back teeth were almost ground to powder, but he could only force a smile and watch helplessly as the emperor and his wife walked further and further away...