Hao Xiangtong was so eager to hear more that she stretched out her arm to block Chu Qiguang's path. A loud bang echoed as she did so.

"Young Master Chu! Brother Chu! Please, at least tell me what happens next before you leave! I have to know!"

Chu Qiguang was slightly taken aback by the sound.

It seems even Hao Xiangtong is at least a first-state martial artist. I suppose that's only natural for someone from a clan like the Hao Clan.

It occurred to Chu Qiguang that women in this world could cultivate both martial arts and Dao arts. Although their social status was still lower than that of men in the Great Han Empire, it was far higher than that of women in Earth's feudal eras.

Chu Qiguang took an amused glance at Hao Xiangtong's outstretched arm, then asked, "Are you trying to rob me? What do you want from me? My money or my body?"

Hao Xiangtong quickly withdrew her arm, her face flushing red as she spluttered, "That's not what I meant... How about I give you money then? I'll give you a hundred taels of silver if you stay the night and finish the story."

A hundred taels of silver just to tell a story?

Chu Qiguang was momentarily tempted to accept her offer, but he quickly dismissed the thought. If he gave in to her money now, she would never see him as an equal.

I'm not here to become a servant of the Hao Clan, so I can’t sell myself out for a mere hundred taels of silver.

He put on a cold expression as he said, "I'm not going to change my mind, no matter how much money you offer. Not everyone can be bought, Ms. Hao."

With that, he left immediately, leaving Hao Xiangtong staring after him in a daze.

Aside from the young masters and young mistresses of the county's other major clans, Chu Qiguang was the first person to refuse her money, and she simply couldn't understand why.

Those clothes he’s wearing aren't even worth five taels of silver! He clearly needs money, so why would he refuse?

Hao Xiangtong sat down and picked up a book, but her mind was entirely occupied with the story of Wu Zetian, making it impossible for her to focus on what she was reading.

Growing frustrated, she called over a maidservant and sent her to ask Chu Qiguang when he would return next.

***

Another night passed, but Chu Qiguang didn't visit the Hao Clan's private library the following day. Instead, he went to the Azure Sun County archive room, where he showed great interest in the rows of grain tax account books.

"You seem quite interested in the account books, Young Master Chu," Accountant Li remarked curiously.

The account books were filled with countless names and numbers. These records were extremely important, yet incredibly boring and repetitive.

Moreover, due to the popularity of martial arts and Dao arts in the Great Han Empire, most of the wealthy and the nobility had little interest in studying accounting. As a result, the files in the archives were typically only browsed by the accountants of the county office. Despite their importance, they were largely ignored by those in power.

However, in Chu Qiguang’s eyes, these archival records contained the secrets to the shifting fortunes of the entire empire.

Only with sufficient knowledge will I have the right to speak. Let me see just how rotten Azure Sun County and the Great Han Empire have become.

In response to Accountant Li's question, Chu Qiguang came up with an excuse. "I've recently realized that my aptitude for martial arts may be lacking, so I want to learn accounting as an alternative path for the future. That's why I want to use these records for practice."

After hearing Chu Qiguang's explanation, Accountant Li assumed that the Wang Clan intended to groom Chu Qiguang into an accountant, so he gladly allowed him to browse through the archival records.

Chu Qiguang picked up an account book and began reading. The taxation system of the Great Han Empire was very complex, involving conversions between various items and currencies. However, his sensitivity to numbers and accounts quickly helped him make sense of what he was reading.

The more he read, the more shocked he became.

If even a third of the counties in this world are operating like Azure Sun County, then it's a miracle the Great Han Empire has lasted more than forty more years! Its survival must be due to the existence of martial arts and Dao arts.

***

The next day, Chu Qiguang accompanied Hao Yongtai back to the Hao Manor once again. Along the way, he could clearly tell that something was weighing on Hao Yongtai's mind.

However, no matter how Chu Qiguang asked, Hao Yongtai remained tight-lipped and refused to reveal what was bothering him.

By the time Chu Qiguang arrived at the library, Hao Xiangtong was already waiting for him like a parched desert traveler longing for the rain.

The moment she saw him, she immediately complained, "Why didn't you come yesterday? Didn't you promise to tell me a few chapters of the story every day?"

"I was busy yesterday," Chu Qiguang replied vaguely. "Shall we continue?"

Hao Xiangtong nodded eagerly, and Chu Qiguang said, "Take a seat."

Hao Xiangtong sat down obediently and fixed her gaze on Chu Qiguang, waiting eagerly for the continuation of the story.

Chu Qiguang had stopped at a cliffhanger the last time, right when Wu Zetian was about to confront her ex-fiancé, and he picked up from there. Hao Xiangtong's eyes lit up with satisfaction as she listened to how Wu Zetian took revenge on her ex-fiancé, his mistress, and his parents. The frustration she had built up over the past two days vanished completely.

As she listened to Chu Qiguang's story, she began to imagine herself as Wu Zetian of the Great Tang Empire, an invincible force of nature who struck back against all the injustices of the world.

Before long, she had even become the grand secretary of the Great Tang Empire's grand secretariat.

After another two hours of storytelling, Chu Qiguang said, "That's all for today."

Hao Xiangtong was still craving more. Putting on a pitiful expression, she pleaded, "Can you tell me a little more? Just a teensy bit more will do!"

A hesitant look appeared on Chu Qiguang's face, and he replied, "I can, but you have to do something for me in return."

Hao Xiangtong was taken back by the sudden shift in the conversation.

He's not going to ask me out, is he? What should I do if he does? I have to reject him, but I can't hurt his feelings or he might stop telling me the story. Why does he have to make things so complicated? Why can't he just take my money?

"I noticed that Yongtai seemed a little troubled today, so I wanted to ask if you know what might be bothering him," Chu Qiguang explained.

Hao Xiangtong's cheeks flushed with embarrassment upon hearing this. She had completely misunderstood Chu Qiguang's intentions.

In order to conceal her embarrassment, she hurriedly replied, "He must still be worrying about the land return stuff. Over the past few days, County Magistrate He has put up a notice outside the county office, permitting and encouraging those whose land was unjustly seized to report their grievances. Many of the tenant farmers under the Wu Clan, the Ding Clan, and our Hao Clan have jumped on the opportunity to try and recover their land."