The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 117 Painting Cake
It was already the 2th day of the twelfth lunar month, only two days away from the Chinese New Year.

After Li Jingxiao entered the palace to report for duty, he did not want to stay any longer and skipped work to go home to be with his wife.

After hearing this, Emperor Longde just smiled and shook his head, and said to Xia Shouzhong, "Go to the inner treasury and select some tribute to send to the residence of the Earl of Xing'an.

Tell Jingyou that there will be sacrificial ceremonies at the Taimiao and Shimiao on New Year's Eve, as well as a night banquet in the palace, so don't be late.

I need Jingyou to be by my side to feel safe."

Xia Shouzhong quickly nodded in agreement, but in his heart he envied Li Jingxiao again.

Other generals and ministers wished to be by the emperor's side all the time.

So that I can show my talents, gain the favor of His Majesty, and rise to prominence.

Li Jingxiao, on the other hand, would rather stay at home with his wife than serve as a personal guard by the emperor's side.

There was a night banquet in the palace, and ministers entered the palace to celebrate the New Year with the emperor.

The Queen would also host banquets to entertain princesses, dukes, and ladies of honor.

As a third-rank imperial concubine, Qin Keqing also had to enter the palace. It was difficult for Li Jingxiao to stay at home peacefully on New Year's Eve.

Xia Shouzhong and his men entered the inner storehouse and carefully selected more than a dozen gifts that were tributes from several vassal states including Siam and Goryeo.

Only then did he take people to Li Jingxiao's home with great fanfare.

But before they reached the place, a eunuch came running back on horseback to report.

"My Lord, after returning from the palace today, Lord Li brought his wife and many servants to the residence of Lord Qin, the head of the Ministry of Works.

I have sent someone to the Qin Mansion to inform Master Bo, so please take your time."

When Xia Shouzhong learned that Li Jingxiao took his wife to give New Year gifts to his father-in-law, he cursed in his heart but said it out loud.

"No need. We are not here to read the imperial edict. We will go directly to the Li Mansion and wait for Master Li to return."

The team quickly moved on.

When Li Jingxiao went to his father-in-law's house, in addition to giving him New Year gifts, he also sent Qin Zhong home to spend the New Year with his father-in-law.

But Qin Zhong was a little unhappy.

At my brother-in-law and sister's house, not only am I taken care of by my sister and brother-in-law, but I also have Jingxi and Jingyue to play with.

Even Jing Rong, who often goes against him, is Qin Zhong's best playmate in his heart.

So after Qin Zhong returned home, he felt depressed.

Qin Ye could also see that his beloved son was unwilling to stay at home. While he was feeling a little annoyed, he saw that his youngest son Qin Zhong had grown fat and white, and was much cuter than before.

I also know in my heart that my son must be living a very good life with my daughter and son-in-law.

He secretly thought that it would be better to let Zhong'er continue to stay with Jingyou after the New Year.

In order to avoid having to go to the government office, this kid got sick from being bored at home.

Li Jingxiao naturally didn't care about supporting a brother-in-law.

Moreover, Qin Zhong is obedient and sensible, making it hard for people not to like him.

In the future, when he and Qin Keqing have children, he, the uncle who was raised by his sister and brother-in-law, will definitely be the closest nephew to him.

Li Jingxiao smiled and rubbed Qin Zhong's head, "Okay, after the New Year, I'm not stopping you from coming to my brother-in-law's place.

Moreover, your father-in-law is old and you are the only son in the family.

Your sister has to take care of all the affairs in the uncle's house and cannot fulfill her filial duties to her father-in-law.

You will have to do it for me and your sister, so that we can be more filial to our father-in-law."

Qin Zhong admired his brother-in-law Li Jingxiao the most at this time, and he promised Li Jingxiao this without hesitation.

"Don't worry, brother-in-law. I will definitely take good care of father."

Qin Ye and Qin Keqing nodded repeatedly with emotion.

Li Jingxiao patted Qin Zhong's shoulder affirmatively and said, "Although it is the end of the year these days, you must not slack off in your studies and martial arts practice every day."

Qin Zhong nodded in agreement.

I sat at my father-in-law's house for the whole morning and planned to stay for dinner.

But Xia Shouzhong, who came to read out the emperor's reward and oral instructions, saw that Li Jingxiao and his wife had not returned for a long time.

In the end, he couldn't wait any longer and sent a eunuch to inform the Qin family.

When Qin Ye heard that the emperor had sent another reward to his door and had an oral order to give to Li Jingxiao, he was very happy.

He hurriedly said to his son-in-law and daughter, "My dear son-in-law, the matter of His Majesty is of the utmost importance. Return home quickly to receive His Majesty's order."

Qin Keqing naturally couldn't sit still, but Li Jingxiao felt a little unhappy.

I thought to myself, could it be that it’s the New Year, and something else has happened?
He frowned and looked at the young eunuch beside Xia Shouzhong and asked, "Changshun, did your godfather tell you what the matter is?"

Chang Shun has been serving Xia Shouzhong for a long time and has the best eyesight.

As soon as I heard Li Jingxiao's tone, I knew that this gentleman was unhappy because someone interrupted his family conversation.

He hurriedly bowed and said, "Uncle, this is good news, very good news."

After saying this, the emperor rewarded the vassal states with tribute.

He also specifically instructed that Li Jingxiao be the emperor's close guard during sacrifices at the Taimiao and Shimiao temples, as well as during banquets for ministers in the palace.

Only then did Li Jingxiao feel relieved.

Qin Ye, Qin Keqing, Qin Zhong, as well as Baozhu and Ruizhu who served Qin Keqing, were all delighted.

The personal guards specially appointed by His Majesty are naturally his most trusted confidants.

Li Jingxiao nodded, bowed to Qin Ye and said, "Father-in-law, I will bring Keqing to your house on the second day of the New Year."

Qin Ye smiled and nodded, indicating that he understood.

Helping his wife out of the house, Li Jingxiao watched his wife, Baozhu and Ruizhu all get into the sedan chair. He looked at Qin Zhong who was reluctant to leave.

He scolded her with a smile, "Just stay home and study martial arts. If you get tired, your sister and Jingxi will definitely punish you."

After all, he was just a child. Qin Zhong nodded pitifully.

Li Jingxiao bowed and said goodbye to Qin Ye, who was smiling.

He mounted his horse and headed home with Erfu and other guards, as well as the male servants who brought gifts to his door.

Along the way, the guards and servants who already knew their master and had received rewards from His Majesty walked a little faster.

Li Jingxiao asked Erfu whether the guards' families had been taken to the farm outside the city.

Upon hearing this, not only Erfu, but the other eleven guards all showed joy on their faces.

Li Jingxiao has always treated the guards around him well.

Not only did they allow them to bring their entire families over, but they also allocated 240 acres of land in a farm outside the city for them to cultivate.

Only 40% of the land rent is collected.

If the harvest from 20 mu of land is 60%, even if the harvest per mu is only 200 jin, there will be 2400 jin of grain in a year.

After harvesting winter wheat, some vegetables or soybeans are planted from May to September, which is enough to feed a large family and even allow relatives to come and farm together.

Erfu and others are naturally more loyal.

By the way, these people's brothers, nephews and nephews will also be future servants and generals.

And they will be loyal to the Xing'an Earl's Mansion for generations.

This is a mutually beneficial matter, and even Qin Keqing is very concerned about it.

As for who among the thirteen personal guards was the emperor's spy, Li Jingxiao didn't care at all.

As long as he had nothing to hide, Li Jingxiao would even like to arrange some capable people to obey his orders.

When they returned home, Xia Shouzhong made way and waited for Qin Keqing's sedan chair to enter the second gate.

Then he pulled Li Jingxiao aside to complain.

Li Jingxiao had already learned from the servants that the eunuch had to wait for the entire morning.

It was indeed a disrespect on my part. A 100-liang silver note slipped silently into Xia Shouzhong's sleeve.

The old eunuch then began to read the emperor's oral order with satisfaction.

As for the rewards, Li Jingxiao took the gift list and looked at it, and couldn't help but thank Xia Shouzhong again.

Ten top-quality South Sea pearls are worth several hundred taels of silver.

There were also forty taels of white jade rice as tribute from Siam.

Ordinary white rice costs about 6 or 7 wen per pound, while this Siamese white jade rice costs 15 taels of silver.

Assuming that one tael weighs 120 jin and one tael of silver costs 1200 wen.

One pound of white jade rice costs 150 coins.

Although its price is still not as high as rouge rice, it is still an extremely rare tribute.

And this is another 600 taels.

Together with the jewelry, silk, and tea offered by the Zhenzhen Kingdom, the Qianxiang Kingdom, and the Dashu Kingdom, there were at least two or three thousand taels of silver.

This time, Li Jingxiao made a fortune.

If Xia Shouzhong hadn't specially selected it, the things delivered might not only be half as much, but also be of much lower value.

After Li Jingxiao finished reading the gift list and looked up at Xia Shouzhong, the smile on the old eunuch's face became even brighter.

Since Li Jingxiao sees the value of the gift, he has to accept the favor.

But Li Jingxiao still has his own ideas about how to repay this favor.

You can't just ask me to help Xia Shouzhong kill people and rob just for this little bit of money that others generously gave me, right?

So Li Jingxiao just thought about it and said with a smile, "If you encounter anything strange in the future, just come to me.

I do have some experience and knowledge in exorcising demons and monsters."

Xia Shouzhong muttered to himself, "little fox," but the eunuch himself felt that he had a strong yin energy.

If you really encounter something strange one day, it will be much easier to ask Li Jingxiao for help because of this friendship.

After seeing Xia Shouzhong off, Li Jingxiao, his wife and sisters finished their lunch.

It’s true that the white jade rice tributed by Siam is really fragrant.

Jingrong ate two bowls, which was rare.

After chatting with his wife and younger sisters for a while, Li Jingxiao couldn't help but focus on practicing martial arts.

First, I looked at the character level.

Level 14 (995/1400).

In addition to practicing dual cultivation with Qin Keqing, Baozhu and Ruizhu these days, he also gained a full 75 experience points from the first time he treated the soldiers of Sima Army in front of the palace at the horse farm.

After that, there were about a dozen or twenty cavalrymen who needed treatment every day because of sprains and strains caused by training.

This ratio is actually very abnormal, but last time at the racecourse, I treated many people's old injuries.

In addition, the top ten in cavalry combat and horse archery will receive a reward of 10 taels of silver each month.

When 250 people were trained in rotation every day, a pig was added at noon and in the evening, and the food was better than when they were on duty in the palace.

As a result, the soldiers of the Sima Army in front of the palace were trained very seriously.

Even if he was injured, he would go to the palace to see Li Jingxiao the next day and take a dose of medicine. Minor injuries would heal on the same day, while serious injuries would take two or three days.

Without any worries, everyone works hard to make money.

Including the patients from Zhenwu Temple, Li Jingxiao can gain twice as much experience from treating illnesses every day.

As for Kung Fu, Eternal Spring Kung Fu - Minor Success (302/500)

Lightning Thunder Fist - Minor Success (198.4/500)

Introduction to Sword Control (26.2/200)

I didn't practice other kung fu much because I spent too much time on these three skills every day.

As for talismans, Li Jingxiao would definitely draw some every day.

The next morning, Li Jingxiao took his three cousins ​​to do morning exercises.

He asked Jia Heng to deliver the prepared New Year gifts to Rongguo Mansion.

Although he and Yuanchun have not officially married yet, they are engaged after all, so he still has to send some gifts to her before the New Year.

Seeing their future son-in-law sending them gifts, Lady Jia, Jia Zheng, and Mrs. Wang were naturally happy.

Although the Jia family really had nothing to lack at that time, Li Jingxiao went to the Qin family yesterday and brought New Year gifts to the Jia family today.

Seeing the equal treatment, Lady Jia, Mrs. Wang and the others felt relieved.

As for why he didn't come in person, it was because he wasn't married yet, and running to Rongguo Mansion all day would make people laugh.

The next day, Li Jingxiao got up at 3 a.m., which was rare for him.

Today is New Year's Eve, and the emperor must go to the Taimiao and Shimiao to hold a grand joint sacrifice ceremony.
By the way, let the relatives go to the imperial tomb to offer sacrifices.

However, since the retired emperor is still alive, in order to show filial piety, Emperor Longde may go to the imperial mausoleum in person to pay tribute to the founding emperor.

As the deputy commander of the Palace Front Department, Li Jingxiao naturally had to stay by the emperor's side to protect his safety.

Not to mention, the emperor asked Xia Shouzhong to come and remind him the day before yesterday.

Qin Keqing had already asked someone to prepare armor, but Li Jingxiao was reluctant to wear it when he thought about wearing such heavy armor in the middle of winter.

Besides, if there is real danger, wearing armor will affect your agility and speed.

It would be better to wear a dragon robe and tie a jade belt with a soft sword hidden in it around the waist.

Just hold a long sword in your hand for show.

However, although Li Jingxiao was unwilling to wear it, Qin Keqing still asked Erfu and others to carry the armor, as well as spare official robes, boots, warm hats and underwear with them.

If necessary, you can replace it at any time.

Li Jingxiao thought about it and said nothing.

He dressed neatly and went out of the second door.

He saw that his three brothers Shi Delong, Liu Hongshi and Lin Yi had already arrived at his home.

Then he smiled and went up to thank him.

Today, not only Erfu and others will follow him, but Jia Heng will also bring 8 servants, food, clothes and daily necessities to wait at the Temple of Heaven.

The number of guards at home was suddenly reduced by 8%, so Li Jingxiao was naturally worried.

Not only did he call Shi Delong and the other two over, he also asked with a smile, "Have the disciples from the Hu and Liu families arrived?"

Shi Delong nodded hurriedly, "Don't worry, sir. After receiving your order, I used the message-transmitting technique to find fellow Taoists Hu Xinrong and Liu Yixiu.

In fact, they had already taken their family members to investigate the evil spirits near the capital.

As soon as I received the letter sent by paper crane, I arrived in Beijing yesterday and have been guarding the surrounding area of ​​the house."

Li Jingxiao finally felt relieved and instructed, "Tell Hu Xinrong and Liu Yixiu that after the first month of the year, I will recommend them to become ninth-rank inspectors of the Daoluo Division.

From now on, you will only be under the jurisdiction of Lord Shen, the 'Left Zhengyi' of the Daolu Division, and me.

If you make meritorious contributions, you will be promoted to a higher position. In the future, you can even earn an imperial decree for your mother or daughter-in-law because of your meritorious service."

After saying that, Li Jingxiao looked at Shi Delong and the other two, "The same goes for you three."

Shi Delong and the other two hurriedly bowed and expressed their gratitude, with smiles on their faces becoming much brighter.

A few days ago, the three of them were promoted for their merits.

Unfortunately, even with Li Jingxiao's repeated recommendations, none of the three had passed the formal imperial examinations, nor were they from the "selected officials" or "hereditary" military officer backgrounds.

Although they are called officials, they are actually clerks.

(End of this chapter)