"Isn't this far too valuable?" Yang Zhengshan said after his shock subsided.
Zhou Lan smiled. "I was born into Duke Ning Mansion!"
Yang Zhengshan's expression stiffened.
He did not know what kind of standing Duke Ning Mansion held in Da Rong, but he understood what a duke was.
Da Rong's noble ranks were divided into three levels and nine grades: duke, marquis, and earl. There were first-rank dukes, second-rank dukes, third-rank dukes, all the way down to third-rank earls.
Noble titles were further divided into hereditary and non-hereditary, though dukedoms were generally hereditary. The highest non-hereditary title one could receive was first-rank marquis.
Zhou Lan had been born into Duke Ning Mansion, which meant she might be the Duke of Ning's daughter or granddaughter.
Whether legitimate-born or concubine-born, such a background was beyond anything Yang Zhengshan could presently reach.
Zhou Lan had not mentioned her background to elevate her own status, but merely to show that her gift of thanks was not valuable.
Yang Zhengshan fell silent for a moment before saying, "Then this commoner will accept without further ceremony!"
With a mountain of gold crashing down on him, could he refuse it?
The answer was no.
A gentleman loved wealth, but took it by proper means.
Zhou Lan's gift was not ill-gotten wealth, so why should he refuse?
The things Zhou Lan had given him before had been spoils of war. This time, what she had given him was truly a gift of thanks.
Seeing Yang Zhengshan accept them, Zhou Lan smiled.
She did not think Yang Zhengshan was greedy for wealth. Before coming, she had investigated him, including how he had handled the spoils of war she had left behind last time.
From the way Yang Zhengshan had dealt with those spoils of war, she knew he was