After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Chapter 110 Your Daughter-in-Law

The Eastern Palace, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Yang Tinghe was bent over his desk reviewing documents, which were piled high on the desk.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and a figure appeared in the doorway.

"Master Yang, are you busy?"

Yang Tinghe looked up and saw that it was Commandant Qi Shimei.

He quickly rose, walked around the desk to greet the Imperial Son-in-Law, and said, "This humble official greets the Imperial Son-in-Law! What brings you here?"

Qi Shimei waved his hand and strolled in: "Just passing by, come in and sit down, have a cup of tea."

Yang Tinghe hurriedly ordered tea to be served and personally moved a chair, but he was inwardly puzzled.

This prince consort is not usually on good terms with me, so why did he suddenly come to the Imperial Household Department today?

Qi Shimei sat down, looked around, and said, "So many documents... it seems the work at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is no easy task!"

Yang Tinghe shook his head with a wry smile: "Who can argue with that! His Highness the Crown Prince is still young. He has to study and learn to handle state affairs. All the affairs of the Eastern Palace are managed by Grand Tutor Wang and myself. Although it is tiring, it is my duty as a subject to share His Majesty's burdens."

Qi Shimei nodded, chatted for a few minutes about court affairs, and then suddenly changed the subject.

"Your son must be quite busy lately?"

Yang Tinghe couldn't quite figure out Qi Shimei's intentions, so he could only say, "It's fine if you don't mention him, but it gives me a headache. This kid doesn't study properly and is always running around Wuqing County, running some kind of workshop. I've already told him that in a couple of days he'll go back to his hometown in Xindu, Sichuan, to study and prepare for the provincial examination."

Qi Shimei put down her teacup and looked at him with a smile: "Old Yang, I have to say something to you about this."

Yang Tinghe asked, puzzled, "What instructions does Your Highness have?"

Qi Shimei leaned back in his chair and said slowly, "I know a bit about Wuqing County. Ever since your son started that development zone, the whole county has improved. Wang Shouren is the magistrate there, and the two of them have worked together to investigate hidden land and open workshops. The lives of the people are much better than before."

At this point, he turned back to look at Yang Tinghe: "I heard they are preparing to expand the wharf, so that some of the cargo from the canal can be diverted to land in Wuqing. At that time, the future of Wuqing County will be limitless!"

Yang Tinghe was stunned.

He knew these things, of course, but hearing them from Qi Shimei's mouth always felt a bit off.

Why would a prince consort be so concerned about the affairs of Wuqing County?

"You flatter me, Your Highness. In the end, it's nothing more than the way of a merchant. Studying is the right path."

Qi Shimei waved his hand and said seriously, "I don't like hearing that."

Yang Tinghe was taken aback, not knowing what was going on.

Qi Shimei continued, "What is the purpose of studying? To pass the imperial examinations and become an official. And what do officials do? To share the burdens of His Majesty and bring benefits to the people. What your son is doing now—isn't it all about sharing His Majesty's burdens? Isn't it all about benefiting the people?"

Yang Tinghe was rendered speechless.

If someone else had said that, he might have been able to argue back.

But when Qi Shimei said it, he didn't know how to respond.

Seeing that he remained silent, Qi Shimei smiled again, her tone much more relaxed: "My family owns three hundred hectares of land in Wuqing County, which was part of the princess's dowry bestowed by His Majesty. How about this, I'll entrust those three hundred hectares of land to your son, and let him manage it as well, what do you say?"

Yang Tinghe was startled and waved his hands repeatedly: "You flatter me, Your Excellency! My son is unworthy of the honor to take over the Prince Consort's land. Besides, I have already told him that we will set off back to Xindu in two days—"

Qi Shimei interrupted him with a chuckle: "He can't leave."

Yang Tinghe was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Qi Shimei picked up his teacup, took a sip, and smiled without answering.

That inscrutable demeanor made Yang Tinghe's heart pound.

"Your Highness, please explain yourself clearly!"

Qi Shimei stood up, patted his shoulder, and said meaningfully, "Don't worry, you'll know in a couple of days."

After saying that, without waiting for Yang Tinghe to ask any further questions, he cupped his hands in greeting and strode away.

Yang Tinghe stood at the door, watching Qi Shimei's departing figure, completely bewildered.

What does that mean?

What does it mean to be unable to leave?

Has he gotten into trouble again?

This kid, so young and already making enemies on all sides, what are we going to do?

Yang Tinghe had no interest in working and went home early.

As I stepped into the living room, Qi Shimei's words were still on my mind.

Looking up, I saw a young woman sitting in a chair, drinking tea from a teacup.

The two looked at each other, and Yang Tinghe frowned.

"Aren't you going to cook? What are you standing there for?"

The woman raised an eyebrow, looked up at him, but didn't say anything.

There was a strange look in his eyes, as if he were examining some rare object.

Yang Tinghe then noticed that the woman looked unfamiliar and was not one of the maids in the house.

He paused, then asked, "Are you the maid Laifu just bought?"

The woman put down her teacup, raised an eyebrow, and said, "You old man, why are you talking so rudely? You're the one who bought it!"

Yang Tinghe was so choked up that he almost couldn't catch his breath.

He was a man of absolute authority in the imperial court, but when he returned home, he was actually confronted by a young girl with blond hair!

"Who—who are you?"

At this moment, Yang Shen strode out from the back room and pleaded, "Father, please calm down!"

He pointed to the woman and introduced her, "This is Miss Liu Qing, the female doctor who helped me discover that there was aconite in the Hundred Herbs Pill."

Yang Tinghe was taken aback for a moment, then his expression softened.

He had heard Yang Shen mention this before, and his tone became more polite: "So it's Miss Liu, my apologies for not recognizing you! May I ask what brings you to my humble abode, Miss Liu?"

"That—Father!"

Yang Shen scratched his head and stammered.

When Yang Tinghe saw his appearance, his ominous premonition grew even stronger.

Yang Shen forced himself to speak: "I have something to report to you."

Yang Tinghe stared at him: "What is it?"

Yang Shen said calmly, "Miss Liu's current identity is that of your future daughter-in-law."

The living room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yang Tinghe thought he might have misheard.

He looked at Yang Shen, then at Liu Qing, then back at Yang Shen, then back at Liu Qing.

The girl sat upright as before, her expression calm, and even nodded at him, as if confirming something.

After a long silence, Yang Tinghe finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly: "What did you say?"

Yang Shen quickly explained, "That's right, Miss Liu and I are married—"

Yang Tinghe took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

Don't get angry, don't get angry, ask clearly first.

"Wait a minute."

He raised his hand to stop Yang Shen from gesturing further and asked, "When did you get engaged? How come I didn't know?"

Yang Shen said, "It's today."

Yang Tinghe nearly choked: "Today? You went out today and got engaged?"

Yang Shen nodded, looking completely innocent: "Yes, today."

Yang Tinghe pointed at him, his fingers trembling: "You—do you even see me as your father anymore?"

Yang Shen quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes! I told you as soon as I got back!"

Yang Tinghe stomped his feet in anger: "A report? Is this a report? This is a notification!"

Liu Qing watched the father and son from the side and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The laughter was crisp and clear, standing out starkly in the tense atmosphere.

Yang Tinghe turned his head and glared at her, then turned back to glare at Yang Shen.

"What exactly happened? Explain yourself!"

Yang Shen had no choice but to tell the whole story.

When Emperor Hongzhi summoned him at Jingshan to bestow a marriage upon his niece, he did not want to agree but dared not disobey the imperial decree. So he claimed that he was already engaged. Emperor Hongzhi did not believe him and insisted on seeing him. He could only go to the clinic to ask Liu Qing for help and told him everything in detail.

Yang Tinghe's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty after hearing this.

He finally understood why Qi Shimei had suddenly come to chat with him today.

After a long silence, he finally managed to stammer, "So, you were all acting?"

Yang Shen nodded vigorously: "Yes, it's an act! Once this storm passes, we'll find an excuse to quit."

Yang Tinghe took a deep breath and said, "This afternoon, Prince Consort Qi came to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to see me."

Yang Shen was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "What does Prince Consort Qi want with you?"

Yang Tinghe stared at him and said, word by word, "He said that you have done a very good job in Wuqing County, and he also said that he wants to hand over his three hundred hectares of land in Wuqing County to you to manage."

"The location of Prince Consort Qi's field is excellent!"

Yang Shen's eyes lit up, and he said, "Father, you don't know, his family's land is near the dock. Wang Shouren is still worried about acquiring land for the expansion of the dock. If Prince Consort Qi is willing to give up his land—"

"So, you're prepared to accept His Majesty's arranged marriage?"

"Oh? That won't do—"

Yang Shen waved his hands repeatedly.

Yang Tinghe said with a dark face, "You rejected the marriage decreed by His Majesty, and now you want their land? Do you think that's possible?"

Yang Shen thought about it and realized that this made sense.

Liu Qing asked inappropriately, "Have you changed your mind? Should I leave?"

"That won't do!"

Yang Shen quickly said, "I can't sell my body!"

>

"Um----"