From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

"Um?"

Even the usually composed Gu Tingshu couldn't help but show surprise at this moment, looking Chen Shi up and down before finally confirming it after a moment.

"What did you just say?"

"Please allow me to resign from my position as chief steward, Your Excellency."

Chen Shi took a deep breath and repeated it.

"Heh, heh heh, in the decades since the Jing'an Marquis's mansion was established, you are still the first steward to voluntarily resign."

Gu Tingshu chuckled twice, then his gaze toward Chen Shi suddenly turned serious.

"You've only been the steward for half a year, and now you're coming to resign? What, have you had enough so quickly? Or has my Jing'an Marquis's mansion mistreated you in some way?"

"No, of course not! Your Excellency and the Marquis's mansion have shown me immeasurable kindness, which I will never forget in my lifetime!"

Chen Shi quickly shook his head in denial, then whispered something.

"It's my own fault."

Tell me about it.

"I... I am now the steward, and staying in the Marquis's mansion will not bring me any further promotion. I am only twenty years old this year, and if I live to eighty, that means I will stop here for another sixty years. I... I am not willing to accept this!"

Chen Shi hesitated slightly, then gritted his teeth and said in a low voice.

Of course, he didn't dare to say the real reason, but didn't he have some ambition at all?

After speaking, Chen Shi looked up at Gu Tingshu.

Gu Tingshu looked at Chen Shi, his gaze shifting slightly.

He nodded slightly after a moment.

Chen Shi is right. If he stays in the Marquis's mansion, he will be at the top as the head steward and will not be able to advance any further.

Although for most people in this world, even those court officials, they probably cannot compare to the chief steward of the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion.

But Chen Shi is only twenty years old this year, full of youthful vigor and ambition, an age when he is full of longing for the future. What's more, Chen Shi is already a sixth-rank martial artist at such a young age.

Indeed, he would never be willing to waste the best years of his life in this position of general manager.

Who would willingly remain subservient to someone else for long?

Although the chief steward of the Marquis's mansion held a high position and wielded great power, he was still, after all, a servant.

Admittedly, from Gu Tingshu's perspective as someone with experience, Chen Shi was most likely wasting his efforts. Even if he risked his life and struggled his whole life, he might not be able to regain the position of the chief steward of the Jing'an Marquis's mansion.

But Gu Tingshu didn't say anything, because he knew that Chen Shi wouldn't listen anyway.

That's the spirit of youth.

"If you were to leave the Marquis's residence, what are your plans?"

"I want to join the army!"

"According to the laws of the Great Qian Dynasty, a sixth-rank official can become a general in the army, and you are exceptionally brave, so this is indeed a viable path."

Gu Tingshu nodded, then asked another question.

"Have you decided which army you want to join?"

"I……"

Chen Shi opened his mouth, then shook his head, looking embarrassed.

Since learning of Gu Hanying's decision, Chen Shi had made up his mind to leave the Marquis's mansion and join the army, risking his life for a chance to marry Gu Hanying. However, he didn't really have any ideas about which army to join or how to enlist.

Although he is now the chief steward of the Marquis's mansion, he has only been in the Jing'an Marquis's mansion for a little over two years. He was promoted too quickly and his knowledge is far from keeping up. He doesn't really understand many things.

"Okay, I'll arrange it for you."

"My lord!"

Chen Shi opened his eyes slightly, looking at Gu Tingshu with a face full of surprise.

Gu Tingshu was not angry at his resignation; instead, he even helped him arrange military affairs.

This was truly beyond Chen Shi's expectations.

"What's so surprising?"

Seeing through Chen Shi's thoughts, Gu Tingshu smiled again.

"Even if you are no longer the chief steward of my Jing'an Marquis's mansion, you still came from my Jing'an Marquis's mansion. No matter where you go or become a general, that will not change."

"……yes!"

Chen Shi paused for a moment, then responded in a deep voice.

Gu Tingshu is right. A person's birth cannot be changed. As long as he is still in the court, he is a member of the Jing'an Marquis's lineage!

Thinking of this, Chen Shi felt a surge of joy.

He understood perfectly well that it's good to have a big tree to lean on for shade.

As a direct descendant of the Marquis of Jing'an, joining the army would bring many advantages. The simplest point is that with only one opportunity for promotion, given the same military achievements, Chen Shi would naturally be promoted over another commoner.

Gu Tingshu was not angry with him and still regarded him as a close follower, which was truly good news.

In fact, Chen Shi's biggest worry was that Gu Tingshu would be angry because of his resignation, so he deliberately chose this time to say it. Now that he has made great contributions, Gu Tingshu shouldn't kill him directly.

But now it seems he was overthinking things.

As the saying goes, a prime minister's belly can hold a boat; Gu Tingshu, holding a high position, naturally possessed a magnanimity that was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Furthermore, Chen Shi may have overestimated himself.

Would the prestigious Jing'an Marquis's mansion lack a chief steward? If he's unwilling to do it, plenty of people are eager to take the job; Gu Tingshu has no need to hold him back.

"Alright then, I'll bestow upon you the surname Gu."

After a moment's hesitation, Gu Tingshu suddenly spoke.

"Bestowed a surname!"

Chen Shi's eyes widened, and he froze instantly.

If he is granted the surname Gu, it means he is a member of the Gu family, the most direct descendant, and a trusted confidant!

Such benefits and conveniences naturally come in many more forms.

It must be said that Gu Tingshu's willingness to bestow the surname Gu upon him shows how much he valued him.

but!

If he takes the surname Gu, how can he marry Gu Hanying?

"Gu Shi, that doesn't sound quite right. How about I change your name?"

Gu Tingshu smiled, as if he was pondering.

"My lord!"

Chen Shi spoke up immediately, his expression extremely serious.

"My name was given to me by my parents, and I dare not change it lightly!"

"Um?"

Gu Tingshu, who was enthusiastically naming Chen Shi, frowned instantly upon hearing this, and looked at Chen Shi with a sudden stern expression.

Chen Shi stood there, his palms sweating.

The bestowal of a surname upon him was both an act of trust and an attempt to win him over. His open refusal at this time shows that he harbors ulterior motives!

Putting aside his father, Chen Shi had no feelings for his mother anymore. Whether or not he changed his surname was irrelevant to him, but he could not bear the surname Gu.

"Don't you think I'm family-oriented?"

"I wouldn't dare!"

Chen Shi looked flustered, his mind racing, and quickly said...

"It is my lowly life that cannot bear the weight of the noble Gu family name. I am afraid that I will cause trouble in the future and implicate the Gu family. Moreover, when I sold myself into the family, my mother repeatedly instructed me not to change my surname. If I change my surname, I will not be able to be buried in my original hometown after my death."

"so……"

Gu Tingshu looked at Chen Shi and pondered for a while.

A moment later, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"If that's the case, then I won't have to bother naming you. You can just call yourself Chen Shi."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Marquis!"

"I will make arrangements for your enlistment in the army. You can go back and wait patiently."

"Yes, thank you, Your Excellency!"

Chen Shi thanked him again, saw Gu Tingshu wave his hand, and then bowed and took his leave.

Emerging from Gu Tingshu's study, Chen Shi gazed at the vast sky and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

He has passed Gu Tingshu's test.

Gu Tingshu has promised that his independence will be restored soon.

I wonder if I'll get angry.

Then he took another deep breath and walked towards the inner courtyard to see Xiao Fengxiao.