Looking back to the time when Liu Ji entered the Ding family mansion, he still looked like he had never seen the world and even made a fool of himself going to the toilet.

This time, the He family's luxury was even greater, but he had learned to look straight ahead.

Coupled with the chicken coop and country eggs in his hands, it exuded a sense of simplicity and luxury, which made Qi Xiangguan look sideways.

Is this still the Liu Saner he knew who took his arms around him and took him naked to the bathhouse?

Arriving at the vase door in the second courtyard, Qi Xianguan said, "Madam, my aunt is waiting for you in the backyard. Please go over with my cousin."

Qin Yao nodded to show that she understood. Men and women were separated. She gave Liu Ji a look, telling him not to let her down and say anything inappropriate.

If there weren't so many maids and servants around, Liu Ji would have wanted to roll his eyes.

Things are different now. He is no longer the peasant he used to be.

He is now a disciple of a great Confucian scholar, the future scholar Liu Ji!

Qin Yao was holding the New Year gift, but didn't know who to give it to. He Zhanghua made a small gesture and immediately the housekeeper came forward and took the New Year gift from the couple.

The old woman looked at the two lively chickens in the cage and was secretly surprised. It had been a long time since she received such a down-to-earth New Year gift.

He raised his head and secretly glanced at the visiting couple. The man had an excellent appearance, was calm and composed, dressed simply, and did not show a trace of timidity.

The woman's clothes were slightly more delicate, but she only had a pair of silver bracelets on her body, no other jewelry. She was even calmer, and did not show the nervousness and stinginess that she had shown when she first arrived at the prefect's house.

She walked with her head held high, more imposing than the ladies in the city, making people dare not neglect her.

With simple attire and unusual temperament, both the couple exude a mysterious feeling that attracts people's exploration. It seems that they don't seem to have come out of the mountains.

They seemed like a hermit's immortal couple. He Zhanghua thought to himself as he looked up at the woman beside him.

There was a decorative stone standing on the roadside on the right side in front. Qin Yao saw that He Zhanghua was staring at her and was about to kick her, so she immediately took action, grabbed her waist and lifted her up, and put her on the wide road on the left.

The sudden flying attack frightened the little girl so much that she screamed "Ah". After she came to her senses, she looked up at Qin Yao with admiring eyes.

"Madam, are you born with such supernatural powers? That's amazing!" He Zhanghua asked curiously.

Qin Yao nodded slightly, and then asked, "You have such a natural talent, why don't you go to the battlefield to win military merit and become a female general?"

Qin Yao was stunned, "Female general?" Can a woman from Sheng Country go to the battlefield?

He Zhanghua raised his hand excitedly and pointed to the flower hall in front, "There is another guest coming to visit my mother today. Guess who it is."

Qin Yao shook her head, too lazy to guess, "I can't guess."

He Zhanghua smiled slyly, with an expression that said you would be shocked if you heard it, and lowered his voice and said, "It's General Mu Ling, the personal guard of Her Royal Highness the Princess, who is in charge of half of the Imperial Guards in Kyoto."

Somehow, she had a hunch that Qin Yao could understand these titles, and she was not like an ordinary village woman who needed her to explain them, so she waited to see Qin Yao's surprised expression.

Qin Yao did as she wished, showing a surprised expression, "This General Mu Ling is a woman?"

He Zhanghua nodded enthusiastically. She admired these powerful women the most and vowed to join the army in the future and ascend to the court as a military general.

This is the only channel to power that Her Royal Highness the Princess and the Queen have secured for the noble women.

Women are not allowed in the imperial examinations, but they are allowed in the military camps.

However, only daughters of aristocratic families, wives of officials of the fifth rank and above, or nobles and county ladies can have the privilege of joining the army.

Prefect He is now a fifth-rank local official and just meets the requirements.

He Zhanghua is the only daughter in the family, so naturally she must be well trained.

He Zhanghua said with some anticipation that General Mu Ling would come today because her mother asked the Princess for a favor and asked for his permission to make him her apprentice.

As they were talking, the two of them had already arrived outside the flower hall. Qin Yao looked at the excited He Zhanghua with some confusion and asked her, "Why are you telling me this, Miss?"

The little girl said to her with a humble attitude and a confident tone: "I want you to be my bodyguard!"

She had thought about it during the Dragon Boat Festival, but by the time she got her parents' consent, the strong woman had already left.

Who would have thought that they would meet again today? No matter what, if she doesn't fight for herself once, she will definitely regret it in the future.

"You are just a commoner woman. You will never be able to become a fifth-rank official's wife in your lifetime. But if you follow me, when I can go out to fight, I can take you to the battlefield with me. Then we can fight side by side and kick down all those old men who are trying to stop His Highness!"

Qin Yao suddenly remembered that the girl in front of her with such a big tone was only nine years old this year.

He Zhanghua asked confidently: "Do you agree or not? I can help you divorce your husband. What's the point of being a virgin?"

The girl became more and more arrogant. A seemingly serious but actually doting rebuke came from the hall: "You rude little girl, please invite the guests in!"

He Zhanghua, who had already mentioned that he would give Qin Yao a monthly salary of five taels of silver, quickly covered his mouth. Oh no, his mother had heard it.

But those big black eyes looked at Qin Yao expectantly, waiting for her answer.

Qin Yao suppressed the momentary surge in her heart, smiled faintly, and replied: "I'm sorry Miss He, I can't wait for you to finish your apprenticeship."

This answer obviously caught the little girl off guard and she was stunned for a moment.

Madam Qi's personal maid Chunhua opened the door curtain and came out, smiling and bowing to Qin Yao, "Madam Liu, please come in and warm yourself by the fire. It's cold outside, and you won't feel good if you get cold."

Having said that, he calmly pulled the stunned young lady into the house and reminded her that if she continued talking so much, the mistress would be unhappy.

Qin Yao walked into the house. A warm heat rushed in and surrounded her. The faint fragrance of flowers and fruits drifted into her nose, making her feel relaxed.

Qin Yao walked forward and saw two women sitting in the flower hall. One of them was Madam Qi, who was sitting in the main seat and was dressed simply and elegantly.

Qin Yao bowed slightly and showed off his dry sense of humor, "Qin Yao wishes his wife a happy new year first." He also said a few auspicious words for the new year.

Madam Qi looked at her in surprise and couldn't help laughing. The maids and servants behind her were already covering their faces and laughing out loud. They had never seen anyone wishing a happy new year so early.

But after laughing, seeing Qin Yao smiling happily with them, they all cast friendly glances at her and thought that this person was very interesting.

Chunhua brought an embroidered stool and placed it on the right guest seat, "Madam, please sit down."

Directly opposite, on the left seat, there was a woman sitting, about 28 or 29 years old, very tall, about 1.7 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. In the twelfth lunar month, she was only wearing a thin padded jacket and a pair of leather boots with a dagger stuck on the side of her boots.

On the table beside her was a sheathed sword. She sat with her sword open and closed. Although she was a woman, she exuded a brave and powerful aura that made people dare not look directly at her.

Qin Yao looked directly at the other person and nodded politely in greeting.

Afterwards, she did not sit down on the embroidered stool that the maid had specially brought, but chose to sit on the same large and comfortable armchair as the woman opposite her.

The mighty woman opposite frowned slightly. She felt uncomfortable as if her territory was violated, but the powerful aura of the other party made her heart beat like a drum, and she unconsciously wanted to draw her sword and stab her.

Of course, she resisted the urge.

The subconscious desire to resist was enough to frighten Mu Ling - the woman opposite was so strong that she trembled!