When Xie Fu arrived, a group of military officers had just come out of the old master's room. Their armor clanged as they moved, and their faces were all solemn.

When everyone saw him, they all bowed and greeted him gruffly, calling him "Young Master".

Xie Fuchong and the others nodded as a return gift, and stepped into the house, where they saw the old man sitting in a high rosewood chair, smoking.

This situation likely indicates that the ruler of the Central Plains has once again caused trouble for the Western Liang.

"What did that guy in the inland do this time that made you hold onto your pipe and can't put it down?"

Old Master Xie glanced at him through the smoke, tapped his pipe on the armrest of the chair, and shook off the ash. "Not a single penny of military pay. After all, Xiliang is still nominally his fiefdom, suppressing the southern barbarians. He's shameless enough not to give a single cent."

Xie Fu casually pulled up a chair, sat down nonchalantly, and said lazily, "Not surprising, this day was bound to come sooner or later."

"Look at your behavior," Old Master Xie couldn't stand his ever-present carefree attitude. "The southern barbarians are also restless, constantly causing trouble in the Central Plains. This winter is going to be tough for us in Xiliang."

Xie Fu leaned back in his chair, his long legs spread wide, and smiled casually. "That guy from the Central Plains only dares to make these kinds of small moves. He wouldn't dare to actually attack our Xiliang. They've been living a life of luxury in the interior for many years. With Xiliang in ruins, facing the Southern Barbarians head-on is the outcome he doesn't want."

"As for the Southern Barbarians," he hunched over, adjusting his posture. The wooden chair here was uncomfortable to sit on. Speaking of the Southern Barbarians, he seemed to remember something and sneered, "Let's just wait and see. Once winter comes, the mountains will be snowed in, and who knows how many people will die on the way when they come."

Xie Fu spoke calmly, and his understanding of the situation was clear. The old master Xie's heavy mood, which had been heavy due to the tense situation, also relaxed a bit.

He glanced at Xie Fu sideways, "You went to suppress some bandits, but you came back a few days later than I expected. What's wrong? Your skills have decreased instead of increased?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Fu raised his eyes, a half-smile on his face, "Didn't you send over a Doctor Shu? She's delicate and precious, so we have to take good care of her."

Old Master Xie knew that it wasn't appropriate for him to send a girl to someone when his grandson was handling important matters, and Xie Fu's expression at this moment meant that he was going to settle accounts with him.

He chuckled, his face crinkling into wrinkles, and joked, "Well, Grandpa understands that you've traveled a long way and had a hard time getting things done, so I specially sent Shu Yun, who's both a good doctor and good-looking, to you so she can take care of you."

She took good care of him, and she slept in the bed as if it were her right, but she made him sleep on the floor. Did she really think that she could do whatever she wanted with just a few prescriptions?

Xie Fu smiled without saying a word, then turned his head to look towards the door, wondering if she had arrived in the courtyard yet. Given her straightforward nature, perhaps she had chosen his bedchamber directly.

Old Master Xie was heartbroken. "You have not inherited the charm of the men in our Xie family at all. Shu Yun is so beautiful, and you weren't even a little bit tempted?"

He took a drag on his pipe, deeply worried that the Xie family bloodline would end with Xie Fu. He said in a low, somber tone, "You're no good..."

Xie Fu suddenly stood up and walked outside, calmly retorting sarcastically, "You're so philandering, so capable, but how come you only had one son, my father's?"

Old Master Xie choked, "He may be a womanizer, but the men of our Xie family are known for being devoted and good men."

Xie Fu curled the corners of his lips, ignoring his muttering behind him. The old man probably already had a plan in mind regarding the Southern Barbarians and the Central Plains.

In the past two years, the old man's health has deteriorated rapidly. He seems to have a premonition and has been instilling more and more of the general situation in him. He would often bring him back to listen to his meetings with other generals, fearing that if he suddenly passed away, his grandson would be caught between the southern barbarians and the Central Plains and be bullied.

After Shu Yun arrived and treated him for some time, his health improved, and he became energetic again.

As Xie Fu walked from the pavilions and waterside terraces of the Xie residence towards his courtyard, he could see a large crowd gathered at the entrance of his outer courtyard from afar.

They moved aside a ring of potted calamus outside the courtyard so that more people could squeeze around the door, all craning their necks to look inside.

Suddenly someone shouted, "The young master is here!"

Instantly, the birds scattered and the fish fled. The large group of people who had been standing on tiptoe, craning their necks and looking around, sprang up as if springs had been implanted in their feet the moment they saw him, and disappeared far away.

The people in the manor had three fears: first, they feared Old Master Xie, whose eagle-like eyes meant that something big was about to happen; second, they feared the steward, who would find out if there was even the slightest mistake in their work and make them suffer the consequences.

The third thing to be afraid of is this young master. Although the young master spends a lot of time in the mansion, he has never been seen to be close to anyone other than the aforementioned people. Few of the servants who usually interact with the young master have ever spoken to him.

In addition, the young master had previously shot and killed a maid, so everyone in the manor was afraid of this handsome young master. After all, the young master was still young at that time, and he didn't even blink when he shot someone.

Who knows if they might commit a crime and die before they even have a chance to scream?

The pavilions and terraces in the Xie Mansion are all in the style of Old Master Xie, grand and magnificent, and one can tell at a glance that the building materials used are very expensive.

Shu Yun stood in the shade of the trees in the courtyard, dressed in a white dress, looking up at the tall pavilion in front of her, its eaves soaring into the sky, built in a very stylish manner.

What are you doing standing here?

Xie Fuqing's clear and melodious voice came from behind.

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