Free Web NovelChapter 389: Chapter 217: Audacious! Can’t I Even Get Some Sleep at Home?
"Be careful of what?" Su Liyan asked.
Xiaoqian continued, "While we’re trying to conceive, we need him to get enough sleep every day and not drink. Sister, you should ask him how late he comes back every night. Sometimes he reeks of alcohol, which is why I don’t let him into bed."
Su Changliang explained, "It’s not my fault. I’m the County Magistrate of Taiping City now, so I have a lot of social obligations."
Su Changliang wasn’t wrong. Many matters in Taiping City required his personal attention to resolve. If he wasn’t careful, people would violate the Court’s laws, especially those holding official positions themselves. For example:
Just a few days ago, several farmers from the east side of the city jointly submitted a petition accusing an official in Taiping City—a Ninth Grade Chief Clerk surnamed Ji!
They accused the official, Ji, of forcibly enclosing their land to extort higher rent, even resorting to some despicable methods in the process.
The *Shenling Daily* ran a special report on it, and the fallout was extremely negative, with news spreading to several neighboring counties.
Su Changliang had to work through the night to deal with the official sternly and report the matter to the Governor of Qilu Province.
Su Changliang always supervised these types of cases personally, so it was true that he was swamped with official duties.
Song Meiqin spoke in the tone of an elder, "Changliang, that’s not right. How could dealing with an official involve drinking? Our nephew didn’t have any social functions when he was the County Magistrate. You haven’t been fooling around outside, have you? If you’re mistreating our Xiaoqian, I won’t stand for it."
Su Changliang quickly waved his hands. "Aunt Song, of course not. Xiaoqian is so beautiful. No one out there is as gorgeous as my wife."
Su Changliang didn’t have the heart to say that back when his brother-in-law was the County Magistrate, he didn’t manage any of Taiping City’s affairs at all, dumping it all on him, his little brother-in-law.
Lu Yuan picked up the thread, saying, "Changliang, on that note, as your brother-in-law, I have to say a few words. Didn’t I ask the Governor to get you a County Magistrate to act as your Steward? You need to learn to delegate. You don’t have to do everything yourself."
Su Changliang nodded. "Okay, Brother-in-law! I’ll prioritize better from now on and delegate work to my subordinates appropriately."
"Exactly. If you want a child, you have to prepare for conception, and you need to take care of your body during that time," Xiaoqian said with a pout.
Su Liyan agreed with Xiaoqian. "That’s certainly true, isn’t it, dear?"
Suddenly put on the spot, Lu Yuan gulped and said, "We, uh, we were careful back then, too. Otherwise, how could we have produced such wonderful children like Bengbeng and Huanhuan?"
Hearing this, Zhao Qiao’Er and Su Liyan said in unison, "What does that have to do with you!"
"How could it have nothing to do with me? They’re my seed!" Lu Yuan exclaimed.
Su Liyan and the two aunts placated him, "Alright, alright~ They’re all your seed!"
This sent everyone into a roar of laughter.
Since they had eaten dinner early, the sky had not yet grown dark.
A maid hurried over to Zhao Qiao’Er and said in a low voice, "Madam, there are some people at the Mansion Gate asking to see someone."
Zhao Qiao’Er asked, "Who is it?"
"Madam, I’m not sure. They look like they’re from the Government Office. They said they’re here to find someone," the maid replied.
Zhao Qiao’Er was getting impatient. "What do they take the Zhao Mansion for? If they’re looking for someone, they can search elsewhere. This isn’t a social service agency. I won’t see them, I won’t."
Lu Yuan soothed her, "Aunt Zhao, why are you so angry?"
Zhao Qiao’Er pouted. "My sweet darling, you finally made a trip back, and it’s so rare for all of us to be together. It’s so annoying that someone has to come and disturb us."
Usually, no one came to the mansion looking for people.
Zhao Qiao’Er knew perfectly well that they were looking for Lu Yuan; she was just throwing a tantrum and wanted to send them away.
Lu Yuan gave a helpless smile. "Aunt Zhao, let them in."
Zhao Qiao’Er was the head of the Zhao Mansion, but she still listened to Lu Yuan.
Zhao Qiao’Er put on a pitiful look. "Alright then~ Xiaocui’Er, let them in. Have them wait in the reception hall and serve them some tea and snacks."
"Yes, Madam." The maid headed toward the Mansion Gate.
After everyone finished eating, Zhao Qiao’Er went to the reception hall while Lu Yuan rested alone in the courtyard for a bit.
Zhao Qiao’Er didn’t want her nephew to show himself just yet.
She insisted on going first to deal with the people in the reception hall and sound them out.
The others went to different rooms. It was rare for them all to be together, so they surely had a lot to talk about.
Zhao Qiao’Er swayed her large rear; her hips were wider than her waist, as broad as her chest. Her figure had changed a bit after giving birth to Huanhuan.
Zhao Qiao’Er stepped over the threshold into the reception hall with a seductive smile. "My lords, I’ve kept you waiting. I’m the Steward of the Zhao Mansion. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"
They had indeed been waiting for a long time; their tea had already been replaced four times.
The visitors were none other than the Jinyi Guard who had been eating dust on horseback behind Lu Yuan’s convoy earlier that day.
Seeing Zhao Qiao’Er walk in, the Jinyi Guards couldn’t help but swallow hard.
’She was over six feet tall, with a large bust and an ample rear. What man wouldn’t be absolutely smitten? She could definitely bear sons!’
The powerfully built leading Jinyi Guard stood up, and the other guards tactfully followed suit.
The leader spoke very politely, "Madam, my apologies for the intrusion. Today..."
"Oh, my lord, why are you covered in so much dust? Xiaocui’Er, prepare some hot water. The lords will want to wash up in a bit, won’t they?"
Zhao Qiao’Er cut him off and sat down in the main chair in the center of the hall. She crossed her legs, causing the flesh of her thigh to bulge attractively, which made the Jinyi Guards sneak occasional glances.
However, Zhao Qiao’Er didn’t offer a single polite word inviting them to sit down.
The Jinyi Guards had no choice but to remain standing while they spoke with Zhao Qiao’Er.
The Jinyi Guards exchanged glances, completely baffled. ’We haven’t done anything to offend this woman, have we?’
This woman was clearly not to be trifled with. Her body was smoking hot, and her personality had a fiery flavor to match.
Ever since Lu Yuan had entered the Zhao Mansion, Zhao Qiao’Er had rarely made public appearances. People were starting to forget her famously fiery personality.
Without some tricks up her sleeve, how could Zhao Qiao’Er have ever supported the entire Zhao Mansion?
The leader cupped his hands and said, "We wouldn’t want to trouble you, Madam. We are here to find someone."
"Who are you looking for?" Zhao Qiao’Er said flatly, not even looking at them directly. Instead, she stared at a small trinket in her hand, tapping it idly against the table.
"The Lord Prefect of Dongchang!" the leader said.
"What does the Prefect of Dongchang have to do with the Zhao Mansion in Taiping City?" Zhao Qiao’Er asked, feigning ignorance. She was simply annoyed and wanted to vent her frustration somewhere.
The Jinyi Guard’s intelligence was quite accurate. The fact that Lu Yuan was the young nephew of Taiping City’s Zhao Mansion was hardly a secret among the Jinyi Guard.
The Jinyi Guards were momentarily at a loss for words. But given Lu Yuan’s status, they didn’t dare cause a scene in the Zhao Mansion.
"Aunt Zhao, the maids told me we have guests?" Lu Yuan appeared at the entrance to the reception hall, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed as he spoke.
Lu Yuan had heard the entire conversation in the hall clearly. He had come to clean up the mess for his aunt, worried that if she kept on, she would provoke these men.
Lu Yuan’s sudden appearance broke the awkward stalemate.
The Jinyi Guards turned to Lu Yuan, cupped their hands, and bowed. "Lord Lu!"
Lu Yuan, exuding a roguish air, said, "What do you want with me? It’s already dark. If you’d come any later, we’d have closed the gates for the night."
The lead Jinyi Guard quickly said, "Lord Lu, we are here on the Emperor’s verbal orders to summon you to the palace immediately."
"What proof do you have?" Lu Yuan asked.
The Jinyi Guard was confused. "Lord Lu, what proof do you require?"
"Your words alone are no proof. You just say you’re the Court’s Jinyi Guard and that you’re relaying the Emperor’s summons for me. Without proof, you expect me to just go with you for no reason? Do you take me for a fool?"
Hearing this, the Jinyi Guard leader untied the token from his waist, walked up to Lu Yuan, and presented it with both hands.
Lu Yuan took the token. It was engraved with the title "East Guard Hundred Households of the Northern Town Patrol Department"—it was indeed a Jinyi Guard’s token.
Lu Yuan tossed the token back. "Fine, I get it."
"My lord, if you would please, immediately..."
"Insolent! Can’t I even get a night’s sleep in my own home?" Lu Yuan roared, startling the Jinyi Guards so much they stumbled back two or three steps.
