Water Margin: Gao Yanei is actually a Gal Genius

Just as the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) arrived, Gao Jin and Gao Qiu bid farewell and left the palace.

After the two left, Zhao Ji asked Zhao Fujin in a low voice, "Daughter, how is Gao Jin?"

Zhao Fujin recalled the man who had endured humiliation at the Cai family banquet.

Then I thought of the spirited and valiant general that my father had mentioned on the training ground today.

Just as she was thinking about Gao Jin's heroic figure, the words "...Cup and song with composure" suddenly popped into her mind.

She lowered her head, her ears were red like jade, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's murmur.

"Your Majesty, I will follow your arrangements."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji clapped his hands and laughed.

"Good, good, good! My son is blessed!"

By mid-Hai hour, the Gao family father and son had returned to their residence.

Gao Jin was about to sneak off to the backyard to talk to the monk when Old Deng stopped him.

"My son, wait a moment..." Gao Jin looked back and saw Old Deng beaming with joy, stroking his beard and shaking his head. "I have always known that my son is a man of loyalty and righteousness... It is best not to see that young lady from the Chen family again. I will instruct the gatekeeper not to let any unauthorized people into the mansion."

"I will have someone speak to Old Master Chen. My son should stay at home and not loiter on the streets anymore."

"You get along well with that monk, so the manor can provide him with a courtyard to live in for an extended period."

"My son, do not slack off in your position as Imperial Guard. Tomorrow morning, come to the palace with me, and I will introduce you to some things..."

It was rare for Gao Qiu to see Gao Jin listening to him so attentively, and he was somewhat moved. Indeed, men become more mature after they start a family.

"Alright, alright, that's enough for tonight. My son, you should know that you will be marrying a princess in the future, so you must be mindful of your reputation. Don't boast about it, or you'll attract jealousy!"

"I understand, son." At this critical juncture, Gao Jin dared not cause any trouble and obediently agreed.

"Go, go..." Gao Qiu waved his hand and turned to go to the study.

Gao Jin stood there, watching Lao Deng leave.

Parents are all the same everywhere, sigh...

Though I had a thousand words in my heart, they all boiled down to one sentence.

Once he's finished exploring this world, he'll definitely come back to repay Old Deng's kindness in raising him!

When they arrived at the backyard, the monk was drinking. Upon seeing Gao Jin, he immediately exclaimed, "Brother, you were too arrogant in the drill ground today! I'll offer you a bowl of wine!"

Gao Jin took the wine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "Brother, you went to watch today too? Why didn't you watch it at the drill ground?"

Lu Zhishen slapped his forehead. "I wanted to go in and fight my brother right then and there, but that Chen woman stopped me, and kept chanting, 'It's not proper for her to have a legitimate name.'"

"If she weren't my brother's fiancée, I would have punched her already!"

The monk looked somewhat regretful for not being able to enter the training ground for the duel.

Gao Jin suddenly hesitated, toying with the wine bowl in his hand for a moment, before speaking.

"Brother, should I talk to Old Deng and see if I can get you a job in the Imperial Guard?"

"These words are true..." Lu Zhishen first straightened up excitedly, then slumped back down.

"...Forget it, forget it...I'd rather not be a general. I'd rather drink and eat with my brother."

Seeing that the monk had no intention of staying to become an official, Gao Jin finally spoke up.

"Brother, I want to go outside and see the world, what do you think?"

"Brother wants to go to the night market? I'll go with you."

Gao Jin shook his head. "No, it's outside Tokyo City..."

"It's dark outside the city, which is inconvenient. Brother wants to go..."

Gao Jin placed a hand on Lu Zhishen's shoulder. "Not just outside the capital city of Tokyo, I'd like to travel and explore the entire Song Dynasty. What do you think, brother?"

Lu Zhishen stared at Gao Jin with wide, strange eyes. "Does the Grand Commandant really cherish his brother so much that he's willing to let him travel around everywhere?"

"I wasn't prepared to let Old Deng know. Are you leaving or not?" Gao Jin asked seriously.

"Where are you going, brother? I'll accompany you."

Although Lu Zhishen didn't understand why Gao Jin would give up a peaceful life to travel around, he expressed his respect and accompanied him.

"Brother Lin Chong just left, there's not much to see there. How about we go find Shi Dalang, whom you mentioned last time?"

"That's feasible! When we parted last time, Shi Jia Dalang mentioned he was going to Shaohua Mountain. Why don't I accompany you on the trip, brother? When will you depart, brother?"

"Brother Lin Chong's matter is settled, and we have no worries about Tokyo for the time being. Let's set off tonight!"

"What about the Chen family's daughter?" the monk suddenly asked.

Gao Jin remained silent for a long time. "Even if I stay, I will still marry Princess Shang Maode. We are truly destined to be apart. Let us forget each other from now on."

The monk didn't particularly like Chen Liqing, even though she was very beautiful. He always felt that his brother Gao Jin deserved someone better, and that Chen Liqing was too willful and capricious.

Now that I hear Gao Jin is about to marry the princess, I can't help but want to offer some advice.

"Brother, I, a mere monk, have heard of Princess Maode. She is known as the most beautiful woman in the Song Dynasty. Is she really leaving us like this? What a pity."

Looking at the honest and simple-minded Lu Zhishen, Gao Jin couldn't help but tease him.

"You monk, you've even started eyeing beautiful women like other people. You should change your nickname to 'Playboy Monk,' which would be a perfect match for me, 'Playboy Prince.'"

Lu Zhishen clicked his tongue, "I just feel sorry for you, brother. You don't appreciate the monk's kindness..."

The two brothers chatted and laughed for a while, then went back to their rooms to pack their things and prepare to leave.

That night, in Lushi Lane, Tokyo, at the Chen family residence.

Chen Xizhen had just seen off the messenger sent by the Gao family. After glancing at the letter, he slumped into a lazy chair in the flower hall, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

That scoundrel Gao Qiu has actually turned his back on us tonight and doesn't want to marry into the Chen family anymore!

After gritting his teeth and closing his eyes for a moment, the old Taoist priest took a deep breath and slowly loosened his fist.

Gao Qiu's letter made it very clear that the boy Gao Jin accompanied him to the palace to meet the emperor today. The emperor was overjoyed and summoned Princess Maode to sit with him and watch Gao Jin perform a dance.

Why did Gao Qiu specifically bring this up? It's obvious that the Emperor has taken a liking to Gao Jin!

In this Great Song Dynasty, the Emperor is like Heaven. If Heaven wants to ruin his daughter's marriage, he can only submit to Heaven's will.

"Father, you didn't go to the training ground today. Brother Gao Jin was so impressive! But those courtesans from Fan Hua Ju were a bit too much. What do you think I should do after we get married to discipline him so he won't go to places like that..."

Chen Liqing, who was copying the "Admonitions for Women" in her room, seemed to be tired of writing. She stretched her wrists and came to the back hall to prepare to tell the old Taoist priest about Gao Jin's incident at the training ground for the third time.

Knowing her daughter's temperament, Chen Xizhen quickly hid the letter on the table in her bosom.

"Father, why do you look so pale? Since I married Brother Gao Jin, I haven't been able to serve you. You should take better care of yourself..."

As Chen Liqing chattered on, Chen Xizhen's expression grew increasingly grim.

Finally, he managed to open his mouth and interrupt his daughter's incessant chatter, "My daughter, let's leave your affair with Gao Jin here... Your destined marriage should be in the northeast."

Chen Liqing was struck dumb by lightning halfway through her conversation. She stumbled back several steps, her face turning deathly pale, and her head drooping.

Her dejection lasted only a moment; she raised her head again, her eyes bloodshot with hatred, her throat tightening, her teeth clenched.

"But Brother Ko Chun...but that bastard Ko Chun wants to break his oath and become a heartless man?!?!"

Chen Xizhen was unwilling to speak ill of Gao Jin, saying, "It was the Emperor's intention to bestow this marriage upon Gao Jin, arranging for him to marry the widowed Princess Maode..."

"A jinxed whore like that, does she even deserve to..."