Within the city of Yuecheng, standing in sharp contrast to the southern district, the western district features uniform, large mansions, in stark contrast to the western area, which is composed entirely of uneven, modest townhouses inhabited by the working-class laborers, small merchants, and other poor families engaged in the most basic occupations. Of course, there are also a number of idle, dissolute individuals and families who have recently moved from other districts to settle here. Facing the western district across the city, the eastern district is home to a number of wealthy merchants and prominent families. Though lacking official positions that would allow them to reside in the southern district, these families have consistently invested heavily in constructing grand, opulent mansions, striving to outshine one another and rise above the other prominent households. Indeed, several well-known, distinguished families possess estates that are not only vastly larger in size and more affluent in atmosphere than the others, but whose residents themselves are truly wealthy, prosperous merchant magnates. Located in a corner of the eastern district, the grand villa known as the Qin Residence is just such a noble household. Spanning dozens of acres, its size leaves those familiar with the land prices in the capital speechless for half a day. The Qin family not only boasts wealth rivaling that of the nation but also controls one-quarter of Yue's copper mining operations. It is said that their family head holds considerable influence, with high-ranking officials in the imperial court specifically advocating on their behalf. As a result, the servants of such a distinguished household naturally carry confidence, speaking with greater volume and authority than those from other residences. Qin Gui, the gatekeeper at the Qin Residence, harbored this very sense of self-assurance. Whenever visitors came to seek an audience with the family head—regardless of their status or official positions—they treated him, a humble servant of the Qin household, with exceptional courtesy, never daring to slight him. Over time, Qin Gui began to feel as though he himself were a person of importance. Consequently, whenever someone sent an official invitation to meet a member of the Qin family, it became customary for them to offer some form of tribute or gift. Otherwise, Qin Gui would certainly not treat them kindly; perhaps he'd even put off their visit for three or four days before finally making an official appointment. Of course, if someone of high standing came to see him, Qin Gui would remain respectful and dutiful, fully embodying the image of a tireless, loyal servant. For the young masters and mistresses who visited him regularly, he would be especially attentive and eager, attending to every detail. Indeed, this level of dedication had won over many of the household lords and ladies, and there were even whispers that he might soon be promoted to an overseas affairs manager, with the authority to oversee business operations at a particular location. Upon hearing this news, Qin Gui felt especially pleased, and lately he had been walking with a light, buoyant step. Now, as the head of the household, he had pulled out a long bench and was lying on it, enjoying the shade at the entrance to the courtyard. Early this morning, the head of the household went out to discuss business, and several young lords and ladies had also joined other young gentlemen to visit the nearby Chongshan Temple. Now, within the manor, only the several wives and the unmarried cousin lady remained. This gave him a much-needed sense of relief, allowing him to take a few moments of quiet and relaxation. When Qin Gui was slightly dazed by the cool, gentle breeze, a young man’s timid voice suddenly came from ahead. "Excuse me, is this the Qin residence?" The very drowsiness Qin Gui had just begun to feel vanished instantly, leaving him deeply uncomfortable. Without opening his eyes, he erupted in a loud, fiery outburst: "What are you doing? Calling out like you're mourning! Didn’t you see your lord just lay down?" Only after uttering these words did Qin Gui reluctantly open his eyes, his face flushed with annoyance. He had assumed the visitor was merely a minor figure, based solely on the young man’s hesitant tone, which allowed him to treat him so rudely. Finally, Qin Gui clearly saw the man speaking before him—a man in his twenties or early thirties, dressed in plain cloth, with an unremarkable appearance and a distinctly rustic air, clearly just arrived from the countryside. He was a true country bumpkin! Seeing this, Qin Gui felt even more confident. He sat up straight at once and launched into a vigorous reprimand, as if the mere disturbance of his rest had been a heinous offense utterly unforgivable. His scolding flowed with such intensity that he spoke without pause, spitting out words continuously, and continued for the full duration of a cup of tea—without ceasing. The rustic young man, in contrast, seemed completely bewildered, his mouth open, his hands at a loss, simply listening in stunned silence as Qin Gui laid out his criticisms. Only after a while, when Qin Gui had fully vented his frustration, did he gradually slow down and stop. Then he glanced at the young man sideways, as if remembering his initial question, and casually asked, "What brings you to our Qin household? We don't lack servants or staff here—please leave at once! Our servants aren't easy to come by. We don't hire anyone without a solid background. You'd better find a guarantor before you even begin!" Based on his experience, Qin Gui immediately judged the young man—still carrying the scent of the countryside—as someone with wildly ambitious plans to secure a position within the Qin household. He had seen many such individuals before. "I'm not here looking for a job," the young man said, only now regaining his composure after the storm of criticism. "Qin Yan is my uncle. This is a letter from my family, sent to deliver to Uncle Qin!" He quickly pulled out a crumpled letter from his sleeve and stammered the explanation to Qin Gui. "Wait—your lord is your uncle?" Qin Gui felt thirsty and reached for a teapot nearby, intending to take a few sips. But the young man's words startled him so much that he accidentally sprayed the tea all over his clothes. He was deeply surprised and asked, "This... I don't know exactly. But my family has asked me to call Mr. Qin 'Uncle Qin'!" The young man scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. This time, Qin Gui could no longer easily mock the young man. What if this person truly had some connection with his own father? Then he would certainly not have a pleasant reception. After hesitating, he asked gently, "Could I please have a look at this letter? Please rest assured—I’ll only examine the envelope. I’ll absolutely not open it!" Upon hearing Qin Gui’s words, the young man surprisingly nodded in agreement and, while handing him the letter, added, "I actually intended to deliver this letter to you so you could pass it on to Uncle Qin!" Qin Gui took the letter, which was already wrinkled enough, and hurriedly scanned it. Though most servants couldn't read, Qin Gui had spent half a year in a private academy when he was young, so he could read and write fairly well. That's why he had been appointed to the doorkeeper position—a role long coveted by the other servants. "From Qin Yan, my nephew, personally opened!" The bold black characters on the envelope made Qin Gui's heart race. It seemed the letter came from a senior in his family. As this thought struck him, his face immediately changed, and he managed to smile warmly at the young man, saying, "Sir, our lord is currently away, but all the ladies are at home. Shall I pass this letter on to one of the wives?" His tone shifted dramatically, and his address immediately elevated. "No, that won't do! This letter must be opened and read personally by me, Qin Uncle!" The young man hesitated, then firmly shook his head. "Then, shall I inform the lady first and find out how she would like to respond to your request?" Qin Gui couldn't let the young man go without further ado. If something important truly arose and he missed it, he'd surely be in trouble. But if he handed the matter over to the lady, then it would be entirely beyond his control. Having served in the household for so many years, Qin Gui certainly had his share of tact. This time, however, the young man agreed immediately. As she approached the two, she glanced with interest at the plain young man dressed in earthy clothes, then delivered a message from a certain lady. She instructed the young man to take a room in the side pavilion for now, to rest until the lord returned, at which point they would decide whether he was truly the person they had expected—after all, the Qin family is quite large, and it was possible that the lady’s elder relative had indeed come to visit. Since the matter had already been assigned to someone above, Qin Gui felt reassured and remained vigilant at the gate. The young maid then escorted the young man toward the temporary guest rooms. Along the way, many people noticed his simple, unrefined appearance and looked at him with mild surprise, which made the young man feel increasingly uneasy. He lowered his head, gazing steadily at the ground, and walked quietly behind the maid without speaking. When the maid turned back to look and saw the young man’s awkward demeanor, she could not help but burst into laughter. She then smiled warmly and glanced at him again, finding him utterly engaging. After settling the young man in a side room of the Qin residence, the young maid gave him a few instructions to stay put, then laughed cheerfully and returned to report to her mistress. Just as the young maid had left the room, the young man who had initially appeared clumsy and awkward suddenly straightened up, and in an instant, the naive look in his eyes vanished. A quiet, graceful air radiated from him, completely free of any rusticness. "Indeed, I never expected the Qin family to be so well-known! It's clear now that the magicians won't be able to overlook such an obvious target." The young man glanced toward the outside, furrowed his brows slightly, and murmured to himself. He was Han Li, who had journeyed nonstop for over ten days, finally arriving in Yu Jing as requested by Li Hua Yuan—his assigned protector. Yet, upon recalling the role Li Hua Yuan had assigned him, Han Li found himself deeply dissatisfied. To his surprise, in the letter, Qin's head of the family had arranged for Han Li to be presented as a relative from a lesser branch of the Qin family—a country-born, humble cousin—so that he could remain undetected within the Qin estate. Though the humble country boy identity somewhat rankled Han Li, he found it easy to embody. After all, Han Li had genuinely grown up in a remote village from the beginning, and in terms of mannerisms and interactions, he didn't need to overthink much. "Master Li has returned to the estate. Now Lady Qin calls for you. Come with me!" The attendant spoke without hesitation to Han Li, then turned and walked off, clearly not placing much value on him. This was understandable, especially when compared to the guard at the gatehouse, Qin Gui. As a trusted aide to Lady Qin, he encountered numerous visiting relatives from the Qin family seeking favors each year—people who came to the estate merely to collect small gifts or favors. Naturally, he treated them as routine matters. In his estimation, Master Li would likely receive only a modest sum of silver, and be sent on his way after a brief reception—never given the chance to stay much longer. Han Li simply nodded in agreement and followed the attendant out of the side room, heading straight toward the main hall of the Qin estate. At that moment, a woman in her forties, graceful and dignified, was speaking to Qin Yan, the head of the Qin family, about Han Li. "Since she has come with such confidence and credibility, she will surely not be deceiving us. It appears to be one of the family elders who has personally sent someone to make the introduction." "Let's find out what the requirements are. If possible, we'll do our best to meet them. We don't want to be seen as stingy or favoritism-driven within the family—our reputation matters." Qin Yan, around fifty, looked remarkably youthful thanks to his excellent care, appearing no older than forty. After sipping his jelly tea and clearing his throat, he spoke slowly and calmly.