A crown princess who doesn't do infrastructure construction isn't a good doctor.

Having finished what needed to be done, and with lunchtime approaching, Qin Suiyou took Beitang Yan to Shian Courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, I discovered that Beitang Xinyue was also there.

"Who are you today...?"

The girls' school that Beitang Xinyue attends is close to the Prince's mansion, but she usually doesn't come back for lunch. It's not the time of the ten-day holiday, so she shouldn't be seen at the mansion right now.

"Sister-in-law! Brother!"

After greeting her with a smile, Beitang Xinyue replied, "It's almost time for the spring imperial examinations, and our teacher, Ms. Liu, thought that although we girls can't take the exams, we should still take them as seriously as the other students. So, Ms. Liu decided that starting this year, she will set the exam questions herself for the autumn and spring imperial examinations, so that the students in the Weirui dormitory can take the exams at the same time as those taking the autumn and spring examinations. This way, the other dormitories can have a few days off."

Princess An was instructing people to set out the dishes in the dining hall when she heard Beitang Xinyue calling for people. She knew that Qin Suiyou and Beitang Yan had arrived, so she came out and called them in.

After responding, the three of them headed towards the dining hall.

Then, Qin Suiyou did not forget what Beitang Xinyue had just said, and said, "Master Liu has high expectations for you."

"Yes."

Beitang Xinyue nodded.

"The Master often said that although the current social order requires women to follow the 'Three Obediences and Four Virtues,' we cannot confine ourselves to the inner chambers. Even if we cannot put what we have learned into practice, it is good to satisfy a part of our aspirations."

Qin Suiyou: "Master Liu is a person with great ambitions. If given the opportunity, she might become a female official who serves the country and its people."

"Does your sister-in-law think the same way?"

Beitang Xinyue was surprised and happy. She had never told anyone what Master Liu had said before, for fear of not being understood or accepted. But Qin Suiyou's words immediately increased her goodwill towards this sister-in-law.

"What do you mean by that?"

At this moment, the group had already entered the dining hall. Upon hearing Beitang Xinyue's excited voice, Princess An asked the following question.

Beitang Xinyue: "My sister-in-law said that Master Liu is capable of becoming an official. Mother, what do you think?"

Princess An showed no surprise or doubt. She gestured for the group to sit down and then said, "Master Liu is indeed a rare talent. Whether it's calligraphy, painting, poetry, or prose, her works were praised as exquisite as ever when they were first published. But people always lamented that she was a woman. It's truly..."

Before he could finish speaking, he shook his head and sighed.

Looking at her mother's beautiful face, which held a mixture of helplessness and an expression she couldn't understand, Beitang Xinyue couldn't help but feel worried.

"Mother..."

Princess An came to her senses, the expression on her face faded, and she was once again the gentle and kind mother that Beitang Xinyue knew.

"I'm fine. Hey, your dad, I don't know what he's doing. I sent someone to call him a long time ago, why isn't he here yet..."

As they were talking, Prince An lifted the beaded curtain outside and came in.

"Here we are, Madam, please don't be in such a hurry."

Prince An stepped forward and skillfully took his wife's delicate hand, smiling ingratiatingly.

After glaring at Prince An, Princess An withdrew her hand and muttered under her breath, "The children are still here. What a shameless old man."

Not afraid or making a fuss, since holding hands was no longer allowed, Prince An gently tugged at Princess An's sleeve, and the two sat down together.

"I'm not old, I haven't even grown a beard."

Beitang Xinyue echoed her father's words.

"That's right. Father doesn't look old at all. If someone sees Father and Brother standing together, they would think they are brothers."

Prince An looked at Beitang Xinyue with a "you are teachable" expression, but still humbly said, "Hey~ it's not that exaggerated."

"It's definitely not that exaggerated, I don't look like I'm... um..."

Seeing that Beitang Yan's words were about to go in the wrong direction, Qin Suiyou quickly covered his mouth.

Perhaps sensing his son's unfinished words, Prince An hesitated a few times before deciding not to continue "humiliating himself," lest his unjustly accused son say something hurtful.

Qin Suiyou lowered his hand and smiled apologetically on behalf of Beitang Yan. Princess An and Beitang Xinyue watched a short play and also smiled, leaving Prince An feeling cold inside.

During the meal, setting aside the earlier incident, Prince An dismissed the servants and began a meeting at the dinner table.

"Your mother told me yesterday about Yan'er officially 'awakening'. What do you think, Suiyou?"

After swallowing the food in his mouth, Qin Suiyou said, "'Waking up' is of course necessary. What do you think is the right time?"

Prince An: "After the imperial examination, the court will have new blood, and once the follow-up matters in the Northern Region are settled, their maternal grandfathers will return to the capital. There will definitely be trouble at that time."

"So it's after the imperial examinations?"

Prince An nodded.

“That’s right, and it’s better to do it sooner rather than later. Judging from the time it took to deliver the letters, apart from the generals and soldiers who are to be stationed, the Zhenbei Army returning to the capital should have already set off. If Yan’er isn’t here, I wonder how many people will take away the merits that those generals and soldiers deserve.”

Hearing his name mentioned, Beitang Yan listened quite attentively, but for the time being, his mind was still filled with doubts as he couldn't recall these things.

"Why should so many people have their merits exploited just because I'm not around?"

Not surprised that Beitang Yan would ask this question now, Prince An patiently replied: "Apart from your maternal grandfather, you were the highest-ranking general in the Northern War. The Emperor has long wanted to take away the military power from your maternal grandfather, but due to the war to be fought and the presence of you as his grandson, he could not find a completely valid reason. Now that the Northern War is over, the Emperor has sent officials to take over the management. Your maternal grandfather is already old, and in his eyes, he is no longer of any use. If you are not present at that time, he will undoubtedly lose his military power."

It seems there was truly no father-son affection between them. When speaking of the Emperor, who was his father, Prince An showed no mercy, stating the cold-blooded truth directly without giving the Emperor, who still wanted to maintain a dignified image, any face.

However, after hearing these words, Beitang Yan, who was somewhat aware of his current situation, frowned.

“I can’t remember anything right now, and I can’t handle those things unless someone can teach me or help me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone at the table turned their gazes toward Qin Suiyou.

Qin Suiyou: "...I've never handled anything like this in front of you before, do you really trust me?"

"So, my sister-in-law can do it?"

Beitang Xinyue asked, and Princess An continued, "Actually, we were just hoping that you could keep Yan'er calm and prevent him from behaving too differently from before. But since you've already said that..."

Prince An continued, "It seems that Suiyou will have to work harder from now on. You don't need to feel too burdened. Shuohan and the others are all capable of handling things on their own. They have handled most of the previous matters. Besides, there is his maternal grandfather and us. Yan'er can just be a mascot to keep things in order."

Unable to get a word in edgewise from the three's barrage of words, just as Qin Suiyou was about to hesitate, Prince An added more.

"We can't let someone who's just woken up from a serious injury handle anything too complicated. We can't let this kid get better right away. We gave him an ultimatum that he wouldn't wake up. Now that he's finally awake, he needs to rest for a month or two. Maybe if he looks more serious, it will lower their guard. Suiyou, you have to remember to teach this kid to act weak."

Having finally managed to get a word in edgewise, before Qin Suiyou could even speak, Beitang Yan said, "Isn't there going to be an imperial physician coming the day after tomorrow? My wife just taught me how to pretend to be sick."

Prince An was somewhat surprised and asked, "Really?"

Qin Suiyou nodded with a blank smile.

"That's right, I did teach it."

At this moment, Princess An said, "Then everything is ready. It seems that the unreliable Taoist priest is still somewhat useful. Suiyou is indeed the most compatible person with Yan'er's birth chart, bringing so much good fortune to our family."

Prince An nodded affirmatively, while Beitang Xinyue, who was sitting next to Beitang Yan, was secretly asking her brother how to fake illness, and it was unclear what she wanted to do with what she learned.

Qin Suiyou looked around and shook his head inwardly, feeling helpless yet smiling.

This family is truly adorable and funny.