Chapter 621: A surprise, too surprising

A four‑courtyard residence is actually not small; this already represents a rise in social standing—most merchants can't afford it, and those who usually own such mansions are big merchants, local aristocrats, or high‑ranking court officials.

But for Chen Wuji, such a residence is still too small.

He has to consider not only his own family's residence, but also arrange lodging for these personal guards and their families.

When living in the government office, conditions were limited, so the personal guards could only make do.

But if he is to properly acquire a manor, those personal guards who have fought desperately to protect him—even cutting ties with their own families for his sake—must also be taken into account.

If he is the mainstay of Nan Jun's civil and military affairs, then these clansmen are his mainstay.

On the battlefield, they can unhesitatingly risk their own lives to shield him completely.

How could he mistreat such a group of people, preventing them even from seeing their families?

"Let's not consider the residence for now." Chen Wuji thought a moment and said, "There's probably no residence I want in Hezhou City; let's wait a bit. I think we can't, so we'll wait until the situation in Nan Jun stabilizes, then build a manor."

"How big are you looking for, husband? There isn't even one like that in Hezhou City." Qin Zhanhong asked.

Chen Wuji said, "Very big—ideally a manor."

He smiled and explained, "We're not just our own family; we have many brothers outside. I'd like to bring their families over too, and those willing to work can be given any odd job in the manor."

Qin Zhanhong nodded in realization, "You've thought of everything, husband; we women are long‑haired but short‑sighted. This way, residences in Hezhou City are probably all too small—otherwise let me handle this. I'll go look in the city; if there's none, I'll build one."

"By the way, husband, are we really going to govern Hezhou from now on?"

Chen Wuji nodded, "Our foundation is in Hezhou; the prefectural seat can only be placed in Hezhou. Moving all these enterprises there would be too troublesome and unnecessary."

According to court regulations, this would be a serious overstep.

But he merely bears a court title; what he does is still his own affair.

Whoever has an opinion can keep it to themselves.

Chen Wuji could never abandon Hezhou's just‑stabilized foundation just because the court designated Qingzhou as the prefectural seat—those assets are his future capital.

"Aren't you exhausted to the point of seeing a dead fish? How do you still have the energy to take on the residence matter?" Chen Wuji asked.

Qin Zhanhong twisted her alluring figure, lifted her snow‑white, long legs high and crossed them, leaning forward with a surging motion toward Chen Wuji, pinching her voice and speaking in a coquettish tone: "After being nourished by my husband, I'm already full of vigor!"

"Don't give me that act; I'm asking seriously—this matter is very tedious, no less than drilling troops." Chen Wuji said seriously, "It's not urgent either; there's no need to wear myself out. Let's just drop it for now and talk later."

"No, I really can do it—if you just help me with a small favor, I guarantee I'll settle this matter perfectly." Qin Zhanhong said with a sly smile.

"What favor?" Chen Wuji asked dubiously.

"Meet a person, then win them over." Qin Zhanhong said.

Chen Wuji eyed Qin Zhanhong suspiciously and warily, "I feel there's more to your words—meeting someone is fine, but asking me to win them over might be difficult for me."

"As your husband, I'm just this sorry lot; those who trust me naturally do, and those who don't—I can't win them over with just a first meeting, and I'm not a gorgeous beauty like you."

Qin Zhanhong covered her mouth and laughed, her chest shaking so hard it almost made Chen Wuji dizzy.

"Husband, just do your best; if I can't win him over, I'll beat him into submission!" Qin Zhanhong raised her eyebrows sharply and swung her right fist.

Chen Wuji's doubts grew deeper: "Who exactly are you asking me to meet?"

"One of my brothers, sent by our family to come to Nan Jun to meet you, husband!" Qin Zhanhong said with a grin, "He once served in the Ministry of Works, skilled at building houses—his arrival could not be more timely."

Chen Wuji stared, "Your family has someone coming? And they want to see me?"

"Yes." Qin Zhanhong said.

"How does your family know about me?"

"Husband, don't underestimate yourself—your fame is huge now. Although many at court shout for the emperor to rescind the order, your position as Nan Jun Jiedu Guanchasi is set in stone; their protests are useless. With a force of 100,000, holding down Nan Jun as Commander Chen, those old fogies in the court dare not look down on you."

Chen Wuji raised a hand to stop Qin Zhanhong's true‑false flattery, "Wait a moment, let me think. How the court officials view me doesn't matter; I just want to know how your family learned about us."

"Of course I told them!" Qin Zhanhong said matter‑of‑factly.

"Earlier, a letter from home said Lingnan was unsettled and urged me to return early. I replied that I had already married, wedding the most formidable person in Nan Jun, so I couldn't go back."

"They first guessed I was after Lu Ping'an, which almost made me laugh myself to death—I wouldn't even have Old Lu cling to me. People say my family are all smart, but in this matter I found that folks are just gossiping; they guessed three times before hitting on you."

Chen Wuji: ……

He didn't notice what Qin Zhanhong said afterward.

All that filled his mind were two words: an ugly daughter‑in‑law meeting her in‑laws.

Actually there was nothing to be nervous about, but Chen Wuji couldn't help feeling a bit guilty.

"Didn't you say there was another surprise? First tell me something happy so I can calm down!" Chen Wuji said.

Qin Zhanhong glanced sideways at Chen Wuji, then turned and lay on him, "Husband, why do you still seem guilty? No problem—if I don't like them, I'll have them all arrested and thrown into jail. In Nan Jun, on your turf, they won't have room to snarl; I don't care."

"How could I not feel guilty…" Chen Wuji said wistfully.

All this actually has nothing to do with the Qin family's status; it rests solely on Qin Zhanhong.

Chen Wuji cares only about Qin Zhanhong's face; otherwise he wouldn't feel guilty at all.

Without this connection, no matter how high the Qin family's standing in Zhongyuan, in Nan Jun they'd have to behave honestly—bare a tooth and they'd lose it.

His 100,000‑strong army is actually under‑reported, not over‑reported—how could he feel insecure just because of the Qin family's reputation?

"Come on, tell me your second surprise so I can relax!" Chen Wuji said.

Qin Zhanhong chuckled, "This is it!"

"Huh?"

"My natal family has sent someone—is that a happy event? Or a surprise?"

Chen Wuji: ……