Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1172 - 167: Preparing to Return to Swamp Prefecture (2)

"Did he tell you that?" The emperor looked shocked, "Having kids at twenty? Where did he get that silly idea?"

Lady Liang said meaningfully, "From the silly ideas in his head."

The emperor immediately understood Lady Liang’s meaning and then said, "That means we have to wait for a few more years."

"Let him be." Lady Liang rarely meddled in her youngest son’s affairs.

At this moment, in the Prince Han Mansion, Zhao Yao was being constantly forced to drink. Even though he had taken hangover pills beforehand, the continuous drinking made his stomach uncomfortable. Helpless, he pretended to be drunk.

Prince Chu and Prince Wei had also pretended to be drunk, and hastily called Tong Xi and the others to help Zhao Yao back.

Princess Han had just bathed and changed her clothes. After the wedding ceremony, Zhao Yao and Princess Han drank the wedding wine. Zhao Yao knew the bride hadn’t eaten much all day, so he let her eat first. After she finished eating, he told her to bathe and change, not to wear the heavy gown and headpiece while waiting on the bed for him.

Returning to the bedroom, Zhao Yao stopped pretending to be drunk. He disliked the smell of alcohol on him and asked Tong Xi to quickly assist him with bathing.

"Your Highness, what happened..." Xiao Siyun looked puzzled at the nanny.

"Your Highness was pretending to be drunk, not actually drunk," the nanny said, "Princess, His Highness does not like drinking, let alone getting drunk."

Xiao Siyun hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, did you eat earlier?"

"Your Highness was being forced to drink earlier, probably didn’t eat anything."

"Quickly prepare some food."

"I will do so immediately."

When Zhao Yao returned from bathing and saw a table full of dishes in the bedroom, he asked slightly surprised, "Princess, you haven’t had dinner?"

"Your Highness, this is for you. You probably didn’t eat much earlier, right?"

"I was constantly made to drink, so I didn’t eat anything." Though Zhao Yao felt too full from drinking to eat, the meal was prepared by the princess, so he couldn’t say he had no appetite. He sat by the table, and Xiao Siyun served him a bowl of soup.

"Your Highness, have some soup first to warm your stomach."

"Thank you." Zhao Yao took the bowl, picked up the spoon, and drank a few sips of the soup. Although he wouldn’t get drunk, drinking too much wine made his stomach uncomfortable. After a few sips of soup, his stomach felt much better. "Princess, sit down. You don’t need to serve me while dining."

"Your Highness, but this..."

"I can eat by myself, dress myself, and usually don’t let Tong Xi do these things, so you don’t have to either." Zhao Yao continued, "Don’t be so deferential to me; don’t use ’your’ and ’you’ with distinction. We are now husband and wife, equal partners, with no hierarchical status."

Xiao Siyun was shocked by Zhao Yao’s words about equality; she was utterly surprised.

Zhao Yao knew what Xiao Siyun was astonished at and smiled, "I am quite easygoing, and don’t like too many rules and restrictions. You are my wife now, not a servant, so no need to be so reserved in front of me."

His words stirred a huge wave in Xiao Siyun’s heart, completely different from what she imagined and what she had seen before.

"I know all you’ve learned over the years was for me." Zhao Yao said seriously, "I’ve told you before, I don’t want you to spend your life revolving around me, living only for me. You can live for yourself. As long as you don’t break the law, don’t commit any crimes, whatever you want to do, I will support you."

Xiao Siyun understood Zhao Yao wasn’t joking, and her heart was deeply shaken.

"By the way, you’re the only woman in the Prince Han Mansion, and there’s not much to occupy you in the inner residence. When we get to Swamp Prefecture, you can see what you want to do." Zhao Yao said, "I encourage women to work; many women in Swamp Prefecture are entrepreneurs, some set up stalls and sell things to earn money, some open their own shops, some start their own embroidery workshops..." Zhao Yao listed many examples of women working, leaving Xiao Siyun astounded.

"In Swamp Prefecture, there isn’t the rule that women can’t show their face in public," Zhao Yao added, "I believe women can achieve great things too. When we arrive at Swamp Prefecture, take your time to look around, then consider what to do."

Zhao Yao’s recent words had overturned all of Xiao Siyun’s prior beliefs.

Then Zhao Yao continued eating while talking to Xiao Siyun about Swamp Prefecture.

Xiao Siyun, after listening, couldn’t help but feel curious and expectant about Swamp Prefecture.

After dining, the newlyweds rested.

Early the next morning, the two woke up. Once groomed and dressed, they held hands and went to the palace to express gratitude.

The emperor was still in the morning court, so Zhao Yao took Xiao Siyun to see Lady Liang.

Lady Liang had already prepared a sumptuous breakfast and greeted them warmly to eat upon their arrival.

Xiao Siyun had interacted with Lady Liang before during her time in the palace service, knowing she was a gentle person, thus feeling less intimidated by her.

During breakfast, Lady Liang shared stories of Zhao Yao’s childhood antics, amusing Xiao Siyun so much that she almost laughed while eating.

Zhao Yao sat quietly on the side, dutifully eating his breakfast, not interrupting their conversation between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

After breakfast, the relationship between Lady Liang and Xiao Siyun had considerably warmed.

"Yao Yao, are you planning to return to Swamp Prefecture once Si Yun goes back to visit her family?"

"Yes, I’ve already instructed preparations for departure; we’ll leave the day after the family visit." Having been in the capital for nearly half a year, Zhao Yao felt like he was going mouldy staying there. He still preferred the bustling life in Swamp Prefecture. "I can’t wait to return to Swamp Prefecture."

Xiao Siyun hadn’t expected Zhao Yao to be so eager to return.

"I figured as much, so I’ve prepared some things for you two. Don’t forget to take them when you leave."

"Mother, aren’t you going to keep us here?"

"Even if I tried, would you stay?"

Without hesitation, Zhao Yao said, "No."

Lady Liang glared at her son, "Then why would I try to keep you?"

"As a mother, you’re supposed to show some reluctance when your son and daughter-in-law leave."

"Would you like me to cry?" Lady Liang glared again, "You’re so unserious."

Xiao Siyun found the interaction between Zhao Yao and Lady Liang unexpectedly... amusing, nothing like the usual Heavenly Family relations.

Just then, sounds of people paying respects to the emperor came from outside.