The Xian family's choice

The woman walked calmly to the desk and gave Gao Yuan a deep blessing salute.

"This humble one pays her respects to the Commandery Duke."

"Alright, alright. Madam, you have a grand vision in your heart; there's no need to act so weak before me, is there?"

Gao Yuan pointed to the chair opposite him, gesturing for Xian Ying to sit, before asking,

"Since Madam has requested a private meeting, you must have already made your calculations. Why don't we be frank with each other and lay our bargaining chips on the table?"

Xian Ying gave a bitter smile.

"If the men worked harder, why would we women have to run about outside? If they could see the situation clearly, why would I have needed to make this trip?"

"Is Madam calling me lazy or incompetent? I've handed over all the government affairs of Diannan Circuit and Zhongnan Circuit to women!"

"I didn't mean it that way; I was merely lamenting my own fate."

Xian Ying finally put away her sorrowful expression, and her face became serious and earnest.

"provincial inspector Xian Xing of Lianzhou Prefecture is my biological brother. Though his abilities are mediocre, he dotes on me. The Zhechong Commandant of Leizhou Prefecture is an old subordinate of my father's and has treated us siblings as his own since childhood..."

"Madam's chips are very tempting. I just wonder what Madam seeks?"

"I seek nothing more than protection—a path that allows my family to survive."

Gao Yuan nodded with satisfaction.

"Madam is indeed a rare person of clarity. Very well, I will give you that path."

Gao Yuan's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, and he soon reached a decision.

"I will employ your brother and elder according to their talents. As for your Xian Family... I can give you the secret recipe for ice-making and allow you to operate an ice-making business within my territory. How does that sound?"

To Gao Yuan's surprise, the woman showed no intention of bargaining. She stood up, gave him another blessing salute, and departed.

Xian Yang's diplomatic mission—or rather, his visit—was a failure, but Xian Ying had achieved her objective.

Ever since her older cousin, who had doted on her since childhood, died mysteriously in the Feng Family, and since she was forced to marry her brother-in-law as a second wife, she no longer held any expectations for the Xian Family as a whole.

Now, she only wanted to protect the brother who loved her, protect her own small branch of the family, and protect her father's old subordinates. That was all.

Xian Yang had no idea that the entire Xian Family had already been abandoned by the woman before him. Along the way, he was still concerned about whether Gao Yuan was satisfied with her.

Xian Ying hummed and hawed perfunctorily, while sneering in her heart.

"You people, being so filthy yourselves, assume everyone else is just like you."

She knew that this Second Great-Uncle of hers kept two teenage concubines. Though he was incapable of actual relations, he enjoyed using extremely perverted methods of abuse to satisfy his desires.

Seeing her hesitant and evasive manner, Xian Yang thought she was merely shy. He grabbed her hand, stroking it while revealing a lewd smile.

"Little Ying, you must hold tight to Gao Yuan's heart. The future of our Xian Family depends on you."

"Second Great-Uncle, I understand."

Upon arriving at the post house, the first thing Xian Ying did was wash her hands. She washed them countless times, not stopping until her skin was rubbed red.

In Guangzhou, at the Xian Family's grand estate, Xian Yang finished recounting Gao Yuan's attitude with much exaggeration and reached a conclusion: "That brat is not worth dealing with."

Immediately after, the other two groups also described their situations.

"There is no hope with Governor Wang Chuan and Wang Fu. The two of them are currently pulling strings to be transferred out of Region. We don't know who their successors will be."

"What did Feng Pu say?"

"Same as before. He wants us to hand over all military power, land, and population, as well as eighty percent of our wealth."

"We are truly surrounded by wolves. What are we to do!"

"Don't we still have people in Lianzhou Prefecture and Leizhou Prefecture? At worst, we'll abandon everything here and move entirely to Lianzhou."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! We still have several thousand acres of land in Guangzhou, and what about all that money and grain?"

"Transport it all together!"

"Heh, do you think Feng Pu will let us leave so easily?"

"Then what do you suggest? Do we just leave all this money and grain to Feng Pu? It would be better to give it to Feng Pu in exchange for his protection!"

"Right, it's better to give it to Feng Pu."

Listening to their discussion, Xian Ying couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

"You think Feng Pu's appetite is that small? Once your military power is gone, only death awaits you. On the other hand, that young man..."

Since she had already decided on Gao Yuan, how could Xian Ying not have investigated him? The fates of the Mu Family in West City, the Yang Family in Bo Prefecture, and those fallen nobles were a major reason for her final decision.

The next day, the Xian Family members went as a group to find Feng Pu. Xian Ying did not go with them; instead, she boarded a carriage and hurried toward Leizhou Prefecture.

Upon receiving his sister's letter, Xian Xing also traveled day and night to reach Leizhou Prefecture.

On the tenth day of the third month in the fifth year of era name, at the residence of Mu Shun, the Zhechong Commandant of Leizhou Prefecture, Xian Xing, Xian Ying, and Mu Shun met in a secret room.

"Little Ying, tell us, what did the family decide?"

"The clan elders have decided to cooperate with Feng Pu."

Mu Shun stood up in shock.

"Cooperate with the Feng Family? Isn't that seeking our own deaths?"

Xian Xing, however, noticed Xian Ying's expression and deliberately lowered his voice to ask,

"Sister Ying, do you have other plans?"

Xian Ying nodded.

"I intend to part ways with the family and seek refuge with Gao Yuan."

"Gao Yuan? Gao Yuan! The military governor of diannan circuit, Gao Yuan? Didn't you say last time that his appetite was even larger than Feng Pu's?"

Xian Xing started with a question, then cried out in alarm. Then, he seemed to think of something.

"Sister Ying, you wouldn't have... with him..."

Xian Ying glared at her brother and said irritably,

"Gao Yuan has promised that as long as we can help him take Lianzhou Prefecture and Leizhou Prefecture and hand over all land and population, he will give us the ice-making business. Furthermore, you two will be employed according to your talents."

Xian Xing and Mu Shun looked at each other, both seeing looks of disbelief in the other's eyes. Finally, Xian Xing asked tentatively,

"He won't kill the donkey once the grinding is done, will he? People of his kind are the most heartless. Once they turn ruthless, even sons or bedfellows can be sacrificed."

This time, Xian Ying shook her head decisively.

"I have already sent people to investigate. Even the nobles of Khmer and Lan Xang, as long as they surrender to him, hand over their land and population, and accept Sinicization, can receive an industry."

"The Mu Family of West City and the Yang Family of Bo Prefecture have even become his confidants. Mu Sheng's daughter has even become his concubine. Therefore, I believe Gao Yuan is trustworthy."

Xian Xing glanced at his beautiful sister beside him and suddenly slapped the table.

"Good! Since you are certain, Sister Ying, then I, your brother, will follow you. Uncle, what about you?"

Mu Shun didn't actually have any strong opinions, but seeing that the two of them had already decided, he made his decision as well.

"Since the Young Master and Young Lady have agreed, I have nothing to oppose. However, I am old and no longer wish to lead troops. If the Young Master and Young Lady don't mind, take me in as a manager."

"Uncle, you have only just passed forty. Why..."

Xian Ying, however, understood Mu Shun's meaning and stopped Xian Xing.

"Brother, do you think Gao Yuan would feel at ease letting an outsider lead troops?"

Xian Xing finally realized and nodded somewhat sheepishly.

"That's fine too. Uncle Shun is the only one left of father's old subordinates. It's good to live out your years in peace and stability."

Having confirmed their attitudes, Xian Ying began the next step of her planning.

"Brother, Uncle, how many of the troops in Lianzhou Prefecture and Leizhou Prefecture can you control? And what about Feng Pu's people?"