Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

"Your Highness, you really don't need to do this, we..." Before Lian Jinghuai could finish speaking, a sharp voice came from outside the door.

"The imperial edict has arrived!" Yuan Shu shouted in the courtyard of the general's mansion, his voice trailing off.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately got up and went to the courtyard.

"General Lian, please also call the young master out to receive the imperial decree."

"Yes." Lian Jinghuai gave Lian Rongrong a wink, and Lian Rongrong immediately turned around and went to the backyard to bring Fu Bao out.

Once everyone had arrived, Yuan Shu continued to shout the imperial edict:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that Lian Rong, the eldest daughter of the Lian family, is gentle, kind, respectful, filial, and fraternal, and is a rare and extraordinary woman."

"I hereby bestow this marriage upon Lian Rong of the Lian family and my eldest son, Li Yuanqi. I hope that you two will live in harmony and be forever united in marriage..."

The rest of the imperial edict consisted entirely of the old emperor's rewards for Lian Rongrong and Fu Bao.

After Yuan Shu finished announcing the imperial decree, people behind him kept carrying things into the general's mansion. There were more than twenty large, carved mahogany chests alone.

"So much?" Lian Rongrong's eyes widened. Even though she had seen a lot in the world, she couldn't help but feel that the old emperor's reward was far too much.

"Your Highness, there's more." Yuan Shu smiled ingratiatingly, and with another wave of his hand, the eunuchs carried in three more large wooden boxes.

However, these three boxes were filled with children's toys, and it's a mystery how the old emperor managed to acquire these things in such a short time.

However, Yuan Shu quickly cleared up the confusion for everyone, "Your Highness, these things were actually prepared for you by His Majesty."

Ever since you were sent to the Kingdom of Shang, His Majesty has frequently ordered people to search for children's toys. His Majesty often stares blankly at these little objects.

Yuan Shu took out a rattle drum from the box and handed it to Li Yuanqi: "This rattle drum is something Your Highness had when you were a child."

Over the years, this rattle drum has been His Majesty's most frequent companion.

For a moment, Li Yuanqi felt a stinging sensation in his nose, and he twitched his nose almost imperceptibly.

Lian Rongrong had already walked to Li Yuanqi's side. She reached out and gently took Li Yuanqi's arm. She didn't say anything, but she gave Li Yuanqi enough comfort.

"Thank you, Eunuch Yuan." Lian Rongrong took out a silver ingot from her sleeve and stuffed it into Yuan Shu's hand.

Yuan Shu smiled broadly, but declined, saying, "This servant has done nothing to deserve such a reward; I dare not accept the Queen's gift."

"Please don't be so polite, Eunuch Yuan. We will still need your help in the future." Lian Rongrong gave Yuan Shu plenty of face, so Yuan Shu naturally accepted the silver ingot with a smile.

After Yuan Shu left, everyone returned to the main hall. Fu Bao had long been attracted by the treasures sent by his grandfather and lay on the box, refusing to leave.

"His Majesty has really spared no expense this time." Lian Rongrong looked at the twenty-odd large chests, which were full of priceless treasures.

“The Emperor has chosen my daughter-in-law, so of course he’s willing to spend money on her,” Li Yuanqi said jokingly.

Everyone couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

"Alright, let's get down to business. What exactly are your plans for the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue? Those people probably aren't so easy to deal with."

Take Yan Hui, the Minister of Rites, for example. It is said that he was Li Yuanyi's father-in-law.

And then there's that Qian Lin; I heard his wife is the younger sister of the Prince of Ling. If we're being precise, you'd have to call her aunt.

Seeing Lian Rongrong's tightly furrowed brows, Li Yuanqi smiled slightly, stepped forward, ruffled her hair, and said softly:

"Why rush things? The wedding is the most important thing."

Lian Rongrong glared at Li Yuanqi. If her father and brothers hadn't been there, she would have definitely given Li Yuanqi a good talking-to.

Listen to what he's saying! Li Yuanqi is so lustful right now, he looks exactly like a tyrant.

However, with Jing Huai around, Lian Rongrong would never dare to utter the words "tyrant."

Just as Lian Rongrong was cursing Li Yuanqi, that tyrannical emperor, in her heart, Fu Bao, who was happily playing on the box, suddenly spoke up:

Oh, right, Father, Mother, you must be careful of that damned eunuch.

If I remember correctly, that fellow betrayed us long ago. It seems that my grandfather's eventual death was inextricably linked to him.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Lian Rongrong looked at her son, who was only interested in playing, speechless.

But this is really not Fu Bao's fault. Although Fu Bao has memories of his past life, his mind is no different from that of a child.

Which child can forget about important matters when they see toys? For Fu Bao now, eating and playing are the most important things.

However, after being scolded by her mother, Fu Bao reluctantly put down her toy, though her little eyes kept glancing at the new toy on the side.

Seeing the little guy's pitiful state, Li Yuanqi quickly stepped forward to help his son out of the predicament.

"Don't worry, Father has your sworn brother and Dark Night on his side, so Yuan Shu won't have a chance to make a move."

I will send someone to inform my father later, telling him to be extra cautious.

"You're already spoiling him." Lian Rongrong glared at the father and son, too lazy to bother with them.

Li Yuanqi and Fu Bao exchanged a glance, both looking utterly defeated.

In the following days, Li Yuanqi really didn't pay attention to the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue. Although he attended court every day, he would run away faster than anyone else as soon as court was over.

The court officials had assumed that the eldest prince, who had finally returned, would seize the opportunity to make great strides, but they never expected that he would only be thinking about getting married.

With Li Yuanyi's behind-the-scenes maneuvering, rumors quickly spread that the eldest prince only loved beautiful women and neglected state affairs.

Inside the general's mansion, Li Yuanqi and Lian Rongrong sat side by side, the man's slender hands constantly playing with Lian Rongrong's hair.

"The rumors about His Highness Prince Qi being obsessed with lust are spreading like wildfire outside."

"Wrong! It's not that I'm blinded by vulgarity, it's that you, my bewitching concubine, have brought ruin to the country!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Rongrong slapped Li Yuanqi's hand away, "Who are you calling a vixen?"

"Looks like you haven't been out much lately," Li Yuanqi said, looking at Lian Rongrong with affection.

"What do you mean?" Lian Rongrong glanced at Li Yuanqi warily.

"The literal meaning," Li Yuanqi said slowly, with an indifferent and lazy air.

"Now the entire capital knows that I am a lustful fool, and you are the Daji and Baosi who are about to bring disaster to the country."

"Wow, the people of the Holy Capital think so highly of me?" Lian Rongrong said nonchalantly, a mocking smile on her face.

"It seems that this Prince of Yi is quite adept at manipulating public opinion."

Lian Rongrong got up and walked to the door. Although it was winter, the midday sun was still dazzling.

"Guess what Li Yuanyi is planning to do?"

Lian Rongrong turned to look at Li Yuanqi. Sunlight streamed down from behind her, making it seem as if Lian Rongrong was glowing.

Isn't it obvious what he wants to do?

Li Yuanqi walked up to Lian Rongrong and couldn't help but place a kiss on her forehead.

"Lian Daji, I'm afraid our wedding won't be peaceful." Li Yuanqi seemed to be joking, but his eyes revealed guilt.

Lian Rongrong understood that Li Yuanqi wanted to give her a pure wedding, but how could they control the current situation?

"Li Yuanqi, more than the wedding ceremony, I care about your safety. Besides, a wedding should be lively."

If your dear second brother could join in the fun, the wedding would be much more interesting.

Even Daji is no ordinary woman; don't underestimate me.