Chu Yunge said solemnly, “Since you agree, you must not let it slip. This concerns This Princess’s safety; no joking allowed.”
Yan Feng kept a taut face, full of seriousness. “Your Highness, rest assured. This Subordinate would rather die than reveal it.”
Zhao Zeng was indeed dangerous. They needed more people to protect Her Highness together.
Compared to others, he was more willing to trust the Yan People and cooperate with them.
More importantly, the Princess was a good employer—wealthy, generous, and not harsh. It was a good thing for the Yan People to work under the Princess; it was a tremendous blessing.
Thinking that more Yan People would serve the Princess, that more Yan People could eat their fill every day like him and grow taller, he cheered up again.
“Your Highness, go ahead and grab them—grab as many as you can.” As long as they were not male favorites, the Princess could grab whomever she wanted; the more, the better.
Of course, he did not want the Princess to grab more male favorites. He feared too many would tire her out and waste silver.
He was young, with good stamina and energy. He could handle multiple roles; being a male favorite was no issue. There was no need for the Princess to worry or waste silver raising them.
After he finished speaking, he added, “Rest assured, Your Highness. They absolutely will not eat as much as This Subordinate did today. Today, This Subordinate was just an exception.”
They were easy to keep.
If he had known earlier that Her Highness wanted more Yan People, he would have held back today and eaten only half.
It would be bad if Her Highness thought all Yan People were bottomless pits like him.
Chu Yunge chuckled. “No need to worry. You continue eating like that from now on, and so will they. Eat your fill. This Princess can afford it, as long as they are loyal and obedient.”
At this point, Chu Yunge fixed her gaze on Yan Feng. “Yan Feng, telling you about such an important matter means This Princess trusts you. Can you guarantee that even if your lifesaver asks, you won’t reveal a single word?”
The people she had to guard against were not just Zhao Zeng, but also the Chu Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
This was why she chose the Yan People and used the pretext of grabbing male favorites.
Logically, she should not have told Yan Feng, since she knew the Chu Emperor was his lifesaver. But Yan Feng had given up revenge last night and returned to protect her, confirming his professional ethics.
So she chose to trust him.
That dog of a Chu Emperor was cunning. She needed to remind Yan Feng first to prevent him from being fooled.
“This Subordinate guarantees it, Your Highness. This Subordinate swears on my life…”
Chu Yunge interrupted him. “No need. I trust you.”
Use no one you doubt, doubt no one you use.
Since she could not find a better candidate and had decided to trust him and cooperate, she would trust him completely.
“Later, when This Princess grabs them back, you help train them, spar with them a bit.”
The Yan People all knew martial arts to some degree; with brief coordination, they would be ready to use. They were practically made for her.
From the start, the Chu Emperor and Empress Dowager had prevented her from cultivating trusted subordinates or building her own power.
She would take a different path and find the Yan People. She did not lack money anyway.
The Yan People would not be naturally loyal to the Chu Emperor like the Chu State people. They valued employment, which suited her perfectly. She would train them into her own people and accumulate her power.
The Chu Emperor had agreed to let Yan People live in Chu State lands, but he distrusted them deep down and did not value or employ them heavily. There were no Yan People as officials in court, but Chu Yunge did not care.
She was not wary of them. She trusted the Yan People; they were the best choice.
“Yan Feng will not betray Your Highness’s trust,” the trusted Yan Feng replied solemnly.
He knew Her Highness would notice his capabilities.
As long as he became the first person under Her Highness, she would think of him first for anything she needed.
Yan Feng thought seriously and actively contributed. “Your Highness is selecting under the name of male favorites, so basically young men with outstanding looks, right?”
Yan Feng ignored the strange sourness rising in his heart, rubbed his somewhat stuffy chest, and focused on the matter at hand.
“Your Highness, there’s actually a perfect opportunity today to net all these young talents at once.”
“What do you mean?”
“Actually, This Subordinate wanted to request leave today because today is the Yan National Sacrifice. This Subordinate cannot miss it.”
Hearing this, Chu Yunge finally understood why Yan Feng had seemed downcast and grasped his implication.
“Most Yan People will come to pay respects today?”
“Yes.”
Chu Yunge nodded, but what she asked was, “Then do you need a couple more days of leave? Do you need me to prepare anything? If there are many people, is the silver enough?”
The ancients valued rituals highly and would rather starve themselves than neglect them.
They were her future employees; she did not mind showing goodwill in advance.
Yan Feng shook his head. “Thank you, Your Highness, but no need. The reward silver you gave before was plenty, and you even gave a hundred taels of gold. It’s more than enough.”
His heart warmed, and he could not help adding, “Thanks to you, the ancestors ate much better this year than in previous years.”
Chu Yunge smiled too upon hearing this. This Yan Feng was so honest; he did not even know to negotiate more benefits for himself.
“If the ancestors ate well, what about you all?”
Chu Yunge could already imagine how the Yan People, who lived harsh lives, went hungry to prioritize their forebears.
“This Princess won’t interfere with the sacrificial rites or manage them. This Princess will take care of you living people.”
Living people were her targets! Come to big sister’s bowl!
After asking roughly how many there were, Chu Yunge directly instructed her servants to prepare some food—not lavish feasts, just ordinary fare, but perfect for the Yan People. She prepared plenty, enough for them to eat their fill.
For people chronically hungry, eating one’s fill was the greatest happiness.
A boss who could win the loyalty of employees and subordinates was never stingy and knew when to act, when to buy hearts.
This would also reshape her image, lest capable Yan People with vision hesitate to come.
The shortest way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Once they came, whether they stayed and pledged loyalty would depend on her skills.
In this, she trusted herself.
Yan Feng looked at Chu Yunge, moved to pieces. “This Subordinate thanks Your Highness on their behalf.”
Chu Yunge shook her head. “This Princess thought of them first. Remember, no need to tell them specially. Just say it was your treat.”
Those who understood would get it.
Yan Feng said no more, but in his heart, he resolved: The Princess did good deeds without claiming credit, but he could not hog it all. He would definitely tell his fellow Yan People of her kindness.
“Your Highness went to trouble. This Subordinate knows what to do.”
He paused. “Your Highness, This Subordinate does not need extra leave. We cannot return to Yan State’s homeland; we only go to the Effigy Tomb set up for our forebears in Chu State, just outside Heavenly Prosperity City.”
The Yan People more often called it the Blood Grave, for it was stained with bloodied battle garb.
“Today, all the Yan People under the Chu Emperor who could make it have come. It’s the perfect chance. I wonder how many Your Highness needs this time? If possible, best to settle it today. They will leave soon after the rites.”
Heavenly Prosperity City was strictly managed. To avoid being treated as vagrants, they had to find lodging nearby, but most Yan People lived in poverty—how could they linger?
Chu Yunge had been waiting for these words. Her eyes lit up at once, then she restrained herself. “Wouldn’t it be too soon to grab them right after the rites today?”
“Your Highness taking a fancy to them is their fortune.”
They even dared to pick the time?