Seeing Zhou Zhizhi collapse to the ground in pain, Xiao Xiyou turned his hand over and began to channel his true energy into her. This was a method he had read about in a book before, which could help people with disordered qi and blood to regulate the meridians throughout their bodies and allow their qi and blood to circulate smoothly again.
But he had only read about it in books and had never put it into practice; everything depended on Zhou Zhizhi's fate.
Zhou Zhizhi's body gradually calmed down. She felt the true energy in her dantian finally break through the shackles, and her blood and qi began to flow freely.
Her breathing gradually calmed down, and a smile appeared on her face.
Zhou Zhizhi felt her true energy and blood mingling into one. She knew that the pain she was enduring was worthwhile, because she had embarked on a new starting point on her cultivation path.
Looking at Zhou Zhizhi's appearance, Xiao Xiyou knew that she should not be disturbed too much at this moment, so he slowly got up and stood next to Zhou Zhizhi.
"You should rest here today and leave the mansion on your own after you have recovered."
He walked to the outside of the study, gently closed the door, and said to the servant guarding the door, "Prepare a guest room and find two maids to serve you well."
After giving the instructions, he left first.
"Yes," the servant at the door replied, and quickly everything was arranged.
Having regained some strength, Zhou Zhizhi slowly got up and opened the door.
"Grand Master Zhou, this way please." A pretty maid in a light green dress saw Zhou Zhizhi come out of the house and hurriedly said respectfully.
Zhou Zhizhi nodded and followed the maid's steps. She knew that she had just finished her cultivation and was still very weak, so she needed to rest.
Moreover, it's best not to circulate your inner energy or use your inner energy for a period of time after your true energy and blood have merged, so that she can't use her lightness skill to fly back to her residence.
Leaving through the main gate would be too conspicuous, so resting here until fully recovered is the best option.
"Grand Preceptor Zhou, we've arrived." The maid who led the way escorted Zhou Zhizhi to a guest room in the Second Prince's residence.
"If you need anything else, just tell me." The maid stood obediently behind Zhou Zhizhi.
"What's your name?" Zhou Zhizhi looked at the furnishings in the room and was generally satisfied.
"My name is Qiuyue," the maid replied respectfully.
"Alright, you can go now. We'll call you if we need anything." Zhou Zhizhi smiled slightly and gestured for the maid to leave.
She looked around and saw that the room was simply yet elegantly furnished.
The entire space is decorated in a bright red color scheme. A landscape painting hangs on the wall, and a sandalwood bed is placed in the center of the room. Exquisite beads and jade are hung above the headboard.
The room's curtains were made of sheer fabric. A rustic mahogany square table stood before the window, adorned with potted flowers that exuded a fresh fragrance.
"Even a single guest room is decorated so luxuriously. Although the furnishings are simple, the materials used are of high quality. It seems that even though Xiaoxiyou is not favored by the emperor, she still has other ways to make money," Zhou Zhizhi thought to herself.
The next morning, before dawn, Zhou Zhizhi opened the door and flew away.
Back at the Imperial Preceptor's residence, she changed out of her night clothes, called Xiaoyue to prepare her toiletries, tidied herself up, and went to the front hall. She planned to give some instructions before going out.
"Wuhan University, Wuhan No. 2 University," Zhou Zhizhi called out.
"Yes, Your Excellency. What are your orders, Grand Preceptor?" The two of them, who had been at the Grand Preceptor's residence, said in unison.
"Which of you two is more familiar with the routes and shops in the capital?"
"I want to rent a few shops for business," Zhou Zhizhi asked the two of them.
"When it comes to familiarity, no one can compare to Wu Er," Wu Da said with a smile.
"Wu Er has been a glutton since he was a child. He has eaten at every good restaurant in the capital, whether it is famous or not. He knows exactly which street has a new stall or a new shop."
"Yes, yes, no one knows better than me!" When Wu Er heard that Zhou Zhizhi wasn't urging them to practice martial arts, but asking about something he was most familiar with, he beamed and volunteered to lead the way for Zhou Zhizhi.
“Okay, then you’ll come with me to look for a shop today.” Zhou Zhizhi was also very happy; finally, she had someone by her side who could help her.
Today she is going to fulfill the promise she made to Xiaoxiyou yesterday.
"Wu Da, wait three hours, until noon. Go to the street, grab any servant, give him some money, and have him deliver a message to the Second Prince's residence."
"Tell him I'm inviting him to the No. 1 Restaurant in the World to fulfill my promise from yesterday," Zhou Zhizhi instructed Wu Da.
Everyone knew that Wu Da was his attendant, so to avoid attracting attention, it was safer to just grab a stranger on the street and ask them to pass on the message.
"Xiaoyue, go and fetch Steward Jia." Since we're going out to rent a shop, we absolutely need money; we must bring enough silver.
"Yes." Xiaoyue received the order and hurried to find Steward Jia, the master of the house. Steward Jia not only managed various miscellaneous items in the mansion, but also important matters such as the storeroom.
Zhou Zhizhi had not been aware of the economic situation within the government for a long time.
Upon hearing that the Imperial Preceptor was looking for him, Steward Jia rushed over in a hurry.
"This humble servant greets Your Excellency, the Imperial Preceptor."
Steward Jia immediately knelt down and bowed.
"Steward Jia summoned you here today to inquire about the household's finances," Zhou Zhizhi said calmly, sitting in the main seat.
Steward Jia's heart tightened, and he immediately replied, "Reporting to the Grand Preceptor, the manor's finances are currently strained. We recently spent a large sum of money to purchase a batch of rare medicinal herbs, and also carried out renovations and decorations in the manor, which has almost depleted our savings."
Zhou Zhizhi frowned, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "Steward Jia, I need to go out and rent a shop now, and I need enough silver. How much silver do we have left in the manor?"
Steward Jia replied respectfully, "Your Excellency, there are also one hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, and more than five hundred and eighty loose copper coins."
Steward Jia is a very meticulous person, especially when it comes to accounts, which he cannot afford to be careless about.
He knew the household's finances inside and out, and he meticulously recorded every penny spent.
He had followed Zhou Zhizhi for many years and was an old man who had retired from the Zhou family. He was loyal to Zhou Zhizhi and was deeply trusted by her and respected by the servants in the household.
"The Imperial Preceptor only wants to rent a few shops; the manor has the money." Steward Jia had thought Zhou Zhizhi had encountered some difficulty and needed a lot of money, but it turned out she only wanted to rent a few shops.
After all, the money used to bribe soldiers in the army was used to pay off the soldiers. General Zhou was kind and always used his own money to pay the pensions that the court had withheld from the soldiers who died on the battlefield. So every time, a lot of money was needed, but in the end, he still ended up like that.
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