Chapter 228 Son-in-Law

Qingling nodded listlessly: "It's still a heavy burden on my mind."

Lin Shiyuan frowned: "What is it?"

Yao Qingling recounted the two things the Censor's wife had told her: "...Don't you think they're big deals?"

When Lin Shiyuan heard that the Tang King also wanted to lay a hand on Yao Qingling, he was so angry that he wanted to kill him.

"That old bastard! How could such rumors have spread? He and the Grand Princess are practically siblings, doesn't he care about the Grand Princess's reputation?"

Isn't this humiliating Princess Deyang and Zhan Xingzhuo?

Yao Qingling seemed to be deep in thought. She said, "Although the Prince of Tang and the Grand Princess are siblings, they are both from the royal family. How can there be true brothers and sisters? Aren't there countless instances where people have tried to harm or kill each other for their own interests?"

Back then, the Grand Princess supported the current emperor, while the Prince of Tang supported the Prince of Zhou; they were never on good terms.

Qingling felt that the reason this rumor was circulating at this time was largely because the Tang King wanted to use it to humiliate the Grand Princess and weaken the Duke's Mansion's influence in the court.

"That won't do either." Lin Shiyuan's face was dark.

These royal nobles treated Yao Qingling like prey, placing her in the hunting grounds, chasing and killing her at will, completely disregarding her reputation and her life or death.

Qingling shook her head: "I think the Grand Princess's silence, allowing this evil wind to blow throughout the capital, is forcing me to act."

Compared to marrying the Prince of Tang and returning to the Duke's mansion with her child, this would be Yao Qingling's choice, and the only correct one.

Qingling did not tell Lin Shiyuan about the incident where the Marquis of Zhongyong drugged her, but Lin Shiyuan killed her incompetent and useless uncle in a fit of rage.

Qingling noticed that the man's eyebrows were furrowed so deeply they were almost knotted together. She raised her eyebrows slightly and said with a serious expression, "I plan to hold a banquet to find a son-in-law."

"Anyway, I'm a divorced woman with children and some private property. Having a live-in son-in-law at home can at least ward off a few unwanted suitors."

"No!" Lin Shiyuan stared at her resentfully. "If you really do that, I'll come and become your son-in-law."

Qingling was stunned; she was just teasing him.

"Are you really willing to be a live-in son-in-law?"

Lin Shiyuan smiled casually: "Is it something very important?"

“I’m not as rich as you, and I’m just a minor official in the Ministry of War. I’ve even been a subordinate of Madam Yao. Madam Yao, why don’t you make your move now and take me as your son-in-law? In the future, I will rise to prominence, and you will be the wife of a high-ranking official. It’s a good deal.”

"Pfft..." Qingling laughed, her face flushed, and she grabbed a piece of pastry and stuffed it into his mouth.

Her fingers accidentally touched his lips, and the man grabbed her hand, lowered his head, and kissed it.

Qingling withdrew her hand in embarrassment; this lecherous man was getting bolder and bolder.

She returned to the main point: "So tell me, how should I break this deadlock?"

Lin Shiyuan thought for a moment and reminded her, "Aren't you holding a secret about the palace?"

Qingling thought of the box of fake medicine that Zhou Zhining had sent.

That was a gift from the Emperor to Zhan Xingzhuo.

Qingling hadn't decided yet whether to give this secret to the Empress or the Grand Princess.

But now she's made up her mind.

The next day, Qingling sent a letter to the Marquis of Xincheng's residence.

Soon after, the secret of this palace reached the ears of the Empress.

The memorial submitted by the Marquis of Zhongyong requesting the conferment of the title of heir apparent was shelved by the emperor without any response, as if it had never been presented to him.

The emperor was furious when the empress caught a cold and took counterfeit medicine, demanding a thorough investigation.

The palace was conducting a strict investigation, which caused chaos outside as well. Everyone was in danger, and no one was thinking about getting married and having children. They just hoped that their homes would not be confiscated and their property stripped, and that they would be spared.

...

With snow covering the ground, the boat on the Shengda River arrived at the dock before the river froze over.

The warehouse that Qingling helped him build is almost complete, with only some internal details remaining. The upper level has been expanded to store more goods.

Even more encouraging is that the basement has been filled with water, and as the temperature drops, it has begun to freeze.

This time, Sheng Dahe's boats traveled further, reaching the major waterways in the south. He brought a large quantity of fresh goods from the south, which were stored in the underground warehouse and could be preserved until the ice on the river melted next year.

The following year, his ship set sail again, bringing back goods from the south. The ice in the storage room could still keep the temperature low and continue to store fresh goods. It was just unknown how long these ice blocks would last.

That's okay, we'll try it out in the first year.

Sheng Dahe inspected the warehouse and clapped his hands in admiration when he saw the underground vault.

"I knew I hadn't misjudged Yao Qingling; she's really good at making money."

There's no such thing as praising someone like that, but Sheng Dahe didn't care; he just liked this warehouse.

His ships, his warehouses—that's his empire.

Sheng Dahe was so engrossed in his dream of making a fortune that his eyes were practically glued to the ground, as if what he was looking at wasn't an ice pool, but huge chunks of gold.

His subordinate reminded him, "Master Sheng, your recklessness last time caused Yao Qingling to have a premature birth. That matter is still fresh in our minds."

Sheng Dahe: "..."

He scratched his head.

Ever since the incident in Tongluo Lane, Sheng Dahe had wanted to visit Yao Qingling, but he felt guilty and didn't dare to face her. After hearing that she wasn't recovering well, Sheng Dahe was even more afraid to go see her.

He was so frightened that he set sail down south of the Yangtze River, worrying the whole way about what would happen if Yao Qingling didn't make it through.

Then he can only give up his life for her.

In his final moments of regret, Sheng Dahe had already decided who would take over his fleet. If Yao Qingling died, he wouldn't need to return to the capital; he could simply jump into the river to feed the fish and then atone to her in the underworld.

Fortunately, according to the letter, Yao Qingling had pulled through and was lively and energetic. At that time, Sheng Dahe felt like the day had already dawned.

But he had no intention of returning; instead, he led his fleet south.

He convinced himself that this was to expand the shipping route further and bring back more exotic items. Since he was already out here, he should make more money.

He convinced himself that Yao Qingling was in postpartum confinement and probably wouldn't have time to handle his household registration, so it would be safer to go back later.

He was thinking that winter had arrived in the capital, and the south was warmer, which was better than going back to freeze. Otherwise, he would wait until the weather in the capital warmed up before making a decision.

Then he realized that the reason he didn't want to return to the capital was because he was afraid of seeing Yao Qingling.

But he can't stay away forever. If he doesn't sell his goods to Yao Qingling, is he just going to run around on the river and live off the wind and water?

So, Sheng Dahe came back again.

When he returned after two months away, he found that Yao Qingling had not only built a warehouse for him, but had also provided him with twenty household registration documents. Sheng Dahe was almost moved to tears.

She cried because she was angry with herself.

Why didn't he trust Yao Qingling and cause that scene? This girl is genuinely kind to people!

Sheng Dahe took a deep breath and waved his hand: "Let's go to the bathhouse."

His subordinate: "Yes! Huh?"

He looked confused. Shouldn't he be visiting Madam Yao?

Sheng Dahe slapped his subordinate on the back of the head: "Of course you should wash up before seeing my sister Qingling. You're stinking from head to toe, aren't you afraid of suffocating my sister and my nephew?"

The subordinate rubbed the back of his head, which was still sore from being hit, and realized what had happened.

Sheng Dahe and his gang booked the entire bathhouse at the dock, took a nice bath, shaved their beards, and put on clean, presentable clothes, looking like normal people again.

Then, with two of his men, he piled the trinkets he had bought along the way onto an oxcart and leisurely made his way to Huibafang.

As the year draws to a close, many people have begun preparing for the New Year. Shops are bustling with activity, and horse-drawn carriages, oxcarts, and donkey carts are parked in front of them, yet the scene is not chaotic and the roads are not blocked.

Horse-drawn carriages were parked on the left side of the gate, and oxcarts and donkey carts were parked on the right side, with lines drawn with charcoal pencil, all neatly arranged.

This is the busiest and most organized place on the whole street.

Sheng Dahe: "Hey, my sister is so smart, she even came up with this."

The subordinate flattered her: "Yes, Madam Yao is wonderful in every way."

Sheng Dahe lifted his robe and went inside to find someone.