Chapter 244
"Grandfather, what were you discussing with these gentlemen? You all seem so cheerful."
Yue Fuguang pushed the door open and entered, holding a small jar of tea leaves.
Coming to the tea room, and to avoid drinking the tea laden with too many additives, Yue Fuguang had brought her own 'provisions', carrying a small jar from her personal stash.
"Fuguang is here, please, have a seat."
Upon seeing her enter, the several men all rose and bowed in greeting. "We pay our respects to the Junior Preceptor. We apologize for the intrusion."
"Gentlemen, please be seated."
She then addressed Yu Chongshan, "Grandfather, this is the tea I brought."
Placing the tea jar on the tea table, she continued, "This tea is different from the compressed tea cakes of Danyan. Would you and the gentlemen care to try it?"
"That would be splendid. I happen to have some plum-blossom snow water sent by Minister Wang the other day."
He retrieved a pink porcelain bottle from beneath the tea seat. "Fuguang, shall we use this snow water to brew the tea?"
"Excellent!"
She took the bottle and said, "Grandfather, allow me to prepare the tea."
After she set the water to boil, Yu Chongshan finally explained the reason for summoning her.
"Fuguang, this is Dai Yuxing, a young master of martial arts. With the Crown Prince's wedding approaching, the capital is teeming with all sorts of people. Your grandfather specially asked Judge Song Xingzhou to find a skilled hand to protect your safety. His Majesty is also aware of this matter."
Recently, street brawls and fights had become frequent, and the entire capital was seething with undercurrents. His Majesty also feared that people from several nations might take advantage of the Crown Prince's wedding to stir up trouble again.
Especially the assassination attempts targeting Yue Fuguang. The several nations involved might have developed mutual suspicions, as there had been no recent action. But for them to give up completely was likely impossible.
"Dai Yuxing pays his respects to the Junior Preceptor!"
Dai Yuxing appeared to be around twenty years old. The page boy had said he resembled Zhang Fang, and upon seeing him now, Yue Fuguang immediately felt the page boy had a keen eye.
The two men weren't alike in looks—Zhang Fang was bold and rugged, while the man before her was tall and slender, with handsome features that were nearly as striking as described by clichés.
Moreover, he carried an innate air of chivalrous righteousness.
Yue Fuguang nodded, made a gesture of invitation, and said, "Young Master Dai, there's no need for such formality. Please, sit."
She then asked Song Xingzhou, "Judge Song, has His Majesty made any arrangements regarding Young Master Dai?"
Song Xingzhou knew she was inquiring about an official position for Dai Yuxing, as those serving as guards for the Junior Preceptor were never without rank or credentials.
"His Majesty's intention is to leave it entirely to the Junior Preceptor's discretion."
Song Xingzhou couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Zhang Fang, who was under his jurisdiction, was now almost at his own rank, and now another Dai Yuxing was being sent.
His Majesty was clearly indicating that the Junior Preceptor could bestow official positions at will—a privilege in Danyan that not even the Crown Prince possessed.
Yue Fuguang lowered her gaze in brief thought, then looked at Dai Yuxing and asked, "Young Master Dai, are you acquainted with Zhang Fang?"
"Yes. His master and my master are close friends, so we are fairly familiar with each other."
"Compared to him, who is stronger?"
Dai Yuxing was momentarily taken aback by her direct question. Wasn't it said that those in official circles preferred to speak in roundabout ways?
Even though this Junior Preceptor was young, the fact that the Minister of War treated her with such respect spoke volumes about her exalted status.
Facing someone of such high position, regardless of age, Dai Yuxing dared not let his guard down.
So he had been mentally prepared and had run through various scenarios—just not one where the Junior Preceptor would be so blunt.
This one was even more 'forthright' than those of the martial world!
His mind racing, Dai Yuxing pondered many things in an instant. Meeting Yue Fuguang's clear, bright eyes, vast as the brilliant moon, his response was equally honest and confident.
"Within fifty moves, I am confident I could wound him. Within a hundred, I could certainly capture him alive."
"In that case... you shall hold the same rank as Zhang Fang, Deputy Fifth Grade Protector. He will be the Left Protector, and you the Right."
In the Danyan court, left took precedence over right. Even though Dai Yuxing's martial skills might surpass Zhang Fang's, Zhang Fang was, after all, the 'veteran'.
She couldn't let a newcomer immediately outrank him.
Yue Fuguang glanced at the panel showing this person's favorability value, which was actually sixty-one. If not for his nearly passing favorability score, she might not have kept him.
After all, she was more inclined to have another valiant, heroic, and supremely skilled female knight by her side.
Upon hearing that the Junior Preceptor was immediately granting him a Deputy Fifth Grade position, Dai Yuxing was stunned for a moment. Although he had heard from his master that Zhang Fang also held Deputy Fifth Grade, Zhang Fang had been in the capital for over two years.
He had heard of the hardships Zhang Fang faced during those years. His current position was also due to good fortune, luckily encountering the highly esteemed Junior Preceptor.
Otherwise, who knows how long he might have languished.
Since entering the Junior Preceptor's residence, Zhang Fang, while maintaining normal correspondence with them, had refused to say a single word about this Junior Preceptor.
He had originally planned, upon arriving in the capital, to find an opportunity to ask Zhang Fang to arrange an introduction to the Junior Preceptor. Little did he expect that upon just entering the city, he would encounter thieves attempting to steal the potatoes.
He had contributed significantly to capturing that person. He never imagined the court's reward would be to directly recommend him to the Junior Preceptor who had produced the superior potato seeds.
And at their very first meeting, the Junior Preceptor had immediately granted him a Deputy Fifth Grade position.
Thinking of this, Dai Yuxing suddenly stood up, solemnly bowed deeply, and said, "Dai Yuxing thanks the Junior Preceptor for your high regard!"
Then he knelt on one knee, looked at Yue Fuguang, and declared clearly, "Dai Yuxing hereby swears an oath to follow the Junior Preceptor unto death."
Yue Fuguang was taken aback by his series of actions, feeling a touch of awkwardness.
Dai Yuxing's pledge of loyalty was filled with the air of the martial world. But since he was from that world, even though she had given him an official post, wasn't this 'submission' a bit too swift?
Was she some kind of classic trope blocker? She never encountered scenarios where she could show off, put someone in their place, and then win their loyalty.
Was it because she lacked the protagonist's halo?
She never met subordinates who were arrogant and unruly.
[Host, if you encountered that kind of arrogant, defiant subordinate who felt terribly wronged serving a 'child' like you, would you take them on?]
Yue Fuguang didn't hesitate for a second, shaking her head mentally. 'Am I some kind of masochist? Talented people are plentiful. Who has the patience to insist on hanging themselves on one particular tree!
With my status, aside from mortal enemies, who would dare look down on me!'
Everyone sat down again. Yue Fuguang began steeping the tea, while Huo Ying and the others discussed the recent chaos in the capital.
"Regarding the thieves attempting to steal the potatoes, over several incidents, we have successively captured more than twenty people, not counting those who escaped."
Speaking of this, Huo Ying's face was full of worry.
Just those eight pots of potatoes had attracted so much covetous attention. If they were to find out that the imperial estates and the Junior Preceptor's fields held many more...
Even deploying the entire capital garrison to protect these superior seeds might not guarantee absolute safety.
No wonder His Majesty and the others had discussed early on to plant all those potatoes in the vegetable gardens opened up at the Pacification Office.
From the very beginning, those dozen or so pounds of potato seeds were bait.
And these big and small fish had truly taken the hook! But weren't there too many of them? It's impossible to catch them all!
"Minister, do you know the origins of these people?"
Yue Fuguang currently lacked the ability to set up protective formations around her estate, so she couldn't help but worry about the safety of the seeds planted in her fields.
"Minister Cai and Vice Minister Wei have interrogated several. Some have tight lips. So far, we only know there are people from our Danyan, as well as from Northern Li and Southern Zhao."