Hu Po stood outside the inn, holding a basin of steaming water.
Early this morning, the Jia family had sent her over after they found out which inn Jia Yu was staying at.
The events of last night had caused a stir.
At the time, Gao Hu had deliberately made a big deal out of it, prompting various families to send out spies to investigate.
Not only nobles and high officials knew, even merchants with a bit of power knew.
Two hundred heavily armored cavalry entering the city couldn't be hidden from everyone.
The inn was surrounded by black armored cavalry, their sharp swords and spears intimidating.
Jia Yu heard a familiar female voice and thought, "Isn't that Hu Po from the Rongguo Mansion?"
"Hu Po?"
He asked tentatively.
Hu Po outside the door blushed when she heard the Third Master recognize her voice.
Last night, the old lady had personally told her things about how good it would be to be by the Third Master's side, and how good it would be.
The other girls were envious of her being able to follow the Third Master.
Anyone with any sense could see that being by the Third Master's side was infinitely better than staying in the Rongguo Mansion.
"This servant is here!"
Hu Po answered softly.
"Didn't I tell you to stay at the Rongguo Mansion for a few days?" Jia Yu put on his coat, strode towards the door, opened it, and saw the young and beautiful girl holding the basin of water.
He reached out, took the basin, and said, "Just right for washing my face. Since you're here, I'll have the innkeeper get you a room later."
Hu Po felt an irresistible force pulling the basin from her hand.
Jia Yu placed the basin on the table and began washing his face with a towel.
He wasn't used to having someone help him with brushing his teeth and washing his face.
Seeing the disheveled state of Jia Yu's clothes, Hu Po walked behind him and carefully began to tidy them.
"Third Master, let this servant help you with your clothes from now on."
Ancient clothing was a bit troublesome to put on, with many buttons to fasten.
Jia Yu's clothes were already quite simple, but he would always forget a button or two when putting them on.
"This servant learned how to put on armor from the old mamas last night. When this servant grows older and stronger, she can help the Third Master put on his armor too."
A servant of a noble family was required to know how to help their master put on armor.
"Just help me with my clothes, you won't be able to help me with the armor, no matter how big you get." Jia Yu said with a smile, "Each piece of my armor weighs at least two or three pounds, and the whole thing weighs twenty or thirty pounds."
"Then this servant will find a few sisters to help you put it on."
Hu Po's heart was already completely devoted to Jia Yu.
She couldn't go back to the Rongguo Mansion and would devote all her effort to her new master.
"Hahaha, I'll be waiting." Jia Yu laughed, unconcerned. He suddenly remembered that he needed to wear his official uniform for tomorrow's Grand Court Assembly: "Hu Po, do you know how to put on official attire?"
Hu Po nodded, "This servant has dressed the old lady in her official robes a few times and has learned to put on other official attire, but I need to know the specific style of the Third Master's robe."
Different official robes had different styles.
Hu Po suddenly thought of one of her friends and her eyes lit up: "Third Master, there's someone in the old lady's household who is very skilled with different kinds of official attire. If you could ask her to come, there wouldn't be any problem."
"Who?" Jia Yu was delighted, "Last night, that scoundrel Liu Gonggong gave me my official uniform and some accessories, then he ran off.
I was thinking of making Jia San... go find a few people to help me put it on.
I can't make a mistake on my first day at the Grand Court Assembly."
Jia Yu didn't care much for the Grand Court Assembly, but he was a normal person and didn't want to lose face in front of everyone.
Grand Court Assembly.
In the Rongguo Mansion, Master Zheng, the head of the family, would go to the assembly every few days.
The mansion's carriage and other good things were prioritized for Master Zheng.
But they had never heard of the Grand Court Assembly calling for Master Zheng.
The Grand Court Assembly of the Great Zhou was different from other dynasties.
The Grand Court Assembly of the Great Zhou, under normal circumstances, was only held three times a year.
Each session lasted seven days.
One before the Spring Festival, summarizing the year's events.
It also planned the following year's government affairs, such as building water embankments, military budgets, and so on.
Only officials of the fifth rank or above could participate in the Grand Court Assembly.
The Third Master, being the Commandant of the Capital Garrison, must participate in such meetings.
"Qian Wen." Hu Po thought of her friend in the mansion: "Qian Wen, she has the best embroidery skills in the house. She was trained by the old lady from a young age and is skilled with all kinds of attire.
A while back, the old lady's official robes had a tear in them, and Qian Wen stitched it up perfectly, just like it was never torn."
"Qian Wen." Jia Yu put away his towel and said to the door, "Jia San, go to the Rongguo Mansion and ask Old Lady Shi for a maid named Qian Wen."
Jia San outside the door replied, "Yes."
Soon, Jia San returned with a box of tightly sealed things and a carriage to the Rongguo Mansion.
The master didn't need to consider the complexities of human relationships, but his subordinates couldn't afford not to consider them for the master.
Under Jia San's arrangements, the guards outside the inn were billeted in several nearby inns.
Faced with fully armed, armored cavalry, those innkeepers had no choice.
Moreover, Jia Yu paid more money than the average person.
Plus, these soldiers ate more, and their warhorses needed more as well.
This made the innkeepers very happy.
However, the atmosphere around the inns became heavy after the arrival of the soldiers.
One could see suspicious people, constantly watching the inns.
As Jia Yu waited for the Grand Court Assembly, all the forces in the capital knew that he had entered the city. This was an opportunity for them...