His Majesty is plotting a rebellion? Quickly, summon the Imperial Advisor!

For Red Eagle Escort Agency to achieve long-term healthy development, Xu Bing needs to cultivate good relationships with these escorts and build a team that is absolutely loyal to him.

Wu Ju's victory brought him widespread fame, and Xu Bing held a celebration banquet in the inner courtyard, inviting the chef from Qingmeng Restaurant.

There were 21 bodyguards present, plus Xu Bing and Ji Yuan, making a total of 23 people.

Four tables would be enough. Since Xu Bing was hosting the dinner, the food would naturally be prepared to the highest standard.

Ginseng, abalone, giant crabs, dragons and phoenixes dancing...

Each of the signature dishes from the Qingmeng Restaurant was served, and each person could also enjoy a serving of Jiumi Cake.

"Jiumi!"

The bodyguards present were immediately intrigued; what martial artist didn't know Jiu Mi?

It increases vitality and strength, and does not produce grains or impurities.

Eating this rice once a month can cure diseases and prolong life, but it is extremely expensive and can only be eaten by high-ranking officials and nobles.

One problem is that people can't afford it, and another is that there's no market for it despite the price. Currently, there are only two places in the entire Daxi City where this nine-meter-long item can be sold reliably.

Love Dream Restaurant and Bamboo Rice Shop.

Unfortunately, they are all businesses owned by Xu Bing.

"Boss, my goodness! How could Qingmeng Restaurant sell you so much rice?" Li Qiao, the bodyguard known as Silver Five, exclaimed in astonishment.

"Eat up." Xu Bing smiled at everyone. "I forgot to tell you about a hidden perk."

“From now on, I will deliver fifty catties of rice every month. It costs twenty taels per catty elsewhere, but you can buy it for only ten taels per catty at the escort agency.”

Xu Bing said leisurely.

Ji Yuan, sitting next to him, had his pupils shrink. Just how many meters tall was this guy?

Nine-meter rice is only produced in Futian and is extremely rare; once it's used up, it's gone forever.

She used to sell her rice for almost thirty taels a pound. Sometimes, she'd even sell it for forty taels. Every pound sold required careful calculation.

Xu's illness is actually quite good...

Ten taels to a catty is practically free for Jiu Mi.

Moreover, she obtained an even more crucial clue: Xu Bing's nine meters were sold for twenty taels per catty.

This price is neither high nor low, but... it's too wasteful. If used properly, it could have sold for a higher price.

"Wow, boss, you have incredible energy!"

The bodyguards all praised it, their eyes sparkling.

Delighted.

They receive one tael of silver per month, but that's just their base salary. If the Red Eagle Escort Agency does well in the future and they complete more escort missions, their commission will increase.

Every few months, they can eat a meal of rice.

Tsk tsk…

Suddenly, life had hope.

Xu Bing smiled. This move was intended to stimulate the spending desires of the bodyguards, enhance their ambition, and at the same time promote the internal circulation of silver.

“The Red Eagle Escort Agency is much more than this; you are very lucky.” Xu Bing picked up his wine bowl.

The bodyguards stopped eating and stood up one after another, raising their wine bowls to look at Xu Bing.

But they found that all twenty-odd people present were looking at Ji Yuan.

She was still sitting in the chair, which was rather tactless of her.

Ji Yuan was speechless, unsure of what to think. The wine bowl was right in front of her, but she couldn't reach it. She had no one to confide in.

Despite being an empress, this scene still made her so embarrassed that she scratched her toes and felt her scalp tingle.

"Boss, may I ask your name, lady?" asked Lai Nei, the Silver Three Escort.

“Yes, a woman at the ninth level of the Profound Realm, we should have heard of her.” Lei Yong, the Silver Second Escort, echoed, looking at Ji Yuan with curiosity.

He had witnessed the woman's heroic and valiant demeanor on the dueling platform.

A red dress flutters in the wind, and a vicious tiger is subdued with a flick of the wrist.

For some reason, he became much more shy after stepping off the fighting platform, and hasn't eaten a single bite of food since.

Don't like it?

"I think you've all heard of her name by now," Xu Bing said casually, glancing at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and she was very nervous. Would Xu Bing really reveal his identity?

As the dignified Empress herself… Ji Yuan’s palms and feet were sweating, her gaze was unfocused, and her heart was in her throat.

"However, since she is wearing a mask, she obviously doesn't want to be recognized, so I won't say anything more."

Xu Bing changed the subject, keeping a close eye on Ji Yuan's movements, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Haha, it was my fault for being so talkative," Lei Yong quickly apologized.

"It's alright." Xu Bing stopped, signaling everyone to relax. He turned to a young bodyguard and said, "Ma Gaoshuang, why don't you show this heroine around the escort agency? She doesn't like to drink, and she's not hungry."

Ma Gaoshuang quickly stuffed the rice cake into the air, "Yes, boss."

Xu Bing laughed and said, "Look how anxious you are. I'll make you another Jiumi cake later."

Ma Gaoshuang's eyes lit up. "Thank you, boss!"

The other bodyguards looked on with envy; rice cakes were a luxury item.

Ji Yuan glanced at Xu Bing, slowly got up, and followed Ma Gaoshuang as they strolled around the escort agency.

After the two men left, Xu Bing picked up his wine bowl and toasted with his bodyguards.

……

The escort agency is quite large, and a leisurely tour will definitely not be boring. After all, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse. The Red Eagle Escort Agency was built by Zhao Dadao, who was the top escort agency in Daxi City at the time.

It can't be too small.

Inside, there are artificial mountains and water features, and the scenery is quite beautiful.

“Um… I have never seen a woman as tall as you before.”

Ma Gaoshuang blushed slightly, and hearing the slow footsteps behind him, he felt a deep sense of unease.

"How tall are you?" Ji Yuan was already bored, so she followed up with the question.

“I’m nearly eight and a half feet tall,” Ma Gaoshuang said. His height was already considered tall for a man.

Even in Lanxing, Xu Bing's fellow villager, he was already a tall man of 1.8 meters.

However, at this moment, Ma Gaoshuang looked at Ji Yuan almost eye to eye, as it was the first time Ma Gaoshuang had ever seen such a tall woman.

Ji Yuan's expression was strange, and he replied directly, "It's because my boot heels are high."

Ma Gaoshuang then looked down and saw that Ji Yuan's boots had a heel, which added some height.

Although the heels added a bit of height, it must be said that Ji Yuan's original figure was already very good, and she was also a rare tall and slender woman.

"What peculiar boots. Judging by the style, they're probably made of animal hide," Ma Gaoshuang muttered to himself, but dared not say it out loud. After all, discussing a woman's shoes in front of her was tantamount to being a pervert.

The two continued walking.

Ji Yuan changed the subject, casually asking, "What do you think of your boss?"

"Boss?" Ma Gaoshuang said bluntly, "Mysterious, powerful, handsome... uh, that's it."

"Also, the boss is usually very friendly and treats us really well. He doesn't put on airs at all, but deep down we still feel awe towards him."

Ji Yuan frowned slightly, her beautiful hair on her forehead was disheveled by the wind.

She was looking for Xu Bing's weaknesses, but her wish to find them was ultimately unfulfilled.

It's not that Xu Bing had no weaknesses.

Every human being has weaknesses, but Xu Bing's weaknesses were not manifested.