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Chapter 96: What a Lineage!

Gao Yiye, after hearing this, felt her cheeks flush lightly. "Oh? The Heavenly Lord's chief wife? This... this... how could a humble girl like me possibly be worthy?"

San Shier urged, "Why are you blushing? Can you not focus on the main point? I'm asking you to portray Madam Li, not the Heavenly Lord's wife. This Master Li will be a fabricated character, completely nonexistent."

Gao Yiye responded, "But he would still be a manifestation of the Heavenly Lord."

San Shier just stared.

He certainly wouldn't dare to argue with that.

He could only give a wry smile and say, "Miss Yiye, in short, just observe more and speak less. Leave the situation to me. If the Heavenly Lord has any instructions, whisper them, and I'll adapt on the fly."

Gao Yiye wasn't sure whether to agree. This matter, without the Heavenly Lord's permission, would it be too brazen? Her face instantly turned crimson again.

Just then, she heard the Heavenly Lord's gentle voice from above: "Quite interesting. Go on, give it a try."

"Ah?" Gao Yiye snapped her head up. "Heavenly Lord, this... such a thing... would you... truly permit it?"

Gao Yiye's face turned a shade of red that looked ready to bleed. She lowered her head and whispered, "This humble girl... obeys..."

Li Daoxuan swiftly closed the lid of the Diorama Box, obscuring himself from Gao Yiye's view, then chuckled with delight: "The little girl is shy! How amusing, truly amusing."

San Shier, hearing the Heavenly Lord's permission, also perked up. In truth, ever since Cheng Xu had inquired about the origins of Gao Family Fortress, he had been pondering this very question. Such a large stronghold, with nine-meter-high walls, taller than many county towns, couldn't possibly escape official notice. Figuring out how to explain its origins truly required some thought.

To not explain? And simply strike down anyone who dared to ask? That was definitely unacceptable! That would be following the demonic path, not the heavenly path, and the Heavenly Lord would surely not permit it.

He had spent considerable time recently crafting a complete narrative.

Now, the challenge was whether this story would pass muster.

He quickly had Gao Yiye change into the finest clothes in the village, the ones Mrs. San had given her, and applied the most beautiful makeup. He instructed her to adopt the most dignified demeanor. To his surprise, when she refrained from speaking, she truly managed to resemble a dignified chief wife.

----

Liang Shixian and his entourage soon arrived before Gao Family Fortress.

The ten bailiffs and thirty assistants were newly appointed and hadn't yet developed arrogant tendencies. For now, they were fairly disciplined, without any egregious behavior, and dutifully followed Liang Shixian.

Liang Shixian's eyes darted around. Not a single villager here appeared gaunt or sickly; everyone seemed full of vigor, and a few even looked a little plump. What on earth was happening? He had just been tearfully writing a memorial, lamenting the plight of the people in Chengcheng County, and yet this village had plump people?

His aide whispered, "This village is exceptionally wealthy."

Liang Shixian nodded. "That's good, then. I'll have even more confidence in finding some assistance here."

As he spoke, the gates of Gao Family Fortress opened. San Shier, dressed in a long gown, a self-satisfied smile on his face, confidently stepped out to greet them. "Esteemed Magistrate, your presence truly honors our humble abode."

Liang Shixian, wearing his official robes, was instantly recognized as the new county magistrate, which was not surprising. He cupped a hand in greeting. "And this esteemed establishment belongs to...?"

San Shier chuckled. "This place is called Gao Family Village, and this grand residence is the home of Master Li of Gao Family Village. I am the steward of the Li family; my name is San Shier."

Liang Shixian had only just taken office a few days prior and wasn't familiar with all the gentry and wealthy families in Chengcheng County, so he had no immediate suspicions. However, he looked up at the nine-meter-high fortress walls and couldn't help but lower his voice. "This Li family of yours certainly has deep roots."

San Shier grinned, his face radiating pride. "Naturally. My Master Li is no ordinary person, hehehe. The Li family has resided here for over a thousand years..."

Liang Shixian had already set his expectations upon seeing the manor; he knew the family's backing must be immense, extraordinarily so. Hearing "over a thousand years" still startled him. A thousand years? Reaching back a thousand years would place them in the Tang Dynasty. A great aristocratic family that rose to prominence in the Tang Dynasty? With the surname Li? And located here in Shaanxi? Connecting these keywords sent a shiver down Liang Shixian's spine. Who in heaven's name were these people? Could they be descendants of the Tang imperial clan?

San Shier cupped his hands. "Esteemed Magistrate, my Master has embarked on a journey to the immortals and is not currently at home. I, as his steward, must welcome you, and I beg your forgiveness for any neglect."

Liang Shixian, thoroughly intimidated, readily granted his forgiveness. Yet, he was unwilling to simply turn back. "Is there anyone else in the manor who holds authority?"

San Shier replied, "Our chief wife remains in the manor; she did not accompany Master on his journey to the immortals."

Liang Shixian thought: *Excellent. It might still be possible to secure some disaster relief silver from his wife.* He then said, "Then I shall trouble Steward San to introduce me."

San Shier responded, "Esteemed Magistrate, please follow me."

He led the way, and Liang Shixian's group followed. They took the same path that Zheng Yanfu and Zhong Guangdao had used when they attacked Gao Family Fortress: a narrow passage with smooth walls on either side. With the recent rain, Gao Family Village felt cool and secluded.

In such conditions, walking through this passage indeed created a subtle sense of oppression. Liang Shixian handled it well, but the bailiffs and assistants behind him barely dared to breathe. Strolling through such a wealthy estate, they feared a single misspoken word could lead to their demise.

After passing several halls and courtyards, the group arrived before the watchtower. Gao Yiye resided on the third floor of the watchtower, the second floor was filled with storage, and the first floor, well, that was the ancestral hall.

This space was typically meant for "ancestral tablets," but Gao Family Fortress was not the estate of a landlord family, and there were no glorious ancestors to honor. So, San Shier had the sculptor create a new Heavenly Lord statue and placed it within the ancestral hall. (PS: Chapter 66 mentions that San Shier said he would place a Heavenly Lord holy image in the ancestral hall when stealing cotton. Friends who forgot can go back and check.)

As Liang Shixian's group reached this point, they saw the Heavenly Lord statue seated majestically in the ancestral hall. Beside it, a couplet was inscribed: "May a thousand years of incense honor the heavens and earth," and below, "May ten thousand generations of bright smoke prolong the sun and moon." In the center, a tablet read: "Erected in reverence to our Ancestral Master, the Divine Seat of Dao Xuan Tian Zun."

Liang Shixian immediately understood. This place was clearly an ancestral hall, which should honor the Li family ancestors, but instead, they venerated a divine seat. This meant it was a "family deity."

The family deity's name was "Daoxuan," and the surname was "Li." Put together, it was "Li Daoxuan."

*I must think this through!* The vastly learned Liang Shixian immediately activated his mental database, recalling all the knowledge and historical texts he had ever studied. Countless characters scrolled through his mind like a revolving lantern, then "ding!" they settled on a specific piece of information.

Li Daoxuan, a Tang imperial clansman, one of the Eight Pillars of State during the Western Wei and Northern Zhou dynasties, and a cousin of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan.

Liang Shixian gasped internally: "Good heavens, what a formidable lineage!"

San Shier, seeing his expression, knew he had successfully bluffed him. He chuckled inwardly. "Esteemed Magistrate, please follow me upstairs. The chief wife resides on the third floor."