Chapter 6 is all about speaking properly: "Lord Mu, please have some tea before you leave..."

It's no wonder Li Chengwu acted this way.

After understanding that Brother Chuan had become his godfather, the first thought that popped into his head was: I can also become Brother Chuan's godfather.

The Li family guarded the southwestern border, losing many men in the process. Li Chengwu was forced to stay in the capital by his grandmother and grew up there, inevitably becoming somewhat spoiled.

Although he didn't grow up to be a spoiled brat, he still looked down on others and thought he was the best in the world.

When I first went to the army, I was partly provoked and partly wanted to make a name for myself. I left a letter and went to act as bait.

He had a good plan. As General Li's grandson, he was sure he could attract three or five chieftains, and then wipe them all out in one fell swoop, which would be a contribution to the Li family.

However, his father and grandfather probably disagreed, so Li Chengwu acted first and informed them later.

However, there is a significant gap between theory and reality.

Heading west from Pingnan Town, whether it's Nanli or Beili, all you see are mountains of varying sizes. Even though Li Chengwu could distinguish between east, west, south, and north, he still got lost.

General Li couldn't find the person at the location he left behind.

Fortunately, the chieftain couldn't find him either.

Li Chengwu hid in the mountains for almost a month without food or water, but was eventually found by Chief Hua Azan.

Seeing his men either killed in battle or captured, just as he was mustering the courage to end his own life, Mu Chuan descended from the sky and saved him.

Not only did they save him, but they also deserve some credit for it.

Li Chengwu is currently the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a third-rank official. Although it is not a real position but only an honorary title, for a young man not yet twenty years old, even in the capital where nobles and officials are everywhere, this is a height that many people can never reach in their entire lives.

His own father was nothing special—his own father was still wandering around in the mountains back then. His own father was not as good as his brother Chuan, oh no, I mean his fourth uncle.

"Fourth Uncle, wait for me." Li Chengwu chased after him with a grin. "Grandfather, no need to see me off. I'll take Fourth Uncle to the guest room."

General Li thought for a moment, "Why be so polite?" and said with a smile, "Take good care of your new fourth uncle."

Li Chengwu led Mu Chuan to the guest room and said, "Fourth Uncle, I know the capital well. Just ask me if you want to do anything."

Mu Chuan then asked, "Where is the Rongguo Mansion?"

Li Chengwu thought for a moment, his expression even a little troubled: "Our Li family has real power."

Mu Chuan chuckled a few times and briefly explained the grudges between the Mu family and the Rongguo Mansion, saying, "I want to see what the land deed from back then was written in Wanping County. Wanping County, Xiangshan Township, Linjia Village, thirty-five mu of land, eleven years ago, it should have been in the autumn or winter."

"This is nothing. Don't be fooled by the fact that both county magistrates in the capital are sixth-rank officials; they can't truly be considered local officials even under the emperor's nose. I'll discuss this with—"

"Miao Zhenchuan." Mu Chuan called out his subordinate's name: "From now on, he will be my head butler."

“Alright. I’ve only been gone for a little over a year, so those hangers-on and middlemen shouldn’t have changed yet. Tomorrow I’ll personally take Brother Miao to identify them. But Wanping County is far away; it’s probably seventy or eighty li round trip, and we might not be able to get back in a day.”

“It’s been over ten years, a few more days won’t make a difference,” Mu Chuan replied.

After seeing Li Chengwu off, it was already getting dark. Mu Chuan went out first to tell his men to get some rest. After returning to his room, he changed his clothes and leaned against the bed.

In theory, ordinary people like them should have three land deeds.

One copy was kept at his home, one copy was in Zhou Rui's possession, and another copy was kept on file by the government.

However, given what happened back then, Mu Chuan suspected that his family had never received the land deed at all, and even if they had, it was uncertain whether it had been tampered with. Therefore, it would be better to just look at the copy that had been kept on file, and then they could decide where to start.

As he thought about it, Mu Chuan yawned. He could finally relax completely now that he was back in the capital. He hadn't slept at all last night, so he planned to sleep all day tomorrow.

It was already dark when Jia Lian returned home, reeking of alcohol. As soon as he entered, he saw Wang Xifeng sitting in a chair, looking at him with a disdainful expression. She raised an eyebrow and said, "So you know how to come back!"

Jia Lian snorted coldly and retorted, "Then I'll leave?"

Wang Xifeng said sarcastically, "I don't know how Second Master has been serving Qiu Tong. Today she said she wanted to go back to serve Master and didn't want to stay in your room."

Although he knew that Wang Xifeng had exaggerated, Jia Lian still looked angry: "I'm going to Second Sister's room."

"The old lady has something to tell me." Wang Xifeng called out to Jia Lian with just one sentence.

"What are you planning to do with those phoenix eggs at home?" Jia Lian asked irritably.

“There is a loyal and brave uncle who said he had a past relationship with Uncle Lin and wanted to visit Sister Lin.”

"The Marquis of Zhongyong?"

"Perhaps it's the one who surrendered prisoners at the Meridian Gate. The old lady asked you to inquire about it so you can decide whether or not to refuse."

"Understood," Jia Lian replied. "I'll sleep in the outer study tonight."

Seeing that her husband wouldn't say another word, Wang Xifeng's gaze drifted through the window frame, first to Second Sister's side, then to Qiu Tong: "I will definitely not let you off!"

Ping'er came in carrying a tray with a bowl of dark, murky herbal soup and two candied dates. "Grandma, get your body in good shape first; everything else is just superficial."

Wang Xifeng hummed in agreement, took a candied date, chewed it twice, downed the medicine in one gulp, and then took a second candied date.

She was strong-willed by nature, and even though Ping'er reminded her every day, she thought it made sense, but she would forget it all when something happened.

Jia Lian returned and left again in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, leaving his two concubines waiting anxiously in the room, but he never came back.

When Master was not back, she could barely maintain her balance, but now that he has come and gone, Qiu Tong is not comfortable. She leans against the door frame and looks at You Erjie with a sneer: "You should be more reserved. Although you come from a secret family, you should learn the rules after entering the mansion. Don't disgust people with your undignified behavior."

“I’m a girl from a good family, and my father is an official!” Sister You said indignantly, her voice trembling with anger. “You’re waiting for Master Er too.”

Qiu Tong proudly raised her head: "I was bestowed upon me by the master, and I am here to serve the second master."

Sister You couldn't win an argument with Qiu Tong, and her voice wasn't even as loud. Feeling dejected, she returned to her room, where Sister Shan was making her bed and getting ready to sleep.

"Second Madam, you should know better. Second Master is still in your room, and you're just standing guard at the door. Are you that desperate for a man?"

Ever since she moved into the Jia family home, Sister Shan had never spoken to her properly, and Sister You could only pretend not to hear her and return to her room alone.

But she couldn't do chores like fetching water for washing. In the end, she could only lie down, tears streaming down her face, and touch her belly.

My period hasn't come for two months... Maybe I'm pregnant, but... I'll wait until the pregnancy is more stable before making any plans.

Jia Lian strolled leisurely to the outer study, where the servants swarmed around to help him change his outer clothes and fetch hot water for him to wash his face and feet.

Jia Lian lay on the couch, feeling quite at ease, but when he thought about the things the old lady had instructed him to do, he became uneasy again.

The Jia family is no longer as prosperous as before. The concubines in the palace are doing something strange. Money is flowing out like water, but they can't find any income. They can't even get an official position for their family members.

The imperial concubine's father was granted a title, her brothers became members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and they even went to the Imperial Household Department to make purchases, bringing a lot of money home. All they had here were eunuchs who came to freeload.

Especially after the second master was sent to a post outside the capital, news became increasingly scarce, and even the official gazette had to be purchased with money.

He knew nothing about official transfers or the court's movements.

They lived a carefree life in the Grand View Garden, completely detached from worldly affairs.

If you need anything, you go to him for help, but what can he actually do?

Who cares?

Jia Lian pulled a servant aside and said, "We'll talk about tomorrow's matters tomorrow."

The next morning, the emperor came to the Daming Palace to pay his respects to the retired emperor.

The emperor looked dejected, but the retired emperor seemed rather smug.

"I was tired yesterday and went to bed early. I heard that you waited for a long time. From now on, if I go to sleep, you may go back on your own."

The emperor said respectfully, "I am at ease knowing that Father is sleeping well."

The Emperor Emeritus's lips curled into a smile: "General Mu from yesterday, do you know where you went wrong?"

The emperor remained silent.

In the past, when the princes acted this way, the retired emperor would be anxious and angry. Now that the emperor is the emperor, the retired emperor is actually happy. What can the emperor do anyway?

"I won't live much longer either, so I'll teach you whatever I can."

"Your subject is terrified!"

“Listen carefully. It’s good that you care about the sons of noble families, inquire about their ambitions, make good use of their talents, and place them in suitable positions. But it’s not good to do this for ministers of humble origins who can’t read or write.”

After resting for a moment, the retired emperor said again, "We must give him money, we must give him power, we must give him things he will never see in his life, so that we can overwhelm him and prevent him from ever having any disloyal thoughts."

“You have granted him a five-courtyard house, which is enough to live in but not luxurious. You have made him a first-class earl but it is not hereditary, so that his descendants cannot benefit from it. You have not even given him a real position. Wouldn’t he have more to think about? Wouldn’t he still want to make merit? This is bound to be unstable.”

The emperor subconsciously looked up at the retired emperor: "Father, do you mean... to raise him?"

The retired emperor nodded: "Give him enough credit and let him vacate the area. This will also inspire the people below to strive. Relying on no one is the way of an emperor."

"...We are different. This is your way of being an emperor, but not mine." The emperor nodded as he thought to himself, "Thank you for your guidance, Father."

The retired emperor smiled with satisfaction: "There is no court assembly today, so my son can invite two concubines to stroll around the Imperial Garden. They should not overexert themselves."

The emperor, expressionless, said "okay" and took his leave.

The moment the Emperor Emeritus stopped forcing a smile, his face drooped completely. His reason for bestowing so many gifts upon Mu Chuan was certainly not what he had told the Emperor.

He had originally planned to give a small reward, let the person meet him, and cause some trouble for the emperor. Even the Grand General of the Imperial Guards only came up with this idea after meeting the person.

The retired emperor was getting old. Although his health hadn't deteriorated to the point of deteriorating day by day, he could feel his condition worsening every two or three months.

He felt insecure, but the tall and imposing Mu Chuan, who stood there like a small mountain, made the Emperor Emeritus feel at ease.

The retired emperor was even considering reserving a place for Mu Chuan to be buried in his mausoleum after his death.

Therefore, this general must not get close to the emperor!

Mu Chuan slept until noon before getting up. Although he said he would take a day off yesterday, he was too busy to rest.

Today is the sixth day of the tenth lunar month. The winter provisions and the military doctors who came back to Beijing with them all need to hurry back, otherwise the heavy snow will block the roads, and both sides will suffer.

The Emperor's rewards to the officers and soldiers of Pingnan Town also need to be sent back as soon as possible.

Mu Chuan got up, ate something haphazardly, changed into a set of light armor, told his servants, and went directly to the Ministry of Revenue without taking any men with him.

The Ministry of Revenue was the second institution to enter through the Daming Gate. It had a large number of staff and its courtyard was twice the size of the Ministry of Rites.

In theory, one should have their waist tag checked to enter the Great Ming Gate, but Mu Chuan's tall and robust physique, along with his horse which was taller than a person, made him unique in the capital. Moreover, the prisoners were presented at the Meridian Gate just yesterday, and the Imperial Guards guarding the gate were so envious that they would not stop him.

Once he reached the Ministry of Revenue, no one dared to stop him.

Mu Chuan went straight to the main hall, where the Minister of Revenue, Mo Chushang, was presiding. Mu Chuan cupped his hands in greeting and asked, "Minister Mo, are the grain supplies to be sent to Pingnan Town ready?"

The absence of any pleasantries was something Mo Chushang, a seasoned veteran of officialdom, found rather unusual.

He coughed lightly, called for someone to pour tea, and then began to evade the question: "It's almost the end of the year, and everyone is short of money and food. Plus, the Emperor Emeritus's birthday is approaching. You've captured the chieftain's village, so you must have obtained quite a bit of grain, right? Look—"

It wasn't that he really didn't intend to give it; he would have to eventually. But he wanted to save as much as possible and delay it as long as possible. That's how the Ministry of Revenue operates.

Mu Chuan raised an eyebrow and nodded, saying, "Indeed, the Emperor Emeritus's birthday is important. I'll go and ask the Emperor Emeritus to spare some money."

As he spoke, he stood up, and Mo Chushang was stunned. This was just an excuse!

You're really going? No way!

But considering that the powerful general in front of him was already the Grand General of the Imperial Guard of the Daming Palace, he really could go.

"Slow down, slow down!" Mo Chushang hurriedly tried to take his arm, but it didn't really help.

Mo Chushang, weighing around 100 pounds, was barely better than a fan pendant when hanging on Mu Chuan, and was immediately dragged to the door.

Mu Chuan tugged at the lobby door a few times with a little force, and then the door fell off.

"It's not very sturdy." Mu Chuan patted another door, and it fell down too.

These are iron hinges! They're nailed on with iron nails!

Mo Chushang immediately felt the arm trapped inside his arm getting hot, but by then it was someone else's arm trapping his arm, and he couldn't pull it out.

He can't pull it out!

Mo Chushang looked around for help. After all, he was the Minister of Revenue, and his colleagues gathered around him, though they were a bit far away.

There's nothing that can be done about it. Those who can become officials in the capital, especially those in the Ministry of Revenue, the most lucrative post in the imperial court, are all quite old and shrewd. Even though the clerks are still relatively young, a few taels of silver are all involved, and whose backbone is harder than iron?

"Lord Mu, please have some tea before you leave."

"Preparations have already been made. Lord Mo just wanted to say a few more words to you."

Mo Chushang glared at the man, then looked at his arm, which was being held between his legs, with a sense of humiliation. He closed his eyes and nodded, saying, "This humble official does indeed wish to get closer to Lord Mu."

"Lord Mu, you must tell me what you want. Although indica rice is not as filling as japonica rice, japonica rice is indeed not enough. I can't give you all japonica rice."

"I'll prepare some extra salted dried meat for you. It keeps well, and you won't even need salt when cooking. It's convenient and gives you energy."

People around them offered suggestions, and even shared a lot of soybeans, millet, and other grains.

Mu Chuan was relieved. He was strong and burly, and could lift a cauldron. He even wore light armor, just so he could sit down and have a proper discussion with the person.

Mu Chuan nodded seriously and said, "Then have a cup of tea before you go."

"Quickly! Bring me the crimson robe that the Emperor bestowed upon me last time!"

A note from the author:

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