Keeping a Beauty in a Golden House

After leaving the City God, Yin Yunze, enveloped in lightning, turned around and went straight to the prefect's office.

Compared to the county government office of Qingling County, the Anqing Prefecture government office is much larger in scale.

However, Yin Yunze had no interest in sightseeing and went straight to the gate of the government office.

As Yin Yunze walked to the gate, the two door gods painted on the gate opened their eyes.

Compared to when Yin Yunze possessed Zhao Wan's body and entered the county government office, this time, when Yin Yunze came to the government office in his true form as Nine-Tailed White Fox, the gazes of the two door gods on the government office gate were much sharper.

However, upon seeing the phoenix coronet and wedding robes of a third-rank county princess on Yin Yunze, the two door gods immediately withdrew their gazes and returned to their original patterns.

Looking at the two door gods, Yin Yunze thought for a moment and then gave up on the idea of befriending them.

After entering the county government office, Yin Yunze concealed his phoenix coronet and wedding robes.

If Liu Zhengyuan didn't recognize her and said, "Your Highness, are you getting married?", Yin Yunze would be incredibly embarrassed.

With a sweep of his divine sense, Yin Yunze quickly located Liu Zhengyuan, who was working diligently at his desk in the government office.

Although it's already autumn, the weather is still quite hot.

Working in this room without any cooling equipment, Liu Zhengyuan's forehead was covered with a fine layer of sweat.

With a thought, Yin Yunze conjured a gentle breeze, bringing a touch of coolness to Liu Zhengyuan.

Feeling the refreshing breeze, Liu Zhengyuan also let out a pleasant sigh of relief.

But Liu Zhengyuan suddenly realized something was wrong.

Looking up, I saw a girl with fox ears, nine tails, white hair, and green eyes standing somewhat abruptly in the room.

Faced with this inhuman being, Liu Zhengyuan was not surprised but delighted, and quickly stood up to bow. "Lord Yuanjun, what brings you here?"

"Of course, I wouldn't come here without a reason. I'm here for two things."

There was no need for formalities with Liu Zhengyuan; Yin Yunze went straight to the point. "First, I've received the third-rank county princess you requested for me. You've done me a service and deserve a reward. Is there anything you want, or anything you need me to do?"

"Congratulations, Your Highness! Oh no, I should call you County Princess now!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhengyuan's face lit up with a hint of joy, but he still declined, saying, "Your Excellency is worthy of this title because of your own virtue. I only offered my humble assistance! I dare not ask for any reward; I only hope that Your Excellency will not blame me for acting on your own initiative!"

"Why----"

Seeing Liu Zhengyuan speaking in such official jargon, Yin Yunze felt somewhat helpless.

That's why Yin Yunze dislikes dealing with these officials.

They all clearly want something, but they insist on wasting time by spouting bureaucratic nonsense.

To be honest, Yin Yunze really wanted to just say, "Since you don't want it, then I won't give it to you," and see how Liu Zhengyuan would react.

However, Liu Zhengyuan was not entirely at fault.

Such jokes can indeed hurt feelings, and Yin Yunze will need Liu Zhengyuan's assistance in the future.

Most importantly, whether Yin Yunze can advance further in the future, without having to wear this bright red phoenix coronet and embroidered robe with mandarin duck patterns, may still depend on this prefect!

Therefore, Yin Yunze could only patiently continue, "This is beneficial to me, so it deserves a reward. If I don't reward someone for their merit, wouldn't it make me, the county magistrate, seem stingy? Lord Liu, if you don't accept it, you'll be ruining my reputation!"

However, Yin Yunze was also afraid that Liu Zhengyuan might try to refuse or decline the offer repeatedly, so he spoke a bit harshly.

Hearing Yin Yunze's words, Liu Zhengyuan understood her attitude and frankly said, "Your Highness, since that's the case, how could I tarnish your reputation for my own selfish reasons! It's just that my request might put you in a difficult position!"

Tell me about it?

Hearing Liu Zhengyuan say that, Yin Yunze didn't dare to make a promise, and replied cautiously, "As long as it's not excessive and within my capabilities, I will consider it!"

To be honest, Yin Yunze wasn't afraid that Liu Zhengyuan's demands were excessive; rather, he was afraid that Liu Zhengyuan wouldn't make any demands at all.

If there are truly no requests, Yin Yunze wouldn't be able to bestow the reward even if he wanted to, and would end up owing favors, which would be troublesome.

After all, when it comes time to repay a favor, who knows what kind of trouble it will cause when the other party needs it in the future!

If the other party has offended someone they shouldn't have, and they beg Yin Yunze for help, even if it puts Yin Yunze in a difficult position, how could he refuse?

Unlike the previous two instances where Yin Yunze and Xu Hanxian, Liu Zhengyuan, were involved in a fair trade.

Yin Yunze gave the benefits first, and then received the official title; the two parties were even.

This time, however, Yin Yunze didn't ask the County Princess of Qingping for help; it was Liu Zhengyuan who took the initiative to arrange it for her.

As Incense God, what I fear most is incurring such karmic debts.

Most importantly, for the Incense God, this kind of debt of gratitude is not wiped out upon the death of the person who made the offering.

Either his descendants or his offspring, you have to find one to pay for it.

Don't you see Bai Suzhen at the Mount Qingcheng, who sacrificed herself for the life-saving grace from over a thousand years ago?

While Yin Yunze may not have gone to such lengths, it's best to settle this karmic debt immediately when the time comes.

If Liu Zhengyuan were smart enough, he should have taken the opportunity to make a request that was somewhat excessive but not difficult to fulfill.

Because if Liu Zhengyuan's request is excessive, then after Yin Yunze completes it for him, it will be Liu Zhengyuan who owes her a favor.

Despite this back and forth, the result was that Liu Zhengyuan ended up owing a favor and seemed to have suffered a loss.

But in fact, it takes skill to make those in power owe you favors.

Conversely, being able to owe favors to those in power is also a skill.

Because this means that if something happens to the person in charge...

If you happen to be in a good position to do it, then people will likely think of you first as the one who owes them a favor.

After all, getting things done means needing to spend resources.

Compared to taking resources from one's own side, it is obviously more cost-effective to use favors that don't cost money.

And in this way, if you can handle this situation well, what was originally a one-time interaction between you will become more than just a one-time interaction in the future.

Often, the more you interact with someone, the better the relationship becomes.

For example, if it weren't for this third-rank County Princess of Qingping, Yin Yunze would most likely have handed over the matter of grain seeds to Xu Hanxian.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. After a while, the relationship becomes closer, and they eventually become like family.

Therefore, Yin Yunze was also curious to see what kind of reward Liu Zhengyuan was planning to receive.

"In that case, I shall accept your offer without hesitation! Please wait a moment, Your Highness."

As they spoke, Liu Zhengyuan bowed and left the room.

After a while, Liu Zhengyuan returned, now dressed in casual clothes.

Liu Zhengyuan cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Yin Yunze and said softly, "Your Highness, may I accompany you somewhere?"

Seeing Liu Zhengyuan's mysterious demeanor, Yin Yunze also became a little curious and nodded, saying, "Okay."

"Please come with me, Your Highness!"

After saying this, Liu Zhengyuan dismissed the yamen runners and attendants who wanted to follow him, and led Yin Yunze out of the county government office alone.

Leading the way, after several twists and turns, Liu Zhengyuan led Yin Yunze into a very ordinary residence.

However, the sign hanging above this residence was not that of the Liu family, but rather that of the Xie family.

"Master!"

However, everyone inside bowed and greeted Liu Zhengyuan upon his entry.

"Um.

After responding, Liu Zhengyuan entered the inner courtyard. However, as he walked, Liu Zhengyuan suddenly felt something was amiss.

Liu Zhengyuan glanced subconsciously at Yin Yunze following behind him, then shook his head, seemingly unconcerned.

With the Primordial Lady of the Azure Heavens following behind, what reckless demons and monsters would dare to act recklessly!

Soon, Liu Zhengyuan led Yin Yunze into a room filled with the smell of medicine.

Inside the room, however, came the sound of two people coughing.

"Master!"

Inside the room, the two maids who were waiting immediately bowed and greeted Liu Zhengyuan.

"How are the madam and young lady?"

Looking at the two maids, Liu Zhengyuan asked a question.

"We've already taken the medicine prescribed by the doctor." A hint of unease and panic flickered across the faces of the two maids. "However, it's still not working."

The two maids lowered their heads, expecting to be scolded in anger as usual.

Unexpectedly, this time, Liu Zhengyuan simply waved his hand.

"You can all leave!"

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the two maids felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly left the room.

Leading Yin Yunze, Liu Zhengyuan walked to the bedside.

Looking at the woman and girl, one adult and one child, who were coughing incessantly on the bed, Liu Zhengyuan said softly, "Your Highness, I would like to ask you to bless them, mother and daughter—"

"Zhengyuan ----cough cough, cough cough cough----" Hearing Liu Zhengyuan say this, the older woman on the bed couldn't help but ask, "Who are you talking to? Cough cough----County Princess? Who is the County Princess?"

"Um?"

Liu Zhengyuan was shocked to hear this. He turned his head and found Yin Yunze standing right behind him.

Turning to look at the woman again, and seeing the confusion in her eyes, Liu Zhengyuan couldn't help but ask, "Can't you see the county princess?"

"Father----cough cough----"

The eleven or twelve-year-old girl said, puzzled, "Ahem, you're the only one coming in, ahem, come in----"

"Lord Liu, don't be surprised. I've simply made myself invisible to ordinary people."

Compared to simply being human or beast-like, after acquiring this body, Yin Yunze preferred to maintain this fox girl state that combined both forms.

However, this situation might be difficult for most people to accept.

Therefore, in his daily life, Yin Yunze was shrouded in an Illusion Technique that ordinary people could not see through.

Of course, this Illusion Technique would have no effect on someone like Liu Zhengyuan, who possessed a strong Dynastic Karmic Luck.

However, the mother and daughter on the hospital bed, who were clearly Liu Zhengyuan's wife and daughter, could not see through Yin Yunze's Illusion Technique.

In other words, this mother and daughter did not actually receive the protection of the Dynastic Karmic Luck.

Logically speaking, even children born to concubines or illegitimate children should be allowed to have children.

They will also be protected by the Dynastic Karmic Luck, but not as strongly as by the principal wife and legitimate son.

The fact that there is none at all means that either the mother and daughter have no connection with Liu Zhengyuan.

Either he wasn't recognized by the legal wife and couldn't even step into the Liu family's house—

To put it nicely, this is a mistress and her illegitimate daughter.

To put it bluntly, this is a case of a bastard woman and her illegitimate child.

After all, Liu Zhengyuan, as both a husband and a father, dared not acknowledge the existence of his wives in front of them, so how could he expect the Dynastic Karmic Luck to protect him?