"Minister Xu, I had no idea you had such... uh... such lofty ambitions?"
Xu Heming was even more puzzled: "Your Majesty?"
After Zhu Jingchen finished laughing, he teased, "I just heard that your son was boasting to someone at the Treasure Pavilion that his father—that is, you, my dear minister—could run around the capital shirtless just to make a beauty smile? And it's also said that he's incredibly strong, able to carry both the Princess and the Crown Prince around the courtyard at the same time? Hahaha..."
Upon hearing this, Xu Heming was struck dumb, as if by lightning.
His good son! What nonsense has he been spouting outside?!
His face instantly turned from dark to red, and he wished he could immediately go back to the mansion, pick up that little rascal, and give him a good spanking.
Zhu Jingchen appreciated his rare moment of embarrassment, which put him in a great mood and swept away all the fatigue from reviewing memorials for days.
"Good! Good! Given the prince's filial piety, it would seem heartless of me not to grant your request." Zhu Jingchen stopped laughing, picked up his imperial pen, and said, "I hereby grant your request and bestow a marriage upon you and Li Zhiwei."
Xu Heming was overjoyed and, forgetting his embarrassment, immediately knelt down: "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"
"Wait a minute," Zhu Jingchen paused, raised his head, and a wicked glint flashed in his eyes, "I can issue this imperial decree of marriage, but... I have a condition."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"Like all the curious people in the capital," Zhu Jingchen said slowly, drawing out his words, "I also want to see what you look like, my dear minister, with your 'strength to lift a tripod' and 'robust physique'. Well then, walking around the city shirtless would be improper, so let's leave it at that."
Xu Heming had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the emperor continue, "But my imperial garden needs some tidying up in the coming days, which involves a lot of physical labor. Since you say that 'eating Miss Li's cooking has made you stronger,' why don't you come to the palace and carry timber for me for three days? Let me see for myself, what do you say?"
Xu Heming: "…………"
Is it too late for him to regret it now?
Now that he's abandoned his son, can he still salvage his image as a wise and powerful figure?
However, when she thought of Li Zhiwei, and the imperial decree that was about to bestow marriage upon her...
Xu Heming gritted his teeth, forced a smile, and squeezed out the words, "Your humble servant... accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"
Zhu Jingchen smiled with satisfaction and began to write the imperial edict.
Well, it can facilitate a wonderful thing, provide free labor, and allow you to watch a good show.
This deal today is really a great deal.
Xu Heming had already begun planning how to "properly" educate his eldest son, who had brought him fame, when he returned home.
Inside the Prince An's residence, Xu Qingshi was happily recounting to Li Zhiwei how he had "slaughtered all sides" and defeated Wei Herui.
However, just as they were having a good time, he suddenly sneezed loudly.
Li Zhiwei gently handed over the handkerchief and asked carefully, "Have you caught a cold?"
Xu Qingshi rubbed his nose and inexplicably felt a chill on the back of his neck.
"It's alright, stepmother! It must be that Wei Herui talking about me behind my back!"
"You really do say whatever comes to mind." Li Zhiwei sighed, thinking to herself, what would Xu Heming think if he knew that people were talking about him, that he liked to run around shirtless in public?
After all, Xu Heming usually seems like a very proper person. It's hard to imagine that he would run around the capital shirtless.
As she pondered, Li Zhiwei became somewhat lost in thought.
"Stepmother? Stepmother?" Xu Qingshi looked at Li Zhiwei, who was not responding to him, and glared at her with some dissatisfaction. Why was she ignoring him when she was supposed to speak?
Is this a sign of not believing in oneself?
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