Chapter 1: Entering the Capital

"Master, the capital is truly... truly..."

After holding back for a long time, he failed to find a suitable adjective, exposing the essence of Wu Daguo's bumpkin nature on the spot.

"Majestic!"

Sensing the strange gazes cast from the surroundings, Li Mu hurriedly spoke up to supplement.

Clearly illiterate, yet he insisted on pretending to be a man of culture.

If it weren't for the fact that this fellow had good martial arts skills and a record of single-handedly killing thirteen mountain bandits, Li Mu absolutely would not have brought him out.

"Stop dawdling, everyone, hurry and enter the city!"

While speaking, Li Mu slapped the back of Wu Daguo's head and flipped off his horse.

Within the capital's territory, the one thing there was no shortage of was big shots; it was better to keep a low profile.

The clever Steward Zhou had already run to the city gate a step ahead and handed over their identification papers.

Without any surprises, after verifying the identity information, the city guard officer immediately let them pass.

The mocking gazes from all around instantly turned into envy.

Without any complications, Li Mu's group bypassed the crowd queuing to pay fees and entered the city directly.

A year ago, he was still an unlucky guy who had been laid off and optimized.

The market conditions were poor, and he couldn't find a job he liked for a while.

Without the burden of "three loans," this nuclear-powered ox-horse decided to give himself a long vacation and go out to see the magnificent mountains and rivers of the motherland.

Just as he took the first step, he was hit by a transmigrator's gift package and arrived at the Great Dayu Dynasty.

A dynasty that had never appeared in history books, with a political system and social background somewhat similar to the Great Ming.

The original body was a very filial son who strictly followed the standards of mourning.

He personally built a simple thatched hut not far from his father's grave, living a life of sleeping on straw mats and eating coarse food every day.

Regardless of the scorching heat or freezing cold, he never wavered.

After persisting for two years, it finally backfired on his body, and he was eventually struck down by a sudden rainstorm.

The Li Mu who transmigrated over was naturally not that pedantic; he took advantage of his family's persuasion and moved back under the pretext of recuperating from illness.

After resting at home for a full half-year, his body finally returned to normal.

Thanks to the Great Dayu Dynasty's good policy of the "hereditary system for garrison officers and soldiers," his ancestors left him the foundation for making a living—the Hanzhong Guard Commander.

A month ago, when the mourning period ended, Li Mu submitted his report for duty to the imperial court and embarked on the road to the capital.

In front of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Mansion.

"Young Master Mu, please, come in quickly!

The servants are ignorant and actually blocked you outside the door; it really deserves punishment.

Ever since receiving the news of your arrival in the capital, the Marquis has attached great importance to it and specifically ordered the Jade Bamboo Courtyard to be vacated.

The Marquis is currently attending the morning court and won't be back until evening.

The young masters are all studying at the academy and are busy with quarterly assessments recently; they won't be back for a few days.

Please forgive any neglect!

Why don't you come with me to Jade Bamboo Courtyard and get settled first?"

While the old steward greeted him warmly, he explained why no master had come out to welcome him, fully demonstrating the professional quality of a wealthy family's steward.

The accompanying servants very perceptively took the reins and led the horses from the carriage gate into the stables.

"Sorry to trouble you, Uncle!

I left in too much of a hurry and didn't have time to prepare anything. These are local specialties from Hanzhong; Steward Liu, please accept them on behalf of Uncle."

Li Mu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

He did not refuse the Marquis of Zhenyuan's good intentions.

In a clan-based society, one stroke cannot write two "Li" characters.

Even though the Hanzhong Li clan had split from the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Mansion for nearly a hundred years and the bloodline was almost beyond the five degrees of mourning, as long as the two families had not officially split the clan, they were still one family.

Because of the bloodline connection, the two families had always been allies politically.

Staying at the Hou Fu was both visiting relatives and a kind of political stance to the outside world.

"Young Master Mu is too polite!

What are you all still standing there for? Hurry and find people to move the things.

Young Master Mu, please follow me to Jade Bamboo Courtyard first!"

While speaking, Steward Liu led Li Mu's group into the Hou Fu.

They passed through more than a dozen doors and spent the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before reaching their destination.

The Jade Bamboo Courtyard covered a considerable area, with more than twenty rooms, and in the middle, there were bamboo forests, ponds, and pavilions, arranged with great artistic conception.

Maidservants and servants were already waiting at the door, and the tables were filled with various pastries and fruits, clearly arranged in advance.

"Young Master Mu, this is Jade Bamboo Courtyard, and daily necessities have all been prepared.

If you have any other needs, just order the servants to handle them.

The Marquis said that once you arrive here, it's just like being in your own home; there's no need to be polite!"

He highlighted the Marquis's Mansion's importance just right and attributed all the credit to the Marquis of Zhenyuan.

There is no leader who doesn't like such a worry-free subordinate.

It could be seen that this Hou Fu steward was by no means an ordinary person.

If it weren't for the limitations of his background, with just this high emotional intelligence, he could have made a name for himself in the officialdom.

"Then I'll trouble Steward Liu; I'll order if I have any needs.

Having traveled all the way here, I need to wash up; Steward, please feel free to go!"

Li Mu said with a smile.

Hearing the intention to see him off, Steward Liu decisively said goodbye and left.

"Steward Zhou, you arrange for everyone to settle down.

There are many rules in the Hou Fu; just stay in the courtyard when there's nothing to do, so as not to offend the nobles.

Try your best not to have conflicts with the people of the Hou Fu; come to me if there's anything to handle."

Li Mu instructed with concern.

High-ranking families never lack a dark side; if one were to be used as a pawn by someone, it would be awkward.

The internal affairs of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Mansion were not peaceful; in the circle of nobles, this was almost an open secret.

Even far away in Hanzhong, he had heard of it.

The legal wife had no sons, and the several young masters in the Fu were all born of concubines; theoretically, the eldest son of a concubine had the right of succession.

However, wealthy and powerful families value face the most; inheriting the family business directly as a concubine's son was something the Hou Fu could not afford to lose.

Under this background, they usually chose to register the concubine's son under the name of the legal mother, acting as a legal son to inherit the family business.

Once it reached this step, the seniority of the concubine's son became unimportant.

Whoever obtained the status of a legal son was the first heir.

On the issue of establishing an heir, the Marquis's wife's attitude was very cold, and the Marquis of Zhenyuan had no obvious inclination.

In order to compete for the succession, the several concubines in the Fu fought very lively.

Li Mu did not want to join in this farce.

His uncle was not yet forty, and the Marquis's wife was a few years younger, and they had two daughters; no one could guarantee that they wouldn't give birth to a son later.

At dusk, the Marquis of Zhenyuan Li Yuan, who had returned home, asked with slight fatigue:

"Liu Quan, what do you think of my nephew?"

Although they were uncle and nephew, the last time they met was five years ago, at the funeral of the previous Marquis of Zhenyuan.

"Marquis, Young Master Mu has changed a lot over these years.

He came by horse this time, and among those accompanying him, besides one steward, the rest were fierce retainers.

In terms of worldly wisdom, he is also much more mature than back then, having some of the demeanor you had when you were young, Marquis."

After hearing Steward Liu's answer, Li Yuan smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth and then ordered:

"Arrange the evening banquet!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 2 =====