The Preceptor and Chancellor's Old Residence, Caught in the Act

When Lord Xuantan lived in Luoyang, he had his own residence. Although he did not excessively indulge in extravagance, his residence was still quite impressive, reflecting his status as the God of Wealth.

However, since the imperial court invited him to live in the capital for an extended period, allowing him to leave his old residence, they naturally bestowed upon him a mansion.

It wasn't anywhere else, but in the old residence of the Transcendent Preceptor and Chancellor.

The Transcendent Preceptor and Chancellor, ranked third on the Ancient Heavenly Ranking, was the prime minister during the founding of the Great Xuan.

As fate would have it, Prince Xuan Taizu was once a down-on-his-luck member of a security escort agency. After joining the Vertical and Horizontal Martial Academy, he rose through the ranks.

Transcendent Preceptor and Chancellor was once the head of a very famous escort agency in the Great Ming Dynasty. He inherited the family business at a young age and was full of vigor and chivalry, and had a great reputation in the martial arts world.

Unfortunately, the Great Ming was already showing signs of turmoil and was still plagued by internal strife. Being in the capital, a place rife with trouble, his escort agency was also inevitably embroiled in disputes and repeatedly targeted.

On one occasion, a high-ranking official in the imperial court asked a security escort agency to secretly transport a valuable treasure back to Jinling capital, Nanjing.

There are many suspicious points in this matter. Although the upright people have a reputation for virtue, they are actually very cunning and treacherous. They have a lot of influence and followers. The fact that they entrusted the matter to a security escort agency is clearly a preparation to make them scapegoats afterward.

However, the families of the escort agency members were all in the capital and had been detained. The agency leader had no choice but to take a few trusted men on this trip. After arriving in Jinling, he saw the package and knew that something terrible had happened.

It turns out that the precious treasure being transported was actually the Transcendent Sword.

Great Ming Taizu used this sword to establish the dynasty, Yongle used this sword to expand the territory.

Emperor Renzong was not skilled in martial arts, and Xuanzong was often ill in his middle age. Neither of them could comprehend the Divine Intent and wield the sword. After the Tumu Crisis, the capital was plagued by turmoil.

Later, when the old emperor was restored to the throne, the sword rang out in the palace every night. He then sent a trusted confidant to return the sword to the old Jinling and bury it in the imperial mausoleum.

This matter was a palace secret, known to very few. It was only after a prince learned of it that he dispatched his cronies to implicate the escort agency, intending to secretly retrieve the treasure back to the capital in order to vie for the throne.

The bureau chief immediately understood that if the sword wasn't returned to the capital, his entire family would die; if it was returned, he could then desperately demonstrate his loyalty.

It might be useful, but it's likely a matter of life and death.

After a night of agonizing thought, he dismissed his entourage and resolved to return to the capital alone.

At that very moment, the Transcendent Sword burst from its sheath, recognizing this person as its new master.

The day the Transcendent Sword returned to the capital was the day the results of the martial arts examination were announced.

Just as fate would have it, the young Prince Xuan led a group to cause chaos in the capital, Transcendent Preceptor and Chancellor sword, took the prince hostage, and rescued his family.

The two groups fled the capital together, heading towards the Zongheng Army.

This master was already a learned and versatile person. After obtaining the Transcendent Sword, he studied military strategy and the Plum Blossom Numerology. He mastered them quickly and understood them immediately.

After the Great Xuan, he served as prime minister for only three years before resigning and leaving, even leaving his Transcendent Sword in the capital. When Prince Xuan learned of this, he issued three imperial edicts to persuade him to stay, but to no avail, thus creating a beautiful story of a ruler and his minister.

Afterwards, legends circulated widely among the people that he and his wife, known as "Female Zhuge," helped people solve their problems, avoid natural disasters, and guide them in their future endeavors.

In remembrance of this mentor, the Prime Minister's residence has always been maintained, but no one has ever moved in.

Until Lord Xuantan was invited to the capital.

Having lived in this mansion for ten years, Lord Xuantan Lan Ziya was already very familiar with every plant and tree in the mansion.

Every morning when he gets up, a servant brings him warm water to wash up, asks him to sit in front of the mirror, and combs his hair.

When Lan Ziya first arrived in the capital, he was still young and vigorous, and he was not used to others touching his hair. He always tied his hair and put on his robe himself.

But now, when he sits in front of the mirror in the morning, he still looks drowsy, with many wrinkles on his face and gray hair.

After the maidservant styled his hair into a bun, she threaded it through with a gold hairpin and then draped him in a robe with auspicious Qilin and unicorn patterns, a gift from the royal family.

Lan Ziya seemed to have fully woken up, opening his eyes but then touching his forehead with his finger.

"Headache, take the forehead dressing."

The maid immediately knelt down. "If Master is unwell, may we summon the imperial physician?"

Lan Ziya took a closer look and thought, "Alright, another unfamiliar face."

The people in his household were originally replaced every year, but later they were replaced every six months.

I wonder where those people in the imperial court found so many talented men and women who are skilled in calculation and worldly wisdom to serve as servants in his household.

I don't know if these people were so quickly replaced because they had actually achieved something in their studies.

Some people still worry that Lan Ziya can win over those around him and turn them into his loyal confidants in just six months.

"I'm just a businessman, not someone who's good at rebelling. How could I possibly have the ability to recruit people to be loyal to me?"

Lan Ziya murmured, "No need to trouble the imperial physician. I still have my own skills. I know my own body's condition."

The maid got up, took an apricot-yellow headband, and tied it around his neck.

Lan Ziya smiled at her, nodded, and got up to leave.

He never made things difficult for those around him.

Even the Martial God of Wealth has his moments of helplessness, let alone these children.

Moreover, each time a new person takes over the affairs left by their predecessor, they always handle them in an orderly manner.

At least, there were no major mistakes in collaborating with Lan Ziya to manage businesses in various places, modify plans, and handle accounts.

After all, although this money was earned through Lan Ziya's planning, it had long been regarded as their own by the lords. If there was even the slightest ambiguity in the accounts, more than one family would likely lose their heads.

The warm sun has risen in the east, and the courtyard is warm and cozy.

The path is paved with bluish-gray flagstones, and the flowers and plants on both sides are brightly colored.

Lan Ziya passed through the moon gate and was supposed to go to the hall for his meal, but he saw a tall and thin monk standing by the artificial rock not far away.

This monk, dressed in a grey robe and a blue kasaya, had disheveled eyebrows and a curly beard, giving him a somewhat Central Asian appearance.

But he has a gentle temperament, and his presence is like the fragrance of flowers, making him a delight to behold.

At this moment, the monk was nodding repeatedly at an ant on the artificial rock, and the ant's antennae trembled.

It was as if the two were having a conversation.

The ninth on the Heavenly Ranking in this world, the Master Diantou Mount Wutai.

The people in Lan Ziya's household were not his confidants, and his subordinates who were in charge of business in various places could only come here to stay for a period of time around the end of the year; otherwise, they could only communicate by letter.

In contrast, this Master Diantou was actually the most frequent and congenial guest to him over the past decade.

A customer who had been with the business for ten years naturally became a friend.

"Master, I've long heard that you can make insects and ants listen to your teachings and make stubborn rocks nod in agreement, but wasn't it only at the Fahui on Mount Wutai that you displayed your supernatural powers?"

Lan Ziya laughed, "Why are you showing off in my house?"

The Master Diantou nodded. "This believer told me that Benefactor Lan has been looking worried and unwell lately, presumably because he is confined to his residence and his mind is troubled."

"Why don't you accompany this humble monk on a journey?"

Lan Ziya said, "These things can be asked of others; why ask this benevolent ant?"

The Master Diantou smiled and said, "Even ants worry about you, benefactor, and have taken the initiative to tell this humble monk."

"Haha, I really didn't know I was doing good deeds and showing kindness to ants."

9

Lan Ziya stroked his beard and said, "It's certainly good that you invited me to travel, Master. However, I'm tired of seeing all the Buddhist temples and mountain scenery around the capital. Where should we go this time?"

The Master Diantou and asked, "How about going to Jinmen?"

The Jinmen crossing is not far from the capital, attracting numerous maritime merchants and imperial merchants. It is home to many wealthy and powerful families, as well as generations of military officers and scholarly households.

It is indeed an incredibly lively place.

Lan Ziya asked curiously, "Master, it's fine if you invite me to travel around the capital, but if we go to Jinmen, can you really make that decision?"

Duke Yi Gao Ye has been in charge of the Six Gates for many years and ranks fifth on the Heavenly Ranking.

His mastery of the Plum Blossom Yi Numerology Mystic Art has reached an unparalleled level.

Lan Ziya was a person he paid close attention to. As long as Lan Ziya was in the capital, his movements would naturally not escape his notice.

However, if one were to go to Jinmen with only a Master Diantou accompanying them, it might not be so safe.

"What do you mean by this, benefactor?"

Master Diantou retorted angrily, "Given our long-standing friendship, would you, benefactor, abandon this humble monk and sail away to the distant seas to travel alone?"

Lan Ziya smiled without saying a word.

After staring at him for a moment, the Master Diantou couldn't help but laugh himself.

"Mr. Gao is on leave today."

Master Diantou clapped his hands and leisurely spread his palms, saying, "This humble monk strongly invited him to visit the Jinmen ferry crossing as well. We can go together, wouldn't that resolve our dilemma?"

Lan Ziya nodded, understanding.

It seems that even those surnamed Gao have some concerns.

After all, Lan Ziya's state of mind was trapped, and his cultivation had stopped, but his name on the Heavenly Ranking was still resounding, and the power of the Heavenly Ranking was extremely strong, which he could sense on his own.

If one of them couldn't hold on and went mad with power, the imperial court would lose this benefactor.

Even if Lan Ziya dies, his name will be transferred to the Ancient Heavenly Ranking and can still be worshipped by others.

However, the blessings bestowed upon the successor will not be as significant as those bestowed upon him.

Alright, although Gao Ye is also repulsive, he's still better than the Commander of the Brocade Guard with his murderous aura.

It would be truly boring if that commander came along when we went out for leisure.

The Great Xuan Dynasty did not have the Eastern and Western Depots. The Commander of the Brocade Guard held a position equivalent to a Duke, a prestigious and honorable post. In recent years, he had even taken over the Divine Machine Battalion.

Even Gao Ye would probably feel a little uncomfortable in front of someone like that.

Not long after, someone outside the mansion announced the arrival of a Great Han in a golden robe. He had a square face, a long beard, a wide mouth, large ears, and a pair of piercing, tiger-like eyes.

This man was none other than Duke Yi Gao Ye of Yiguo. This attire was already considered incognito for him, but the Baiyu thumb ring on his left thumb, with traces of blood, was always with him.

Blood seeps into the Baiyu, forming several seal characters.

He was the deputy seal holder in charge of the Six Gates.

At times, this secondary seal was even more authoritative than the primary seal, which was always kept within the Six Gates government office.

When Lan Ziya and Gao Ye met, they merely nodded to each other without exchanging a single greeting.

The Master Diantou consciously walked between the two, and the three of them went out together.

Neither riding horses nor sitting in sedan chairs, the three of them strolled leisurely through the city, and before long they were Chucheng.

Chucheng, there were many stalls forming a market along both sides of the official road.

Lan Ziya enjoyed watching this. He slowed his pace, stroked his beard, and listened to the drawn-out cries of vendors all around him, a faint smile on his face.

Every now and then, he would stop in front of the stall and ask about the price.

Master Diantou said, "You already asked about it when you went out last time. Not long after, prices naturally haven't changed much. Under the emperor's nose, the land is abundant and the people are prosperous. This is not just empty talk."

"Yes."

Lan Ziya said, "Even under the emperor's nose, street vendors' prices are still so high, and rice prices are still so low."

Master Diantou chuckled and said, "This is precisely because the world has bountiful harvests year after year, and every household has full granaries. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Oh."

Lan Ziya chuckled, "I'm afraid even rice in the fertile south isn't this cheap."

Gao Ye understood the ins and outs of this situation. It was because every year when the grain transported by canal and sea arrived, the grain was first filled for the Beijing garrison.

The soldiers of the Beijing garrison had their own family property passed down through generations. Many of them wanted cash and didn't care about these things, so they went out to resell grain. As a result, the price of rice around the capital has always been extremely low.

I've heard that the Great Ming also had this problem back then.

However, our Great Xuan has been around for over two hundred years, and only now do we have such a minor problem—a skin condition called scabies, nothing serious.

Throughout history, which prosperous era wasn't adorned with a swarm of enormous insects to truly be considered a prosperous one?

"Under the emperor's nose, the laws and regulations are most strictly enforced; Tianjin, Jinmen the sea, presents a completely different scene with a myriad of sights."

Gao Ye said, "Since we're heading to Jinmen, we shouldn't linger here any longer."

Lan Ziya laughed heartily and took a step to leave when he suddenly heard a particularly melodious voice among the vendors' cries.

That was a plump vendor who had just turned the corner from the end of the market. He wore a small blue cap and carried a haystack on his shoulder, which was covered with candied hawthorns.

If that's the case, it's not surprising. What's surprising is that on his haystack, one side was covered with candied hawthorns, and the other side was covered with sugar figurines.

The fairy-like swordswoman is radiant and graceful, each with her own unique charm and exquisite beauty.

"Selling sugar figurines~ Handmade sugar figurines~"

The fat man was shouting when he caught sight of Lan Ziya. He was overjoyed, but then he noticed that besides Master Diantou, Gao Ye was also by Lan Ziya's side, and his face fell.

Gao Ye's thick eyebrows gradually furrowed.

"Your Excellency has come to the capital in such a refined manner, why didn't you inform the Six Gates?"