Chapter 15, Chapter 95: If there were no sky...
After swaying in the carriage for over a month, Zhou She finally saw the majestic city walls, and his mood immediately brightened.
He jumped off the carriage without hesitation, took out the document from his pocket, and handed it to the guards.
After a brief inspection by the soldiers, the city gate slowly opened. A middle-aged man dressed as a civil official stood at the gate and welcomed them inside.
"Lord Zhou, you must have had a long journey." The man's smile was very friendly, but Zhou She could detect a polite distance in his smile.
While Zhou She was observing the other party, Zhang Pingyu was also sizing up Zhou She.
His gaze became more subtle, noticing the drowsiness beneath Zhou She's calm eyes. He immediately smiled knowingly and said, "Lord Zhuang is dealing with military affairs and has ordered me to bring you to the government office immediately."
Zhou She replied cooperatively, "Thank you. I'll have to trouble you to look after my family for me."
Zhang Pingyu immediately agreed without saying anything more.
There had been rumors that this newly arrived young official was someone of considerable influence.
Zhang Pingyu was skeptical of this claim.
They're no ordinary people, yet they've been sent here. Judging from General Zhuang's attitude, he doesn't seem to be planning to entrust them with any important tasks, and it doesn't seem like they're here to gain experience.
The two men walked to the door, where two guards stopped them. One of them turned to announce their arrival, and after a moment he came out again, nodding slightly to Zhou She: "Lord Zhuang invites you in."
Zhang Pingyu noticed the word "please".
He revised his opinion in his mind; it seemed... the rumors might not be wrong.
Zhou She bowed to Zhang Pingyu and entered the camp.
As the garrison commander of Mingyuan Pass, Zhuang Ziqian was not like a military general, but rather more like a refined and courteous Confucian scholar.
Zhuang Ziqian gestured for Zhou She to sit down, and his opening remarks were very polite.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhuang Ziqian, in an attempt to appease the spoiled young master, said, "Mingyuan Pass is indeed a bit desolate, but it is, after all, a strategic location, and there is no shortage of food."
Zhou She remained silent.
Lord Zhuang, is this supposed to be comforting?
After speaking casually, Zhuang Ziqian paused for a moment and said, "I heard you brought your family with you, so it's more appropriate for you to stay in the city. I'll have Zhuang Che take you to settle in later."
Zhou She nodded repeatedly.
He was sent here by the emperor, so he couldn't just stay there; he would definitely have to live in the military camp.
Gu Xunhui is different; she can live in the city.
Zhuang Ziqian gave a few more instructions, but he was too busy to say more and was about to send Zhou She away.
Seeing that he had not made any arrangements for his work, Zhou She had no choice but to ask, "Lord Zhuang, who should I hand over my official duties to?"
Zhuang Ziqian: "..."
He suddenly realized that this man was different from the other two princes, so he casually said, "Then go and find Zhang Pingyu."
Zhang Pingyu handed over the waist tag, seal, and other items one by one. After the two checked them and found that they were correct, Zhou She signed his name on the checklist.
What exactly will I be responsible for?
Zhang Pingyu smiled calmly: "Sir, you are new here and may not know this. There are usually no important matters at Mingyuan Pass. You can take this opportunity to review past documents and files, and Lord Zhuang will make further assignments later."
Zhou She touched his waist token but remained silent.
Zhang Pingyu waited for a while, but didn't get a reply. Just as he was about to explain, he saw Zhou She smile at him and say, "I understand."
Seeing that his reaction was normal, Zhang Pingyu didn't know whether he really understood or not, and was too lazy to think about it. He pointed out the location of the cafeteria to him, then immediately said that he was very busy and left in a flash.
Zhou She certainly understood what Zhuang Ziqian meant: it's not terrible for people not to be able to work; what's terrible is not being able to work and yet causing trouble.
Clearly, this is the result of Zhuang Ziqian learning from his mistakes.
Zhou She settled Gu Xunhui in first before going to work the next day.
His job was very simple: he would get up in the morning, flip through some files, read some books, and pretend that he was working hard, but in reality, he was daydreaming.
His relationship with his colleagues was even more distant, maintaining only a basic harmony. Only a few people his age were slightly warmer towards him.
A leisurely life brings joy to the mind and body. After more than half a year of this, on an ordinary afternoon, Zhou She tidied up his desk and skipped work to go home.
Gu Xunhui wasn't surprised to see him return early. She brought out a few dishes from the small kitchen: "I made some Yongzhou specialties today, you can try them."
Zhou Yi rushed into the dining room and sat down at the table.
As Zhou She was setting out the dishes, he caught a glimpse of a boy in linen clothes standing not far away, awkwardly fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
"I met him on the street, and he helped me a lot," Gu Xunhui explained simply, then called out, "Come and eat."
The boy walked over hesitantly, taking small, quick steps, his eyes involuntarily drifting towards Zhou She.
Zhou She didn't say anything, but casually helped him set out the chopsticks and pushed the bowl to the opposite side, the meaning was clear: eat.
Although Zhou She wasn't particularly wealthy, he wasn't short of money for food.
Seeing that he agreed, the boy pounced on his food like a hungry tiger, devouring several large bowls of rice in a flash, but barely touching the vegetables.
Finally, he put down his bowl, sat demurely, and looked shyly at the people opposite him.
Looking at his youthful face, tattered clothes and cuffs, Zhou She vaguely saw the people he had met along the way.
Gu Xunhui said gently, "You can go out now."
As soon as the boy left, Gu Xunhui's expression changed.
Her brows were furrowed, clearly displeased, but her voice remained calm: "The court is not very stable."
Zhou She remained silent.
The imperial court has never been stable. Fortunately, a crown prince has been established, and the days ahead will surely be better than before.
Of course, this is just his personal expectation.
The atmosphere was somewhat strange. Seeing that he didn't speak, Gu Xunhui paused for a moment and then said, "You know the court's attitude towards the border."
The policy that Gu Xunhui mentioned was a decree issued some time ago.
For a long time, the border troops' rations were allocated by the imperial court and transported directly to the military camps.
Zhou She wasn't aware of the deeper issues. He only knew that the court's recent policy was to reduce military rations and divert some of them to local tax revenue.
This decree did not affect the border troops. In any case, the border troops' food and supplies remained stable.
Yongzhou suffered little damage, but neighboring Qingzhou was in dire straits. With tax increases, life was naturally worse than before, but due to the presence of border troops, people dared not voice their anger.
The influx of refugees from Qingzhou into Yongzhou may sound absurd, but it is an unbearable fact.
They lived in the city and could see very clearly.
“My father told me that the imperial treasury is in dire straits,” Gu Xunhui said softly. “After Yunzhou was hit by a disaster, another batch of grain was transported there, so His Majesty is going to crack down on corruption.”
She stared intently into Zhou She's eyes as she said this.
Zhou She sat silently, like a wooden sculpture. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "That is how it should be."
He thought of his father.
If the emperor truly wanted to investigate, how could there be no evidence?
Zhou She had nothing to say, so he stood up and said, "I have to go back. It's not good to be discovered if I'm away from the camp for too long."
Gu Xunhui nodded: "Then go ahead, it's the Duan family's patriarch's birthday banquet, the Duan family has invited us to the banquet tomorrow."
The second half of the sentence took an abrupt turn, and Zhou She paused, rummaging through his memory to recall the person's image: "Duan Mingyuan?"
“It’s him.” Gu Xunhui took out an invitation from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou She. “He’s inviting you.”
Zhou She's brows furrowed more and more, finally settling into a deep frown. He then said quietly, "Alright, I understand."
After saying that, he was about to walk out, but he stopped abruptly after taking only a few steps: "There's still money at home. Make a list of things that can't be bought here and have Zhuang Yuanchu send some over. You're kind-hearted and might take people home, but remember to check their true nature."
Gu Xunhui understood what he meant: "Go."
Zhou She was actually quite depressed.
When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven. He was just an ordinary person with no ability, yet he couldn't bear to ignore what others were saying.
That's just how the world is...
When Zhou She returned to his duty room, a pile of documents lay haphazardly on the desk, all of which he had read during his time of boredom.
He casually gathered them together, took out Duan Mingyuan's invitation from his sleeve, and read it carefully.
Zhou She had known for a long time that Duan Mingyuan was no good. To be more precise, the Duan family was no good either.
But he still insisted on attending the banquet. Judging from that, he probably wasn't a good person either.
Sometimes, Zhou She was indeed grateful for his background. At least it provided him with a lot of protection; otherwise, in this era, he probably wouldn't have been able to live so freely.
On the day of the banquet, the eldest son of the Duan family greeted them outside. Zhou She chatted with him, while Gu Xunhui took Zhou Yi and went to the backyard first.
Duan Mingyuan hosted a grand birthday banquet for everyone. Not only Zhou She, but Zhuang Ziqian also showed up to give him face. Duan Mingyuan's old face was all smiles, his wrinkles bulging.
Zhou She was a soldier and could not drink alcohol, so he offered Duan Mingyuan a cup of tea instead.
Ancient banquets were generally harmonious. Zhuang Ziqian only made an appearance once, but there was something subtle in the way he looked at him.
Zhou She found General Zhuang's gaze strange, but couldn't figure out why, so he could only pretend to be clueless and smile, pretending nothing had happened.
After several rounds of drinks, it was already getting dark.
Darkness falls early in the north, and Zhou She decided not to stay any longer. He bid farewell to the Gu family and took his wife and children home.
Pushing open the door, I saw a boy diligently sweeping the yard, holding a broom taller than himself, sweating profusely from the effort.
Zhou She stared at him for a long while before the boy belatedly realized what was happening. He turned around, saw Zhou She, and froze for a moment before whispering, "I... I'm not just here for free..."
Zhou She had already hired people, so he wasn't short of workers. But he couldn't think of anything to say, so he could only say, "Then thank you very much."
The boy was initially delighted, then hesitated slightly: "Can it be tomorrow too?"
Although he didn't explain clearly, Zhou She understood: "Okay, put down the broom and go to sleep. Clean my study tomorrow."
God knows, he never even used that study.
But letting the child do something and think less about trivial matters is a good thing.
However, after thinking for a moment, the boy said, "I think I should give one to my sister."
Perhaps worried that Zhou She would refuse, he quickly added, "Don't worry, young master, I'll only eat half!"
The boy's thin body trembled silently for a moment in the cold wind of the border. But his eyes were bright, as if filled with mist, pitiful yet stubborn.
“Okay.” Zhou She had mixed feelings, so he could only repeat those two words, “I’ll hire you to take good care of my wife.”
As he spoke, his voice softened, and he asked softly, "What's your name?"
You can't keep calling "hello" all the time.
The boy said in a trembling voice, "My surname is Meng, and my name is Meng Da."
"Alright, Meng Da." Zhou She pointed eastward. "Go and rest."
The two entered the room, and Gu Xunhui could tell from Zhou She's face that he was preoccupied: "You've softened your heart."
A very certain tone.
Zhou She leaned against the headboard, looking himself over with his eyes downcast: "The Duan family plunders the people's wealth, and aren't we doing the same?"
The room was silent. Suddenly, he slumped down beside him; it was Gu Xunhui, who sat down next to him and took his hand: "We'll help with whatever we can when we encounter problems, but how can we help those places that are too far away?"
As she spoke, she suddenly laughed: "When you are successful, you should help others. Why don't you give it a try, my lord?"
Zhou She stared into her eyes, his gaze gentle and playful in the dim light, carrying a hint of teasing yet also seeming genuine.
He felt inexplicably awkward: "Then... shall I ask?"
Gu Xunhui extended both hands and clasped them tightly: "Mmm!"
Dawn breaks early at the border, and Zhou She couldn't sleep well from early morning, sitting on the edge of the bed in a daze. He had huge dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well at all. He wearily swayed to the table and poured himself a glass of water.
The cold water made him shiver and also made him a little more awake.
Zhou She changed his clothes and tiptoed out of the room. A figure immediately came into view outside the door. It was the boy from yesterday, carrying hot water, clearly already prepared.
Zhou She had been in a daze all night, thinking only about the boy. Now, seeing him, his mood plummeted. He pulled the boy aside and, after a long pause, managed to stammer, "Where are your parents?"
The boy opened his eyes and said, "I died of illness."
"Where is your land?"
The boy's eyelids drooped, and he wasn't cooperating. But Zhou She persisted in arguing with him, and the two faced off in a stalemate. The hot water was almost cold when the boy finally had to answer, "It was taken away."
“…Who?” Zhou She had many guesses, going through several notorious, incompetent clans in his mind.
But to his surprise, the boy simply shook his head: "I don't know."
"have no idea?"
"I don't know." The boy raised his eyes. "I only know it's the master upstairs..."
Zhou She understood.
These details are meaningless to this child. No matter who it is, the ending will be the same.
Zhou She stopped pressing him for answers. He picked up a soft cloth from the basin and casually wiped his face.
Meng Da quickly brought his younger sister over as well. Zhou She didn't meet the girl, so he simply left it to Gu Xunhui to handle. He himself, with the goal of "striving for success," stepped into the military camp for the first time with seriousness.
Although I was a little late by accident... it's not a big problem.
Before Zhou She could even steady himself, a figure came rushing towards him.
A pair of hands suddenly grabbed his arm, and the voice was urgent: "Where were you while you were on duty? General Zhuang couldn't find you and was furious!"
Zhou She: "Huh?"
Su Miao had just been thoroughly scolded by his superior. He looked at Zhou She and forced a smile: "The general has something important to discuss with you. Remember not to be late next time."
Zhou She thought to himself, "That's exactly what I prepared for."
He was pulled to Zhuang Ziqian's door, and Su Miao gave him a look that said "good luck," before letting go and leaving.
Zhou She stepped forward and knocked on the door. After waiting for a while, he finally heard someone call out, "Come in."
It was Zhuang Ziqian's voice.
Zhuang Ziqian ignored him, continuing with his own business until the man had been waiting for a while, then calmly asked, "Where did you go?"
Zhou She only admitted his mistake, without making excuses: "I was wrong."
Zhuang Ziqian had a lot more to say in his reprimand, but he swallowed it all back because of Zhuang Ziqian's quick apology.
Seeing his sincere attitude in admitting his mistake, I changed the subject: "You've been in the army camp for several months now, so you should have some understanding of the current situation of the border troops. His Majesty values you highly, so there are some things that I shouldn't be the one to advise you on."
Zhou She's heart skipped a beat, knowing that what followed was the real business, and he immediately began shouting slogans: "Yes, Your Majesty's great favor, this humble official will remember it in his heart!"
Zhuang Ziqian's expression softened slightly: "I won't say any more. You should know what's going on. There's a vacancy in the military, and you've had enough rest these past few days, so you can fill in."
Zhou She left, completely bewildered, pondering the matter but still unable to grasp the cause and effect of the situation.
Zhuang Ziqian didn't give Zhou She a high-ranking position, just a squad leader. But this was different from his previous job; it was a formal position, and more importantly, it gave him real power.
Should we give him real power? That doesn't align with Zhuang Ziqian's consistent attitude, does it?
Zhou She couldn't figure out what he was up to, but since he had promised to work hard, he decided to do it seriously.
Zhou She showed his face among the fifty men under the captain's command, calling out their names one by one, and one could see their somewhat disobedient expressions.
Zhou She considered himself to be a very good-tempered person, so he ignored it: "This is the first time we've met, so you should follow the old rules and train as usual."
As soon as he finished speaking, the people lined up in front of him looked at each other, and no one moved.
The strongest and tallest man in the middle of the first row, holding his breath, suddenly said, "Our team leaders used to train together."
The smile on Zhou She's face froze.
The man noticed the change in his expression but remained unconcerned. The fact that his subordinates were disobeying meant that he, not the other way around, would be far more humiliated.
"Okay." Almost instantly, Zhou She had regained his composure. "What kind of training do you usually do?"
"We'll do anything as long as we see what our captain is capable of," the man laughed.
Behind him, the crowd nodded in agreement.
“Experience?” Zhou She murmured, turning and walking towards the training ground. He paused for a moment at the row of weapon racks, grasped the bow and arrows among them, and lifted them up forcefully.
There was a row of targets in the training ground for archers to practice with. Zhou She glanced at the target casually, then pulled back the bowstring with force, and the arrow shot out in an instant, landing firmly in the center of the target.
It all happened in an instant. To onlookers, it looked like he hadn't even aimed properly; it was just a casual gesture.
The noise behind me, which had been a bit loud, suddenly fell silent.
Zhou She didn't turn his head, casually put the bow and arrows back, and turned his head to the side: "How was it?"
The wind made his clothes flutter, and he looked incredibly dashing. Only Zhou She knew that beneath that dashing exterior lay a turbulent heart.
As a spoiled rich kid, he never imagined that his love of hunting would become an advantage.
Zhou She didn't see that behind him, Zhuang Ziqian was standing by the training ground, watching his back with a scrutinizing gaze.
The seasoned soldiers looked at each other, clearly not expecting this turn of events, their eyes filled with "This is not what I've heard."
Seeing that they didn't move, Zhou She breathed a sigh of relief and softened his voice: "Let's train."
He was familiar with the general rules of daily training, so he didn't leave without almost stopping. Instead, he returned to the line, stood at the front, and started warming up.
The tall, burly man paused, then grinned and asked, "The captain wants to train with us?"
The only response Zhou She gave him was three impatient words: "Stop talking nonsense."
Zhou She had been at Mingyuan Pass for more than half a year, and this was the first time he had experienced the real life of a border soldier.
Romantic dreams and beautiful scenery have completely faded away from him; all that remains is sweat soaking his clothes, and the cold wind carrying sand howling past, giving him goosebumps all over his body.
Although Zhou She maintained a calm facade, he was actually heartbroken.
But there were advantages to this as well. Although the veterans' attitude towards him remained lukewarm, most of them spoke much more honestly.
When it was time to eat, Zhou She didn't bother to say anything more to them. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, brushed off the dust on his body, and left.
Man: "..."
Shouldn't they try to win us over?
He looked back at his brothers, his eyes filled with doubt.
Zhou She had already gone quite far, and rolled his eyes at the sky in exasperation: he still needed to get used to this kind of life.
Zhou She adapted quickly.
He does have a resilient side to his personality, and coupled with his straightforward and generous nature, if you sincerely befriend him, you can quickly become familiar with most people, leaving only a few staunch supporters who are used to paying lip service to him.
Dealing with these kinds of people is simple. Since they value loyalty, chasing after them is pointless; the best approach is...
Loosen your grip, give them a chance to make mistakes, and wait for them to create problems before casually stepping in.
Upon hearing this, Gu Xunhui clapped his hands in praise: "Young master, you are truly cunning and treacherous."
Zhou She smiled slightly: "I'll take that as a compliment."
As he left home, he saw a group of children not far away, ranging in age from the oldest to the youngest.
Gu Xunhui saw him out, and when he saw his gaze fixed there, he hesitated for a moment, which was rare: "They are all pitiful children."
Zhou She probably knew about this matter. Ever since he picked up Meng Da, the news spread like wildfire, and this kind-hearted man made a dazzling appearance like a sucker.
What could Zhou She say? Looking at the children's disheveled appearance and their faces cracked from the wind, he swallowed all his words.
Zhou She began to plan his assets.
Supporting these people isn't too much of a burden for him right now. But he can't support them forever, and he can't be a sucker forever, so he might as well…
"Everything else is fine, it's just that we don't have much money left." Zhou She frowned. "Let's just have them write IOUs."
Gu Xunhui: "Is your husband just going to borrow and never return it?"
“How could that be?” Zhou She was stingy and had the face of a shrewd businessman. “Nine out and thirteen back… that’s too unethical. Raise them a bit and send them out to work, then give me half of their wages. That’s not unreasonable, is it?”
Gu Xunhui nodded with a smile, having seen through his style all too well: "Not excessive."
"Why do I feel like Zhao Niang is flattering me?"
"What are you saying, young master?" Gu Xunhui pushed him out and said with a smile, "Go quickly, or Lord Zhuang will get angry again."
Zhou She seized her hand and said, "With Madam at home, these boys are a nuisance. We should find them something to do. I heard there's a school in the city. I wonder how much the tuition is. If the price is right, we could send them there to learn a few words."
After saying that, he added, as if trying to make amends, "You can only make money if you can read."
Gu Xunhui didn't agree this time, but just patted his wrist: "Go ahead."
Only after Zhou She had walked far away did the smile on her face fade. It was a good thing that her husband had such a kind heart; she never expected that a man like Lord Zhou would have such a soft-hearted child.
However, the downside is... he doesn't seem to realize how expensive private schools are in Yongzhou.
Gu Xunhui had been extremely perceptive about accounts since childhood, so she remained silent, wanting to say: "My lord, at this rate, we might have to move the entire princess's mansion here."
Gu Xunhui pondered for a moment, "Why do we need a private school?"
She was a well-bred young lady raised in a scholarly family. She had read the Four Books and Five Classics thoroughly since childhood. If she were not a girl, passing the imperial examinations would have been a sure thing.
Being a little mentor is not a difficult thing.
She walked to the center of the courtyard in a few steps, with Meng Da following closely behind. After receiving the instruction, he shouted, "Come in, everyone! Madam is going to teach you to read!"
The children lined up, and Gu Xunhui gave each of them a stone slab. They used the empty room as a classroom, made a small chair for Zhou Yi on one side of the platform, and began their first lecture.
As usual, Zhou She went to the training ground first, ignoring those few extremely awkward guys. After finishing training, he turned around and went to his study to start writing a letter home.
He had a disagreement with his family before leaving, but Zhou She was flexible and adaptable. How could such a trivial matter be compared to gold and silver?
Instead of squandering the ill-gotten gains his father has made, it would be better to give him some honest work.
Although his handwriting was flamboyant, his words were sincere and touching, and could be summed up in just three words: father, money, son.
After finishing the first letter, he began writing the second one and sent it to Zhuang Shi. Being a longtime friend, his tone was more relaxed, asking him to send some local specialties and exquisite trinkets from the capital.
The last letter, however, was written to Huai Leju. He carefully considered it, thinking that this man was not only the emperor's henchman, but also the commander of the Imperial Guard, so he could offer him some advice.
So he wrote a long piece about his current situation, and finally wrote down the real question: How is the capital? Is His Highness the Crown Prince well? Please give my regards.
He gathered up several letters and felt deeply that he was suffering the hardships of the grassroots while worrying about the concerns of the top. What was the point of all this? He might as well continue to dig pits for his subordinates.
This opportunity came very quickly.
There were also weekly tests in the army, where several teams would compete against each other. If a team won, the entire team would get an extra meal, a rare treat for the border soldiers who lived a simple life.
Before the test began, Zhou She specifically called the small teams together and made simple arrangements for the competition.
As usual, he could see the indifferent expressions on the faces of a few people.
Zhou She didn't give many instructions, only offered a few superficial words of advice, and then clapped his hands: "Go."
The group split into several distinct teams and dispersed. A skinny boy, almost monkey-like, stayed behind and leaned forward, whispering, "Brother, I think they're not convinced. Won't something bad happen during the competition?"
Zhou She nodded and said, "I will try to persuade them again."
After he finished speaking, he turned around and smiled, "Don't worry, we must fight for this extra meal."
On the day of the competition, Zhou She should have stood by and watched, or given simple commands as needed by the situation.
Just before he was about to set off, someone rushed up to him and leaned against the door: "Brother Zhou, General Zhuang has ordered you to come with me to the city to take care of some business."
Zhou She hesitated for a moment: "Today's competition..."
Su Miao waved his hand dismissively: "It's just a small competition, do you really need to personally oversee it? Let's go, let's relax, isn't that a good idea?"
Zhou She was grabbed by the shoulder and pushed away. Of course, he hadn't planned to go watch the battle anyway, otherwise, how could he give some people in the team the opportunity to cause trouble?
But he still wanted to appear somewhat helpless, so he hesitated and said, "General Su, if you're going to do something, wouldn't it be bad if I took you along?"
Su Miao clicked his tongue in amazement: "You used to leave work before the scheduled time and disappear for the whole afternoon. Why didn't you say that was a bad thing back then?"
Zhou She paused for a moment, then retorted evasively, "Times have changed..."
The two left the military camp side by side. Su Miao was prepared, and two horses were already waiting outside the gate. He handed one horse to Zhou She and said, "Let's go."
Zhou She asked, "What are we doing?"
Su Miao: "I'll deal with a few bullies, buy some things, and while I'm at it... drop by your place."
"?" Zhou She was dumbfounded.
He understood the first two sentences, but the last one confused him.
Go to his house during my shift? What's there to see?
Indeed, he hasn't been home for some time and should go back and visit.
Zhou She quickly accepted the invitation to skip work, and after finishing their business, the two headed home in high spirits.
Before even entering, I could hear the sound of students reading aloud coming from inside.
Su Miao dismounted, his eyes gleaming, but he showed no surprise; instead, they were filled with "Just as I thought."
Zhou She was actually a step slower than him, catching up in a few strides and following the sound.
In the previously empty study, they finally saw the source of the sound, and standing at the front was none other than Gu Xunhui!
The two stood at the doorway, not intending to disrupt the class.
Until Gu Xunhui said, "get out of class dismissed."
They then resumed their movements. Su Miao smiled and said, "This must be your wife, right? Indeed, she is a woman who is just as capable as any man, possessing not only chivalry but also talent."
The children gathered at the doorway and bowed respectfully to Zhou She. Gu Xunhui made way for them and said, "Go out and be careful."
Zhou She had already realized that Su Miao was definitely not just visiting casually.
He came specifically for Gu Xunhui!
Su Miao seemed oblivious to the strange atmosphere and turned to Zhou She: "Brother Zhou, you've really put a lot of thought into opening this private school in the city."
Gu Xunhui had a vague sense of foreboding. Before she could speak, Su Miao had already revealed everything in a few words.
"I had long heard that a female teacher had come to the city. She was very learned and didn't charge much tuition. What that private school in the west of the city did was really unethical. If it drove my sister-in-law away, it would be a great loss to our Mingyuan Pass."
Zhou She maintained his composure, his smile almost gone: "Who?"
Gu Xunhui gently shook his head at him: "It's nothing important, it's already been resolved."
Su Miao also said, "Yes, my sister-in-law is so skillful and nimble that she has already made that man feel ashamed. Brother Zhou, you don't need to worry. However, I was really surprised when I heard General Zhuang say that you and your wife are so kind. I have to admit defeat."
Zhou She gave him a perfunctory bow, but sensed something was amiss in Su Miao's attitude.
Su Miao's smile gradually faded: "Brother Zhou, the daily expenses for these boys must be quite high, right? I've heard some people say that you have grand ambitions, not just based on good intentions. Have you heard of that?"
Zhou She was startled by these words, and instantly came to his senses, breaking out in a cold sweat.
He met Su Miao's gaze and, seeing sincerity in the other's eyes, quickly bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you for the reminder."
"It's just doing a job for Lord Zhuang," Su Miao said in a deep voice. "This matter is neither a big deal nor a small one. If you're going to do it, be more careful and meticulous. It's too conspicuous to have it registered under someone else's name and personally teach it."
Zhou She gave a wry smile: "There's nothing I can do, I'm broke."
"..." Su Miao was speechless and shocked. "You, the young master of the princess's mansion and the eldest son of the minister's mansion, would you be short of money?"
Zhou She recalled his letter demanding money and the falling out with his elderly father before leaving, and nodded firmly: "Yes."
Su Miao stared at him and sighed deeply: "Now I believe you really meant well."
The two returned to the military camp, and it was already dark.
"Is the competition over?" Zhou She asked. "I'll go check."
"It's over." Su Miao walked to the other end. "Then I'm leaving."
On the training ground, some were happy while others were sad. From a distance, Zhou She could see the gloomy and dejected look on the faces of his own group.
Seeing that the boss was late, Skinny Monkey immediately jumped up, both angry and resentful: "Boss!"
He glanced back and saw several burly men, their faces flushed, silent and utterly speechless.
The skinny monkey didn't speak, but the accusation in his eyes was very clear.
This was roughly in line with Zhou She's expectations. Given these people's personalities, they certainly wouldn't follow his plans, but their sudden change on the day of the competition made the final outcome entirely predictable.
But he still asked, feigning nonchalance, "What's wrong?"
He looked over the skinny man's shoulder at the man opposite him. The man was silent for a moment, then squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "Lost."
Zhou She frowned slightly: "What exactly is the reason..."
"No need to say anything more." His voice was interrupted by the other person. "It's our fault."
Zhou She could tell at a glance what he was doing, and could only shake his head helplessly: "Of course it's your fault."
As he spoke, his eyebrows shot up, and his expression changed completely: "Today is just a competition. If we were on the battlefield, would you still want to compete with me for this? Since you know you were wrong, don't act rashly in the future."
After he finished speaking, the several tall men opposite him were already embarrassed and could only blush and loudly reply, "Yes!"
Zhou She didn't look at him again: "Go back and rest."
Zhou She went straight to the main tent.
Zhuang Che, the second son of General Zhuang, was also there. When he saw him arrive, he cupped his hands in greeting and then turned to leave.
Zhuang Ziqian remained unmoved and said calmly, "I thought you weren't planning to come."
Zhou She smiled broadly: "Thank you for your concern, Lord Zhuang. I've come to apologize."
What crime have you committed?
Zhou She said sincerely, "It's such a trivial matter that it has escalated to the point of being before you, sir. This is something I never expected."
At this point, Zhuang Ziqian put down his pen. He scrutinized Zhou She's features, his gaze deeply inquisitive as he carefully traced the corners of his eyes and brows.
"It's a small thing, but it's also a good deed."
Zhou She didn't speak, but usually there would be a "but" afterward.
“But…” Zhuang Ziqian smiled and picked up a letter from his side, “Your identity is special, so it’s understandable that you’re being targeted.”
Zhou She watched as he took a stack of papers from the envelope, unfolded them, shook them out, and handed them to him. He raised his hand and took them.
His eyes widened involuntarily when they fell on the first line of text.
That wasn't just anyone's letter; it was a letter sent to him by Huai Leju.
Hey, what are you good for?!
Zhuang Ziqian said gently, "Mingyuan Pass has been in my hands for more than ten years, and Huai Leju is still young."
This explains why the letter ended up in Zhuang Ziqian's hands.
Fortunately, the letter did not contain any inappropriate topics; it mostly offered advice and suggestions to Zhou She. Only at the end did it say: "I have already conveyed my greetings to the Emperor. Everything is well in the capital, and the Fifth Prince is enjoying great favor with the Emperor."
Zhou She had mixed feelings.
For Huai Leju to say those words to him was truly the height of kindness and righteousness.
After Zhuang Ziqian finished reading, he moved his arm, and Zhou She noticed that there were two more letters under his wrist.
Those were, of course, replies from Zhou Xuyan and Zhuang Shi.
Zhuang Ziqian said, "Minister Zhou's money has already been delivered; you'll see it when you return today. As for my son's letter..."
He chuckled softly, and Zhou She felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.
"He certainly gave you a clear picture of the situation in the capital." Zhuang Ziqian said with a displeased expression, tossing the two letters to Zhou She. He was clearly not in a good mood.
Zhou She immediately took it, and as he was about to take his leave, Zhuang Ziqian called him back.
“Xingyuan, I don’t actually object to you raising those children,” Zhuang Ziqian said, his tone softening slightly. “The oldest among them will be old enough to join the army in a year or two. In my opinion, we should report to the court and grant them military household status, so they won’t starve. What do you think?”
Since things had come to this point, Zhou She naturally replied, "Then thank you very much, Lord Zhuang."
This time, Zhuang Ziqian truly let him go: "Go ahead."
Zhou She returned home and read all three letters in turn.
Zhou Xuyan's letter was unremarkable, containing no words of kindness, only asking indifferently: "If it weren't for my efforts, where would the money you're asking me for come from?"
Zhou She's face turned green with rage, but he held back and ultimately did not reply with a single letter in rebuttal.
Most of Huai Leju's letters are about experience; I'll keep them and read them slowly, then write him another letter to thank him later.
What surprised Zhou She the most was Zhuang Shi's letter.
He suspected that the local official was Zhuang Ziqian, which fueled Zhuang Shi's arrogance. He wrote about the situation in the capital in great detail, even telling him gossip about which official the Fifth Prince had dinner with on which day.
Zhou She observed carefully.
Suddenly, I felt a warmth behind me.
Gu Xunhui sat behind him, resting his head on his shoulder, also looking at the letter.
Zhou She deliberately asked, "Is it fun?"
Gu Xunhui pondered, "His Majesty's favoritism towards the Fifth Prince is not a good thing."
She didn't respond to his words at all.
Zhou She had no choice but to get back to the main point: "In my opinion, His Majesty is in the prime of his life and could easily live another ten years. It's fine to show favor now, as long as it doesn't end up in chaos..."
Before she could finish speaking, she was overwhelmed by the burning light in Gu Xunhui's eyes.
He paused for a moment, then helplessly spread his hands: "I'm not going to say anything more."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Gu Xunhui took the letter. "A man like General Zhuang actually raised such a frank son as Young Master Zhuang. He sent someone to our house today..."
Zhou She stroked his chin: "It's kind of a reminder to me. He probably thinks I need to establish myself on the border and build up my power."
Gu Xunhui smiled wryly: "How many years would it take to train them?"
“Who knows?” Zhou She shrugged. “That’s one way to think about it. If the capital really descends into chaos, we can settle down here, close the door, and what’s the difference between that and a paradise? The emperor is far away, and nobody can control us.”
Zhou She thought Zhao Niang would object, but to his surprise, she nodded in agreement: "That's true. But... what kind of paradise is this, where war breaks out at any moment? If things really get chaotic, can you resist the urge to run back?"
Zhou She found it amusing, put his arm around Gu Xunhui, and walked towards the bedside: "If things really get chaotic, of course I'll immediately lead the forces I've cultivated back to seize the throne..."
Gu Xunhui laughed so hard he trembled, and gently patted him on the shoulder.
After joking around enough, Zhou She changed the subject: "Let's not talk about these head-threatening topics anymore. How are those two little guys, Zhou Yi and Zhou Xin, doing in their studies?"
"It's much better than you."
"Zhao Niang, are you kidding me? Zhou Xin is so young, yet he's already more capable than me?"
"When have you ever read it seriously...?"
The candles in the room went out, and only whispers could be heard. No one paid any attention to those few treasonous words.
-----------------------
Author's Note: This is roughly the story before Zhou She embarked on the path of rebellion.
The bonus chapter will either be set in the underworld or in a later era; I haven't decided which one to write yet.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
