Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court Chapter 163: New Year’s Celebration Oh Wait, Its Not, But St

Before he could investigate, there ca a knock at the door. Soone outside called out, “Cui Yi, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is here. Is Xu Lang at ho?”

Lian Hang: “…”

Feigning ignorance was pointless. Everyone knew Xu Yanmiao was ho thanks to his ability to hear thoughts.

Xu Yanmiao opened the door, puzzled—his ho lacked a doorman or servants, so he handled everything himself.

“How may I help—”

He froze.

He hadn’t noticed before, but Cui Yi seed to be walking oddly.

[Ohhh!]

[Caught at a brothel by his wife! She beat him black and blue. His face finally healed, but his leg is still limping.]

[No matter how he tried to explain, he couldn’t convince her that he was dragged there by colleagues. And the reason he let them drag him? To prove he wasn’t henpecked! Hahaha! He didn’t even struggle! Sat in the brothel, didn’t dare move a muscle. When courtesans approached, he just pushed them away. Hahaha! What an idiot!]

Cui Yi forced a stiff smile.

Indeed.

When Xu Yanmiao asked the purpose of his visit, Cui Yi composed himself and launched into a speech.

The main point? Cui Yi, being sowhat well-off, had heard about the plight of the courtesans and wanted to offer them employnt. He also invited Xu Lang to contribute donations.

—The donation was just a pretense. What Cui Yi really wanted was for Xu Lang to know: Yes, I did this good deed. Rember that!

“My wife’s family owns several estates with orchards. The courtesans could tend to the trees,” Cui Yi explained.

“I also have several ponds full of fish and shellfish. They could help with that too.”

“And if they’re willing to work with livestock, my ranches could use the extra hands.”

“If they are willing to learn, they could also manage mulberry and sandalwood groves.”

“For those skilled in needlework, my wife can help connect them with opportunities for embroidery work.”

“They can also be employed for washing and laundering.”

As Cui Yi elaborated on his plans, Xu Yanmiao’s eyes seed to brighten with each word. Like a proud rooster flaunting his colorful tail feathers, Cui Yi grew even more animated, eager to detail the arrangents he’d made for the courtesans’ futures.

Cui Yi could hardly contain his amusent at how his colleagues would react to this.

This—this was a golden opportunity! Far more effective than simply giving money or making awkward conversation, this was a way to truly leave an impression.

Only a fool would prioritize a few fleeting nights with courtesans over winning favor with Little Baize!

As for the risk of retaliation or being slighted later—well, what action in politics didn’t provoke resentnt? If you feared that, you’d best avoid being an official altogether.

After completing his presentation, Cui Yi accepted a modest donation from the gracious Xu Lang—not daring to take too much—saying he planned to visit all households and needed only 50 to 100 copper coins from each. No more, no less.

With his task complete, Cui Yi strode out of the house, head held high, only to imdiately run into an official from the Ministry of Justice just ten steps from Xu Yanmiao’s door.

Their eyes t, and after a brief pause, they tacitly decided to ignore each other’s presence.

When the Ministry of Justice official entered, Cui Yi heard a thought behind him:

[Huh? What’s with today? Another one here asking for donations?]

Cui Yi sighed in regret.

So, he wasn’t the only one with a sharp mind, after all.

Shaking off his disappointnt, he hurried ho to discuss the matter with his wife. He’d already planned it out—his wife would handle everything publicly to avoid any rumors about him being soft-hearted or hiding courtesans.

Xu Yanmiao kept a vigilant eye on how the donations were used. Only when he confird that the courtesans had been provided legitimate jobs did he finally relax.

Of course, so won were unwilling to work and insisted on continuing in the flesh trade. In such cases, the Cui family and several officials’ households assigned overseers to enforce strict rules: either they starve or earn money through proper ans.

[Such benevolent people.]

After court that day, in the Wuying Hall, the elderly emperor could no longer tolerate hearing the new aide Xu Yanmiao’s repeated musings. Dragging him over, the emperor asked, “What do you think of the newly established Comrce Council?”

The Comrce Council was a new departnt composed of rchants, both n and won, all renowned magnates of their ti, tasked with advising the court on economic matters.

Xu Yanmiao smiled modestly, his deanor both polite and scholarly. “Your Majesty, will these rchants still be allowed to conduct business?”

The emperor raised an eyebrow. “Naturally, they will not.”

Officials were strictly prohibited from engaging in comrce, as the potential for corruption was too great. Those who wished to hold office had to give up their businesses, a stringent rule that many rchants nonetheless willingly accepted.

To cross from the rchant class to the ruling elite, sacrificing their business ventures seed a small price to pay.

Xu Yanmiao replied calmly, “In that case, the Comrce Council’s regulations are already well-structured. I have no further opinions.”

The emperor nodded but then, struck by a sudden thought, asked, “Xu Yanmiao, how old are you this year? Have you co of age?”

“Your Majesty, this minister is nineteen years old and has not yet reached adulthood.”

Strictly speaking, Xu Lang was still a minor.

The emperor’s eyes glead with excitent. “Do you have a betrothal or a lady you fancy?”

Xu Yanmiao was utterly taken aback.

[Could it be…?]

The emperor broke into a grin. “Exactly. I wish to arrange a marriage for you.”

Realizing his guess was correct, Xu Yanmiao was far from pleased.

Looking troubled, he responded, “Your Majesty, I think—”

The emperor interrupted, coaxing him like a father: “Marriage can be wonderful. To have a wife and children is one of life’s greatest joys.”

Xu Yanmiao still looked unconvinced.

[For example?] His thoughts were filled with skepticism.

The emperor continued, unfazed, “For example, after a long day at the office, you could co ho to a hot al waiting for you.”

[I can order takeout! Oh wait, it’s called ‘summoning food’ here.]

The emperor paused, slightly adjusting his approach. “Sure, you could dine at a restaurant. But eating out every day might drain your salary. And what about during the holidays when restaurants close? Where will you get your als then? With a wife, it’s different…”

[What if my wife can’t cook? Or won’t cook? And even if she could, what happens when she goes ho for the holidays, leaving behind because my leave is too short? I’d still need to cook for myself.]

The emperor faltered for a mont but quickly recovered. “True, but before leaving for her family, your wife would surely prepare all your favorite dishes, storing them in the ice cellar. You’d have als ready for days without repetition.”

[Huh? So why can’t a restaurant prepare and store als for just the sa? Or better yet, I could hire a cook—it wouldn’t cost much.]

The emperor: “…”

Doesn’t this man understand the charm of a warm, bustling ho?

Swallowing his frustration, the emperor forced a smile. “Besides children, you could also keep cats and dogs. I noticed you seem to like them—you even mimicked their sounds on the street. Raising such companions is best done with a partner…”

[If a divorce happens because of unforeseen circumstances, will the cat be mine or hers? If the cat goes to after the divorce, and I remarry, but my second wife also divorces , and she loves the cat too, will there be a chance the cat is awarded to her? If not, what if she becos resentful and tries to steal the cat?!]

The emperor’s temple throbbed with a vein visibly pulsing. “…”

Can’t you think of sothing positive for once?!

“Even putting all that aside, you still need a wife to bear children and carry on your family line.”

[Hahahahaha!]

Xu Yanmiao’s inner thoughts erupted into a thunderous burst of laughter that startled the emperor. [I can barely afford to take care of myself, and you expect to raise children in the competitive chaos of the capital? No way!]

Xu Yanmiao declared with firm resolve, [I’m not stupid!!!]

The emperor: …

Fine. You’re not stupid. Clearly, I’m the stupid one.

After suppressing his frustration, the emperor suddenly had a realization.

Could it be… Xu Yanmiao was so terrified by the diseases associated with brothels that he dared not marry at all? This wouldn’t do! How could a man not marry or have descendants?

“Co!” the emperor commanded.

Xu Yanmiao blinked in confusion. “Huh?”

[Co where???]

To Xu Yanmiao, it appeared the emperor had just finished listing all the benefits of marriage and, without waiting for his response, decided unilaterally: “I’ll take you to et Huang Yong. He has an extraordinarily loving relationship with his wife. She is virtuous and understanding—so much so that even though he has three other close confidantes, she never shows jealousy. Oh, and Huang Yong works in the sa Ministry of Personnel as you; he’s the Director of Civil Service Appointnts.”

Xu Yanmiao blinked again.

“Oh,” he replied.

Director of Civil Service Appointnts… That na rang a bell for so reason.