The Xian family sent more people.

The people who came this time included Xian Ying and an elderly man, likely a clan elder or someone of similar status from the Xian Family.

Seeing these two, Gao Yuan understood that the Xian Family was planning to raise the stakes this time.

Secretly delighted, Gao Yuan sat in the seat of honor and took a sip of tea.

"It's the middle of the Lunar New Year. Why has Lady Xian run all the way here instead of celebrating in Guangzhou? Won't Commander Feng Pu become suspicious?"

Xian Ying gave a helpless smile.

"To be honest, Commandery Duke, Feng Pu and I haven't seen each other for nearly two years."

Gao Yuan was startled, thinking to himself, 'It seems the Feng Family and the Xian Family have reached the point of a complete falling out.'

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The old man beside her suddenly coughed a few times. Snapping out of her sadness, Xian Ying hurriedly introduced him to Gao Yuan.

"This is my Xian Family's Second Granduncle."

The old man stood up and gave Gao Yuan a slight bow, yet his waist didn't bend in the slightest.

"Xian Yang greets the Duke of Xicheng Commandery."

Seeing how arrogant the man was, Gao Yuan didn't bother with pleasantries. He didn't even lift his backside from the chair, merely raising a hand slightly.

"No need for formalities, Elder Xian. Please sit."

Xian Ying could see Gao Yuan's displeasure from his expression. Her heart tightened; she knew Xian Yang's attitude had annoyed him, and she grew anxious.

"Second Granduncle injured his back in his youth. I hope the Commandery Duke can forgive him."

Gao Yuan didn't even raise his eyelids, casually taking another sip of tea.

"Mhm, I understand. I wonder what business brings you two here so late at night?"

Xian Yang clearly didn't notice Gao Yuan's cold attitude. Or rather, people from these great clans were so used to being superior that they looked down on Gao Yuan from the bottom of their hearts because of his pretty-boy looks.

"Xiao Ying and I have come this time to have a proper talk with the Commandery Duke about the matters of South of the Ranges."

Gao Yuan set down his teacup, looked up at Xian Ying, and said,

"Alright, let's talk then. I believe I made my conditions very clear last time."

Xian Ying nodded hurriedly.

"Of course. This humble woman has relayed the Commandery Duke's words exactly as they were spoken."

"That's good. It avoids any misunderstandings that might result in you, the messenger, being the unlucky one in the end."

Xian Yang watched their interaction and coughed a few more times, his eyes darting around.

"I wonder what the Commandery Duke thinks of Xiao Ying? If you don't mind her modest looks and her status as a discarded woman, how about taking her as a concubine?"

Xian Ying's eyes widened. She looked at the Second Granduncle she usually respected so much in disbelief, her lips trembling, yet she couldn't say a word.

Gao Yuan also let out a cold sneer.

"Heh, I wonder what price you think such a woman can be traded for?"

Xian Yang thought his honey trap had succeeded, and a smug expression of a successful scheme appeared on his face.

"As the Commandery Duke knows, our Xian Family has a century of heritage and a flourishing population. We hope the Commandery Duke will be merciful and grant us some land and servants..."

Gao Yuan raised a hand to interrupt the old man.

"Just say it plainly. How much do you want?"

"We hope a member of the Xian Family can serve as the Guangzhou provincial inspector. In addition to the Xian Family's existing properties and servants, we hope the Commandery Duke can allocate another hundred qing of fertile land and two thousand able-bodied men..."

Gao Yuan didn't care to listen any further. He had seen people make outrageous demands, but never one this absurd.

He glanced at the woman beside him. After confirming she wasn't in on this, he asked,

"Have you heard of the former West City Local Chieftain, Mu Sheng?"

"Of course we have."

"He is now the chief clerk of Diannan Circuit, a titled noble of the court, and also the father of my fifth-rank Lady of Suitability."

Gao Yuan paused and took a sip of tea before continuing.

"But do you know? Under my rule, he only has twenty mu of hereditary land. Not a single mu more."

Having finished, Gao Yuan stood up and looked down at the shocked old man.

"If your Xian Family is still clinging to unrealistic fantasies, then just wait to be devoured by the Feng Family! Humph!"

Leaving behind a cold snort, Gao Yuan strode away, though he caught a look from Xian Ying before he left.

He finally saw clearly: in the entire Xian Family, this woman might be the only one with a clear head left.

Xian Yang stood up shakily, looking in the direction Gao Yuan had left.

"This... this..."

He really wanted to shout 'insolent brat,' but he quickly realized that would be a suicidal move.

Xian Ying supported the tottering Xian Yang, patting the old man's back while patiently advising him,

"Don't worry, Second Granduncle. This humble woman will visit again tomorrow. Perhaps there is still a chance for a turnaround."

Xian Yang acted as if he had caught a life-saving straw, his wrinkled head nodding like a chicken pecking at grain.

"Yes, yes, yes. You must serve the Commandery Duke well. As long as he relents, our Xian Family can be saved."

Back in the bedroom, Zhao Xiyao hadn't slept yet and was reading a book. Seeing her husband return looking quite irritated, she quickly stood up and asked,

"The talk didn't go well?"

"A bunch of fools who don't know their place. They actually dared to make such outrageous demands to me."

"Not only do they refuse to hand over their land and population, they actually want more from me."

"Just wait. Once Feng Pu wipes out the Xian Family, I'll wipe out Feng Pu. Then it will all be mine."

Zhao Xiyao walked over to help Gao Yuan undress while softly comforting him.

"Aren't these great clans all like this? Unless you put a blade to their throats, they'll never be willing to give up any benefits."

"I suspect that besides looking for an alliance with us, they've definitely approached others, like Governor Wang Chuan, and might even be thinking of reconciling with Feng Pu."

Gao Yuan nodded.

"Zhao Xiyaos informal address, you're right. But I suspect Feng Pu's attitude is even tougher than mine; otherwise, they wouldn't have come to me repeatedly."

"As for Governor Wang Chuan and Wang Fu, heh, those two are probably spending all their time thinking about their own transfers right now."

Just as the couple thought, Feng Pu's appetite was even larger than Gao Yuan's.

He didn't just want all the Xian Family's power; he wanted all their people, land, and wealth.

In his eyes, the Xian Family was like a fattened pig for the New Year. He had long been sharpening his knife, just waiting for the right moment.

At this time, he was sandwiched between Governor Wang Chuan's Region Governors Office troops and Mao Biao's Jiangnan West Circuit troops.

Although Mao Biao's main force had headed north, he had still left behind a significant number of troops.

As for Gao Yuan, he felt that this Grand Princess's consort had even more rebellious intent than himself.

And Governor Wang Chuan and Wang Fu—these two were smart men. How could they not see the situation clearly?

They had long predicted Feng Pu's rebellious intentions and were very aware that their own capabilities were limited.

So, after discussing it, they felt that since they had already squeezed enough profit, it was better to resign and retire as wealthy gentlemen.

They were just small fries; how could they be someone else's support? On what? On the twelve thousand troops under the Region Governors Office? Don't be ridiculous!

Therefore, the two of them didn't hesitate and flatly rejected the Xian Family's proposal.

This was why Xian Yang, the second-in-command of the Xian Family, had traveled thousands of miles to County in Diannan during the New Year. They truly had no other way out.

It wasn't that Xian Ying hadn't warned her Second Granduncle before they came, but her voice carried little weight, and in the end, she couldn't stop Xian Yang's self-importance.

Back at the guest house, Xian Yang was huffing with anger, but Xian Ying was tossing and turning, unable to sleep at all. She was still thinking about that look from Gao Yuan.

'Does he want me? Then why did he reject Second Granduncle? Or does he think I'm not worth that much? What should I do?'

Unlike Xian Ying's sleepless night, Gao Yuan slept very soundly. With a beautiful woman in his arms, how could he not?

The next day proceeded as usual until evening. After dinner, Gao Yuan didn't hurry back to his courtyard but instead sat in his study.

Around the second watch, a female soldier came to report.

"Commandery Duke, the person you are waiting for has arrived."

Gao Yuan nodded.

"Mhm, let them in."

"Understood!"

After a moment, an enchanting figure walked in, led by the female soldier.