One day, Yang Kai was practicing his sword and saber techniques when the guard leader suddenly walked in.
When Yin Zhiyong heard this voice, he quickly rushed out of the inner room and enthusiastically asked, “Boss Chu, what brings you here?”
The guard leader was surnamed Chu, so all the guards called him Boss Chu.
Boss Chu laughed and said, “What’s wrong? Can’t I come and see you two little brats? Did you forget about us brothers and look down on us?”
Yin Zhiyong sighed and said bitterly, “Boss Chu, what are you saying? No matter how great our achievements are, it’s all thanks to your many years of teaching. How could we dare look down on our brothers?”
Boss Chu reached out and pointed at him, “You’re the only one who knows how to speak.” With a solemn expression, he suddenly changed the subject, “But this time I really have something to discuss.”
Yin Zhiyong quickly said, “Boss Chu, if there’s anything you need, just tell me.”
Boss Chu turned to Yang Kai and asked, “How is your health?”
Yang Kai stretched his shoulders, “It’s nothing serious.”
“Good, I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to accept this mission before your body fully recovers.”
Yin Zhiyong asked with concern, “What mission?”
Boss Chu smiled mysteriously, “In any case, it’s not a bad thing. There are good things waiting for you. Follow me.”
Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong glanced at each other, put away the sword, and followed.
As they followed Boss Chu through the Meng Mansion, it didn’t take long for them to arrive in front of a large hall. In front of this hall, the old man with a goatee, the Chief Steward of the Meng Mansion, was waiting. When he saw Boss Chu, he nodded slightly.
Yin Zhiyong’s legs suddenly began to tremble as he recognized where this hall was.
Although he had been in the Meng Mansion for more than ten years, he was only an outer court guard and had never been qualified to come to such an important place.
“Boss Chu, this…” Yin Zhiyong looked towards the guard leader hesitantly, hoping he could give him some instructions.
Boss Chu simply said, “Don’t speak nonsense after entering.”
Yin Zhiyong nodded vigorously.
The man with the goatee gesture to Boss Chu and said to Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong, “Follow me.” Saying so, he walked into the hall.
Yin Zhiyong leaned over to Yang Kai and whispered, “Little Brother, we may be going to see the Patriarch, you must be careful.”
This hall was the place where the Patriarch dealt with his daily affairs. Ordinary people were not allowed to enter.
Yang Kai nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
As soon as the Goatee Steward entered the hall, Yang Kai raised his eyes and saw a man sitting behind a table in the hall, engrossed in his work.
The man didn’t look special, only about fifty years old, but because he had maintained himself well, he looked a bit younger.
This should be the Patriarch of the Meng Mansion, Meng Deye.
The man with the goatee stopped the two of them and quietly walked up to Meng Deye, saying, “Master, I’ve brought them.”
Meng Deye nodded and continued with his work.
Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong could only stand there silently.
After the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Meng Deye put down the document in his hand and stamped it before frowning and thinking for a moment. It was only then that he seemed to remember the existence of the two guards and looked up at them, “Which one is Yang Kai?”
Yang Kai cupped his fists and said, “Yang Kai greets Patriarch!”
Yin Zhiyong followed up with a salute, “Outer Court Guard Yin Zhiyong greets Patriarch!”
Meng Deye stared at Yang Kai and asked in a calm voice, “I heard you suffered a serious injury?”
Yang Kai said in a low voice, “As the guard of the Meng Mansion, protecting the Eldest Young Lady is my duty. I will do my best to protect her until death!”
Yin Zhiyong’s heart was filled with admiration as he thought, Brother Yang usually doesn’t speak much, but his flattery is quite good.
“Very good!” Meng Deye was undoubtedly very satisfied with what he had just said. If it was anyone else who said this, they might have just said it out loud, but Yang Kai had used his actions to prove his loyalty. He was truly willing to work until his death.
He had heard about the situation from others and knew that Yang Kai had almost died in that battle.
Although he didn’t know why this newly arrived guard would be so desperate, such loyalty didn’t need to be tested.
“The Inner Court was originally the most heavily guarded place in the Meng Mansion, but this time Ru’er almost suffered under a poisonous hands. Because of this incident, she doesn’t trust the guards of the Inner Court very much.” Meng Deye didn’t want to beat around the bush, there was no need for him to beat around the bush with his own guards, so he directly stated the purpose of summoning Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong. “However, because of your contribution, Ru’er trusts you very much. It can be said that in the entire Meng Mansion, the only person she can trust is you!”
Yang Kai lowered his head, “It is this subordinate’s honor to be able to obtain Eldest Young Lady’s trust.”
“I want you to guard Ru’er’s side as her personal guard, are you willing?” Meng Deye asked bluntly.
Yang Kai was stunned for a moment before cupping his fists, “Patriarch, rest assured, if the Eldest Young Lady loses even a strand of hair, this subordinate will come to see you!”
Meng Deye nodded, “I believe in your loyalty and ability. If you do well, the Meng Mansion will not mistreat you.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “Tell me, what are your requirements?”
He could even make a request? Yin Zhiyong was shocked, thinking that the Patriarch really valued Brother Yang.
Yang Kai pondered for a moment before saying, “I want a good blade, a good sword!”
His previous narrow saber was only a standard saber of the Meng Mansion, so it wasn’t a good weapon. As he swung it, the blade’s destructive power was greatly reduced, and the long sword he had brought back was even casually picked up from the corpse of a bandit from Treasure Field Peak.
In this world with extremely low Martial Dao standards, with a good weapon, the strength one could display would naturally be higher. If Yang Kai had some kind of Divine Weapon, he would not have been in such a sorry state.
Meng Deye nodded, “Go, I’ll prepare a sword for you.”
“Many thanks Patriarch!”
On the side, the Goatee Steward bowed to Meng Deye before leading Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong out.
Yin Zhiyong was still a little confused about the situation. Just now, the Patriarch had only said that Yang Kai should be Eldest Young Lady’s personal guard, but what about him? The Patriarch hadn’t mentioned it.
But if they didn’t want him to be a personal guard, what was the purpose of this summons?
The man with the goatee led the way and said, “I must congratulate the two of you. Being able to enter the Inner Court is something only the most elite and most trusted guards of the Meng Mansion can receive. Ordinary people cannot enter the Inner Court.”
Yin Zhiyong’s heart immediately burst with joy. The Head Steward’s words clearly meant that he was also going to enter the Inner Court, so he immediately relaxed. Thinking about how he had been in the Meng Mansion for more than ten years and had only been the lowest level of the outer court guard, suddenly entering the Inner Court actually felt a bit unreal, causing his heart to fill with excitement.
“It’s all thanks to the Head Steward,” Yin Zhiyong smiled as he ran over to the goatee and casually stuffed a money bag into his hand. The goatee was obviously very familiar with this and took it without showing any expression, quite satisfied with Yin Zhiyong’s performance.
Yin Zhiyong said, “Sir Head Steward, is there any taboo in the Inner Court? Although this subordinate has been in the Meng Mansion for more than ten years, I have never entered the Inner Court, so I must ask Sir Head Steward to enlighten me.”
The Goatee Steward smiled slightly, “Naturally, there are some taboos, but the most important point is that there are differences between men and women. You are all men, and most of the people who live in the Inner Court are women, so when you enter the Inner Court, don’t listen to what you shouldn’t hear, don’t look at what you shouldn’t see, don’t go to places you shouldn’t go, do your best and live in harmony.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Yin Zhiyong nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice, “On this trip, Brother Yang and I are the blades and spears in Eldest Young Lady’s hands. Whatever she says, we will do. We will never make any mistakes.”
“It’s for the best. Although the two of you have made great contributions this time, if you make a mistake in the Inner Court, the Patriarch will not forgive you.”
While they were talking, the three of them had already arrived outside the Inner Court. In front of a circular courtyard, a young girl maid was quietly waiting.
Yin Zhiyong stepped forward and cupped his fists, “Miss Qian Qian!”
This maidservant was none other than one of Eldest Young Lady’s maidservants, Miss Qian Qian. When Yang Kai was recuperating, Eldest Young Lady had sent her over every day to visit him, so Yin Zhiyong knew her.
Miss Qian seemed to be timid and shy. Although she had met Yin Zhiyong and Yang Kai many times, her face was still a little red and she couldn’t help taking a step back, pursing her lips and not saying a word.
The man with the goatee stepped forward and said, “Bring them in, Eldest Young Lady will arrange it.”
“Yes!” Qian Qian replied, glancing up at Yang Kai before quickly lowering her head and leading the way.
Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong followed closely behind.
The Inner Court was vast and had a beautiful environment. Inside the various courtyards, there were small bridges and flowing streams, as well as many rock mountains.
As Yin Zhiyong walked, he looked around and clicked his tongue. He had been in the Meng Mansion for more than ten years, and this was the first time he had entered the Inner Court. He was curious about everything here, especially the various fragrances floating around his nose, which made him feel like he was in a gentle home.
Occasionally, when he encountered women from the Inner Court, Yin Zhiyong would quickly lower his head and obey his orders.
Among Meng Deye’s three daughters, although two of them had already been married off and only his eldest daughter Meng Ru remained, he had more than ten wives and concubines, so there were many women in the Inner Court.
If he saw something he shouldn’t have, he probably won't be able to protect his eyes.
After walking around for a while, they finally arrived at the pavilion where the Eldest Young Lady lived. Miss Qian Qian went to report, while Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong were waiting downstairs.
This was a three-story tall Embroidered Tower, and there were quite a few servants bustling about. Perhaps they had heard some kind of news, so when they walked back and forth, they all curiously looked at Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong. Seeing the two of them looking somewhat awkward, they would occasionally lower their heads and giggle while whispering amongst themselves.
A moment later, Mis Qian Qian walked out and called out to the two of them, “Come in, the Eldest Young Lady is waiting for you.”
Yin Zhiyong quickly said, “Thank you for your trouble, Miss Qian Qian!”
The two of them walked forward and entered the main hall on the first floor. This should be the place where the Eldest Young Lady would be receiving guests, and the decoration was quite luxurious. At this moment, Eldest Young Lady Meng Ru was sitting at a round table, her beautiful eyes staring at Yang Kai as he walked in.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Martial Peak