A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 63 People from the Prince of Jin's Mansion (Please subscribe and vote!)

Li Weizhou did not interfere with his uncle and Mr. Gu's training of the Baibaolou disciples; his act of saving people was precisely to cultivate loyal personnel.

Leave the professional tasks to the professionals.

Without him, most of these teenagers would have had a hard time getting through the winter.

He and Li Chang'an went to Shenji Valley again...

The three characters "Shenji Valley" have been engraved on a stone tablet and erected at the entrance of the valley.

There were many stones piled up on both sides of the valley entrance. They were all large, sharp boulders and not very useful. However, Li Weizhou had instructed that none of the boulders inside, including those that would be dug out later, should be thrown away.

The entrance was piled up, so they piled up on the outer side of the valley, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides.

This makes it so convenient to plant and detonate mines...

The mountain is not actually very high, probably less than twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters), and it is very wide, but it becomes very steep at the top.

The valley was about 500 paces long and about 60 paces wide. Originally, it was overgrown with withered grass and covered with sharp stones. Because it was blocked from the light on both sides, it was dark and damp, and there were many snakes and insects. So even the people of Fu Family Village did not pay attention to this place and warned the children in the village not to come here to avoid being bitten by snakes.

It's much better now. The people of Fujiazhuang burned the withered weeds inside and used the smoke to kill many snakes and insects. Even if there were any remnants, they were cleaned up during the two-month cleanup of the valley.

Now, in the front half of the valley, two long rows of wooden houses have been built against the mountainside, and many people live in them.

Li Chang'an explained, "Two hundred people are refugees, and the remaining two hundred are former villagers from Fu Family Village. These people are responsible for clearing the valley every day, and according to your plan, they are also carving into the mountainside. Sanlang, are you really planning to put all your secret recipe workshops and such here? Then this place will really be lively from now on."

Li Weizhou laughed: "I'm afraid they won't come."

After carefully examining Li Weizhou and seeing that he wasn't just being stubborn and bluffing, Li Chang'an gave him a thumbs up and said happily, "In our family, it's always the younger ones who stand out. Fourth Brother was already quite capable, and I got this hereditary position. I never expected that you, Third Brother, would be even more remarkable now! Master of the Heavenly Blade Sect, hey! Do you know how many scoundrels in Qingzhou City are trying to bribe us? The one from the carriage company is the most ridiculous. When he couldn't curry favor with us, he deliberately started fights and caused trouble, ending up in jail kowtowing to the old man."

However, he hadn't lost his mind and reminded Li Weizhou, "Don't take these people's words seriously. When things are good for us, they'll kneel down and lick the ground for us with smiles on their faces. But if you and Lao Si run into trouble, they'll be the first to jump up and bite us. But you're alright, you don't take these empty words to heart, you're even too lazy to see them. My elder brother also said that the county magistrate and the others wanted to see you, but you turned them down?"

Li Weizhou nodded and said, "No need. Whoever it is, as long as they don't get in my way, it's fine."

Li Chang'an still advised, "You should tone it down a bit. There have been quite a few important figures passing by lately."

Li Weizhou laughed and said, "Of course I'm keeping quiet. I'm in seclusion, and I haven't even seen you. By the way, when Silang comes back, take him to my place. I have something for him."

Li Chang'an's eyes lit up, and he happily put his arm around Li Weizhou's shoulder, laughing, "Tsk, Sanlang, with us brothers, in another ten or twenty years, we'll conquer the Great Qian Dynasty!"

Li Weizhou didn't deny anything. He glanced at the servants who were busy again, and left with his cousin.

……

"Sanlang, you are quite close to Miss Mengjun and Biwu Jun of Zuixianglou?"

On the way back to the city, Li Chang'an asked casually.

Li Weizhou asked suspiciously, "Are your lovers in those two buildings?"

Li Chang'an blushed slightly, a rare occurrence for him, and waved his hand, saying, "What are you talking about... But Miss Fangfang is indeed a nice person, you should be careful to avoid her... That's not what I meant!"

Seeing Li Weizhou chuckle, he quickly shushed him, saying, "Don't tell your second sister-in-law, she's a jealous woman. No, I'm talking about you. Sanlang, even though I'm married and have children, I still care about what people say. You're so young, yet you're always going to brothels... two brothels at that, what's going on... Have you really forgotten? When your second uncle and aunt were alive, they arranged a marriage for you back in Mingzhou Prefecture. You're about the right age now, what if they send someone to investigate...?"

Upon hearing this, Li Weizhou's expression suddenly turned serious. He said, "My parents went to Mingzhou Prefecture to find that Golden Knife Dart King... was it his family?"

Li Chang'an nodded and said, "I've met him and have a general impression of him, which is a good one. Back then, Fourth Brother wasn't as successful as he is now, and our family was nothing special. But the Golden Knife Escort King was a renowned镖王 (镖王 is a famous镖王 in the martial arts world) known for his loyalty and righteousness. He treated our family very politely and gave us a lot of face. The main thing is that his wife and Second Aunt had a better relationship. It was around that time that they arranged a marriage between you and their daughter. At the time, it was considered that you were marrying into a higher social class. Their daughter was three years older than you and was very beautiful."

Li Weizhou was concerned about: "After my parents had the accident, did they send a message over there?"

Li Chang'an nodded and said, "I also received a reply, telling my father to take good care of you and Ximei, and he even sent two hundred taels of silver, which you squandered... Two hundred taels, that's quite a lot. However, there has indeed been no news from you for years..."

Li Weizhou immediately relaxed and laughed, "You're an old hand at this, can't you tell that the two hundred taels of silver was hush money? Let's not talk about these trivial things."

Li Chang'an probably thought that made sense, but he still advised, "Anyway, you should just go to brothels less often!"

Li Weizhou retorted sarcastically, "Don't let me see you at Zuixianglou!"

Li Chang'an was still smug, laughing heartily, "That was on official business!"

As the two brothers chatted and laughed, they rode their horses to the city gate, where they saw that there were indeed many caravans stationed nearby.

Qingzhou City is still too small to accommodate so many large caravans of hundreds of people. However, the city's supplies are relatively plentiful, and merchants in Qingzhou City make a fortune during this period every year, so they stock up in advance.

Li Weizhou even saw the manager of Zuixianlou leading his staff to set up a kitchen on an open space, apparently also wanting a piece of the pie.

Once inside the city gates, the two brothers parted ways. Li Weizhou politely declined the suggestion to return to the old house for dinner, even though Ximei had already been taken there.

He said he had other things to do and was looked down upon.

It's certainly despicable; this lazy old man who completely washes his hands of things still has the nerve to talk about having something to do...

However, Li Weizhou did not expect that he really had something to do, as someone from the Prince of Jin's residence had come.

……

Li Weizhou had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of someone from the Prince's residence, knowing they would come sooner or later.

He wanted to see if the rules governing the royal residences in the Great Qian Dynasty were really that effective...

Li Weizhou had imagined what eunuchs were like: effeminate, with delicate fingers, and alluring manners...

Actually, no, they look about the same as normal people. I don't know if it's because they weren't completely castrated, but some of them even have a little mustache!

Most importantly, the stench of urine mixed with the smell of sweat was really pungent and disgusting.

It was quite a coincidence that the two sides met right in front of the Li family's house...

After introducing himself, the head eunuch was displeased to find that Li Weizhou, a commoner, had not knelt and kowtowed. His somewhat triangular eyes stared at him with a sinister look, and he snorted coldly, "I'm asking you, where is Qian Jintang, the leader of the Heavenly Blade Sect? Where is his son, Qian Siyi? Where is his daughter, Qian Sirong? I'm speaking on behalf of His Highness Prince Jin. Do you know the rules?"

Li Weizhou glanced at his casual clothes, pondered for a moment, and took out the iron plaque of the Commander of the Imperial Censorate. He said, "You may not believe it, but the Qian family was even more arrogant than you that day. But when I showed them this iron plaque, they backed down, left their horses as an apology, and slunk away."

The head eunuch stared at the iron plaque in his hand for a while before saying with a gloomy expression, "A worthless plaque, who knows where it was stolen from... Even if it is real, so what? A mere Iron Clerk, not even worthy of entering the gates of the Imperial Execution Office, not even as good as a dog of the Imperial Execution Office, yet you're acting all high and mighty! Come back to the Prince's Mansion with me obediently, or I'll skin you alive! A mere Copper Clerk of the Imperial Execution Office has no right to interfere with the Prince of Jin's Mansion!"

This must be referring to Li Laosi; he's clearly done his homework...

Li Weizhou stared at him for a moment, then made up his mind. He smiled broadly and nodded, saying, "You are indeed a eunuch from the Prince of Jin's mansion. You've seen the world. What you said makes a lot of sense... Please come in. It's really troublesome. It was that guy surnamed Qian who insisted on leaving the horse here. I thought this plaque was something special, that he would use it on everyone he met. Turns out it's not that great."

After saying that, he took the lead and walked into the gate.

Let's use these people to prove his innocence, that's fine.

Several eunuchs kept a cold eye on Li Weizhou. It was clear that Li Weizhou had some martial arts skills, but they were limited.

Because the natural posture that came out when walking was clearly a sign that the "Seven Star Step" had not yet been mastered.

This movement technique is specifically for martial artists who have reached the lower three levels of mastery, or those who have not yet broken through those levels.

Such a simple movement technique is nothing special, it's not even a beginner's level.

Furthermore, Li Weizhou didn't have the medicinal fragrance of the Peiyuan Pill on him...

As the saying goes, "skill breeds boldness." They were skilled in martial arts and served in the Imperial Household Department of Prince Jin, so they were naturally not afraid of anyone causing trouble for them in the city.

The Tian Dao Sect Master and his family disappeared outside the city. If they had disappeared inside the city, the Yongzhou Provincial Judicial Commissioner would have come to arrest them long ago.

After giving the door a haughty glance, the group followed them inside...

Indeed, there was no danger, and Li Weizhou even warmly entertained the five eunuchs.

The tea in Qingzhou City is nothing special, but the glass cups used are extremely exquisite.

An ordinary blue-glazed glass cup with floral and bird patterns turned pink instantly after tea was poured in.

The glass lamp was already quite impressive, but this change immediately widened the eyes of the five country bumpkins. A burning, greedy glint appeared in their eyes, and they trembled, their bodies stirring…

Li Weizhou, seeing this, chuckled and said, "This set of glass cups was a fortuitous acquisition by my father when he was alive, at a great cost. Seeing these distinguished guests today, I knew this treasure had found its rightful owner. I couldn't keep it any longer, nor should I, so I'm giving it to you gentlemen. Originally, I intended to give it to the Heavenly Blade Sect Master to resolve our grudges. Who knew they were so unlucky, leaving before I could even take it out? It shows that fate is predetermined. You gentlemen are truly blessed! Have some tea, have some tea!"

We need to be well-fed before we set off.

……

(End of this chapter)