Martial arts mastery? But I'm just a spoiled brat!

"It's been quite a while since I've seen Auntie. Why is she still so impulsive?"

Upon hearing the sound, Yan Qing stopped what he was doing and raised an eyebrow.

"The young lady has been looking for a suitable location to build a factory in the surrounding area recently, and occasionally she also goes to schools to select professional personnel. She often doesn't come back to the courtyard and lives outside instead."

Today, Lan Yue's hair was tied up in a bun with bangs combed across her forehead, giving her a more gentle and refined air. She stepped forward and used a warm towel to wipe Yan Qing's hands, while casually recounting what Yan Yan Yan had been doing recently.

"That's quite rare that she still remembered to come back."

Yan Qing stretched out her hand and let Lan Yue wipe it.

Since taking Wanxing and Lanyue into his room, the two women have taken even better care of him, and he is happy to enjoy it.

"Qing'er, did you read the newspaper today? You're famous again!! I never knew you were so amazing!!"

Yan Yanyan jogged into the courtyard, and before she could catch her breath, she handed a newspaper to Yan Qing.

"What newspaper made you so agitated? Isn't it normal for me to be so assertive?"

Yan Qing chuckled as he took the newspaper, making a sarcastic remark as he walked over to a nearby table and chairs to read it.

The smile on Yan Qing's face vanished after just one glance.

Moreover, the more you look at him, the colder his expression becomes.

"Qing'er, isn't this a wonderful thing? Why do you look so unhappy?"

Yan Yanyan kept a close eye on Yan Qing's expression. When she saw his smile fade, she couldn't help but ask him in a low voice.

Whether something is good or bad depends on who says it.

Yan Qing put down the newspaper, and with just a slight lift of his hand, Lan Yue handed him a cup of ginseng tea.

The ginseng tea was warm, just the right temperature to drink. Yan Qing didn't rush to answer Yan Yanyan's question, but instead picked up the ginseng tea and took a sip.

"You mean, that young Marshal Zhang has ulterior motives towards you?"

Yan Yanyan was a smart woman; she immediately understood the meaning behind Yan Qing's words.

"Well, last time I published the article in the newspaper, it was to gain the moral high ground and prevent the Cao family from easily sending troops. Moreover, patriotic remarks can influence young students, but in the eyes of warlords, this matter is like a joke and will not be of any interest to them."

Yan Qing took a sip of ginseng tea, and only after watching Lan Yue pour a cup for Yan Yanyan did he continue speaking:

"But this time it's different. If we spread these words ourselves, people will just think I'm creating hype."

If others were to spread the word, they would only be skeptical and wouldn't take it seriously at all.

But Zhang Shaoshuai is different. With the Zhang family's power to occupy several major provinces in Northeast China, and now even the capital city, both his strength and reputation have reached their peak.

And what he says, others will certainly believe without a doubt.

As Yan Qing spoke, she unconsciously twirled the cup of ginseng tea in her hand, her eyes deep and thoughtful.

"I understand. He's putting you on such a high pedestal, bringing you into everyone's sight, making everyone pay attention to your every move, which is like putting you on the hot seat."

With Yan Qing's reminder, Yan Yanyan has also figured out the situation Yan Qing will face in the future.

If Marshal Zhang hadn't spoken up, the other warlords would have focused their attention on the Zhang family in Northeast China, keeping a close eye on their next move.

Now, by praising Yan Qing, the other party is essentially asking Yan Qing to share some of their attention.

This was a way of concealing themselves while simultaneously pushing Yan Qing out as a shield.

"That young marshal Zhang is really wicked! I thought he meant well, but what should I do now? Will someone try to harm you?"

However, Yan Yanyan was more concerned about Yan Qing, so after condemning Zhang Shaoshuai, she began to worry.

"Heh~ It's not as troublesome as you think. My main focus right now is on martial arts training, and I don't have any plans to interfere too much with the military. Besides, it's not all bad that they're publicizing me like this."

Now that the Yan family controls three provinces, they need to recruit a large number of soldiers to expand their power. This propaganda campaign has actually been quite beneficial for recruitment.

Yan Qing didn't mention one more thing: Zhang Shaoshuai's elevation of him, to some extent, deterred those warlords who coveted Hebei Province and Tianjin from causing trouble.

This would allow the Yan family to safely weather this relatively weak period.

"Hehe~ Qing'er, as long as you don't think it's a bad thing!"

Yan Yanyan's expression changed quickly. As soon as Yan Qing said that this was not a bad thing, the indignant look on her face immediately disappeared, and she smiled.

"By the way, Wu Hong told me he wants to go back to Northeast China to see his sister. Do you think we should let him go back?"

Yan Yanyan always distinguishes people very clearly. Yan Qing's enemies are her enemies. Just now, Yan Qing analyzed that Young Marshal Zhang for her, so she automatically classified Young Marshal Zhang as an enemy. And Wu Hong is Young Marshal Zhang's man, so he is her enemy.

Since Yan Qing's assassination attempt, Wu Hong has been under semi-house arrest. He can move freely within the city, but leaving the city is absolutely impossible.

Most importantly, Wu Hong valued his life very much and had no intention of trying to break out of the city; he was only testing the waters in front of Yan Yanyan.

"If he wants to leave, then let him leave. It's not time to break ties with the Zhang family yet."

Wu Hong had lost his value to Yan Qing, so Yan Qing didn't care much about his future.

"Then I'll talk to him, but... hehe, I can't just pass on his message for nothing. Luckily, the Zhang family has connections with the Russians, so I'll ask them to get me a few production lines."

Yan Yanyan smiled, her eyes narrowing into slits, looking like a little fox.

"Whatever makes you happy..."

Yan Qing simply smiled as he held the ginseng tea, not caring at all. Moreover, he believed that what Yan Yanyan wanted was nothing to the Zhang family.

"Then I'll go find Wu Hong right now!"

Yan Yanyan had an idea and got up to leave, but after only a few steps, she came back, picked up the newspaper, and left happily.

"Isn't Cao Shaolin still locked up in the dungeon at home? How's he doing lately?"

Watching Yan Yanyan leave, Yan Qing only remembered that there seemed to be another unlucky guy locked up when the other party mentioned Wu Hong.

However, Cao Shaolin was not as valuable as Wu Hong, so naturally, his treatment was not as good.

"Yes! He's still locked up in the dungeon. He's been behaving himself and hasn't done anything out of line. Should we...?"

Lan Yue gestured with her hands as she spoke.

"No need... The telegram said Cao Ying escaped, so keeping Cao Shaolin locked up might still be useful."

Yan Qing didn't mind keeping Cao Shaolin locked up, since he wasn't short of food anyway.

After saying that, Yan Qing drank the ginseng tea in his hand in one gulp, and even chewed up and swallowed all the slices of old ginseng.

"Young Master! The warlord sent someone back, saying that this person practices the true essence of Tai Chi."

Just as Yan Qing finished drinking the ginseng tea and was about to get up to cultivate, Wan Xing strode into the courtyard.