Chapter 110
"Mother, I’ve missed you so much." Li Zhiwei nestled shyly in Lady Yao’s arms, acting coquettishly.
"My dear Weier, you’ve suffered," Lady Yao said with heartache.
"Qingshi greets Grandmother!" Once Lady Yao was seated, Li Zhiwei beckoned to Xu Qingshi.
Xu Qingshi then respectfully bowed to Lady Yao as a junior would.
"Good child!" Lady Yao’s eyes were still slightly red. Though she had questions upon seeing this adorable child, she refrained from asking in front of him.
"Look at me, I didn’t even prepare a proper gift for Qingshi." Lady Yao felt somewhat embarrassed. By custom, she should have prepared a gift for a junior’s greeting.
"Mother, Qingshi and I will be staying in Li'an County for a while. There’s no rush," Li Zhiwei reassured her with a smile.
"Grandmother, Qingshi doesn’t need gifts." Remembering the presents Li Zhiwei had given Wei Herui, Xu Qingshi quickly waved his hands in refusal.
"So this is Cousin Zhiwei. It was my oversight not to recognize you earlier." Yao Shuheng finally seized the opportunity to step forward and greet Li Zhiwei with a polite bow befitting an equal.
"Greetings, Eldest Cousin!" Li Zhiwei promptly stood and returned a half-bow.
"It’s a coincidence—Heng'er happened to be in Li'an County on business and came to visit me," Lady Yao explained with a smile.
"It’s been years since I last saw Cousin. How are Uncle and Aunt?" Thinking of her uncle and aunt in Qujing, Li Zhiwei asked warmly.
"Father and Mother are well, though they often worry about Aunt and Cousin," Yao Shuheng replied with a smile.
"That’s good to hear." Li Zhiwei didn’t have strong memories of her uncle and aunt in Qujing, but she knew they cared for her deeply—her uncle sent her many fine gifts every year.
"By the way, Weier, where is your father? Why didn’t he return with you?" Lady Yao asked, puzzled.
When her husband had hurriedly left for the capital, he’d only sent word that all was well before ceasing correspondence. Now that her daughter had returned without Li Tianyou, Lady Yao grew anxious.
Back then, he’d only mentioned that their daughter’s marriage arrangements had changed and that he would handle it, without elaborating further. Now that their daughter was safely home, had something happened to him?
At this thought, Lady Yao’s expression darkened.
"Mother, Father is fine. It’s just that he’s now a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and has official duties in the capital. I’ve come back to bring you to the capital so you can live in comfort," Li Zhiwei explained after a brief pause.
"Your father? A Vice Minister? Good heavens, how high-ranking is that? Higher than the County Magistrate?" Lady Yao gasped in surprise. Her husband had actually secured an official position?
How could he not have mentioned such a significant matter?
Beside her, Yao Shuheng was equally stunned. He hadn’t expected his uncle to become a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
The Yao family dealt in grain trade, and as the eldest son, he had accompanied his father on many business trips. The Ministry of Revenue was one of the Six Ministries, and the Vice Minister was second only to the Minister—if he recalled correctly, that made it a second-rank position.
At this realization, Yao Shuheng’s heart swelled with excitement. Initially, he’d been reluctant about the idea of marrying into the Li family. As the eldest son, becoming a live-in son-in-law—even to his aunt’s family—had felt demeaning.
Had it not been for his mother’s objections, his father would have sent him long ago.
But now, hearing that Li Tianyou had risen to such a high position, Yao Shuheng’s perspective shifted entirely. If he truly became his uncle’s son-in-law, he would surely receive support in the future.
Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—though grain merchants prospered, they ranked at the bottom of society, often looked down upon.
He recalled how the County Magistrate of Qujing County had swaggered about.
Would he, too, one day command such respect?
"Grandmother, what’s so impressive about a County Magistrate? He’s just a petty ninth-rank official. Grandfather is now a second-rank official—even the County Magistrate would have to bow to him," Xu Qingshi declared proudly.
"Really?" Lady Yao could hardly believe it. Had she truly become the wife of an official overnight?
She thought of the County Magistrate’s concubine, who always looked down her nose at others. Would she now have to fear her no longer?
"Of course it’s true. Once Father accomplishes something great, he’ll secure you the title of an official wife. A second-rank official’s wife is a second-rank madam—even the County Magistrate would have to bow deeply to you," Li Zhiwei teased, coaxing her mother.
"Oh, I wouldn’t dare dream of such a thing," Lady Yao demurred, though inwardly, she was overjoyed.
Nearby, Yao Shuheng’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, imagining a future where others bowed before him.
Steward Zhou, overhearing the conversation, was ecstatic. From now on, he’d be the steward of an official’s household!
His son, Zhou Tong, served the master in the capital, rubbing shoulders with nobles and dignitaries. The steward silently rejoiced—their Zhou ancestors must have blessed them from beyond.
Truly, their family’s fortunes had turned.
Capital
As Li Tianyou exited the palace, Xiao Guozhi hurried forward to greet him.
"Master Li!" Xiao Guozhi clasped his hands in salute with a smile.
The Emperor’s sudden appointment had left him both thrilled and apprehensive.
After all, the last official who’d failed in this duty had been his colleague. That such a massive oversight had occurred under his nose meant the Emperor could have easily punished him. Yet, not only had His Majesty spared him, but he’d also entrusted him with this critical task—how could he not feel overwhelmed?
What he didn’t know was that the Emperor had already investigated both him and Tang Xiuyong. Otherwise, why would such an important matter be handed to them?
"Minister Xiao, you’re still here?" Li Tianyou was surprised to find Xiao Guozhi waiting for him.
"Minister Li, may I ask what His Majesty discussed with you in private?" Xiao Guozhi inquired with an ingratiating smile.
"Minister Xiao, is there something you need from me?" Li Tianyou was no fool. If the Emperor had spoken to him alone about finding someone, it was clearly confidential. Why would he announce it to the world?
Besides, he wasn’t familiar with Xiao Guozhi and didn’t know his character. As fellow officials in the Ministry of Revenue, polite greetings were one thing, but sharing secrets was another.
"Ah, it’s just that His Majesty has entrusted me with such a heavy responsibility, and I’m at a loss on how to proceed. I was hoping to learn from your experience," Xiao Guozhi admitted sheepishly.
"Minister Xiao, I have no experience either. As you know, I’ve only been in office for a few days. I haven’t even met all the officials in the capital, let alone visited their homes." Li Tianyou sighed for effect.
Inside, however, he was anxious. The person he needed to find might not stay in the capital for long. If he delayed, they could slip away.
