An hour later.

Accompanied respectfully by a man, Xu Yun walked slowly to the mansion's entrance.

"That's enough, let's stop here."

Xu Yun then glanced at the man whose face was still full of anxiety, and continued:

"Did you remember all the things I said?"

The man hurriedly bowed, his waist bent resembling that of later generations of the Neon People, just short of growing a few mutated heads:

"Young master, I will keep your words in mind. Tomorrow... no, I'll start preparing later!"

Xu Yun looked around the area, and added:

"That's good. Actually, you're also a smart person, and should be able to assess whether what I said is beneficial or not.

If this matter is handled well, you can rise to a high position, and a life of wealth and honor will be within reach."

The man quickly agreed.

A few seconds later.

He quietly lifted his eyelids to glance at Xu Yun, cautiously asking:

"Dare I ask, young master, since you care for me so much, are you planning to...?"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

Xu Yun rarely showed a stern face, and said in a deep voice:

"Just follow my instructions first. When necessary, I'll inform you. Knowing too much may not be a good thing."

The man was so startled that he bent his waist again:

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Then Xu Yun gave a few simple instructions, detailing what needed to be said.

After that, he turned and left the mansion.

After Xu Yun left.

The man stood alone in the courtyard, staring at the closed gate, his face uncertain.

To be honest.

Even without thinking hard, he knew that the guest of Duke Zhao's Mansion had ulterior motives, and would have something planned in the future.

But on the other hand.

Although this person had laid bare his past, the proposal given was indeed too tempting...

Just like that.

After a good fifteen minutes.

The man finally made up his mind, calling to the servant in the side courtyard:

"Donghua, fetch my name card, prepare pen and ink!"

...

Two flowers bloom; each presents a branch.

Meanwhile, as Xu Yun and the man engaged in their secret transaction.

On the other side of Bianjing City.

In the home of the Assistant Minister, Li Gefei.

Li Gefei, who had just returned from the court, tiredly removed his official garments, and untied his belt, leaning against a pillar chair and panting.

He had suffered a major illness seven or eight years ago, leaving him with the aftermath of heavy breathing.

Any physical exertion would cause him to gasp and whatnot.

The old servant beside him quickly took a porcelain cup from the maid's hand:

"Master, have some roasted pear soup, with added rock sugar."

Li Gefei took the porcelain cup and sipped a few mouthfuls.

The clear and smooth soup entered his stomach, seemingly dissolving the obstruction in his chest, making him instantly feel much better.

Then he adjusted his breath and said to the old servant:

"Shangcai, are there any important matters at the house today?"

"Master, everything is normal in the house, only Green Rattan accidentally broke a porcelain bowl."

"It's a minor matter, don't blame Green Rattan. By the way, where's Qingzhao?"

"Master, the lady asked me for a few crickets and ants this morning, saying she wanted to observe something..."

Thud—

Before the old servant finished speaking, Li Gefei heavily placed the porcelain cup on the table and said in a deep voice:

"Bring her to see... forget it, take me to see her!"

The old servant dared not slack off, quickly guiding Li Gefei to the courtyard study, the same courtyard where Xu Yun had picked up books previously.

Seeing this.

Some students might wonder:

No, that's not right.

Wasn't Old Li just a bottom-grade foreign official? Why was he able to buy such a large mansion in Bianjing?

The reason is simple.

It was the financial power of his wife's family...

Old Li's father-in-law was Wang Gui, who once held the position of Prime Minister and was conferred the title of Duke Qi.

Even though the "Song History" noted Wang Gui "From Chief Executive to Prime Minister, all the sixteen years, he established nothing," his business acumen was basically comparable to Emperor Huizong.

But ability is one thing, and official position is another.

Ultimately, the fact is that Wang Gui served as Prime Minister for quite a few years, hence the family wealth was still quite substantial.

Incidentally.

Later on, Wang Gui's fourth son, Wang Zhongwan's daughter married Qin Hui as his wife.

In other words.

Qin Hui's wife Wang was Xiaoli's cousin, and Qin Hui was Xiaoli's brother-in-law; however, the two hardly interacted.

Also, Wang Gui's eldest granddaughter married Cai Jing, which was, in a sense, quite impressive.

The focus returned to the present scene.

When Li Gefei reached the book courtyard, Xiaoli was fiddling with the microscope borrowed from Old Su's Family:

This microscope could only magnify over twenty times, and for Old Su, it was used only for entertainment, unable to detect microorganisms.

Therefore, when Xiaoli proposed the rental idea earlier, Old Su did not hesitate to agree to her proposal.

"Left eye looks through the eyepiece, rotate the coarse adjustment spiral to slowly raise the barrel of the microscope..."

"Turn the fine adjustment spiral..."

Entering the courtyard, watching his daughter mutter words while operating, Li Gefei couldn't help but frown:

"Qingzhao."

Xiaoli did not respond, still busy with her work.

Li Gefei slightly raised his voice, repeating:

"Qingzhao!"

This time, Xiaoli finally reacted.

She slowly lifted her small head from the microscope, identified the visitor's face, and her expression grew slightly more earnest.

Then she stood up, tidied her appearance, and respectfully saluted:

"Qingzhao greets you, sir."

Li Gefei glanced at the slide in Xiaoli's hand, fell silent for a while, and asked:

"Qingzhao, why are you doing these things again? Rest for a while and perhaps read some books?"

Xiaoli shook her head:

"Father, I'm not tired."

Li Gefei couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Since returning from Old Su Mansion days ago, Xiaoli's disposition seemed to have transformed completely.

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