"Don't worry, I'll make the arrangements," Jiang Nuan reassured softly. "It's just a trip, nothing will go wrong."

If you're going to divide up the cake, you have to plan carefully. After all, you're surrounded by wolves, and if you're not careful, you'll be torn to pieces.

“Well,” Grandma Jiang turned her face away, “it’s barely acceptable.”

The old lady was as awkward as ever.

Having acquired a group of highly capable servants and received many good things, although everyone did not show any unusual behavior in the hall, they were all quite shocked.

This has resulted in an exceptionally hot night, with almost all married people sweating and radiating passion.

Excluding the four people huddled together in the front yard.

"What should we do?" Hong Gu was completely panicked. "With so many servants coming today, the four of us are completely useless."

“What else can we do?” the old scholar said, his face grim. “At worst, we can just go home.”

"You're willing to part with that?" Aunt Yun scoffed. "Ten taels of silver a month. Normally, it would take three months to earn that much."

"Otherwise what? Throw a tantrum and stay here?"

After saying that, the old scholar sat down on the chair with his back to him; he couldn't bear to lose face like that.

The irritated accountant couldn't help but lash out, "Hey instructor, why aren't you saying anything?"

"What's there to say?" The instructor was bored. "If you can stay, stay; if you can't, leave. There's nothing more to say."

"Are you willing to part with these ten taels of silver?"

"What's there to be reluctant about? It's already too hot to handle anyway."

"Nonsense!" The accountant thought the instructor was impossible to communicate with.

“Teacher,” Hong Gu asked again, “after you apologized to Madam last time, did she really not hold it against you?”

Upon hearing this, the instructor remained silent for a while before replying, "She only said she understood and told me to come back."

After that, no harsh words were spoken, and the treatment remained unchanged, so these people gradually felt at ease.

“So,” Hong Gu said with a moment of smugness, “the Huang family still needs us.”

That's true. Their skills are considered above average in the industry, and it's hard to find suitable replacements for them all right now that they've all retired.

“That was before,” Yun Gu couldn’t help but say, unable to bear Hong Gu’s stupidity any longer. “Look at all these people who came today, each of them has an extraordinary air about them. Do we still need them?”

To put it bluntly, any one of them is better than them.

In particular, they also offended their employer.

Although the lady did not hold a grudge, it did not mean she did not resent it.

A new group of people has arrived; they might be replaced immediately.

"How about we have the instructor ask him to do it?" Hong Gu suggested.

"I'm not going." The instructor's attitude was firm.

He will never compromise again.

"Do you really want to be kicked out?" the old scholar asked, exasperated. "Your mother is still sick, what are you going to do if you don't have money for medicine?"

"Anyway, I'm not going. I'll resign from this job tomorrow."

He's only taught people one set of Five Elements Fist over so many days, and he wouldn't even take the money offered to him.

"You brute!"

Unbeknownst to the four, their conversation was overheard by the butler at the door.

Before coming, almost everyone memorized the Huang family's information, including these four people.

The manager was quite displeased with their behavior and intended to give them a private reprimand, but upon hearing these words, he immediately frowned, "With such poor character, how can they be qualified to teach others?"

It seems we can't stay any longer.

The next day, after Jiang Nuan finished washing up, Butler Cao told her about it.

Then he suggested, "Madam, this old servant recommends that you dismiss the person. No matter how capable someone is, they should not be employed if they have poor character."

“I understand,” Jiang Nuan nodded. “The instructor stays, and the other three can be sent away.”

After saying this, Jiang Nuan completely let go of the matter.

This seemingly insignificant matter is a good opportunity to test the abilities of our housekeeper.

The small pharmacy next door was surrounded by a dense crowd of soldiers. "Master, it's dawn. Shall we depart?"

"Where is Meiyu? How is she?"

“She’s already awake,” Qi Yong said with a troubled expression, “but she’s obsessed, like she’s lost her soul.”

Did she say anything? Or make any requests?

“Nothing,” Qi Yong paused, then explained helplessly, “They’ve probably given up completely.”

"Therefore, it is not suitable to bring them together."

"I have already made arrangements. We have sent the person to the magistrate of Ping'an County to be cared for. We will make further arrangements when the situation improves in a while."

“That’s not appropriate,” Ji Xuan frowned. “Send it to the Huang family.”

"Sent to the Huang family?" Qi Yong asked, puzzled. "Why send them to the Huang family?"

"Do as instructed!"

After saying this, Ji Xuan fell silent.

"This servant obeys your command."

A short while later, the crowd set off in a grand procession. Although they did not use a dragon-drawn carriage, the horse-drawn carriages were quite comfortable and luxurious. Layer upon layer of armored soldiers surrounded them, making them feel very safe.

Ji Xuan glanced at the soon-to-disappear town from afar and felt a surge of emotion, "This trip was worthwhile."

Although the pressure was immense, the benefits were immense.

The Crown Prince's condition has been resolved, and his health has improved. Given time, he will give birth to a son, and there will be no need to worry about being ashamed to face the ancestors.

“Then I can’t leave the palace again,” Qi Yong said with a bitter face. “This time, I’ve been trembling with fear day and night, and I dare not make the slightest mistake.”

The emperor's health is crucial to the fate of the nation; if anything goes wrong, the entire Zhou Dynasty will be thrown into turmoil.

"We'll see."

Ji Xuan did not agree.

Having tasted the benefits, he didn't want to give up so easily.

However, they were able to get out this time because neither the imperial court nor the harem was on guard; it won't be so easy next time.

"Master," Qi Yong's heart tightened, "please spare this servant!"

He can't eat or sleep well every day, and he gets so angry at the slightest thing that he wants to stab someone. If there's a next time, I don't know if he'll even be alive.

"Coward!" Ji Xuan ignored Qi Yong. "Seventeen, give me the box that Lady Jiang gave you."

The guard glanced at the town receding into the distance, hesitated for a moment, and then handed it over. "It's sealed, and I haven't opened it. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Ji Xuan nodded. "Go down."

After everyone left, he slowly opened the box and found a thick stack of papers.

"Seventeen was right after all."

He shook his head, picked it up, and flipped through it one by one. Immediately, he froze. "Seawater salt production, papermaking, movable type printing, iron ore refining, coal mining and mapping..."

"Master," Qi Yong muttered, "what are all these?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan took a deep breath, suppressed the fervor in his heart, and uttered four words heavily, "The fate of the nation!"

After saying this, he carefully placed the paper in the box, and then ordered, "Proceed at full speed and return to the capital as quickly as possible. Also, have the Grand Secretary and the Assistant Grand Secretary see the Emperor as quickly as possible!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yong was taken aback, but knowing the gravity of the situation, he immediately carried out the arrangements.

After Qi Yong left, Ji Xuan stared blankly at the wooden box, his hands trembling uncontrollably. "A hundred years from now, I will be remembered in history!"

After saying that, he suppressed his excitement, closed his eyes, leaned against the carriage, and held the box tightly in his hand, refusing to let go.