This residence was far grander than that of a typical Marquis; in the entirety of Yun Jing City, only the Royal Palace and the commanding generals of the four elite military legions—Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning—possessed estates of such magnitude. Even the manor of Marquis Bai Yun did not compare, a clear indication that Luo Xiaofeng had elevated Ye Jingyu to a status equal to those four great generals.

In the garden of the Zhenguo Residence, a massive stone table was laden with various fruits and melons. Beside it, on a reclining chair, Ye Jingyu was sprawled out, his body still crisscrossed with bandages, leisurely chewing on fruit carefully peeled and presented by several beautiful maids attending him.

He looked utterly spoiled and content.

A short distance away, Hu Yanmeng leaned against a stone pillar, her gaze upon Ye Jingyu filled with resignation. Meanwhile, Chi Yixiu and Hu Yanqi were overseeing drills in the training ground, instructing the eighty warriors and twenty archers. They had received word from the Third Young Master: as soon as the New Year passed, they were embarking on a long expedition to the Hu Kingdom. As Ye Jingyu's most loyal forces, they could afford no slackening in their discipline.

“Young Master, a lady named Yao Rao is outside requesting an audience…” Just then, Lin Xiaoyi, clad in a magnificent silk robe, rushed in excitedly, speaking as he ran. Despite Ye Jingyu now being a General, he instinctively still called him Young Master, and his face beamed with profound satisfaction.

In the past, though Ye Jingyu had been a local powerhouse in Longya Village, he was ultimately just the son of a landowner with no real standing. How could that compare to his current status as the Grand General of Zhenguo? This official rank was greater than that of the magistrate in Ninglang Prefecture!

In the old days, Lin Xiaoyi would sooner have died than believed he would become the personal attendant to the Grand General of Zhenguo.

“Miss Yao Rao? Do I know her?” Ye Jingyu raised an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

“I don’t believe so,” Lin Xiaoyi murmured. Ye Jingyu had not been in Yun Jing long; Lin Xiaoyi knew everyone he associated with.

“If I don’t know her, just send her away immediately,” Ye Jingyu stated casually, without a second thought.

“Oh…” Lin Xiaoyi nodded dumbly and turned to leave. As he walked, he muttered under his breath, “Sigh, when did Young Master change his ways, not even meeting the foremost beauty of Yun Jing?”

“Little Linzi, stop right there!” To his surprise, Lin Xiaoyi was called back by Ye Jingyu just a few steps later.

“Young Master, what are your orders?” Lin Xiaoyi looked utterly bewildered.

“What did you just say?” Ye Jingyu had straightened up in his chair.

“I didn’t say anything…” Little Linzi looked innocent.

“Say it again.” Ye Jingyu’s expression took on a hint of anger.

“I said… I said, ‘When did Young Master change his ways, not even meeting the foremost beauty of Yun Jing?’” Lin Xiaoyi’s voice was small, and he struck a pose of unwarranted grievance.

“The foremost beauty? When did I say I wouldn't see her? Quickly, invite her in!” Ye Jingyu’s eyes instantly lit up, and he struggled to sit up straight.

Seeing Ye Jingyu suddenly become so enthusiastic, Lin Xiaoyi was momentarily stunned. This Young Master truly never changed his habits.

Not far away, Hu Yanqi rolled her eyes, turned directly, and walked toward the inner rooms. This man thought only of beautiful women all day long; she was simply too tired to bother arguing with him over such trivialities.

Outside the Zhenguo Residence, an eight-person palanquin was waiting. When Lin Xiaoyi rushed out the main gate to relay Ye Jingyu’s instruction, a stunning woman in a pink gauze skirt, her face veiled, emerged from the sedan chair with graceful steps.

The moment this woman appeared at the gate of the Zhenguo Residence, the eight guards on duty, along with Lin Xiaoyi himself, froze. Though they could not see the woman’s features, the exquisite curve of her figure and the allure accompanying her every movement left the men speechless.

Could such a captivating being truly exist in this world? Even though they had already witnessed the cold, ethereal beauty of Hu Yanmeng, they would swear, without needing to see this woman’s face, that her allure surpassed even Hu Yanmeng’s.

Because her beauty seemed something that ought not to exist in the mortal realm.

“Please, little brother, escort this humble servant to meet the Grand General of Zhenguo,” the enchanting woman in the pink skirt said sweetly, stepping toward Lin Xiaoyi.

Her voice seemed to come from beyond the heavens, yet also from the deepest recesses of the heart—it was utterly captivating, making Lin Xiaoyi feel as if his very bones had liquefied.

“M-Miss… Please… please come in…” Lin Xiaoyi finally managed to steady his emotions and spoke with great agitation.

As he spoke, he moved forward, daring not to look back, terrified he might lose control and do something utterly preposterous. Faintly, he felt something trickling from his nose.

Yao Rao suppressed a smile and followed Lin Xiaoyi into the grounds of the Grand General of Zhenguo. A faint, heady perfume emanated from her, nearly causing the eight guards at the gate to swoon.

Ye Jingyu was already waiting for Yao Rao in the rear garden. With such beautiful sunshine, it would be a crime not to enjoy it, especially with a retinue of lovely maids attending him—this was precisely the life he had dreamed of in the past!

At that moment, a wave of fragrant air washed over him, and Ye Jingyu felt as if he were floating away.

Then, Little Linzi bolted in as if he had seen a ghost, frantically wiping his nose with his sleeve.

“Hey, Little Linzi, who bullied you? Why are you bleeding from the nose?” Seeing Lin Xiaoyi’s bloody nose, Ye Jingyu assumed he had been assaulted.

“Young Master, Miss Yao… Yao… Yao Rao has arrived!” Lin Xiaoyi was nearly in tears. Even though he hadn't dared look back at Yao Rao’s figure on the way in, the intoxicating fragrance had continuously stirred up primal heat within him, causing his nose to bleed uncontrollably—a more miserable sight than after a severe beating.

“So she’s here, so what? Why are you…” Ye Jingyu was about to say, So she’s here, why are you bleeding? but the words caught in his throat as his gaze was entirely ensnared by the woman behind Lin Xiaoyi.

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