My lord, spare his life!

Zhang Yang understands the importance of motivation.

Before Zhe Meng even spoke, she had already made up her mind. As long as the incentive Zhe Meng wanted didn't exceed military merits by too much, she would try her best to agree, whether he wanted money, people, or vehicles. She never expected that Zhe Meng would actually want people, and that person was herself.

Oh no.

Zhe Meng lacked maternal love and wanted to call himself a godmother.

Zhang Yang nodded in agreement to Zhe Meng's request after only a second of thought.

She put down the bowl and chopsticks, stood up and gently helped Zhe Meng up, her eyes filled with seriousness and solemnity: "You are brave and upright, and quick-witted. You fought alongside me in the chaos of battle, cooperating with me in every way. This shows your loyalty and righteousness. You are no ordinary warrior. Since you have such filial piety, what can I do but grant your request? From this day forward, Kuang Quan, you are my goddaughter."

Zhe Meng was helped up, and upon hearing this, he knelt down again to express his gratitude.

Her smile was so bright it almost overflowed, and she shouted loudly, "Godmother above, your son Zhe Meng hereby swears—I will protect you with my life, even through mountains of knives and seas of fire!"

Zhang Yang patted her strong arm lightly.

I know how you feel.

Looking at Zhe Meng, Zhang Yang thought of Lü Yuan.

The situation was much the same that day, except Zhang Yang thought it was still the game world, so she anticipated Lu Yuan's lines and chose to fast-forward. Looking back now, she should have let Lu Yuan finish all his lines—game storylines can be skipped, but the real world cannot. In the real world, missing even a single line could drastically alter a character's emotions, leading to a different story ending.

In addition, reciting the lines adds a sense of ceremony.

"Then, may I now address my lord as my godmother?"

"I'm easygoing in private, but it depends on the situation when I'm on duty."

"Yes, sir."

The newly formed mother-daughter bond quickly blossomed, completely ignoring the brain-dead older brother standing nearby. Ever since Zhe Meng uttered that earth-shattering statement, the latter's expression had become blank, his usually wise and composed eyes filled with confusion.

Who is he?

Where is he?

What is he doing?

What is Zhe Meng doing again?

Why did Zhe Meng suddenly start worshipping his godmother?

Zhang Yang caught a glimpse of her brother-in-law's face, a face that could easily be used as a meme, and then remembered there was a third person present. A subtle wariness crept into Zhang Yang's eyes—could this person also want to become a godmother? To be honest, she wasn't really keen on it.

Therefore, Zhang Yang chose to preemptively interrupt his lines.

She called out, "Sansheng, you can go and get back to work now."

My brother-in-law's name is Zeng Sheng, and his courtesy name is Sansheng, which comes from the saying "I examine myself three times a day." You can tell a lot about his background, family atmosphere, and personality from his name.

Zeng Sheng's expression was extremely complicated, but he still bowed and withdrew.

Before leaving, his gaze kept lingering on Zhe Meng.

He never dreamed that Zhe Meng would publicly acknowledge a godmother, especially right in front of him. Others adopt godparents for fame and fortune, but what was Zhe Meng's motive? Did she need to use this "mother-daughter" relationship as a stepping stone to take shortcuts?

Such behavior has always been disliked by the Qingliu faction.

He was preoccupied with his own thoughts and didn't notice the strangers he encountered.

Zeng Sheng didn't notice Fan You, but Fan You did, and even saw him coming out of the main hall. What had happened to the other man? He looked so distraught. Perhaps the lord didn't want him anymore? Fan You sighed, hoping that the lord would be considerate and compassionate towards his subordinates, and at least leave him a few capable men…

"My lord, who was the person who just left?"

"You mean the three provinces? Oh, it's the brother-in-law of the rabid dog."

Zhe Meng's attention naturally fell on Fan You.

In case Fan You had any complaints, she could use the "recommendation of the virtuous without regard to kinship" principle as an explanation. Recommending Zeng Sheng wasn't really about favoring her own people; it was genuinely because Zeng Sheng was one of the few people in Zongren County she could trust. Her adoptive mother had killed many local powerful figures in the chaos today, and even if she seized Zongren County by force, these families would still oppose and hinder her in the future.

Having Zeng Sheng join will save a lot of trouble.

Fan You's response was completely different from Zhe Meng's concerns. Not only did he not mind, but he also expressed humanitarian concern: "I just saw him leave looking distracted. Is there something difficult about the matter?"

Zhang Yang thought for a moment: "He didn't say anything."

I flipped through the system logs again.

Zhang Yang found the crux of the problem: "Perhaps it's because I emptied the granary? I haven't had a chance to tell him about that yet."

The direct reason she didn't mention it was that she had actively driven the person away.

Fan You said, "It's fine to inform him after we've completely taken over the Imperial Clan Court. It will also prevent any future misunderstandings, which would be undesirable."

Zhang Yang deeply agreed.

then--

She pulled Zhe Meng's arm, a less stiff and rigid smile appearing on her face: "Uncle Yan, this is my newly adopted daughter."

Fan You: "..."

The expression on his face seemed to have been paused.

Look at Zhang Yang, then look at Zhe Meng.

The entire main hall was empty except for the three of them breathing, yet Fan You felt a strange sense of oxygen deprivation. He closed his eyes, then realized with despair that he wasn't dreaming. At this moment, he stood there, sword in hand, looking around, utterly lost, like a student who had used a thick notebook of scratch paper to solve a problem but couldn't find the answer. He couldn't understand where his teaching methods had gone wrong. He had consistently tailored his teaching to Zhang Yang's individual needs, carefully utilizing Zhang Yang's personality flaws, and diligently guiding him. But why? Why had Zhang Yang inexplicably developed this strange, adoptive habit?

The trend still reached remote and impoverished areas.

One law is one thing, but why is there another one called Zhe Meng?

If you've accepted these two, will you accept others in the future?

Fan You couldn't remember how he managed to force a smile. He only remembered that as a subject, he should offer his congratulations on this occasion, congratulating his lord on the birth of his beloved daughters, having two daughters at such a young age without pain... and these two daughters were not exactly kind...

My lord, do you remember how Fatty Dong died?

Fan You subtly inquired why Zhang Yang had suddenly taken in another adopted daughter.

He was genuinely worried. What if Zhang Yang also became addicted to collecting, wanting every type of adopted daughter and son, growing more and more addicted, and feeling restless if he missed even one? What if he had one of every kind—male or female, scholarly or martial, handsome or ugly, quiet, brave, rebellious, or sunny…?

Fortunately, his fears seemed unlikely to come true. Zhang Yang didn't take Zhe Meng as his adopted daughter; rather, Zhe Meng herself took the initiative to become his goddaughter!

Fan Youchong turned his gaze sharply.

Zhe Meng frankly said, "This humble general admires the grace and charm of my adoptive mother."

The lord is wealthy and valiant, displaying remarkable prowess on the battlefield and acting with decisiveness and unwavering resolve. Even a newly surrendered general like herself could entrust him with her life without hesitation. How could he not be the mother she admires?

Why is she the godmother of Lu Yuan alone?

Can't other people have it?

She wanted it, and she got it.

Fan You choked for a moment.

He suddenly remembered that not only did the ruler like to adopt sons and daughters, trying to increase his own sense of security through the system of ruler and subject, making the connection between ruler and subject/parent and child closer and more reassuring, but subjects also liked to have godparents.

For example, a subject may not be able to do something, but a child may. There are some things that a subject may not be able to say, but a child may.

Becoming a son of one's lord in the name of propriety is one way for a subject to seek security. As for the benefits of kinship, such as a better career path and the acquisition of personal gain, those certainly exist. Fundamentally, Zhe Meng's behavior was not inherently wrong.

Fan You chose to remain silent.

Zhang Yang chose to be narcissistic: "Rabies still has good taste."

She dared to say that every moment of her performance on the battlefield could be edited into a highlight reel. In just a few words, Zhang Yang's liking for Zhe Meng deepened, but it still didn't quite reach the level of Lu Yuan. So far, Lu Yuan's words had always been very pleasant to hear.

Fan You: "..."

He inexplicably felt a sense of powerlessness, like a monarch surrounded by petty people.

Never mind, I still need to give Zhe Meng a warning in private.

Fan You silently composed himself and reported the situation of the prisoners to Zhang Yang. Most of the prisoners had been captured, but a small number were still hiding in the city, trying to blend in with the common people and cause them trouble.

These were people who were usually well-fed and cared for by their families, but they were filled with grief and anger because of the death of their master and vowed to take Zhang Yang's life.

"...My lord, please be careful these days."

They are vulnerable to assassination.

If possible, try not to stray too far from the military base.

Zhang Yang thought for a moment and said, "They're just a bunch of small fry. They're the ones who should avoid my sharp edge, not the other way around. Here's what we'll do: Shuyan, go and allocate some grain, and post notices. Any child in the city can report any hidden retainers of various families. For each report, a reward of three dou of millet will be given for accurate information, and ten dou of millet will be given if the target is captured. Let's see if they're tigers that dare to assassinate in broad daylight, or rats that tremble and only appear in the dark."

Those who resented Zhang Yang because of the preferential treatment he received from various parties were, after all, a minority.

Even if each whistleblower received ten bushels of grain, it wouldn't add up to much, but it would keep these people from showing their faces for a while. In Zhang Yang's view, it was a very worthwhile deal. She added, "The rumors spread earlier might allow unscrupulous merchants to take the opportunity to inflate grain prices in the market. I'd appreciate it if Uncle Yan could keep an eye on things and see which grain merchants in the city are raising prices. If the increase is small, a fine will suffice; I won't blame them. But if the increase is large, like five or ten times the original price, arrest and kill the person responsible."

Fan You was pleased to hear this and bowed to accept the order.

Zhang Yang couldn't think of anything else for the time being, so he stopped thinking about it.

Fan You, however, did not leave.

Zhang Yang is alright, but he still has others.

"What are your thoughts regarding the situation in Bodu County, my lord?"

"No, send someone to attack?"

Fan You said, "We can't distinguish so many people now."

Conquered territories need to be garrisoned, and if the troop strength is insufficient, unconquered lands are easily lost. Therefore, in his view, sending troops to Bodu County now is unwise. Besides, Lu Yuan also needs reinforcements—the people of Zongren County believe the frontline troops have absconded with supplies, but those who wrongly accused the frontline soldiers know best what their condition is. The latter can threaten Lu Yuan's forces at any time; Lu Yuan cannot delay for long and will suffer losses in a direct confrontation.

However, doing nothing is not an appropriate approach either.

The Imperial Clan Court, the Imperial Clan Court, and the three prefectures of Bodu—the first two have already been defeated, and the last one is struggling to hold on alone. If we don't take advantage of their weakened state and do something, are we just going to wait for them to react?

He said, "My lord can send someone to persuade us to surrender."

With both allies defeated, what is Bodu still holding on for?

One thing left—

"Guan Siyin has mustered all his troops..."

They will be able to bring back a portion of their troops tonight to provide support.

Zhang Yang had already learned to answer quickly, and without hesitation replied, "That's good. Let him stay and guard the capital of the Imperial Clan Court, and I'll lead the troops there."

Fan You: "With the lord in charge..."

Zhang Yang said calmly, "I don't want to."

Fan You: "Master..."

Zhang Yang crossed her arms and coldly refused: "I don't want to."

An NPC with a free spirit wouldn't stay in one place; she can go wherever she wants. Of all the gameplay options in the game world, her favorite is PvP. What's the point of doing quests and dungeons compared to the thrill of battling tens of thousands of players?

Fan You: "..."

Zhe Meng's gaze darted between the two.

After a long silence, before Fan You, like a powder keg, could explode, she solemnly pledged her loyalty. This pledge was less a declaration of loyalty to her new foster mother and more a message to Fan You—she would assist her foster mother, protect her, and ensure her safety. Any enemy who dared to covet her foster mother would first have to get past her. As long as she was there, her foster mother would be there too.

Fan You: "..."

Knowing Zhang Yang's temperament, he could only endure the heart attack and agree.

He had a premonition when he seriously assisted this lord—this lord would be extremely, extremely, extremely difficult to deal with! This lord was the perfect retribution that Qin Shiming had carefully selected for him!

Guan Si sneered upon learning of the arrangement.

He asked, "Did they ask me if I agreed or not?"

"Leave the Hundred Ghosts Guards to me. I'll lead them into battle and guarantee their outstanding achievements!" Zhang Yang saw Guan Si smile and also gave a stiff smile. "Brother Cai Dan can rest assured about my handling of things."

Guan Si: "...Why not let Zhe Kuangquan guard the area?"

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate? After all, she's a newly surrendered military officer. She has prestige in Zongzheng County, but she can't control the troops we brought out."

"Then why did you adopt her as your goddaughter?"

Zhang Yang was clearly holding back on his performance.

Guan Si's words were meant to be sarcastic towards Zhang Yang, but Zhang Yang veered off on a completely different note: "Easter Egg Bro also wants to call me godmother?"

It doesn't seem like she lacks maternal love.

Guan Si: "..."

The conversation between the two took place in private.

Fan You set off at midnight, only then learning of this unexpected turn of events.

"Guan Siyin actually had the good temper and didn't kill his lord?"

"He tried to strike, but missed." Zhang Yang couldn't understand why Guan Si had become as capricious and unpredictable as Wang Qi, always drawing his sword to attack people. "Shu Yan said that one is influenced by one's company, so he must have been hanging out with that wild man too much and been corrupted."

Fan You: "..."

"His temper is still too good." Upon learning about Lu Yuanqian's affairs, the military officer, one of his casual lovers, clicked his tongue in astonishment. "Why didn't he plot to kill you? You've been left alive to become a menace."

He Zhi's temper has indeed improved somewhat.

"If this happened to me—"

Lu Yuan glanced sideways.

The military general changed his tune: "I will definitely wash my hands and cook for you."

As he spoke, the military general's eyes shone with an astonishing light, seemingly deeply in love with the woman before him, only to be met with her lack of understanding and betrayal of his sincerity. Lu Yuan, holding his wine cup, sneered, "Don't try to bewitch me; your tricks won't work on me."

She believes in sincerity.

She also believes that true love does exist in this world, but she doesn't believe a single word spoken by a man with a respectable family.

Even though she's a womanizer, she still has principles.

Back then, which of those fleeting romances I had wasn't already single?

If neither the man nor woman is married, anything goes.

The man in front of her had been married for many years. In Lu Yuan's eyes, he could believe everything else he said, but when it came to matters of the heart, every word he uttered was utter nonsense: "No matter how clueless He Feiye is, he is at least still a single man. Don't come here and make a fool of yourself in front of me."

If he's unlucky—

Save those sweet words for ghosts.

? ?|??w?`)

Xiao Sui: The village is not peaceful.