The major undertaking I mentioned is arming the fifty chosen individuals, though a complete modernization of their weaponry is impossible. With the addition of twelve new laser guns, I have decided to form a ten-man close-quarters pistol detail. This group is split into two squads of five, led by Linglong, the right deputy captain of the Special Forces, and Yun Yao, the left deputy captain. Their primary mission is our personal security; I am not a fool, and my own life takes precedence. Protecting Yuma (the Imperial Steeds Guard) is secondary.

In addition to the laser guns, these ten men are each equipped with a military knife, a warhorse, an embroidered spring saber, and a crossbow. In Linglong’s estimation, while the laser guns are powerful, their destructive capability is too great, making them less controllable than her crossbows. Consequently, she has decided to forgo the guns entirely and focus solely on the crossbows. I raised no objection to this; I trust Linglong’s skills implicitly and allow her to follow her own judgment.

I had intended to undergo the grueling training alongside the fifty recruits, but fate intervened when I caught a severe cold while rescuing people from the water. Despite having excellent medicine for colds, I was ill for several days. By the time I recovered, Ah San, Ah Si, Ah Mao, and Ah Gou had already led the fifty through the first phase of physical fitness testing, following my training plan.

Naturally, nearly half the group was culled during this process. However, our recruitment efforts have been continuous. Gu Fei knows where the slave markets are located and frequently goes with Kong Wu and Sun Chang to purchase more slaves, ensuring we have no shortage of personnel. Moreover, a selection of those with superior martial arts skills were filtered in to join the First Battalion of the Yuma Jian Special Forces. After more than ten rigorous training cycles, these individuals are now capable of adapting to modern combat needs, making them perfectly equipped to handle the warfare on Gemini.

On this day, Linglong and Yun Yao accompanied me while I watched the ten men practice target shooting. These ten are the elite core of the fifty; each is agile, clever, and quick-witted, grasping any new instruction immediately. They absolutely adored the exquisite, high-powered laser guns, yet the Yuma Jian has established strict regulations regarding their use, absolutely forbidding them from causing trouble with the weapons. Violators of orders face severe punishment.

Linglong peeled fruit for me while saying, "Master, the soldiers discovered a unique flower in the mountains that possesses anesthetic properties. Ah Mao collected some and mixed it into a potent juice. I think we should have these fifty men coat their arrows with it. I witnessed Ah Mao’s experiment; the anesthetic effect is remarkably dominant. Once it enters a living body and circulates through the blood, it can paralyze a strong, large white pig within a minute. For a human, I suspect it wouldn't take even half that time."

I calmly enjoyed the fruit Linglong offered, "Oh? Are there any known side effects after use? Could it kill someone? If the anesthetic effect is that good, it could be used for surgical anesthesia later on. Otherwise, I worry someone might die from the pain during an autopsy."

Linglong replied, "We haven't tested it on living humans yet. But if you can persuade Ma Xiaoda to help us acquire a few death-row convicts for a trial run, we'll know for sure. In any case, the white pig was immobilized for half an hour. After that, it recovered completely, though it suffered from anorexia for the first few days."

Yun Yao interjected, "Brother Zhao has achieved instant fame. The common folk’s rumors were often disbelieved before, but now the old diehards at the Imperial Medical Academy publicly revere him as the Medical Venerable. The crowds outside begging him to treat illnesses are about to smash down the gates of the mountain stronghold."

Linglong brightened, "We're going to make more money! With that metal, we can forge more crossbows, which will make our Horse Guard troops even stronger. Then we won't even fear the Imperial Guards."

I asked Yun Yao, "How many Horse Guards have we recruited so far?"

Yun Yao replied, "We've enlisted over two thousand five hundred. Ah San came to ask if we should continue recruiting, so I told him to pause for now."

I nodded. "Quantity alone is insufficient; quality matters too. If we have too many people, we cannot train them effectively. Let's stop recruitment at this number for now. The next step is rigorous training for them. Also, listen to Ah Gou's report: while the terrain of this basin is extremely perilous, the slopes on three sides are not entirely unclimbable. Anyone with sufficient preparation could potentially infiltrate our Yuma Jian. The extra five hundred men we recruited will be trained and sent to set up mountain outposts, guarding against surprise attacks. Precaution is always better than desperate measures after disaster strikes."

Yun Yao acknowledged, "Understood, Brother Zhao. I will notify Ah San and the others."

I asked again, "Any news on Zhou Ni and Susu yet?"

Linglong smiled coyly, "Master, you miss your wives. Based on my estimation, they should arrive by tomorrow at the latest. You’ll be happy again then."

Yun Yao reassured me, "Perhaps they are carrying too many things, which delayed their journey. With Da Li Wan escorting them, they will surely be safe. Don't worry, Brother Zhao, just wait."

The day's shooting practice had concluded. The ten men stood before me, awaiting instruction, clad uniformly with special holsters for their guns and knives, crossbows on their backs, and embroidered spring sabers hanging at their waists—a truly imposing sight.

I praised them, "Excellent shooting. You brothers have trained hard. Starting today, you are relieved from all-day training. From now on, you will remain by my side, and I will continue to guide your studies in my free time. Now, go practice your horsemanship. I have a friend named Ma Chong who is knowledgeable about riding; he will arrive soon to give you further instruction. Once that happens, you will have truly graduated. You are the first special forces unit on Gemini, and your names will be recorded in history."

The ten men responded in unison, "We obey Lord Zhao's command, loyal to protect our master, forever without dissent!"

I surmised Ah San and the others must have taught them that phrasing. I waved, dismissing them.

Ah Mao ran up from a distance, "Lord Zhao, the Crown Prince has arrived. He is waiting for you in the Yuma Jian office."

I enjoy using terminology from Earth to teach them new concepts. I plan to establish a school here eventually to teach young children to recognize Han characters. Haha, I might as well treat this place as Earth's first colony.

Ma Xiaoda was sitting at my desk playing with a pen. He stood up happily when he saw me and asked, "Zhao Qian, how are you? Feeling better?"

I replied, "Much better. After all, I am the Medical Venerable now. It would make the world laugh if I couldn't even cure my own cold."

Yun Yao suppressed a giggle beside me. During my fever, I had become overly dependent on her, lying inseparable from her embrace day and night. If the world knew the Medical Venerable was like this, they might laugh even harder.

Ma Xiaoda said, "It's good you've recovered. I am truly happy seeing how lively things are here. We didn't have a single soldier before, and now we have a force of two thousand, entirely our own, not controlled by anyone else. Zhao Qian, I truly admire you. Tell me, are there any difficulties now? If so, let this Crown Prince solve them."

Linglong cut in, "We need money! Can you solve that?"

Ma Xiaoda deflated like a leaky balloon. "That, I truly cannot solve. I am already penniless. And those two debt collectors, Ma Xiaorui and Ma Xiaowei, dog my heels every day. I tell them I'll find a way to repay them, but they refuse. Instead, they insist on coming out to the Yuma Jian with me. But after the incident in the Imperial Garden, my father hasn't allowed them to leave their chambers for even half a step. I have no choice."

I interjected, "Don't listen to Linglong’s nonsense. The Ministry of Revenue recently allocated one hundred thousand iron coins and some grain. Combined with our existing savings, we won't have to worry about provisions or salaries for a long time."

Ma Xiaoda remarked, "It seems your collaboration as a traitor is quite profitable. My father can't even persuade Wan Licai to hand out money and grain, yet everything flows in when you feign allegiance to that scoundrel Pang."

I countered, "Don't forget that the Dog Slaying Gang still wants to kill this traitor. So, I must strengthen my personal security now, lest my life be unjustly taken."

Ma Xiaoda laughed, "That won't happen. My beautiful Fourth Sister alone is enough to protect you, let alone my celestial Third Sister who can fly."

Hearing Ma Xiaoda say that, Linglong proudly tilted her nose slightly. I asked him, "Any news on Xu Chen and Cai Jingjing?"

Ma Xiaoda replied, "I knew you'd care about them. They are both doing very well, though they seem a bit melancholic. The four girls spend all day huddled together whispering about something. Since you’re recovered, you should visit them in the palace when you have a chance. Rest assured, Zhang Guan was severely reprimanded by my mother after that day, and no one has dared to bother Xu Chen since. That coward, when he saw someone drowning, punched away Xu Chen who was trying to hold him—I truly wanted to confiscate his property on the charge of attempting to murder a royal relative. But when I asked my Imperial Sister Xu Chen about it, she said nothing. Without evidence, I can’t accuse him before my father, and besides, my father favors the Pang faction; even if I spoke up, it might be useless."

Since Xu Chen is safe and Zhang Guan dares not approach, I could relax a little. "Has a general been selected to lead the reinforcements to the border?" I asked Ma Xiaoda.

Ma Xiaoda sighed. "No. It's said that the scoundrel Pang was furious over this matter. Privately, he selected a few diehard Pang loyalists, but when he approached them, every single one was so terrified they refused to accept the commission. Haha, don't laugh, but our Shuangcheng Kingdom hasn't had a war in ages, and no one wants to take on the life-threatening duty of leading troops into battle. In my view, the general for the border reinforcement army must be you, Zhao Qian. Only you have the ability to defeat the horse bandits, and only you, Zhao Qian, have the courage to accept such a weighty responsibility. Moreover, you have already gained Pang's trust. I plan to recommend you to my father; after all, controlling a force of fifty thousand troops is a power no one can ignore—this is an opportunity for us to seize influence."

I refused Ma Xiaoda outright. "I am not going! And don't bother recommending me. Although I proposed the idea, I need to stay in Shuangcheng to search for the rest of my wives. I can help you with other matters, but not this one."

Ma Xiaoda sighed, "I knew you would refuse like this. Never mind, the roster for fifty thousand men isn't complete yet, and with pre-war training, mobilization will likely be another month away. Perhaps my father will have figured something out by then."

I apologized to Ma Xiaoda, "I'm sorry, don't blame me for being selfish, but I truly cannot afford to lose any of them. I cannot leave Shuangcheng until I find the remaining three women. If they arrive in Shuangcheng while I am gone, I will regret it forever."

Ma Xiaoda laughed, "It's fine. Am I the sort of petty person to hold a grudge? Oh, here, Ma Xiaowei asked me to sneak this to you. You absolutely cannot let anyone else see it. She also warned me to ensure Ma Xiaorui never sees the illustrated scroll of 'Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai' that I gave you last time."

I accepted the roll of silk paper Ma Xiaoda handed me with a bewildered look. "What is this? When did Princess Xiaowei give me an illustrated scroll of 'Liang Zhu'? I never received one."

Linglong, standing nearby, looked flustered. "M-Master, there was indeed such a thing. Princess Xiaowei entrusted it to me for delivery last time, and I forgot. Wait here, I'll go to my room and get it for you."

Ma Xiaoda leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Zhao Qian, I think my fifteenth sister really likes you. Why don't you pursue her? That way, our relationship can become even closer. I'll be your brother-in-law, and you'll be my brother-in-law, haha—better than just being best friends."

I retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about? That's impossible. Never mind the gap in our status, I haven't even found all my wives yet. How can I think about other girls? Would that be fair to them?"

"Pfft," Ma Xiaoda scoffed. "What good is status? What matters is living freely and comfortably. I won't waste time talking to you. Since you're well, I must hurry back to the palace. Father has been watching me closely recently; it would be trouble if he found out. Oh, I heard the Yuma Jian opened a paper shop in Zhongcheng. I’ve already ordered the Zhan Shi Fu to switch from silk paper to rough paper, which saves costs and increases your income."

That paper shop, established with Ma Da’s approval, was the Yuma Jian’s first venture. Currently, they only produced one item: relatively coarse rough paper. Compared to costly silk fabric, this item held immense value. For one iron coin, one could buy several large bundles. Even people who couldn't write could buy it for use as toilet paper, which was certainly more psychologically acceptable than reusing small wooden tablets.

Ma Xiaoda picked up the brush I had made myself from the desk. "What is this contraption?"

I explained, "A writing brush. Holding a charcoal stick always makes one's hands filthy black. I practiced calligraphy when I was studying, and since there's a lot of local fur here, I fashioned one for my own use."

Ma Xiaoda observed, "I also find writing with charcoal inconvenient. I think this brush of yours could be popularized too. You should manufacture more and sell them alongside the paper at the shop."

I replied, "I had the same thought, but I plan to make and sell pencils instead. That kind of tool is better suited for people here. The tip of the brush is too soft; for those accustomed to charcoal, it’s unsuitable. A pencil is just a sharpened charcoal stick clamped between two pieces of wood. This hard implement won't disrupt your existing habits and will be easier to promote."

Ma Xiaoda clapped my shoulder. "I didn't realize! Besides being a military genius and having unparalleled charisma with women, you have a decent business acumen too. You keep working hard, and in the future, you must help your brother out. Otherwise, I fear that when my father eventually hands over power to me, I, being young and naive, will be bullied by those old geezers."

I laughed, "Except for my wives, what I have is yours. If they bully you, they bully me. Don't worry, I promised to help you, and I will see it through to the end."

Ma Xiaoda slapped my hand. "Good! With those words, I am reassured. I, Ma Xiaoda, swear here today: what is mine is yours, Zhao Qian. Anyone who bullies you is bullying me. Let's be the best of brothers for life."

Linglong returned from somewhere. She commented, "Ma Xiaoda, at your age, you can only be Lord's nephew. Stop trying to get close and call him 'brother.'"

Ma Xiaoda shot back at Linglong, "Little Fourth Sister, I'm only one year younger than you. Does that mean you should be Lord's niece too? I don't think you want to be a niece; I think you want to be the mistress! Let me tell you, you have competition. My Imperial Sister Ma Xiaowei is naturally beautiful with a devilish figure; you'd better watch out."

"I'll teach you to talk nonsense!" Linglong chased Ma Xiaoda out, speaking as she went.

Yun Yao smiled charmingly at me. "Brother Zhao, Ma Xiaowei is indeed quite curvaceous, and she's a princess, with status equal to Qi Qi’s."

I assured her, "Rest assured, Yun Yao. I swore an oath, and I will keep my promise. On Gemini, I will not harbor intentions for any other woman. Having you is more than enough for me."

With no one else in the room, Yun Yao boldly wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing her cheek contentedly against my back. "Brother Zhao, Yun Yao is so happy. But Ma Xiaowei probably really likes you. Quickly look at the love letter she sent you. I suspected that girl Linglong has been acting strangely lately, always avoiding mention of Ma Xiaowei. It turns out she hid the love letter Ma Xiaowei gave you. She's jealous, you know."

I replied, "It's not as complicated as you think. Maybe Linglong genuinely forgot. She has so much to manage every day; it's hard for her at such a young age."

"Feeling sorry for her?" Yun Yao peeked over my shoulder. Her height was not inferior to mine, and a dancing girl must have a first-class figure; even Princess Ma Xiaowei might pale in comparison.

I turned and kissed Yun Yao’s cheek. "Stop teasing me. Let's look at the illustrations Ma Xiaowei paired with the story."

Yun Yao, like a happy little bird, helped me arrange the silk paintings on the table. Due to the limitations of the era, the clothing of the figures in Ma Xiaowei's drawings reflected the typical attire of this world. However, the male and female protagonists in both stories were drawn vividly—very beautiful and handsome.

Yun Yao observed, "This man looks a bit like you, and this heroine looks a bit like Ma Xiaowei. This little girl is full of clever ideas; she even wrote down the lyrics! Haha, Brother Zhao, I didn't expect that you could capture a princess's heart just by using stories widely known on our Earth. 'Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot, and Never brought to mind?'—I just wonder if the friendship Ma Xiaowei depicts has another meaning."

I turned and embraced Yun Yao tightly. "Wife, you are either teasing me with Linglong or with Ma Xiaowei. Tell me, what is your motive?"

Yun Yao giggled. "I won't tell you."

I tickled Yun Yao. "If you don't tell me, I'll take off your clothes."

Yun Yao wiggled, evading me. "Pervert! Didn't you get enough taking my clothes off last night? You have to tease me in broad daylight too? Be careful Linglong sees you and gets jealous again."

Linglong’s voice suddenly sounded from behind. "It’s fine. You two are like an old married couple; what would I be jealous of?"

Yun Yao jumped away in fright. "Linglong, how do you walk so silently? You startled me!"

Linglong retorted, "I was stomping my feet when I came in. Do you need an earthquake before you hear me?"

Yun Yao’s face flushed. "I'll go see if lunch is ready."

Linglong looked at the pictures on the table. "Master, I apologize. Did I perhaps interfere with matters between you and Princess Xiaowei?"

I said, "How could that be? You have many things to do for me every day; occasional oversight is inevitable. Besides, nothing is going on between Princess Ma Xiaowei and me. I swore an oath to Yun Yao that on Gemini, I would be devoted only to the seven of you. Ma Xiaowei is a princess, and I am just a common person here; nothing can happen between us."

Linglong whispered, "Oh, then I am relieved. Her figure and background are better than mine; I was genuinely worried."

What nonsense is this little girl thinking? She’s only twelve. I took Linglong’s hand. "Let's go to lunch. After eating, accompany me to the Stone Thunder Factory deep in the basin."

Linglong’s face lit up with a smile, but after taking two steps, she turned back. "I will help you put away the paintings. This is Princess Ma Xiaowei's kind gesture. It will be nice for you to take them out and reminisce when you eventually return to Earth. Honestly, her drawings are very good; I don't have her skill level. In the future, if you need a portrait of your wife drawn, you should ask her."

Ma Xiaowei’s drawings were indeed excellent. The accompanying text next to the paintings hit the essential points of the stories. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, Luo Yi and Mala—they seemed alive on every sheet of silk paper. I don't know how much effort the little girl put into drawing these, but it certainly wasn't simple; she has remarkable patience.

I said to Linglong, "I still prefer having you help me. Ma Xiaowei is a princess; she's not one of us. I'll try to keep my distance from her in the future."

Linglong carefully collected the paintings one by one. "Master, you are the master, and Linglong must obey you in everything. If you ask me to draw, I will draw; if you dislike me, I will hide away. You said I was your friend when you first called me Master, not to be serious about it now. Besides, I like having you around; I miss you if I don't see you for a day."

Linglong glared at me, seeming slightly indignant, as if my words had a teasing undertone. "I like you being my Master. Let’s go; after eating, we'll go to the Stone Thunder Factory."

We have a private officers' dining room. Linglong and Yun Yao sat by my side, one serving tea, the other passing food—I truly felt happy. In a couple of days, Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu will arrive, and then I will be even happier.

Zhou Ni’s memory had returned, and her love for me was just as it had been before. Cheng Susu had not recovered her memory, but I had already moved her deeply once, and she had even slept beside me. Though I could only hold her foot, my own toes had nestled in her embrace, playing all night, and she, in turn, had given me immense pleasure with her slender feet. How I longed for them to be before my eyes right now.

Shi Shan had already taken up his post, leading a group of apprentices to establish the Stone Thunder Factory at the foot of a mountain deep within the basin. Not far from the factory, there was a natural cave, not very deep but perfectly adequate for storing gunpowder. Ah Mao and Ah Gou were efficient; the saltpeter and sulfur were found smoothly. Following some pointers from my beloved apprentice Yun Yao, the first test explosion of the milled gunpowder was a success.

Shi Shan carved out more than a dozen Stone Thunders, filled them with gunpowder, and the subsequent test explosion was also a success. The Imperial Stable was not far from the diamond mine. I couldn't be sure if Ma Da truly intended to use diamonds as currency, but as long as he hadn't ordered the mines sealed, I needed to utilize them quickly. Although Ma Xiaoda had promised me all the diamonds within the borders of the Twin Cities Nation, he wasn't the emperor now; for the moment, it all depended on Ma Da's disposition. While Ma Da hadn't issued any order to close the mines, I dispatched Ah San to haul them back day and night with large carts. Even if they weren't used for the Stone Thunders, they could be transported back to Earth—those were extremely valuable, high-grade commodities.

The Stone Thunders, mixed with diamonds, were indeed formidable. They pierced wooden planks several centimeters thick. The power of the test explosion stunned everyone involved. Even if the horse bandits were fierce, encountering such things would surely send them to meet their ancestors. Even some martial arts masters, as long as they were flesh and blood, would lose half their life, if not perish, from a few diamonds lodging in their guts.

The successful test explosion of the Stone Thunders solidified the followers' loyalty to me. Imagine being able to manufacture something so powerful, something capable of bringing the dead back to life—such a person was beyond mortal level. Could following a divine being lead to anything but success?

The thirteen of us galloped across the basin's grassland and reached the Stone Thunder Factory quickly. Shi Shan, mid-meal, wiped his mouth and hurried out to greet me. "My Lord, you have arrived."

I had corrected him several times to no avail; Shi Shan insisted on treating me as his master. There was nothing to do but let him have his way. "Shi Shan, how has production been progressing lately?"

Shi Shan led me to the warehouse for inspection. Granite quarried from the nearby mountain had been carved into meticulously shaped Stone Thunders, stacked in the warehouse—at least four or five hundred of them, including some larger ones intended to enhance explosive power in special circumstances.

"My Lord, we have been working overtime these past few days to produce these. As the apprentices' skills improve, we should be able to produce three to four thousand Stone Thunders every month from now on," Shi Shan informed me.

I nodded in approval. "And the gunpowder situation?" The gunpowder factory had also been entrusted to Shi Shan. After all, the gunpowder was currently only being produced for landmines, and since there was no one else reliable, he took on the entire responsibility. Conveniently, the two factories were close to each other.

Shi Shan replied, "Madam Yun taught me the production formula, so secrecy is absolutely not an issue. Because gunpowder is difficult to store and extremely dangerous, we are not mass-producing stock right now. We are only widely preparing raw materials and extensively carving empty Stone Thunder shells. Once needed, we will summon people to mill the gunpowder, and then fill the shells. This will increase safety."

I praised him, "Your method is quite good. Otherwise, producing a stockpile of Stone Thunders and having them explode due to improper storage would be troublesome. We will prepare raw materials widely and only manufacture what is needed. By the way, what about the rocket development I mentioned last time?"

Shi Shan reported, "We have test-produced ten samples. I was just about to send someone to invite My Lord for inspection."

Hearing that samples were ready, I grew excited. "Good, let's go outside and test-fire a few to see the effect."

The rocket I envisioned did not primarily rely on explosion, as iron tools were scarce, making it impossible to attach Stone Thunders to the arrowheads. Even if a tiny Stone Thunder could be carved, what damage could it inflict? Thus, this rocket was intended mainly for ignition. A certain amount of gunpowder was attached to the tail of the arrow. The ratio of this gunpowder differed from that used for the Stone Thunders; it emphasized burning rather than explosion. The fuse would be lit before firing. Once it struck a target, it would immediately scatter and burn fiercely, which would be effective for attacking cities and seizing camps.

Ling Long was eager to volunteer for the arrow testing, but after a few stern looks from me, she obediently hid behind Yun Yao. I certainly wouldn't let a twelve-year-old girl undertake such a dangerous task.

Five members of the handgun squad changed into archers, and another five were assigned to ignite the fuses. Several door panels were set up on the testing grounds ahead, with some dry branches piled beneath the panels.

Whoosh, whoosh! Five rockets shot out, trailing smoke. Bang, bang! Several noises followed as they nailed into the door panels, and a shower of sparks scattered onto the ground. The dry branches below were instantly ignited.

Many people cheered, but Shi Shan was not pleased. I asked him, "Shi Shan, is something wrong?"

Shi Shan replied, "My Lord, although these rockets have some destructive power, the gunpowder scatters too quickly. Unless there is a suitable ignitable material beneath the arrow, it's hard to start a large fire. I think using grease might be more effective, as grease burns for a longer duration."

I nodded. The horse bandits had used such rockets in Feiyu County, but my ultimate goal was to create a rocket capable of exploding like a Stone Thunder. This current model was just an experiment. We would revisit that once copper and iron smelting showed some progress.

"Agreed, try modifying it with that. However, I aim to create a rocket that can explode like a Stone Thunder. But our metalwork is underdeveloped; Stone Thunders are too large and heavy to attach to arrows. Let's gain experience now, and once conditions are right, we'll build the kind I described."

Shi Shan respectfully acknowledged, "Yes, My Lord."

I then asked Shi Shan, "Has Old Man Tie's steel wheel ignition device been manufactured yet? Relying solely on manual ignition is a huge limitation for the Stone Thunders' use. But if they could ignite automatically, they would be far more formidable and easier to deploy in defense."

Shi Shan reported, "My Lord, I sent someone to inquire at the Royal Ironworks. Old Man Tie Zhen said it would take a few more days. He has test-produced two, but their ignition rate is still low, and he is continuing to improve them."

"Hmm, the ignition rate must be at least ninety-eight percent, otherwise, losing a dozen out of a hundred would mean dud mines. We cannot afford that loss, and it would delay vital matters. It’s not urgent anyway; let him research it slowly. Every beginning is difficult; there must be an adaptation period."

Having finished discussing the Stone Thunder Factory and the Gunpowder Factory, Shi Shan hesitated before addressing me, "My Lord, I would like to request a leave of absence the day after tomorrow. I guarantee it won't disrupt work here; everything has been handed over."

I immediately realized, "Oh, that's the day you go to meet your second sister, right? Fine, go. I'll give Shi Qing a day off later too. You three siblings go out and have some fun. Just tell the accountant for whatever money you need."

Shi Shan was deeply moved. "Thank you, My Lord. I’ll get back to work now."

Last time, when Shi Shan went to the Yu family to ransom his second sister, he found out that Shi Shuang, his sister, had returned to her maternal home with her mistress for a visit, so he had to return disappointed. However, he had arranged a date with the Yu family, which happened to be the day after tomorrow.

With nothing further at the Stone Thunder Factory, I took Yun Yao and Ling Long to the carpentry workshop. Many craftsmen had been recruited there too. The Imperial Stable offered high wages, attracting many artisans by reputation. Normally, besides building houses and other structures, they were tasked with making wooden weapons, like clubs and wooden arrows. However, their current assignment was constructing catapults.

Catapults are siege weapons. While we didn't have an immediate need for them, they were being built during downtime. The Twin Cities Nation was littered with stones, and it would be a waste not to utilize them. I ordered a dozen to be built for backup, just in case Pang Hu decided to occupy the Twin Cities and lay siege—they would surely be needed then.

The construction of the catapults proceeded smoothly, although the sample was not yet complete, so we couldn't test-throw them to gauge their power. After praising the craftsmen for a few moments, I turned back with Ling Long and Yun Yao, only to be intercepted halfway by Ah Si, who was riding hard.

"Lord Zhao, Da Li Wan has returned with Madam Zhou and Madam Cheng!"

Yun Yao cried out happily, "Really? Brother Zhao, I’ll take Ling Long back first; I miss them so much!"

Saying that, Yun Yao completely ignored me, sprang off her horse, embraced Ling Long, and soared into the air, leaving me to lead a horse with Ah Si holding the reins of the other.

When we arrived back at the barracks, Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu were already approaching from a distance to greet us. "Brother Zhao!" Zhou Ni shouted and rushed forward. I jumped off my horse, and the two embraced. Zhou Ni was not like Xu Chen or Cai Jingjing; she was still the Zhou Ni of my past. Because her memory, like Yun Yao's, had completely recovered, there were no barriers between us.

"Did you miss me?" I immediately pulled Cheng Susu, who was standing nearby, into my embrace as well. Seeing our reunion, Yun Yao and Ling Long, who stood smiling beside us, were equally delighted.

The experiences on the Twin Stars had made Zhou Ni cherish our bond deeply. She made no attempt to hide her inner world; compared to when she was on Earth, she was much bolder here. "I missed you terribly. As soon as I heard I could come here to meet you, I was so excited I couldn't sleep all night."

Cheng Susu kept her head down and remained silent, appearing somewhat flustered. I knew the relationship with her still required further development. Although our connection had broken through that night in the backyard of the Feiyu County Yamen, I felt Cheng Susu was still inwardly hoping or waiting for something. But it didn't matter; I was certain Cheng Susu wouldn't leave me, so there would be plenty of time later to completely conquer her heart.

"You must be tired from the journey. Come, let’s rest in my office." I gestured to the two ladies.

Zhou Ni happily replied, "Thank you, Brother Zhao. We aren't tired. Let’s first find a place to set down the instruments. The weather here is unpredictable; it would be troublesome if we got caught in the rain."

The ten handgun squad members moved in. The laser guns strapped to their waists caught the attention of Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu. Zhou Ni asked me, "Brother Zhao, where did all these laser guns come from? Have you found a way to manufacture laser weapons?"

I chuckled. "Your husband isn't that capable yet. I didn't let Da Li Wan inform you two because I didn't want you to worry. I found Xu Chen and Cai Jingjing."

"Really! Where are they? Why don't we see them?" The two women looked surprised. Earlier, Yun Yao had been too busy whispering to mention Xu Chen and Cai Jingjing.

I explained, "They are suffering from amnesia, just like you were. They are currently staying in the Imperial Palace; their safety is assured. I also found another escape pod, inside which I recovered ten more laser guns and combat knives, plus ten sets of space suits. We found a natural large cave at the foot of that mountain over there to store the two pods temporarily. I will eventually combine the two pods into one, and then we will have a way to leave the Twin Stars."

Zhou Ni linked her arm through mine and refused to let go, her eyes full of admiration. "Brother Zhao, I knew no difficulty could stop you."

Heh, girls in love are blindly devoted to their men. The luggage was quickly moved into the barracks. The arrangement for the laboratory could wait; the priority now was taking them back to the Zhao Residence in the Central City. The Imperial Stable was crowded and the conditions were inferior to the Zhao Residence; if we wanted intimacy, we naturally had to go home.

The group returning to the city was much larger this time. Given the previous attack by the Dog-Slaying Gang, the newly equipped handgun honor guard naturally served as close personal bodyguards, accompanied by Ling Long and Da Li Wan constantly at hand. Even the Dog-Slaying Gang would have to think twice before attempting another ambush.

We rode our fine steeds to the Central City. Ma Da allowed the Imperial Stable personnel to ride horses in the Outer City, but the Central City had too many wealthy merchants and officials. To avoid injuring anyone, we had to dismount and proceed on foot. Along the way, I kept updating Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu on the situation in the Twin Cities until we reached the Zhao Residence on Ginkgo Alley.

Shi Qing opened the door for us. After more than half a month of stable life, she had gained a slight, healthy plumpness—though this was only relative to her previous frail appearance. However, this slight fullness made Shi Qing even more beautiful. The problem was that she was becoming increasingly deferential toward us, which was giving me a headache.

Shi Qing and Shi Shan were city dwellers who understood the hierarchy of male dominance and the master-servant relationship much better than Ling Long, who came from the wilderness. Ling Long, despite her hunter background, interacted with us as equals. She called me 'My Lord,' but I knew she didn't truly treat me as a master. These Shi siblings, however, genuinely regarded me as their master—a voluntary submission to servitude from the bottom of their hearts.

"My Lord, Madam, you’ve returned." Shi Qing always displayed a barely perceptible smile when she saw me. She suddenly looked surprised upon seeing a group of delicate young women.

I smiled and explained, "Shi Qing, let me introduce you. This is my wife, Zhou Ni, and this is also my wife, Cheng Susu. They just arrived from the countryside and will be living in the Zhao Residence from now on. They will surely give you more trouble."

Shi Qing waved her hands flusteredly. "No trouble at all, My Lord; it’s my duty. Cough, cough…" Shi Qing began to cough.

I asked, "What's wrong? Are you still not well? Oh yes, you have a leave of absence the day after tomorrow. Your brother said he is taking you to redeem your second sister. You three siblings should go out and have a good time."

Shi Qing forcefully suppressed her cough. "Thank you, My Lord. I’m fine. My Lord is too kind to us siblings. Please, Madams, come in for some tea and rest."

Yun Yao and Ling Long took Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu off to look around—and also to arrange the sleeping quarters for the night. Shi Qing served me tea, and I casually remarked, "Shi Qing, hehe, you’ve gained a bit of weight."

Shi Qing’s expression changed instantly upon hearing this, and she dropped to her knees with a thud. "My Lord, I was wrong. I promise to eat less and work more in the future."

I was startled and quickly pulled her up. "What's wrong? Who complained that you were eating too much and working too little?"

Shi Qing said awkwardly, "Doesn't My Lord saying I've gotten fat mean I’ve been indulging myself instead of doing good work?"

I nearly fainted. "How can you be so self-deprecating, girl? I was complimenting you! You've become more beautiful with a little weight; I like how you look now, and I hope you gain even more. It has nothing to do with how much work you do. Stop overthinking things. In the future, let your sister live here too so you two can keep each other company. Otherwise, if we are always out working, you’ll worry more staying home alone."

Shi Qing gently pulled away the hand I was using to support her. "My Lord, I apologize. It was my misunderstanding; I won't dare do that again."

I felt a headache coming on and waved my hand dismissively. "Go on, go on. Just treat me as a friend from now on; stop with all these servant formalities. The residence will soon have ten more honor guard members; your sister can help out too. Otherwise, just the cooking will keep you and Uncle Fu busy."

Shi Qing bowed and withdrew. Her mind felt chaotic; the hand that had briefly held her felt scalding enough to set her heart ablaze.

Zhou Ni had somehow snuck back unnoticed. "Brother Zhao, this environment is truly wonderful! A hundred times better than in Hulu Village."

I pulled Zhou Ni onto my lap and said, "I'm sorry, Ni Ni. I shouldn't have let you endure hardship there."

Zhou Ni replied, "Not at all. You had just arrived in the Twin Cities then and had no foundation; bringing us along would have been inconvenient. Now that you have established your own enterprise and developed your strength, we have come to enjoy your love."

Being relied upon by a girl made the hot blood of manhood surge within me. Only by building up his own power could a man ensure his women's happiness and safety. "By the way, how is Ma Chong doing?"

Zhou Ni informed me, "He returned to the Ten Thousand Horses Nation smoothly and brought his elderly mother. After settling her, he will hurry to the Twin Cities to meet up with us."

I nodded. "We lack equestrian instructors here right now. If we engage in conflict with the Ten Thousand Horses Nation later, we are bound to capture more warhorses. Training a cavalry force is imperative, so it’s best if he can arrive soon."

Zhou Ni asked, "Brother Zhao, you aren't planning to stay here long-term, are you? Why are you already considering war with the Ten Thousand Horses Nation?"

I sighed. "It's unavoidable. Chenchen and Jingjing haven't returned, and Qingqing, Qingqian, and He Yuqing's whereabouts are still unknown. Furthermore, I have become an official of the court, so there are certain duties I must perform."

Zhou Ni nodded understandingly. "I understand, Brother Zhao. Whatever you do, I will support you. Are Chenchen and Jingjing severely amnesiac? Bring them back then. Su Su, Yun Yao, and I will keep them company, and we will surely help them regain their lost memories."

I said helplessly, "It's not up to me now. Xu Chen has become the Emperor's adopted daughter, and Cai Jingjing seems to think the Imperial Palace is very safe and won't leave. We will find a way later."

Zhou Ni encouraged me, "Brother Zhao, summon the courage you used when you pursued them before. I believe you will succeed."

I sighed inwardly. Previously, I was mostly the one being pursued, but that was because my superpower was too immense; they were forced to submit to me. Now that my superpower is gone, will they still fall for me so easily?

At that moment, deep within the palace walls, four young women were gathered, discussing their shared topic: what that man was doing right now.