Chapter 514

Li Zhiwei glanced back toward the study. In the end, she followed Lady Yao and Lady Qin to the Bright Moon Residence."Alright, it's not like your father is going to eat him," Lady Yao said, looking at her daughter's reluctant expression, unable to hide her amusement.

"Mother, I didn't mean it that way," Li Zhiwei replied, realizing full well that her mother was teasing her.

"Oh, of course you didn't!" Seeing her daughter getting along so well with her husband, Lady Yao felt genuinely happy.

She exchanged a knowing smile with Lady Qin.

Meanwhile, in the Li family study.

The four of them sat gathered in a circle. After hearing Li Tianyou's words, Xu Heming turned to look at Yao Qisheng.

He stood up and bowed respectfully to Yao Qisheng.

"On behalf of the people of the Kingdom of Lanuo, Xu Heming thanks you, Uncle."

"Please, no need for such formality!" Yao Qisheng quickly rose and helped Xu Heming up.

Yao Qisheng was deeply uneasy.

Although Xu Heming was his nephew-in-law, he was also a highly esteemed prince. Yao Qisheng, by contrast, was merely a merchant of modest standing.

Even if Xu Heming was being polite and bowing to him out of courtesy, Yao Qisheng knew better than to assume he genuinely deserved such respect.

He prided himself on having that much self-awareness.

Besides, donating two hundred thousand catties of grain served two purposes for him: first, to pave the way for his younger son, and second, to earn a good reputation. Seeing the Li family secure a second-rank official position for Li Zhiwei after she donated her dowry, he would be lying if he said he wasn't envious.

"Might ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍I ask where this grain is currently stored?" Xu Heming inquired after a moment of thought. Since it was to be offered to the court, he needed to know the details. However, given the massive quantity of two hundred thousand catties, he assumed Yao Qisheng must not have brought it with him.

"The supplies are already prepared, but they are still in Qujing. I only need to receive the emperor's decree, and I will have them delivered immediately," Yao Qisheng replied promptly.

"Xu Heming, do you think this is feasible?" Li Tianyou asked, turning to Xu Heming.

Although it seemed fine to him, the greatest demand for grain would still be from the military camps.

And matters regarding the military were something Li Tianyou was not familiar with.

That was precisely why he hadn't gone to see the emperor yesterday. He wanted to first hear Xu Heming's opinion.

"It is certainly feasible. Uncle, please make preparations tomorrow. During the morning court session, Father-in-law can raise the matter with the emperor. At that point, His Majesty will likely summon you," Xu Heming said after considering the matter.

"Very well." Li Tianyou had no objections.

After all, if Yao Qisheng benefited from this, it would also be advantageous to Li Tianyou.

Even if Yao Qisheng never remembered today's kindness, Li Tianyou didn't mind.

"Your army is short of grain. Are you also lacking medicinal herbs?" Jiang Yuanrang, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

"Indeed, we are," Xu Heming replied. He had heard of the Jiang family from Lucheng.

They were a renowned lineage of herbal medicine merchants.

As for how his brother-in-law became a child of the Jiang family, Xu Heming had never asked.

After returning to the capital, he had been busy with his own wedding and dealing with matters concerning the third prince of the Qinling Kingdom.

Now that the wedding was over, he suspected this matter would soon come to light.

What surprised Xu Heming, however, was that Jiang Yuanrang's first question was about the army's need for medicinal herbs.

"Oh, in that case, the Jiang family will also donate a batch of herbal medicines," Jiang Yuanrang said nonchalantly.

"Zhou'er?" Li Tianyou's expression turned displeased upon hearing this. This was his own son, after all.

Why was he still thinking about returning to the Jiang family?

"You still plan to go back to Lucheng, Brother?" Xu Heming asked Jiang Yuanrang.

"Naturally." Jiang Yuanrang had never considered not returning.

Hearing this, Li Tianyou opened his mouth as if to persuade Jiang Yuanrang, but he found himself unable to begin. After all, this was likely his own fault as a father for failing to raise his son properly, leaving him to wander outside all these years.

Xu Heming glanced at Li Tianyou, who looked somewhat dejected, and then at Jiang Yuanrang, who appeared firm in his resolve.

"The Jiang family raised you. You should rightfully return," Li Tianyou said, though his tone was stiff and uncomfortable.

Xu Heming realized that he still needed to go to Heping County to handle the gold mine matter, which meant he would have to pass through Lucheng anyway.

Since that was the case, he could take the opportunity to bring Li Tianyou, his wife, and Li Zhiwei along to Lucheng.

He assumed his father-in-law also wished to know how his eldest son had ended up in Lucheng and become the legitimate son of the Jiang family in the first place.

Even if his brother-in-law wanted to return, they should first clarify all the circumstances.

"Since you wish to return, Brother, how about we settle the matters here first, and then we accompany you back to Lucheng to pay a formal visit?" Xu Heming suggested, looking at Jiang Yuanrang.

Jiang Yuanrang shot Xu Heming a fierce glare in response.

As if they hadn't all been to the Jiang residence before.

Hmph!

Still, he found it hard to refuse the offer, mainly because he really wanted Li Zhiwei to come along as well.

When Li Zhiwei got married, Jiang Yuanrang hadn't prepared anything worthy for her. Although the Li family had given her many things, ultimately, those weren't from him.

If Li Zhiwei visited Lucheng, he would surely extend her the most generous hospitality.

"That's right. Your mother and I will also go to Lucheng," Li Tianyou quickly nodded in agreement.

"And Weiwei?" Jiang Yuanrang turned to look at Xu Heming.

"If Weiwei is willing, she will naturally accompany us," Xu Heming replied without hesitation.

"Fine." Having gotten the answer he wanted, Jiang Yuanrang agreed to stay and wait for them to travel together.

With the matter settled, they chatted for a while longer before Li Tianyou let Xu Heming go find Li Zhiwei.

At that time, Li Zhiwei had just returned to her maiden room, the Crescent Moon Pavilion.

"Mistress, would you like to rest for a bit?" Cuiguo, back in her familiar surroundings, felt as if the air was fresher.

Her tone of voice had lightened noticeably.

"No need. I'll just sit for a while," Li Zhiwei shook her head. She, too, felt that time had passed quickly.

She flipped through the preparatory materials she had organized earlier regarding the Splendid Pavilion.

Upon reflection, she set the materials aside again.

Qinghua and Qingyue did not enter the room to disturb Li Zhiwei. She always had her own ideas and would summon them if she needed their assistance.

When Xu Heming arrived, he saw Li Zhiwei sitting by the window, earnestly reading something.

As Xu Heming approached, Qinghua and Qingyue were about to bow in greeting, but he signaled for them to be silent.

Xu Heming walked over softly, took the fan from Cuiguo's hand, and gently fanned Li Zhiwei.

"Cuiguo, bring me the sample patterns from my desk," Li Zhiwei said. She planned to take the designs she had sketched earlier and have Cuier and the others tailor the garments accordingly.

Xu Heming raised an eyebrow at her words. He walked over, picked up the manuscript papers Li Zhiwei had requested, and gently placed them in her hands.

Before Li Zhiwei could say anything, Qingsong hurried in. He bowed to Xu Heming and said, "Your Highness, General Wen has urgent business with you."

Only then did Qingsong turn to Li Zhiwei and bow. "Greetings, Your Highness."