The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

After Ye Zi’an left the guest quarters, he thought to himself that fruit wine was certainly good—some types probably sell for a dozen silver per bottle in Capital City. He had requested two cases, which meant twelve bottles, amounting to several hundred silver. No wonder it was good.

However, this kind of eunuch who served directly under the Emperor was better treated well at a higher expense than offended.

Ye Zi’an returned to the harem and saw Yangyang standing in front of the platform, his eyes sparkling with admiration as he saw him return.

"Beautiful daddy, you’re really amazing!" And with that, he gave him a thumbs-up.

"Son, thank you for the compliment."

He patted his little head and led him into the house with one hand.

"Beautiful daddy, when I grow up, I want to be like you, I want to be a high-ranking official too."

"High-ranking official?" Ye Zi’an glanced at him upon hearing this.

"Yep, Sister Mingcui said daddy is about to become a Prefect soon, and a Prefect is a chief executive of a region, which is a high-ranking official," Yangyang said, looking expectantly at him.

Raising an eyebrow, Ye Zi’an replied, "That’s somewhat true and somewhat not. A Prefect is indeed a chief executive of a region, but can’t be considered a high-ranking official. A Prefect is a fourth-rank official, and above that, there are third-rank, second-rank, first-rank, and even higher super-rank officials."

"I see, then I want to be a super-rank official," Yangyang exclaimed loudly upon hearing this.

Super-rank? Ye Zi’an thought to himself, the boy sure has big ambitions. Super-rank officials usually come from families with titles and achievements. There are very few civil officials who could be granted titles, while military officials might find it slightly easier to earn titles during years of war, depending on the timing.

Yet, these were not the things he could tell his son at the moment, as it might dampen his enthusiasm.

"Son, if you want to become a super-rank official, you need to start studying hard from now on, and you must also learn martial arts like your mother, becoming proficient in both civil and military affairs to have a chance in the future."

"Is that so?" thought Yangyang. Being able to beat people like his mother was no problem—in his eyes, martial arts meant being able to beat people. But as for studying hard and liking books, he wasn’t too keen on that. What to do?

Seeing that he seemed a bit troubled, Ye Zi’an didn’t say more, letting him figure it out for himself.

But he didn’t expect the boy to come up with an answer so quickly. Just as they entered the house, Yangyang spoke loudly, "Starting tomorrow, I will study and practice martial arts with mother."

Yang Chuxia then asked him, "Why not start today?"

Blinking, Yangyang replied, "Don’t you both have no time to teach me today?"

"Hmm, you’re quite clever," she remarked.

Yang Chuxia looked at Ye Zi’an and pointed to the sky, "What’s all this about?"

"A power play," Ye Zi’an shrugged. Stepping forward and embracing her, he whispered, "I suspect it’s the Emperor’s way of showing he’s unhappy with the pressure from all those courtiers urging him to issue a decree to punish me. So he secretly issued this imperial edict. It’s meant to slap those ministers in the face and remind them who owns this world. The ministers in Capital City probably have no idea this edict even exists. They’re going to be furious when they find out. But..."

"But what?" Yang Chuxia urged as he paused.

"I suspect I won’t be taking up my post as the Prefect of Shandong anytime soon. Those people will likely find a way to delay finding a replacement County Magistrate for Mianyang. I will be the Prefect of Shandong in name, but I’ll still have to stay in Mianyang waiting for the handover."

Those old men, they were best at such things.

In fact, as soon as the imperial edict from Mianyang reached Capital City, the countermeasures those people came up with were exactly as Ye Zi’an had anticipated.