The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

"Your Highness, how come you always guess right? You don't happen to frequent brothels, do you?"

"You overestimate me. I don't even know which way the door in that kind of place opens. But Uncle Ge is really something else. Look at his thin frame, yet he's taken three concubines in one go. How can there be any peace in this house?"

Suiying shook her head and said, "Whether it's peaceful or not is secondary. Uncle Ge is currently infatuated with beautiful women. He didn't even attend the court meeting today. He clearly has a new concubine at home and doesn't want to go out. He insists on claiming illness to avoid court. With his attendants going door to door to investigate, how could he possibly hide anything from the Emperor?"

Wan Lianxing threw his handkerchief heavily on the table and said, "If he continues to be so lawless, I will send him to Yatuo as an envoy."

"Uncle, why send my Uncle Ge as an envoy to Yato?"

"The dog emperor of Dalang is tyrannical, and the court is corrupt. He has allied with Yato to attack Fengqi, dreaming that he can crush Fengqi with Yato's iron cavalry. Unfortunately, Fengqi has a strong army and good weapons. Even if Yato has thousands of troops, they cannot defeat Fengqi's explosives. Their alliance with Yato is nothing more than inviting a wolf into the house and hastening the demise of Dalang's country."

"Since we, Fengqi, are not afraid of those two countries, why send envoys to Yatuo? When I entered the palace just now, I glanced at today's victory report at the palace gate. Our Fengqi army is about to reach Bianjing. Why send envoys to Yatuo?"

Wan Lianxing laughed heartily, "The royal family of Dalang will soon flee Bianjing with their mothers, sons, and grandsons. In less than a year, Dalang will be in my possession. However, the Yatuo people are truly hateful, committing murder, robbery, and all sorts of evil deeds. I will send someone to Yatuo to persuade them to withdraw their troops. Otherwise, after conquering Dalang, my next step will be to attack Yatuo."

Cheng Feng was originally just a small-time hunter. He only became a prince because of Wan Lianxing's protection, and then he became a member of the royal family. He didn't have such great ambitions or grand ideals. "Uncle, aren't your ambitions too big?"

Wan Lianxing said, "I do not want to start a war. War causes immense suffering and displacement. I cannot bear to see corpses strewn across the fields and rivers of blood flowing. Who does not want prosperous streets and peaceful lives for the people? It is just that I cannot stand the Yato people's viciousness and depravity. If such a group is not eliminated, it will always be a scourge."

Mentioning Bianjing, Cheng Youning was as eager as could be, "Grandpa, hurry up and conquer Bianjing! I want to go to Bianjing for a visit, I want to eat Bianjing cuisine, and I want to ride a flower boat on the lake."

"My grandson may be disappointed. Bianjing is now a scene of devastation and ruin! It has long lost its former prosperity."

“Then my grandson wants to go too.”

"Of course we should go. Our ancestors are still there."

"When are we going?" Cheng Youning asked impatiently.

Wan Lianxing tapped Cheng Youning on the head. "What's the rush! Maybe next year, maybe the year after. If only your grandfather were healthy and well, we could go together. The Wan family's ancestral graves are a worry for your grandfather!" Wan Lianxing looked at Cheng Feng: "How is your father?"

“He’s getting worse every day, and I don’t think his days are numbered. Last month, your sister-in-law hired a monk from Lingchen Temple to perform a blessing ceremony for your elder brother. This month, she hired a group of Taoist priests to exorcise demons and ghosts at our house. They’ve been making a racket for several days, but your elder brother is still the same. These past two days, I’ve heard my mother talking about going to the south to hire a shaman to cure my father’s illness. I told her it was no use, and she scolded me for being an unfilial son of the Wan family.” Cheng Feng shook his head helplessly.

"Then I will go there in the next few days."

Cheng Feng said, "The people in the manor have been quite a mixed bunch lately, but if you go, your sister-in-law will be the happiest. She's been looking forward to your visit every day. She has something to tell you."

"Are the Han family members still at home?"

Cheng Feng nodded. "That father and daughter are very ambitious. One wants to be my uncle's father-in-law, and the other wants to be my uncle's concubine."

Cheng Youning's eyes darted around. He didn't understand what his father had said, so he couldn't help but ask, "Who's going to be my great-uncle's father-in-law?"

Cheng Feng picked up a crab for Cheng Youning and admonished her, "Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking."

Although Cheng Youning kept her mouth shut, she still listened attentively.

"Because of this, I can't even go to your Prince Pang's residence anymore. Look at all these civil and military officials, which one of them doesn't have real talent? That Han family member is idle and doesn't look like an official at all. There are many ministers who have contributed to the country, and I haven't taken their daughters into the palace. How could I possibly form a marriage alliance with the Han family?" Wan Lianxing shook his head helplessly.

Cheng Youning looked at Wan Lianxing: "You're not talking about Han Muran and his daughter, are you?"

Everyone at the table looked at Cheng Youning, wondering how a child could guess correctly. Cheng Youning grinned at everyone's reaction and then said nosyly, "Grandpa absolutely cannot take Han Muran as a concubine. That person doesn't open her mouth when eating, and she can't take a step when walking. Lately, I think she hasn't been able to smile. I don't know what's wrong with her."

The attendant said, "What do you know? Han Muran has been practicing palace rules in her boudoir recently, and every smile and frown of hers is reminiscent of the current empress."

Cheng Youning looked bewildered. "She's just a merchant's daughter, not a member of the royal family. Why would she need to learn palace rules?"

Cheng Feng patted Cheng Youning's head and said, "Son, don't say these things in front of your grandma. Your grandma is worried sick about the Han family."

Cheng Youning nodded vigorously, looking like he knew everything. "Father told me a long time ago, and I remember it all. I must never speak ill of the Han family in front of Grandma."

A piece of pickled crab was placed on Cheng Youning's plate, and Cheng Feng patted his head with satisfaction, saying, "You're such a good boy."

Cheng Youning grinned and began to eat the food on his plate. Little did he know that his little face had turned green; his great-uncle no longer wanted to go to the Prince Pang's Mansion.

"I will have the Empress visit my brother and sister-in-law on my behalf these next two days."

The group over here were savoring crabs and drinking yellow wine, looking like carefree immortals. Meanwhile, Shang Xi and Yu Hua were incredibly busy at the Prince's residence.

It's true that princes and ministers are rare, but ordinary people are everywhere. The four matchmakers only took an hour to bring back a group of young men from each of the four directions of the capital city.

Judging from their clothes, they all came from ordinary, poor families with respectable backgrounds. They were all around the same age as He Ye, and most importantly, they were all unmarried young men. In every way, they met the standards He Ye had described that day.

Their arrival caused a sensation throughout the entire Prince's mansion. All the maids and servants came out, and even Madam Wan came out.

Madam Wan couldn't stop smiling as she looked at the young men filling the courtyard, and praised Shang Xi for handling things efficiently this time.