He delegated tasks to his subordinates and enjoyed life.
This approach was quite pleasant; as long as he maintained control, the emperor could live a carefree life.
With capable and loyal subordinates, he could indulge in pleasure without restraint.
A few days later, Lu Ming left the palace again.
This time, he was attending a banquet at Lady Wang's residence. To prepare for Lu Ming's arrival, Lady Wang's servants rose early in the morning, starting at midnight.
They meticulously cleaned the two stone lions at the entrance, and the maids donned revealing and sexy attire. Being noticed was akin to rising from humble beginnings to great heights.
Besides, what man doesn't like a woman's ample bosom and long, white legs?
Before Lu Ming even arrived, Wang Chen and Lady Wang's sons were already waiting at the gate to greet him.
When Lu Ming appeared, they bowed deeply, adopting a very humble posture.
Having studied Lu Ming's character, one knows that as long as his bottom line isn't crossed, he's someone who responds better to gentle persuasion than force.
Gentle persuasion and soft-spoken pleading are more effective than anything else.
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qin! Long live Your Highness!"
Wang Chen and his clansmen knelt to pay their respects, their followers shouting loudly behind them.
"Rise. Don't be so formal today. No need for such formality. Just be yourself."
"Today, there are no rulers and subjects, only guests and hosts."
"Rise, Wang Chen. Show me the grandeur of the Langya Wang Clan."
Lu Ming laughed heartily. The Wang Clan's estate was quite large; otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to accommodate so many people.
It rivaled even the Grand View Garden. The Jia family had also recently moved to Zheng City.
As the city continued to expand, friction, bloodshed, and frame-ups between outsiders and local powerful families became increasingly common.
Interestingly, the sons of powerful families holding high positions were instructed to reside at their offices and not return home.
Furthermore, infighting within the family was permissible; success meant expansion, and failure meant the continuation of their lineage.
Like the four great families of the past, the Jia family's Grand View Garden was gone, and their women were taken into Lu Ming's harem, now becoming princesses and bearing him children—this provided a safety net.
The Jia family didn't decline; at least Jia Baoyu's generation wasn't significantly affected and could continue to grow.
The foundation of their power was destroyed, but the avenues for advancement were preserved.
They lost their deep-rooted confidence and foundation, consolidating all power under imperial control—this was the basis, and the reality.
Jia Xu and Xu Shu understood this, which is why Jia Xu's sons faced no obstacles in becoming officials.
To put it bluntly, in this world, only one person is truly supreme: the Emperor!
Wang Chen was conflicted, but his friend Yang Biao gave him an idea, so he used this opportunity to back down.
As long as there's a way to maintain a family's strength and foundation, then some things, once lost, are simply lost.
"It is my great honor to welcome Your Highness to my humble abode today! Please come in, Your Highness!"
"Would Your Highness like to take a stroll first, or begin the banquet directly?"
"Let's take a stroll first." "
Lu Ming walked ahead, with Wang Chen and his sons following behind, introducing him to the rare and exotic species in the garden, even mentioning that tigers were kept in captivity!
While there were many exotic flowers and plants, they were primarily for ornamental purposes; few were actually practical.
Upon arriving at the artificial lake, a woman in her thirties was playing the zither.
The woman wore a long, flowing, fringed dress, her long, smooth hair flowing in the wind. Her slender, white neck and vibrant red lips accentuated her sensuality, yet her beautiful face conveyed maturity and composure.
The tightly fitted dress perfectly showcased her curvaceous figure; although nothing was explicitly revealed, her sex appeal was undeniable.
"That is my cousin, Zhang Feng, also Kongming's mother," Wang Chen introduced readily, then pressed his advantage, "My cousin speaks highly of Your Highness. Years ago, her family was persecuted by the traitor Cao Cao and corrupt officials who held positions of power without merit, resulting in the destruction of her family." "Your Highness has swept across the land, cleansing the world of its troubles. Now, peace reigns, and the nation is prosperous and the people at peace."
"Recently, Lord Bao even sent a group of corrupt officials to the Ministry of Justice's prison, including Cao Wang, who persecuted my cousin's family!"
"My cousin has been saying she wants to thank Your Highness in person."
These words were all flattery of Lu Ming. While somewhat exaggerated, they weren't far from the truth.
Because of Bao Zheng's existence, all corrupt officials trembled with fear. Bao Zheng was now not only in charge of cases in the Ministry of Justice, but also responsible for evaluating officials.
Anyone who didn't do their job and only thought about promotion and wealth would be recorded in his files. Dismissal or demotion was the least of their problems. More often, they were found guilty of murder and sent to prison.
Previous acts of corruption could be overlooked, but after the New Year this year, that would no longer be allowed.
If someone is a little greedy but gets things done, like Heshen, it's still somewhat acceptable. At worst, they'll be fined, which isn't a big deal.
However, those who are greedy but don't get things done are a serious problem. And then there are those who neither talk about money nor get anything done. These are also terrifying and must be removed.
The remaining type is those who appear good on the surface, get things done, and are honest and upright, but whose success is built on the bones of capable subordinates. When things go wrong, they shift the blame to others. These are the officials Lu Ming reminded Bao Zheng to pay close attention to.
Bao Zheng was honest and upright, and during festivals, he received gifts from Lu Ming—brocade, gold, rice, vegetables, and so on.
His daily necessities could be obtained from the Imperial Household Department; he didn't even need to buy groceries.
Moreover, the gold he received was used to do good deeds in the name of the Lu Ming family. His family wasn't exactly poor, but they didn't have any surplus grain either.
Their reputation was quite good. Thanks to the special care from the Imperial Household Department, even someone like Bao Zheng didn't lack food or drink; his basic needs were met.
Some people become officials through talent, some through ability, and some through connections.
There are all sorts of people.
But for someone like Bao Zheng, Lu Ming had instructed the Imperial Household Department to give him special attention.
The Imperial Household Department was still in charge of Jia Tanchun. Tanchun was shrewd and had previously managed household affairs.
Now that she was a princess, she naturally couldn't manage things in place of the queen.
Therefore, she was promoted from the Music Bureau to the Imperial Household Department, specifically to manage Lu Ming's private treasury.