MLIAM Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Something’s Wrong – Disaster May Soon Strike the Capital

The conferment was sent directly to the General’s Residence, bypassing Yu Shuli who was still recuperating in the Imperial Palace.

Yu Huaxin received the Imperial Decree and was so furious that he couldn’t sleep half the night, getting up to uproot five wintersweet trees.

In the morning, the oblivious old butler scolded him for an hour, constantly calling him a wicked little bastard.

The wicked old bastard, Yu Huaxin, touched his nose, not daring to say a word.

“Tell me, is there something wrong with this Wei Yan? His Majesty bestows him with a marriage to a man, and he actually accepts?” Yu Huaxin sat at the table, complaining to his wife.

Yu Shuli’s mother, Zheng Shiyi, flipped through a storybook, munched on melon seeds, and directed the servants to put away the rewards, keep them properly, and register them.

She wasn’t in a hurry: “You already said it, His Majesty bestows the marriage, what can a Prime Minister do?”

“Isn’t he second only to the Emperor and above everyone else? Isn’t he His Majesty’s favorite? It’s just bestowing a marriage, he could say a few nice words to His Majesty, saying he doesn’t want to marry a man, wouldn’t His Majesty give him face?” Yu Huaxin was single-minded, the more he thought about it, the less he understood.

“That’s why you’re not suited for power struggles in the palace,” Zheng Shiyi said, “With your brain, you wouldn’t survive two episodes in the palace.”

“What two episodes?” Yu Huaxin tore away the storybook she was reading: “Hey, you still have the leisure to read these mushy love stories, your son is about to become someone’s wife!”

Zheng Shiyi glared at Yu Huaxin and snatched the storybook back. “What do you mean leisure? I call this knowing your enemy.” She waved the storybook in her hand: “These latest episodes are from *Account of a Powerful Minister*, the most popular storybook right now, supervised by your little son-in-law. I’ll know my enemy first, then we can win every battle.”

“What nonsense? Why is he my little son-in-law? I don’t acknowledge him as my son-in-law.” Yu Huaxin leaned closer, taking a few glances, and his eyes widened: “How can it be a man and a man talking about love?!”

Zheng Shiyi rolled her eyes at him, pushing him away: “Hey, you don’t understand, this is what’s popular now.”

“I don’t understand? Why don’t I understand?” Yu Huaxin nudged closer: “You say this Wei Yan is having people write this kind of thing, isn’t that misleading the youth?”

Zheng Shiyi “tsk”ed: “You don’t know this, but many noble ladies in the Capital City are reading this. Without the excuse of carrying on the family line, they can still love each other, isn’t that admirable?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. But I didn’t only care about carrying on the family line, didn’t you want to have a son?” Yu Huaxin touched his head, asking somewhat cautiously: “Are you dissatisfied with me?”

“Silly, what are you thinking?” Zheng Shiyi smiled: “I’m just looking at it casually, learning a bit on the side. If Wei Yan treats our Ji’an badly in the future, I’ll use this book to confront him.”

Yu Huaxin “ah”ed, “You really accept your son marrying him?”

“What’s wrong with marrying Wei Yan? Good looks, high status, these years, how has he treated your son, how has your son treated him? You’ve seen it all. That day he carried Ji’an back, weren’t you thanking him profusely, then you changed your face right away?”

“But… but…” Yu Huaxin stuttered for a long time, unable to say anything concrete. He wanted to say Wei Yan couldn’t have children, but he was afraid his wife would scold him for only thinking about carrying on the family line.

After being stifled for a long time, he had no choice but to continue entering the palace to take Yu Shuli home, and by the way, give his son a piece of his mind.

The two didn’t ride in a carriage, they just led their horses and walked along the way.

Yu Huaxin rambled on for a long time, explaining the Emperor’s bestowal of marriage to Yu Shuli again, only to realize that his good son beside him was absent-minded.

“Your mother said it’s okay for you to marry that Wei Yan, I said isn’t this a mess, he’s a man…” Yu Huaxin nudged Yu Shuli: “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…” Yu Shuli shook his head.

“You still can’t remember?” Yu Huaxin scratched his head: “Dad asked Doctor Yang, he said if you take care of yourself for two more days, and look back more, you might remember what happened in the past two years.”

Yu Shuli “hm”ed, and after a long while, suddenly asked: “Dad, do you think Wei Yan will die?”

Wei Yan hadn’t woken up yet when the two left the palace.

Yu Shuli had recovered from his illness, and there was no reason to stay any longer, so he could only leave behind a few of his own people to watch over Wei Yan.

“This…” Yu Huaxin stammered for a while: “This… Dad’s not a doctor, how would I know.”

“Dad… Wei Yan said that he and I have pledged our love privately.” Yu Shuli turned to look at his father, asking calmly: “Is it true?”

“Ah?!” Yu Huaxin was startled, shouting loudly: “You and him have pledged your love privately?!”

His voice was so loud that passersby looked over, curiously sizing them up.

Yu Shuli covered his old man’s mouth, his ears slightly red: “Can you be quieter?”

Yu Huaxin nodded vigorously, and Yu Shuli released him.

The two walked to a corner by the side of the road, and Yu Huaxin carefully asked: “You and him have pledged your love privately? When?”

Yu Shuli rolled his eyes at him, “How would I know?!”

“Oh right, you have amnesia.” Yu Huaxin said in a muffled voice.

Yu Shuli: “I’m asking you, what was the extent of the relationship between him and me in your eyes, was there a possibility of pledging our love privately.”

Yu Huaxin honestly said: “Well… speaking of which, he carried you back from the Brothel drunk a few days ago.”

Yu Shuli was stunned, subconsciously ignoring the Brothel, and only said: “He, with that physique, carried me back?”

“Don’t you say, Wei Yan, although he looks cold, he is indeed quite gentle to you. That day he carried you back, you grabbed his collar and wouldn’t let go, and he didn’t show a trace of impatience, he even got water to help you wipe your face, and gave you sobering tea to drink.” Yu Huaxin suddenly “hissed” : “Could it be that you two got together at that time?”

“Dad, what do you mean got together, don’t say it so rudely…” Yu Shuli slowly asked: “Then… then what about me to him? Was there anything special?”

“Um…” Yu Huaxin’s old face turned red: “You… you called him big brother…”

Yu Shuli stopped asking, quickened his pace, and fled the scene with his hair standing on end.

After returning home, he began to pack his luggage in a flurry.

After all, not only had Wei Yan and he pledged their love privately, even the Emperor had gotten involved in their marriage.

Yu Shuli subconsciously felt that something was wrong, only thinking about running away.

“Where are you going?”

Yu Shuli turned around, only to see his mother, Zheng Shiyi, leaning against the door frame watching him.

“Mom…” Yu Shuli’s panicked appearance finally calmed down at the moment of seeing his mother.

“Packing your things to run away?” Zheng Shiyi curved her eyes: “If you’re not in a hurry, go with Mom to see the rewards you received?”

“What is there to see… I’m not looking.” Yu Shuli pouted: “I’m going back to Quzhou.”

Quzhou was the garrison of Yu Shuli’s military camp, and Dong Siwen, the youngest son of Quzhou’s governor Dong Lingqing, was a good friend of Yu Shuli’s, so when there were no battles, Yu Shuli basically lived in Quzhou, which was considered his second home.

“You want to run away just like that?” Yu Shuli saw his mother walk in and touched his head.

“His Majesty has made a marriage agreement between you and Wei Yan, the Imperial Decree is in Mom’s hands, do you want to see it?”

Yu Shuli was silent for a moment, helplessly sighing: “Let’s see it.”

The Imperial Decree was no different from the previous ones he had received.

First, it praised Yu Shuli’s achievements, then after a pile of gold and silver rewards, it was the re-establishment of the title that had been sealed for many years.

It was just that Yu Shuli’s eyes flickered for a moment as he looked at the bright “Prince An” on the Imperial Decree.

A one-word Prince.

Why had the Emperor suddenly relaxed his suspicion of him?

Since Yu Huaxin retired, the entire Yu family had once declined, until later Yu Shuli went to the front line and made some achievements, the Yu family’s situation improved.

What followed was the Emperor’s increasing suspicion day after day.

And once the news of the title came out, the Yu family was about to step into the pinnacle of power again.

“This Imperial Decree also has a second half.” Zheng Shiyi reminded, “Take a look.”

Yu Shuli read it over, and found that the Emperor was lamenting the deep feelings between him and Wei Yan, calling them a good match, perfunctorily rambling on, and then expressing his willingness to bestow the marriage.

Yu Shuli knew that since this Imperial Decree had reached his hands, it was not just a willingness, but a must to carry out.

“The same copy was also sent to the Prime Minister’s Residence today. I heard that Madam Wu also happily accepted it, and is starting to prepare the betrothal gifts.” Zheng Shiyi straightened her body and asked in a low voice: “Can you tell your mother? Is your relationship with Wei Yan true love or pretense?”

Looking at his mother’s careful and sneaky probing, Yu Shuli shook his head, only feeling very irritable in his heart. “I don’t know. I don’t even remember, didn’t Father tell you?”

“Ah?” Zheng Shiyi blinked her eyes: “I thought you were lying to them, you really have amnesia?! Then do you still remember Mom?”

“I remember…” Yu Shuli closed the Imperial Decree: “I’m not an idiot… how could I not recognize you?”

“Then why did you say you have amnesia…” Zheng Shiyi’s expression was a bit innocent.

Yu Shuli was stunned: “I just… only it seems… I’ve lost the memory of the past three years, and in this lost memory, it seems that Wei Yan occupies a large part, so I’m now… very confused, I can’t explain it clearly…”

Zheng Shiyi hugged him, touched his head: “It’s okay… if you really don’t want to marry, Mom will help you find a way.”

Yu Shuli naturally knew what she meant by finding a way.

“Mom, we’ve already troubled Grandfather and the others a lot these years, forget it. Besides, Grandfather and the others live quite far away, it’s really troublesome to write letters and report.”

Grand Tutor Zheng had been upright and honest his whole life, and was still clean and innocent when he retired and returned to his hometown, there was no need to let him wade into this muddy water. Even if he knew that His Majesty would not disrespect him, Yu Shuli subconsciously felt that he couldn’t let his grandfather get involved.

“Your uncles have long moved to the vicinity of Liangzhou, it’s only a little bit of a distance from here.”

“Moved?” Yu Shuli frowned: “Why did they suddenly move?”

“They said that there was an insect plague in the Yongzhou area last month, the insects flying all over the sky were really unbearable, so they moved over.” Zheng Shiyi saw her son frowning and quickly asked: “What’s wrong? Is there something wrong?”

“Did they say what kind of insects they were?”

“They didn’t say…” Zheng Shiyi frowned: “Is it important?”

Yu Shuli nodded, took out a map, spread it out and pointed it to his mother: “Yongzhou to Shangjing here, passes through several large states, the area in the middle has just experienced a drought. After autumn, the rivers have stopped flowing…” He paused: “If I’m not mistaken, the insect plague is locusts.”

Zheng Shiyi covered her mouth, her eyes widening: “You mean…”

Yu Shuli’s expression was serious: “That’s right, if they migrate along the autumn wind, the environment along the way is their breeding ground. I guess… the capital is also about to experience a locust plague.”

As if thinking of something, he frowned tightly and left quickly.

Zheng Shiyi asked from behind: “Where are you going?”

“To divide the troops and strengthen the guards and patrols, refugees are about to arrive, and if they are not properly handled by then, the capital will become a living hell.”

Zheng Shiyi watched her son leave in a hurry, knowing that his plan to return to Quzhou had been shelved.

Yu Huaxin happened to walk in at this time, only catching a glimpse of his son’s back, he looked at his wife and asked: “What’s wrong with this brat, why is he in such a hurry?”

Zheng Shiyi pointed the map to him and explained the situation mentioned in Grand Tutor Zheng’s letter, saying: “Our son said that the capital may soon experience a disaster.”

Yu Huaxin’s expression immediately darkened. “Is there really such a thing.”

Seeing him worried, Zheng Shiyi comforted him: “Don’t worry, I always have the habit of storing food in the house, even if there is a disaster, we can stabilize things well and survive this winter.”

Once winter arrives, most of the locusts will die, as long as the eggs are disposed of, it will be fine.

It wasn’t really a big deal.

“The insect plague will not only cause food to not come in…” Yu Huaxin glanced at her, saying: “There are also medicinal materials.”

Zheng Shiyi paused.

“You mean… our son is so anxious because…”

Because of Wei Yan.

Because of Wei Yan’s physical condition, it was impossible for him to withstand the risk of running out of medicine. And many of his medicines were rare medicinal materials, many of which could not be found in the capital. Once there was a disaster, and the medicinal materials were cut off, Wei Yan would be dead.

“Ji’an he…” Yu Huaxin hesitated.

“Even now, do you still not agree to their marriage?” Zheng Shiyi asked.

“I… when did I say I disagreed?” Yu Huaxin finally stopped saying anything, coldly “hm”ed, turned around and left: “I’m going to help that brat.”