Xia Luqi takes on apprentices

Knowing that he would soon be heading out to war again, Gao Yuan became even more attached to home, truly achieving the state of not stepping out of the front gate or the inner chambers.

He stayed at home every day, using his memories to cook delicious food for the women, satisfying their taste buds.

Of course, at night, he would also enrich his spiritual world with them, engaging in some necessary "study."

Compared to Zhao Xiyao, Zheng Wan, and Song Yao—three women born in secluded courtyards—Mu Qing, who had loved martial arts since childhood, showed her advantage.

Ever since his physical attributes broke through, Gao Yuan's motivation for "study" had increased significantly.

However, sometimes it was inevitable that the "study" went too late, leaving him a bit listless the next day.

Only Little Chili Pepper, despite being the most serious and staying up the latest during every "study" session, was still full of energy the next day.

Little Chili Pepper's stubborn look made Gao Yuan find her increasingly adorable.

After another "study" session ended, Zhao Xiyao leaned in Gao Yuan's arms, her slender fingers tracing circles on her Husband's chest.

"Husband, aren't you going to see those siblings?"

"Ah! You mean the Yang Family siblings."

"Mhm. Although the Bo Prefecture Local Chieftain is gone, the Yang Family's legacy and connections still remain. If utilized well, it will be beneficial for us in the future."

"My Zhao Xiyaos informal address is truly gaining more and more of a queenly bearing, to even think of this layer."

"Hmph, I don't believe you didn't have this in mind when you saved them."

As Zhao Xiyao spoke, she seemed to think of something.

"If... if necessary, you should take that Yang Xin as a concubine."

Gao Yuan was startled by Zhao Xiyao's words.

"Cough, cough, cough... Let's not talk about that. Having you all is enough for me."

Zhao Xiyao looked up at her beloved, gritted her teeth, and voiced the thought hidden deep in her heart.

"Husband, if... if that day truly comes in the future, I hope you... you can give the descendants of the Zhao Family a way to live."

Gao Yuan looked down at the beauty in his arms, his hand tightening around her fragrant shoulder.

"Don't worry. No matter when, Great Qian will always be Great Qian; there will be no change of dynasty."

Zhao Xiyao gave her husband a deep look and stopped speaking.

After a quiet night, early the next morning, Gao Yuan prepared to head out to see the Yang Family siblings after breakfast.

Morning in Guchang County was bustling. Today, Gao Yuan didn't ride a horse or take a carriage; instead, he walked slowly through the streets with Xia Luqi.

"My Lord, the people's lives seem to be going quite well."

"Oh? Bang Jie, since when did you understand such things?"

Gao Yuan was also quite surprised that a brute like Xia Luqi would say such a thing.

Xia Luqi scratched his head and smiled foolishly.

"Actually, I don't understand these things, but I can see that the people look very happy."

"Indeed."

Gao Yuan glanced at the smiles on everyone's faces again and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"In truth, as long as they have enough to eat and wear, the people are satisfied."

Passing a stall, the two specifically sat down and ordered a bowl of chicken soup rice noodles, each adding a boiled egg.

With a bowl of fresh, fragrant rice noodles in his stomach, Gao Yuan's mood improved even further.

After walking for about another fifteen minutes, the two arrived at the gate of a courtyard.

The gatekeepers were the very guards who had escorted the Yang siblings out of Zunyi City.

Now, they had shed their armor and changed into the attire of ordinary household servants.

Upon seeing Gao Yuan, they hurriedly bowed.

"Greetings, Commandery Duke. Greetings, General."

"Mhm. I heard you've settled in, so I came specifically to take a look."

The guard led Gao Yuan to the main hall to sit, waiting for a maid to serve tea.

"Please wait a moment, Commandery Duke and General. This lowly one will go report to the young lady immediately."

"Mhm, go on."

After a while, a young girl about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a goose-yellow Ruqun, walked in.

She performed a Wanfu Salute to Gao Yuan.

"Greetings, Commandery Duke."

Gao Yuan saw that her movements were somewhat stiff and unfamiliar, and thinking she was nervous, he spoke up.

"Miss Yang, don't be too constrained. I just came to take a look today, nothing more."

Since Gao Yuan was there, Yang Xin didn't dare sit in the main seat and went to sit opposite him.

"Miss Yang, are you used to living here?"

"It's very good. Compared to those days on the run when our lives were at risk, this place can already be considered a paradise on earth."

Hearing the words "Paradise on Earth," and thinking of a brothel he had just passed, Gao Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

Seeing Yang Xin's confused gaze, Gao Yuan quickly stopped laughing.

"Miss Yang, don't misunderstand. I just thought of something amusing."

"Now that you've settled in, Miss Yang, have you thought about what to do next?"

"I... I want to do some business, but I don't... don't have the capital..."

"That's easy. How much capital do you need? Just give me a number, and I'll send someone to deliver it later. Consider it my investment."

Yang Xin's eyes lit up, and she nodded heavily.

"Then in the future, the profits will be split 40/60... oh, no, 30/70. I take thirty percent and you take seventy."

Gao Yuan smiled and waved his hand.

"40/60 it is. Your whole family needs to live, after all."

It wasn't that Gao Yuan was being a saint; he simply felt that such a young girl wouldn't make much money anyway.

Yang Xin looked at Gao Yuan, held up one finger, and asked tentatively.

"Then... a hundred taels of silver?"

"Silver? We don't use that stuff. I'll have someone send over a hundred strings of cash later."

"By the way, how is your younger brother? Why haven't I seen him?"

Gao Yuan was still quite interested in this hidden subordinate of his.

To put it bluntly, giving money to Yang Xin was like paying General Yang Zhan's salary in advance—a way to win people's hearts.

Although there wouldn't be any issues with loyalty due to the system's blessing, one still had to bestow favors.

Otherwise, if one courted disaster, even the most loyal person would become estranged.

"My brother is still young; I was afraid he might offend the Commandery Duke."

"It's fine, he's just a child. Bring him over for me to see."

"Al... Alright!"

After a while, Gao Yuan finally saw the talent he had spent a B-grade card to obtain: the three-year-old brat, General Yang Zhan.

The chubby little brat looked at Gao Yuan with a blank, cute expression.

"Are you my brother-in-law?"

"Pfft... Cough, cough, cough..."

Gao Yuan spat out a mouthful of tea, nearly choking to death, and only recovered after a long while.

Yang Xin hurriedly squatted down to protect the little brat in her arms. Seeing this, Gao Yuan quickly spoke to comfort her.

"It's fine, it's fine. Children say the darndest things."

Gao Yuan squatted down and rubbed the little brat's head.

"Little fellow, I'm not your brother-in-law, but I'm willing to take you as my disciple. How about it?"

Anyone else would have been moved to tears of gratitude, but surprisingly, this little brat wasn't buying it.

"I don't want to be your disciple. You're so good-looking, you should just be my brother-in-law."

Now both Gao Yuan and Yang Xin felt a bit embarrassed, but Xia Luqi, who was beside Gao Yuan, was quite interested.

"My Lord, I see this child has good potential. Why don't I, This humble general, take him as a disciple?"

The little brat looked up at Xia Luqi, without the slightest hint of fear.

"Are you very strong?"

"Little fellow, this General Xia Luqi is a fierce warrior capable of standing against ten thousand men..."

"Alright then!"

The little brat made a very reluctant face and bowed to Xia Luqi.

"Disciple General Yang Zhan pays respects to Master."

"Hahaha! I didn't expect to actually take a disciple today."

Seeing Xia Luqi laugh so happily, Gao Yuan knew the man was truly invested, so he gave his tacit consent.

Without any complicated apprenticeship ceremony, General Yang Zhan served tea to Xia Luqi, and the apprenticeship was official.

Yang Xin and the mansion's guard commander, Yang Tai, were also clearly very excited.

In Nanzhou, Xia Luqi's status could be said to be transcendent. Being his disciple was equivalent to having a protective umbrella; who would dare provoke him?

After chatting with Yang Xin for a while longer, Gao Yuan finally left the Yang residence and walked home.