"Y-you… you…!"
The old patriarch of the Lawrence Clan pointed at Jiang Yan with a trembling finger, as if he'd suffered some grave humiliation.
"What about me?"
Jiang Yan shot him a flat glance.
"What, you still want to argue with me?"
"You little brat—how dare you insult me!"
Driven mad with rage, the Lawrence patriarch was about to start cursing.
"A little brat?"
Jiang Yan was so angry he actually laughed.
"What capital do you have to call me a little brat?"
If Morax called him a kid, maybe he could accept it—after all, that old fossil had lived for several thousand years.
But you, you senile old man—where did you get the nerve?
"I won't even say I'm five hundred years old,"
"but I'm at least over four hundred."
"You're not even a hundred yet, and you want to compare ages with me?"
After saying that, Jiang Yan even clicked his tongue a few times.
"And you still dare to play the 'senior' card in front of me? Heh. Honestly…"
"I have never seen someone so utterly shameless!"
"Pff—!!!"
At last, the old patriarch of the Lawrence Clan couldn't hold it in anymore and spat out a mouthful of blood.
He lost in age.
He lost in eloquence.
He lost in politics.
It was suffocatingly humiliating.
Everyone around stared at the Lawrence patriarch in shock.
T-this… he just vomited blood like that?
"His endurance is way worse than that old Gunnhildr patriarch ten years ago."
"Yeah, back then, that old man didn't vomit blood until the Tianquan practically cursed eighteen generations of his ancestors."
Even Jiang Yan hadn't expected this old man to start coughing up blood so suddenly.
What the hell?
Had Mondstadt's psychological resilience dropped this much in just ten years?
I haven't even gone all out yet, and he's already collapsed?
For a moment, the atmosphere turned awkward because of the Lawrence patriarch's collapse.
"Ahem—"
Venti broke the silence first.
"Someone, take this Lawrence gentleman out for now. Replace him with someone with… stronger mental endurance."
"Yes!"
Two knights immediately carried the old patriarch out.
A short while later, they brought in a young man.
He was the Lawrence Clan's acting patriarch—the successor the old man had planned to pass the position to in a few years.
Thrown into the fire before he'd fully matured, this acting patriarch was now about to suffer Jiang Yan's opening salvo.
Because of the earlier incident, Jiang Yan also began to rein in his words slightly, considering whether he'd been too infuriating.
His tone softened as he explained how to properly handle governance, emphasizing that not everything should be lumped together.
First, establish a proper law enforcement department—
just like the Millelith Jiang Yan had created.
They would handle civil disputes and trivial matters among the populace.
Next, standardize the role of the Knights.
Right now, Mondstadt's knights did everything—
some cleared monsters, others searched for lost cats and dogs.
It was a mess!
A soldier is a soldier. They must always remember what their duty is.
Jiang Yan didn't even need to think about it—
aside from the elite units that dealt with monsters, the rest of Mondstadt's knights were probably no different from the ones in his past-life memories.
Mondstadt nannies.
How were those so-called "Mondstadt giant babies" of later generations raised?
Wasn't it all because Jean and Noelle spoiled them step by step?
Lost cat? Go find Jean.
Civil dispute? Go find Jean.
Anything and everything—go find Jean.
Or else, go find Noelle.
Why not have them handle childbirth too?
Wait…
That… might not be impossible?
Ehe!
Jiang Yan's thoughts derailed spectacularly.
He hurriedly corrected himself—
he was here to teach these people how to properly guide Mondstadt,
not to indulge in horny nonsense all day!
Time slipped by quickly.
Under Jiang Yan's "kind" guidance, the heads of the Three Great Families and Venti gradually came to understand the problems currently plaguing Mondstadt.
Once they learned about the possible long-term consequences, even Barbatos—who was eavesdropping outside—grew serious.
If Mondstadt really turned into a place where people needed help with everything, the entire nation would be ruined.
That absolutely wouldn't do.
Venti and the others clearly understood this as well and began discussing matters seriously among themselves.
Jiang Yan's scolding was harsh, but it was grounded in reason—never just empty insults.
At the very least, after getting chewed out, they knew exactly where their shortcomings lay and how to correct them.
That was precisely why, even though Venti and the others had already been scolded once ten years ago—and were afraid of it now—they didn't resist it.
One good scolding could make the nation more prosperous.
What ruler wouldn't want that?
If someone told Jiang Yan that thoroughly cursing him out would raise Liyue's GDP by five points—
no, even just two points—
he'd happily shove his face forward and even ask,
"Want to slap me a couple times too?"
"Otherwise this reward feels too hot to hold!"
As Venti and the others continued their discussions, Jiang Yan sat to the side, occasionally offering suggestions.
By the time everything wrapped up, it was already deep into the night.
Looking at the now-quiet Mondstadt City, and the scattered stars hanging high in the sky, Jiang Yan stretched and yawned.
"Ahhh, finally done."
"Barbatos, I'm telling you—this time you'd better treat me to a proper drinking session."
Jiang Yan glanced toward a figure sitting in a tree nearby.
"Definitely! Absolutely!"
"Ehe!"
Barbatos clutched a wine bottle, grinning drunkenly.
Who knew how long this guy had been sitting up in that tree, listening to the discussions while casually drinking.
He looked ridiculously comfortable.
Earlier, he'd almost made Jiang Yan's nose crooked with anger.
Truly worthy of the name Barbatos.
"Fine. Tomorrow, I'm definitely bleeding you dry,"
Jiang Yan said as he slowly walked down the street, his voice fading with his retreating figure.
After a long, exhausting day, Master Jiang was finally going to get some rest.
Back in his room, Jiang Yan dove into the bed at lightning speed and promptly fell into a blissful sleep.
At his level, not sleeping wouldn't really affect him at all.
But he still maintained a strict habit of sleeping every night.
After all, nothing relaxed the mind better than sleep—
Nightmares excluded.
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