Marquis Rongâgong made two preparations.
The first was to give giftsâgifting Fu Zhengqing, gifting Yue Xiu, gifting the Eunuch Commander, whoeverâs favor he could win was good enough.
But the result wasâ
Fu Zhengqing and Yue Xiu both returned the money.
The Eunuch Commander, Wei Hongfang, didnât return the money, but he only took it, nothing moreâthere was no intention to lend a hand, not even any hint of wanting to protect him.
Whatâs more, his men brought back a message from the Eunuch Commander Wei Hongfang.
If Marquis Rongâgong was interested, the Eunuch Commander was still looking for a tea-serving godson.
If it was just about being a godson, maybe Marquis Rongâgong wouldnât say no.
But according to the Eunuch Commander, he wanted Wei Hongfang to personally come into the Palace to serve as his godson.
This fuckingâ
Wasnât that like asking him to become a eunuch?
Even if his Dantianâs ruined, Marquis Rongâgong has no intention of losing his manhood entirely.
No choice.
With the first plan a bust, Marquis Rongâgong could only pin his hopes on the second plan.
Recruiting a bodyguard.
This time, Marquis Rongâgong was ready to spend a fortune. If he couldnât get a Grandmaster Martial Artist, at least an Innate should be possible, right?
Isnât it just money?
As long as he could hire an Innate Martial Artist, it would be worth however much it cost.
"According to the Marquisâs instructions, thereâs an Innate mid-stage Martial Artist whoâs willing to accept your terms, my lord!"
"Innate mid-stage!"
Hearing that level, Marquis Rongâgongâs expression immediately turned delighted.
Though, it still pained him somewhat.
Two hundred thousand taels of silver! But to hire an Innate Martial Artist at mid-stage as a bodyguard, thatâs not bad at all, right?
At least his own safety would finally have some assurance.
"Uh!"
While Marquis Rongâgong was so thrilled by this news,
The servant reporting to him suddenly seemed hesitant.
"Whatâs wrong, could something unexpected have happened?"
This scene made Marquis Rongâgong frown unconsciously.
"No! No!"
Seeing Marquis Rongâgongâs face darken, the servant quickly shook his head.
"That Martial Artistâs name is Zhu Han, and while itâs true heâs at Innate mid-stage, I hear his reputation on the jianghu... isnât exactly pleasant!"
In plain termsânot a good guy, huh.
Because Marquis Rongâgong wanted to hire a capable Martial Artist in a short amount of time, he hadnât gone through the usual channels; heâd just looked directly to the jianghu.
That way, things would be faster.
But Martial Artists in the jianghu are a ragtag bunchâgood and bad mixed together. No one can say what kind of person he might be.
"Hmm? Donât tell me Zhu Han once killed his own employer?"
"That he hasnât!"
The servant shook his head.
Marquis Rongâgongâs previously tense face immediately eased up quite a bit.
He never killed his employer, and his strength is truly mid-stage Innate Realm. Other than a few bad habits, that shouldnât be a problem, right?
"But...,"
The servant still wanted to say something,
But Marquis Rongâgong was already impatient with him.
He waved his hand, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"Enough, enough! No need to say anything else. I know what Iâm doingâjust bring him to me!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Seeing their lordâs impatient face, even with more to say, all the servant could do was hold his tongue and behave.
He nodded silently.
And turned to carry out his orders.
Soon, a two-meter-tall burly man with the shoulders of a tiger, a shaven head, and a shaggy beard strode into Marquis Rongâgongâs courtyard.
"My lord!"
As soon as this man entered,
The room suddenly felt like one man standing guard could keep a thousand at bay.
Marquis Rongâgongâs eyes lit up instantly.
"So youâre Zhu Han?"
As expected, you get what you pay for. Compared to Zhu Han, those previous bodyguards were worth less than a fart.
"Thatâs me!"
Zhu Hanâs voice was booming, his answer loud and clear.
At that moment,
While Marquis Rongâgong was sizing up Zhu Han, Zhu Han was also inspecting Marquis Rongâgong.
Especially after his eyes lingered on a few spots, and only after a long moment did he shift his gaze, a knowing smile flickering at the corners of his mouth.
"Not bad! Not bad!"
Butâ
Marquis Rongâgong was far too pleased with himself at the moment,
And didnât notice Zhu Hanâs peculiar look at all. Instead, he nodded gleefully,
Looking entirely satisfied.
With a bodyguard like this by his side, surely there was nothing left to worry about.
"From today on, you will stay at my sideâwherever I go, you follow."
"At your command, Marquis!"
Zhu Han answered briskly,
Not a trace of reluctance, not the slightest hint of refusal.
Or perhaps,
Deep down, this was exactly what Zhu Han had been hoping for.
But Marquis Rongâgong, his head drunk on delight, failed to sense anything wrong at all.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Seeing Zhu Han step to his side,
Standing like a picture-perfect loyal bodyguard, Marquis Rongâgong was even more pleased.
Just, about that figure...
From a distance, standing next to Zhu Hanâs frame, Marquis Rongâgong honestly looked a little like a dainty little wife.
...
"How do you feel?"
While Marquis Rongâgong was basking in joy and growing more at ease,
Back at the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquartersâ
Though Feng Feiyi was covered in cuts and bruises, the smile at the corners of his mouth simply couldnât be wiped away.
Looking at Feng Feiyi in such a state, Ye Liuyun asked for an update.
Hearing the question, Feng Feiyi nodded seriously.
"Very good. Thank you, my lord. If not for your help, I might have never gotten my revenge!"
As he spoke,
Feng Feiyi knelt right in front of Ye Liuyun, expression solemn.
"I, Feng Feiyi, swearâhenceforth, I will do as my lord commands. If I break this oath, may I be struck down by the heavens, doomed for all eternity!"
In these times, oaths were taken very seriously.
For Feng Feiyi to say thisâ
It was enough to show his genuine willingness to follow Ye Liuyun.
...