Now I really have to marry the princess.

Li Ke rode alongside Yang Zhengdao. Li Ke, perhaps having held back for a long time, finally asked, "Cousin, what tribe does this Aba belong to?"

Upon hearing his question, all the companions pricked up their ears, with Jiang Cheng and the eunuch Jian paying particular attention.

Yang Zhengdao smiled slightly: "They are Gulikan people!"

He deliberately spoke loudly so that everyone in the group could hear his answer.

Honesty is the best weapon to dispel doubt.

As for what the Guli Gan people are? Sorry, the original owner didn't know either.

Li Ke frowned, racking his brains through all the historical records he had read, but he couldn't recall finding any such person as the Guligan.

"Cousin, to which tribe do these Guligan people belong?"

"I don't know either. I only heard my aunt, Princess Yicheng, say that the Guligan people live north of Xiaohai."

When Yang Zhengdao gave the answer, Li Ke understood.

Xiaohai, also known as Hanhai, is the present-day Lake Baikal, the place where Su Wu herded sheep.

Historical records before the Tang Dynasty only went as far north as this place.

After racking his brains without finding a solution, Li Ke couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer: "Cousin, are all the Gulikan people like Aba?"

Yang Zhengdao did not answer; from a modern perspective, this is absolutely impossible.

Globally, including through archaeological discoveries, there is no human being with an average height exceeding 1.9 meters.

Abba's physique is roughly equivalent to a slightly larger version of Shaquille O'Neal or Yao Ming. He definitely belongs to a minority within a certain group.

Of course, no one would believe Yang Zhengdao even if he said that.

Such matters are only convincing when told by the parties involved, especially those whose eyes are widely spaced.

Because of his appearance, no one would believe he would lie.

"Abba, do you remember how tall your people are?"

Aba strode along beside Yang Zhengdao, scratching his messy red hair as he pondered.

It took Aba about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to figure things out.

His expression was solemn, and he began to answer with utmost seriousness.

"My grandfather, five years ago, was a little taller than me; four years ago, he was the same height as me; three years ago, he came to live with me..."

Abba spoke while gesturing, and by the time he said "now," his hand was already gesturing to his abdomen.

At first, everyone was confused, but later they realized that Aba was using his rapidly growing body as a comparison.

In this way, everyone understood that while the average height of people with high bone density might be slightly higher, it was still within the normal range.

Aba's answer convinced everyone that he was indeed not very bright.

Yang Zhengdao knew what Aba's answer meant.

He has an exceptional memory for certain details that he cares about.

Because Aba couldn't count, he herded sheep by remembering what each sheep looked like.

Li Ke pondered for a moment, then leaned closer to Yang Zhengdao and asked in a low voice, "Cousin, are you sure you want to release them and take them in as a retainer and a guest woman?"

Yang Zhengdao naturally understood Li Ke's unspoken meaning.

Li Er allowed him to recruit a squad of soldiers on his own, and the quota would be reduced with each use.

Aba and Nazha were originally Yang Zhengdao's servants, so there was absolutely no need to use up two of their positions.

But Yang Zhengdao couldn't guarantee that Li Er would tacitly approve the legitimacy of his two servants.

After all, everything that the Later Sui, as a puppet regime, possessed should be classified as spoils of war, and since it was spoils of war, it should inevitably be used as government slaves.

Last year, the original owner and Empress Xiao returned to Chang'an with the army, and all the young servants who accompanied them were assigned to the Shaofu Temple.

As for Aba and Nazha, they were separated from Yang Zhengdao because Li Jing was on a pasture outside the city when he launched a night raid on Dingxiang during a snowy night.

If the two are now re-registered as servants, according to last year's precedent, they should also be considered war prisoners.

Even if Li Er didn't say anything, any censor could submit a memorial, and Yang Zhengdao would have no choice but to obediently send the two to the Shaofu Temple.

After all, there are many people who dislike him as a remnant of the previous dynasty.

Moreover, by including him, a grandson of the former emperor, one might even leave a mark on history books.

Therefore, Yang Zhengdao had to directly register the two as Li Er's specially authorized retainers so that others could not find fault with them.

Another reason is the influence of modern thinking. If the palace hadn't interfered, Yang Zhengdao would have released Ah Wu and Ah Liu.

Although college students were considered "rented cattle" before they transmigrated, they were still cattle with personal freedom.

In the Tang Dynasty, where slavery still had many remnants, slaves were property without any human dignity.

The Tang Code states: "Slaves and lowly people are treated like livestock." It also states: "A maid giving birth is like a horse giving birth to a foal."

As college students born under the red flag and who have taken ideological and political education courses, how can we accept these things?

Yang Zhengdao's gaze swept over Aba and Nazha, his face filled with sorrow: "I have been wandering the grasslands since I was a child, and I have been friends with the two of them through thick and thin, so I have never regarded them as servants."

These words were, of course, meant for Jiang Cheng and Eunuch Jian, especially Eunuch Jian.

It is believed that after returning to Chang'an, Empress Zhangsun will surely ask him about it in person.

In addition to objective records, subjective feelings are also important.

A loyal and affectionate personality is a better match for the character of being "devoted to" Chang Le.

Upon hearing this, Li Ke looked surprised, then cupped his hands to Yang Zhengdao: "Cousin, your pure heart and the friendship you share in times of hardship are truly rare. I, Ke, am being too opportunistic."

Yang Zhengdao immediately bowed on his horse: "Your Highness, the King of Shu, you flatter me! I am unworthy of such praise."

He and Li Ke should maintain a distant relationship.

Li Ke was naturally willing to do so.

So, the group simply kept their heads down and continued on their way.

Only Naza would occasionally steal a glance at Yang Zhengdao's profile, then giggle foolishly.

Master, you look even better than before.

Tan Feng naturally noticed this, and he deliberately dragged Jiang Cheng to the back of the line.

Jiang Cheng thought Tan Feng had something important to say, so he quickly leaned over to listen.

Tan Feng glanced at Nazha again and sighed, "Brother Cheng, this Hu woman is indeed bold. I think Ah Wu and Ah Liu have no chance."

After hearing this, Jiang Cheng just wanted to bang his head against the wall. He really didn't know how Tan Feng got into the Hundred Cavalry Division.

Before long, the group arrived at Gaoling County.

As soon as the group entered the city, leading their horses, they saw a Taoist priest in a green robe setting up a fortune-telling stall by the main street.

The Taoist priest had gray hair and beard, and a gaunt face. In front of him was only a low table with a divination tube and writing brush on it.

He was just dozing off when Yang Zhengdao and Li Ke passed by the fortune-telling stall, and he suddenly woke up.

"Auspicious purple clouds rise from the east, yet remain hidden in the abyss. Young sir, would you like my fortune told or my face read?"

Li Ke glanced at it only once before continuing forward.

Yang Zhengdao didn't even glance at it.

College students naturally don't believe in such metaphysics and superstition, unless they can predict what kind of system rewards they will receive next.

Before entering the city, the system notified me that we had arrived.

[You have successfully checked in at Gaoling County, Yongzhou]

[Reward: One random draw]

After four consecutive misfortunes, Yang Zhengdao decided to save up and wait until he felt his luck was good before trying his luck again.

When the Taoist priest saw that the two were about to leave, he became anxious, and his calm and composed demeanor instantly crumbled.

He quickly stood up and stood in front of the crowd.

Li Ke's guards were about to step forward and draw their swords to drive him away, but Li Ke stopped them.

"Master, please speak plainly."

"I see that the young man has the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, with extraordinary bone structure and an inestimable nobility."

Li Ke lifted the dragon-patterned jade pendant at his waist and shook it. The meaning was crystal clear: anyone who recognized the pendant knew he was a prince.

The Taoist priest showed no embarrassment whatsoever, and performed a Taoist bow: "This humble Taoist greets Your Highness, the King of Shu!"

"You've seen me before?" Li Ke's pupils contracted sharply, and his eyes narrowed.

Yang Zhengdao was also taken aback. If he didn't know Li Ke, then this Taoist priest must be quite something.

Or perhaps he had met Li Tai before, since the two were of similar age, and it would be difficult to tell them apart based solely on their clothing, accessories, and guards if they hadn't met before.

The Taoist priest bowed again and said with a smile, "I have been living in Sichuan for most of the year. This year, I came to Guanzhong at the invitation of my nephew Li Chunfeng, who works at the Imperial Observatory. I have not yet entered Chang'an."

Upon hearing this, Li Ke immediately became respectful: "Is Li Chunfeng your Daoist disciple?"

"Exactly!" the Taoist priest said, and then led Li Ke to sit down at his fortune-telling stall.

Yang Zhengdao was suspicious; could this Taoist priest be a fraudster trying to scam Li Chunfeng?

If he really is a fraud, there will inevitably be some setbacks. Isn't this hindering his completion of the system mission to explore Yongzhou?

Thinking of this, Yang Zhengdao sneered, preparing to expose the Taoist priest:

"Since you came from Sichuan to Guanzhong, how could you possibly have taken a detour to reach Gaoling County?"

Li Ke also realized instantly that he had only believed the Taoist priest because of Li Chunfeng's reputation.

The fact that Sichuan is southwest of Chang'an and Gaoling County is northeast of Chang'an is a huge loophole.

"This..." The Taoist priest was speechless for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"I originally went to Xianyou Temple to find you all, but I was too late. Who knew you would travel so fast? I chased after you for several days but couldn't catch up, so I waited for you in Gaoling County."

Yang Zhengdao and Li Ke exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

Their trip was not on a planned route, and their visits to Caotang Temple and Shichuan Temple were impromptu. Even the monks in the temples treated them as ordinary rich kids.

Moreover, their itinerary was kept extremely secret. Unless the Hundred Riders Bureau leaked the information, how could a Taoist priest know about it?

Li Ke decided to take the opportunity to inquire, and asked with a smile, "What brings you here, Daoist Master?"

"This..." The Taoist priest looked hesitant, but finally decided to tell the truth, "This matter was entrusted to me by my nephew. I have come here today only to examine Your Highness's bone structure."

Li Ke's gaze sharpened again. His status as the third prince was already sensitive; what if this Taoist priest said something he shouldn't after examining his bones...?

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will not mention a word after examining your bone structure."

Li Ke was still hesitating. He subconsciously looked at Yang Zhengdao, seeking his opinion with his eyes.

Yang Zhengdao was stroking his chin in deep thought, still doubting the truth of the Taoist's claim that Li Chunfeng was his nephew.

If that's true, then there's no reason for it to have any sinister motives.

Suddenly, Yang Zhengdao realized something: the Taoist priest had never introduced himself.

He couldn't help but sneer again: "Don't you know your elder's surname?"

"You!" The Taoist priest's expression froze for a moment, then he suppressed his anger and transformed back into the demeanor of a hermit sage.

"Very well! This cause and effect cannot be avoided. I am Yuan Tiangang."