Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 604: Chapter 509: The Potential to Be a Strategic Military Advisor (Posted the Wrong Chapter, Now Corrected)_2

Certainly, everything has its pros and cons. As long as Da Rong possesses enough Spirit Fruit and Elixirs, it can then command more Innate Martial Artists.

The drive of interests can sometimes prove to be more solid; sentiments, on the other hand, can sometimes vanish.

After listening to Yang Zhenshan’s narrative, Emperor Yanping’s eyes brightened. ”This is a good idea! Elder Chen, what do you think?”

”Your Majesty, Marquis Jing’an is experienced and strategically adept; I believe it’s feasible,” Chen Zhongshu said with a smile.

”I dare not claim so; it’s merely a humble observation from your servant. There are still many deficiencies that require Your Majesty’s input to perfect,” Yang Zhenshan quickly responded with humility.

”Hmm!” Emperor Yanping wasn’t concerned with Yang Zhenshan’s modesty; he thought highly of him. Whether it was in military strategies, governance of the people, or statecraft, Yang Zhenshan always provided profound insights.

”Do you have any other proposals, my loyal subject?”

Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment, then added, ”I believe it would be beneficial to strengthen the court’s ties with the esteemed elders. Enhancing relations through contact would be good.”

”While in Cui Xia Valley, I saw the revered elders deliberating together and gained much from it,”

”Therefore, I think the court could organize an Innate Martial Artists Conference every three years, with Your Majesty hosting a banquet for the esteemed elders to deliberate together. It would deepen the court’s relationship with the elders and also provide an opportunity for them to exchange cultivation insights.”

The Innate Martial Artists Conference, also known as the Innate Martial Artists Exchange Conference, encapsulates this idea.

Since Innate Martial Artists are not dangerous beasts, there is no need to hide or suppress them. Rather, it benefits the development of Martial Arts in Da Rong to bring them out into the open.

Additionally, some attendees can record the discussion from the conference and store these cultivation insights in the Hidden Skill Pavilion.

Emperor Yanping nodded, ”This idea is also good! I too wish to meet more with those venerable elders, but they seem to shy away from me as though I’m some kind of plague.”

”Half of the people I sent with invitations couldn’t even find their recipients, and some elders hid themselves as soon as they knew the messages were from me!”

”Sigh~~”

Emperor Yanping felt somewhat wronged.

”If we can successfully conduct this Martial Arts Banquet, then there will be no need for Your Majesty to personally invite them, as those venerable elders will proactively come to see Your Majesty,” Yang Zhenshan said with a smile.

”Yes, let them come to me on their own initiative!” Emperor Yanping declared spiritedly.

Seeing that Emperor Yanping was in good spirits, Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment before saying, ”Your Majesty, I have a somewhat personal request to make.”

”You may speak freely, my dear subject. Though we stand as Emperor and subject, I regard you as a mentor and friend,” Emperor Yanping said affectionately.

Those words almost moved Yang Zhenshan.

Well, perhaps just a pretense.

In the past, he might have been truly touched, feeling a sense of loyalty as described by Emperor Chengping.

With age, however, his emotions had become less acute.

Discussing feelings with the Emperor, Yang Zhenshan found the notion quite unreliable.

”I wish to ask Your Majesty to bestow upon me two Star Origin Fruits,” Yang Zhenshan stood up and bowed respectfully as he made his request.

His most significant displeasure from the trip to Cui Xia Valley was not having the chance to take two Star Origin Fruits.

”Do you need the Star Origin Fruits for a special purpose? Has someone in your household been injured?” Emperor Yanping asked with concern.

The Star Origin Fruit is a healing marvel, miraculous for both internal and external injuries.

But if no injuries had occurred, then its value would certainly not surpass that of the True Essence Pill.

”No, I have been consistently studying pharmacology and am also interested in trying to craft a True Essence Pill,” Yang Zhenshan replied.

This wasn’t entirely false; he indeed had been studying pharmacology and was genuinely interested in attempting to craft a True Essence Pill.

Of course, he also wanted to plant the Star Origin Fruits as seeds in the Spiritual Spring Space, though he was definitely not going to divulge this.

”So it is. Elder Chen, later you will send someone to provide Marquis Jing’an with two Star Origin Fruits and, oh, the Elixir Recipe as well. Obtain a copy from the Imperial Hospital and also send that to Marquis Jing’an,” Emperor Yanping agreed without any hesitation.

Yang Zhenshan wasn’t the first person to ask him for Star Origin Fruits and the True Essence Pill recipe; Granny Meng had also taken two Star Origin Fruits and the recipe upon her return to the Capital City.

Soon after, Yang Zhenshan received the Star Origin Fruits and the Elixir Recipe, and he left the Imperial City in high spirits.

Now with two types of Spirit Plants and two Elixir Recipes, once he acquired the Ice Heart Fruit, he would have three varieties.

With three types of Spirit Plants in the Spiritual Spring Space, in a decade or so, he would have a profusion of Spirit Fruits and could produce a large quantity of Jade Bone Ice Heart Pills and True Essence Pills.

Thinking about this, Yang Zhenshan felt very delighted.

Upon returning to the Marquis Mansion from the Imperial City, Yang Zhenshan had just entered his home when he encountered Miss Xue and Yang Wanqing as they were about to leave.

How did these two come together?

”Miss Xue hasn’t left yet?” Yang Zhenshan asked in surprise.

When he had left the Capital City, Miss Xue was staying with the Marquis Mansion; he had thought she might go to Cui Xia Valley. However, he had not seen her there.

”Greetings, Marquis. Why should I leave just after returning?” Miss Xue asked.

”Just returned?”

”Yeah, we just came back from Cui Xia Valley yesterday!”

”You went to Cui Xia Valley!”

”Mmm, it’s a pity you all didn’t get into a fight!” Xue Qiaoer said with some regret.

They indeed went to Cui Xia Valley, but they didn’t get close; they just watched from afar. Initially, they wanted to watch the show, but in the end, they saw nothing and simply wasted several days.

”Aren’t you in a hurry to go back?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Not in a hurry. I came out this time to look for Treasure Medicine. Without collecting all of it, we won’t go back!” Xue Qiaoer said.

”...”

Yang Zhenshan was speechless. So, you all plan to just squat at my house and not leave?

Well, let them stay if they want.

The Marquis Mansion is so big, it won’t miss one more courtyard.

Yang Zhenshan then turned to Yang Wanqing, ”Are you going out?”

”Grandpa,” Yang Wanqing gave Yang Zhenshan a brilliant smile and said, ”I’m going shopping with Sister Qiao’er!”

”Oh. Then go ahead!”

Yang Zhenshan casually replied.

Girls going out shopping is quite normal, so naturally, he would not ask further.

Watching the two leave the mansion, Yang Zhenshan always felt something was off.

When did these two get so close?

They should have only met not long ago.

Besides, with Xue Qiaoer’s character, she isn’t the type to make friends.

Yang Zhenshan felt it was strange but didn’t give it much thought and returned to the main courtyard.

Then he saw Granny Xue in the main courtyard, the old woman who had followed Xue Qiaoer before.

Although Yang Zhenshan was not at home, that didn’t mean the Yang family had no one in charge.

Yu Qingyi was still at home.

And it’s better for women to deal with women anyway.

”Marquis is back!” Seeing Yang Zhenshan, Yu Qingyi immediately greeted him with a smile.

”Senior Xue!” Yang Zhenshan saluted Granny Xue.

Granny Xue said indifferently, ”Since the Marquis is back, this old woman will not disturb the Marquis and your wife any longer!”

With that, she left.

Yang Zhenshan watched her figure leave and asked with some surprise, ”What were you talking to her about just now?”

”Senior Xue! Your concubine was just seeking advice from Senior Xue,” said Yu Qingyi.

Yang Zhenshan suddenly understood.

Right, with such an Innate Martial Artist in the mansion, how could Yu Qingyi not seek some guidance?

”Nothing happened at home in these past few days, right?”

Yang Zhenshan changed into a loose robe and asked casually.

”Nothing! Besides Granny Xue and Miss Xue going out once, everything at home is good!” Yu Qingyi said.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, ”By the way, is Brother Liu still at home?”

He was talking about Liu Zhe, who had been living in the Marquis Mansion since the wedding day of Yang Chengmao.

And Liu Zhe came to the Capital City because he had taken an official position.

He secured the position of a learned scholar of four divisions in the Imperial College, Standard Seventh Rank.

With Liu Zhe’s erudition, being a scholar in the Imperial College was indeed easy, and although he didn’t participate in the imperial examinations, he had an official status, Standard Sixth-Rank Follower in the Imperial Examination Hall.

”He has already moved out. He bought a two-entry residence in East City and just moved there a couple of days ago!” said Yu Qingyi.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly.

The current Liu family is not what it used to be. Before, with Liu Yuanfu in the Imperial Examination Hall, the Liu family was considered an official family in the Capital City, but after Liu Yuanfu resigned, the Liu family’s fortunes began to decline a bit.

Actually, this can be blamed on Liu Yuanfu himself. If Liu Yuanfu had allowed Liu Zhe to participate in the imperial examinations before, the Liu family would not have lacked a successor in official circles.

Now, Liu Zhe has secured a position based on his inherited official status, but since he has never participated in the imperial examinations, he probably won’t enter the court in this lifetime.

Yang Zhenshan felt quite sorry for Liu Zhe, but Liu Zhe did not seem to care. He was carefree by nature and did not like being an official. He only agreed to enter the Imperial College to lay the groundwork for his descendants.