Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

After Gao Zhao walked out of the back door, he ran all the way back.

Back home, my heart was still pounding and couldn't calm down for a long time!

I actually slept with Tong Guan's niece and Cai Jing's granddaughter-in-law!

I'm so amazing!

That's awesome!

Amidst the panic, Gao Zhao felt mostly excitement, even finding it... thrilling!

The feeling of walking a tightrope on the edge of a cliff is absolutely exhilarating!

Looking at the faint morning light outside, Gao Zhao decisively turned over and got into bed, thinking to himself, "After I rest for two days, I'll go again!"

Tong Guan and Cai Jing, come and kill me!

As long as they aren't caught in the act, even if the affair is exposed, it's Lin Chong's fault, what does it have to do with me, Gao Yanei!

I refuse to believe that Tong Guan could possibly take his niece around recognizing people!

Thinking of this, Gao Zhao chuckled and fell asleep peacefully.

When he woke up again, it was already noon, and the servant hurriedly went to fetch lunch.

After washing up, Gao Zhao sat down at the table and began to eat slowly and deliberately.

To be honest, the food was just average, far inferior to the taste of those proper restaurants in the city.

Come to think of it, if the chef at home really had that kind of skill, wouldn't he have gone to work in a proper restaurant long ago? He would definitely earn more than he does here!

After all, even the imperial chefs in the palace can't compare to the chefs in the main hall, otherwise why would the emperor order takeout!

However, I heard that Cai Jing's chef is very skilled, especially his crab roe buns, which are considered a masterpiece!

I'll definitely try it when I have the chance!

If he doesn't give it to me, then I'll wait until his grandson gets married and have his granddaughter-in-law bring it to me. Not only can I eat crab roe buns, but I can also eat her buns!

"Did you stay up late again last night?" Feng Sanniang walked in, staring into his eyes, and said with concern, "You have dark circles under your eyes, you need to get some rest!"

Gao Zhao paused in his actions, recalling his debauched life over the past two nights, and couldn't help but secretly remind himself to learn to exercise restraint!

One should exercise restraint when young, otherwise, when you reach your thirties or forties, you'll end up like those old lechers, only able to sigh longingly at the sight of a lecher, possessing the heart of a lecher but lacking the strength to be one!

He looked up at Feng Sanniang and sighed, "Sister is right. I haven't slept well these past two nights. Thinking of the unresolved western troubles of our Great Song Dynasty and the unrecovered lost lands of Yan and Yun, I've been unable to sleep at night, filled with worry!"

Feng Sanniang was too lazy to listen to his nonsense. She glared at him, turned around, and swayed away.

Gao Zhao was furious when he saw this. Did this short-sighted woman have no sense of national or familial responsibility at all?

It's only because he has a broad mind and no ulterior motives that he would not have let her off today!

After quickly finishing his meal, he decided to exercise. After all, he used to run several laps every day when he was in Biyong, but he had been slacking off for a long time since he came back. He couldn't let himself go like this!

Should we still aim for that 1.2-foot target?

Ten thousand years is too long; seize the day!

Gao Qiu was a military officer, and aside from other things, his family had a martial arts training ground.

He stepped forward to stretch his muscles and bones, picked up the stone lock, and began to practice according to the method Zhou Ang had taught him.

According to Lin Chong, the training methods differ depending on the martial arts used.

In other words, the training method that Zhou Ang tailored for him was designed to strengthen the corresponding muscles.

Gao Zhao practiced until he was covered in sweat. He threw down the stone lock and found some obstacles to practice his running and jumping techniques. After he finished practicing, he felt exhausted.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret; I've wasted so much time lately, and my health is not what it used to be!

Despite his exhaustion, he immediately picked up a long spear and began practicing his marksmanship!

"Excellent marksmanship!" Just as Gao Zhao was displaying his marksmanship with great skill, a cheer suddenly came from below.

Upon hearing the sound, Gao Zhao put away his gun, secretly surprised that even among this group of mediocre people in the commander's mansion, there was someone who knew his stuff!

He looked in the direction of the sound, and with just one glance, he was startled!

Below the drill ground stood a burly man, eight feet tall, but incredibly ugly, with a face like the bottom of a pot, upturned nose, curly hair, and a red beard.

Damn it, what kind of monster is this?! How dare you cause trouble at my Commander's Mansion!

The ugly man noticed Gao Zhao's surprise, chuckled, and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "My name is Xuan Zan, and I am Bao Yi, the Defense Commissioner of the Infantry Commandery... Today, I have come to pay my respects to Grand Commandant Gao on the orders of the Grand Commandant. I was amazed by your exquisite spear skills, young master, and apologize for disturbing you!"

After hearing his explanation, Gao Zhao's expression became increasingly strange. The Three Offices refer to the Palace Guard, the Cavalry Guard, and the Infantry Guard. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard, Gao Qiu was in charge of the Three Offices, so it was only natural for the Infantry Guard to come and pay his respects.

However, Xuan Zan's official title is extremely strange. His introduction should be read in reverse. His official title is Bao Yi Lang, Defense Commissioner, which is a proper and prestigious official position in a remote prefecture!

According to the official system of the Song Dynasty, someone like Gao Qiu, who only held the title of Jiedushi (military governor), was a regular official.

Below this, those who have not yet been promoted to higher ranks before taking office are officials of remote prefectures!

The problem lies here. Generally speaking, only military officers of the rank of Hengban or above can hold the position of Yaojun official. It is an honorary title that increases status!

But what kind of person is Xuanzan, this Baoyi Lang?

A low-ranking official among the junior envoys!

In the second year of the Zhenghe era, the military officer system was reformed, and officers were divided into fifty-two ranks. Baoyi Lang was ranked fiftyth, which was much lower than Gao Zhao's Zhongxun Lang!

This thing can even be promoted to the rank of Defense Envoy?

Can this still be considered a US official? This is blatant humiliation!

Looking at the man's incredibly ugly face, a thought struck him, and he suddenly remembered who this person was. He pointed and exclaimed, "Ugly Prince Consort!"

Xuan Zan was even more embarrassed, and with a wry smile, he cupped his hands in greeting: "It is indeed I, greetings, young master!"

Gao Zhao laughed heartily and stepped off the stage. He knew this fellow's background; he was a genuine martial arts graduate who had once shown off his "Nine Stars in a Row" archery technique in front of foreigners, which made him famous and appreciated, and he was then betrothed to a princess.

However, because this fellow was so ugly, the princess couldn't bring herself to eat him, and she was depressed all day long, eventually dying of melancholy. As a result, he also offended the royal family and powerful nobles.

That's how this strange official position came about!

In Gao Zhao's opinion, this was somewhat bullying!

You are a daughter of the Song Dynasty imperial family, but you're not some particularly precious person!

As long as you can come up with two or three thousand strings of cash as a betrothal gift, you can basically pick and choose which princess or county princess to marry, and you can even get a sanitation officer position as an extra bonus!

If Gao Zhao takes a fancy to any princess, as soon as he spreads the word, people will come to his door to discuss marriage!

After all, Gao Qiu was a real figure of power, much stronger than the merchants they usually married!

Xuan Zan isn't someone who's only looked like this. You insisted on marrying your daughter to him, and now that something's happened, you're pushing all the blame onto him and using it to humiliate him. Isn't that just bullying someone because they have no connections?

"Come, come, I've heard you're a master of martial arts, let's have a spar!" Gao Zhao, with a friendly and approachable demeanor, pulled Xuan Zan toward the martial arts stage.

"This...is not appropriate..." Xuan Zan hesitated and declined repeatedly.

"There's nothing wrong with it, let's have a friendly spar! Show some guts!"

Without a word, Gao Zhao dragged and pulled the man up, grabbed a long spear, and asked, "What weapon are you using?"

Xuan Zan, at a loss for words, said, "Young master, swords have no eyes; if..."

Gao Zhao ignored him and thrust his spear forward. Xuan Zan didn't have time to say anything and dodged. Before he could even stand still, the spear came again, and he had to dodge once more.

Seeing this, Gao Zhao fired even faster and faster, forcing Xuan Zan to retreat repeatedly. Helpless, Xuan Zan had no choice but to turn around and draw a steel knife from the weapon rack to parry the attack.

The two fought for more than ten rounds, and Xuan Zan also unleashed his full power, engaging Gao Zhao in a fierce battle. For a time, they fought back and forth, making it difficult to determine a clear winner.

Gao Zhao, unable to gain the upper hand after a long battle, grew somewhat anxious. He then deliberately created an opening, and as Xuan Zan stepped forward, Gao Zhao swung his spear and struck fiercely.

Xuan Zan was greatly alarmed and immediately swung his sword to meet the attack.

"Bang!"

With a loud bang, a long spear flew far away.

The scene fell silent for a moment. Gao Zhao looked at his empty hands, which felt numb and painful. He then looked up at Xuan Zan, who had a dry smile on his face.

No wonder you get bullied, you deserve it!