Seeing this, Liu Hong smiled and shook his head, then looked at Xi Zhicai seriously and said:

"It's true that I tricked you, but I've also said that a ruler's word is law. How could I joke with you like that?"

"Then you...?"

Xi Zhicai was in pain. He felt that he couldn't keep up with the emperor's train of thought, and he was beginning to regret staying here to freeload.

"Zhi Cai is my right-hand man, a future minister of the Han Dynasty. How can he marry a woman from a foreign land?"

Liu Hong smiled and patted Xi Zhicai on the shoulder, giving him a reassuring look.

"Your Majesty, please speak plainly. Don't keep toying with me..."

Xi Zhicai looked at Liu Hong with a frustrated expression. One minute he was saying that a ruler's word is law, and the next he was saying that he wouldn't let himself marry a foreign woman. What was he up to?

At this moment, Xi Zhicai felt like banging his head against a wall.

"Don't rush things!"

Seeing this, Liu Hong also stopped joking and turned to look at the palace maids serving him.

"Ahem~, Xiaohong, Xiaoqiong, you two take them away first. I have something to say to Zhicai!"

"promise!!"

Xiao Hong and Xiao Qiong bowed to Liu Hong, then led the palace maids out of the hall.

Liu Hong silently watched their retreating figures, while Xi Zhicai beside him was filled with doubt, wondering what the emperor was thinking at that moment.

After Xiao Hong and the others left the hall, Liu Hong turned to look at Xi Zhicai.

"Zhicai, tell me, how do we defeat and conquer a race?"