The original novel did not have much to say about Lu Qiuxian.
But when Gu Lan first read it, he was deeply impressed by him.
A commoner scholar-general, proficient in both literature and martial arts.
After he became famous throughout all under heaven, he could be called the number one man in Jing Kingdom apart from the Empress!
“No one knew his real name. ‘Qiuxian’… was just the name he gave himself because of an old obsession.”
Gu Lan said slowly, “Because of that obsession, he spent his whole life pursuing the Limitless Immortal Dao, went alone into the Demon Realm, struggled his way through Xiangzhou, and in the end became a pillar of Great Jing…”
The image of that general from the novel was gradually told by Gu Lan.
From a foot soldier to a marshal, it was nothing short of legendary!
A brilliant strategist, rarely smiling, with an obsession centered on a woman who seemed to be his wife…
Mu Yuyan listened very carefully, because this concerned a future talent for Jing Kingdom, and she was afraid of missing even the smallest detail.
After a while, Gu Lan roughly finished describing how the book portrayed Lu Qiuxian.
Because the eunuch novel had not been finished, Gu Lan did not have a very clear understanding of Lu Qiuxian’s background either.
He only knew that in the end, after the protagonist made him an empty promise, the protagonist recruited him into his ranks, and he became an important helper.
Empty promises in exchange for favors… damn it, that really was the old routine of xuanhuan novels… Gu Lan rubbed his brow, feeling that the writing of that novel had been truly brain-dead. Once the protagonist halo was activated, the whole world revolved around him.
At that moment.
Mu Yuyan thought for a moment, then asked, “Husband, did he become an immortal in the end?”
“I’m not sure, but probably not.” Gu Lan shook his head and explained, “Human effort has its limits. His obsession, it seems, was never truly resolved…”
If his obsession had been resolved, the book’s later portrayal of him would likely have had a lot more laughter.
But until the original novel was left unfinished, he was always an emotionless, stone-faced block of ice.
“This humble one understands.”
After hearing that, Mu Yuyan felt rather regretful. A general who pursued immortality for a woman was even more interesting than the romances in storybooks. Who would have thought that the ending would be like this?
However.
Since she had learned of it in advance, Mu Yuyan felt that she might have a chance to change it.
Old Yang searching for someone in the army was no different from finding a needle in a haystack, but if she, the Empress, wanted to find someone, it would be much simpler… just a matter of an imperial edict!
“Find this man, do everything the court can to help him solve his difficulties, promote him to marshal as early as possible, and give him more resources. Perhaps Great Jing’s national fortune can turn its decline around…”
Mu Yuyan’s eyes flickered; she had already arranged a Xuantian Bureau mission in her heart.
And just as she was lost in thought, a mechanical voice sounded in Gu Lan’s mind.
『Host spoils one character from the world』
『Rewards are granted』
『Immortal-grade spell · Spirit Control』
『Saint-grade herb · Pure Yang Dragon Saliva Herb (10,000 years)』
『Fusion · Ancient Immortal Physique · Qiyang』
『…』
When Gu Lan saw the rewards, delight spread across his face.
To be honest, telling Lu Qiuxian’s story this time had been planned from the start.
Satisfying his wife’s curiosity was secondary; he had mainly been waiting for the System’s reward.
Last time the spoiler had already been extraordinary. He hadn’t expected this one to go even further, and there was even an incomparably precious ancient immortal physique!
One had to know, a constitution was something derived purely from talent and was the key to determining the fortune one was born with!
Why was the protagonist’s fortune so heaven-defying?
Because they all had immortal physiques, saint physiques, or demonic physiques… blessed by great fortune in this world!
In this book, the protagonist later came to possess 10 constitutions at the same time!
Gu Lan had relied on the Scholar System to obtain Saint Realm cultivation, but his talent was still that of a mortal body, fundamentally different from a son of destiny.
But now!
Gu Lan possessed the Qiyang Immortal Physique, and his future fate and all his fortune could no longer be compared with the past!
Gu Lan silently felt the changes in the meridians within his body, suppressed his excitement, and then looked at the other rewards.
“The 10,000-year Pure Yang Dragon Saliva Herb will help my own cultivation, but absorbing it like this would be a bit wasteful. I’ll keep it for now…”
Gu Lan knew alchemists existed, and if he had the chance in the future, refining it into a pill before absorbing it himself would bring him greater benefit.
Compared with those two saint-grade items, the other rewards seemed somewhat inferior. Gu Lan merely glanced through the mental art for Spirit Control and then put everything back into System space.
At that moment.
Mu Yuyan made up her mind. She bent down to brew a cup of tea for Gu Lan and said softly, “Husband, reading is hard work. Have a sip of water to moisten your throat.”
“Thank you for your concern, wife.”
Gu Lan took it and smiled.
“Old Yang hired people to open the grain store today, so he’ll probably be busy until very late. Let this humble one cook for husband… What does husband want to eat?”
Mu Yuyan carefully put away the storybook on the bamboo chair, took an apron from the house, tied it around her slim waist, and looked at Gu Lan with bright eyes.
“Noodles.”
…
The next day, the spring breeze was warm.
Liu Yexi hurried back from the capital and, without even resting for a day, helped Old Yang with the grain store’s affairs.
As the boss, Gu Lan still needed to show his face at the grain store on opening day.
After a round of firecrackers.
On Shangjing Long Street, a shiny new signboard was hung high.
“Gu Grain Store!”
The firecrackers attracted many passersby to stop and watch. They looked up inside, their faces showing amusement, and chattered away.
“Jing Kingdom and the Demon Realm are about to go to war, and he’s still opening a grain store? Isn’t he just rushing toward death?”
“Exactly. My family’s bank and grain store are both closed because we’re afraid the Demon Realm will fight its way into Langzhou.”
“Even if those monsters can’t be defeated, once the court’s tax collectors and grain requisition officials show up, it’ll still end with the shop closing and losing money!”
“This grain store is the Gu family’s, and Gu Teahouse is still pretty conscientious… Fine, I’ll buy some grain later and count it as helping a little as fellow townsfolk…”
“…”
Some in the crowd knew Gu Lan.
Because his reputation was not bad, everyone stayed behind to keep watching, even though they did not know what he was thinking.
At that moment.
A green-clad maid carrying a basket of rice slowly stepped out.
Behind her came a handsome young master in blue-green robes, idly twirling a folding fan.
Naturally, it was Gu Lan and Liu Yexi.
As soon as the ordinarily delicate-looking Liu Yexi appeared, the men on the street all fell silent.
But when they saw Gu Lan’s handsome face, many of the women and young ladies who had stopped there started whispering among themselves.
“This Gu family Young Master is so handsome!”
“I wonder if he’s married yet. I still have a younger sister who is still unmarried.”
“Being his concubine wouldn’t be out of the question. Later we should buy some grain and ask about it while we’re at it…”
“…”
“Ahem, quiet down!” With keen hearing, Liu Yexi naturally heard the women so brazenly trying to steal her Majesty’s husband, and she frowned in displeasure and snapped.
Gu Lan also cleared his throat and began, “Folks, our Gu Grain Store opens today. Our first business is these grain seeds. As you can see, there are only this many, so each household is limited to buying 2 taels…”
After he said that, everyone was confused.
“Young Master Gu, other grain stores give away grain when they open. Why are you short on stock right from the start?”
“Yeah, Young Master of the Gu family. This is the first time I’ve heard of limiting it per household. What kind of stunt is this?”
“…”
Gu Lan smiled calmly and explained, “Because what I’m selling is not ordinary grain seeds. I’m afraid someone might hoard them and drive up prices, so I had to take this humble measure to make sure everyone can buy some.”
“How are they not ordinary?”
Someone shouted in disbelief.
Many grain stores exaggerated things when they opened to attract people, but in essence they were still just ordinary grain seeds.
Seeing the crowd’s suspicion, Gu Lan raised a hand, and Old Yang beside him nodded. Then he set up a signboard.
“Eastern Miracle Rice, 50 shi per mu!”
“Matures once every 3 months, and all of it can be used as seed!”
“Guaranteed by Gu’s reputation, 10 times compensation for one counterfeit!”
The boldly written words on the signboard were clearly displayed before everyone’s eyes.
Once they saw it, the crowd erupted in uproar!
“Young Master Gu, are you really selling seeds, or are you selling dreams? Where in this world is there grain with such a high yield!”
“And it matures in 3 months… Boss Gu, we’re only buying from you because you’re fellow townsfolk; you can’t treat us like fools!”
“Exactly. Being good-looking doesn’t give you license to lie!”
“…”
Usually, when a grain store hyped up its rice seeds, it was just to drive the price higher.
Everyone thought Gu Lan was doing the same, so they sneered.
But then.
Old Yang flipped the signboard over again, and on the other side were a few large words!
“Grain seeds at fair prices, 1 qian of silver for 2 taels of seed!”
This time, everyone was stunned!
The face-slapping was only secondary.
You were boasting like that, yet not charging a high price… These rice seeds couldn’t really be as miraculous as the sign claimed, could they?
A group of people exchanged glances!
Having lived in barren conditions for most of their lives, they naturally dared not believe such a divine object existed in this world!
At this moment, more and more people gathered in front of Gu Grain Store.
Gu Lan no longer explained. He lightly fanned himself, sat on the wooden chair Liu Yexi had brought over, and quietly closed his eyes to rest.
He had already fulfilled his original intention of saving the masses, so he had nothing to be ashamed of with the miracle rice.
Whether to buy it or not was up to the people themselves.
At that moment.
Some people at the front did not believe it, clicked their tongues, and left. A small number stayed behind and walked into the grain store.
Some went to Old Yang to buy grain with a try-it-and-see attitude, while others were women who had really taken a fancy to Gu Lan and wanted to strike up conversation with him.
“My young master already has a madam, so you’d better go buy grain, ladies.”
Liu Yexi blocked them and said coldly.
“Oh my, little girl, we know your Gu family already has a mistress of the household, but isn’t it normal for men to have three wives and four concubines?”
The women all laughed.
Liu Yexi: “…”
Three wives and four concubines might be normal, but asking Her Majesty to share one husband with your daughters?
How dare you?
“Ladies, I have no intention of taking concubines.”
At that moment, Gu Lan spoke lightly and declined very decisively.
His bright eyes were like stars, and his bearing was transcendent.
Although in his previous life he had longed for a life of beauties on both sides, after meeting Mu Yuyan in this life, he found that there was no longer room in his eyes for any other woman.
Young Master really was different indeed. Her Majesty had good taste… Liu Yexi looked proudly at the women, yet could not help but feel a trace of envy in her heart.
She had thought that a handsome man like Gu Lan would be somewhat fickle one way or another, after all, he did not know Mu Yuyan’s identity…
“Ladies, if you’re not buying grain, please leave.”
Gu Lan said again.
This time, the women’s faces immediately turned ugly!
“Honestly, it’s just that he has a pretty little face. My daughter might not even take a liking to him!”
“I was going to buy some, but now I’m not buying!”
“What’s so great about that!”
“…”
A group of women left while chattering and gossiping.
As the saying went, the more you covet something and can’t get it, the more you want to slander it.
This was exactly like those aunties from his previous life who introduced their “precious daughters”… Gu Lan took it in stride and smiled.
But then a familiar voice shouted at the women.
“What are you babbling about here? If you maliciously slander Young Master Gu, are you trying to make this official haul all of you back to the authorities?”