Tiger Owl

Chapter 194 Unreasonable Thoughts
Xu Wei carried a bucket of hot water into the room and closed the door. She carefully removed Gan Ning's shoes and socks and gently washed Gan Ning's slightly rough feet.

Gan Ning reached out and stroked Xu Wei's hair, asking with a smile, "Has your father replied?"

Xu Wei blushed and shook her head. "He won't reply."

"Is your father very stubborn?"

Xu Wei nodded gently. "My two siblings and I were disciplined very strictly from a young age. I was a little better off because I didn't grow up by his side, but my two brothers were very pitiful. They both had women they liked, but their father disagreed, so they could only accept his arrangements. I never expect my father to change his mind, but I will never let him interfere with my marriage. Gan Lang, no matter what the final outcome is between us, I can accept it calmly."

Gan Ning was deeply moved and cupped her pretty face in his hands, saying, "You risked breaking with your father for my sake. I will remember this kindness. Yun Qing, I will never let you down!"

Xu Wei lowered her head shyly and dried his feet with a soft cloth. Gan Ning put on his wooden clogs and said, "It's getting late, you should go back and rest too!"

Xu Wei nodded, picked up the bucket and went out. Gan Ning turned off the lights and went upstairs to the second floor. The study has three floors. The third floor is the library, and the second floor is the resting place, with two rooms, one large and one small. Da Qiao and Xu Wei had already made up Gan Ning's bed during the day.

At this moment, Gan Ning heard footsteps, turned around, and saw Xu Wei carrying a bundle upstairs.

Why didn't you go back to rest?

"I--"

Xu Wei lowered her head and whispered, "My older sister asked me to take care of you tonight. I'll sleep in the small room."

“It’s not comfortable to sleep here. You should go back to your room. I’ll talk to your sister Qiao tomorrow.”

"No, it's my own choice. I want to take care of you!"

Xu Wei blushed, quickened her pace, and carried her bundle into the small room.

The two rooms on the second floor are actually a suite, directly connected, with no door between them, only one door leading to the larger room.

The small room had been prepared with a bed. Xu Wei sat on the bed, her heart pounding with nervousness. She was both nervous and full of anticipation.

Nothing happened that night. As dawn broke, Xu Wei woke up. Nothing had happened during the night, and Xu Wei breathed a sigh of relief, but a sense of loss remained in her heart.

She quickly got up, tidied herself up briefly, and tiptoed downstairs. Gan Ning was still fast asleep.

Xu Wei opened the door, and there were already maids in the courtyard who had prepared hot water and various toiletries.

It wasn't that Xu Wei had to do everything; it was just that servants weren't allowed to enter Gan Ning's inner study. Only Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, and Xu Wei were allowed in. At most, the maids could only leave things in the outer room, or in special circumstances, when Gan Ning wanted to inquire about the situation, he would allow the female guards to come in.

Xu Wei instructed the maids to place hot water and toiletries in the outer room, and then the maids withdrew.

Xu Wei then went back upstairs, where Gan Ning had already sat up.

"Did I wake Gan Lang up?"

Gan Ning shook his head. "I wake up at this time every day without fail. It has nothing to do with you."

"I'll help Gan Lang wash up!"

"Row!"

Gan Ning walked downstairs, and Xu Wei followed behind him, feeling uneasy. Suddenly, she missed a step and cried out in surprise. Just as she was about to fall, Gan Ning reacted quickly and caught her.

Xu Wei was terrified; if she fell, she would tumble down the stairs.

Held tightly in her lover's arms and inhaling his strong masculine scent, she felt a surge of panic and, holding onto the stairs, said, "I'm alright."

Gan Ning carefully released her, and she quickly ran downstairs, her face flushed, not daring to look back.

"Shall I go check if the water is still hot?"

After washing her face, Xu Wei skillfully combed Gan Ning's hair.

"Yun Qing, you're quite skilled!"

Xu Wei smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "Actually, I just started learning. My older sister taught me, and Ayu and I practiced together." "Your older sister will have to take care of her children in the future, so she probably won't be able to look after me anymore. You'll have to take over from now on."

"Yes! My elder sister said that this year I will be the one to take care of Gan Lang and get up early."

"And what about at night? You'll have to serve me at night too!" Gan Ning said with a squinting smile.

"Didn't you say it would be until the end of the year?" Xu Wei lowered her head and whispered.

"That's normal, but now your older sister is pregnant, otherwise why would I be sleeping in the study?"

"But I"

Gan Ning patted her hand and laughed, "I just feel lonely sleeping alone. I feel at ease when I have a woman I like by my side. I don't necessarily have to do anything."

"I understand!" Xu Wei lowered her eyes.

Gan Ning regretted his words a little afterward; in truth, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't necessarily do something.

Upon arriving at the official residence, he was surprised to find Pang Tong and Zhao Yun waiting for him.

Gan Ning was overjoyed, "When did you get back?"

The two men stood up and bowed. Pang Tong said apologetically, "I returned last night, quite late, so I didn't disturb everyone. The army has already entered the camp."

Gan Ning nodded and smiled, "Then you should take a few days to rest!"

"There are some important matters that need to be reported to the general immediately."

"sit down!"

Gan Ning invited the two to sit down, and then smiled at Zhao Yun, saying, "I heard that Zilong is getting married. Congratulations! Congratulations!"

Zhao Yun said somewhat embarrassedly, "It's also because we have a connection. I'm over thirty years old but don't have any children. Now that I've finally settled down, I also want to have my own son."

Gan Ning nodded. "Our son is the continuation of our lives. If he meets the right woman, we shouldn't delay any longer. I hope to be able to drink your wedding wine soon."

"I will arrange it as soon as possible!"

Zhao Yun did not intend to hold a grand event; he only wanted to invite some friends and close colleagues to get together. Of course, his lord was a must-invite.

Gan Ning then said to Pang Tong, "Let's talk about the important matter!"

Pang Tong said, "Guiyang County has always been an important mining area for the imperial court, with the largest output of copper and silver. There are both public and private mines. The private mines are mainly concentrated in the hands of two powerful families, the Zhao family and the Fan family. I wrote a letter back last time, and you should know about it, General!"

Gan Ning nodded. "Military Advisor Lu has already reported to me, but it seems he didn't mention the public mine."

"Yes! At that time, I was running a private mine. After I finished writing the letter, I sorted out the accounts and found that things were not as simple as I thought. Half of all the mines belonged to the imperial court, and even all the silver mines belonged to the imperial court. As a result, they were seized by Liu Biao. After Zhang Xian's rebellion, these mines were out of control and were taken over by private individuals."

"Was it seized by the Zhao and Fan families?"

"Exactly!"

Zhao Yun said somewhat uneasily, "I have already spoken with the head of the Fan family, and he has expressed his willingness to return all the government-owned mines to us."

Gan Ning nodded. "And what did the Zhao family say?"

"I visited the Zhao family head in Changsha. He promised to hand over all the copper mines owned by the imperial court, but he wanted to keep two of the five silver mines. He said he had invested a lot of money in them and hoped we could be lenient."

Gan Ning sneered and said, "They have been illegally mining public mines for so many years, and they have made back all the money they have invested. I would like to ask Military Advisor Pang to write a letter to their patriarch. Originally, I was willing to acknowledge the legal status of their private mines. However, if they insist on overturning the agreement reached with the court and forcibly seizing public mines, it means that their own mines have become illegal. In that case, I would be happy to take back all the mines."

Pang Tong nodded slightly. "I understand. I will write a letter and send it to him today. I believe the Zhao family will not do something that will backfire on them."

(End of this chapter)