Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Three
Even Yao Qisheng looked at his younger sister.
Lady Yao hadn't expected her daughter to seek her opinion.
If someone had asked her last year if she would consider going to the capital, she wouldn't have dared to even think about it.
But now, not only had her husband gone to the capital,
her daughter was also asking for her opinion, wanting her to go to the capital as well.
"Zhiwei, you see, your mother isn't familiar with the capital at all," Lady Yao said with a smile. She had been born and raised in Qujing, and later, after marrying Li Tianyou, she came to Li'an County.
Now, she was familiar with everything in Li'an County. If asked whether she was willing to leave here for the capital, Lady Yao's eyes held only confusion.
"Grandmother, please go to the capital with Qingshi. The capital is huge, and Qingshi can take you to eat delicious food," Xu Qingshi said, tugging at Lady Yao's sleeve.
"Mother-in-law, now that Father-in-law is also an official in the capital, he will likely live there from now on. If you go to the capital, Zhiwei and I can take better care of both of you," Xu Heming also urged.
"Sister, now that brother-in-law's status is different from before—he's a court official—the household needs a mistress to manage affairs. It's not right for you to stay in Li'an County forever. Aren't you afraid someone might try to push a concubine on brother-in-law?" Yao Qisheng thought for a moment and said to his sister.
Although Li Tianyou hadn't taken a concubine all these years, back then he was just a merchant. Even if someone wanted to give him a woman, they would only be songstresses or women of lowly birth, not presentable.
Li Tianyou had no interest either.
But now, he's a second-rank official!
The highest-ranking official Yao Qisheng had ever seen was just a minor fourth-rank official. If he saw a second-rank official, he'd probably be too afraid to even lift his head.
Yet now, he had a brother-in-law who was a second-rank official. No wonder his own son had developed improper ambitions towards his niece.
Fortunately, his niece and sister didn't blame him. Even so, he had dropped everything and hurried to Li'an County to apologize.
This relationship must not be affected because of this.
Lady Yao, who had been somewhat hesitant, became uneasy upon hearing this.
She trusted Li Tianyou, but her trust couldn't prevent others from having improper thoughts.
In a place like the capital, if she stayed in Li'an County for a long time, would he really find someone new?
And forget about her in Li'an County?
Just like the stories in those operas and books, where a man becomes a high official in the capital and abandons his humble wife back home.
"Would I be a burden to you if I went to the capital?" Lady Yao was also hesitant in her heart.
Her daughter was fortunate now, having found a good match.
But with her own status, wouldn't she be an embarrassment in a place like the capital?
Would it cause her daughter to be looked down upon by her in-laws?
Thinking of this, Lady Yao felt very apprehensive. If she would truly cause trouble for her daughter, she would rather stay in Li'an County and live out the rest of her days there.
"Mother, what are you talking about? Your daughter naturally wishes for nothing more than for you to come to the capital. Besides, your daughter's wedding arrangements still need you to manage!" Li Zhiwei sighed, not expecting her mother to have such concerns. As she spoke, she shot a glare at Xu Heming.
"Mother-in-law, once you're in the capital, whenever Zhiwei and I encounter something we don't understand, we can seek your advice, can't we? Moreover, my mother is getting old. In the future, when Zhiwei and I have children, we'll need your help to lend a hand," Xu Heming said righteously.
Li Zhiwei's face flushed red. They weren't even married yet, and he was already thinking about children.
This man really knew how to take advantage!
"That's right, sister. You can't let brother-in-law handle Zhiwei's wedding affairs, can you? Now that brother-in-law is an official in court, he must be very busy. These matters are never as meticulous as when handled by a woman," Yao Qisheng quickly added his persuasion.
"Well... alright then!" Lady Yao thought it over. No matter what, her daughter's wedding should be arranged by her. Previously, the Ru'an Marquis Manor had already bullied her daughter once. This time, she must ensure her daughter marries into the An Prince's Manor with great fanfare.
Lady Yao's agreement made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Xu Qingshi was especially happy.
He would soon be able to see his little friends again.
Capital
The national treasury had been burglarized!
This matter infuriated Zhu Jingchen greatly!
"Investigate! I want to see what bandit dares to rob even the national treasury!" Zhu Jingchen slammed the table in anger.
Tang Xiuyong and others knelt below, not daring to make a sound. Even with his many years as an official, he had never heard of thieves breaking into the national treasury.
Li Tianyou followed behind Tang Xiuyong.
He also couldn't understand what was going on.
His own family treasury had never been robbed.
That the national treasury could be targeted by thieves... he wondered which reckless thief had such nerve.
"Has it been determined how much was taken?" After his anger subsided, Zhu Jingchen asked the question he was most worried about.
"Your Majesty, it seems the person was looking for something in the treasury," Tang Xiuyong cautiously replied.
After all, nothing from the treasury was actually missing.
"Looking for something?" Zhu Jingchen frowned. The treasury had been so empty before that even mice wouldn't bother digging holes in it.
What could be in there?
If there was anything, it would only be Li Zhiwei's dowry and the small amount of silver the Ministry of Revenue had recently recovered.
Could it be that there was something among Li Zhiwei's dowry?
Thinking of this, Zhu Jingchen looked at Li Tianyou.
"All of you may leave. Minister Li, stay!" Zhu Jingchen waved his hand, leaving only a bewildered Li Tianyou behind.
Hearing this, Li Tianyou's mouth twitched.
Keeping him again?
Wasn't His Majesty trying to make others misunderstand him?
Especially Minister Tang, his direct superior.
What would he think of him?
"As you command!" Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyong felt relieved and wasn't the least bit bothered that the Emperor had kept Li Tianyou behind.
After all, the Emperor's mood was not good right now.
Who knew if being kept behind was a good thing or a bad thing.
Xiao Guozhi didn't dare utter a single word.
He had long understood that in the Ministry of Revenue, as long as he followed behind Li Tianyou, he wouldn't go wrong.
"Minister Li!" Zhu Jingchen looked at Li Tianyou, his fingers tapping the desk intermittently.
This made Li Tianyou's heart beat irregularly along with the taps, unsure why the Emperor had kept him.
"Your Majesty, your servant is here," Li Tianyou cautiously replied, feeling somewhat anxious. They say serving the Emperor is like serving a tiger. With the Emperor in a bad mood now, he should try his best not to provoke his wrath.
"I heard that when the Li family married off their daughter, the dowry was extremely lavish—a full one thousand three hundred and sixty chests," Zhu Jingchen asked, looking at Li Tianyou.
"Your Majesty, your servant was merely a merchant before and knew nothing. The Ru'an Marquis Manor came to seek marriage. It was a match of vastly different social standings. At the time, my wife and I originally disagreed, but we dared not oppose the Ru'an Marquis Manor, so we could only consent to the marriage. We thought that by preparing a more substantial dowry for our daughter, she could hold her head higher in her husband's family."
Li Tianyou replied in a low voice.
He thought to himself, didn't all those things end up in the national treasury?
Why was the Emperor asking about the dowry now?
