Chapter 190: Swearing Absolute Loyalty
Even though they had work every day, at the end of the month, they only earned about six hundred wen. That was assuming there was work to do. Once the reservoir project was finished, they wouldn’t have a way to earn money. And eventually, all the arable land would be cultivated—then what?
That wasn’t even the most tempting part. Just hearing Tao Ming describe the mansion was enough to make them envious!
If they could really move in, even if it was just the most remote courtyard, they wouldn’t have to worry about wild animals ramming their doors in the middle of the night ever again!
With such high walls, even wild beasts would have trouble getting in. And who wouldn’t want to live in a proper mansion instead of this shabby stone hut?
In this desolate land, they didn’t ask for much—just a safe place to live and enough food to eat.
Seeing the eager anticipation in Hu Liu and the others’ eyes, Yu Luo nodded. “Yes, but I have conditions.”
“Miss, just tell us what they are! We’ll agree to anything!”
“My condition is loyalty. Absolute loyalty. If any of you ever betray me, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
“Yes, yes! If we become part of your household, we will protect you with our lives. Otherwise, who else will feed us and pay us wages?”
As soon as Hu Liu finished speaking, Tao Ming immediately punched him in the chest, scolding him for his casual tone. Even though it was clearly a joke, Tao Ming was strict and wouldn’t tolerate such carelessness in front of Yu Luo.
“Take this seriously. The Miss is speaking earnestly.”
Hu Liu winced, rubbing his chest, but he wasn’t offended. He quickly straightened up and nodded with a grin.
“Of course! I believe that while Miss is kind, she must also be capable. Otherwise, how could her family of over a hundred people, including elderly and children, have made it here in one piece?”
Yu Luo chuckled. “I’m just making my stance clear now. If anyone among you ever harbors ill intentions or betrays me, don’t expect mercy. You’ll be buried in this desolate land forever.”
“Miss, don’t worry! We pledge our lives to serve you and your family with absolute loyalty!”
“Good. In that case, once the rain stops, I’ll have Tao Ming bring you to the mansion.”
After saying that, Yu Luo’s gaze swept through the group. “Who among you are Zhang Xiao Liang and Zhang Hu?”
Yu Luo remembered that yesterday, Tao Ming had mentioned that among them, Zhang Xiao Liang and Zhang Hu were skilled in martial arts.
According to Tao Ming, they not only had internal energy but also knew light-footed movement techniques, making them far superior to those who only knew basic combat skills.
“Miss, I am Zhang Xiao Liang.”
“Miss, I am Zhang Hu.”
“You both have the surname Zhang?”
Now that she looked at them, Yu Luo realized that the two bore some resemblance to each other.
“Miss, I am the eldest. Zhang Xiao Liang is my third brother. Among us, Zhang Er Hu is the second brother.”
Yu Luo was surprised. She hadn’t expected that among this group, there would be three biological brothers.
Zhang Er Hu stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Miss, I am Zhang Er Hu.”
Yu Luo nodded. “Since you are brothers, you must support one another. If the opportunity arises in the future, you may be able to return to your homeland.”
This was a dream they all held dear. And for the Zhang family, with three brothers exiled together, the longing was even stronger.
Hearing Yu Luo’s words, the group felt a wave of emotion, though none of them truly believed it was possible.
It had been five years already. Their hope of returning home was growing slimmer by the day—nothing more than a distant fantasy.
Unless a new emperor ascended and granted a general pardon, they would never return. But the current emperor of the Lan Yue Dynasty was still in power, only in his forties. Who knew how long they would have to wait for a new ruler?
Unless fate intervened unexpectedly, and the new emperor remembered those who had been exiled for years.
Yu Luo left, making a brief stop at her old cave dwelling under the pretense of gathering a few forgotten belongings. Then, she returned with two sets of straw raincoats and conical hats, handing them to Zhang Hu and Zhang Xiao Liang before taking the two with her.
When they arrived at the mansion, both men were awestruck.
Zhang Hu, being the older of the two at twenty-six, had already married and had children before his exile. He was generally a calm and composed man.
But when he saw the enormous estate with his own eyes, he was truly stunned!
Even experiencing it firsthand was far more shocking than hearing Tao Ming describe it. Though Zhang Hu was usually reserved, he couldn’t help but gape in amazement.
“Zhang Xiao Liang, you seem lively and quick-witted. You will serve as my mother’s personal guard. Zhang Hu, you will guard my father. Tao Ming will stay with me. Each of you will receive twenty taels of silver per month. But regardless of whom you serve, if any of us are in need, you must all step in. Do you understand?”
“Twenty taels? Miss, wasn’t the wage supposed to be one tael per month?!”
Yu Luo’s words were all important, but Zhang Xiao Liang’s mind was stuck on the number “twenty.” The sheer joy of it had left him dizzy.
“Xiao Liang, we are personal guards. We risk our lives for our masters. The Miss is kind and will not mistreat us, which is why she is offering such high pay. If the others ask, we should tell them we receive five taels.”
Zhang Hu quickly regained his composure, though he was equally shocked by Yu Luo’s generosity.
He understood what it meant to be a personal guard. But he also knew that twenty taels a month was an enormous sum.
If he could somehow send this money back home, his family would live far more comfortably.
After all, the Zhang family only had a few able-bodied workers. When the three brothers joined the military, they had all been sent away together, leaving their family struggling.
They had been exiled for years now. He couldn’t even imagine how difficult things had become for his parents, wife, and children.
Yu Luo noticed his reaction and raised a brow slightly, a look of approval flashing in her eyes.
“Zhang Hu is right. Your job won’t be easy. When I go out, you will accompany me, and at any time, your life may be at risk. That’s why I won’t underpay you.”
“Thank you, Miss! Thank you! We swear absolute loyalty to you, the Master, and the Madam!”
Just as Yu Luo was about to have Tao Ming show Zhang Hu and Zhang Xiao Liang around the estate, an unexpected voice called out.
“Darling…”
From the left corridor, a tall and imposing figure suddenly appeared.
That one word—”darling”—was spoken with endless grievance.
Yu Luo turned around and found herself staring into A’Yu’s warm, gentle smile.
“Miss, why is he…?”
“Ignore him. Tao Ming, take him back to his courtyard. I’m going to find my parents.”
Yu Luo didn’t even want to spare him another glance.
She didn’t care whether this man was truly amnesiac or just pretending. In her mind, he would be leaving in a few days anyway. After that, they would have nothing to do with each other.
