Susu and Lu Zhi separated and stepped back. Their expressions immediately turned gentle and refined as they gave Jiang Hao a slight curtsy and smiled sweetly. "Susu greets Big Brother Jiang. Was your journey smooth?"
This girl was quite the little actress too.
"Very smooth. Let's go inside," Jiang Hao said with a smile.
Everyone entered the house, where servants promptly set out wine and food. Jiang Hao had already sent away the county magistrate and the other outsiders. Only their own people remained: Duke Lu, Xiao He, Cao Can, Lu Zhi, Susu, Han Zhong, Ji Bu, and Lu Xin.
They were all Jiang Hao's closest people, the foundation of his power. Jiang Hao introduced them again. Han Zhong and Ji Bu were newcomers, so he gave them special introductions. As for Lu Xin, he had originally been Duke Lu's household servant, but his status was now different. He had become Jiang Hao's guard general.
Duke Lu glanced at Lu Xin and said with a smile, "Lu Xin, you have talent yourself. Being favored by our lord is your good fortune. You must be loyal to him and always put his interests first."
By saying this in such a setting, Duke Lu was telling Jiang Hao that Lu Xin now belonged to him and had no further ties to the Lu Family.
Jiang Hao smiled faintly and asked, "How are things at the temple?"
Dingyang Temple on Dingyang Mountain could be called the ancestral seat of Taoism in this world, and its status was exceptionally lofty. Hearing Jiang Hao ask, Xiao He immediately replied, "The main hall has been completed, but the side halls are still under construction. The plans are several times larger than before, so they cannot be finished in merely three to five years."
"Last month, The