Even as Bai Yuan was busy extending Gao Family Village's reach into Jiangzhou—quietly, methodically, like a man laying fishing nets while smiling at the water—
Back in Gao Family Village, life had just returned to its default setting: calm on the surface, restless underneath.
Gao Yiye and her personal guard detachment had arrived back at the village not long ago.
After formalities were dealt with, Gao Yiye and Dong Xue withdrew to the main keep to rest. Qiu Ju, meanwhile, had stayed behind in Puzhou City, overseeing the rapidly expanding textile workshop—so busy that even her shadow probably needed to work overtime.
That evening, the observation tower balcony was unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that only shows up when someone who's always been there… suddenly isn't.
Gao Yiye leaned against the railing, gazing at the lantern-lit village below. After a long moment, she spoke, half to Dong Xue, half to herself.
"…It's just the two of us now."
Dong Xue sat beside her, hands folded neatly in her lap. She let out a soft sigh.
"Yes. Just the two of us."
The words hung there, heavier than they should've been.
Gao Yiye tilted her head slightly and glanced at her.
"Qiu Ju isn't here either," she said gently. "You must feel it more than I do."
Dong Xue didn't answer.
But she didn't need to.
Gao Yiye already knew.
Among the four secretaries, Dong Xue and Qiu Ju shared the deepest bond. They'd been sold into the same brothel as children, learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting side by side, survived the same nights, the same disappointments, the same whispered dreams. Sisters in all but blood.
Gao Yiye smiled faintly.
"Looks like we'll have to visit Puzhou more often from now on."
Dong Xue's head snapped up.
"Really?"
Gao Yiye laughed softly. "Your eyes just gave you away. Yes. We absolutely must."
Dong Xue's composure cracked instantly. She rose and bowed, her voice bright.
"Thank you, Saintess."
At that exact moment—
The golden embroidery on Gao Yiye's robes shimmered.
Then laughed.
"Heh."
The sudden voice made both women stiffen before instinct kicked in. They stood and bowed at once.
"Greetings, Dao Xuan Tianzun."
Dao Xuan Tianzun's voice carried amusement, the kind that suggested he'd been listening for a while.
"…This is a business opportunity."
The two exchanged confused looks.
Dong Xue ventured carefully, "Business… opportunity?"
"Yes," Dao Xuan Tianzun said, clearly pleased with himself. "Dong Xue, you've dealt with wealthy people before. You know how they like to spend their time, don't you?"
Dong Xue nodded immediately.
"Yes. Spring outings, autumn excursions, countryside strolls, snow-viewing… They'll travel halfway across the province just to write a poem they don't understand, then pay someone else to explain why it's good."
"Exactly!" Dao Xuan Tianzun laughed. "Feigning elegance aside, leisure travel is a real demand. People don't live just to grind their teeth against reality. They also want scenery, novelty, and the illusion of depth."
Dong Xue nodded solemnly. "Dao Xuan Tianzun speaks with remarkable insight—far more sincere than those who merely pretend to be refined."
There was a pause.
"…Was that a compliment," Dao Xuan Tianzun said slowly, "or did I just get roasted?"
Dong Xue froze.
"I—this servant—"
"I'm kidding," Dao Xuan Tianzun said cheerfully. "Mostly."
Then he continued briskly, "Since you'll be visiting Puzhou frequently anyway, why not develop a travel route? Gao Family Village to Puzhou."
The idea hit both women at once.
Dao Xuan Tianzun's voice grew animated.
"Reading ten thousand books isn't as good as traveling ten thousand li. Gao Family Village is too small. If people never leave it, their thinking will shrink to match. Take them out. Let them see Heyang County. Let them cross the Linyi Yellow River Bridge. Let them stand in Puzhou's cotton fields and realize the world doesn't end at the village gate."
The two didn't quite understand what a "worldview" was.
But they understood this.
Dong Xue curtsied. "How should we begin?"
Dao Xuan Tianzun didn't bother with explanations.
With a flick, a printed document slid out of thin air and landed before her.
"Try it," he said lightly. "If it makes money, great. If not, at least it'll be fun."
Money, frankly, wasn't the point.
Gao Yiye flipped through the pages, eyes lighting up.
"…This actually looks interesting."
She had been bored out of her mind lately. Governance was important, yes—but even saints needed hobbies.
Dong Xue leaned closer, reading intently.
"Route planning… scenic points… inns… local specialties… historical introductions…" She smiled. "We visit Qiu Ju, earn money, and broaden the villagers' horizons. Several goals achieved at once."
Gao Yiye laughed. "Then what are we waiting for? How much should we charge?"
She thought for a moment.
"…Should we ask a middle-school graduate to calculate it?"
Dong Xue waved her hand dismissively. "No need. People who travel like this are wealthy. They won't haggle."
She paused, then smiled sweetly.
"Let's start high."
Thus, the plan was born.
Early the next morning, Dong Xue departed alone.
Gao Yiye did not accompany her—because when the Saintess moved, so did her guards. Over a hundred people scouting a tourist route would've been less 'leisure travel' and more 'military inspection.'
Dong Xue traveled as an ordinary woman.
Train to Heyang County.
Transfer to Qichuan Ferry.
Safe. Efficient. Familiar.
At Qichuan Ferry, she paused.
Boat to Yongji Ancient Ferry?
Or carriage north along the newly built cement road to the Linyi Yellow River Bridge?
After a moment's thought, she chose land.
She hired a carriage, negotiated the price like a seasoned veteran, and traveled more than ten li before the bridge came into view.
Dong Xue stood there for a long time.
She wrote extensively about it.
Then crossed into Sunji Town.
Inns. Restaurants. Evening rest stops.
Tourists would stay the night here—enjoy the river breeze, admire the bridge under lantern light, eat roast lamb until they forgot their own names.
At dawn, they would continue to Puzhou.
Satisfied, Dong Xue returned.
That night, she and Gao Yiye whispered in the observation tower until dawn.
The next morning—
Villagers woke to find a massive notice plastered at the entrance of the main keep:
"Gao Family Village Travel Group"Gao Family Village Travel Group
Departure to Puzhou in three daysDeparture to Puzhou in three days
Ten taels of silverTen taels of silver
Yellow River scenery · New Puzhou · Limited spotsYellow River scenery · New Puzhou · Limited spots
Now accepting registrations"
Zhang Laowu, head of the Disciplinary Committee, spotted it during patrol.
His face darkened instantly.
"Who dares paste advertisements on the main keep's gate?! That's a celestial fortress bestowed by Dao Xuan Tianzun! Gao Sanwa once got beaten half to death just for scribbling here—arrest them and—"
He squinted.
Saw the signature.
"…Ah."
His expression flipped.
"The Saintess's handwriting," he said reverently, "is truly beautiful."
Everyone around him: "…."
Thus began Gao Family Village's tourism industry.
And not a single person involved yet realized just how far it would spiral.