Chapter 2

Across the threshold ——

In the end, all the lackeys retreated into the main gate.

Having driven away the pest Gao Yannian, the anger of the passersby subsided somewhat. It was unclear whether the "auspicious omen" of last night had made the Gao family father and son foolish, but they felt that Gao Yannian was merely comical today, not too hateful...

Hiding in the grand residence guarded by the Song Imperial Guards, they felt a sense of security.

"What's the name of the one with blood on his buttocks?"

Gao Fangping put away his carefree expression, gazed at the flying dagger on his buttocks, and frowned. The wound was so deep that it was clearly not the venting of an ordinary civilian. There was really a hero from the green forest who wanted Gao Yannian's life!

"My Lord Yannian! It's me, Fu An! Your most loyal servant!"

Little Nine Dragons burst into tears, thinking that the foolish Yannian must have been struck dumb by the stone last night. How could he forget his name after such a strenuous effort to show his loyalty and even getting injured?

Gao Fangping hesitated for a moment and said, "Fu An, go see my father and ask him to send the Imperial Guard instructor Xu Ning to the Lin family to see me. Remember, Xu Ning, not Lu Qian. After you're done, go get treated and then collect two strings of cash from the accountant."

Fu An, clutching his bleeding buttocks, went without hesitation.

"Let's go quickly. Bring more grenades and assault rifles to prevent any mishaps." Gao Fangping led the remaining lackeys out the back door.

The lackeys didn't understand what the foolish Yannian was saying, but they heard that he had been hit on the head by a tile last night, so it was normal for him to speak nonsense today. Even when his head wasn't injured, he didn't say much sense.

At this time, they shouldn't have been wandering around. However, they hadn't realized the severity of the situation earlier, and it seemed like they were discussing a novel with Gao Qiu. Later, Gao Fangping shouted, "Not good!"

With the current plot to frame Lin Chong, it seemed that Lin's wife was not far from suicide. If Lin's wife really died, the enmity with Lin Chong would deepen, and this black pot would be too heavy to carry.

As for how Lin's wife died, to be honest, he couldn't remember the details. He had read "Water Margin" over a decade ago, and Gao Fangping had long forgotten it. He could only go and see for himself, ensuring that nothing happened to her. If he could ease the situation, that would be even better.

"First, you must respect women; only then will the world respect you." Gao Fangping muttered to himself, looking carefree.

"Lord Yannian is wise!" the lackeys shouted in unison.

Seemingly influenced by this body, even his walk was now unsteady and careless, and he was followed by a group of lackeys, some carrying birdcages, one carrying a teapot, and another holding a fan.

Gao Fangping was dressed in a floral robe, with a flower on his hat, looking extravagantly dissolute.

However, Gao Fangping was so satisfied with his current state that he shed tears of joy. Wasn't this the life he had dreamed of in his previous life...

Gao Qiu was holding a meeting in the White Tiger Hall when a voice from outside said, "Master, Fu An has come to see you..."

"What is he? To dare come to the hall and disturb my official duties, give him twenty strokes and drive him away!" Gao Qiu shouted from inside.

"He says Lord Yannian ordered him to come," the old steward outside said.

Hearing "Yannian," Gao Qiu closed his eyes in exasperation.

The military officers and advisors around him got up and left without waiting for orders. The meeting was over, as was the custom. When the foolish son came crying and shouting for his father, it meant the meeting was over early.

After everyone left, Gao Qiu took off his official hat and placed it aside. "Let him in."

Fu An limped in, leaving a trail of blood on the white stone floor.

Gao Qiu was startled. Having served in the military, he knew that Fu An's injury was serious, indicating that something was really wrong and that it was aimed at Yannian.

"What did my son say?" Gao Qiu's concern was evident.

Fu An knelt on the ground and said, "Lord Yannian was very strange today. He asked me to ask you to send the Imperial Guard instructor Xu Ning to Lin's wife's house to see him. I don't know anything else."

Gao Qiu frowned and said, "He just recovered and went out again. Men's lust is not a sin, but he has already caused such a big mess. Can't he lay low for a while?"

Fu An kept his head down, not daring to speak. If he upset his master, the "inciting Yannian" black pot would be thrown at him.

Then, Gao Qiu turned to his trusted commander standing behind him and asked, "Is there a Xu Ning in the Imperial Guard?"

"Lord, I've heard that this man is skilled with a hook spear and is very brave, a gold spear instructor in the palace guard. However, he doesn't know how to get along with people, so he has no hope of promotion and is usually unnoticed," the trusted commander whispered.

"Ha ha, my son seems to have become smarter."

Gao Qiu was very pleased with his precious son's choice. He understood that capable people often lacked social skills, and someone like Fu An, who was weak and foolish, was less capable.

The Lin Chong incident had a significant impact, angering some wandering knights. The flying dagger in Fu An's buttocks was proof. At this time, the usual sycophants were useless, so Yannian specifically asked for the gold spear instructor Xu Ning.

Gao Qiu was very curious why his son chose Xu Ning over Lu Qian this time. Perhaps his son had really woken up. Lu Qian had character issues, being overly ambitious and aggressive. Such people could indeed accomplish things if used well, but the drawbacks were also obvious.

"Heaven has eyes, truly sending an auspicious omen, our family's treasure has woken up." Gao Qiu chuckled to himself...

The bustling streets of Bianjing were familiar. As Gao Fangping walked with his men, he heard the cries of vendors and saw the flow of people.

They happened to encounter a beautiful young woman selling roasted beans. Gao Fangping, who had a habit of eating beans, stopped to observe.

The lackeys smiled knowingly.

The market seemed calm, with no hidden dangers, so Gao Fangping's courage grew. He struck a dissolute pose, and a lackey on his left handed him a fan.

He unfolded the fan, waved it, and then folded it to tap a lackey's head: "Go buy a bag of beans for me."

The lackey walked toward the beautiful young woman, who was so frightened that she trembled. She looked panicked, wanting to flee but hesitating, as her sick husband at home depended on the money from selling beans to buy medicine.

"Miss, my Lord Yannian has taken a fancy to you. This is your good fortune. Follow my Lord Yannian, and if you serve him well, you will enjoy wealth and honor. Hurry, pack up and follow us," the lackey laughed.

The young woman burst into tears, unable to speak in her panic, and trembled as she knelt on the ground.

"What, you don't appreciate the favor... Ah!"

The lackey was about to recite his usual lines when Gao Fangping slapped him on the head.

Gao Fangping, frustrated, said, "Damn... I just asked you to buy beans, not a person. You can't even handle a small task. Get lost!"

The lackey, covering his head, retreated, thinking that Lord Yannian's methods were improving and no longer lowly.

Due to Gao Yannian's terrible reputation, the young woman continued to tremble with her head down.

Gao Fangping took a bag of beans from the stall and asked, "How much?"

"One coin, my Lord," the young woman said timidly.

Gao Fangping was surprised. A bag of roasted beans weighing over 200 grams for just one coin? Wu Dalang's steamed buns cost two coins each.

No one knew that while the dissolute young master was lost in thought, he was not thinking about how to take advantage of the young woman but about how to make money in the future.

After a moment, Gao Fangping asked his men for two coins, threw them on the ground, and walked away with the beans.

"My Lord, you gave too much. I dare not accept your reward," the young woman said, trembling.

Indeed, in the underworld, not everyone's money could be accepted casually. The dissolute young master's reputation was so bad that even a one-coin reward would make people suspect ulterior motives.

"No problem, that's not a reward, but compensation for my men's rudeness. Take it with peace of mind," Gao Fangping said, eating the beans as he walked away.

The young woman was stunned, picked up the two coins with a puzzled heart.

In an inconspicuous corner, a pair of beautiful eyes watched this ordinary scene unfold on the street...

As he walked, Gao Fangping put the fan behind his collar.

He was really influenced by this body, striking a dissolute pose without even thinking.

"Idiot..."

From somewhere behind, a faint voice came.

Gao Fangping quickly turned to look but saw nothing.

A bad feeling came over him again. Better safe than sorry, he said, "Hurry, form up, you idiots. How can you be so scattered? We are from a military family, don't you know how to protect your lord? Front, left, right, back... goalkeeper, ah, indeed the son of a star player."

"Lord Yannian is wise!"

The lackeys, though not understanding what the foolish Yannian was saying, formed their usual invincible formation to protect the young master as they ran.

Running through the streets, their luxurious formation frightened many beautiful young women and little girls before they reached the Lin family's home...

They heard that Lin's wife's father was also an instructor. After Lin Chong was imprisoned by the Kaifeng Prefecture, Lin's wife, having lost her support, temporarily stayed with her parents.

Outside the Zhang family's courtyard, they saw Song Imperial Guards standing guard, and faint cries of a woman could be heard from the main hall.

"Not good, something has happened."

Gao Fangping urged his men to surround the area. He felt that if the cunning Lu Qian wasn't in the main hall, he wouldn't be a Gao.

A guard politely stopped them, "Please, Lord Yannian, stop here. The inside is messy and noisy, it might offend your eyes. Wait until it's cleaned up..."

"Don't tell me what to do. Guard the perimeter, and don't move a step without my order. Understand?" Gao Fangping interrupted.

"Yes, my Lord!" The guard was surprised, sensing something but not sure what. But he agreed, just in case.

"You have a future, I see potential in you. Keep it up." Gao Fangping patted the guard's chest and led his men into the Zhang family's courtyard.

Even though the Imperial Guards were his father's subordinates, Gao Fangping couldn't issue orders in such a clear presence of a superior. However, these were Gao Qiu's personal guards, more like household troops, so it was fine.

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