Chapter 15 Just a Pet
Summer is rainy. After the rain, the sky clears and cicadas chirp in the willow trees. Under the small pavilion, the pond is rippling in the breeze. A handful of fish food is scattered in the water, and the fish play in the water, causing the lotus leaves to sway.
"These aristocratic families really know how to enjoy life." Grand Commandant Gao was over forty, the most charming time of a man's life, and the fine lines etched between his brows were like the sands of time.
The confidant understood perfectly: "The pigs used for sacrifices always enjoy meticulous care and are eventually offered to the gods, plump and tender."
Grand Commandant Gao laughed loudly: "Indeed, they are like pigs. Before I slaughter them, they will only complain incessantly about how the world has become worse and hate my rudeness and arrogance."
"Grand Commandant, shall we continue killing?"
“Kill them all, let them all be like that old dog Han. That old dog still wants to ride on my head, I'll chop off his legs, rip out his tongue, gouge out his eyes, and slaughter his entire family, only then can my heart be at peace…”
He was talking to his confidant, but before he could finish speaking, he drew out a long syllable because his gaze had already caught sight of someone not far away.
"Father coughs."
Just walking over seemed to have exhausted the young man's strength.
"Huan'er, come and sit down." Grand Commandant Gao spoke softly. He cherished the child left behind by his beloved concubine and felt great pity for his frail health.
That year, amidst the chaos of war, he was forced to abandon his pregnant concubine and lead his army in a breakout. By the time he had recaptured the city, his concubine was already extremely weak; she gave birth in July and then suffered severe postpartum hemorrhage.
She lay in a pool of blood without complaint, only softly saying, "I still want to have another child for my husband."
Then he left this world with endless regret and sorrow.
That premature baby, who looked like a cat, has grown up over the past seventeen years.
She was as beautiful as a concubine, intelligent, and elegant in her demeanor.
"Fourth Brother," his trusted aide called out.
Gao Huan nodded.
The trusted confidant tactfully withdrew, leaving the space to the father and son.
"It's hot and sunny, why are you out walking around?" Gao Yang squeezed Si Lang's hand, which was icy cold. Despite the sweltering summer heat, Si Lang wasn't sweating at all, like a person carved from ice. Gao Yang couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"I heard that my father has fallen out with the powerful families," Gao Huan said, getting straight to the point.
Gao Yang was an outsider who held considerable military power and controlled the lives of the city's inhabitants. He thought it would be easy to dethrone Yuwen Huai and take his place. However, the powerful families did not respect him and were secretly and openly sabotaging him.
He patiently negotiated for a while and decided to use battlefield methods, letting the survivors speak for themselves.
These powerful families pride themselves on being tough; let's see if their blades are tougher than their skulls.
“I know what you’re trying to persuade me to do. It’s not that I don’t understand politics. I played a big part in Yuwen Huai’s downfall. I’m just tired of arguing with them. I get annoyed just looking at their faces. I just want to kill them.”
"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; it should not be done repeatedly, nor should it disturb the people at every turn, much less cause unnecessary trouble."
“You’re a good reader. You’re the only one among your brothers who loves reading. I’ll collect some rare books for you.” Gao Yang suddenly became interested.
“Father—” Gao Huan frowned slightly, “Father’s actions are domineering, not benevolent. Your son is worried about you.”
Gao Yang waved his hand: "With the imperial power waning, what kind of kingly way is there? In chaotic times, one should have the spirit of a man who will never give up until death."
Gao Huan kept his brows furrowed, and there was worry in his eyes.
He couldn't persuade his father, and he was worried about the future. He kept his worries to himself, which exhausted his weak body. His illness recurred like summer rain, and the dampness seeped into the quilt.
At night, his cough worsened, and half the mansion trembled as he coughed.
Gao Yang felt sorry for his son, so he posted a notice to attract famous doctors to come to his clinic for treatment, promising a thousand gold pieces as a reward if the doctor cured him.
The news spread throughout the streets and alleys.
Dogtooth craned his neck and looked around: "Little Guan, do you want to give it a try?"
Guan Zhiwei chuckled, "How am I supposed to treat someone's illness? Should I just see if the rich man's son's illness is caused by hunger? Should I just tell him to drink more hot water?"
You still have me. I'll help you solve all your problems.
The system's urgent voice clamored in my mind: "Go treat the Grand Commandant's son! The reward is a thousand pieces of gold; you'll never have to worry about money again!"
"Haven't you always said that money is valuable, but love is more precious?"
Guan Zhiwei held the bowl of porridge, covering her mouth as she opened and closed it.
"Isn't this a case of 'one is influenced by one's company'? Besides, you've always misunderstood me; I'm not some love-struck fool," the system said sheepishly.
I won't find you a foolish, poor, cowardly, and incompetent male protagonist to make you fall head over heels in love. I'll only find you a smart, beautiful, rich, and strong man. Love can soothe life's pain, including poverty.
The system was heartbroken and distraught, scrutinizing and dissecting the problem, all in an effort to bring this person to their senses.
"I don't want to be the wife of the kind of man you're talking about; I want to be his father."
She wasn't interested in being the pet of Grand Commandant Gao's son; she wanted to be Grand Commandant Gao himself.
Dogtooth ran to Brother Yao's side and whispered, "Xiao Guan seems to have gone crazy again. He's talking to himself now, and it's all incoherent and you can't understand what he's saying."
"Cough cough cough, hurry up and eat, we'll still be forging iron after you finish eating," Brother Yao urged loudly, ringing the bell to collect the bowls.
Guan Zhiwei gave up on the debate with the system and instead complained to those around her.
"The boss is really heartless; he doesn't let anyone rest for a moment."
Brother Yao chuckled and said, "Little Guan, if you talk bad about me again, I won't give you that piece of meteorite iron I collected to make an axe!"
Guan Zhiwei ceased all activity.
That rock has quite a history. It's said that hundreds of years ago, it fell from the sky, creating a huge crater in the ground and collapsing several houses. The people of Qi cut this boulder into pieces to make meteorite iron, which is used in the weapons of famous generals throughout history.
Someone brought it to Zhuang Ge's blacksmith shop to sell. He didn't know if the other party was telling the truth or not, but seeing that it was a good piece of material, he spent a lot of money to buy it.
Guan Zhiwei hadn't expected that the axe would be used to make her an axe. She rubbed her hands together a little embarrassedly, and put on a flattering expression: "Isn't this too much of a waste? Don't worry, Brother Zhuang, I will definitely serve you like a slave and I will never say anything like 'I'll repay you in the next life'."
Brother Zhuang said with a stern face, "Once this piece of iron is forged into an axe for you, you're not allowed to take my axe anymore. You've already chipped a perfectly good axe, and you just casually put it back. Do you think I'm blind?"
"hey-hey."
Guan Zhiwei scratched her head guiltily.
Her body has been enhanced, making her tireless and able to swing her sword incessantly.
But the axe wouldn't do; it couldn't withstand the strain.
With an axe made of meteorite iron, she doesn't know how many trees she can cut down and how much money she can make. She's so happy.
"Xiao Guan, is Brother Zhuang being so generous because he wants you to be his son's wife?" Gouya asked worriedly as he leaned over.
Guan Zhiwei's eyes flickered: "Oh dear, this is a secret. Come here and I'll tell you."
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