"Madam, someone from the palace has returned all the confiscated property from our Duke's Mansion, including farms, shops, gold and jade artifacts, antiques, calligraphy and paintings."
Butler Xiao He respectfully handed over a tray of lists and documents. "The lists sent by the palace maids, along with the house wedges, land deeds, shop ownership, and other related documents, are all here."
Madam Xiao quickly took it and rummaged through it until she found the list of the eldest daughter-in-law's dowry. "Daughter-in-law Ajing, take all of this and count and put it into storage. Count and seal Yu'er's mother's dowry separately. Then, select some good items from my private warehouse and Zhongli Kilometer. Be sure to count and seal them before nightfall, and I'll arrange for someone to deliver them to Yu'er tomorrow."
"No need to rush." Liang casually dismissed the housekeeper and servants, whispering, "We just returned home today and we're already rushing to deliver Yu'er's dowry. Isn't this clearly telling the Emperor that we're very satisfied with this marriage? The Emperor has no rules on how to properly handle this marriage, so we must ask the Emperor for a huge favor for Yu'er. Our Yu'er was originally going to be the Crown Prince's consort, or even the Empress in the future, but now she's just a commoner's wife. What a pity!"
"Yes, you are right." Old Madam Xiao almost forgot about this. "I am counting on your father-in-law to think of this."
"Mother, don't worry. My daughter-in-law mentioned it before Ajing entered the palace. When they come back, they will know the emperor's intention."
Madam Xiao was becoming more and more satisfied with her second daughter-in-law. She had become more and more like a mistress of the house after taking over from her eldest daughter-in-law. "Okay, okay, you can go and get busy first."
As soon as the Xiao family's father and son entered the palace, they were taken to the side hall of the Taiji Palace. They did not see Emperor Qianyuan. Instead, they were greeted by the eunuch Li Haiying, the chief eunuch of the palace. He said respectfully with a smile on his face:
"My Lord, Generals, you must be very tired from the journey. Please change into your court robes first, have some tea and refreshments, and rest for a while before following me to see the Emperor."
The Xiao family father and son were a little surprised to see that each of them had three new sets of court robes, which were not the court robes they had confiscated.
"Okay, wait on me."
Xiao Tianci stretched out his long arm, and the young eunuchs hurried forward to help him change clothes...
At the same time, Emperor Qianyuan summoned Yang Shenglin to the imperial study.
"Tell me, when you went to Anyang County to summon them, did you find anything unusual about the Xiao family?"
"Your Majesty, after receiving the imperial edict that he was rehabilitated, Xiao Su went to Huayang County to search for the whereabouts of the Princess Protector of the Country."
Emperor Qianyuan asked, "How is it? Have you found the disabled and impoverished family that the princess is marrying into?"
"Xiao Su took the princess's entire family to Anyang County. The princess' official husband was a disabled and impoverished man named Su Xingyi. He had three sons and a little daughter. The princess could be said to have become someone else's second wife and the children's stepmother."
Emperor Qianyuan pursed his lips slightly, "What is the attitude of the Xiao family towards the Su family?"
"I have noticed that the Su family father and son are not as disabled and impoverished as the imperial edict describes. Su Xingyi is healthy and handsome, and his appearance is very noble. The children also have the appearance of being wealthy. I never tire of seeing the Su family. I am delighted. The Xiao family, like me, have a good impression of the Su family."
"How dare you!" Emperor Qianyuan roared, "Qi Lianli dared to disobey the imperial order and marry the Princess Huguo to a wealthy family like the Su family!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down! How dare Qi Lianli disobey your order? That's a capital crime. It was during the three years of mourning that the princess taught herself medicine. She was desperate and cured Su Xingyi's leg and eye ailments."
"You taught yourself medicine?"
"Yes! I have heard that the princess is very smart and can learn anything. She is the best in everything. It should not be difficult for her to learn medicine on her own."
Yang Shenglin looked up at Emperor Qianyuan, whose expression had softened somewhat, and continued, "Only if the princess takes good care of the children's health will the Su family prosper. Furthermore, not all of these children are Su Xingyi's sons. Two of them were adopted, and they are quite capable."
"Picked it up?" Emperor Qianyuan was curious. "You're quite capable?"
"Su Ningjie, the second son of the Su family, is the son of the wealthy Lu family in Huayang County. He could read account books at the age of six..."
"Su Ningwen, the third son of the Su family, is from the Meng family in Huayang County. He did not accompany the princess to Anyang County this time. He is only four years old and can remember everything he reads."
"Meng family, Meng Gaoyang's Meng family?"
“It seems so.”
Emperor Qianyuan's eyes darkened. It turned out that she was the one who brought down the Cui family.
"Where are the other two children?"
"Your Majesty, the eldest son and the youngest daughter of the Su family should be Su Xingyi's biological children. The eldest son of the Su family is not only a painter but also has an amazing appetite."
"An amazing appetite?"
"Yes! He's a big eater! He can eat a whole table of food by himself."
Emperor Qianyuan lowered his eyes, "This child is such a glutton. The Su family couldn't afford to feed him when they were poor."
"Your Majesty, Su Xingyi was a hunter before, so the child won't starve. Also, the Su family's little daughter is cute and sweet-talking, making her very popular. I haven't noticed any other abilities..."
"Is this all you have found out?" Emperor Qianyuan stared at Yang Shenglin with sharp eyes.
Yang Shenglin felt very uncomfortable being stared at. He shouldn't have missed anything, right?
"...When we set off...back to Beijing, Madam Xiao wanted to stay and recuperate, and we didn't notice anything unusual along the way."
Emperor Qianyuan walked up to him with his hands behind his back. "Since there's nothing unusual about the Xiao family, what about the princess? Has she found anything?"
Yang Shenglin understood instantly that the emperor wanted to know whether the princess would feel resentful about being married off by the emperor?
Even if the princess felt resentful, how could she show it?
"Your Majesty, is the princess a little fatter than before she was exiled?"
"You've gained weight?" A gleam of light flashed in Emperor Qianyuan's eyes.
"Yes, I have gained weight. My face has become rounder and I look more prosperous."
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