The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

After he left, a man in green clothes emerged from behind the curtain in the shop.

"Does he come often?"

"Master, he has been coming frequently these past two months," the shopkeeper replied, lowering his head. "Each time he comes, he only looks at that gold-threaded chain."

"The Ye Family isn’t short of money, yet he hesitates so much over a purchase. It seems they have strict family discipline," the man in green said with a sly smile curving his lips.

"Isn’t that the truth? I’ve heard that during his few months in Shandong, many officials offered him bribes. If he’d accepted just one, he’d have more than enough to buy things, but I’ve heard he didn’t take a single one," the shopkeeper added. "They say he’s a good official."

"A good official is the last thing I need; I want corrupt officials. Those honest ones should all be damned!" the man in green snorted coldly. His heart seethed with anger. If everywhere there were good officials, upstanding ones, how could Great Zhou descend into chaos? How could the world be thrown into disarray?

Hmph, this world doesn’t need honest officials. How filthy Great Zhou is as a dynasty. What right does it have to earn the loyalty of so-called good officials? It doesn’t deserve it!

"Your Highness, so many years have passed. Why cling to this?"

"How many times have I told you? Don’t call me ’Your Highness’; it disgusts me!" The man in green exploded with rage at his words. "You don’t need to remind me about my affairs. Just do as you’re told. If you dare say another word, I’ll take your life!"

"Yes, this servant understands!"

"Hmph"

The man in green let out another cold snort, adjusted his hat properly, covered his face again, and then left the shop.

As soon as the man in green had left, Ye Zi’an returned, puzzling the shopkeeper.

To the shopkeeper’s questioning, Ye Zi’an merely said he wanted to see if there were any other nice things to choose a gift for his son.

In the end, he took a liking to two daggers but didn’t buy them due to a lack of silver.

Of course, his return to this place was not really to make a purchase but because the more he thought about it on the way, the more he felt something was amiss. Just now, it seemed as if someone had been secretly watching him in the shop.

But upon returning, he discovered nothing out of the ordinary, unaware that he had just missed crossing paths with the man in green who was exiting as he entered.

Leaving the weapon shop again, Ye Zi’an detoured towards the Ye Residence. Along the way, he encountered several people afflicted with the cadaverous disease, greatly shocking him. He wondered how it could be that he had been away from the prefecture for only a short time and such a plague had already appeared?

Ye Zi’an hurried back to the governmental office, not even stopping to exchange a few words with Yang Chuxia and the others, then rushed to the governmental office, meanwhile instructing Ye Yi and the others to summon other officials. He needed to immediately understand the current situation in Shandong.

"Mother, this residence is much bigger than the one we had in Mianyang."

Lele explained on her behalf, "Of course, that’s because the size of an official’s residence is determined by their rank. Father is now a Prefect, which is several ranks above a County Magistrate. Naturally, our residence is much bigger."

"So, do you want to live in a courtyard by yourself?" Yangyang asked him, pulling at his arm. "Let’s live together. It’s not good for you to be alone, with no one to protect you. If we live together, I can protect you."

Lele looked at him and couldn’t help but privately scoff. Clearly, he didn’t want to live alone, yet he insisted he was doing it to protect Lele.

"Brother? Why aren’t you saying anything?" Yangyang looked at him expectantly.

"Do you really want to live with me?"

"Mm-hmm," Yangyang nodded eagerly, but then hastily added, "I want to protect you!"

Lele pursed his lips, rolled his eyes, and walked away.

Seeing Lele ignoring him, Yangyang puffed his cheeks, planted his hands on his hips, and shouted, "Are you going to live with me or not, you annoying Lele!"