As night fell, the Grand Commandant's mansion was brightly lit.

"Brother, we've all missed you so much! This drink is for you!" Erniu raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp, a broad smile spreading across his face.

The wicked husband downed his cup of wine in one gulp, looking utterly dejected. "You think I didn't want to come back? I almost died of exhaustion in Kucha, and now that I'm back, they want me to go to Chu to fetch my bride."

"Damn it, they want me to contribute money and effort just to pick up the bride? Do they really think the Grand Commandant is a beast of burden?"

Speaking of this, the wicked husband was full of resentment; the old Zheng Ge wasn't like this at all.

Do they really think they're Japanese devils now?

Chun Ning interjected with a smile, "So what does Big Brother mean? When we go to propose marriage this time, should we go through the civil...or the military approach?"

"Smack!"

The wicked man slammed his wine cup on the table and sneered, "The betrothal gifts... Ha, the fact that I went in person is already giving the State of Chu enough face. If I gave them two lumps of mud, they would be considered rare treasures."

Upon hearing this, Chun Ning and Er Niu exchanged glances, unsure of what their elder brother meant.

Tie Niu, who had already been transferred to Xianyang, gasped, fearing the young man might really act recklessly. "You're right, but we absolutely cannot be impolite and just give them those two lumps of mud..."

If these words came from someone else, they would be a joke, but if Evil Husband really said them, he would definitely dare to do them. In addition, given that he mobilized the Black Dragon Armored Army, one can't help but think twice.

Chun Ning and Er Niu's expressions also changed. This was a marriage alliance between the monarch and the king, a marriage between two countries. If their elder brother was going to do this, how would Ying Zheng react?

"Don't worry about it, I know what I'm doing."

The wicked man shook his head and then changed the subject, "Let's not talk about this anymore, let's keep drinking. It's been a long time since we've seen each other, we must drink to our hearts' content tonight."

Seeing that the wicked husband was unwilling to talk more, the three of them stopped asking questions and raised their glasses to clink, filling the air with the aroma of wine.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually became lively. The musicians in the mansion played cheerful tunes, and the dancers followed suit, adding to the festive atmosphere of the evening.

On the surface, the wicked man appeared relaxed, but inwardly he was churning with anxiety, plotting how to prepare for his upcoming trip to the State of Chu.

The State of Chu was nothing more than a candle flickering in the wind, destined to be destroyed sooner or later. He would naturally be reluctant to give away too much, and it was completely unnecessary.

But this matter concerned the reputation of Ying Zheng and the Qin state, as weighty as Mount Tai, and he could not afford to be careless. He needed a solution that could satisfy both sides, showcasing the majesty of the Qin state without appearing overly shabby.

As night deepened, the drunken Chun Ning and her companions rose to take their leave like weary birds returning to their nests.

The wicked husband sat alone in his study, like a silent sculpture, lost in thought by candlelight.

He closed his eyes tightly, as if a raging storm was raging in his mind. After a moment, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, as if he had found his way in this storm.

The next day at noon.

"Squeak..."

The door was pushed open, the sunlight was warm, and a gentle breeze caressed his face, which invigorated the wicked husband. He stretched and felt a wave of comfort wash over him.

Zhang Erhe suddenly jumped out from somewhere, "Grand Commandant, you're awake?"

The wicked husband was startled and his good mood vanished instantly.

"Smack..."

The wicked man slapped Zhang Erhe on the back of the head and cursed, "Who taught you to appear and disappear like a ghost? You scared the hell out of me."

Zhang Erhe clutched the back of his head, his face contorted in pain. He was puzzled. How could his wicked husband, who was not even as strong as him, possess such great strength?

The wicked man glared at him and said, "Go and find General Li He for me."

"Got it!" Zhang Erhe replied, rubbing his head, and turned to leave quickly.

A short while later, Xiang Lihe followed Zhang Erhe and quickly entered the main hall.

"Grand Commandant, you summoned me here because of something?" Xianglihe asked, bowing.

The wicked man was lounging in his chair, casually picking up a bamboo slip from the table and tossing it to Xiang Lihe. “Make this within two days. The dimensions should be eight feet long and five feet high.”

Xiang Lihe opened the bamboo slip with a puzzled look and saw a somewhat rough drawing on it. He subconsciously asked, "What is this thing?"

"Well...."

The expressions of the wicked husband and Zhang Erhe changed simultaneously; the former was somewhat embarrassed, while the latter was filled with admiration.

"This...this is a glass artifact. The picture on it is of a dragon and a phoenix bringing good fortune...Can't you understand?" the wicked husband said, feigning nonchalance.

Xianglihe's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized that the painting was made by the evil man. "Cough... I understand, I understand. It is so beautifully painted that I was a little slow to react."

have to.

The three of them stared at each other, speechless.

It would have been better not to explain; the more you explain, the more awkward it becomes.

"Pfft, hahahaha..."

The wicked man suddenly burst out laughing, and Xianglihe and Zhang Erhe laughed along with him, instantly dispelling the awkwardness.

"Alright, alright, time is of the essence, hurry up and get to work!" The wicked husband waved his hand impatiently.

Xianglihe suppressed his smile, placed the bamboo slip in his bosom, and then bowed and took his leave.

After Xianglihe left, Zhang Erhe's eyes darted around for a moment before he asked, "Grand Commandant, are you planning to use glassware as a betrothal gift?"

The wicked husband snorted nasally, "No need for that... Am I supposed to pay for the betrothal gifts out of my own pocket? What else do I have to offer?"

"I still feel like I'm losing money by giving this away!"

Nowadays, glassware is extremely rare and highly sought after in the Kucha market. Although it has little cost, its prestige is undeniable.

The villagers of Chu didn't know how this substance was made, but they certainly knew it was very valuable, making it the perfect way to fool them.

Zhang Erhe smiled and couldn't help but give the wicked husband a thumbs up. When it comes to doing business, you have to look to the wicked husband, who is good at calculating every penny.

"Alright, you shouldn't just stand around doing nothing!"

The wicked man laughed and cursed, then ordered, "The Black Dragon Armored Army is mainly black, which is not suitable for this festive day. Go and find some red cloth in the city and send it to Zhushan to distribute to the soldiers."

"When we set off to fetch the bride, we'll tie it to our bodies and the warhorses, otherwise, it'll be too scary with all that dark stuff around us."

Zhang Erhe nodded upon hearing this, and as he turned to leave, he muttered to himself, "Now you're finally talking about manners."

No sooner had Zhang Erhe left than Zhao Gao arrived.

"This humble servant greets the Grand Commandant!"

The wicked man slightly raised his eyelids and glanced at him. "Does His Majesty have any further instructions?"

Zhao Gao chuckled awkwardly upon seeing this, immediately realizing that this man was still angry with the king, otherwise he wouldn't be treating him this way.

However, to be fair, what Your Majesty did was indeed not very ethical.

Everyone in the court knows that the Grand Commandant has never had a concept of money. His family's food, clothing and daily necessities are all allocated from the national treasury when he was rewarded. Where would he have any spare money? It's not like the Grand Commandant is getting married. How can we expect the Grand Commandant to pay for the betrothal out of his own pocket?

No one would be happy about this!