Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

What the Nangong family wanted was certainly not just a concubine position.

She was a concubine.

Before Nangong Ya returned to the Prince's Mansion, she didn't think it would be difficult at all.

Although the eldest daughter of the Nangong family is not Nangong Ya's biological niece, her status is still extraordinary.

If she weren't a princess, she would have already been betrothed to the Luo family.

That niece could easily become a princess, let alone just a concubine.

But when she returned to the Prince of Qin's residence and heard about her son's great achievements, Nangong Ya knew that she couldn't keep her position as a concubine.

A single pair of sun and moon wheels is not enough.

There's nothing we can do about it.

After all, it was Nangong Ya who took those sun and moon wheels, and she was responsible for all the consequences.

Giving the Nangong family a spot is merely a favor.

Li Changqing's harem was not just a simple harem; it was a matter of vital importance concerning the survival of the World Society.

In the early stages of the development of the World Society, and even for a long period of time in the future development of the World Society.

If they can't control those powerful and wealthy families, then everything the Tianxia Society has achieved will just be wishful thinking.

Therefore, the profits of the World Society must be shared. As long as the power is ultimately in the hands of his son, he will be able to get rid of those guys sooner or later.

But before that, these positions are crucial.

Two concubines, four secondary concubines...

This means they can bring six different factions into the game.

Every stock must be carefully selected.

Li Changqing's wife was of relatively low social standing.

But it was precisely because of her humble origins that Li Changqing had the opportunity to choose concubines and mistresses from wealthy families.

"The Nangong family will take one, the Duke of Qi's mansion will take one, the Xiaoyao Marquis Xie family will take one, the Xun Gui family will choose one, and the aristocratic families will choose two."

"This is the list I've prepared for you. Whoever you like, we'll choose. The two concubines should ideally be from the Duke of Qi's mansion and the Marquis of Xiaoyao's mansion."

Li Changqing understood.

The Duke of Qi's mansion has an ancestor who has lived for nearly two hundred years and is one of the three supreme rulers of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

He also has royal blood.

The Xie family, known as the Carefree Marquis, has a patriarch who is the youngest supreme ruler, currently only in his early sixties, and who is stationed in Jiangnan year-round.

To the average person, this would definitely be considered an old man.

However, for the Supreme One, the patriarch of the Xie family is currently enjoying great power and influence.

As for the last supreme ruler of the Great Zhou Dynasty, according to the information Li Changqing obtained, he should be an ancestor from a hidden sect.

Which sect specifically?

Everyone kept it a secret.

Li Zheng and Prince Qin, Li Yuanhao, were obviously aware of this, but they both avoided discussing it.

Two supreme families: the reclusive Nangong family and the Xun family.

Two prominent and wealthy families from outside the region.

This is Nangong Ya, the carefully selected assistant for Li Changqing.

Only with their strong support can we suppress those powerful families and clans in terms of high-level combat power.

Li Changqing didn't have that many Free and Unfettered Realm experts under his command; they not only had them, but many of them.

As long as the World Society remains in Li Changqing's hands, they can cultivate more Free and Unfettered Realm cultivators on their own in the future.

Once the number of powerful beings in the Free and Unfettered Realm is sufficient to contend with all sides.

Only when the World Alliance is established can it truly stand firm.

Li Changqing understood that Nangong Ya was right.

But this was completely different from his original life plan. The kind of couple he imagined was like Li Changsheng and Nan Caocao.

Not like the Crown Prince or the other princes.

Aside from Prince Qin, Li Yuanhao, the other princes who participated in the struggle for the throne also gained various forms of support through marriage alliances.

One of the concubines of the King of Wu was even a wealthy merchant in Jiangnan. In order to obtain financial support, the King of Wu was really going all out.

This is undoubtedly very embarrassing for a news outlet.

"Let your son think about it."

Li Changqing did not nod in agreement, but he also did not refuse outright as he had before.

"Alright, as long as you've thought it through. Your mother will take Cao Cao and your elder sister to the Minister's residence to propose marriage."

Li Changqing, who had always been open-minded, had never been so conflicted as he was now. He suddenly understood an ancient saying: "If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight."

Once you reach a certain position, even if you don't want to, you're no longer in control of your own destiny.

On the other side, in the Imperial Palace, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Li Zheng looked at the secret report in his hand and couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile.

The folded document in his hand clearly stated that two dynasties on the Great Zhou's periphery were simultaneously putting pressure on the Great Zhou's northern border.

"An army of 600,000, with over a thousand martial arts masters..."

An army of 600,000, with over a thousand experts at the Grandmaster level or above—what kind of power is this?

"There are over a hundred powerful beings at the Free and Unfettered Realm."

This is just what we can count at the border; there are probably many more that we can't count.

This is clearly not a simple border friction or conflict, but rather someone is targeting the Great Zhou.

"Your Majesty, the news from the Ministry of War is that these 600,000 troops are not a threat. Although we only have 300,000 troops stationed on our border, we have fortified cities and various armed forces. Even if the enemy adds another 200,000 troops, they will not be able to break through our northern border."

"But these martial arts masters are a big problem. It would take the imperial court at least half a month to mobilize so many people."

"I hope Your Majesty will make preparations as soon as possible!"

The minister, kneeling on the ground, spoke with grief and indignation.

He could already foresee the devastation that would befall the soldiers on the border.

A few martial arts masters alone pose no threat whatsoever to an army of 300,000.

But a number exceeding a thousand is a completely different concept. These thousand grandmasters are enough to form an army on their own, wreaking havoc on the battlefield.

Normally, it's only in life-or-death national wars between two countries that it's impossible to mobilize so many grandmasters to the battlefield.

After all, masters and experts are never as common as cabbages.

"I understand. You may leave."

Not long after the official left, another general in armor followed him in.

"Your Majesty! I am willing to go to the north to defend against the two nations."

"I am willing too!"

Several more arrived later, all expressing their willingness to go to the battlefield to defend against the enemy.

"I know the loyalty of all the generals, but this matter cannot be resolved by the generals themselves. The key is the martial arts master."

The key is to stop those thousands of martial arts masters.

"The grasslands and the Northern Jin royal court have been plotting for who knows how long, managing to gather so many grandmasters. We are completely unprepared. Even if we get support from the major clans, it will take at least half a month for them to arrive in the capital and then head to the northern border!"

"It's too late!"

"I understand. All of you may leave."

Emperor Li Zheng of the Great Zhou Dynasty spoke with a hint of weariness in his voice.

After everyone left, he was the only one left in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Li Zheng, who had been somewhat dejected, suddenly laughed.

"Haha, hahaha..."

The laughter echoed throughout the entire hall, causing everyone inside to tremble.

"Old man, you've finally shown your true colors!"

……