"The court is taking back my fief. The Old Mountain Iron Cavalry will be yours from now on; Xue Rushi has already led the troops to Singing Sky Cold Mountain. You're smarter than I am, and better at war. They'll have a future following you."
"Dugu Xiao will join the Desheng Trading Firm—I've already spoken to her. Transfer thirty percent of my shares to her, and the rest will all be yours. She's dependable and hardworking. Teach her more when you can."
"My two marquis estates in Linzi and Old Mountain will both be abolished. But the residence the Son of Heaven rewarded me with earlier is still being kept, and can count as property to be sold. Let Chu Yao and his mother live there for now. Xie Ping can remain the steward, and keep all the servants on; I've already paid them their full wages. Look after them if anything comes up. Once Chu Yao comes of age, he'll be responsible for the household expenses himself."
"Lian Que has a hot temper and hard bones. You need to keep him in check when something happens. The Lian Family's craftsmanship is there—so long as he calms down, there's nothing that can't be resolved."
"Before Three-Part Fragrance Pavilion rises into the Four Great Famous Pavilions, help deal with the official troubles—that's what I promised. With the Huaying Palace Mistress and Miss Liu there, there shouldn't be much of a problem."
"For the three thousand two hundred men who died with me in the Lost Realm, sell off every asset of mine that can be sold and use the money to compensate their families. What the court gives is the court's; what I give is mine."
"Fang Yuanyou was lonely and destitute from childhood, with no family. I've buried his old