Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Chapter 864: Chapter 869-870: Liang Ji’s Persuasion (2)

"Isn’t she your own daughter, and you’re already finding her a burden?" Lv Clan said angrily.

"When did I say she was a burden? I was just speaking casually. If I truly thought she was a burden, we wouldn’t have come to the Capital this time."

"You can’t do this or that, so what do you plan to do?"

"I just don’t know what to do, which is why I’m sighing."

"Alas." Hearing this, Lv Clan also sighed and said, "I don’t know what’s going on with Yu Shu to end up in such a situation."

"Master, we’ve arrived in the Capital."

As they spoke, the coachman outside lifted the curtain and said.

...

After arriving in the Capital, Zhao Ruhai first found an inn to settle down. After setting down their luggage, they then rushed to the Capital City Government Office.

Upon hearing the news, Peng Yi, the head official of the Office, asked them to wait while he reported the situation upward.

It was unknown how much time passed.

"Lady Lanfei has arrived." A voice like a duck’s quack could be heard from the outer room of the Office.

"This official greets Lady Lanfei." Peng Yi quickly stepped forward to bow respectfully.

Seeing this, Zhao Ruhai and Lv Clan, though unsure of who Lady Lanfei was, still knew she was someone from the palace, so they did not dare to neglect and also stepped forward to bow.

"No need for formalities." Liang Ji raised her hand slightly.

"Thank you, Lady." Peng Yi straightened his waist slightly but kept his head lowered, saying, "Lady Lanfei, these two are the parents of that Noble."

Liang Ji glanced at Zhao Ruhai and Lv Clan, then slightly nodded and said, "Lord Peng, may I trouble you to leave us alone for a moment?"

"As you wish, Lady Lanfei." Saying this, Peng Yi then bowed and withdrew.

"You all leave as well."

Liang Ji turned to the palace maids and eunuchs behind her and said.

"As you command."

Soon, there were only Zhao Ruhai, Lv Clan, and Liang Ji left in the hall of the Office.

Zhao Ruhai and Lv Clan appeared extremely nervous, standing there not daring to breathe heavily, as they still didn’t know why Liang Ji was there.

"Have a seat." Liang Ji said, then went by herself to sit at the head position.

Zhao Ruhai and Lv Clan sat down anxiously.

But after they sat down, a long time passed without Liang Ji speaking.

Zhao Ruhai couldn’t bear it any longer and stood up to bow, saying, "May I ask what important matter Lady Lanfei wishes to discuss with us?"

Liang Ji was waiting for them to speak first. Her red lips slightly parted, and she said, "Landlord Zhao, I am here to propose an engagement for your daughter."

"Engagement?" Zhao Ruhai was taken aback.

"Engagement?" Lv Clan’s voice was even louder in confusion.

"That’s right, engagement." Liang Ji emphasized once again.

Zhao Ruhai took a deep breath and said, "Lady Lanfei, forgive this commoner’s audacity, but is this engagement for someone in our family or someone we know?"

Liang Ji shook her head with a smile and said, "Neither."

"Then who?" Lv Clan, quick to speak her mind, asked, since an engagement should clearly involve knowing the other party.

Zhao Ruhai turned his head to stare at Lv Clan, blaming her for speaking out of turn.

Liang Ji smiled slightly and said, "The current Emperor."

As soon as these words were spoken.

Zhao Ruhai and Lv Clan were stunned on the spot.

Zhao Ruhai swallowed hard, even suspecting he’d misheard, and repeatedly confirmed, "Lady Lanfei, are you referring to the current Emperor of Great Wei?"

Liang Ji nodded seriously.

Zhao Ruhai’s Adam’s apple moved up and down, and he said in a trembling voice, "Lady Lanfei, you must be joking with us common folk, does His Majesty still require matchmaking..."

"To be precise, this is my idea; His Majesty is not yet aware."

"Then..."

"Rest assured, in this matter, I can speak on His Majesty’s behalf."

Hearing this, Zhao Ruhai’s heart was shaken. If she could speak for His Majesty, Lady Lanfei must have a deep relationship with the Great Wei Emperor.

"Lady Lanfei, forgive this commoner’s dullness, but I haven’t grasped the meaning behind your words, please clarify." Zhao Ruhai truly couldn’t fathom Liang Ji’s intentions.

"I am considering His Majesty’s reputation." Liang Ji said.

"His Majesty’s reputation?" Zhao Ruhai was even more puzzled after hearing this.

"You two must have heard about the news that Zhao Yushu fell into the water accidentally on the day His Majesty ascended the throne." Liang Ji said.

Zhao Ruhai nodded.

"What you don’t know is that she didn’t accidentally fall into the water that day; it was after Duke Menghe abandoned her that she threw herself into the river to commit suicide." Liang Ji said.

"What?"

Zhao Ruhai was shocked.

"Yu Shu threw herself into the river?" Lv Clan’s voice began to tremble.

"That’s correct." Liang Ji stood up and walked down from her seat, saying, "What you two also don’t know is that currently, many people in the Capital believe that Duke Menghe abandoned Zhao Yushu because His Majesty interfered and destroyed their marital relationship, when in fact His Majesty did not participate, and this matter has deeply troubled both His Majesty and me."

These words made Zhao Ruhai and Lv Clan deeply surprised. Upon careful consideration, even they somewhat doubted that the Great Wei Emperor might have interfered; otherwise, how could the couple end up this way?

They remained silent, listening to Liang Ji finish speaking.

"However, this rumor has already spread within the palace and cannot be changed, but some things that haven’t happened yet need to be controlled in time."

Liang Ji stood in front of Zhao Ruhai, hands behind her back, and said, "From the fact that Zhao Yushu threw herself into the river, it is clear that being abandoned by Duke Menghe was a heavy blow to her, so I do not want to see rumors about His Majesty forcing her to death spreading in the future."

Zhao Ruhai somewhat understood that Lady Lanfei was worried they would take their daughter back home, fail to take good care of her, and if she did something rash, it would surely affect the reputation of the Great Wei Emperor.

Zhao Ruhai promised, "Rest assured, Lady Lanfei, once we bring Yu Shu back, my wife and I will watch her twelve hours a day, and will never let such a thing happen."

Liang Ji shook her head and said, "You still haven’t understood what I mean."

"This humble one dares to request Lady Lanfei to further elucidate."

Liang Ji sighed, "The previous rumor can be completely controlled within the Capital, preventing more from knowing, but if you take Zhao Yushu back, it would spread the matter far and wide. Also, you two are quite elderly now and can’t watch her all the time. If she’s influenced by rumors outside and does something drastic, that’s an outcome none of us want to see.

Therefore, what I mean is for you two to find a way to let her stay in the palace."

"This..." Zhao Ruhai exchanged a surprised glance with Lv Clan.

Since you want Yu Shu to stay in the palace, why call us to the Capital to fetch her?

Why take such a roundabout route?

Lv Clan gathered some information from the Middle Grade.

This is wanting both the appearance and the person, trying to win hearts too...

Seeing their silence, Liang Ji continued, "Persuading her to stay in the palace is advantageous for you two as well. His Majesty is not Duke Menghe; He is a reputable and capable ruler, and once Zhao Yushu bears a Dragon, would the Zhao Family not benefit?"

"Alright, it’s getting late, I should be leaving. I’ll give you an hour to consider, and in an hour, I’ll arrange for her to meet with you." Saying this, Liang Ji left.

Leaving the two looking at each other in dismay.

"Wife, what should we do?" Zhao Ruhai asked Lv Clan.

"I’m just a woman; of course, this matter should be decided by you," Lv Clan said.

Zhao Ruhai: "..."

Why does this sound so familiar?

Zhao Ruhai pondered for a moment and said, "I think Lady Lanfei is right. Even if we disregard His Majesty’s reputation, Yu Shu returning like this will lead to people talking, and we would lose face.

If we can take this opportunity to become in-laws with the Great Wei Emperor, that would be far more prestigious than before.

Moreover, one can’t fight the power. They are now discussing politely with us; if we refuse, who knows what the consequences might be."

"Then... then we should agree," Lv Clan also thought and said.

"Very well."