The Empress’ Livestream

“My lord!” Liyun rushed forward from behind. His face was filled with apprehension.

“That Dian Yan is capable,” Jiang Pengji said. “When the training phase for new recruits ends, send him to serve by my side.”

Liyun was surprised and thought, Send him to serve by the lord’s side? Is this a sign for investing energy to groom Dian Yan?

He replied, “Yun will do as you say.”

Jiang Pengji walked two strides forward. Liyun continued to follow behind. She turned toward him and asked, “Why did you follow after me? Is the training for new recruits over?”

Liyun cautiously said, “My lord, those new recruits are injured and in a sorry state. Should we still continue with the training today?”

One after another was lying on the ground groaning in pain. They looked extremely

pathetic.

Liyun was kind-hearted, thus he considered giving the soldiers a half-day break. Additionally, training in winter demanded immense energy. If their minds and bodies weren’t fully recovered, and if they didn’t get enough rest, they would not be able to persevere to the end.

In a sarcastic tone, Jiang Pengji said, “Your lord knows the limits in dealing with them. Otherwise, those lying down would be countless corpses already. Should I suffer with their groans and sighs pestering me? The injuries they sustained are only scary to look at. In fact, other than the pain, there are no other issues. They will not cost them their lives.”

If she had used her true prowess, she could have easily torn those frail bodies apart.

Liyun felt a lot more relieved.

The incident at the new recruits’ camp quickly spread to the government office. Xu Ke and Qiguan Rang were quite curious about it.

Xu Ke pinched his lower chin and stroked his short beard. With a smile he said, “I wonder what the lord looks like when disguised as a female.”

Meng Hun happened to be at the government office to collect documents and bamboo writings. After overhearing what Xu Ke said, his mind inevitably displayed a vision of Jiang Pengji in a woman’s outfit with her eyebrows drawn and lipstick on, watery and pitiful big eyes, a gentle tone when speaking… She even took small demure steps when walking… Meng Hun was so terrified he quivered.

Qiguan Rang sneered at him as felt for the around the table he felt for shelled peanuts that were fried in oil and boiled with salt. He cruelly said, “How our lord looked, even if she wore fairy-like apparel, once men saw that face, they’d probably be frightened until their spirits were scattered all over. They won’t harbor any alluring desires. Why can’t you be more open-minded?”

Xu Ke pushed himself forward. He stretched his hands and grabbed one of Qiguan Rang’s shelled peanuts. He put into his mouth and chewed. It tasted quite good.

“What you said is correct,” he said. “That face of our lord… I can’t imagine it.”

Xu Ke and Qiguan Rang joined hands to incur the frustration felt by Jiang Pengji. Without noticing that, Feng Jin and Wei Ci both kept silent. Of course, even they discovered that point, they would probably be apathetic because they didn’t appear to be people who would backstab their lord. They were gentlemen, and gentlemen don’t gossip behind people’s backs.

Silently, Feng Jin and Wei Ci glanced at each other before quickly looking elsewhere. They both were skeptical about each other’s reactions, wondering if perhaps Zixiao knew something.

This was one of the rare occasions when Jiang Pengji graced the government office. She noticed the weird expressions on the faces of Xu Ke and Qiguan Rang and commented, “What expression is this?”

“I heard news that the lord bashed up the new recruits.” Qiguan Rang smiled as he spoke.

Jiang Pengji rolled her eyes, understanding why these people were secretly smiling. Confessing without hesitation, she said, “Yes, your lord even changed into the garments for the women’s troops and beat the hell out of those bastards who all disobeyed.”

Controlling his laughter, Qiguan Rang used a somber tone and bowed in adoration. “My lord is wise.”

She jeered at them. Qiguan Rang’s act could fool the others but surely not her eyes. She turned and looked at Qiguan Rang and Xu Ke as she sat in the chairman’s seat, “Don’t you wish to see your lord disguised as a female?”

Qiguan Rang’s brows raised as an unsettling premonition arose in his heart. He honestly replied, “Of course we wish to.”

With one hand, she propped her chin. With her other hand, she tapped the table like she was rather bored. She finally said, “The new year is drawing near. Since you’re not going to return home for a reunion with your family, why not have a gathering at the government office and spend the new year together. We all yearn for a bustling new year, so let’s play a game. Each of us will disguise ourselves. The males will dress as females while the females will dress as males. How about that?”

Qiguan Rang remained silent thinking that the lord was too slack.

Nanshan Difuling: [Hahaha, I don’t submit to anyone but the streamer. Why are you so quick-witted?]

Zizai Xiaoyao: [The streamer who disguises herself as a male suggests for everyone to cross-dress. Streamer, this business deal is not to your disadvantage.]

Xiangnaier: [With regards to cross-dressing, I am looking forward to beauty Ci’s female disguise. He will certainly be as heavenly as the fairies.]

They knew she was just joking, but Qiguan Rang felt the need to explain in case she really implemented her idea. Pinching his beard, which he spent a lot of effort maintaining, he laughed at himself.

“My lord’s suggestion is rather intriguing,” he said. “It’s only because we don’t wish to scare the gods and Buddha away, dissipating the luck for next year. This plan should be set aside for another time. Please look at Rang’s face. Even if I put on make-up and adorn female apparel, I will not look like a woman.”

She curled her lips and smiled as she shook her head. She turned and asked Feng Jin, “On New Year’s evening, does Huaiyu intend to hold a night vigil with Jingxian at home? Changsheng is already almost 8 months old. Jingxian has been staying home to care for Changsheng. She must be so bored. Why not bring her along for the gathering at the government office? It will be livelier with more people.”

Feng Jin considered it carefully and replied, “I am moved by the lord’s suggestion. However, I have to seek Jingxian’s opinion.”

Although Qiguan Rang and Xu Ke were married, their wives were not by their side. If they returned home to spend the new year, it would be bleak. Regarding Jiang Pengji’s suggestion to hold the new year celebration for all to gather and spend the new year together, they naturally didn’t have much opinion on it. It would be acceptable except for the fact that she raised the topic of cross-dressing.

The government office was granted time off work two days in advance. The entire Xiangyang district was lively and bustling with the new year atmosphere. If one visited the night market, one would see that the people’s faces were brimming with sincere, relaxed smiles.

Eateries, teahouses, and other such shops closed during the festive seasons. This made Zhang Ping troubled. He was extremely hungry. He went out searching for food to eat but to no avail.

After returning, he heard movements outside. He looked outside and saw Wei Ci, who was tightly wrapped up, walking slowly toward the courtyard.

“The government office is beginning our break from today,” Wei Ci said as he took off his wooden clogs and entered the main hall.

He discovered the charcoal basin in the hall had already been extinguished for a lengthy time. He remembered that there was plenty of charcoal in the mansion. He figured that Zhang Ping, who was frustrated with the wooden blocks, forgot the timing. He was unaware even when the charcoal basin was extinguished.

“Here, I brought you this.” Wei Ci took out a warm item from his sleeve that was tightly wrapped. Within it contained the braised chicken drumstick he took from the district headquarters’ kitchen.

Zhang Ping took it and laughed. “Zixiao knows me best.”