The most dissolute couple in the capital

Because there were still local affairs to attend to, He Li and his group returned a few days later than the Prince of Yan.

Madam He paced back and forth at the second gate early in the morning, her handkerchief almost twisted into a rope.

"Madam, you've been gone for almost an hour." The old nanny beside her couldn't bear to watch any longer.

"What do you know?" Madam He glared at her. "Li'er has been gone for more than half a year, running around with His Highness Prince Yan. I don't even know if he's lost weight or caught a chill. Is the food at those post stations even edible? His stomach—"

Before she could finish speaking, a servant from the front yard came running up: "Madam! The Second Young Master has arrived at the gate!"

Madam He lifted her skirt and walked out, her steps light as the wind.

Turning past the screen wall, you can immediately see He Li standing in the front yard.

Mrs. He was stunned.

He Li was dressed in a simple dark blue robe with only a leather belt around his waist. He stood there with his back straight, exuding a hint of masculinity.

Upon seeing his mother, He Li strode forward, knelt on one knee, and performed a deep bow: "Mother, your son has returned."

Mrs. He's nose stung with tears. She grabbed his arm and looked him up and down three times: "You've lost weight! You're so dark! And what's that scar on your face? Were you injured?"

"It's just a minor injury, it's healed already." He Li stood up. "I've been running around outside for months, got sunburned."

Mrs. He held his hand, stroking it back and forth, her eyes reddening but she stubbornly held back her tears.

"Good, good, it's good that you're back." She patted her son's hand, then suddenly noticed a thin callus on his palm. "This is..."

"I had to ride horses and carry things." He Li smiled. "His Highness Prince Yan doesn't keep idle people around; everyone has to do their job."

Mrs. He never imagined that the words "moving things" would come out of her son's mouth. She was both relieved and heartbroken, and almost couldn't hold back her emotions.

The head maid was already wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

He Li helped his mother inside, asking, "Where is Father?"

"He's receiving guests in the study; I've already sent someone to fetch them." Madam He held his hand tightly, and after taking a few steps, she couldn't help but turn back to look at him. "Li'er, you've really grown up since you went out this time."

He Li felt a little embarrassed by the stares and scratched the back of his head.

This gesture is still the same as He Li's from before.

In the evening, the He family hosted a family banquet.

Lord He Changxian sat in the main seat, a friendly smile on his face: "When the Great Way prevails, the world belongs to all. I am deeply gratified that you have made progress in the past six months following the Prince of Yan."

He Li bowed and said, "I have not accomplished anything, I have only run errands. At first, I made a lot of mistakes because I was not familiar with the affairs, but the Prince of Yan was very magnanimous and did not hold it against me."

Seeing that He Li had become more measured in his speech, He Changxian was satisfied.

After a few rounds of drinks, He Li put down his chopsticks and straightened his posture.

"Father, Mother, your son has something to report."

Madam He's expression changed slightly.

He Li cupped his hands and said, "My son wishes to ask for someone in marriage."

Madam He was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed: "Great news! Which family's daughter is she? I'll go and find out—"

"The Su family," He Li said, "the Miss Su whom my son helped before."

Mrs. He's smile froze on her face.

Lord He put down his wine cup and looked over with a deep gaze: "The Su family? Which Su family?"

"Su's father was originally an eighth-rank county magistrate dispatched to a remote area. He died in the line of duty, and the court has a record of providing him with a pension." He Li's eyes were bright. "Miss Su is now serving as a seventh-rank military advisor in the Prince of Yan's mansion. She was personally recommended by His Highness the Prince of Yan and approved by His Majesty."

Madam He's expression changed repeatedly.

She was familiar with the name Su Heng. She was furious when He Li secretly helped an orphan girl and almost got himself into trouble with the law. She even went to the Liang Prince's mansion to cry to Cui Qingyi about it.

Mrs. He was getting impatient. "Isn't she that girl who took advantage of your kindness before?"

When Madam He saw that He Li only talked about being granted an official position, she quickly told him about what had happened before.

Seeing this, He Li couldn't help but feel anxious: "Mother! When her family suffered a disaster and had nowhere to turn, she resorted to some means, but she returned everything afterwards without missing a single penny. Moreover, she has now obtained an official position through her own abilities and is doing an excellent job under His Highness the Prince of Yan. In the past six months, she has been in charge of many complicated matters."

Madam He opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something more.

He Changxian, however, was in no hurry: "Since I've obtained an official position by following the Prince of Yan, I naturally have some skills. Why would I be willing to marry you?"

As the saying goes, experience is the best teacher. Seeing that his father had hit the nail on the head, He Li chuckled twice and said, "I secretly told Miss Su that she doesn't have to resign from her official post after the marriage and can continue to work at the Prince of Yan's residence."

Madam He stood up abruptly: "Absurd! What kind of married woman would still be out in public serving as an official? If word gets out, where will the He family's reputation be? Your elder brother is an official in the court, while your sister-in-law manages the household affairs at home—that's the proper etiquette..."

He Li straightened his back: "Miss Su is intelligent, resilient, and of noble character. She can protect her family's property on her own and handle complex political affairs flawlessly. Even the Prince of Yan values ​​her talent. I have worked with her for more than half a year and know that she is a rare and extraordinary woman in the world."

Madam He felt a wave of dizziness. "Making my daughter-in-law wear official robes to work every day? Where would that leave the He family's reputation? Those ladies could drown our family with their spit!"

He Li refused to back down, saying, "Miss Su receives her salary from the imperial court with integrity, shares His Highness Prince Yan's burdens, and performs acts of kindness that benefit the people. If others laugh, it's because they are narrow-minded!"

Madam He was so angry that she rubbed her chest and turned to Lord He: "Listen to this outrageous talk! You must do something about him!"

He Changxian did not speak immediately, but tapped his fingers slowly on the table a few times.

As the Prefect of the Capital, he had served in the court for many years and his sense of smell was much sharper than that of ordinary people.

His Majesty has just conferred the title of Prince of Yan and bestowed the title of Prince upon the eldest princess. Although his other sons have also been conferred the title of Prince, their talents and abilities are indeed far inferior to those of the Prince of Yan.

Miss Su is now a definite subject of the Prince of Yan... If the Prince of Yan can truly win the first place, Miss Su's future will be limitless.

He glanced at his second son below him and sighed inwardly. His eldest son was someone he didn't need to worry about; he had his own path to follow. But this He Lina...

During the six months that Yan Wang worked for her, Madam He didn't know how things were going, but how could he not have heard the news?

I heard that the troubles he caused in the past few months were all cleaned up by the Prince of Yan, and he only gradually got the hang of it in the second half of the year.

What kind of future can they expect after this?

But if we could arrange a marriage with the Su family...

Lord He asked, "Are you really sure? Or is this just a momentary impulse?"

He Li said seriously, "I've been thinking about it for half a year."

Lord He nodded.

Madam He cried out anxiously, "Master!"

He Changxian raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling her to calm down. He looked at He Li and said in a steady tone, "I have not seen the Su family girl's character with my own eyes, so I cannot make a judgment. But what you just said does make some sense."

He paused, as if considering his words.

"His Highness Prince Yan is currently in dire need of capable men, and he will certainly value those who are competent under his command. Whether your request to marry Miss Su is sincere or merely an attempt to leverage his power, I will only ask you one question: are you worthy of this young lady's trust?"

He Li answered resolutely, "Father, I may not have any other skills in this life, but I do have a sincere heart. Miss Su is intelligent and resilient, and she is the most remarkable woman I have ever met. She is capable of being an official and getting things done, and I will only be happy for her and will never hold her back."

He Changxian stared at him for a while, then suddenly laughed.

"it is good."

Mrs. He's eyes widened.

He Changxian stood up, straightened his robes, and said, "I agree to this marriage. I will personally prepare gifts and go to the Su family to propose marriage later."

"Master!" Madam He finally couldn't hold back any longer, "Then the Su family is left with only orphans and widows, and their family background is also—"

"Madam," He Changxian said gently, "Have you forgotten our family's origins? My grandfather was just a ninth-rank county magistrate back then, and he worked his way up to where he is today. If one generation can't uphold a family's social standing, there's always the next."

He walked up to He Li and patted his son on the shoulder: "Now that you're married, you can't act like a child anymore."

He Li's eyes suddenly felt hot.

Looking at the father and son, Madam He was both angry and helpless. She stomped her foot and sat back down, muttering, "To hold an official position after marriage... How can this be... People will laugh at us if word gets out..."

The eldest son coughed at the opportune moment: "Mother, His Highness the Prince of Yan is a woman who holds a title, and he also has female officials under his command. The world is quite different now than before."

Mrs. He couldn't argue with the three men in her family, so she could only feel frustrated.