Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 84 The Busy World
“My elder sister is devoted to Buddhism. If I can do my best to help her on her spiritual path, it will be a good deed.”

Upon hearing this, Qingmei's lips curved into a shallow smile, and her dimples appeared faintly on her cheeks.

"However, the inhabitants of this village and fortress are mostly blacksmiths, donkey peddlers, peddlers, and oil dealers, who are mostly rude and uncultured brutes."

With such a pure and virtuous person as my sister living alone, how can one not feel worried?
If you encounter someone who is blinded by lust…

Her voice was gentle, but the last syllable carried a subtle, profound meaning.

“This…” Dugu Jingyao’s slender fingers trembled slightly, and a chill rose in her heart.

She had been raised in seclusion since childhood and never imagined that such a treacherous situation existed in the world.

"Since you're not used to living in the side courtyard, why don't you move in and live with me in the inner courtyard?"

Qingmei spoke gently, yet with an undeniable firmness.

“This…” Dugu Jingyao’s heart tightened.

Qingmei lives deep within the inner courtyard. If she moves there, wouldn't she be closer to Yang Can?
She hurriedly waved her hand, "It's already a disturbance to stay at the manor, how can I..."

"Sister, why be so formal? I couldn't be happier to accept this."

Without allowing any further explanation, Qingmei immediately raised her voice and said, "Granny Sun, Granny Zheng, go and pack up Miss Jingyao's daily necessities and move them to my room."

The two old women responded and left, stealing glances at Dugu Jingyao before they went.

Good-looking women are just as popular with other women.

Both being slaves, this one not only gained the favor of the steward but also got to live with his childhood sweetheart—truly a stroke of good fortune.

You are so outstanding.

Dugu Jingyao couldn't refuse, so she awkwardly withdrew her hand, thinking to herself, "Qingmei treats me with such courtesy. If Master Yang does anything improper, she should protect me, right?"

"But having to constantly maintain the airs of a spiritual practitioner is truly exhausting."

Qingmei's lips curled up slightly, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes: Just focus on your Buddhist practice, why ruin your cultivation?
From now on, I'll be watching you closely. Don't even think about messing with my man again, hehe...

……

On Phoenix Mountain, Li Youcai furtively pushed open his courtyard gate, and first peeked in a round head.

The courtyard was quiet, and there was no one in sight.

The apricot tree in the corner has already borne green apricots, and the chives on Fangshantou are lush and green.

Li Youcai let out a long sigh of relief, straightened his back, and stepped through the door, followed by a pretty village girl carrying a bundle.

The little girl was petite, and her baby face made her look even younger than her actual age.

Upon reaching the door, Li Youcai coughed lightly and mustered his courage to say, "Wife, I'm back."

Pan Xiaowan leaned against the couch, one hand supporting her cheek and the other holding a silk fan.

She fanned herself idly with her fan, displaying the languid demeanor of a young married woman.

Upon hearing Li Youcai's voice, Pan Xiaowan was slightly surprised. How come this old man came back so quickly?
Whenever he goes out to have fun, it takes him two or three months to come back.
Pan Xiaowan got out of bed, slipped on her straw sandals, and gracefully walked out of the bedroom.

Upon entering the main room, one could see Li Youcai standing there with a fawning smile, a smile that betrayed his deep unease.

The little girl behind him had just stepped over the threshold and was looking over timidly.

She carried a small bundle on her shoulder; what a delicate and charming girl she was.

The little girl was very clever; she had already sensed that the master seemed to be very afraid of the mistress.

"Ah, my wife, I'm back. Well, this little girl's name is Zaoya."

Oh... Zao Ya is a maid I picked up on the road, hahaha!

My wife, you know how hard I work, running around all day..."

Li Youcai suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly turned around, saying, "Hey, Zaoya, where's the gold bracelet I bought for my wife? Quickly bring it out."

"Oh." Zao Ya glanced timidly at Pan Xiaowan, then hurriedly walked to the table and put down her bundle.

Pan Xiaowan glanced at Li Youcai, then suddenly smiled and gracefully walked to the table to sit down.

"It's rare to see you back so early, my husband. Could it be because..."

She glanced at Zao Ya'er with a sly look in her eyes: "You finally got what you wanted, didn't you?"

Li Youcai sidled up to her with a fawning smile, saying, "My lady, you've misunderstood."

I'm currently running around everywhere; the clan lord sent someone to bring me back.

At this point, Li Youcai revealed a hint of pride: "Wife, it seems your husband has already caught the eye of the clan leader."

Haha, the lord has an errand to run now, and he'd rather send someone to summon me back than send anyone else.

Your husband is about to reach new heights, haha…

Upon hearing this, Pan Xiaowan couldn't help but beam with joy: "A step up? Could it be that you can become an external affairs steward?"

"Almost there, I reckon it'll be about right this time, haha..."

Li Youcai was overjoyed to see that his wife was focused entirely on his career and did not react negatively to his taking a concubine.

His wife is sharp-tongued; if she really gets serious, her village slang and proverbs can make him feel utterly ashamed.

He was somewhat flattered by how easily he passed the test today.

He had expected to be thoroughly scolded upon his return today.

Unexpectedly, his wife let him go so easily.

Upon hearing this joy, Li Youcai felt as if he had lost four ounces of weight.

Zao Ya took out the box of gold-plated jewelry he had bought. Li Youcai opened the box and handed it to Pan Xiaowan with a fawning expression.

"My wife, see if you like it."

These gold bracelets are made of pure gold in a single-ring shape, and there are three in total.

At this point, the symmetrical beauty of wearing one bracelet on each wrist is no longer important; instead, all three gold bracelets are worn on one hand. In this way, one can achieve the effect of "the gold bracelets ringing as the wrist shakes, and the jade rings tinkling as the steps turn."

Pan Xiaowan took the bracelet and put it on her left wrist. She shook her wrist, and the gold bracelet made a clear and melodious tinkling sound.

"I am very satisfied with the items my husband has chosen this time." Pan Xiaowan smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling with charm.

Li Youcai felt a great weight lifted from his heart, wondering to himself when his wife had changed her temperament and become so understanding.

I, Old Li, am still not used to her sudden change of heart.

Then I thought again, ugh! Aren't I just a cheapskate?

Pan Xiaowan swung her fair wrist and asked casually, "The lord of the clan summoned you back specifically. Where are you going on official business this time?"

Li Youcai smiled and said, "This time it's not far, just a trip to Feng'an Village."

"Feng'an..."

Pan Xiaowan's eyes suddenly lit up.

She grabbed Li Youcai's sleeve and said sweetly, "Since it's not far, I'll go with you."

"My wife, are you being ridiculous?"

Li Youcai couldn't satisfy his young wife, and felt inferior in her presence.

He was always intimidated by Pan Xiaowan, and at this moment he didn't even have the courage to refuse her firmly. He could only force a smile and feign anger.

“I’m going to Feng’an on business. What kind of behavior is it to bring my family along?”

Pan Xiaowan said coquettishly, "Does it become proper for someone to stay alone in an empty room all year round?"

You go about your business; I'll just take this as a break and won't interfere with your work.

"This one……"

Li Youcai replied perfunctorily, "My lady, let me at least see the clan leader and receive my assignment before we talk about it. I don't even know the specifics yet."

"Alright then, go see the clan leader, I'll wait for your message."

Pan Xiaowan's eyes darted around, and she saw Qiaoshe and Laixi coming in from outside.

Pan Xiaowan then instructed, "Qiaoshe, go and pack a few of my travel clothes. I'm going down the mountain with the master to relax."

“Uh…”, watching as Qiaoshe went to the room to pack her clothes, Li Youcai didn’t dare to say anything in objection.

……

Yu Xinglong stared at the second steward, He Youzhen, with a solemn expression.

"The smuggling of armor is no small matter! How many pieces of armor are there?"

How many times has this been done? Who is the buyer?

Who were the traffickers? Where did the armor come from?

He paced anxiously, then solemnly declared, "These matters must be thoroughly investigated and brought to light!"

He Youzhen is nearly sixty years old, with graying temples. He is a senior official in the external affairs of the Yu clan, and his strength is second only to the chief steward Dong Shun.

Amidst the open and covert struggles between the two branches of the eldest son's family, he consistently leaned towards the head of the clan's faction.

Compared to Dong Shun and Yi She, who were both opportunists, Yu Xinglong naturally valued He Youzhen more.

In addition, he was already in charge of the Yu family's industrial and commercial affairs, so investigating this case was just the right thing for him.

"I understand."

Upon hearing that armor was involved, He Youzhen also became serious.

"If the Xianbei tribes purchase armor and become powerful, they will inevitably become a major threat to the Longxi region."

However, their current goal should still be to dominate the Xianbei tribes.

In my opinion, what we should be most concerned about right now is who manufactured these armors and who sold them.

In other words, it is necessary to investigate the origin and trafficking channels of this batch of armor.

Yu Xinglong nodded, his gaze sharpening as he said, "Do you think it might be from Dailai City..."

He Youzhen pondered for a moment, then gently shook his head: "My lord, if such a large quantity of armor was made in a private workshop in 'Dailai City,' there is absolutely no reason why I wouldn't have been able to find out anything about it."

Yu Xinglong said, "If he intercepted the share of armor I allocated to him..."

He Youzhen felt genuinely helpless.

Over the years, whenever trouble arose within the territory, the first person the warlord suspected was always Second Master Yu Huanhu.

However, having been in charge of industry and commerce for many years, he knew that the amount of armor allocated to Dailai City each year had been reduced again and again. Yu Huanhu himself was already struggling to make ends meet, so how could he possibly sell it?

For the ambitious Second Master, armor meant strength, which was far more important than gold and silver.

In such a large family, after hundreds of years of management, is there only one person, Yu Huanhu, who is disloyal to you, the clan leader?

But whenever something happens, the patriarch only suspects the second master. Is the patriarch short-sighted?

Perhaps it's just that he's grown old, both physically and mentally, and he's afraid to face his decline and the betrayal of others.

He Youzhen glanced at Yu Xinglong, who was younger than him but looked much older and weaker, and felt a pang of pity.

He still remembered the youthful vigor Yu Xinglong displayed when he first took the helm of the clan, but now he was left with only suspicion and unease.

It's not just his physical appearance that's aging.
"Your Majesty, I understand. I will keep an eye on what Your Majesty is doing!"

Yu Xinglong nodded in satisfaction: "Take Li Youcai with you on this trip to Feng'an Village."

He Youzhen was slightly surprised. Li Youcai? That eldest son's chief steward?

A chubby, somewhat shrewd, and cunning face slowly emerged in his mind.

(End of this chapter)