Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

What does my sister-in-law want with me?

Could it be that he also knew I was staying home reflecting on my mistakes and came here specifically to comfort me?

Hmm... that's unlikely...

It's not that we're not close enough, it's just that few people know about my secluded reflection!

Even from the emperor down, perhaps no one in the Song Dynasty's high-ranking officials knew this, let alone a woman like my sister-in-law!

So what was her intention in taking the initiative to visit him?

Gao Zhao watched Gao Yi's retreating figure as he hurried off to pick up the person, and fell into deep thought.

Could it be that she's realized how good he is and has changed her mind?

If that's the case, then I need to be more reserved and absolutely cannot agree easily, lest I appear too cheap and like a sycophant!

It's common knowledge that simps never have a good ending; who would fall for a dog!

Gao Zhao unconsciously sat up straight, straightened his clothes, struck a pose, and turned his head to see Feng Sanniang looking at him with resentment in her eyes.

Gao Zhao knew he was in the wrong, so he couldn't help but smile awkwardly. He was a little embarrassed, realizing that he had indeed gone too far today!

Feng San Niang had already set the mood perfectly, but he suddenly stopped, spoiling the fun. Who would be happy in that situation?

To be honest, this is a bit inhuman!

Upon seeing his expression, Feng Sanniang immediately glared at him, turned her head away, and sneered, "Truly, you've forgotten the old for the new. I wonder what kind of stunning beauty has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Zhao's expression turned serious, and he said solemnly, "Sister, don't talk nonsense. The person outside who wants to see me is Zhang, the wife of my good brother Lin Chong. He must have something important to discuss with me since he has come here so abruptly today..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gao Zhao suddenly paused, remembering the scene of Lin Chong being escorted away at the Imperial Guard camp that day!

He suddenly realized that Zhang Yunniang's visit today was probably related to Lin Chong!

Gao Zhao's expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant. He was displeased. If Zhang Yunniang was really begging him for another man, then it was somewhat disrespectful!

Seeing that he suddenly stopped halfway through his sentence, looking thoughtful, Feng Sanniang assumed he really had something to say. Since he had already given up halfway, she might as well be a little temperamental and get some benefit from it. So she said coquettishly, "I used to be Sun Yuan's wife! Didn't you fool me too? I know you well enough to know better, humph!"

After saying that, she swayed her hips and walked away.

Gao Zhao was stirred by his sarcastic remarks, which reminded him of the time when he seduced Feng Sanniang. Seeing the exaggeratedly large full moon again, his anger flared up even more.

This woman is becoming increasingly rude, daring to make such malicious assumptions about my thoughts without any evidence. Isn't this slandering me?

I'll definitely have to teach her a lesson later!

However, the thought of seeing Zhang Yunniang soon made Gao Zhao suppress his anger.

Since they need something from me... hehehehehe...

Sister-in-law, you don't want anything to happen to your husband, do you?

Now that it's deep winter and freezing cold, everyone has already put on their winter clothes. He hasn't bothered to visit Lin Chong's house lately, and it's been a long time since he's seen such a bountiful harvest!

Looking at the charcoal brazier burning brightly in the room, Gao Zhao felt that the timing was perfect and everything was just right!

Hehehehe...

Just as they were laughing happily, a series of hurried footsteps approached. Gao Yi strode in, bowed, and reported, "Young Master, the person has been brought!"

"This old man greets you, young master!"

"This humble servant greets the young master!"

Two figures appeared in succession and bowed respectfully.

Gao Zhao's expression darkened. He looked up and saw that Zhang Yunniang had indeed arrived. She was wearing a simple and elegant plain silk winter coat. The material was not luxurious, but it was neat and clean. A plain silver hairpin held her black hair up in a bun. She looked simple and elegant.

Her once gentle and beautiful features were now burdened with deep sorrow, her face was haggard, and her eyes were red. She had been traveling against the wind all the way, her cheeks were red from the cold, and her fair hands were trembling slightly.

His appearance was so pitiful that one couldn't help but feel sorry for him and want to go forward to comfort him. Unfortunately, he was accompanied by an old man with white hair. Although his back was slightly hunched, he was still in good spirits. This was none other than Zhang Jiaotou, Lin Chong's father-in-law.

Ha, bringing Dad over!

That's not sincere at all!

I don't think you really want to save Lin Chong!

Gao Zhao suppressed the stiff smile on his face, adopted the airs of a young master, leaned back on the thickly cushioned couch, and said calmly, "No need for formalities. What brings you two here today?"

Instructor Zhang straightened up, sighed deeply, his face full of sorrow, and bowed, saying in a deep voice, "Young Master, my daughter and I have come today to discuss the matter of my son-in-law, Lin Chong. We beg your assistance!"

Gao Zhao didn't even look at him; his gaze was fixed on Zhang Yunniang's face, making her body tense slightly and her cheeks burn. But in front of her father, she dared not make a sound.

This reminded her of the day Lin Chong got drunk and the rude and lewd behavior of that scoundrel of a high-ranking official, making her feel even more ashamed and angry, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Zhang Yunniang clenched her clothes tightly, her heart filled with shame and indignation. But now she was in dire straits and needed his help, so she forced herself to suppress the urge to retreat. Lowering her eyes, she dared not meet his gaze, and murmured softly, "Please, young master, lend me your assistance! I will be eternally grateful!"

Seeing her like this, Gao Zhao felt a tingling sensation in his heart and couldn't help but lick his lips. Seeing the growing anger in Zhang Yunniang's eyes, he quickly composed himself and coughed lightly, saying:

"Hey, Instructor Zhang, what are you talking about? What happened to Instructor Lin this time? Didn't he get promoted by his superiors a while ago and be ordered to escort military equipment? Now that he's done his job, he should be rewarded!"

Instructor Zhang's expression fell, and he cried out in grief, "The military equipment was stolen during transport!"

"Ah! Who is so bold as to dare to rob weapons!" Gao Zhao exclaimed in shock. He was genuinely astonished. At this stage, where could there be such powerful robbers?

Those bandits who turned to banditry at most only robbed passing merchants and travelers!

Stealing weapons is a capital offense!

Besides, military equipment isn't so easy to rob. They'd probably run away as soon as they saw the soldiers escorting it!

Moreover, Lin Chong is not someone to be trifled with. With his martial arts skills, it would be as difficult as climbing to heaven to steal weapons from him!

Gao Zhao instinctively became alert; something was wrong!

He looked up at the two men and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, it's not that I'm unwilling to rescue Lin Chong, but losing weapons is a capital offense, and the consequences are too great for me to handle."

Zhang Yunniang was already on tenterhooks when she heard Gao Zhao's words. She swayed violently and almost lost her balance. Two streams of tears could no longer be held back and rolled down her haggard cheeks.

Instructor Zhang, standing to the side, his chest heaving violently, let out a long sigh, pulled out a stack of pawn tickets from his robes, and presented them, his voice trembling as he said, "This is all the wealth of this old man and the Lin family, a total of ten thousand strings of cash. Please accept this, young master, to save my life!"

Zhang Yunniang looked at him with a pleading expression, her eyes filled with tears, and choked out, "Please, young master, have mercy and save my husband! I will be eternally grateful and will repay you in my next life as a cow or a horse!"

Gao Zhao glanced at the two of them, growing impatient. He reached into his robes and pulled out a thick wad of silver notes, slamming them on the table. He said indifferently, "Here is fifty thousand strings of cash. I'll use this as a bride price to take you as my concubine, how about it?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the soft crackling of the charcoal in the brazier, which sounded particularly jarring in the stillness.