Chapter 108: Receiving Her ◇

◎ "What brings you here?" ◎

After staying at home for three days, Yu Lian pushed all her worries to the back of her mind. The emperor, the empress, and the villain's rebirth—none of it concerned her anymore. She chatted with her parents, taught the cook how to make rural delicacies unique to Upper Village, and frolicked around with her brother, just like her carefree days as an unmarried maiden.

Every day, the palace sent sumptuous dishes from the imperial kitchen, causing her entire family to become rounder from indulgence. Yu Niang complained that even the most delicious imperial cuisine could become tiresome when consumed in excess; couldn't they at least vary the menu?

With such commotion at Yu Sanlang's residence, the daily delivery of imperial delicacies was too conspicuous to ignore. Almost the entire capital had their eyes on them, especially the nobles who were keenly observing the new emperor's every move.

To the uninitiated, it seemed that Yu Sanlang had truly stumbled upon good fortune. He had raised such an exceptional daughter, and now that her husband had ascended to the throne instead of perishing, Yu Sanlang had become the Imperial Father-in-Law, basking in the glory.

Despite being preoccupied with state affairs upon his return to the capital, the Emperor did not neglect to send royal delicacies daily to inquire after his father-in-law, demonstrating great thoughtfulness!

However, those who knew subtly that Empress Yu had not remained in the palace but had rushed to her parents' home to show filial piety were well aware. The Emperor's kindness towards his father-in-law was not solely out of affection; it was likely a subtle nudge for the Empress to return to the palace, given that she was still staying with her family.

With the new Emperor's arrival, a fresh administration was established, and the ranks of civil and military officials were gradually set. Some were replaced, others retained. A wave of young, ambitious newcomers took their places, eagerly awaiting the chance to revitalize the nation, which had suffered years of war and famine, under the guidance of the new ruler.

Yu Lian did not actively seek news from the court, but she often overheard her father's musings at home, filled with admiration for the Emperor's capabilities.

Although he still harbored concerns about his daughter's future life and secretly worried about his son-in-law's role as the Emperor, he had to admit that in terms of politics, Hua Ji was an exceptionally capable individual. Few of the previous emperors could match his charisma and determination.

Upon return, the entire political landscape was reshuffled. Meritorious warriors, trusted advisors, and officials from the previous dynasty were each dealt with accordingly - promotions for those deserving, actions taken against those who needed it. Neither would one's humble origins limit their potential for advancement, nor would an aristocratic background guarantee a comfortable position. The talents and integrity of those from the former dynasty would not be overlooked; they would neither be unjustly marginalized nor unfairly seated on cold benches.

After a few days of observation, Yu Sanlang meticulously compared those who were demoted with those who were promoted. He found that the demoted officials were all empty vessels, relying on their family backgrounds to wield power. On the other hand, the promoted officers' achievements and abilities were commensurate with their new positions, not a bit exaggerated or underestimated. Furthermore, they were placed in roles that best suited their personalities and talents. From this perspective, his son-in-law demonstrated an impeccable understanding of personnel management, utilizing it to its fullest potential.

It was precisely in line with Yu Sanlang's temperament. He was an action-oriented individual, but his early life was plagued by the fact that he was born into a family disliked and suppressed by the emperor. As a result, he was consistently overlooked for promotions, never gaining a noble title or substantial wealth. He held no interest in purchasing official positions with money. Thus, despite being the legitimate youngest son of the Wei Duke's household, he spent half his life in vain, with all his ambitions buried deep within his heart.

Now, from what his son-in-law has accomplished, he can see that he is an exceptionally capable and practical man, one who overlooks social origins when selecting talent and tolerates no opportunism. He bestows favor generously on his subordinates while maintaining unwavering impartiality. If only he had encountered such a ruler in the first half of his life, perhaps...

At this thought, he smiled bitterly and shook his head.

In recent days, his capable son-in-law, apart from reshaping the court and its officials, has issued several new edicts that have truly captured his attention.

In the waning years of the previous dynasty, various taxes levied under multiple pretexts were abolished altogether. At the same time, a temporary reduction of 20% was implemented for agricultural taxes, with adjustments to be made in the later period. Additionally, subsidies for seeds were provided for areas affected by disasters, so that those who returned to their hometowns without food to plant could claim the seasonal seeds from the local county offices.

It's fortunate that there's grain to distribute, for after the disaster, many common folk couldn't even find roots to eat, let alone have the means to cultivate crops. The people, no doubt, will be grateful to the new emperor for this gesture.

But what if there is no land? The previous dynasty's policies, in essence, promoted the buying and selling of land, and even established numerous taxes specifically for such transactions. To put it bluntly, at least two or three-tenths of the national treasury came from land taxes. This led to many cases of forced buying and selling, with the majority of the land concentrated in the hands of major noble families and countless small and medium-sized landowners.

Few commoners owned land, and after consecutive years of disasters, many had been forced to sell their fields and leave their homes just to survive. Upon returning, they found no land to cultivate and were thus compelled to lease from landlords again, trapped in a cycle of exploitation. What was the difference between this and the previous dynasty?

As Yu Sanlang pondered this, he noticed another decree appended to it. It stated that if any peasant lacked land to farm, they could register at the county office according to the law and temporarily cultivate public lands. The duration was yet to be determined.

This regulation might seem insignificant, simply altering landlords from private individuals or influential clans to the state...

But after careful consideration, Yu Sanlang felt a chill run down his spine, his scalp tingling with shock.

He sensed that this seemingly trivial policy concealed a major move, executed subtly before the storm, leaving no trace.

Land was vital for the livelihood of the people, and the people were the foundation of the world. His son-in-law seemed poised to target those powerful clans who hoarded vast tracts of land at the expense of the common folk.

If land reforms could be implemented, ensuring every peasant had land to till and food to fill their bellies, even without further action, such an achievement would secure his place in history.

These grand plans were likely still in the planning stages. Yu Sanlang wasn't certain if his conjectures and intuition were accurate, but a range of emotions flickered in his eyes, stirring unease despite having no direct involvement.

His family's elders and elder brothers had been sending envoys to inquire, and today, his eldest brother had come personally, asking if the Emperor had bestowed any titles or ranks upon him.

Despite his recent good spirits, Yu Sanlang now wore a cold expression, silently sipping his tea without responding.

The eldest brother was his own flesh and blood. Since ancient times, the eldest son took on the role of a father. He couldn't refuse his visit, but he didn't agree with their methods either.

If their paths were different, they would not associate with each other.

Yu Dalang let out a cold snort. "What's the point of sending food to your residence every day? It's merely for reputation. The new emperor has been lavishly rewarding and honoring officials these past few days, even low-ranking soldiers have received something. As his father-in-law and the legitimate father of the empress, how come you haven't gained anything?"

"If he truly cares about Sixth Son and you as his father-in-law, why hasn't he bestowed any titles upon you? Don't you even send someone to inquire?"

Yu Sanlang remained silent, sipping his tea.

Frowning, Yu Dalang scolded, "In the past, you obediently held onto your insignificant position, hoping for an official to notice and promote you. Now that your son-in-law is the emperor, you don't strive for anything. Instead, you just sit at home drinking tea?"

Only then did Yu Sanlang put down his empty teacup and sighed. "His ascension to the throne is his achievement. If Lian'er can turn her fortunes around and receive such rewards, she deserves it. But it has nothing to do with me. If I, as Lian'er's father, could dictate to the emperor and demand ranks or titles, what would that make Lian'er? Where would the emperor's dignity lie? Would I, a mere father-in-law, become more prestigious than the emperor himself?"

Yu Dalang was speechless. With no retort, he abandoned the shield of their mother and said, "I don't care about your dignity. Anyway, with Sixth Son's fortune and you becoming the father-in-law of the emperor, our whole family now relies on you to revive our clan and restore its former glory! You must do it, simply because you bear the surname Yu..."

"Oh—What exactly should I do?"

A gentle voice suddenly echoed from outside the door. The eunuch chimed in, "His Majesty the Emperor has arrived."

Yu Dalang only caught a glimpse of a tall and imposing figure backlit by the sun before he fell to his knees in terror, loudly kowtowing and hurriedly explaining, "This subject, this commoner, dares not..."

Yu Sanlang was personally helped up by the visitor. He looked down obediently, not daring to overstep, even though he was eager to see what his son-in-law now looked like. But at that moment, he was the emperor.

Hua Ji chuckled and said, "I had intended to secretly come and fetch Lian'er back to the palace, but it seems my father-in-law has guests. I've been waiting outside for a while. However, seeing how anxious I am for Lian'er, I have no choice but to disturb your reception."

Yu Dalang rolled his eyes and fainted.

He had originally thought that the emperor had only heard the last sentence by chance, but it turned out he had heard everything, and now he was deliberately mentioning it... Yu Dalang inwardly cried out that his life was over and passed out.

The man lifted his eyelids indifferently, not sparing a glance at the person on the ground. Servants quickly entered from outside and dragged the unconscious man away.

Yu Sanlang glanced at the scene uneasily. Hua Ji asked, "Father-in-law?"

Yu Sanlang shook his head. Those words indeed should not have been spoken. Not only were they disrespectful, but they were also excessively greedy. He felt ashamed for his elder brother, and he felt that a lesson was indeed necessary to prevent him from making any more grave mistakes in the future.

With no outsiders present, the man sat down casually, his demeanor relaxed. In a casual tone, he asked, "Where is Lian'er?"

Yu Sanlang, initially standing aside with great solemnity, as one would before a king, was told, "There's no need for formalities, Father-in-law. Today, I've come as a son-in-law to visit and bring Lian'er back to the palace."

Only then did Yu Sanlang dare to take a seat. He lifted his gaze to look at his son-in-law. Though the man's face held a vibrant spirit, there were subtle dark circles under his eyes, and weariness seemed to have crept into his brows. It was clear that he had been working tirelessly on state affairs since his return to the capital.

Considering he had personally come to fetch his daughter under such circumstances, Yu Sanlang couldn't help but feel a twinge of reassurance. Perhaps the situation wasn't as grim as he and his wife had imagined?

He should have more faith in his daughter and her judgment.

The man she was willing to stake her entire life on, pouring all her love and affection into him, must inherently possess qualities that remain unchanged and commendable, regardless of his social status.

Relieved, he scowled playfully and said, "That girl must have taken her brother off to who knows where to run amok."

It was remarkable how despite her significantly older age, she could still engage in play with her younger brother as if they were ordinary siblings, their bond even stronger than most.

Recalling the recent days filled with laughter and warmth in his home while his daughter was there, a rare smile graced his face.

How perceptive was Hua Ji? He noticed this change and, considering the affection his grandmother, parents, and siblings had for Yu Lian, a vague yet profound emotion stirred within him.

He had anticipated an awkward silence between the two in-laws, given one's reticence and the other's aloofness, expecting they would have little to say to each other.

To his surprise, Yu Sanlang took the initiative to speak, praising the royal decrees he had issued for the benefit of the nation and its people. He also urged him to return to the palace early for rest, mentioning that there was a lion dance outside the city today. Yu Lian, he said, must have secretly taken her brother out to watch, and they wouldn't be back until nightfall.

The man hummed in response but did not leave. Instead, he asked Yu Sanlang many questions about policies and solicited his opinions on them.

Yu Sanlang's lifelong ambition was tied to the welfare of the people. He aspired to be an official who could make a difference and bring benefits to the citizens. Well-versed in these matters, he didn't ponder why Hua Ji was asking these questions. Guided by Hua Ji, he gradually set aside his reservations and shared his thoughts openly.

The two conversed for half the afternoon without anyone daring to disturb them. Several pots of tea were served, while Lady Yu, hiding in a room at the back of the yard, bit her handkerchief in anxiety. She wondered what topics her husband and her daughter's husband could possibly discuss for so long. Would her husband's dull nature irritate the emperor's son-in-law to the point of decapitating him?

Unknown to all, the father-in-law and son-in-law had found common ground and enjoyed their conversation immensely. Their political views were largely aligned, with Hua Ji's ideas being more audacious and strategic, while Yu Sanlang excelled in the nuances of practical matters and had an in-depth understanding of the people's livelihood.

He hesitantly suggested, "The noble families remain unshaken not only due to inheritance and power, but also because they possess vast lands. Land is the foundation of the people's existence and the apple of their eye. In this fledgling era of stability, with many issues yet to be addressed, if Your Majesty intends to act, caution is advised. Targeting them individually might prove a wise strategy..."

Upon returning, Yu Lian encountered the unexpected visitor in her room.

No wonder her parents had looked peculiar when she arrived earlier. It was just getting dark, almost dinner time. After returning home, a servant had brought her warm water to wash her face before the meal.

The man personally drew the water and wrung out a washcloth, handing it to her. The cloth still held a pleasant warmth.

Yu Lian held it in her hands but hesitated to proceed. It would be inappropriate to wash her face in front of this man.

The man, however, sighed softly and took the handkerchief, gently placing it over her face to wipe away the moisture.

Spotting a leaf stuck in her hair, he carefully removed it and chuckled. "Your grandparents and parents always praise your competence and understanding. Why are you so restless today, like a child?"

Yu Lian's thoughts vanished instantly. She widened her eyes and glared at him. "What are you doing here?"

Silently, he continued to cleanse her cheeks. Then, without warning, he reached out to scoop her up in his arms, heading towards the inner chamber's maiden bed.

Seems like I haven't updated in a few days, my apologies T_T. I swear on my honor: I will finish this by the end of the month! No delays until next year! (Hm, this sounds familiar...) (Lowering his head)

By the way, everyone, please take good care of yourselves lately. Stay healthy and keep happy! ~