Chapter 243
Seeing the Emperor's expression, the Empress Dowager realized he was venting his anger, but no matter what, Yu Chongshan was Yue Fuguang's grandfather.
If the Emperor dared to disrespect him today, the Little Immortal Lord would return the favor tenfold tomorrow.
Since she often came to her palace for meals, she knew more about Yue Fuguang. She might look amiable, but she did not have a good temper.
And no matter what the Yu family was like in the past, they were now under her protection. What was the difference between slapping Yu Chongshan's face and slapping the Junior Preceptor's face?
"Emperor," the Empress Dowager only called out to him. With the tacit understanding they had built over many years as mother and son, he naturally knew what she was thinking.
He was just feeling a bit unhappy in his heart. If he really uttered harsh words to Yu Chongshan because of this matter, wouldn't it clearly show his dissatisfaction with the Junior Preceptor? That would be asking for a beating!
Even if all the civil and military officials in the court knew about this, he would be the one in the wrong.
"Rest assured, Mother, your son knows his limits." Emperor Mingxi instantly put away his little bit of emotion.
While the mother and son were talking, Yu Chongshan had already been led into the main hall by a eunuch.
After bowing and paying his respects to the four members of the imperial family, Yu Chongshan explained the purpose of his visit.
Emperor Mingxi stood up abruptly. "Is what you say true, my beloved minister Yu?"
Yu Chongshan bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I would not dare to speak nonsense."
Saying this, he took the item he had brought from the eunuch behind him, offered it with both hands, and said, "The item is here. Your Majesty can take a look for yourself."
Qian Gui originally wanted to go over, take it, and present it to Emperor Mingxi, but was stopped by him. With a wave of his hand, the Emperor said, "Beloved minister Yu is one of our own. I want to personally see the token of appreciation he has brought for me."
Hearing such words, if Yue Fuguang were here, she would definitely get goosebumps and be reminded of the phrase 'sharing a bed like brothers'.
Yu Chongshan respectfully placed the box in his hands on the low table in front of him.
Opening the box, inside were two exquisite white porcelain bottles used for holding wine.
Each bottle held about two catties.
Emperor Mingxi impatiently opened the stopper and brought the mouth of the bottle close to his nose to sniff it. Those who didn't know better would think it contained some peerless fine wine!
As if smelling it wasn't enough, Emperor Mingxi couldn't help but comment, "The scent is fresh and elegant. It truly is spiritual water."
He turned his head and looked at Yu Chongshan with satisfaction, saying, "Beloved minister Yu, you are very thoughtful!"
Yu Chongshan repeatedly said he didn't dare claim the credit. He knew clearly in his heart that the Yu family's current status was entirely due to his granddaughter.
As the head of the family, what he needed to do was maintain the right attitude. At a time when the family was prospering, it was even more important to stick to their duties. As the saying goes, they couldn't get carried away, nor could they cause trouble or bring a bad reputation to his granddaughter.
While his granddaughter acted freely in the front, he would clean up the aftermath in the back. The Yu family was not afraid of trouble, but there was no need to bring unpleasantness upon themselves over trivial matters.
After Emperor Mingxi invited him to sit down, he said, "Today, the Crown Prince returned and told me the whole story. I was originally a bit disappointed about missing this opportunity.
I never expected that not only would I get to eat the wild vegetables the Crown Prince brought back, but now I can also drink the spiritual rainwater you specially prepared for me.
Beloved minister Yu, you are my trusted pillar of the state, a true loyal subject!"
Yu Chongshan immediately looked excited, his face flushing bright red. His eyes were full of loyalty as he looked at Emperor Mingxi, and he said, "I do not deserve such excessive praise from Your Majesty!
The matter happened so suddenly, so I could only resort to this makeshift plan of having the old servant catch the rainwater with a basin."
A trace of an awkward smile appeared on his face as he added, "As long as Your Majesty does not mind it!"
Emperor Mingxi waved his large hand. "You are mistaken to say that, beloved minister Yu. This contains not only spiritual rainwater but also your loyalty. I know it all!
You are well aware of how important the Junior Preceptor is to our dynasty."
Saying this, Emperor Mingxi raised the teacup in his hand. "In the future, our Great Yan will still have to rely on the Junior Preceptor and you, my beloved minister Yu!"
Yu Chongshan immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty's words are too heavy! I am truly unworthy."
"Sit, quickly sit down, beloved minister Yu." He then turned to the Crown Prince and said, "Crown Prince, serve tea to the venerable official."
"Your Majesty, you must not! The Crown Prince is the heir apparent of our dynasty, the future ruler. How can he serve tea to a humble subject like me!"
Emperor Mingxi said nonchalantly, "Sit peacefully, beloved minister Yu. As a member of the younger generation, it is only proper for him to serve tea and pour water."
Seeing that the Emperor's family was determined, Yu Chongshan said no more and could only accept the gesture.
He then brought up another matter. "Your Majesty, Fuguang mentioned that the weeds growing in the fields, because of the spiritual rainwater, are also excellent forage. What do you think..."
This matter couldn't be kept a secret. Including the forests, there were over two thousand acres of farmland and mountainous terrain. Their family's tenant farmers alone would be too busy to pull all the weeds.
Yu Chongshan also had a bit of a selfish motive; he was worried that if too much time passed, the weeds would absorb the soil's nutrients, affecting the growth of the grain and vegetables.
Seeking outside help was the best solution.
"There's such a thing?" A look of joy appeared on Emperor Mingxi's face.
There was the Great Yan racecourse in the suburbs of the capital. If the horses were fed forage that had absorbed spiritual rainwater, then...
"Crown Prince, go notify the manager of the imperial estate. Have him send people to weed the Junior Preceptor's fields. Tell them to be careful and absolutely not damage the grain seedlings."
Xie Zhiyan immediately received the order, and Yu Chongshan took his leave as well.
Before leaving, he not only received a chest of rewards but also several boxes of pastries, which the Empress Dowager explicitly stated were for Yue Fuguang.
"When it comes to pastries, the ones made in the Empress Dowager's palace are truly the most delicious."
Yue Fuguang placed several plates of pastries on the table, inviting her sisters to eat, and picked a peach-blossom-shaped one for herself.
Yu Ningxuan took a small bite and praised, "Not only are these pastries delicious, but their appearance is also top-notch."
Yu Ningxin nodded in agreement.
Yu Ningzi said, "The house has been bustling these past two days. The officials coming to visit Grandfather are an endless stream, and everyone who comes always brings pastries.
Grandmother has enough over there to open a pastry shop."
Yu Ningxuan said, "For the past few days, Grandfather has been staying in the tearoom as soon as he finishes his official duties, and those visiting officials head straight for the tearoom too.
Could it be that Grandfather recently acquired some extraordinary fine tea?"
Yue Fuguang chuckled softly in her heart. The old man hadn't acquired good tea; he had acquired good water.
Good tea needed to be paired with good water. She guessed that the bit of spiritual rainwater the old man had secretly collected was probably almost entirely consumed by these waves of visiting officials over the past few days.
While the sisters were talking, Qingzhu suddenly came to report, "Miss, someone from the Old Master's courtyard has come to deliver a message, inviting you to meet him in the tearoom."
"Grandfather is calling for me. Do you know who his guests in the tearoom are today?"
Yue Fuguang bid farewell to her sisters and, while walking towards the outer courtyard's tearoom, asked the young servant boy leading the way.
The young servant boy was about seven or eight years old and looked very clever. Seeing Yue Fuguang ask, he didn't hide anything.
He replied in a crisp voice, "Reporting to Miss, those who came to visit the Old Master today are Minister Huo, General Wei, Court Physician Song, and an unfamiliar young man."
The young servant boy frowned and said, "From what this humble one observed, that person looks like someone from the martial arts world."
Yue Fuguang chuckled aloud. "You know how to observe people? Have you seen people from the martial arts world before?"
The young servant boy blushed with shame at Yue Fuguang's laughter and said embarrassedly, "Miss, our family has many guards, and most of them come from the martial arts world.
After seeing them so much, I just..."
He scratched his head. "That person is very similar to Lord Zhang Fang, so he must be someone from the martial arts world."
Yue Fuguang nodded. Zhang Fang was indeed a typical martial artist. Although he had entered officialdom, he still carried an aura of the martial arts world. Here with her, in an environment far from the true officialdom and relatively free,
it really wouldn't be that easy to wash away his martial arts world traces in such a short time.
Before even entering the tearoom, Yue Fuguang could hear Yu Chongshan's hearty laughter coming from inside.