Chapter 258: A Word Is a Covenant

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing gently extended her slender wrist, brushing aside a purple Liuli bead hairpin, and said casually:

"Not much—just a few ten thousand."

"How much???????????"

Wang Yang was stunned.

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing covered her mouth with her delicate hand, laughing until her starry eyes curled into crescents.

Wang Yang realized he'd been tricked, patted his chest in mock relief:

"You know I'm timid—why'd you scare me like that..."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing wrinkled her nose, the girl huffed:

"You're timid? You're the one with guts!"

Wang Yang sighed softly:

"Guts don't help when you're broke..."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing grew curious: "Just how broke are you?"

Wang Yang changed the subject: "Don't dodge—I'm asking about your monthly stipend."

"It's drawn from my family's accounts—you don't need to worry!"

Wang Yang declared firmly: "No, you've given me these people—so the stipend must come from me."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing turned her head away, ignoring Wang Yang:

"I gave you a gift, not a bill to pay..."

"Then by your logic, sending me the big black steed isn't enough—you'd have to send the hay too!" Wang Yang hissed, muttering to himself: "No good—I need to get back those few red-scaled fish I gave Yue Pang, or else the fish food becomes my problem too..."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing burst into giggles, scolding: "Oh, how annoying you are!"

Wang Yang said seriously: "Exactly—that's the point."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing knew Wang Yang spoke playfully, but held real intent; she relented:

"Fine, fine—if you won't accept my help, I'll tell you: the leader gets two thousand, the others fifteen hundred."

Wang Yang had expected it, but still exceeded his estimate.

At the time, common folk and soldiers earned barely three hundred per month; in Shanyin County alone, half the households had less than three thousand in assets. In the previous dynasty, a Battalion Commander in Jingzhou, to care for his mother, gave up meat himself—the Inspector, moved by his filial piety, granted him two hu of rice and a thousand cash monthly. At peak market price, one hu was worth a hundred cash, meaning the Inspector's gift totaled twelve hundred cash—a generous reward. These four guards, with no official rank, received fifteen hundred to two thousand monthly—no wonder the great clans attracted so many talents...

When Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing decided to gift these four guards, she had already considered: their monthly stipend alone would cost eight thousand cash, nearly a hundred thousand annually—not counting food, clothing, lodging, and other expenses. Wang Yang might feel burdened. That's why she offered to pay his stipend. But she'd also considered his insistence on paying himself—and concluded it wouldn't be a major concern.

Wang Yang's silk business was vast; even managing it for his family, he must have personal surplus, plus income from selling books and fans. He could manage expenses for now. Ten thousand folding fans had already arrived in Jiankang and were being sold; if all went well, Wang Yang would receive fifty thousand cash—easily enough to support four guards. Still, she wished to ease his burden, saying:

"Our family is large, complicated, bound by many rules, and expenses flow through the public account, so spending is looser. Add to that the vanity of 'face,' so we pay more—but it's not standard. Normally, a thousand cash monthly is already generous. You're setting up your own household, free of our bloated traditions—so you can adjust: eight hundred or a thousand is fine."

Wang Yang fell silent for a moment, then turned to Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing and bowed deeply:

"Madam, your kindness, Wang Yang will forever remember."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing's ears turned faintly red; she scoffed softly: "Who wants you to remember..."

Wang Yang smiled: "I'm the one who wants to remember... Hey, wait—I have something for you too."

He returned to his bedroom and, under Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing's curious gaze, brought back a brocade pouch.

"What's inside?"

"A gift for you—something interesting."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing grew eager, reaching for the pouch—but Wang Yang quietly slipped it behind his back.

"You must promise me—you won't open it until five days after I leave."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing frowned: "Why?!"

Wang Yang adopted a sage's air: "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."

"So mysterious..." Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing tilted her head, her eyes sharp with scrutiny, as if piercing through the pouch.

"Will you agree? Or shall I put it away?" Wang Yang shook the pouch.

"Don't rush, don't rush—I'm thinking, thinking..."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing clasped her hands behind her back, feigning deep thought as she paced—then suddenly spun, lunging for the pouch!

Wang Yang was ready; his wrist twisted, the pouch vanished behind him. Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing couldn't stop—she stumbled forward, crashing straight into his chest, her forehead nearly striking his chin. She felt herself sink into warmth, her heart pounding, her cheeks flushed crimson.

She scrambled back—only for her embroidered shoe to catch on her hem, nearly toppling again! She staggered several steps before regaining balance. The memory of her clumsy display, all witnessed by Wang Yang, made her wish a lightning bolt would strike her down.

She forced composure, turning away: "Fine, I won't look—who cares!"

The brocade pouch dropped before her eyes, swaying gently in the air.

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing knew Wang Yang stood behind her; she dared not turn, ears burning, snatched the pouch, and fled. Behind her, Wang Yang called: "A word is a covenant—"

"No need for four horses to chase it! I know!"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing mumbled a reply and fled in haste...

After Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing left, Wang Yang summoned the Black Han:

"Your monthly stipend rises to two thousand eight hundred..."

The Black Han turned pale, immediately kneeling: "Young Master, this—this cannot be!"

"Why not? You've managed this entire estate—worked hard—"

The Black Han pleaded: "It's my duty! Young Master's grace, I could never repay in lifetimes! I don't want your money—I want to serve you for life! Forever!"

Wang Yang laughed: "Taking money doesn't stop you from serving—stand up, stand up! Between us, no need for such formality."

The Black Han felt shame so deep he wished to die, pressing his forehead to the floor: "So much money—I dare not accept it! I'm not worth this stipend!"

Wang Yang helped him up, saying seriously: "Not worth it? You're my chief steward—your value is high! This is barely a start—there'll be more raises. Besides, aren't you saving for Wu Wu's dowry?"

The Black Han wept openly, an eight-foot-tall strong man sobbing like a child.

Wang Yang patted his shoulder: "Enough, enough. It's settled. I have another task for you..."

Hearing his Young Master had orders, the Black Han wiped his tears instantly, bowed, voice hoarse:

"Young Master, command!"

Wang Yang whispered instructions, then said:

"I know these two aren't the only ones—go find others. No matter if they're wandering performers, street charlatans claiming to be immortals—if they match what I described, bring them here. If they refuse, raise the offer. Tell them: this Young Master has no lack of coin—so long as they truly have skill, they'll be richly rewarded!"

"Young Master, I'll go at once!"

"Good. First, summon the four Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi brought."

"How should I address them?"

The four bowed in turn, voices like clashing metal: "Servant Gao Fei!" "Servant Gao Zhan!" "Servant Gao Ju!" "Servant Gao Lin!"

"You're kin?"

Gao Fei replied: "We're not blood relatives—our former master changed our surnames to Gao for convenience."

"Do you wish to reclaim your original surnames—or keep Gao?"

"We leave it entirely to Young Master's command!"

Wang Yang studied their expressions, then said: "Your parents' surnames must not be lightly discarded—return to your original names."

"Zhao Fei thanks Young Master for restoring my surname!"

"Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Zhan thanks Young Master for restoring my surname!"

"Sun Ju thanks Young Master!"

"Li Lin thanks Young Master for restoring my surname!"

Wang Yang murmured: "Zhao Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Sima Qian Sun Li..."

"Yes!" All four bowed in unison.

Wang Yang smiled, waving his hand: "Now you're family—no need for such formality. What was your previous stipend?"

Zhao Fei said: "I received two thousand cash; the others, fifteen hundred."

Wang Yang nodded, telling Zhao Fei: "Your stipend rises to two thousand five hundred; the others, two thousand each."

The four were stunned and delighted; Zhao Fei bowed low:

"We've joined your household with no merit—how can we deserve such generous pay?"

Wang Yang fanned himself and smiled: "The capable deserve generous pay. When you earn merit, even greater rewards await."

The four exchanged glances, then knelt together: "We vow to earn merit for Young Master!"

Wang Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the table, smiling faintly: "No rush, no rush."

Faint smoke veiled the moon; deep curtains draped the bed.

Inside the canopy, Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing wore a thin silk robe, her hair unbound, curled on the bed—replaying her humiliating daytime mishap, she rolled restlessly...

So embarrassing...

He must be laughing at me!

Help me!!!

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing tossed and turned, the scene growing sharper: his lips slightly curled, eyes holding amusement; his elegant fingers deliberately slow as he swayed the pouch; so infuriating!! And that line—"I'm the one who wants to remember"—so infuriating!!! And his scent—the moment she'd crashed into his arms, she'd caught it—

"Aaaahhh—"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing buried her face in the quilt, muffling a wail.

Seeing Xiao Ning, hearing the noise, leapt from her small bed in the next room, rushed over, pulled back the curtains, alarmed: "What's wrong, Madam? What happened?!"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing refused to emerge from under the quilt.

Finally, Seeing Xiao Ning dug her out like a yam, revealing a flushed little face.

Seeing Xiao Ning touched her forehead, startled: "So hot! I'll call the physician!"

"Stop! I'm fine!"

"But Madam—you—"

"Oh no, I really am fine!" Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan had no choice but to crawl out from under the covers.

"But your face is so red and hot!"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan lied with a straight face: "It's from being smothered by the quilt!"

Seeing Xiao Ning studied Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan carefully and asked uncertainly, "Are you really okay?"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan knelt on the bed, expression calm, waved her hand, and said casually, "I'm fine, really. Go back to sleep."

"Let me attend to my mistress first!"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan lay down and let Seeing Xiao Ning straighten the bedding, tuck her in, then closed her eyes and feigned sleep. After a while, she lifted her eyelids just a sliver, confirmed Seeing Xiao Ning had left, slipped quietly out of bed, tiptoed to the dressing table, and pulled the brocade pouch from the hidden compartment at the bottom of the jewelry box.

You won't let me see it?

I'll see it anyway!

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan began to open the pouch.

——————

Note: Regarding the monthly salary section, see Chapter 93, "Housewarming," footnote ①; for details on the squad leader's duties, see the Author's Note at the end.

Ps: Book publication preparations have been underway for some time; the earliest the first volume will be released is June.

But that's the earliest possible date—normally it may take August, September, or even October. When signing the publishing contract, my bottom line was no book-signing events—otherwise, no publication. The publisher accommodated my "caprice," asking only that I provide one signed copy and one special-signed copy, then mass-produce them, perhaps even adding a small seal. As for why I refuse book-signings: first, I have no time; second, writing novels is like refining a great elixir—"It only arises in the southwest's Kun position, slowly harmonized into the Gen palace." It demands leisure, tranquility, and inner stillness. I have little leisure time to begin with, and my updates are slow, so I won't hold any. But I'll let everyone know when the book is released.