Chapter 455 - Bringing the 9th Concubine Home
Zhang Zhao and Huang Gai explained about the complication of the Sun Family and the infighting between Sun Fang and Sun Ce, including their plan to invade Tong's territories.
"So, Huang Zu has already been bought by Zhou Yu?"
Huang Gai nodded, "Yes, your majesty. He has been stopping us from moving to Xiangyang since last year. We can't even leave the city without his escort soldiers."
"Ah, I get it."
Tong understood why Zhou Yu did that. Had Sun Quan and Wu Guotai surrender to him, their forces and their officers would have lost the interest of joining either Sun Fang or Sun Ce in rebelling against Tong. Instead, they would have followed after Wu Guotai's example.
"Please help our lady and her children out of this city. We'll do anything for you!"
They begged to get Wu Guotai and her children out of Huang Zu's influence, but they did not ask for their safety.
It was admirable from Tong's point of view. These people were as he had expected, hardcore diehard loyal servants.
"What about you people?"
"We already have a plan. Your majesty, since you can use your power to come here undetected, can you bring our lady and her children to your city first?" Huang Gai kept asking the same question to get Tong's confirmation.
"Won't it be easier if I just kill Huang Zu or cut a path for you?"
The two Zhangs shook their heads, "No, your majesty. Currently, Huang Zu is still Liu Biao's subordinate. If you cause a scene here, your relationship with Liu Biao's House will deteriorate. Then, Liu Bei and Cao Cao will coax Liu Biao to rebel against you! Please be careful with your actions!"
Even though Zhang Hong and Zhang Zhao were not even Tong's subordinates, they expressed their concern for him. Tong also respected that. However, they did not have the latest updated information about the current political trend.
It seemed that they did not believe in Tong's words that he took in Cao Cao's daughters as his concubines, or they did not pay attention to his relationship with Cao Cao.
'Oh well, I can't blame them. Cao Cao is doing well keeping his mouth shut. It's better this way that no one has a clue that we're conspiring.'
For now, there were too many non-combatants in the city. Remembered the incident when he lost He Xing, Tong agreed with Zhang Hong and Zhang Zhao's suggestion.
"Sure. I'll take them with me tonight."
'I won't take risks. Safety first.'
.
The group exchanged information and pleasantry before they came to the final agreement.
Huang Gai, Han Dang, Cheng Pu, Zhu Zhi, Zhang Hong, Zhang Zhao, and 2,000 soldiers would join Tong's forces. However, they will stay in this city to fool Zhou Yu that the Sun Clan was still stuck in this city until Tong came back to rescue them.
Meanwhile, Tong would take Wu Guotai, Sun Quan, and Sun Shangxiang to Ye for safety. Then, he would come back to help these men.
Once Wu Guotai, Sun Shangxiang, and Sun Quan were out of danger, Tong and these officers could work their ways out of the city without worries.
"I'll coordinate with Zhang He and Lu Bu in Xiangyang, so they can open a path for you. Don't do anything reckless before they arrived."
Huang Gai appreciated it, but he had other plans, "It's alright, your majesty. Let us contribute something for you."
Tong nodded, "No. Don't be reckless. That's an order."
"... Understood."
.
.
At night, Tong visited Wu Guotai and Sun Quan, planning to take them to Ye by flight.
In Wu Guotai's arms, the baby Sun Shangxiang was there. When she noticed Tong, she stared at him with glittering eyes.
"To-To!" (Tong, it's me! Look at me! Am I cute?)
Sun Shangxiang kept waving her arms, trying to reach out to Tong.
Looking at her daughter, Wu Guotai laughed, "She likes you, your majesty."
Sun Quan smiled at his sister, but he could not help feeling complicated. He was glad that he became Tong's fourth prince, but the relationship between him and Sun Ce might be ruined.
After all, Tong stole Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao, whom Sun Quan respected as his aunts. Even Sun Quan himself might not reconcile with Tong had the latter taken the former's favorite concubine in the other world.
Fortunately, Bu Lianshi, Sun Quan's favorite concubine in the other life, was still living with her family. Now, Bu Zhi, the father of Bu Lianshi, who was only 9 this year, was still in Lujiang. The entire family had not been discovered by Tong yet, but Sun Quan knew where they were.
Going through with the experience of Hua Shi, Sun Jian, and his alternate world, Sun Quan's mentality became stronger. He could compromise with his former enemies and strangers to get the best benefit for his clan, even if he might have to fight against his older brothers.
'It's different, but it's better this way. Ensuring our family's prosperity has always been my dream and my father's goal. I might not be the king of Wu anymore, but I'm still a prince of Han.'
He looked at his mother, who seemed brighter than before. She had that smile when she was with Sun Jian.
'She's happy. That's all I ever ask for,' Sun Quan heaved a sigh of relief.
While Sun Quan was appreciating the scene of his lovely mother and his sister, Tong patted his shoulder.
"It's time for me to teach you about flying. Have you ever tried to fly yet?"
"Err, no."
"Spread your wings. Let me see your four wings."
"Huh?"
"Don't be embarrassed. I'm your father now. See my wings?"
Tong spread his six black wings. He flapped them and showed Sun Quan how it was done.
"Did you notice the flapping rhythm? Don't flap them without reinforcing it. Inject your force into them and move all of them at the same time. Then, they will propel you to the sky."
Sun Quan looked at Tong's wings in envy. Still, he was an ambitious warlord with many lives of experience, so he would not shy away from practicing something new.
He spread his four wings in public for the first time.
*SWOOSH*
Upon seeing Sun Quan two types of wings, Tong was shocked.
"H-How can you cultivate both demonic and angelic wings!?"
"Huh? It just comes to me after my father died. I think my father blessed me with this power since he passed on his memory for me."
"What!?"
Tong had to open his system menu to call Lilim and ask her about his new adopted son.
But what he got was…
Tong whispered, yet his tone was furious, "THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HIM!? DO YOU KNOW THAT HE CAN FUCKING SURPASS MY STRENGTH ONCE HE REACHES 18!? HE CAN FUCKING ANNIHILATE ALL SINNERS IN THIS WORLD IN A FEW YEARS!!"
He was panicked, fearing the talent of Sun Quan.
"Sixth daughter!? Wang Yi's daughter!?"
"You... What did you do to my family!? What is your goal!?"
"..."
Tong doubted it.
"What!?"
Tong glanced at Sun Shangxiang, who was still waving at Tong, wanting to hug him.
"... If my family gets through this stupid reincarnation in peace, we'll talk about this later."
Tong guessed that Lilim might have messed up something, judging from her tone.
Fortunately, Sun Quan would not be a threat to him any time soon. As long as Tong could break through the 8th wing wall, his position as the current emperor would still be stable for a while longer.
He also had another issue. Lilim just hinted that his sixth daughter, Zhang Ying, Wang Yi's daughter, had a similar power.
Tong slapped his forehead as he had a headache.
'Now, I understand how those sick kings in my world killed their own sons.'
He thought about the several monarchs in his world that murdered their own children to maintain their authority, which he found disgusting. Now, Tong found out that he began to have such thoughts because of the fear of Sun Quan and Zhang Ying's cultivation talent.
'No. I won't turn into one of them! I'll make sure to get stronger than them at least by one tier while I make sure that I get their loyalty. Well, I have to kill Sun Fang first and get Sun Quan into my clan, so he won't be able to kill me.'
He turned back to Sun Quan, "For now. Let's try it one step at a time. Try moving your wings without reinforcing it first."
.
It only took Sun Quan 10 minutes to get used to flying. Tong stared at this gifted youngster in a daze.
"I think I can handle it," Sun Quan was confident in his power.
Wu Guotai was also impressed with her son's abilities. She waved her hand at Sun Quan, laughing.
Meanwhile, Sun Shangxiang had never flown in her previous lives. She looked at them as she made a duck face, pouting.
"TA-TO!" (DAMN TONG! TEACH ME HOW TO FLY TOO! I HAVE TWO WINGS, BUT I CAN'T FLY!!)
Ignoring Sun Shangxiang's strange cries, Tong nodded to Sun Quan, "Alright. I'll carry your mother. You focus on flying by yourself and follow me."
He turned to Wu Guotai and gently embraced her in a princess-carry position. Meanwhile, in her arms, she had already tied Sun Shangxiang with her, ensuring that she would not fall.
Tong spread his wings and flew upward. Behind him, Sun Quan followed.
Flying at night was difficult for a newbie like Sun Quan. Thankfully, Tong kept his pace slow and made his wings glittered with white lights to give directions for Sun Quan. As a result, the fledging immortal managed to keep up.
Within a few hours, the three of them reached Ye City.
Upon arrival at Ye Palace, they found Te Langpu with a few servants, who had already prepared a banquet for them in advance. Surprisingly, Diaochan and Dong Bai were also there, glaring at Tong and Wu Guotai.
Tong had already informed everyone about his business in Jiangxia in the clan chat yesterday when he was busy playing with Wu Guotai's body. It caused quite an uproar to the point that Medusa and Friday returned to Ye, planning to chastise Tong in jealousy.
Te Langpu welcomed Tong first, "Welcome home, my idiot emperor. How many wives do you plan to have in the future? Please tell me a few days earlier 'cause it's not easy to arrange a new lodge for newcomers."
"Sorry about that, Mr. President. Thanks for the welcoming feast."
"Yeah, yeah. Her courtyard is the 4th guest house on the west wing. I'll go to sleep now."
"Okay. Good night."
Te Langpu swaggered back with his retainers. Behind his back, two white tentacle wings fluttered and glowed in silver light, indicating that this fat man was cultivating life essence as he walked.
Sun Quan and Wu Guotai were surprised by Te Langpu's manner and his power. Normally, the fat man would have been executed on the spot for such rude behavior. However, Tong did not do anything to him, but he treated the minister like friends.
Secondly, Te Langpu had wings, similar to Tong and Sun Quan.
Fortunately for Wu Guotai, she could not sense the threatening presence of two more figures in the middle of the crowd, who were glaring at her and Sun Quan.
Sun Quan could sense someone with similar power and another demon with 6 wings. Upon turning toward Diaochan and Dong Bai, he was surprised that the hostile aura came from those two.
'Another 6-wing immortal!'
Sun Quan was overwhelmed with fear and intimidation from the unknown strangers. With Tong alone, he could handle it since he knew a bit about him from Hua Shi's memory. However, dealing with a mysterious 6-wing demoness might be too much for him.
Diaochan and Dong Bai walked toward Wu Guotai to introduce themselves.
"Hello, I'm Empress Bai, and this is the Prime Consort Diaochan. We're the managers of the inner palace, and we'll take care of you from now on."
Friday intimidated Wu Guotai right away even though Tong had not appointed her as the official empress yet.
Unperturbed by the young girls before her, Wu Guotai snickered, "Wu Guotai greets her majesty and the prime consort. Say, what's my position in the court?"
"You're the 9th concubine, so know your place!"
"Haha. Okay. Not too bad, I guess."
Although Friday tried her best to intimidate Wu Guotai, the latter did not flinch a bit. Instead, she looked like she was enjoying it.
The three wives stayed and chatted among themselves, getting familiar with each other. On the other hand, Sun Shangxiang was mad.
'9th concubine!? How many wives does Tong have now!? That bastard, once I grow up a bit, I'll be sure to castrate him again!!'