Chapter 1: The Treasure of Yi De, Crossing the Deep...

  Into the night. Liang Xin has experienced from life to death and from death to rebirth as if waking up from a dream.

  Emperor Zhao Ji granted the title to Liang Xin and specially instructed Yang Jie to guide Liang Xin well, because Liang Xin would not start his official duties until three days later. So that night, Yang Jie took Liang Xin out of the palace and brought him to his own residence outside the palace.

  The eunuchs of the Song Dynasty were different from those of other dynasties in several ways. One of these was that they could purchase separate residences outside the palace and even take wives or concubines within these residences, provided their rank had reached a certain level.

  Yang Jie, as the highest official of the Nei Shi Sheng, was in charge of the Imperial Palace's thousands of eunuchs and was also responsible for all matters related to the Flower Stone Agency. Even Cai Jing, Liang Shi Cheng, and Tong Guan had to show him deference. It was only natural that he could purchase a separate residence outside the palace. However, since Yang Jie needed to frequently follow the Emperor's side, he rarely came to this separate residence.

  Although he didn't often come to this villa to live, it didn't affect Yang Jia's construction of his own villa being magnificent. The entire villa occupied a vast area, with beautiful buildings, waterside pavilions, artificial hills and flowing water.

  From Yang Jue bringing Liang Xiao into the separate courtyard to the present-day Listening Rain Pavilion, maids and servants can be seen everywhere along the way. The four beautiful women who are now serving wine and dishes beside him are the fourth of Yang Jue's twelve wives and concubines.

  Yang Jia raised his wine cup and said with a warm smile: "Come, let's drink this cup of wine to congratulate Liang Xin brothers for newly gaining the emperor's favor, from now on, they will be promoted step by step and their future is bright."

  Li Xian smiled slightly and hastily raised his wine cup, saying: "Lord Yang is truly too polite. If Lord Yang hadn't spoken kindly of me to the Emperor, I, Li Xian, would still be trapped in this predicament, and who knows when my life would have been lost? Lord Yang has shown me great kindness, which I will definitely remember in my heart. One day, I will repay your great kindness with gratitude."

  A few words from Liang Xian made Yang Jian's heart bloom with joy, and Yang Jian greatly praised Liang Xian for being understanding. At this time, the more he looked at Liang Xian, the more pleasing he became to him. "Brother Liang is too polite, now that Brother Liang has the privilege of serving the Emperor, perhaps one day I will have to rely on Brother Liang to speak well of me in front of the Emperor."

  "What is Master Yang saying? The Emperor told me to follow Master Yang and learn from him well, so Master Yang is my teacher. Ah, I'm so rude!"

  Liang Xin patted his own forehead and immediately got up, knelt down on the ground and kowtowed, saying: "Master is above, please accept a bow from your disciple."

  Yang Jian stared at Liang Xin, who was kneeling on the ground, and was confused about how he had become his master. However, Liang Xin's respect for him made him feel good, so after Liang Xin finished kowtowing, Yang Jian immediately helped him up and said: "Brother Liang, you..."

  "Is Master unwilling to acknowledge me as his disciple?" Liang Xin interrupted Yang Jian's words, saying with a hint of grievance. In fact, Liang Xin himself was also stimulated by his own corniness and had goosebumps all over his body. However, this was unavoidable, as Liang Xin only deeply realized after coming out of the Heavenly Prison that his foundation in the Northern Song Dynasty was shallow, and anyone could easily kill him at will.

  Now the best way to protect oneself is to lean on a big tree, and look at the entire Song Dynasty. The best backing besides Emperor Zhao Ji is not Yang Jie, the emperor's close minister in front of him? If there is an emperor as a backing above, and Yang Jie as a shelter below, can't Liang Xin walk horizontally in this Song Dynasty palace?

  Li Xian's "sincerity" really moved Yang Jian, who had always regretted not having any children. Now that Li Xian, a young man with great talent and prospects, was willing to be his apprentice, how could he possibly refuse?

  Yang Jian patted Liang Xin's shoulder and nodded heavily: "Good, I'm Yang Jian. Oh no, for the sake of our master-disciple relationship, let's just acknowledge you as my disciple." Yang Jian raised his wine cup: "Come on, let's have another drink, just the two of us, master and disciple."

  "Yes, Master." Liang Xuan raised his wine cup and clinked it against Yang Jian's as they drank together.

  After drinking, Yang Jian's four concubines who were serving at the table also quickly knelt down and congratulated: "Congratulations to Master for getting a good apprentice."

  "Great! Well said. Haha...” Yang Jian felt refreshed in his heart and couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh loudly.

  Li Xiang swept a glance at the four beautiful women, and thought to himself that Yang Jian was quite discerning, each of his wives were top-notch. However, having these four beauties follow an old eunuch like him was a waste, he wondered what he used at night, did he use his hands?

  Liang Xinxin was thinking evil thoughts in her heart, but her mouth was as sweet as if she had honey on it, and she immediately flattered: "It is often said that having a red beauty by one's side makes life worthwhile even in death, but Master has four red beauties, truly enviable."

  Yang Jian looked at his four concubines, shook his head and said with a disappointed expression: "To be honest, apart from these four women, I have eight other wives and concubines. But what's the use? I'm a eunuch, after all, and have no descendants. Even if I own millions of wealth and beautiful women as many as clouds, it's all in vain."

  "Master, why did you say that?" Liang Xin's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately cupped his hands and said: "It is often said that one day as a teacher is a lifetime as a father. Recently, my master Chen Yuding, who taught me the skills of medicine, was framed and wrongly accused by someone. I, as his disciple, am willing to die for him to avenge him. Now, I will also regard you, Master, as my own father, and taking care of you in your old age is not even a question, even if it means going through fire and water for you, I won't frown once."

  Li Xiang used his own experience of avenging Chen Yudian, daring to confront the imperial guards and almost losing his life in the process, to prove how much he values their master-disciple relationship. He then added a cheesy confession, expressing that he would treat Yang Jia like he did Chen Yudian.

  Of course, in fact, Liang Xin was thinking disdainfully that his master Chen Yuding was a man of integrity, who took good care of him, and how could he be compared to such a villain who only knew how to flatter and seek wealth and glory.

  However, Liang Xin's words truly reminded Yang Jia. How Liang Xin was for Chen Yuding, Yang Jia participated and knew everything clearly. At this moment, he looked at Liang Xin again with a completely different mood.

  This young man is indeed a true and genuine person who regards his master as his own father. Yang Jian was deeply moved in his heart, and immediately patted the stone table and said: "Good! Disciple, since you have spoken such words, if you don't despise me, I will take you as my adopted son. From now on, I will truly regard you as my own flesh and blood, just like Yu."

  "I'm doomed." Liang Xin cursed in his heart, thinking that this old eunuch was really good at stirring up trouble. However, Liang Xin had no choice but to comply and couldn't possibly refuse. Although he wasn't pleased in his heart, he immediately knelt down on the ground and kowtowed, saying: "Father, please accept your son's bow!"

  Yang Jian sat upright and accepted Liang Xin's three kowtows. After Liang Xin finished, Yang Jian immediately helped him up, his eyes moist with excitement as he said: "Good! Good! I, Yang Jian, have a successor, a successor! Son, my dear son!!!"

  Yang Jian pressed Liang Xin's shoulder and called out to his son with deep emotion, causing Liang Xin's body to break out in goosebumps. But on the surface, Liang Xin forced out a few tears and called out emotionally: "Foster father! Foster father!!!"

  "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! Delighted to hear you have a noble son."

  "Hahaha……" Yang Jie threw his head back and laughed loudly, then immediately kicked the stone table over with one foot. With a wave of his hand, he said: "Is this kind of food and wine for my precious son to eat? Pass down the order, set up a grand banquet, invite everyone in the mansion to come and pay respects to the young master of Yang Manor. Today, everyone in Yang Manor will receive a red envelope with 10 taels, let's drink until we can't return."

  "Yes! Master." Yang Jia's four concubines were also infected by Yang Jia's excited mood, and they hurriedly went to make arrangements with joy.

  Before long, the large drill ground in front of Yang Jia's mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and firecrackers were popping non-stop. Thirty banquet tables were set up on the drill ground, and 123 servants and 111 maids from the entire household stood in two arrays.

  Yang Jie pulled Liang Xiao's hand and walked to the stage in front of the playground, saying: "Everyone in Yang Fu, listen up! The one standing next to me is my precious son, the young master of Yang Fu, your big young master! What are you staring at? Don't you greet your big young master?"

  All the servants, maids, housekeepers, cooks and gardeners, including Yang Jia's twelve wives, all knelt down on the ground together and shouted in unison: "Greetings, young master."

  Liang Xin had never seen such a grand lineup, and for a moment he was so overwhelmed by the solemn atmosphere that he became somewhat flustered. He hastily waved his hand and said: "Comrades, good, comrades have worked hard."

  The servants below didn't quite understand what "comrade" meant, and Liang Xin also instantly realized his slip of the tongue, immediately correcting himself: "Everyone, no need to be polite."

  The servants finally understood and stood up together, saying: "Thank you, young master."

  Yang Jian couldn't contain his excitement, and immediately waved his hand: "Everyone listen up, I'm in a good mood today. You all go ahead and eat and drink to your heart's content, don't worry about getting drunk or coming back late. Tomorrow morning when you wake up, each of you can go to the accounting room to receive 10 taels of silver as a reward."

  "Thank you, Master Yang, for your kindness." The people of the Yang estate were overjoyed. The monthly allowance for the servants in the Yang estate was only one or two taels of silver, and ten taels was a huge sum of money. Wasn't this like having a pie fall from the sky?

  "No need to thank me, thank your young masters instead." Yang Jiaolong said with a smile, waving his hand.

  The Yang family members all said in unison: "Thank you, Young Master Ye, for your kindness."

  "You're welcome, you're welcome."

  Li Xiang turned his head to look at Yang Jian, and indeed felt a little moved in his heart. So he said: "Thank you, Uncle."

  Liáng Xīn's heartfelt thanks touched Yang Jian, who felt a warmth in his heart and immediately smiled and scolded: "Foolish child, what are you thanking me for?"