Chapter 1020 News of Cleopatra

Chapter 1020: 1020 News of Cleopatra

It had been almost half a year since the last court session. The Qin court and the public knew the emperor had personally led an expedition, but there was little disturbance.

This was because the crown prince was overseeing the state, assisted by the empress.

Furthermore, with the roads now open, the army could arrive quickly, so no one wanted to try.

Trying would mean the extermination of their entire clan; even if they survived, they would be enslaved and forced to mine, a fate worse than death.

In addition, the court had reclaimed vast amounts of land, leaving even wealthy landowners with little land left.

Vast amounts of land had been reclaimed...

Meanwhile, able-bodied people could work.

Even the disabled were provided with jobs.

While they couldn’t become rich, they could at least ensure basic sustenance.

Before, let alone rice, even a little sweet potato or taro was a blessing!

With land controlled by the court, the fertile ground of wealthy landowners was gone.

They could continue their education, but without land, it was impossible to maintain a private army or pose a threat to the court. Once someone enters the academy and completes their studies, they are generally incredibly loyal to Lu Ming.

Therefore, loyalty is paramount.

After all, ancient granaries were notorious for thieving rats, and only loyal individuals could guard them.

For the past six months, everyone has been tense, preparing for a major event.

The Empress’s southern tour, accompanied by two princesses, the Emperor’s sisters.

Princess Lu Xue and Princess Lu Qing are both unmarried, dedicating themselves to the rites and serving as sort of guardians.

They sing praises, offer prayers, and perform rituals, somewhat like nuns, but on behalf of the Emperor, claiming to be praying for his well-being.

Therefore, even if someone wants to arrange a marriage, they dare not propose it.

The princesses are praying for the Emperor’s peace and prosperity; they cannot marry.

"You want to propose marriage? Are you trying to harm His Majesty?!" No one dared to bear this sin, nor would anyone dare to object.

What concerned these powerful families wasn’t the Empress and the two princesses, but rather that the Empress had come to select concubines for the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was unmarried, and news had spread that the Crown Princess didn’t require any special status.

This meant that even a commoner could become the Crown Princess.

The Empress’s southern tour was ostensibly for show, but the Imperial Guards would secretly cooperate.

No one dared to tell a commoner not to come.

Those who had committed such acts had already been reported by the Imperial Guards, and the army could come directly to arrest them without any regard for propriety.

Under the heavens, all land belongs to the Emperor; subjects are merely servants, unworthy to share their master’s possessions.

Moreover, there could only be one Crown Princess, but it was impossible to choose only one.

Who would become the Crown Princess was the Crown Prince’s decision.

Even if one couldn’t become the Crown Princess, one could become a concubine or a secondary consort, still enjoying immense honor. Therefore, the competition was actually not fierce, one could even say there was no pressure.

According to the intelligence from the court, the Crown Prince didn’t seem to have any particular requirements for women; in other words, it was impossible to determine.

Since it was impossible to determine, it naturally came down to luck.

The eunuchs and palace maids around the Crown Prince couldn’t be bribed, and even if they were, they would remain silent on these issues.

Money could be taken, but lives couldn’t be given.

In fact, the Empress and the other women had always had their nights spent with him.

After all, the harem, transcending geographical boundaries, allowed for gratification anytime, anywhere.

As long as they could have his nights spent with him and receive some orders, they didn’t really care where Lu Ming went.

It was just that they were recently pregnant and couldn’t leave; otherwise, they would definitely have gone to Rome for a visit, like when they went to the beach.

Rome.

An envoy arrived, carrying treasure, to surrender and offer apologies.

This was the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, which had participated in the Battle of Rome, suffering heavy casualties with only a small force escaping.

Now, the Qin army occupied Rome and was steadily consolidating its territory.

Meanwhile, the Roman Republic was fragmented, with each faction refusing to submit to the others. Since Qin hadn’t intervened, they were fighting amongst themselves.

Fighting for power, disregarding an external enemy—it was utterly laughable.

He climbed off the heavily pregnant Catherine.

Lu Ming smacked his lips; he thought he had sucked milk while sucking Catherine’s breasts.

Having sex with a pregnant woman was a stimulating experience, stimulating, but not exactly fun.

Six months of continuous insemination was enough to make their bellies grow large.

They had achieved a cross-race fertilization, combining the sperm of a yellow-skinned man with the egg of a white-skinned woman—let’s see what the child will be like!

"Your Majesty, the Ptolemaic delegation requests an audience."

"Have them wait in the palace."

Lu Ming waved his hand. He had already sensed it through the map and his senses; becoming a deity felt completely different.

This feeling was magical.

With a single thought, he could change the weather, turning a clear sky into a cloudy one, or rain into sunshine.

It was incredibly subtle, completely under his control.

After the eunuch left, Catherine rose, her pregnant belly swollen, and helped Lu Ming dress. "Husband," she said, "the Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty has a princess named Cleopatra.

It is said that she is incredibly beautiful and exceptionally intelligent.

The Ptolemaic dynasty was already locked in fierce conflict because of her and her brother. Now that you have defeated the Roman Republic, you must be here seeking their help!"

Since conquering Rome, Lu Ming had begun to enjoy the women there, indulging in the allure of the Western beauties.

Catherine, having already been with him, had little interest or desire for Tsarist Russia.

Now, hearing this, he was genuinely reminded of Cleopatra, who awaited his favor.

"Focus on your pregnancy, we’ll talk about the future later."

"Yes, husband."

Catherine was incredibly submissive. When a man is strong, a woman obeys.

But if a man is weak, that’s when the Empress will step in.

Having vented his frustrations, Lu Ming went to the palace to receive the so-called Ptolemaic delegation.

Inside the palace, a man dressed in a distinctive five-clawed golden dragon robe, wearing a crown, entered with a solemn and unsmiling expression.

Amidst the kneeling of all, he ascended the throne step by step.