Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Gao Zhao returned to the courtyard with a sigh, and Shi Qian and the other two hurriedly came up to him to ask what had happened and whether he had been punished.

"Sigh..." Gao Zhao sighed deeply, his face contorted with grief, "They both reprimanded and punished me, wiping out all the hard-earned money I've worked so hard for. Now I'm penniless..."

Lu Qian and Gao Yi exchanged glances. They both knew where Gao Zhao's money came from, but upon hearing this, they breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, it was a huge debt, and it was good that the problem was solved!

Shi Qian's eyes widened in disbelief. Ten thousand strings of cash! Gone just like that! He had never seen so much money in his entire life!

However, since the money wasn't his anyway, he just considered it an eye-opening experience, marveling at it for a moment before letting it go. Instead, he smiled and comforted Gao Zhao, saying, "Young Master, it's just some windfall, no need to worry about it. I'm just as poor as you are!"

"Oh, right!" Gao Zhao slapped his forehead, pulled a bond certificate from his pocket, and handed it over, saying, "You've worked hard these past few days, take this!"

Shi Qian peeked out and saw a banknote with a face value of one hundred strings of cash. He was so shocked that he took two steps back and waved his hands frantically, saying, "No, no! I can work for you, young master, because you appreciate me. How can I take so much money!"

Gao Zhao, impatient with all this empty talk, stepped forward and stuffed the money into his hand, saying seriously, "I don't like empty promises. If you work for me, you can't do it for nothing. Favors are favors, and money is money!"

Shi Qian was still struggling when Gao Zhao patted him heavily on the shoulder a few more times, saying earnestly, "Brother Shi, you've come to the capital alone, and I imagine you're not well-off. Money is a hero's courage. With this money in your pocket, you'll have the confidence to speak. I don't want my brother to have to bow down to others again!"

"Young Master..." Shi Qian was moved, feeling a lump in his throat, unable to speak. He took a step back and bowed deeply.

[Gratitude points from Shi Qian +1]

Gao Zhao was growing increasingly fond of Shi Qian. He was capable, quick-witted, and grateful—truly a rare find. He quickly stepped forward to help Shi Qian up, laughing, "We're brothers, no need for such formalities!"

Shi Qian straightened up and laughed, saying, "The young master rescued me from prison and treated me like a brother. Now that he's been fined, he must be struggling financially..."

"Yes!" Gao Zhao couldn't help but interject upon hearing this, "I only have about seven thousand strings of cash left!"

Shi Qian was stunned on the spot, and the words he originally wanted to say about giving half the money to Gao Zhao could no longer be uttered!

So, people's definitions of poverty vary so much?

"Young master, I also want to speak up, I don't want to be subservient to anyone..." Gao Yi knelt down with a thud and shouted, "My mother always told me that poor children learn to be independent early..."

"Get out!" Gao Zhao pointed and roared, "You betrayed me, causing me to lose my monthly allowance, and you still have the nerve to ask me for money!"

Shi Qian and Lu Qian stepped forward, ignoring the servant's explanations and struggles, grabbed him and dragged him out.

After everyone had left, Gao Zhao opened the panel again to check.

Name: Gao Zhao

Gratitude Points: 26

Intelligence: 69+/100

Strength: 43+/100

Physical fitness: 48+/100

Agility: 42+/100

Today at the nursing home, Gao Zhao had a very fruitful day, and his gratitude value once again broke through the 20 mark.

Without thinking about anything, just focus on building up your physique. After clicking twice, Gao Zhao felt a surge of heat throughout his body, feeling incredibly comfortable. At that moment, the pop-up window appeared again.

[You have entered a balanced state. The next time you add points, each point will consume 10 gratitude points.]

Gao Zhao wasn't too surprised. After several such instances, he had gotten used to how each major advancement in his cultivation level would increase the consumption of his gratitude points.

He added a little more to his physique, and immediately a warm current spread throughout his body. In a daze, Gao Zhao even felt that he had become much stronger!

He glanced at the 6 gratitude points he had left and immediately closed the panel!

Although there are other options that could be added, they are not within his consideration!

He wanted to be a brute! A brute one foot and two inches long!

The dream was so tempting that he dreamed of whipping Li Shishi that very night!

However, just as things were getting exciting, Li Shishi covered her mouth in surprise, her face full of disbelief, when Gao Yi woke her up!

Gao Zhao flew into a rage and was about to unleash a torrent of abuse when Gao Yi pointed to the door and whispered, "Young Master, the Grand Commandant is waiting for you!"

He then remembered that Gao Qiu had asked him to go to court with him today to see if the Emperor would summon him.

He immediately suppressed his anger, got up and washed while cursing, and then went out with Gao Qiu in a daze, heading towards Xuande Gate.

After walking for a while, he came to his senses, glanced at Gao Qiu, and found that he seemed quite happy.

Gao Zhao just didn't understand. Why was he so happy about going to court so early every day and not even being able to sleep in?

The night market on Ma Xing Street gradually dispersed, replaced by the morning market. It was somewhat deserted, but not lonely. Gao Zhao quite liked this kind of environment.

This reminded him of the feeling of spending the whole night in an internet cafe when he was young and coming out in the morning.

It was on one of those mornings that he bumped into his crush, who was walking out of the hotel next door…

He grew up that day!

From now on, I'll only stay in hotels; I'll never stay overnight in internet cafes again...

Ah, those were the days! I was so damn naive back then!

Just as he was reminiscing about his youth, Gao Qiu spoke up: "The palace gates are for officials going to court; no noise or disrespect is allowed! When I enter the palace for court, you are not permitted to wander far. If the Emperor summons you, you must answer truthfully!"

Gao Zhao nodded repeatedly in agreement, but inwardly he was thinking, "I'm not stupid, do I need to be taught this?"

A moment later, he started bowing repeatedly to people with a silly grin on his face!

There was no way around it; Gao Qiu kept taking him to meet people, and every time he opened his mouth, he was addressed as "uncle" or "elder brother," so he had to bow to him.

Only when the palace gates were opened wide and the officials entered the palace one after another did Gao Zhao straighten his back!

I originally wanted to see what that old treacherous minister Cai Jing looked like, but unfortunately, Gao Qiu was greeted by a group of military officers, and he didn't go to the civil officials at all!

However, I've heard that Cai Jing attends court every three days, and he didn't come today!

Gao Zhao was very envious. Thinking about this kind of life where one has both power and leisure, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, thinking, "This is how a true man should be!"

After his exhilaration subsided, he went to a breakfast stall by the Imperial Road for breakfast. He saw a stall selling tofu pudding, but it was all savory, so he questioned the vendor about why there was no sweet version!

The vendor explained that the sugar was too expensive and he couldn't afford it...

Gao Zhao was furious. He went to another stall and ate mutton offal soup, adding a lot of whipped cream and a flatbread. After eating, he started bragging to the stall owners!

Meanwhile, Gao Qiu requested a private audience after the court session ended.

Upon arriving at the rear hall of Chongzheng Hall, Gao Qiu hurriedly stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying, "Your subject Gao Qiu has come to apologize to Your Majesty!"

Emperor Huizong was taken aback and asked in surprise, "What have you done? Why are you so terrified?"

"It was not me, but my unworthy son!" Gao Qiu hurriedly said, "My unworthy son is mischievous. A few days ago, he borrowed 10 strings of salt certificates from the money exchange shop owned by Consort Liu's brother. Now the value of salt certificates has plummeted..."

Zhao Ji immediately understood and laughed, "He's quite lucky!"

Gao Qiu took out 20,000 strings of cash from his bosom and presented it, saying in a trembling voice, "I am a former servant of Your Majesty from your time as a prince, and have always enjoyed your trust. In order to avoid any impropriety and to prevent this from hindering Your Majesty's wisdom, I hereby offer the remaining 20,000 strings of cash!"

Emperor Huizong glanced at the pawn ticket, looked at him with a half-smile, and said nothing.

The chief eunuch Yang Jian chuckled, "Grand Commandant Gao, didn't you say 100,000 strings of cash? How come there are only 20,000 strings now?"