Chapter Seventy-Two [V] I have a favor to ask. ...

Li Yan knew Xue Yi was very busy, and on this rare day off, he must have his own things to do. Besides, he had already helped her buy a carriage and a maid, so she couldn't just keep bothering him.

So, before Xue Yi could speak, Li Yan said on her own, "Mother, no need, let him go about his business. He must have his own things to do, he can't just keep going around the inner quarters all the time."

After thinking about it carefully, Madam Xue felt that her daughter-in-law was right.

Erlang is no longer an ordinary farmer's son; he has fought in battles and earned merits. Now, he also holds a military post, so naturally he can no longer just revolve around his home and family as before.

He should go out more, meet more people, and broaden his horizons.

So she changed her tune again and smiled at her son, saying, "If you're busy, go and attend to your own important matters. If there's nothing to do outside, stay home and spend more time with your spouse."

Although they were husband and wife in name, they had never shared a bed. Hearing the words "the person beside you" made them both feel somewhat awkward.

As a man, Xue Yi couldn't let women take the lead in everything, so this time he took the initiative to reply to his mother, saying, "I will keep Mother's words in mind."

"Alright, then you two can go." Having said what needed to be said, Old Madam Xue dismissed the couple.

Granny Qiu was left at Liqing Garden by Old Madam Xue, while Li Yan led another maid back to Qiuxiang Courtyard.

Seeing this, Qingniang immediately followed. This time, however, Madam Xue did not stop Qingniang.

Xue Yi said he needed to go back to his study first, as he had some official business to attend to. Li Yan told him to hurry up and then took Qingniang and the little maid back to Qiuxiang Courtyard.

The little girl was only twelve years old, even younger than Qingniang. She was sold because her family was so poor they couldn't afford to eat.

Li Yan had already asked about some basic information when she was at the brokerage. Now, after bringing the little girl to Qiuxiang Courtyard, Li Yan gave her a different name, Xing'er.

"From now on, you will serve me like Qingniang. I won't deliberately make you do things that I can do myself, but now that you've entered the General's Mansion, you must have the right attitude and do your job well. If I find out that you've become arrogant because of my favor, I won't forgive you." Li Yan would treat these two unfortunate girls well, but since they were in this era, they had to abide by the rules and survival laws of this era.

Now that they've entered this place as slaves, they naturally need to follow the proper rules. Otherwise, how will this vast general's mansion be managed uniformly in the future?

Although she and Xue Yi are not actually husband and wife, she still holds the title of "Mrs. Xue" and has to fulfill her duties in this position.

Qingniang was the first to reply, "Don't worry, boss, I will definitely listen to you."

Seeing this, Xing'er immediately replied, "Xing'er will also listen to Madam."

Li Yan nodded and instructed the two women, "We just moved here yesterday, and there are still many things to unpack. Please sort and arrange all the items in the boxes and cages." The two women responded in unison and went to work.

Li Yan has a habit of taking a nap in the afternoon, and she was feeling sleepy at the moment, so she went to her bedroom to doze off for a while.

After finishing his official duties, Xue Yi went to the backyard and saw the two people busy with their work. He asked where Madam Li was. Upon hearing that Madam Li was resting in the inner bedroom, Xue Yi nodded and returned to the front study.

Before leaving, he said to Qingniang and Xing'er, "If Madam wakes up, you two come to the front yard to let her know, and I will come over again."

Xue Yi asked someone for help and found another school for his nephew.

Within Jiangning Prefecture, anyone with money could attend a regular school. However, to attend a better school, one had to pull strings and find someone to help them.

Just at noon, while he was busy with military affairs in his study, his friend Shao Kang suddenly came to find him and excitedly told him, "Teacher Dai of Honghu Academy was once a student of Master Gao. And I found out that Master Gao once stayed in Huating County for a while because he loved the food there. And that food was made by your sister-in-law... Brother Xue, instead of asking others to do this, you should ask your sister-in-law."

Shao Kang was from Jiangning Prefecture and had grown up there. Therefore, he had far more connections than Xue Yi.

With just a little inquiry, one can find out the ins and outs of some things.

After finding out why Mr. Gao had stayed in Huating County, Shao Kang immediately went to find Xue Yi with great joy.

Upon hearing this, Xue Yi was also quite shocked. He hadn't expected that in this life, not only had Li's appearance and personality changed drastically, but her social circle had also expanded considerably. In her previous life, Li lived a secluded life, almost never interacting with outsiders. She would even avoid exchanging a single word with her mother and others living under the same roof.

In this life, she actually got to know a leading figure in the academic world of Jiangning Prefecture.

Xue Yi found it utterly unbelievable.

He suddenly froze, and Shao Kang raised his hand and waved it in front of him, then laughed and said, "If my sister-in-law really has this ability, I also have a favor to ask."

Although he was a native of Jiangning Prefecture and had mingled with all sorts of people since childhood, making many friends, his social standing was not high, so the upper limit of the people he knew was limited.

His eldest son is now seven years old, the age when he should start school. Although he has achieved some status now, he still suffers from not having received much education, so he wants to make sure his sons get a good education whenever possible.

Even if one doesn't pursue a career in education or take the imperial examinations to enter officialdom, starting from a higher level will allow one to meet people of a different caliber.

In Jiangning Prefecture, those who could enter Honghu Academy were all either rich or noble. If he could be classmates with these people, his starting point would naturally be several levels higher than before.

Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them.

He wanted to pave the way for his two sons as soon as possible.

"Brother Shao, please speak," Xue Yi said earnestly.

Shao Kang: "Your eldest nephew is seven years old now, and he's of school age. So I was thinking... if you really have connections, could you help my eldest son as well?" Since it was an unreasonable request, Shao Kang knew it was difficult to refuse, so he looked embarrassed.

Previously, when Xue Yi asked Shao Kang for a favor, Shao Kang agreed without hesitation and did it wholeheartedly. Now that Shao Kang has come to him for a favor, Xue Yi will naturally not refuse.

So he agreed, saying, "Brother, please rest assured, I will definitely talk to my wife properly." Brother Shao knew about five or six parts of his affair with Li, only that Li was a woman his family had arranged for him to marry when he went to the battlefield to bring him good luck. Although they were husband and wife, they had no feelings for each other.

But what he didn't know was that both he and Li knew in their hearts that they couldn't be a real couple. Or perhaps, such a relationship wouldn't last long.

Even though he was still unfamiliar with the Li family, he would do his best to help Brother Shao.

After Li Yan woke up, Qingniang immediately told her everything that Xue Yi had said when she was asleep.

"He's looking for me?" Li Yan asked curiously.

Qingniang said, "He said he'd tell the master to go to the front and inform him after he wakes up, then he'll come find you." Qingniang only listened to Li Yan, "Should I go and tell him?"

Li Yan shook her head: "No need." As she spoke, she stood up. "I'll go find him."

Based on her limited understanding of Xue Yi from their short time together, she knew he would never come looking for her unless it was something important. Therefore, there was no need for Qingniang to tell him she was awake and ask him to come looking for her; she would rather go to him herself.

Xue Yi's study is not far from Qiu Xiang Courtyard. Just cross a long corridor and pass through two moon gates, and you'll arrive.

Outside the study, a servant was waiting. The servant naturally recognized Li Yan, and upon seeing her arrive, he immediately came forward to greet her: "Madam."

"Where is your general?" Li Yan asked with a smile.

"The general is inside. I'll go and inform him."

Just as the servant turned around to ask for instructions, Li Yan heard a creak as the study door opened, revealing a tall man standing in the doorway.

This man was indeed handsome; Li Yan felt that just by standing there, he stole the spotlight from everyone around him.

Xue Yi's appearance and temperament were far above Li Yan's standards. That's why she felt that spending the rest of her life with such a man wouldn't be so bad.

As long as he respects me and doesn't interfere too much in my career and decisions, and as long as our values ​​align... there's nothing we can't do to make it work.

Thinking of this, Li Yan felt her heart beating faster.

But she was a rational person, and soon she regained her composure.

"Qingniang told me you came looking for me this afternoon?" Li Yan asked.

Xue Yi nodded: "Come in and talk to me."

Li Yan entered the study, and Xue Yi asked her to sit down before looking at her seriously and saying, "Do you know the former Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Gao Chunliang?"

"Yes, we know each other. What's up?" Li Yan asked curiously.

Xue Yi then told him about Xu Ge'er's matter, and how he asked Shao Kang to help find someone through connections, and finally found out that Master Gao had been Teacher Dai's teacher at Honghu Academy.

Although Li was his "bedmate," Xue Yi still found it difficult to ask her for help.

Li Yan understood his meaning and took the initiative to ask, "Do you want me to go and plead with Master Gao on your behalf?"

Xue Yi nodded: "I'm sorry to have troubled you." After thinking for a moment, he decided that it was better to bring up Brother Shao's matter now than to bring it up later. "Brother Shao's eldest son is seven years old this year. When he came over this afternoon, he also wanted to ask you for help. But if it's difficult, then so be it. I will talk to him."

Li Yan didn't think it was a difficult matter; whether it would work out or not was up to Master Gao. But if it only required her to plead for him, it would be a piece of cake for her.

Therefore, Li Yan readily agreed, "Then I'll go and deliver a visiting card to the Gao family in a bit, and the day after tomorrow. If Master Gao has time the day after tomorrow, I'll go and visit him."

Xue Yi had imagined many scenarios in which she would refuse or be in a difficult position, but he never expected her to agree so readily.

"Then I'll thank you on behalf of Brother Xu." Xue Yi's attitude was very sincere.

Li Yan laughed, "I've lived under the same roof as Xu Ge'er for a year. Although he's not my biological nephew, we still have a bond. Don't forget, I took my own younger brother's place in school for him back then." She then praised Xu Ge'er, "He's a bright boy, and he's got the makings of a scholar. I believe that Master Gao, like that Scholar Weng from Xiaochun Academy before, values ​​a child's potential more. I only need to make a connection; I can't help much. In the end, it all depends on Xu Ge'er and that eldest son of the Shao family's own abilities."

Xue Yi only hoped that she could make a connection; he did not expect her to actually get things done.

As she said, whether it will succeed or not ultimately depends on the two children's own abilities.

Even if it was just a simple connection or a few words of kindness, Xue Yi was extremely grateful.