Chapter 78 Don’t Be My Lover, Be My Concubine (V)

Yu Huo ate while thinking, no wonder the Sixth Prince went to cause trouble for the Eighth Princess just now, it turned out that there was such a thing before.

His mother was angry with both sides, so she came to bully the eighth princess, the source of the trouble.

The youthful spirit was simpler and more direct than that of his three royal brothers at the table.

After this matter was over, everyone watched singing and dancing, ate and drank during the banquet. When the emperor had almost finished eating, he would inevitably find a few close ministers to chat, and the conversation turned to the flood in the south.

"Ministry of Revenue Yu Kangping, have you managed to raise money and grain?"

Yu Kangping stood up and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, this year's tax revenue has not yet arrived. I have done my best, but I have only managed to collect about 60%."

The emperor pondered for a few seconds and said, "Send it to the disaster area for relief first. If it's not enough, we'll see."

Yu Kangping bowed and said yes.

Suddenly, Prince Yan stood up, walked to the center, and knelt in the direction of the emperor. "Father, I heard that the floods in the south are severe, and the Ministry of Revenue is temporarily short of silver. If a riot were to break out due to insufficient silver, wouldn't it be a betrayal of your love for the people? Therefore, I am willing to donate 30,000 taels of silver to alleviate the Ministry of Revenue's urgent needs."

He spoke these words passionately, but Yu Kangping stood there with his head down, looking at his nose and his mind, without saying a word.

The emperor was delighted to hear this: "My son cares deeply about the people. He deserves to be rewarded and given wine."

"Thank you, father, for the reward." Prince Yan stood up and took the wine glass, then looked in the direction of Concubine Xiao Shufei.

The emperor raised his hand and smiled, "It's the Mid-Autumn family dinner. Why don't you invite your mother to have a drink with me?"

Prince Yan was overjoyed. He held the wine glass and led Concubine Xiao to the upper seat, where they drank a glass of wine together with the emperor.

After putting down his wine glass, the Emperor consoled Prince Yan, "Once the Ministry of Revenue collects the required tax revenue, I will return the 30,000 taels to you. Don't be so quick to refuse. You've just started your own government, and your expenses are high. This kind gesture is enough."

Since Concubine Xiao Shufei has come forward, there is no reason for her to go any further. What Prince Yan said was really beautiful. He did not lose anything and gained a good reputation. He even helped his mother to get the anger from Concubine Wu and fought back. He was really scheming.

If they are happy, others will be unhappy.

For example, Concubine Wu, who was trembling with anger, and the prince, whose face was ashen.

After finishing his official business, the emperor had the leisure to take care of other people's family affairs. Yu Kangping was standing in the center of the hall, which reminded him of the eldest son of the Yu family who had recovered from his illness.

"Yu Qingjia, I heard that your son has recovered from his illness?"

Yu Kangping looked at the position of Madam Yu and Yu Huo, then waved to Yu Huo.

"Your Majesty, Huo'er's mind has become much clearer. He seems to be no more than a normal person these days."

Yu Huo came to Yu Kangping and kowtowed to the old man above him again.

The emperor narrowed his eyes and raised his hand: "Stand up, look up and let me see."

Yu Huo obediently raised his neck.

The emperor smiled and said, "I think this child is even more handsome than Yu Qing's."

Concubine Xiao Shu joined in the conversation with a laugh, "Isn't it? Back then, Minister Yu was handsome and had mastered the six arts easily. On his wedding day, countless women in the capital wept their eyes out. In my opinion, this child will surpass him."

Yu Kangping lowered his head and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty and Your Majesty are so kind."

The emperor put away his smile and looked at Yu Huo: "Have you been studying since you recovered from your illness?"

Yu Huoqiang nodded before Yu Kangping: "I've learned it!"

Yu Kangping looked at his son, his eyes tense. "Don't be rude to His Majesty. Didn't I teach you the rules? When speaking to His Majesty, you should say 'Reporting to Your Majesty.'"

"That's all right." The Emperor waved his arm, raised his chin towards Yu Huo, and asked, "What did you learn?"

"I learned the Hundred Family Surnames."

"You only learned the Hundred Family Surnames?"

"Yes." Yu Huo acted innocently and naively as a child of his age should.

The emperor still had a smile on his face: "Then I will test you, you recite a paragraph."

Yu Huo put his hands behind his back, his pretty face serious, making people laugh: "Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, Zhou, Wu, Zheng, Wang..."

Silence, a brief silence.

The emperor could no longer bear it and asked, "Keep reciting!"

Yu Huo opened his mouth and looked at his father: "Yu."

Then she looked at her mother: "Fang."

Finally, he looked at the emperor and said, "Jiang."

"So you've only memorized 8 of them in just these few days?" The emperor couldn't help but laugh. Everyone laughed when they saw this. Even those who didn't want to laugh raised their sleeves and pretended to smile. The adult world is very complicated, no matter what dynasty it is.

Yu Kangping quickly said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Yu Huo was stunned when he saw this, then he knelt down like his father, but he still knelt sincerely, and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me..."

Then his eyes turned red. With Concubine Xiao Shufei as a successful role model, Yu Huo learned quickly.

At the same time, he did not forget to look at the emperor with doubts, which scared Madam Yu who was watching and made her stir her handkerchief continuously.

I told him a long time ago not to look directly at the emperor, what's wrong with this kid!

The emperor did not rebuke her, but asked, "If you want to cry, just cry. Why are you staring at me with such a puzzled look?"

Yu Huo pretended to think and uttered a huff, "Your Majesty, are you the most powerful person in the world?"

Mrs. Yu:......!

The emperor was surprised: "About the same."

Yu Huo continued to ask: "Then can you control my parents?"

Yu Kangping:......?

The emperor glanced at the dark-faced Yu couple and couldn't help laughing: "It should be possible."

Yu Huo hurriedly put on a flattering look and said, "Your Majesty, could you please talk to my parents and ask them to stop letting me study? It's too difficult!"

The emperor frowned and said, "If you don't study, how will you take the imperial examinations in the future?"

"I don't have to take the science exam!"

"You're just a kid. If you don't want to take the imperial examination, do you still want to join the army?"

"I don't want to join the army either?"

"So what are you going to do in the future?"

Yu Huo thought for a moment: "I'll cook."

The emperor was surprised: "Cook?"

Yu Huo chuckled: "No, I mean... sitting at home and eating."

"Hahahaha..." The emperor laughed so hard that he couldn't stop. He pointed at him and lectured him, "No, you have the mentality of a child! Your grandfather has many students all over the world, and his reputation cannot be ruined by an unfilial descendant like you. How about this? The day after tomorrow you will go to Songshan Academy to study, and you must not delay!"

Yu Huo pretended to be confused and stood there in a daze, then was pulled away by Mrs. Yu who hurried forward.

He sat at the table with his head down, sneering in his heart.

Insidious! So insidious!

He was afraid that I was a unstable child, so he insisted on taking me to the academy before he would believe it.

Yu Kangping was about to leave when the emperor called him back: "By the way, Mr. Yu, why didn't I see your daughter today?"

Yu Kangping stood still and replied respectfully: "My daughter is not feeling well and is staying at home to rest."

"I used to see that child all the time. I remember that she was very well behaved even at a young age. If she wasn't so young, she would have been snatched away to be my daughter-in-law by the royal family."

"Your Majesty, you are too kind to me. I am overawed."

The emperor tapped the table with his fingers, his tone unrecognizable as either joy or anger. "There's no need to underestimate yourselves, Yu Qing. This matter isn't urgent. Let's wait a few years."

After saying this, he did not give Yu Kangping a chance to speak. He stood up and said with a smile, "I am tired. You nobles do not need to see me off. Just continue the feast."

After saying this, he walked away leisurely with his concubines.

Yu Huo clenched his fists and sneered in his heart.

Being your daughter-in-law? Why didn't you mention it when you were a fool? Don't even mention being your daughter-in-law. You're being your hostage, right?

"Huo'er, do you want to eat a few more bites?"

Yu Huo shook his head at Madam Yu, and ran out of the Linde Hall under the pretext of "changing clothes", which made Madam Yu so angry that she wanted to kick him.

As soon as I walked out of the courtyard to get some fresh air, I saw a handsome middle-aged man with a cane being supported by others passing by the door outside the hall.

Like an eye disease?

Yu Huo murmured curiously: "Who is this? What a grand ceremony..."

"That's the emperor's uncle."

The sudden voice startled him. Yu Huo turned around and found it was Jiang Ye.

He first glanced at the empty space behind Jiang Ye and frowned: "Why don't you even have a nanny following you?"

Jiang Ye looked in the direction where Uncle Wan Guo had left, lowered his eyes and sighed softly, "I'm annoyed."

"Why bother?"

"Too nagging."

Okay.

After a long silence, Yu Huo spoke again: "This is the third time we've met, right? What's your name?"

Jiang Ye looked away and asked doubtfully, "Didn't the Yu family teach you the rules before you entered the palace?"

"I taught you, but I forgot."

Yu Huo was a shameless person and didn't feel ashamed at all.

Jiang Ye was silent for a few seconds, as if he was too lazy to argue with him: "Jiang Ye."

"Maple leaf?"

Jiang Ye suddenly raised his eyes and glanced at him lightly. The hairpin on his head reflected an aggressive silver light in the moonlight, which quickly passed in front of Yu Huo's eyes and almost dazzled him.

After a long while, he looked away and chuckled, "No."