Your Majesty said that my life is worthless, so why are you crying when I increase my troops?

"Aunt, why do you say that?"

"Could it be that in your mind your nephew is this kind of person?"

Xia Mingyuan's face was full of innocence. "Let's put aside the question of making money for now. I would like to ask you, nephew, why do you say that the martial arts competition didn't attract any troops?"

"To be honest, the three people sent by Kunlun Security are the generals my nephew recruited to suppress the bandits!"

Xia Xue's expression froze, and she said coldly, "Aren't those your subordinates? Or are they recruited under the royal name, to be used for your personal purposes?"

"Aunt, you are wrong!"

Xia Mingyuan's face was serious, "My nephew's current actions are actually to protect them!"

"Those warriors also have families and relatives. If they openly surrender to the imperial court and become generals, will their families be retaliated against by those bandits?"

"Even if we're not afraid of retaliation, wouldn't our high-profile actions alert the bandits in Poison Dragon Mountain?"

"This……"

Xia Xue was stunned and stood there in a daze.

Without waiting for her to respond, Xia Mingyuan continued, "My nephew set up Kunlun Security. Making money is just a superficial aspect. The most important thing is to provide cover for these people."

"Only these people can hide in the dark, wait until the war comes and call for a hundred responses, and then catch those bandits off guard!"

"My nephew had good intentions, and I thought Auntie would understand, but I didn't expect..."

Xia Mingyuan's face was filled with grief and his whole body was trembling.

Xia Xue suddenly panicked and said with a guilty look, "So that's what you thought. I was wrong about you. I was not thoughtful enough about this matter."

"No, this is not Aunt's fault." Xia Mingyuan shook his head, his tone heavy: "Aunt was right before. This martial arts competition, my nephew did have the idea of ​​using this opportunity to make money."

"But you also know that Magistrate Sun made a bet with me, and all the silver I had on me has to be handed over to you. You are not allowed to use it."

"My nephew has no money, and I can't let the soldiers fight on an empty stomach, so I have to find a way to make money. This... this is what, in my aunt's opinion, has ruined the reputation of the royal family."

"Don't worry, auntie. After we defeat the bandits, I, Xia Mingyuan, will bear all the blame!"

Xia Mingyuan stood up from his seat angrily, his face full of righteousness.

"You...you really think so?" Xia Xue bit her teeth lightly and raised her head in a daze.

"I promise to use all the 23,000 taels of silver we earned from the two-day martial arts tournament to buy food. If we use it for anything else, I, Xia Mingyuan, will die a miserable death!"

After saying this, Xia Mingyuan drew his sword and was ready to swear an oath with blood.

"It doesn't have to be this way!"

Xia Xue quickly stopped him, her face flushed slightly.

"Xia Mingyuan, I misunderstood you on this matter."

"I still have several thousand taels in my hand. If you can use it, take it too."

Xia Mingyuan quickly shook his head and said calmly, "Aunt, there's no need to do this. I will find a way to earn money, but sometimes I need the identity of the Princess's Mansion..."

"It doesn't matter if Aunt doesn't agree. It will just require your nephew to put in a little more effort."

Xia Xue frowned slightly when she heard this. After a while, she finally let out a long sigh.

"Since it's for the purpose of suppressing bandits, then it's up to you."

"However, don't let me know that you're using the name of the Princess' Mansion to commit evil!"

Xia Mingyuan was overjoyed, as it seemed that his aunt had gained some trust in him.

"Don't worry, auntie, your nephew will never do anything so heartless and ungrateful!"

After coming out of Xia Xue's room, Xia Mingyuan breathed a sigh of relief, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

With Xia Xue's previous tacit consent, he had confirmed his background in the princess's mansion.

From now on in Hanyang, whoever wants to mess with him will have to consider the consequences!

……

At noon the next day, the martial arts competition that the people of Hanyang had been looking forward to finally came to a successful conclusion.

There is no doubt that Li Mingyi and Li Minger from Kunlun Security crushed all the contestants with absolute advantage and won the top two spots.

As for the third place result, it was a surprise.

Li Mingsan of Kunlun Security made mistakes and lost two games in a row. He was reversed by a dark horse named Zhao Dabao and won the third place.

For a time, the entire underground gambling world in Hanyang was filled with grief.

The flaws do not outweigh the merits. After the martial arts competition, Kunlun Security became famous throughout Hanyang City and was known to everyone, including women and children.

After lunch, Xia Mingyuan lay on the recliner brought by Wei Saner, closed his eyes and drank tea leisurely.

"Wei San'er, go get Lu Xiucai for me."

"Okay, please wait a moment, sir."

Wei Saner poured more tea to Xia Mingyuan, unable to hide his excitement.

This was the first time that Master Xia had asked him to do something, so he didn't dare to be negligent in the slightest. He ran all the way to the Kunlun Security compound with his heels tapping on his buttocks.

Not long after, Lu Xiucai came jogging over with the account book.

"Sir, you're looking for me?"

Lu Xiucai bowed slightly, looked at Xia Mingyuan on the recliner, and asked softly.

Xia Mingyuan opened his eyes and sat up straight.

"Old Lu, the competition is over. How is Kunlun Security's business?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiucai smiled from ear to ear, "Sir, let me congratulate you on your fortune."

"After our Kunlun Security team won first place in the martial arts competition this morning, the door is about to be broken by people stepping on it. I wonder how many people are coming to inquire about the price."

Xia Mingyuan nodded lightly and said calmly: "This is within my expectations."

"Old Lu, if I let you set the price, based on the current manpower, what would you do?"

Lu Xiucai thought for a moment and immediately replied, "I have combined the salaries of servants and guards in wealthy families, but since I don't have anyone as brave as yours to compare with, I dare not set a price arbitrarily."

"However, for soldiers like these going into battle today, the price should be higher. In my opinion, we should set it at at least fifty taels a day. After all, those who want this kind of protection are not ordinary people."

"As for the guards around you..." Lu Xiucai subconsciously looked at the several Qilin Guards in the courtyard, "I don't know how to price them. I'd like to ask you to decide."

Xia Mingyuan was silent for a while. "These people are quite strong, so let's set the salary at ten taels of silver a day. If we pay it monthly, it will be two hundred and forty taels a month."

"As for those ordinary guards, even though they are much better than ordinary family servants and guards, we should try to keep the price as low as possible, ten taels per person per month."

"Spread the word that for every 100 taels spent on Kunlun Security, you can get the right to use an ordinary guard for one month."

"Also, a bounty has been posted. Anyone who can defeat the Qilin Guard will be rewarded 100 silver coins. Anyone who defeats the Longxiong Sharpshooter will be rewarded 1,000 silver coins."

"As for losing..."

Xia Mingyuan stroked his chin and said with a smile: "If you lose, you have to take off your outer clothes and run around Hanyang City in just your underwear."

When Lu Xiucai heard this, he staggered and almost fell to the ground.

Isn't this Mr. Xia playing too extravagantly?