MLIAM Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Family Reunion – You should be glad you have such a good son-in-law…

Chapter 69: Family Reunion – You should be glad you have such a good son-in-law…

When they returned to The Capital City, the imperial examinations were imminent.

Wei Yan was immediately summoned by the emperor and stayed in The Imperial Palace for an entire day without coming out.

Yu Shuli stayed anxiously at The General’s Mansion, and after thinking for a long time, decided to enter the palace to meet with the Emperor.

The old general and his wife had finally seen their son safely return, so how could they let him enter the palace to die now? They desperately tried to stop him.

“Why are you so anxious? That child Wei Yan is much more sensible than you,” Zheng Shiyi said, knitting wool in her hands, methodically looping the yarn around and around.

This made Yu Shuli even more agitated. “Oh, mother, what time is it? And you’re still knitting!”

“What’s wrong with knitting?” Yu Huaxin, seeing his son trying to stop her, glared at him and eagerly massaged Zheng Shiyi’s back and legs, showing his devotion to her: “Your mother hasn’t knitted anything for me in years. I finally have one, and you brat want to snatch it away!”

“You’re so enthusiastic now,” Zheng Shiyi said with a smile, “But it’s too bad, this one isn’t for you.”

Yu Huaxin let out an aggrieved “Ah” sound: “That brat has so many already! Do you ever see him wearing them? It’s better to give it to me!”

“You’re old, you can wear anything, you’re easy to take care of.” Yu Shuli chuckled, moving closer to Zheng Shiyi’s feet: “Mother still treats me the best.”

“It’s not yours either. Don’t you dislike wearing these foreign goods?” Zheng Shiyi beckoned, signaling Yu Shuli: “Come here, lend me your arm.”

Yu Shuli pouted, but still obediently reached out his arm: “If it’s not mine, whose could it be?”

If it wasn’t his, who else’s arm would she use to try it on?

“It’s for that child Wei Yan,” Zheng Shiyi smiled: “He’s a bit taller than you. I’ll use your arm to measure it, and if I lengthen it a bit, it should be about right.”

When Yu Shuli heard that it really wasn’t for him, he immediately became unhappy. He retracted his arm. “Then you’re still using me to try it on, isn’t that annoying me?”

“I saw you walking back and forth, swaying this way and that, making my eyes dizzy. Wasn’t I just finding something for you to do?”

“Oh, mother, you don’t know, it’s very dangerous for Wei Yan to enter the palace now!” Yu Shuli stamped his foot: “If he goes in like this, and the situation changes, what if His Majesty insists on detaining him? What if he gets hurt?”

“You’ve given him so many martial generals and guards to accompany him, and besides, he also has his own secret guards,” Zheng Shiyi coaxed: “Don’t think of Wei Yan as being like you. Be good and wait patiently. If you’re really bored, have your father accompany you to practice your martial arts.”

As soon as he heard about having his old father accompany him to practice, Yu Shuli pouted: “I don’t want to. Old father’s bones are old, and if he twists his waist, he’ll blame me.”

“Hey, you brat, you look down on me?!” Yu Huaxin also got fired up, “That’s just right, I really want to practice with you and see if your skills have improved over the years.”

“Come on then!” Yu Shuli stood up abruptly, “What are we competing in? Lance?”

“We’re just competing in unarmed combat!”

“Alright.”

The two men glared at each other, unwilling to admit defeat, and went outside the hall to spar. Zheng Shiyi helplessly shook her head, holding the woolen sweater in her hands, and sat down in the corridor, watching them make a fuss.

When it was time for lunch, the two men were covered in sweat from practicing, and Zheng Shiyi led them back into the house.

“Mother, is there any food? I’m hungry.”

“Wife, is there any food? I’m hungry.”

Zheng Shiyi looked at the father and son, who were exactly alike, and cursed “gluttons” in her heart, then laughed: “You two are covered in sweat, how impolite would it be if the guests saw you? Why don’t you go wash up?”

“There are guests?” Yu Shuli muttered: “Alright,” and went off on his own.

Zheng Shiyi instructed the servants to serve the cold dishes first, and the hot dishes would be served when the guests arrived.

Yu Huaxin didn’t pay much attention to formalities, and sat down unceremoniously, raising his chopsticks to eat.

Zheng Shiyi slapped his hand down: “As an elder, always being so unkempt.”

Yu Huaxin retracted his hand, aggrieved: “But I’m hungry.”

“Even if you’re hungry, you have to endure it,” Zheng Shiyi said: “That child is practically formally visiting for the first time, what kind of appearance is this? What if he misunderstands that we’re dissatisfied with him?”

“Why are you so sure Wei Yan is coming?” Yu Huaxin said mischievously: “Maybe there’s been a rebellion inside, and he can’t even get out.”

Zheng Shiyi threw a handkerchief at him.

“Ouch.” Yu Huaxin rubbed his face: “I didn’t say anything wrong. The Imperial Palace is as deep as the sea, who knows when a coup might happen.”

“With your brains, you wouldn’t even be able to catch up with a coup!” Zheng Shiyi gritted her teeth: “You should be glad you have such a good son-in-law, or else you and I would still be sitting peacefully in The Capital City?”

“I don’t believe he has that much ability,” Yu Huaxin grumbled: “If you ask me, our Ji’an is ultimately marrying beneath her.”

Zheng Shiyi poked his forehead: “Those two are in love with each other, and the ceremony was already held in Quzhou. They’re only being filial to you and me by coming back to inform us and hold a supplementary ceremony. Even if you’re still unconvinced, he’s already your son-in-law, fair and square!”

Before long, Yu Shuli washed up, changed his clothes, and came out wiping his hair. He sat down with a “thump” and, just like Yu Huaxin, raised his chopsticks to eat.

Zheng Shiyi chuckled and stopped him: “You father and son, you’re really cut from the same mold.”

When Wei Yan entered the door, Yu Shuli was still grumbling and wiping his hair.

The person in front of him was vibrant and dazzling. As Wei Yan walked over, the coldness in his eyes melted away.

A cloth was taken from his fingertips, and Yu Shuli belatedly turned his head, only then realizing that Wei Yan had arrived.

The surprise in his eyes flashed, and he said a superfluous sentence: “Wei Yan, you came out alive!”

“Yes.” Wei Yan took his hair, carefully wiping it from start to finish, and then bowed to Yu Huaxin and his wife.

Zheng Shiyi’s eyes curved into a smile: “No need for grand formalities, it’s good that you came back safe.”

Yu Huaxin, seeing the sticky appearance of the two, felt very uncomfortable and quickly got up to push Wei Yan into a seat: “Oh, why are you wiping him? He’s in good health and won’t catch a cold.”

Yu Shuli’s ears turned red, and he glared at his father: “You’re just jealous. Mother never wipes your hair.”

He snorted, showing off: “Wei Yan not only wipes my hair, he also washes my undershirt and underpants.”

Zheng Shiyi turned her head away in embarrassment.

Wei Yan, on the other hand, had a calm expression, only looking at Yu Shuli and smiling.

“Hey, your mother even called me ‘darling,’ has Wei Yan ever called you that?” Yu Huaxin raised his eyebrows, inexplicably starting to compare.

Zheng Shiyi’s forehead twitched, and she stopped the father and son from bickering in a timely manner: “Both of you, shut up.” She curved her eyes and looked at Wei Yan: “You must be laughing at us, they’re always like this.”

Wei Yan shook his head and curled his lips: “It’s nothing, I’m used to seeing it. No matter what the Little General is like, he’s good in my eyes.”

He chuckled softly: “Oh, right, in the future, I might not be the An King and Little General who are not true to their names. Maybe, I’ll be called the Duke Who Pacifies the Nation.”

Yu Shuli let out an “Ah” sound, his eyes shining: “Really? Has the conferment been issued?”

“His Majesty summoned me for this matter. I expect you will be summoned into the palace before tomorrow, and the military seal is basically a foregone conclusion.”

Zheng Shiyi looked a bit worried: “Duke Who Pacifies the Nation? Is that troublesome? How old is Ji’an? This kind of title is too big, I’m worried he won’t be able to adapt.”

“Isn’t there Wei Yan to help him?” Yu Huaxin looked delighted: “Duke Who Pacifies the Nation, what a great honor, the ancestral grave must be emitting green smoke.”

“You men only care about fame and fortune,” Zheng Shiyi turned her face away: “I only want our family to be safe, healthy, and sound.”

Yu Shuli asked Wei Yan: “Then… the matter of abdication…?”

Wei Yan shook his head: “It wasn’t mentioned.” His voice also became heavier: “The Third Prince didn’t appear, I’m worried that things have changed, I still have to find the Second Prince later.”

Yu Shuli nodded, not knowing why, but feeling uneasy in his heart.

After noon, Wei Yan went to find the Second Prince. Yu Shuli was summoned into the palace, laden with all kinds of conferments and rewards, and returned home with a large entourage.

With the military seal in hand, he finally had no more worries.

However, seeing the old emperor’s once robust body now as thin as a skeleton, Yu Shuli was still a little worried.

He tried to inquire with Gonggong Li, but only learned that the emperor had recently been taking some Longevity Pill.

The name alone didn’t sound like anything good.

Yu Shuli frowned, and was about to urge Gonggong Li to keep an eye on the old emperor, when he heard Gonggong Li say in a low voice: “Doctor Yang is Prime Minister Wei’s man, and privately told this servant that His Majesty doesn’t have much time left.”

Yu Shuli’s heart skipped a beat.

“What is the Longevity Pill? A medicine prescribed by the Imperial Hospital?”

Li Gonggong shook his head: “I don’t know where it comes from, but His Majesty trusts it very much, saying that he feels much better after taking it.”

Yu Shuli frowned: “If you don’t know where it comes from, then who is usually responsible for decocting and dispensing the medicine?”

“His Majesty started taking this medicine three months ago, and it has always been delivered from outside the palace, escorted separately by His Majesty’s Imperial Guards. Everything is very mysterious.”

Three months ago, wasn’t that when the Third Prince began to be in charge of the imperial examinations?

Yu Shuli’s voice tightened: “What has the Third Prince been busy with recently? Why can’t I see him?”

“It is said that he is preparing for the imperial examinations. He has been traveling around to inspect the local customs for the past month. It’s normal that you haven’t seen him,” Li Gonggong pouted: “This one has been very favored recently, and is very arrogant. It’s better not to see him, so you don’t get angry.”

“Did he say when he’s coming back?”

“The imperial examinations start in three days, he will have to return to the palace at that time anyway.”

Yu Shuli nodded, and told Li Gonggong to go down. “The current situation is not what it used to be, there may be a palace coup. Take good care of His Majesty, and don’t let him use that Longevity Pill anymore, secretly replace it.”

His voice paused, he looked at the old servant with gentle eyes, and sighed: “Gonggong Li, you have been in The Imperial Palace for so many years, I know it’s all for me and Wei Yan. But remember, no matter what happens, saving your life is important. We don’t need you to do anything for us.”

Li Gonggong pursed his lips: “Since being rescued from the hands of the street thugs by the two of you, this old servant has followed His Majesty for so many years, and has had so many years of good days. Under Prime Minister Wei’s instructions, Consort Duan and Consort Xian have also been secretly taking care of this old servant,” he smiled slightly: “Now it’s just that the good days have come to an end, don’t worry, this old servant has suffered hardship, I can endure it.”

He bowed: “This old servant will definitely protect His Majesty and the lives of the two consorts, no matter what happens in the palace, I will wait for the Duke Who Pacifies the Nation to come.”

Yu Shuli turned to leave.

Consort Duan was Wei Yan’s aunt, and Consort Xian was also someone that Wei Yan had arranged to enter the palace. He had to find a way to safely take them out of the palace without anyone noticing.

At night, Wei Yan stayed at The General’s Residence.

Using the excuse of “clearing residual toxins,” Yu Shuli was once again tricked into taking a bath together.

Wei Yan pressed him against the bathtub, their two bodies close together, his fingers inadvertently wandering over Yu Shuli’s back.

“You have no restraint.” Yu Shuli’s face was flushed, and he glared at him, pushing him symbolically, but failed to push him away.

Wei Yan chuckled and leaned close to his neck: “You didn’t say stop just now, and now you’re starting to dislike me after you’re done?” He wrapped his arm around the man’s waist, and his hand moved down, skimming over the rounded curve.

Yu Shuli gasped, his mind as if fireworks were exploding. He suddenly squeezed his legs together, his body muscles tense.

Wei Yan groaned and cursed: “You little rascal!”

“Serves you right!” Yu Shuli laughed, gloating.

That slightly raised ending note stirred Wei Yan’s heartstrings. He grabbed the man’s chin, his eyes sparkling: “Spring nights are short, it seems you don’t want to get up early tomorrow…”