CHAPTER 342: CHAPTER 342: MASTER!

At dusk, the family members who worked as Government Officials returned home and were immediately brought before their respective Family Heads.

"What did Feng Zhiyuan want from you?" Zhu Dewang of the Zhu family asked Zhu Fu.

"He registered everyone’s information, like how many people live in our homes, where we live, personal preferences, things like that. He asked a lot, but I couldn’t figure out what Master Feng meant," Zhu Fu replied respectfully.

"What about the County Princess and General? Are they also at the County Government? Did they say anything?" Zhu Dewang asked again.

"They were not at the County Government, except that the County Princess later sent a few people to the County Government. She didn’t seem to instruct Master Feng on anything," Zhu Fu said.

Zhu Dewang frowned, "Keep an eye on things inside the Government Office. I’ll have our people waiting outside. If anything happens and you can’t leave, just have them come back and report."

"Yes, Uncle," Zhu Fu replied.

Zhu Dewang had already sent a message to the Capital City. The Zhu family certainly has people in the Capital. It’s crucial to understand the background of the County Princess and her husband!

Though outsiders think the Zhu family’s actions are impulsive, it’s only on trivial matters. This is something he’s intentionally displayed; only then can he confuse the other two families.

This makes the other families less wary of the Zhu Family.

Therefore, the fact that the Zhu family has people in the Capital is kept secret from these two families.

——

Recently, Xun Yan has had a strange feeling as if he has known Zhao Ting for a long time.

But he’s quite sure that he has only heard of the name, and never met the person.

Yet some of the subtle habits he instinctively displays are identical to that person.

After probing, he feels a difference.

In the end, Xun Yan thinks he might be overthinking. Perhaps because of deep longing, he unconsciously amplifies impressions of things kept in the heart. That is why the two seem alike.

Clearly, they are two completely different people.

At most, they might be of the same type.

But it’s not him.

It’s just normal interaction, being friends.

So, Xun Yan stops scrutinizing Zhao Ting with a piercing look, which allows Zhao Ting a huge sigh of relief, he once thought Xun Yan had seen through him.

Indeed, who normally would think in that direction?

The furthest would be the concept of reincarnation!

Meng Yao spent two days thoroughly exploring Le’an.

She gained a certain understanding of local customs, geography, economy, and agriculture.

Additionally, she gained a deeper insight into the Zhu, Niu, and Yang families.

Her greatest obstacles to firmly controlling her territory are these three families.

Uprooting them is nearly impossible.

Thus, she has to dismantle them one by one to use them for her purposes.

Moreover, the Zhu family has intricate ties with bandits beyond the borders.

She wants to go beyond those borders, and the Zhu family’s influence would certainly be useful.

As for the Niu family, it was somewhat unexpected for Meng Yao.

Strictly speaking, the Niu family resembles how it’s described in ’female-centric literature’.

In the Niu family, women are precious, and those in charge are also women. The men of the Niu family, except for not being able to bear children, do all the work traditionally done by women. As for women, they do the work that men usually do.

Like doing business to support the family.

In essence, in ancient times, the statuses of men and women have flipped.

Meng Yao specifically looked into historical records revealing that the Niu family’s ancestors came from Western Qin Country.

And Western Qin Country is indeed a female-centric nation.

The Emperor is female, and the ministers are also female.

Meng Yao is quite intrigued by the Niu family.

Regarding the Yang family, native to Le’an, they make their living escorting security, thus most Yang family members practice martial arts from a young age, their combat prowess cannot be underestimated.

In short, toppling them one by one isn’t easy.

Thus, Meng Yao plans to start with the Niu family.

Interactions between women are definitely smoother.

Meng Yao didn’t hide what she found and analyzed from Zhao Ting.

After all, Zhao Ting knows more about these three families than she does.

"I’ll have someone investigate Niu Ruosu for you," Zhao Ting said.

Know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll be undefeated.

Although Niu Ruosu is a woman, she shouldn’t be underestimated.

"Then I’ll trouble you," Meng Yao said.

"Do we need to use the word ’trouble’ between us?" Zhao Ting murmured, "Ah Yao, I hope you won’t be so polite with me!"

"Polite?" Meng Yao didn’t think she was.

"There are many things you could let me do, but you always do them yourself. What I hope is for you to need me," Zhao Ting said earnestly.

As a man, who doesn’t want to be the reliance of the woman he loves?

"What I can do, I’ll do myself. There’s nothing wrong with that. What I can’t do, I won’t force myself. Haven’t I already shared those with you?"

Zhao Ting sighed.

Recalling what Meng Yao had told him about women from her side, he realized that not just now, but perhaps all her life, she won’t become what he describes.

Indeed, isn’t her uniqueness what he likes?

She does whatever she wants, and he honestly backs her up.

Meng Yao saw Zhao Ting’s wistful appearance, and her lips curled into an alluring smile as she suddenly hooked her hands around Zhao Ting’s neck, "I have plenty of areas where I need you."

With that, she didn’t wait for Zhao Ting to react and kissed him on the mouth.

After a moment of initial surprise, Zhao Ting passionately responded to Meng Yao.

Indeed, he loves Ah Yao’s warm and direct expressions of affection for him.

The feeling is too wonderful.

After the kiss, Zhao Ting’s face was flushed, and his heart was beating like a drum.

Meng Yao found it amusing that when this person entered flirtatious mode, he seemed like a veteran in romance, but in reality, he had little practical experience, and on their journey so far, they had been intimate many times.

Yet Zhao Ting still hadn’t gotten used to it.

Almost always, she was the one initiating.

Once initiated, it wasn’t she who was embarrassed, but Zhao Ting.

"I, I will go find Zong Cheng." Zhao Ting met Meng Yao’s teasing gaze, stood up immediately, and spoke as he headed outside.

"I still have to go to the Hundred Herbs Hall."

"Do you need Zhao Yun to accompany you?" Zhao Ting asked.

"No, I’m fine going alone," Meng Yao said.

She intended to get some medicine and see if the Shopkeeper was there because she had matters to arrange.

Doctor Su had handed over his house call duties to Doctor Xu these past two days, while he covered for Doctor Xu in the hall.

Though, just like usual, there were hardly any patients coming to the Hundred Herbs Hall.

Meng Yao stepped into the Hundred Herbs Hall and almost thought she was seeing things.

The person who suddenly stood up opposite her looked so much like Doctor Su!

She was sure it was an illusion, for Doctor Su was in Fengyang Town, hundreds of miles away from Le’an.

He truly looked alike!

Meng Yao exclaimed inwardly.

"Master!" Doctor Su stepped quickly in front of Meng Yao, performing a disciple’s salutation, his face full of excitement. Indeed, he hadn’t guessed wrong, it was really Master!