“You’re overindulging!” Xinyue mercilessly exposed Yun Ye’s false pretense.

“I merely complained about my back and waist aching. How did it get twisted to this?”

While helping her husband massage his lower back, Xinyue said, “You’re always like this—you’d rather shortchange yourself than let someone you care about be sad. Xiao Miao wanted a child, so you exerted yourself desperately. You’re almost forty years old now. Your body is already on the decline. How can it withstand such constant demands?”

Xinyue’s massage skills had improved considerably. Yun Ye groaned comfortably. She was right—Yun Ye always felt that coming to this world was actually to enjoy blessings. No one in this world had wronged him, from the Emperor to the farmers—all the same. Even Li Huairen probably suffered more pain than joy after harming him. Every time Zhangsun Chong saw him, inexplicable radiance flowed in his eyes.

The Emperor’s trust in him had almost reached the limit of what a sovereign could do. Several elders treated him like their own son, not to mention wise men like Old Yan and Li Gang.

Since he had enjoyed the goodwill bestowed upon him by everyone, he should treat them wholeheartedly. Xiao Miao had fought hard in the northern desert for a year for his sake. Now she merely wanted a child—it wasn’t an excessive request.

“Marrying you several is actually my blessing. As a woman without children, her life is incomplete. Look at how happy Xiao Miao has been these days. Even if I’m more tired, I’m willing. But then again, I quite enjoy this sort of thing too!” Yun Ye chuckled as he responded to Xinyue’s words.

Xinyue irritably slapped Yun Ye’s bare back and said, “You’re just an indiscriminate good person. You’d better live a long, long time and be a good person to the end. After we’ve all died and closed our eyes with smiles, then you can come to the underworld to find us and continue being a good person. If in the next life this humble one can still be a woman, I still plan to marry you. Ideally, all reincarnations would proceed this way. Living with you, I wouldn’t tire of it even after a thousand years.”

Yun Ye shook his head and said, “That won’t do. In my next life, I plan to be a pig—eat, wait for death. One year is one lifetime. Bones, flesh, fur, and hide all used to repay debts. This way, no matter what sins I committed in this life, they’ll all be repaid.”

“You haven’t committed any sins. You’re a good person.”

“I’m a good person? The Goguryeo people probably don’t see it that way. The Turks probably don’t see it that way. The Tubo people won’t see it that way either. The Arabs certainly won’t see it that way. You don’t know—you haven’t seen the scenes where great armies leave nothing growing in their wake. Cheng Chumo’s army cleared the path ahead. Anything that moved was on his elimination list. And those natives in Nanyang probably wouldn’t agree with your view either. Actually, according to my previous thinking, killing anyone wouldn’t make me feel happy. Who knew I would end up killing so many people.”

Xinyue helped Yun Ye put on his sleeping robe and lay beside him, holding his hand and sighing, with nothing to say. A general couldn’t avoid killing people. Only by killing many could one become a famous general. Only by killing all opponents could one be called a war god. Her husband was exactly like this. In his youth, he was wild and uninhibited. In middle age, he suddenly became steady. In old age, he would certainly become very wise. This was a satisfying transformation, and also a woman’s most reliable support.

The moon in the sky was about to become full. Through the glass window, cold radiance spilled into the room. Xinyue generously embraced her husband and even pressed her leg across his waist. At times like this, her husband belonged entirely to her alone. It was such a pity—such a good man had five wives… In the next life, this must not happen again…

Day broke quickly. Yun Mu was the earliest riser in the entire household. Early in the morning, she began arranging household affairs following her eldest aunt’s example. Father had said last night that if a woman couldn’t manage her own household affairs, she was a failed woman. From today onward, internal household matters would be decided by her.

Xiao Miao also rose early. She caressed the spear on the weapon rack somewhat reluctantly. Her husband had already sternly warned her not to touch these weapons anymore. During this period, she could only focus on nurturing the pregnancy.

Touching her flat belly, Xiao Miao was extremely joyful. She could feel a tiny life growing in her belly. She was somewhat impatient to see what her child would look like. If it was a boy, would he be as intelligent as her husband? If it was a daughter, would she be as beautiful as Na Rimu? Ideally, the temperament would be like Lingdang’s—soft and gentle. Girls should be like that.

If heaven pitied her and gave her a son, Xiao Miao looked at the spear in her hand and revealed a proud smile.

Pregnant women were always the most precious in the Yun family. Yun Mu specially prepared a different breakfast according to the family’s formula for caring for pregnant women. The Yun family’s breakfasts were always eaten crowded together. Seeing the whole family come out to the dining hall, Yun Mu felt very proud. Even the great-grandfather who never left his quarters came to the dining hall supported by maids, smiling as he watched her command the household’s maids and servants.

“Great-grandfather, look—our daughter has no problem acting as the household manager. She’s considered everything very thoroughly. Oh, she even remembered Xiao Miao’s pregnancy-nourishing soup. Very good, very good. Today’s millet porridge is truly excellent. Great-grandfather, you should still have another bowl.”

After looking inside and out, Xinyue praised Yun Mu’s performance profusely. Although the maids and servants were commanded rather chaotically, she pretended not to see it. This was her daughter’s first time managing the household—she should give some encouragement.

Li Yánróng was nursing, so the food on her tray was very abundant. But Yun Shou’s plate was pitiful—only a small piece of steamed bun. Just as Yun Shou was about to protest, Yun Mu pointed at the fat on his body, indicating he needed to lose weight.

Na Rimu’s performance today was excellent. She sat to one side carefully feeding the little daughter, only occasionally raising her head to glance at the eldest daughter, then at her husband, her face full of confusion. Her daughter simply wasn’t a good household manager.

Old Qian looked at Yun Mu with a face full of emotion and turned to Xinyue, saying, “Time really flies. Just a few years ago, that daughter who rode on this old servant’s shoulders playing horsey has, in the blink of an eye, become capable of managing household affairs. It’s truly moving.”

Xinyue looked at Yun Mu for a while and said, “The little bird has also grown wings. You’re an elder in the household. In the future, teach this child more. Life in a great family isn’t so simple. Our family doesn’t have those sordid matters, but in other families, there are many cases where people beat each other’s heads into pig heads.”

“That’s natural. However, our young miss has no need to learn those filthy schemes. Just marrying in like this—I don’t believe anyone would dare disrespect Xiao Mu!” Seeing her husband was pitiful, Li Yánróng picked two buns from her own plate and gave them to him, helping her sister-in-law build momentum from the side. When she managed the household in the Eastern Palace, she was famously strict. She had beaten more than one or two servants to death, so the servants and maids of the Yun family feared this mistress young madam most.

Xinyue didn’t manage household affairs much now. The caravan and shop matters were all under Li Yánróng’s jurisdiction. Aside from several old family retainers, Li Yánróng could punish everyone else.

After breakfast, Old Qian accompanied Yun Ye to the distillery. Liu Jinbao drove the carriage, which was loaded full of gifts. Today was the good day when the Yun family thanked its retainers. Everyone at the distillery was waiting for the family head’s arrival.

The ceremony of retainers paying respects to the family head was meticulously completed. Old Qian brought forth a list requesting the family head to review it. These were this year’s newly promoted retainers—Old Sun from Lingnan, Old Zhao from Yuezhou, plus Liu Jinbao, as well as some old managers who had made very important contributions to the Yun family. The Enchantress stood to one side. Her fingers flicked slightly, and some pale yellow powder was flicked into the noses of the newly promoted retainers. This test was mandatory—a decision made by all the retainers after consulting the Enchantress’s suggestion. Loyalty was always the most important topic. The Enchantress’s mushroom powder could make people answer the most secret questions in a daze…

Returning home, Xinyue again helped Yun Ye bandage the wound on his wrist. Every three years, her husband’s wrist would be cut open. This blood oath ceremony had now become a Yun family tradition. When other families recruited retainers, the family head wouldn’t cut his wrist. They only needed to accept the retainers’ pledges of loyalty, say a few words of encouragement, and the ceremony was complete. Therefore, Yun family retainers always looked down on retainers of other families. Loyalty was always mutual. If one was loyal to the family head, the family head also needed to be loyal to oneself. Only in this way would everyone support each other in living and advancing in this world.

The Yun family was now vigorously organizing household affairs. Entanglements with other families were gradually being untangled. Sometimes when a ship was too large, it was difficult to turn around. The Yun family now needed flexible responses.

Retainers were the foundation of a family. Li Er’s bag never lacked trustworthy talents because the Li family’s retainer group was very large. The Yun family must also achieve this. These past years, Yun Ye had purposefully inserted Gou Zi, Ren Xiong, Dongyu, and the second generation of retainers into vital positions in Chang’an. For example, Gou Zi was now the general guarding Yanping Gate. This gate was closest to Xinghua Ward, prepared just in case.

Ren Xiong was now the police chief under Wannian County’s jurisdiction. Sometimes the most sensitive information came from these inconspicuous people. Dongyu was stationed year-round on the Ba River, leading a small riverine fleet responsible for inspecting water transport matters. As long as the Yun family boarded warships, they could leave Chang’an in the shortest time. Yun Ye never allowed himself to be without a reliable escape route.

Yun Ye had arranged as many as three such escape routes. One could even lead directly into the Qinling Mountains, following a path no one had ever traveled that went straight through the Jinniu Road, finally reaching Hanzhong after many twists and turns, and ultimately following the Han River directly to Yuezhou.

Only after confirming he had no worries behind him could Yun Ye give his all. Every family surely had such preparations. He just didn’t know what their plans were.