My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

The atmosphere on the way back to Zhuojun became somewhat subtle because of Zhen Mi's presence.

The eight-year-old girl leaned quietly against Ji Xuanyuan, neither crying nor making a fuss. She would only occasionally look with her big eyes at the withered trees and barren land passing by outside the window, and then at Ji Xuanyuan, who was resting with his eyes closed.

By the time they reached the outskirts of Zhuojun City, it was nearly dusk.

Guo Jia, carrying a wine jar, arrived early at the city gate with a group of civil and military officials, eagerly awaiting his arrival.

Seeing the convoy returning from afar, he broke into his usual carefree smile and strode forward to greet them.

"Senior brother! You're finally back! This trip to Wuji..."

Before he finished speaking, his gaze had already passed over Ji Xuanyuan and landed on the small figure being led down the carriage by Ji Xuanyuan.

Guo Jia's smile froze instantly.

He glanced at the exquisitely beautiful little girl, then at Ji Xuanyuan, whose pale face couldn't hide his unparalleled elegance. His eyes swept back and forth between the two of them several times, and the corners of his mouth began to twitch uncontrollably.

"Senior brother..."

Guo Jia swallowed hard, leaned closer, and whispered incredulously, "This...this wouldn't be your...illegitimate daughter, would it? When did you...?"

The look in his eyes seemed to be a re-evaluation of his senior brother.

"Pfft—" Xiang Yu, who had just dismounted, couldn't help but let out a very low sneer.

Even the usually composed Zhao Yun's lips twitched slightly.

Ji Xuanyuan rolled his eyes at Guo Jia, then gently patted Zhen Mi's head: "What nonsense are you talking about! This is Lord Zhen's daughter. On the way... cough, there was a bit of an accident. She'll come back with us and stay for a few days."

He didn't elaborate on the feat of "running thirty miles in the night," but Guo Jia was incredibly astute. Looking at the little girl's calm face and then at Ji Xuanyuan's slightly helpless expression, he had already guessed the gist of it. A look of amusement and deep thought flashed in his eyes.

Ji Xuanyuan lowered his head and said gently to Zhen Mi, "Mi'er, this is Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao, my junior brother. He's the most unserious person, so don't pay any attention to what he says."

Guo Jia asked, "Little girl, what's your name?"

"This humble woman, Zhen Mi, greets Mr. Fengxiao." Upon hearing this, Zhen Mi bowed to Guo Jia, then turned her gaze elsewhere to look around.

Upon entering the city, the prefect's residence immediately became bustling with activity.

Upon hearing the news, Yang Zaixing, Li Cunxiao, Zhang Fei, and other military generals rushed over and asked all sorts of questions about the trip to Jizhou.

The atmosphere reached its climax when they heard that a salt profit cooperation had been reached with the Zhen family and that Zhao Yun would take the second daughter of the Zhen family as a concubine.

"Great job, Zilong!"

Yang Zaixing slapped Zhao Yun on the shoulder, winking and saying, "You went out on a business trip with your older brother and even managed to snag a wife for yourself! Tell me, what do you think of the second young lady of the Zhen family? Is she a beauty?"

Li Cunxiao grinned and said, "Well done, Zilong! You're the first among us brothers to get married! Even if it's just taking a concubine..."

Zhang Fei's voice boomed like thunder as he laughed heartily, "So what if you're taking a concubine? Zilong, when are you going to invite us to your wedding feast? Old Zhang is waiting!"

A barrage of questions came crashing down on him, making Zhao Yun's handsome face turn red and white in turns. His usual decisive and heroic spirit on the battlefield was now replaced by embarrassment, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

He looked at Ji Xuanyuan for help, only to see his elder brother watching with a smile, showing no intention of helping him out. His eyes held a hint of apology, but also a sense of indulgence that "it's okay for brothers to joke around."

Ji Xuanyuan sighed softly to himself.

He knew that this marriage meant more responsibility and sacrifice for Zhao Yun.

But he also understood that in this chaotic world, his brothers needed some moments of relaxation.

Making Zhao Yun the subject of jokes among his brothers, though in jest, subtly diluted the political implications of the matter, making it seem more like an ordinary, celebratory "family affair."

"Alright, Zongxing, Jingsi, Yide, stop teasing Zilong. He's easily embarrassed."

Ji Xuanyuan finally spoke up to defuse the situation, patting Zhao Yun on the shoulder and saying gently, "This matter is settled. After Miss Zhen marries into the family, you, as her elder brothers, are not allowed to bully her."

Everyone laughed and agreed, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

On the other side, Lu Zhi, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Guo Jia surrounded Ji Xuanyuan, inquiring in detail about the specifics and contract terms of this Wuji trip.

Tian Feng clapped his hands and praised, "With such a decision by our lord, the profits from salt are promising. The salt-making workshop has been built in a secluded place in the mountains north of the city, as instructed by our lord. The craftsmen and soldiers have all signed a death contract and are keeping their mouths shut. The first batch of 100 shi of snow salt will be produced soon."

"However, if we want to increase production, we need to continue expanding the factory and increase the workforce..."

Lu Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "This matter needs to be handled with caution. Expanding the workshop will attract attention, and increasing the number of craftsmen will make it difficult to prevent gossip. Perhaps... we could break it down into smaller parts? We could set up several smaller workshops in more secluded locations, with each process handled separately, while the core processes are still controlled by the most reliable people."

Ji Xuanyuan coughed as he listened, but his pale face showed approval: "Lord Lu's method is very good. Let's proceed accordingly. Yuanhao and Gongyu will be in charge of the overall coordination. Fengxiao, you are quick-witted. We will need you to take good care of the workshop's security and personnel supervision."

"promise."

Ju Shou added, "However, given the enormous profits from refined salt, even though the Zhen family has agreed, we still need to closely monitor the subsequent transportation, sales, and even the handling of various parties to prevent any unforeseen circumstances."

Lu Zhi stroked his beard and pondered: "I have heard of Zhen Yi before. He is quite capable. Wen Lie's move to appease him with a marriage alliance is a good one. However, when interests are at stake, even kinship may be illusory. We must be wary."

Guo Jia took a swig of wine, his eyes gleaming: "It's alright, the initiative lies with our lord. If the Zhen family behaves themselves, they will be our source of wealth; if they don't..."

He smiled, not finishing his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.

The differences in marriage systems during the Eastern Han Dynasty need to be clarified, as the status of marrying a wife and taking a concubine were vastly different at that time.

Marrying a wife is called "qu," which requires three letters and six rites, a formal marriage with a matchmaker, and a marriage between equals. The wife is the "principal wife," who is one with her husband and has a venerable status. The son she gives birth to is the legitimate son. Taking a concubine is called "na," which is a much simpler procedure, almost like buying and selling or giving away a gift. The concubine is the "side wife" or "secondary wife," with a low status, almost like a slave. The son she gives birth to is the illegitimate son.

Ji Xuanyuan's arrangement for Zhao Yun was to "take a concubine," meaning that Zhen Tuo would not be Zhao Yun's principal wife after entering the family. Zhao Yun could still marry a woman of equal social standing in the future. For the Zhen family, although it was a "marriage down," the other party was a promising young general, and it was also a marriage with a powerful warlord, so it was still a worthwhile investment. For Zhao Yun, it relieved him of the constraints of being a principal wife, preserved his future options, and was the safest arrangement at present.

After everyone finished discussing important matters, they saw Dian Wei squatting alone under the corridor, holding his pair of flying halberds. His large, copper-bell-shaped eyes stared at them expectantly. He had no interest in the production of refined salt or the secrecy of the workshop, and his face was full of "grievance".

Ji Xuanyuan was taken aback, then suddenly realized and couldn't help but laugh. Since returning from Yingchuan, he had been busy with many things, and then rushed to Jizhou. He had actually forgotten about the hotpot he had promised this guy!

"E'lai, are you blaming me?" Ji Xuanyuan walked over and asked with a smile.

Dian Wei said in a muffled voice, "General, when can we eat the hot pot you promised me?"

"I haven't forgotten, I haven't forgotten!" Ji Xuanyuan laughed.

"Don't be hasty, Evil One! Tomorrow, tomorrow night, I'll make sure you get your share!"

Dian Wei's eyes lit up immediately, and he grinned sheepishly.