Chapter 60: The Yang Family Has a Daughter Who Has Just Come of Age (Part 2)

  Xiao Shouren had an urge to sever ties with Shan Tong immediately, having died once and cherishing life even more. How could he get entangled in the struggle between monarchs for no reason and lose his life? Moreover, he didn't want to stir up trouble now, only seeking stability and peace. He just wanted to find Li Yuan, cling to Li Yuan's leg, but things had turned out unexpectedly - by chance, he got acquainted with Shan Tong, and now Yang Xuangan was dragged into the situation as well.

  "Yang Lao Si Tu has made great contributions to Your Majesty's stable reign, and it is hard to say whether Your Majesty could have inherited the throne without his help. Therefore, Your Majesty still feels grateful to the Yang family. Although Lao Si Tu is no longer around, Yang Zhu Guo has become even more favored by Your Majesty, a red person by your side. Whatever Yang Zhu Guo asks for, Your Majesty will agree to, it can be said that he gets whatever he wants."

  "Go on, it's clear that you know a lot about Yang Zhongguo. Since we have nothing better to do, tell me more about him."

  "It's alright, you also heard Tong Zhan and Bai Qi's conversation earlier. The four Keju quotas they mentioned are actually allocated to our Single family by the Yang Manor. Our Single family has been dependent on the Yang Manor since my grandfather's time. We need the official protection, and the Yang Manor needs our influence in Jianghu. When it's not convenient for them to show up, they can let us handle it."

  "Mutual benefit?"

  "That's right, you can say that. This time Yang's family is marrying off their daughter, and it just so happens that my second uncle has a matter that requires Yang Zhuguo's help, so he specifically asked me to bring back some important things from outside the pass as a dowry for Miss Yang. That way, he'll have an excuse to speak up. For these things, my second uncle even told me to bring over the latest crossbow arrows that our family has newly developed, just in case something unexpected happens."

  "Oh? I don't know what status Miss Yang, who is about to get married, has?" asked Xiao Shouren.

  That was the daughter of a concubine in the Yang pillar country house, originally in the house there was no status, but just when the former emperor was still in power, she was engaged to a powerful young master. That young master fell in love with Miss Yang at first sight when he visited the Yang house, so he wanted to marry her over. The young master even persuaded his father and planned to take Miss Yang as his legitimate wife. Both sides agreed, and Miss Yang's status in the Yang house rose rapidly. After dressing up, she was considered one of the top beauties among the noble ladies in the capital. Her reputation spread far and wide, but later some unexpected events occurred. The young master did not marry Miss Yang after all, and her marriage was put on hold.

  "A man should get married when he's old enough, a woman should get married when she's old enough. Miss Yang is no longer young now, and many people have come to the Yang residence to propose over the years, but Miss Yang has never forgotten that young master. Until recently, news came out that this month on the 15th, Miss Yang will be marrying into the White family and becoming the daughter-in-law of the White family. I didn't expect it to turn out like this, but this is also a reasonable thing to happen. All of this I've just heard about, whether it's true or not, I'm not very clear." San Tong said with a slight pout.

  "Oh, this is indeed a twist of fate! Look at your nonchalant expression, you probably haven't even seen what Miss Yang looks like, have you?" Xiao Shouren asked with a hint of teasing.

  "Hehe, Xiao Da Ge really is one guess and it's accurate. That kind of deep boudoir young lady isn't someone we can see just by meeting." Chan Tong suddenly blushed for a rare moment.

  "Haha, that's also true. Even if we meet again, what's the point? Even if I'm moved, what can be done about it? So, it's better not to meet after all. This way is carefree and at ease. Look at your life now, there's nothing wrong with it. When you have time, chatting with good friends over tea or meals isn't bad either." Xiao Shouren nodded in agreement.

  "Xiao Da Ge, I really had a hard time choosing between those two options just now, so I'd like to ask for your opinion. What do you think should be done?" Shuang Tong suddenly pulled the topic back again, his face unusually serious.

  "It's easy to decide, it depends on whether your second uncle urgently needs the help of Yang Fu this time, and also whether there is enough time. If you rest for a few days here."

  "My second uncle attaches great importance to this matter, I can see that if I don't do a good job he will skin me alive, and there's definitely not enough time if I stay here for two or three days."

  "That's it, let's hurry up and get going. Once we arrive at Shanggu County, everything will be easy to handle. We can either recruit people ourselves, or if you're not assured, we can even go to the government office to ask for an escort. With Yang Zhuguo's face and your family's face, we should be able to gather some troops. If we stay here, not only will we miss the wedding date, but there's also a possibility that Lishan Fei might come back again, so it's better to take advantage of Lishan Fei being severely injured and hurry up and leave."

  "What's 'run road'?"

  "Ah, it means running away, you're really stupid!" Xiao Shouren tapped on the little skull with his finger.

  Xiao's brother makes sense, this is the same as Tong Zhanbai Qi's meaning, they also support sending him away, but those merchants do not agree.

  "Hmph! They must be supporting him, no choice but to support!" Xiao Shouren sneered.

  "Huh? What does Big Brother Xiao mean by this?" Shuang Tong asked, puzzled.

  "It's obvious that they came to your house specifically for the four jinshi quotas. If you stay here too long, send a message to your second uncle saying that it's almost a complete defeat and ask for help, which will also delay the wedding and ruin your second uncle's big deal. Do you think your second uncle will give them those four jinshi quotas?" asked Xiao Shouren with a hint of persuasion.

  "Right, I'm my second uncle's only nephew, he doesn't have any children of his own, and he dotes on me. Even if this matter is botched, at most I'll just be grounded. But it won't be so easy for Tong Zhan and the others." Shangtong suddenly realized.

  "That's right, those merchants are afraid of their wealth and goods being robbed by bandits. They have already doubted the protective ability of your family, as long as you show them the disadvantages of staying here and the advantages of rushing on the road, they will agree to rush on the road. Your family's crossbows, they have seen before, this can calm their hearts, calm their minds, and tempt them a little, they will definitely go on the road obediently." Xiao Shouren said with a smile, smiling like an old fox who had become a spirit.

  "Look at big brother's smile so slyly, it seems that he has already thought of a tempting trick?" asked Tong excitedly.

  "Of course, this is simple and doesn't require manufacturing anything. Just lure them with benefits and they'll be willing to sell their own parents, wives, and children for a profit. Merchants are notorious for being greedy. As long as there's enough benefit, they'll do whatever it takes. We just need to spread the news about Yang Fu's daughter getting married and let them know that if they can bring back goods from outside the pass in time for the wedding, they can sell them at a good price and make several times their investment. They'll definitely be willing to hurry along." Xiao Shouren analyzed the mindset of those speculators who were buying and selling everything under the sun.

  "Ah! I knew it, finding Xiao Ge would definitely lead to a good solution, thank you so much for helping me solve this problem, thanks to Xiao Ge all the way!" Single Tong happily replied.

  "Don't pretend to be sophisticated with me, you know what I mean? I'm helping you because we're friends. We've been through life and death together, and tonight's events are a matter of life and death too. Helping you with this small favor is nothing." said Xiao Shouren seriously.

  "Uh-huh, I knew it." Even San Tong was moved a little.

  After sending off Shang Tong, Xiao Shouren sat cross-legged and prepared to cultivate his heart method.

  Tonight's air is exceptionally good, feeling the spiritual energy mixed in the fresh air, slowly attracting it, and then guiding it into the body to refine the bones.

  Xiao Shouren found that tonight's cultivation was particularly effective, not only was his whole body unobstructed, but the speed of attracting spiritual energy was much faster than in previous days, and the quality was also very good, more pure than before.

  This nearly month of cultivation has yielded remarkable results, and now Xiao Shouren's entire body, with its 206 bones, is like iron, already approaching the state of great perfection. It's estimated that in another two or three days, he can begin practicing the next stage of his mental method.

  This is also the reason why Xiao Shouren can open a four-stone strong bow. Just refining the bones to the Great Perfection is already enough to open a four-stone strong bow, and it's unknown how powerful he will become in the future. It's unknown whether he can surpass Zhang Xuanduo, General Zhang, who is said to be able to open a nine-stone strong bow and shoot nine arrows in succession without catching his breath.

  At first, Xiao Shouren thought that General Zhang's ability to shoot nine arrows in a row with a strong bow of nine stones without gasping for air was an exaggeration, thinking it was just a folk legend. However, now he believes it, because even he, who has just cultivated his inner energy and completed the Great Circle of Bone Refining, can already draw a four-stone bow. Therefore, Zhang Jun's ability to open a nine-stone strong bow and shoot nine arrows in a row without gasping for air is not a myth, but a legend!

  As for the legendary story of this general, Xiao Shouren had heard a lot about it when he was in Shangcheng. This time's eastern expedition did not follow the emperor to conquer, he went out to pacify the rebellion, he has always been opposed to conquest, he led the men of Qi County and always defended his home and country, only when there were rebels or foreign enemies invading, would he send troops to suppress them, and then go out to pacify the rebellion.

  If it were Yang Guang who was going to go on an expedition, to conquer Goguryeo or to conquer the Turks, he would absolutely not send a single soldier or a single general, because when the previous emperor was still alive, he had promised the previous emperor that this life would be sworn to protect the Yang family's heaven and earth, and would not participate in other things. The previous emperor thought it was good!

  In other words, as long as the ruler of the Yang family is a descendant of Yang Jian, Zhang Xiu would have no objection. Even if Yang Guang was killed by someone else, as long as it was still the world of Yang Jian's descendants, he would not object. As for Yang Guang's orders, if they were reasonable, he would listen; otherwise, he would listen or not listen as he pleased.

  Yang Guang had never been angry, and Yang Guang's feelings for Zhang Xu were even more incomprehensible to the ministers of the court. Because Yang Guang treated Zhang Xu like a father, giving him whatever he wanted, there was never any withholding or delay. The ministers could not persuade him otherwise, as long as Zhang Xu spoke up, Yang Guang would immediately agree, and even change his mind if necessary.

  So, if you want to know who is the most favored person in the court now, it's Zhang Xu Du. What about Emperor Yang of Sui, Pei Ju and Yuwen Shu? They are all insignificant before Zhang Xu Du!