124: Chapter 124 Congratulations to you two for officially becoming the first and second retainers of this manor.

Shi Feixuan's eyes flickered as she explained, "Your Highness, this is a way for our Nirvana Temple to enter the secular world for cultivation."

"So you chose me?" Zhao Fangcai asked back with a smile.

Fan Qinghui breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "It's fine for Your Highness to understand it that way."

Zhao Fangcai smiled slightly: "Alright then, I'll just assume you two, master and disciple, were attracted by my handsomeness!"

"Handsomeness? Attracted?" Fan Qinghui and Shi Feixuan were amused and coughed lightly, wanting to laugh yet feeling somewhat helpless.

When they traveled the Jianghu, everyone treated them like deities; even those with ill intentions would be polite, and no one had ever dared to speak to them like this.

If it were anyone else, they would have long since turned cold, but coming from Zhao Fangcai, they weren't angry; they actually found it quite interesting.

This man actually boasted about his own handsomeness; he was truly a bit narcissistic.

It was hard for them to connect the amusing young man before them with the image of the powerful and overbearing Aura from that night.

It was as if they saw a different side of him; while chatting, they unconsciously felt a sense of closeness, not finding it boring at all.

Zhao Fangcai sighed softly and said, "Abbot Fan, Fairy Shi, I know you admire me, but the residence has rules, and rules cannot be broken!"

Fan Qinghui and Shi Feixuan immediately became nervous, their hearts leaping into their throats. Was he going to reject them?

No matter which School or Family they went to, they would be treated as honored guests; even in the Imperial Palace, they would be given the highest seats. If they were rejected by Zhao Fangcai...

Just as they were thinking this, Zhao Fangcai said seriously, "Even though Abbot Fan is a Grandmaster and I'm making an exception, I can't start you at the Third Rank; I can only give you a Fifth Rank position. As for Miss Shi, you'll have to start from the Sixth Rank."

So that was it! The two of them breathed a sigh of relief together.

Fan Qinghui nodded and said, "That is only natural. A country has its laws, and a Family has its rules. How can one be given a high position without merit?"

In any case, they didn't enter the residence to cling to power. Firstly, they were moved in their hearts, and secondly, they wanted to observe Zhao Fangcai.

The 'secular cultivation' Shi Feixuan mentioned wasn't a lie either; they truly wanted to explore the relationship between the Great Sui Dynasty border army and the Academy.

Zhao Fangcai smiled and asked, "Additionally, do you two wish to enter the residence as domestic servants or as retainers?"

"Hmm?" Fan Qinghui raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is there a difference between a domestic servant and a retainer?"

Zhao Fangcai explained, "If you are a domestic servant, you will belong to my Jing State Dukes Residence from now on, and it will be very difficult to leave; you'd have to stay forever. A retainer is like a guest; you can come and go as you please, much more freely."

He paused and added, "For the same rank, a retainer's treatment is one level higher, but you don't have to sell yourself into service. Your monthly stipend will be halved, though the Dukes Residence will provide room and board."

Simply put, domestic servants must sell themselves to depend on others, while retainers possess much greater freedom.

Fan Qinghui and Shi Feixuan were obviously unwilling to sell themselves, so they chose to become retainers.

Zhao Fangcai had AZhu bring a blank ledger and writing materials. After thinking for a moment, he first wrote the words 'Jing State Residence Retainer Registry' on the cover.

He calculated in his mind that where there was a first, there would be a second. In the future, there would surely be no shortage of Jianghu people wanting to serve the Jing State Residence. He needed to establish a specific organization to manage these people; this could be considered preparing in advance.

He flipped to the first page of the ledger, paused for a moment without writing, then turned to the second page to begin recording:

- Name: Fan Qinghui

- Origin: Nirvana Temple

- Cultivation: Grandmaster Gui Zhen Realm

- Entry Date: ****

- Rank: Fifth Rank

Following the format of that page, he wrote down Shi Feixuan's information on the third page.

After finishing, he handed the ledger to the two of them and said, "You two, please press your thumbprints and apply your seals here!"

Fan Qinghui and Shi Feixuan nodded in agreement and each pressed their thumbprints.

"Congratulations to you both, officially becoming the first and second retainers of this residence!" Zhao Fangcai said with a smile, holding the register. "With your skills, it won't be difficult to earn merits and promotion!"

Fan Qinghui's expression relaxed considerably, and she said naturally, "Hearing such words from Your Highness's mouth is truly a bit special."

Shi Feixuan pursed her lips and smiled, "Who praises themselves like that, saying others are attracted to them? Truly conceited!"

The master and disciple went back and forth, their words gaining a bit more of the mundane flavor of ordinary people, no longer as high and mighty as fairies as before, making others feel they were hard to approach.

Zhao Fangcai felt this was normal and said, "Abbot Fan, from now on, all retainers in the residence will be managed by the Qishi Mansion. I am temporarily serving as the Chief of the Qishi Mansion, and I plan to establish some rules and carve seals for the Qishi Mansion. What do you think?"

Fan Qinghui couldn't help but be stunned. She hadn't expected things to move so quickly—Zhao Fangcai had immediately given her power, status, and a task without even vetting her.

One must know that the Chief of the Qishi Mansion is responsible for setting rules and managing regulations. For an ordinary person, they would certainly entrust this to their most trusted confidant to feel at ease.

And not only had she just arrived, but she was also someone from the Great Sui Dynasty Dynasty. Was he not worried that she was a spy sent by the Great Sui Dynasty?

Fan Qinghui was momentarily dazed. At that moment, a breeze blew, brushing past her cheeks and hair, as if wrapping around her body and soul. The Aura and magnanimity of the man before her were like a vast world, enveloping her within.

"Abbot Fan?" Zhao Fangcai waved his hand in front of her, seeing her dazing off.

Fan Qinghui snapped back to her senses, her beautiful face shifting slightly as she answered softly, "I shall follow Your Highness's arrangements!"

Zhao Fangcai nodded slightly and looked at Shi Feixuan again: "Miss Shi, you assist Abbot Fan in handling this matter first, alright?"

"As you command!" Shi Feixuan responded with a smile.

Zhao Fangcai smiled too; with their help, he could save some effort.

He took a bottle of Medicinal Pills from his sleeve and said, "Abbot Fan, this zen heart pill from the Shaolin Temple shall be your entry gift to the residence!"

"A zen heart pill from the Shaolin Temple?!" Both Fan Qinghui and Shi Feixuan looked at the pill in his hand in surprise, their eyes widening slightly.

Nirvana Temple originally practiced Buddhist Dharma, so they were naturally not unfamiliar with the Shaolin Temple's pills. "This is an Earth Rank Low Grade pill!"

Zhao Fangcai nodded: "I see that Abbot Fan's state of mind seems to have some flaws. Perhaps this zen heart pill can help you!"

The zen heart pill does not increase cultivation, heal internal injuries, or treat physical illnesses. Its only effect is to calm the heart and remove distracting thoughts.

To an ordinary person, it is not even as useful as a Profound-Grade Pill, but for those who cultivate their state of mind, it is more precious than an Earth Rank High Grade pill.

Wait! Fan Qinghui's heart tightened, sensing something was wrong.

How did he know her state of mind had flaws? Could he see through her heart? Given her level of mental cultivation, if he truly could see through it, he must have a special ability—could he have mastered the Buddhist 'Heart-to-Heart Communication'?