Chapter 792: The Empress of the Luan Clan [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

It wasn't that Shen Tang looked down on Qian Yong's aesthetic sense and connections, but rather that Shen Zhi was a bit of a looks-obsessed person and preferred Bai Su's style.

In contrast, Qian Yong's mind was filled with nothing but lust and muscle.

The promising talents he admires may not catch Chen Zhi's eye.

Most importantly—

Shen Tang reminded Qian Yong: "I have no objection to you wanting to act as a matchmaker, after all, having too many single people under your command affects the overall happiness index assessment. I only have one requirement—if both parties are just looking for a fleeting romance, try to find someone outside the family, don't go after someone from your own neighborhood; but if they are aiming for marriage, lock them up! I will not allow any office couples to give up halfway! They must be buried together even if they die!"

"Don't talk about couples if you can't achieve a happy ending!"

Qian Yong didn't quite understand: "Huh?"

There were many words and phrases in it that he didn't understand.

Shen Tang gave Qian Yong an example: "Suppose a man and a woman both serve under me. They were deeply in love at first, but later they never spoke to each other again. They divorced and ended their marriage, but how do they maintain their working relationship? They would never see each other again, how awkward would that be? One or both of them would bring their resentment towards each other into their work, leading to endless infighting, wouldn't that cause endless trouble in the future?"

Qian Yong pondered, "I hadn't thought of that."

He couldn't have imagined it either.

There was no precedent for a large number of women entering officialdom before, and since the colleagues were all of the same gender, there was no possibility of lovers turning into bitter enemies.

Qian Yong stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. He realized that Shen Tang's worries were not unfounded. He then heard Shen Tang whisper softly, "There are so many men and women out there. If they are only looking for a fleeting romance, they must not let their colleagues get involved!"

Shen Tang didn't expect people in this era to be monogamous for life; at least for now, she couldn't stop men from taking concubines or women from keeping male lovers. As the boss, she had only one humble request—just leave the scoundrels outsiders alone, and spare her colleagues!

but--

Qian Yong then moved on to another question: "If the families are well-matched, the things you are worried about, my lord, may indeed happen. But from what you've said, my lord, as long as the two of you stay together for life, you don't mind if your subordinates have connections? Aren't you afraid?"

A complete ban is the best solution.

Shen Tang didn't react for a moment: "What are you afraid of?"

Qian Yong: "If both men and women hold important positions, and both harm or threaten the interests of their lord for their own selfish desires..."

It's so easy for couples to form an alliance.

Upon hearing this, Shen Tang was speechless and choked with emotion.

He rolled his eyes and said, "Uncle He, I thought you had some profound and insightful theories to share, but this is all you've got?"

Qian Yong retorted angrily, "Isn't this thought-provoking?"

Shen Tang chuckled: "No matter how close a relationship is between a man and a woman, they are ultimately not related by blood. What holds them together is nothing more than responsibility and romantic love, and at most, a child born of their blood. If they really fall out, they will become each other's greatest enemies."

She paused, then continued, “But if fathers and sons serve in the same court, or brothers take the same exam, why aren’t you worried about their families flourishing? Fathers, sons, and brothers share the same surname and bloodline; even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected. Isn’t their relationship stronger and more unshakeable than that of husband and wife? Looking at all the kingdoms, no kingdom stipulates that if the father is in court, the son can only be in obscurity, or if the elder brother is an official, the younger brother can only be a commoner. On the contrary, if several fathers, sons, and brothers serve in the same court, it is often considered a beautiful story.”

Qian Yong was taken aback, seemingly genuinely surprised.

He murmured, "That's really true."

Brothers fight together, fathers and sons go to war together.

Even Qian Yong himself was not immune to this tendency—he trusted his fellow townsmen more than his colleagues; he trusted his clansmen more than his fellow townsmen; he trusted those within five degrees of kinship more than his clansmen; and he trusted his brothers, nephews, and cousins ​​more than those within five degrees of kinship…

On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes; a single misstep can be fatal. One's most vulnerable position can only be entrusted to the most trusted person. The closer the blood ties, the easier it is to place natural trust. This is true on the battlefield, and it's naturally similar in the imperial court…

Unless they're traitors willing to betray their own family for the greater good, who would deliberately turn against their own blood relatives? The more people they have, the greater their power and status. Fathers, sons, and brothers share the same interests; harming one another is harming oneself. Their bond is far stronger than that of a married couple.

"Furthermore, what brings people together, such as fellow townsmen, clansmen, those who studied the same subjects, those from the same school, those who were civil or military, those who were scholars or commoners... these relationships are only the outermost surface. The real reason is the word 'interest.' Therefore, Shuhe's worries are unnecessary."

To put it bluntly, it's like worrying about nothing.

After Shen Tang finished speaking, he did not hear Qian Yong's response for a long time.

She turned her head and looked over; the latter's gaze was extremely complicated.

Haha, isn't it complicated?

He thought Shen Tang was just a young man with little experience, naive and immature, with brute force, a reputation for benevolence, and an overflowing sense of compassion, who, like himself, loved watching the excitement. Although he had become the leader of a power, he was still a long way from being a cunning old fox...

And what was the result?

Haha, it turns out he's the one who's so naive.

Despite her young age, Shen Tang saw through the issues perfectly.

This kind of person will never suffer a loss.

Qian Yong also gave up on his idea of ​​acting as matchmaker for Shen Zhi. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, and Shen Tang's interruption made him lose interest.

Because of his naiveté, Li Lang also gained a little fame.

The former officials of Xin were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The happiest among them were those who had already submitted to Shen Tang. They had originally set their sights on young girls who hadn't yet missed their golden age of early education. But after learning of Shen Zhi's existence, they also included children around the age of coming-of-age.

They had also heard about Shen Zhi and Li Lang's affair, but at the time they considered it merely a romantic tale of young scholars. After all, the social atmosphere was open in that era, and it was normal for unmarried men and women to have private relationships. A young woman could have multiple male confidants, and a young man could have several female confidants... as long as no premarital mishap caused embarrassment to the future in-laws, it was all acceptable...

Shen Zhi was the princess personally chosen by Zheng Qiao to marry into the Ten Crows, so everyone remembered her more vividly and knew that she was already nineteen years old when she was sent to the capital. For someone so old to be able to open her alchemy chamber and cultivate her literary mind, there was no reason why their own queens couldn't do it!

Even Shen Zhi never expected that he would become a role model!

Apart from Li Lang and his friends, there were no casualties.

After eating the fresh melon, Shen Tang felt fully energized and went to work. She spread out several ledgers in her left hand and mentally checked the numbers with her right, not daring to be distracted for fear of misreading the figures. At that moment, she especially missed her calculator.

After a quarter of an hour, she breathed a sigh of relief and stamped the seal.

Looking up, I saw Lin Feng, who had been waiting for a long time.

She wasn't surprised: "Is something wrong with Lingde?"

Lin Feng presented the records made by Shen Zhi with both hands. Shen Tang looked at the latest generation of corn records. The number of grains in an ear of corn had increased from fifty or sixty to more than two hundred, and the size of the grains had also doubled. This meant that the progress was going very smoothly.

Shen Tang said with satisfaction, "Well done."

After she finished reading the record, she returned it to Lin Feng, who casually remarked, "My lord, Luan Hucao seems to have something on his mind these past two days."

Lin Feng made this remark not to cause trouble for her colleague, but because she was genuinely worried about Luan Xin. However, after asking him a couple of times, the latter kept saying that everything was fine, but emotions don't lie. Lin Feng then wanted Shen Tang to ask him directly.

If Luan Xinzhen encounters trouble, he can handle it quickly.

Shen Tang noted this down: "Okay, I understand."

That afternoon, she asked Luan Xin.

"Gongyi seems to have something on his mind these past two days?"

Luan Xin was slightly taken aback, seemingly wondering if his behavior was really that obvious. He quickly remembered his nephew's request: "There is indeed something... I sent someone to pick up my sister before, and the message said that she had been picked up, but so much time has passed and she is still nowhere to be seen."

The more peaceful the Chaoli Pass is now, the more chaotic the outside world becomes.

Amidst the chaos of war, communication became increasingly difficult.

He didn't know what mishap had happened to the Luan family and their party along the way, which was why they hadn't arrived yet, even though it took so long.

Shen Tang asked, "Have you sent anyone to look for them?"

Luan Xin said, "I secretly sent two of my personal guards there."

Unfortunately, no news has come back yet.

It wasn't that Luan Xin was unwilling to send more people, but rather that the closer they got to Ganzhou after leaving Chaoli Pass, the stronger Huang Liezhanghe's control over the troops became. If their men fell into their hands, it would only harm the Luan family. Luan Xin dared not take the risk lightly.

After a moment's thought, Shen Tang said, "I'll send someone."

Luan Xin hurriedly declined, saying he didn't need it.

This is his family matter; how can we trouble our lord with it?

"There's no need to be so formal about justice." The people below follow him not only because they share the same aspirations and pursuits, but also because they want to find a safe haven in this chaotic world to settle their families. As his lord, Shen Tang must not lose his empathy.

Upon hearing this, Luan Xin bowed and thanked Shen Tang.

After he left, Shen Tang summoned Gong Xi Chou.

Gong Xichou: "...Why is it still me?"

You can't just use him like that just because he's a sacred object!

Shen Tang said, "Of course I'm worried you'll be bored."

Gong Xichou was truly the most carefree person.

He wouldn't go to build river embankments, he wouldn't go to repair roads or build bridges, he wouldn't go to cultivate wasteland; he only wanted to summon the Martial Warrior Totem to perform rituals. He'd find a spot to sit and sunbathe, and Shen Tang couldn't say anything. After all, he wasn't one of her employees.

So, Shen Tang found him a job.

Gong Xichou snorted, "Make a note of it!"

Shen Tang said, "I'll remember, I'll write it down for you."

That's easy, they just issue IOUs but don't pay.

Gong Xichou accepted the task and went out.

Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.

"...The medicine is ready, quickly send it to our benefactor." In a remote mountain area near Miaojiang, more than twenty carts and horses were tattered and damaged to varying degrees, and more than two hundred people were all wounded. Fresh blood was still seeping from their wounds.

Judging from this situation, it's clear that a fierce battle had recently taken place.

If Luan Xin or Luan Cheng were here, they would recognize several familiar faces among this group; they were clearly members of the Luan family, whom they hadn't been in contact with for a long time. The woman speaking looked to be in her thirties, and thanks to her excellent maintenance, time had left no trace on her face. Her long, dark hair was styled into a black bun, adorned with only a few decorations, which only accentuated her snow-white complexion.

Always pampered, her face was now half-blackened by the smoke from the charcoal fire, yet this did not diminish her beauty in the slightest. The woman turned and ordered people to gather cloth, cut it into strips, and use it to bandage the wounded and stop the bleeding, her demeanor calm and composed…

The woman's maid took the medicine away.

The benefactor she spoke of was leaning against the wheel, holding a long weapon that was white with a hint of blue in his arms. He wasn't very old, with sharp features, a refined and clear appearance, and an elegant demeanor. At first glance, he had the air of a scholar-general.

He was in a sorry state, half of his body covered in blood.

As soon as the maid approached, he opened his eyes. His eyes seemed harmless, but they were actually deep and turbulent, and he was somewhat wary of the maid: "My benefactor, the madam asked me to bring you some medicine. It is all top-quality medicinal materials to nourish blood and qi."

The young martial artist, enduring the pain, sat up straight and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Thank you.

He then took the medicine from her.

The medicine was still scalding hot, steaming intensely.

He circulated his martial energy in his palm, and the white mist rising from the rim of the bowl visibly decreased, lowering the temperature to the most suitable range.

The young martial artist drank it down in one gulp and then returned the earthenware bowl.

After the maid left, the young martial artist leaned back with his long weapon in his arms, accidentally aggravating his wound, causing his sword-like eyebrows to furrow uncomfortably.

After a long while, he looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh.

This young martial artist was Yun Ce. He didn't know how things had turned out this way; he was in a sorry state, like a stray dog. But then he thought, he was lucky to have escaped with his life. After all, his former master, Huang Lie, was petty.

Yes, it was Huang Lie, the former master.

Huang Xiguang is now a thing of the past.

Of course, it wasn't that Huang Lie was unhappy with his long absences, but rather that Yun Ce realized he and Huang Lie had different business philosophies.

That day, Yun Ce inquired along the way and finally found the main force, but he did not see his lord Huang Lie.

Only after inquiring did they learn that Huang Lie had divided his forces. Half of the main force was to gather support from various factions in Ganzhou and procure military supplies, while the other half, led by Huang Lie, was to encircle and annihilate the various factions within the Dragon Slaying Bureau. Even with only half, Huang Lie could easily defeat his former allies.

The return of the main rider, Yun Ce, to the team did not attract much attention.

Firstly, Huang Lie did not give Yun Ce much importance, and Yun Ce was not old, so the other older generals naturally did not pay much attention to him; secondly, there was also a lot of conflict over military power among the generals, so why would they give up a good opportunity to make meritorious contributions to others?

As a result, Yun Ce had some free time.

However, this leisurely time did not last more than a few days.

Yun Ce then clashed with the veteran general who held real power.

The whole thing started when the army plundered the common people, using violence that was no different from murder and robbery. Yun Ce couldn't stand it. In order to protect the common people, he seriously injured a troop of soldiers.

The troops quickly reported the matter to their superiors.

Upon hearing this, the superior immediately sought trouble with Yun Ce.

"Hey, you surnamed Yun, you wounded one of my soldiers?"

Facing the menacing veteran general, Yun Ce showed no fear, calmly saying, "They deserved their fate. Why doesn't the general ask them what they did? Such disobedient and treacherous elements, not executing them as a warning to others, is already merciful."

The veteran sneered: "Disregarding military discipline?"

Yun Ce said angrily: "They not only killed and robbed people, but also ganged up on and raped a blind girl... leading to her death..."

The veteran retorted: "So what?"

Yun Ce was astonished upon hearing this.

He asked: "Did you condone this?"

A hint of anger had already crept into their conversation.

He descended the mountain with the intention of punishing evil and promoting good, but he never expected the villain to be his own colleague. Even so, he didn't openly confront him. What truly broke Yun Ce's defenses was the veteran general's subsequent response. Because, of course, this wasn't something he had condoned; it was his lord, Huang Lie.

Seeing Yun Ce's suddenly widened eyes, the old general sneered.

General Yun, war costs money and supplies.

|ω`)

Tenosynovitis and cervical spondylosis are truly the lifelong enemies of writers.

(End of this chapter)