Chapter 73

On the morning of the third day, Yue Laifu knocked on the gate of Yueyang's courtyard, informing him that the house matters had been settled. This greatly surprised Yueyang, as this time it was a collective mobilization, with hundreds of family members, except for a few dozen servants who remained in Yuejia Village, all needing to move. The required residence was not small at all, and Yue Laifu had managed to settle everything so quickly. Could his luck really be that good?

It wasn't until Yue Laifu mentioned the residence that Yueyang burst into laughter. It turned out that this residence was none other than the former Wang family's house. When the Wang family left Yingzhou City, they sold the courtyard at a low price to a small salt merchant. After Yueyang's plan to buy a residence in Yingzhou City became known, this small salt merchant approached him, willing to sell the courtyard at the original price.

"Hehe... Uncle Laifu, you're really something. In just a few days, you found a residence, and at such a low price!" Yueyang praised Yue Laifu, who had come to report.

Yue Laifu humbly smiled, "Young Master, you flatter me. I dare not take credit. It's all thanks to your influence. Otherwise, why would the salt merchant sell the house to us at such a low price? In my view, when someone shows respect, they must have some request. The salt merchant is probably hoping to get some refined salt from you!"

"Alright, Uncle Laifu, just sell him some when you have the chance. Consider it a favor returned," Yueyang instructed without hesitation. Over the past period, the refined salt Yueyang had obtained had already dominated most of the market in Shanxi. This salt, as white as snow, as fine as sand, and with a pure taste, had become a favorite in countless households, bringing Yueyang a steady stream of wealth.

Many salt merchants had been squeezed to the brink of survival by Yueyang, but they had no way to deal with such a powerful and well-equipped opponent. Out of desperation, many salt merchants tried to buy refined salt from Yueyang and then resell it at several times the price to other provinces, unexpectedly making substantial profits. However, due to limited supply, many could only sigh in frustration. This salt merchant, by seizing the opportunity to do a favor for Yueyang, indeed benefited greatly in the following period.

After reporting, Yue Laifu quickly took his leave. A cold wind blew in from the door, and Yueyang involuntarily shivered, realizing he was still wearing a single layer of clothing. He hurriedly ran back to the inner room.

The door was slightly ajar, and Yueyang pushed it open. Due to the late winter morning, the light was dim, and the room was lit by a single lamp. Under the lamp, two beauties lay lazily on the bed, wearing silk belly bands. The color of the belly bands was indistinct in the hazy light. Seeing Yueyang enter, the sisters pounced on him from either side, and a faint fragrance and warmth filled his nose.

Linglong and her sister had been living with Yueyang for several months, and his affection for them had deepened. Their bodies still emitted a faint, delicate fragrance, though not as pure as when they were maidens, the added maturity and richness of their scents were even more alluring.

Taking a deep breath, as if to inhale the fragrance into his heart, Yueyang patted Yu Ling's increasingly plump "qiaotun" and said with a smile, "Alright, it's already the hour of Chen. You two are still lying in bed. Did I not serve you well enough last night? Now it's your turn to serve me, right?"

"Master, you're so naughty!" Two months ago, Yueyang had officially taken Linglong and her sister as concubines, and they had changed from maids to concubines, dropping the "Shao" in "Young Master."

Yueyang teased, "If I weren't naughty, would you like me? Besides, who was the one clinging to me last night?"

"Yingying..." Yueyang's words made Yu Ling's face turn bright red, and she buried her face in Yueyang's chest, pounding it with her fists.

Holding the soft and delicate beauty, Yueyang sighed inwardly. He knew what the sisters were worried about. Spring was approaching, and the time to marry Hailanzhu was near. Although Yueyang had repeatedly assured them that marrying Hailanzhu would not affect their status, the sensitive sisters still had a natural fear of the future mistress. The best way to alleviate this fear was to bear his child, a deeply rooted idea in this era.

After a long while, Yu Ling hesitantly asked, "Master... are we really moving to the city?"

Yueyang smiled, "Of course. Now that I'm an official, I need to live in the city. Otherwise, it would be too troublesome to commute every day."

Yu Ling cautiously raised her head and asked, "Then... after you marry the Mongolian princess, will you still treat us and our sister as well as you do now?"

Hearing this, Yueyang's body stiffened, and his change was immediately noticed by the sisters. Yu Ling's face turned pale with fear, and she quickly sat up, saying anxiously, "Master, Long'er didn't mean to offend you. Please don't blame her!"

Yueyang looked down and saw the sisters' frightened expressions, and his heart ached. In this era, a husband's authority over his concubines was immense. Unlike the main wife, if Yueyang was unhappy, he could punish or even expel Linglong and her sister at any time. Yueyang was their entire world.

Gently pulling Yu Ling back into his arms, Yueyang patted her shoulder and comforted her softly, "It's alright, don't worry. I understand your concerns, and I don't blame Long'er. Just put your worries aside. I promise you, I will do my best to earn a noble title for each of you in the future, so you can return home with honor. Remember, we are a family, and a family is one. You don't need to be so tense. You can always talk to me about anything, understand?"

"Yes... I believe you... I won't do this again!"

By the time Yueyang finished speaking, Linglong and her sister were already sobbing uncontrollably, their tears soaking his clothes...

Half a month passed, and as spring began to show its signs, Yueyang's appointment finally arrived. Along with the appointment letter came his official robe, seal, and other documents. That day, the entire Yuejia Village was in an uproar, and all the servants ran around spreading the news that their young master had become an official. In an era where one person's success could elevate the entire family, this meant a significant change in their status, which would have a profound impact on their future.

With the appointment documents in hand, Yueyang began his first task: immediately heading to the Yingzhou Thousand Households Office, located nearly a hundred miles outside of Yingzhou City, to select a batch of capable people...

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