What a Real Guest Elder Was Like

About half an hour later, Liu Hou returned.

He pushed the door open, travel-worn and dusty, without even having had time to change his clothes.

The moment he entered, he saw Ye An, Liu Ruyan, and the others. "Ruyan... Miss, Guest Elder Ye, I'm glad I was able to fulfill my mission."

He set a wooden box on the table and opened the lid.

Inside lay a dark herb with intact roots. The edges of its leaves held a faint purple tinge, and its medicinal fragrance was light but lingering.

"Thank you for making this tiring journey, Uncle Hou. Go and get some rest."

After taking his leave, Liu Hou returned to his quarters.

He remembered how, more than half a year ago, he had urged Liu Ruyan in the council hall to consider a marriage alliance with the Song Family.

He had been one of the pillars of that faction, speaking the most and the loudest.

But now?

The Yin-Congealing Grass he had found was a gift from the Liu Lineage to Ye An, Guest Elder Ye.

On his trip to Clear River Commandery, he had asked at more than a dozen herb shops before finally finding this Yin-Congealing Grass in such fine condition. It had cost the Liu Lineage a fair bit of silver. At the time, he had only one thought: he had to bring it back and place it in Guest Elder Ye's hands.

In the past, he would have found that thought absurd himself.

Why should the Liu Lineage spend its resources on an outsider? Since when had he, Liu Hou, become that sort of person?

He sat in his chair and suddenly laughed, as though something had finally become clear.

Back then, he had acted for the Liu Lineage. He was still acting for