My lord, spare his life!

"Is it possible to restore one's appearance?"

The man in black felt this was a fantasy.

But his hands were more honest than his heart. The moment he touched the human skin, the restlessness of the demon within him almost caused him to break free. His eyes welled up with dark emotions, and he gritted his teeth, swallowing the urge to groan. Only when he picked up the human skin did he realize that it wasn't a neatly folded human skin.

Or is it just a small section of a "headgear"?

He did not voice any objections.

The reaction of the painted skin ghost alone was enough to prove that what Xiao Sui said was true. What puzzled him was why the human skin was incomplete.

Xiao Sui said, "You'll know when you put it on."

"I just changed into this human skin three months ago, and it's still several months before it becomes unusable. It would be a real waste to change it now." The man in black pursed his lips, saying it was a pity, but his eyes revealed eagerness and greed. Xiao Sui saw through his little scheme at a glance.

"Worried about a major blow to your health?"

"Yes, that is indeed a concern."

Each skin resurfacing procedure caused him immense pain and exhaustion.

Xiao Sui gave a cold laugh: "You're questioning the oracle."

"I--"

Xiao Sui interrupted him indifferently.

"Leave the human skin behind; you have no connection with it."

The man in black was dumbfounded. Forgetting all about maintaining the decorum of a noble family, he grabbed the human skin and clutched it to his chest before Xiao Sui could retrieve it. Meeting the mocking gaze of the Divine Consort, he felt as if his skin had been peeled off, leaving him with nowhere to hide.

He moved his lips, then hesitated and stammered guiltily.

"This is not a question."

"Not a question?"

His tone became even more defiant: "I absolutely dare not question it."

Xiao Sui lowered her eyes, her expression almost ruthless, making the man in black's heart pound, fearing she would take the human skin back. The Painted Skin Ghost's reaction was never wrong; the skin fit him perfectly! He was being ungrateful.

Xiao Sui looked down at the other person for several breaths.

Just when the man in black thought it was hopeless, the oppressive gaze finally shifted, followed by the sound of Xiao Sui's departing footsteps. The six young ladies hadn't asked for anything, nor had she offered any advice on how to dress. The man in black dared not chase after them and risk further angering them.

He left behind six thousand gold coins and hurriedly departed.

They didn't even inform the owner of the place.

The classmate was furious: "How rude and arrogant!"

However, less than an hour later, the person returned, this time with a different face. If it weren't for the unchanged aura, he would have suspected someone was impersonating him. Wait a minute, doesn't a ghost with a painted skin take three to five days to change its appearance? How much time has passed?

He was suspicious, hesitated, and then followed.

"I request an audience with Lady Xiao."

Xiao Sui was sitting in the pavilion, drinking tea and admiring the flowers, when the tranquility was broken by the newcomer. She looked up with displeasure. Seeing the barely passable, mediocre face, a slight pleasure welled up inside her. Not everyone is qualified to wear the carefully crafted human skin.

"sit."

The man in black was filled with fear and trepidation.

"Thank you, Madam."

His humble posture alarmed the man following him from a distance. The Xiao family was indeed a prestigious clan, but the man in black was also a local powerful family with many successful members. As a local strongman, there was no need for him to be so deferential to Xiao Sui, who had lost his status as the clan's heir, let alone… to be so obsequious. Something was very wrong!

Xiao Sui asked him, "How are you feeling?"

The man in black spoke in a triumphant voice: "Like a rebirth!"

The human skin was so comfortable to wear, it fit the skinless flesh perfectly, as if it were the original human skin. The man in black felt no discomfort at all, and there was no period of weakness after changing the human skin.

Xiao Sui's eyes were sharp and piercing.

"But you still have desires, and you are still dissatisfied."

"I do have a request. May I be so bold as to ask Your Majesty, how long can this human skin be used?" The man in black hesitated before speaking, still feeling uneasy about Xiao Sui's sudden change of attitude.

It wasn't that he was worried about the money; with his financial resources, he could easily buy one every year. What he was worried about was that once the skin was ruined, he wouldn't be able to buy another one even if he had the money!

Why can't I be the one who receives divine favor?

He had suspected that Xiao Sui was faking it, but he dismissed that idea himself. First, Xiao Sui's status was far too high; what reason would she have to fake it? Second, even if she were faking it, what could he possibly do to her?

It's better to turn a blind eye and wait for a result.

Xiao Sui looked at him coldly, without answering.

The man in black trembled slightly; Xiao Sui had just witnessed his sudden change of attitude. Before Xiao Sui could speak, he quickly smoothed things over, forcing a smile and saying, "I was foolish. This thing has an extraordinary origin and fits so perfectly; it's incomparable to the skin of a mortal body."

But I felt a little relieved.

Judging from Xiao Sui's reaction, this human skin is definitely durable.

The timeframe could be much longer than a year!

Xiao Sui took a sip of tea, remaining noncommittal.

The man in black subtly inquired if there was a second human skin, offering the same amount of gold as before. Xiao Sui finally responded: "She only granted me this opportunity out of pity for the painted-skin ghost. However, the gods are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people; today's pity may be tomorrow's rejection. All I can do is bestow blessings upon the world on her behalf, trying my best to please her and seek her favor."

Xiao Sui said, "When your human skin can no longer be used, but the divine favor remains, I can speak to her on your behalf again."

The man in black, however, grasped a key point.

Is it possible to maintain this opportunity by winning their favor?

The man in black bowed and said, "Thank you."

After saying that, he refused to leave.

Xiao Sui asked impatiently, "Is there anything else?"

"...Just now, the Lady said she could restore my original appearance?" The man in black stared intently at Xiao Sui's face, vaguely understanding why she could be restored to her original state. If one could return to their true self, who would want to walk the world wearing someone else's face?

"Can."

The man in black steeled his resolve.

"I am willing to donate another thousand taels of gold!"

A thousand gold pieces?

Xiao Sui raised an eyebrow slightly.

That's a bit too little.

However, Xiao Sui didn't hint at asking for more money, as it would be beneath her dignity to proactively ask for a higher price to maintain a certain level of sophistication. Xiao Sui nodded in agreement: "I will consult with her about this matter, but whether it succeeds or not is not up to me. You should go back and wait for my news."

Although he did not receive a definite reply, the man was still overjoyed.

He expressed his deepest gratitude and prepared to take his leave.

Xiao Sui shouted, "Wait!"

"Does the Queen have any other instructions?"

Xiao Sui: "She's not satisfied with your six daughters."

The man's face twitched violently, wondering if this was an attempt to raise the price or to make things difficult for him: "I am foolish and humbly request Your Majesty's guidance."

Xiao Sui looked at him as if he were a piece of wood, and said, "Giving alms is meant to relieve the suffering of the common people and spare them from the pain of hunger and cold. What good are mere gold and silver? In years of famine, not a single grain of millet will be harvested; in the dead of winter, even a foot of cloth will be hard to find. Giving rice to those who are starving and winter clothes to those who are in rags is the true meaning of giving alms, not using gold and jade to embellish the story and gain empty fame..."

Although she didn't say it explicitly, the man understood.

The other party looked down on him, saying he was a blockhead with no wisdom or understanding, yet he still wanted to get an opportunity and become one of the gods' chosen ones.

The man blushed instantly and bowed in apology.

So he hurriedly had someone take the six thousand gold coins away.

The money was repeatedly sent and taken away, naturally attracting the attention of those with ulterior motives. At first, everyone assumed the man was offering Xiao Sui gold and silver to win her favor, secretly mocking him for overestimating his abilities, but they soon realized that wasn't the case. The man's demeanor changed.

Can the Painted Skin Ghost change human skin that quickly?

I recently attended a banquet, and this person was actually a completely different person.

How long has it been since then?

Someone immediately figured it out—

Xiao Sui most likely has information concerning the lifeline of the Painted Skin Ghost! Those who reacted quickly sent Xiao Sui invitation cards after the banquet, while those who reacted slowly hurriedly followed up after the incident with the man, begging to see Xiao Sui.

Looking at the stacks of visiting cards, Xiao Sui waved her hand.

"Burn it all."

Another visiting card was sent the following day.

Only then did he learn from the gatekeeper that Xiao Sui had gone out.

"Has Lady Xiao said when she will return?"

"The Lady is a guest in our household, a distinguished guest of the head of the family. As servants, we dare not inquire too much." This was not a matter for servants to concern themselves with. Seeing each household turned away, the gatekeeper grew increasingly uneasy. Even the head of the family wouldn't dare to be so capricious, turning away so many distinguished guests. This Lady Xiao was truly capricious and unrestrained!

Left with no other choice, each family had to leave disappointed.

However, instead of going home, they went elsewhere.

Xiao Sui refused to meet with them, so they couldn't do anything about it, but the other person wouldn't dare do the same. They were all from Tianjiang County, from the same circle, and their families were often linked by marriage; they saw each other all the time. Did he really dare to turn them all away?

The man in black who was being targeted: "..."

He did not burn all the visiting cards.

Honestly, he still needs these people's help right now.

Six thousand gold coins are easy to obtain, but gathering enough supplies for six thousand gold coins is not. It's not a shortage of goods, but a lack of time. Xiao Sui has clearly stated that she won't stay in Tianjiang County for long, and her departure should be within the next few days. Time is tight, and mobilizing supplies is somewhat difficult. Even so, he wouldn't dare to manipulate things or cheat on the delivery. He still knows the difference between a single meal and every meal.

"Gentlemen, you have come at the right time. I have a favor to ask of you."

The man in black's opening remarks caught the group off guard.

Didn't they come to us begging for help?

How did it turn into the other person begging me?

"That's not urgent. Tell me first, what's going on with this human skin?" The scholar, who was on good terms with the man in black, grabbed his wrist and hurriedly pulled him into the hall. "After you met Xiao Xiuying, why did you suddenly change your human skin?"

The man in black didn't get this human skin easily.

Scholars contributed significantly to this effort.

All his tenants cooperated in the screening process, and after much effort, he finally selected two candidates. These two candidates would come in handy if the man in black couldn't find more suitable human skin.

Finally, the man in black found human skin elsewhere, but he generously gave away these two alternatives, instructing the man in black to treat them well. They would come in handy in less than two years.

In addition to tenant farmers, commoners in Tianjiang County were also secretly screened.

The man in black hesitated to speak.

"I cannot say more about this matter without permission."

"Did Xiao Xiuying tell you not to say it?"

"She didn't mention that it couldn't be passed on to others."

"That means you can say that!"

The man in black: "..."

Seeing the man in black hesitate, the others also became uneasy. Ordinary people who were "skin-painted ghosts" would surely die young, but these families were different. They had countless channels for obtaining human skin, whether from the dead or the living. Each household had a considerable number of hidden clients, ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands.

If they can't find a suitable one, they can exchange resources with each other.

The availability of human skin for replacement is not scarce.

What is truly scarce is high-quality human skin with a high degree of compatibility.

After much deliberation, the man in black, urged on by the others, gritted his teeth and confessed. The expressions of the others were incredibly varied, ranging from confusion and doubt to embarrassment, shock, and finally, astonishment. They even disregarded their personal manners, grabbing the man in black's arm and squeezing it repeatedly, their tugging gradually increasing from cautious to boldly forceful.

The human skin fit the man in black perfectly, as if it were made by nature.

Everyone was breathing rapidly.

Even the way she looked at the man in black was now burning with greed.

The man in black was greatly alarmed and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? We had to use other people's skin before when we couldn't find a way, and we've already survived that. Now that we have a way to live, do you think we're worried about not having enough human skin?"

"That's what they say, but Xiao Xiuying is completely unyielding."

The man in black had studied at Mingde Academy for half a year and had met Xiao Sui several times. They were both imposters, sharing a sense of camaraderie. Even with this connection, his six daughters had been returned twice. Those of them with no connection, even if they eagerly offered their six daughters to her, would likely be turned away several times.

Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but curse inwardly.

The man in black was really quick to act; he actually approached Xiao Xiuying on the day of the banquet without even informing them!

The man in black steeled himself and tried to calm them down one by one.

"Don't be anxious, everyone."

Based on his experience dealing with Xiao Sui several times, he knew she was a difficult person to deal with; one wrong move could easily trigger her. If he completed a transaction with Xiao Sui and summarized his experience, wouldn't that reduce the risk for others negotiating with her?

At least he won't be blacklisted by Xiao Sui.

Upon hearing this, the group calmed down.

The man in black said, "The most urgent task is to gather the necessary supplies for six thousand taels of gold. If we haven't prepared them by the time Xiao Xiuying leaves, we risk offending him terribly. We need your full support in this matter."

If you help him now, he will help you in return.

After some persuasion, the matter was finally settled.

The man in black also managed to keep his human skin.

Xiao Sui didn't care at all about what was happening here.

Selling human skin to the Painted Skin Ghost was easy for her; the real challenge was selling the skin to someone who wasn't actually the Painted Skin Ghost. This person had to be extremely vain and have some physical imperfections.

Use this as a breakthrough to open up the market.

"Xiao Xiuying?"

"That Xiao family woman who's been making quite a splash in Tianjiang County lately?"

"What is she doing here?"

The woman was surprised to receive a visit from this recently prominent figure; if she remembered correctly, she had no connection with him. She considered making an excuse to refuse, but the words stuck in her throat.

"Alright, please let our distinguished guest in."

The woman hadn't attended the banquet that day, so she naturally hadn't seen Xiao Sui's face; she'd only heard about it from others. Those people showered her with praise, as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world. The woman simply thought it was flattery and obsequious praise directed at Xiao Sui.

But when you meet the real person, you'll know that what they said is true.

Let alone the opposite sex, even the same sex can't take their eyes off them.

When Xiao Sui saw that the woman was also wearing a veil, covering her face below the nose, indoors, she knew she had found the right person. The woman in front of her had a congenital defect; she was missing a lip. However, the woman was luckier than others; although she had a cleft lip, she did not have a cleft palate.

Her parents did not abandon her, but instead had a doctor sew up the wound.

The lip defect was stitched up, but as she grew older, it never disappeared. Adding to her misfortune, she inherited her parents' flaws, so even with the nourishment of star power, her features were far from outstanding. She had a reputation as an ugly person in Tianjiang County.

The woman noticed Xiao Sui's gaze: "Your Majesty, are you looking at me like this because you want to see what the rumored ugly person looks like?"

Her words carried a suppressed resentment.

Xiao Sui said, "No one is perfect, so why talk about ugly people?"

The woman discerned whether Xiao Sui's words were true or false.

Xiao Sui laughed heartily, unabashedly revealing her past wounds, and asked magnanimously, "If a woman with such a flawless face can be considered ugly, then what should I, a painted-skin ghost without human skin, be called?"

"Lady Xiao is a beauty of unparalleled grace."

"Then what if I change to an ugly human skin? Then I wouldn't be considered a beauty anymore." These seven words made Xiao Sui laugh, and she shook her head and sighed, "This shows that beauty and ugliness can be determined by appearance. Even if one is born with shortcomings, one can make up for them later."

Can it be made up for later?

These words struck the woman like a thunderbolt.

"That would have to be a painted-skin ghost."

Others can't have their skin replaced, so there's no way to make amends.

Xiao Sui said meaningfully, "No, no."

The woman's heart was inexplicably racing; her intuition told her that Xiao Sui's words might have opened a terrifying door for her.

After Xiao Sui left, she ordered an investigation into what the other woman had been doing in Tianjiang County during that time. Once she had the information, she gradually realized something was amiss: "...Beauty and ugliness can be determined by physical appearance...and congenital deficiencies can be compensated for later..."

The woman removed her veil and looked at the strange-looking figure in the mirror, with a bizarre upper lip and flat facial features. Her eyes were filled with a surging mix of emotions.

After returning to her classmate's home, Xiao Sui closed the door to visitors.

I fished for two days in a row.

"Master, we only have these two visiting cards today." The steward knew his master wanted to sell human skins; five human skins would earn him an extra one as a reward, so he was very concerned about this matter. No customers were coming, so why was the master still so calm and collected?

Xiao Sui said, "What's the rush?"

"How can we not be anxious?"

Xiao Sui, supporting her chin with one hand, fed the fish: "Wanting to do something isn't a good deal. Letting these mediocre people touch human skin is already a huge favor to them. Do you expect your parents to come to my door with human skin, begging them to pay for it? They should be the ones kneeling and begging me for money."

In fact, Xiao Sui alone could eat all five human skins.

It's like buying five and getting one free.

Unfortunately, the lord probably wouldn't want her to do that.

Upon hearing this, the manager could only suppress his worries.

There's basically nothing a parent can't accomplish if they want to. Since she said that, it seems the reduction in visiting cards is also under her control. And indeed, that's true. Xiao Sui not only remains calm, but she can also arrange for people to purchase provisions for a long journey.

Those with ulterior motives have been keeping a close eye on Xiao Sui and her group's movements.

Seeing Xiao Sui's people preparing to depart, he was extremely anxious.

The number of visiting cards suddenly skyrocketed.

Xiao Sui also found her target among them.

"Miss Xiao, you are living such a carefree life. People outside are eager to see you, practically wearing down the threshold, yet you stay in the courtyard fishing idly... It is truly enviable." The woman greeted Xiao Sui, and then tentatively teased her a couple of times.

Those who don't know the situation might think the two of them have a very close relationship.

Xiao Sui said, "I've stolen half a day of leisure from my busy life."

The woman didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

She used her own channels to obtain accurate information and learned the source of the man in black's recent unusual behavior, further confirming a certain suspicion in her mind. Now, she came to ask for a definitive answer.

Xiao Sui put away the fish food.

"Your Majesty, come with me."

Xiao Sui took out the most beautiful human skin.

The woman's breathing quickened the moment she saw it.

"Was this skin peeled off a human body?"

Xiao Sui retorted, "Would a god be so cruel?"

The woman's lingering resentment vanished.

Until she put on this delicate, cool human skin, she felt no burden whatsoever, and when she raised her hand to touch it, she couldn't feel the presence of a second human skin. The moment she saw her reflection in the mirror, her eyes widened in shock, and she never wanted to take it off again.

"This, this..."

Her breathing was rapid, and her chest heaved violently.

He repeatedly touched the defective area of ​​his upper lip with his fingers.

No!

No matter how close she got to the bronze mirror, the upper lip of the person in the mirror was smooth, delicate, and even; there was no trace of the twisted and hideous scars.

Xiao Sui asked, "Is Your Majesty satisfied?"

The woman's expression changed, and she forced herself to calm down.

She realized that Xiao Sui was after her, and that she wanted to get her to take the initiative to contact this human skin. But what was Xiao Sui's purpose?

Could it be for a mere six thousand gold coins?

What a joke! Does the prestigious Xiao family need her money?

"What is your purpose?"

"Giving alms, preaching the word, and also for the great cause of our Lord."

The woman's lips twitched.

I'm afraid the third point is the real one.

"For the sake of the Qin envoy's grand ambitions and hegemony?"

Xiao Sui didn't correct the other party. Now wasn't the time to clear up the misunderstanding; if the other party wanted to misunderstand, let them continue to misunderstand—it was actually to her advantage. If Qin Huang knew she had switched allegiance so early, who knew what underhanded tricks she might use.

The woman said, "Should I also give you six thousand gold pieces?"

Xiao Sui: "Eight thousand."

The woman exclaimed in astonishment, "Eight thousand?"

Xiao Sui raised her hand to stroke the woman's flawless cheek, gesturing for her to look at the two stunning beauties standing opposite each other in the mirror: "Since ancient times, only a very few people possess natural beauty, one in ten thousand. Does Your Majesty think this face isn't worth two thousand?"

It's definitely worth it.

Physical appearance has always been a scarce resource.

Even rarer than the human skin that perfectly matches the Painted Skin Ghost, let alone two thousand, even ten thousand would be sought after.

Xiao Sui's voice carried an endless allure, seemingly trying to penetrate the depths of a woman's soul and awaken her most primal greed: "With a queen's talent and status, she naturally doesn't need to rely on her looks to survive, but to add to her beauty, who would dislike it?"

The woman's eyes flickered.

Xiao Sui's fingers landed on the side of her neck.

The woman abruptly raised her hand and grabbed her wrist, stopping the other woman from touching the gap in the human skin mask. Xiao Sui looked at her with a half-smile, and the woman realized that her forehead was covered in sweat and her heart was pounding. She didn't want to take off the human skin!

This face already belongs to her!

"Yes, what I need right now is this icing on the cake." The woman swallowed hard, risking offending Xiao Sui, and tentatively asked, "And wouldn't this be a godsend for Lady Xiao?"

Xiao Sui's laughter was cheerful and clear.

"Who should we offer help in our time of need? Should we give it to the Xiao family?"

The woman turned pale, realizing she had asked a stupid question.

"If God hadn't forbade it, I would have been willing to offer my entire fortune to serve her and dedicate my life to spreading the gospel." Xiao Sui's smile vanished, leaving only a hint of coldness, and a faint trace of murderous jealousy that would terrify any woman. "Why would I need anyone else?"

The woman instinctively covered her chest to calm her racing heart.

She then clearly realized one thing—

The person standing in front of her right now is not human!

It's a painted skin demon!

It's a ghost!

No matter how virtuous a ghost may appear on the surface, it is still a ghost. Its mind is twisted, it is very different from ordinary people, and it is unpredictable.

Just as Xiao Sui said—

What can't the prestigious Xiao family have?

She was willing to give everything, but even with her utmost devotion, she was still just one person, and the gods—let's call this unknown wild god a god for now—were certainly not satisfied with having only one believer.

Xiao Sui's smile returned to normal: "Were you startled?"

The woman replied, "No."

Xiao Sui gently stroked the woman's cheek with reluctance, the undisguised admiration in her eyes making the woman nervous and uneasy. She felt that Xiao Sui's hand was not a hand, but a snake slithering along her face.

You never know when it will open its mouth and bite.

"I will depart in three days." This was not only said to the woman, but also to several people who were eagerly awaiting news.

Xiao Sui only sold two human skins on this trip.

They were only willing to sell two tickets.

The two companies' prepared supplies filled one supply wagon after another, all destined for Tianyue County. This shipment traveled along the blocked trade route, and no one dared to extort or charge fees at the checkpoints.

The others were so anxious they were hoarse.

Until someone cautiously suggested paying a deposit first.

Xiao Sui had said that each time she invoked the divine oracle, it consumed a great deal of her vital energy, and she could only invoke it once every ten days. This meant that she could only obtain a maximum of three human skins per month. This amount was far from enough for them to divide, and to prevent someone from intercepting them, it would be better to make a deposit and establish a contract first.

Xiao Sui carefully measured the situation, not pushing the person to the brink. After repeated pleas, she reluctantly agreed to the deposit option.

The average person can get a human skin for six thousand gold pieces. Since the appearance restoration project isn't mandatory, everyone can add it as they see fit. She'll bring the human skin with her next visit. Others who can't wait can be coordinated.

Everyone: "..."

coordination?

How can this be coordinated?

For the painted-skin demon, this was a life-saving and liberating treasure!

Everyone's waiting for it to save their lives, how can we possibly coordinate?

Beyond the clientele of the "Painted Skin Ghost," Xiao Sui still needed that woman's help with promotion—she already possessed top-tier beauty, and if she were still veiled, hiding at home in self-pity, Xiao Sui would be in trouble. Fortunately, that woman did not disappoint her expectations.

Various flower-viewing banquets, poetry gatherings, and tea parties were held one after another.

The veil had already been removed.

Guests would be momentarily stunned when they saw that face.

While everyone assumed the woman had stolen someone else's face, she claimed that a master had altered her features, leaving her with her own original appearance. Such an absurd excuse should normally be unbelievable.

result--

A group of people actually believed it.

They're all just unlucky imposters in disguise.

For a moment, some people couldn't help but mutter to themselves.

Are these demons with painted skins after women's human skin?

That's what they thought, but no one worried that the woman's human skin would be taken away, simply because the woman was an only child, and her parents could only have one child because of the calamity of the stars. The family's foundation would also fall on her shoulders, and she would have many guards, both open and secret, around her.

Furthermore, even the best human skin can't last a lifetime.

No one would take such a big risk to rob it.

For a time, the group lived in peace.

Xiao Sui returned with a full load, including supplies obtained from exchanging two human skins and deposits from others. She used these deposits to buy other goods, which added a few more days to her journey.

"Wait, stop!"

With a loud shout, the convoy stopped immediately.

Xiao Sui lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw a familiar face approaching on horseback. She couldn't help but smile and said, "Good sister, we have a deep connection."

The right deputy was also taken aback: "Why is it you again?"

"Don't you Hundred Ghost Guards have anything to do?"

This is the third time they've been blocking my way on the main road every day.

Thinking of her deliberate provocation of Guan Si, Xiao Sui worried that she would be retaliated against. She preemptively said, "I am on my lord's orders to go out and purchase supplies. The county urgently needs these supplies, so I would appreciate it if you would do me a favor, dear sister, considering our family's past relationship."

Who will take responsibility for the wasted time?

Right Vice-Commander: "...The General wants to see you."

Xiao Sui: "..."

She secretly calculated the possibility of breaking out by force.

The answer is infinitely close to zero.

A thought struck her, and she came up with another plan. She made an excuse to have the steward deliver a message to the lord, ostensibly to inform the lord to send people to escort the supplies, but in reality, she wanted the lord to go to Guan Si's place to rescue her.

The right deputy said, "No need."

Xiao Sui thought to herself, "My life is over."

The next sentence takes another unexpected turn.

Right Vice: "The general is with Lord Zhang."

Xiao Sui thought she had misheard.

This is indeed the case.

Zhang Yang was not in Weiyin County or Prefecture, but in the Dongfan Mountains.

A banner was hung at the entrance of the Hundred Ghosts Guard's temporary camp—

[Celebrating the joint bandit suppression operation by Tianyue County Government and the Hundred Ghosts Guard]

Xiao Sui: "...???"

She said quietly, "Your general is really no good."

Now it was the right vice-deputy's turn to fall silent. She stammered, a little guilty, "...It's not what you think."

But, to put it simply—

The Hundred Ghosts Guard still couldn't wipe out the bandits of the Eastern Frontier.

This joint operation began three days after Xiao Sui left Tianyue County. Zhang Yang received news at the county government that villages near the Dongfan Mountains had been brutally attacked by bandits. The county sent troops to suppress the bandits, but suffered heavy casualties and had to report the incident to the county government.

Zhang Yang slammed his fist on the table: "Guan Siyin is really no good!"

She boasted so grandly, saying she could subdue the Eastern Bandits within a month, seize the trade routes, and open up trade between Tianyue County and the mountain counties. And what happened? The Eastern Bandits simply came down from the mountains and wreaked havoc, killing and looting, even murdering her children.

The deadline has long passed!

Guan Zong nodded: "Yes, he's just a good-for-nothing."

Zhang Yang suppressed his anger: "If he can't do it, I will! Am I supposed to wait forever for him to send back a message?"

She immediately decided not to wait any longer: [A cornered dog will do the opposite of what it wants; the more pressure Guan Siyin puts on the Eastern Barbarian rebels, the easier it will be for them to scatter and posed a great threat to the safety of the people of Tianyue!]

She hasn't fully regained control of the homestead branch yet, and can only manage farming in the small town of Tianyue. How much effort has she put into this? To put it bluntly, Tianyue is her primary county! It holds an extraordinary place in her heart.

These bandits from the Eastern Frontier, those with red names, have trampled on her land?

And the person who killed her?

To undermine the fruits of her labor?

Is Zhang Yang someone who's easy to talk to?

After saying this, Zhang Yang prepared to leave, but Fan You quickly stopped him: [Does my lord intend to go alone?]

Does this mean I'll have to take my family with me?

Fan You: [...]

In the end, they couldn't just leave as planned. Fan You needed to muster his troops and deploy them in advance near the Dongfan Mountains, sending scouts to familiarize themselves with the intricate terrain within the mountains. Several days passed in this way. Fortunately, no news of Dongfan bandits attacking or killing villages came during these days. One day, Zhang Yang woke up feeling drenched in sweat.

Did I get into a boiler?

I opened the window and saw that the sun in the sky was dazzlingly bright.

Not only is it incredibly bright, but it's also extremely hot. If you stick your head out into the sun for a short while, you'll feel the top of your head getting hot.

Zhang Yang blinked, somewhat bewildered.

It wasn't until she went to the prefectural government office and saw Shi Xu in a cool summer dress through the latticed window that she learned from the prefectural officials that the seasonal disorder in Tianyue had ended. Overnight, the entire Tianyue Prefecture had gone from a cold winter to a hot summer.

The common people in Weiyin County cheered with joy.

One by one, they couldn't wait to take off their heavy winter clothes.

Although summers are hot, few people die from the heat, but in winter, a large number of people can truly freeze to death. Even if they manage to save some money through paid corvée labor and have winter clothes provided by the prefectural government to keep them alive, their quality of life is only enough to keep them from freezing to death, far from comfortable.

Now that summer is here, I finally don't have to worry about my life anymore.

Unlike the jubilant celebrations of the common people outside the prefectural government, the atmosphere inside was rather somber. Xu Jin, who had also rushed over from the county court, said with a worried expression, "I thought this chaos would be followed by spring, and I made ample preparations for a spring famine, but who would have thought it would be the height of summer..."

Their plans were all disrupted.

Zhang Yang looked at him, puzzled: "Isn't summer bad?"

Xu Jin said: "The seedlings haven't been planted yet, and the summer weather is hot and dry with little rain. Today the sun is so intense; I fear a severe drought."

In the event of a drought, even well-cultivated wasteland cannot grow seedlings.

Farmland needs water, and people need drinking water.

In winter, you can add clothes when it's too cold, but what if you're dehydrated in summer?

Zhang Yang asked him: "How did you deal with severe droughts in the past?"

Xu Jindao said: "Generally, we dig more wells and find water sources to ensure water supply for the fields first, and then for the common people. If these measures are still insufficient, we will have to buy water."

Zhang Yang thought he had misheard.

[Spend money? Buy water? From whom?]

This is utterly outrageous! She's farming and managing her own homestead on her map, and she has to pay for water? Who sells water?

Xu Jin: [Naturally, we'll buy from upstream suppliers.]

Zhang Yang: [...]

Oh, so the wool comes from the sheep's back.

Xu Jiusi meant that a group of shameless red-named individuals occupied her home map, acting arrogantly and domineeringly. They even cut off her upstream water supply during a severe drought, forcing her to pay money to buy water when she was short of it? Does Zhang Yang look like such a traitor?

Zhang Yang remained silent and patient.

The question was asked: [Who is the force that cut off the upstream water source?]

Xu Jin said: [Tianjiang County and Yu County.]

The largest tributary passes through these two counties, and they've blocked its flow. No matter how much Tianyue County resists, it's useless. If they want water, they have to pay; otherwise, forget it. Xu Jin sighed again: "There's a reason why Tianyue's relationship with them is so bad, and why their trade routes are restricted and they're exploited. It all started with a dispute over drinking water..."

This is a story from the past.

At the time, Tianyue's military strength was relatively strong, causing the two prefectures to cry out in despair and forcing them to refrain from exploiting the waterways. However, as the Dongfan bandits near Tianyue Prefecture grew stronger, they somewhat limited Tianyue's military strength. With its military strength weakened on one side and local forces taking root in Tianyue and exploiting it, Tianyue's overall strength declined significantly.

Zhang Yang frowned: "Isn't the Wang Ting going to do anything about it?"

What is the imperial court doing?

Xu Jin sighed helplessly: "Even before Dou Kingdom was separated from Xuanwu Kingdom, Tianjiang County and Tianyue County already had conflicts."

Both the Xuanwu royal family and the Dou royal family took measures to stop it.

When the royal court had strong control over the local areas, such mediation was naturally effective. However, as the royal family declined, even the most extensive mediation efforts were ignored. Now, the Dou Kingdom is practically dead; it's uncertain whether they can achieve a restoration by going to Dog County…

The affairs of Tianyue County can only be handled by themselves.

Zhang Yang: [...Are there any other grudges?]

Xu Jin shook his head: "Probably not."

The relationship between the two places is less about mutual hatred and more about mutual regional smearing. Tianjiang County and neighboring counties band together to call Tianyue a backwater, while Tianyue County smears Tianjiang County as having no real ability, only knowing how to flaunt its geographical advantage and acting like a spoiled brat. In both places, the other's name is used as an insult. Over time, this mutual smearing became a habit.

Zhang Yang slapped his forehead: [I was careless.]

She remembered that Xiao Sui had gone to Tianjiang County to find a major client.

Can business be done between Tianjiang County and Tianyue County, who are constantly undermining each other?

Xu Jin initially thought it was something serious. Upon learning that Zhang Yang was worried about people going into business, he smiled and said, "There's no need to worry about that. Who would turn down profits?"

If the benefits are attractive enough, it's not impossible to do business with an enemy, let alone form a marriage alliance with them.

Zhang Yang asked: "What is the military strength of Tianjiang Commandery?"

Instead of paying for water, we might as well just tap it.

Xu Jin understood the implied meaning and exclaimed in surprise, "No, you mustn't!"

Tianyue County had just experienced the chaos of the four seasons and suddenly found itself in the height of summer. Food was scarce and the people were exhausted. How could they possibly sustain a long expedition? Xu Jin preferred to let the people rest and recuperate properly.

Zhang Yang: [Is there no other way?]

Xu Jin said: "It's not that there aren't any."

The conditions are quite stringent.

In mythology, dragons are responsible for bringing rain, and the Azure Dragon, one of the Four Symbols, has a similar ability. Xu Jin had heard outsiders talk about this method of bringing rain, but he had never tried it himself.

Xu Jin then reassured Zhang Yang: "The drought is merely my speculation; it may not actually occur. The Prefect has ordered the digging of wells in various villages these past few months. With these, the drought will surely pass safely."

If the water shortage persists, we can just buy more from upstream suppliers.

The former prefect also bought it when he was in office.

The arrival of summer caused Zhang Yang to lose a few more days of work.

She sent the message to Guan Si in advance.

Guan Si looked at the letter, his cold face filled with displeasure.

[These petty thieves are no match for the Hundred Ghost Guards!]

[Tsk, still being stubborn. If we could wipe them out completely, would you say the people who attacked and killed my villages were the spirits of the Eastern Bandits?] This guy should probably change his nickname; "Stubborn Guy" would be more fitting. He's just bad; no need to make up so many excuses!

Guan Si: [...]

He beat up Guan Zong, who was delivering the message.