Farmer girl swaps husbands: buys a sickly villain and pampers him

Chapter 256 Marriage Grant
When Xiao Yanci learned that the play being performed in the theater was a fabrication based on his story, he immediately went to the troupe leader to argue with them and demand that they stop the performance.

Having received benefits from Zhou Wangshu and with the powerful backer of the General Protector of the Nation's son-in-law, the troupe leader was naturally unwilling to give up such a lucrative play.

The two sides failed to reach a consensus, and Xiao Yanci, still angry, threatened the opera troupe by invoking Prime Minister Wang.

"My lord, forgive my bluntness, but there are no nobles from the Prime Minister's mansion in my play. The nobles of the Prime Minister's mansion would not meddle in other people's business. Once you become the Prime Minister's beloved son-in-law, I will naturally not dare to neglect you. At that time, you can ask me to withdraw, and I will withdraw. But right now, you have not yet become the noble son-in-law of the Prime Minister's mansion. If the Prime Minister finds out that you are so eager to use the power of the Prime Minister's mansion to oppress the people, he will probably be even more displeased, and your chances of marrying Miss Wang will be even more remote."

"What exactly do you want to stop this charade from going on?" Xiao Yanci asked coldly.

“This number,” the troupe leader gestured with five fingers.

"Five hundred taels?" Xiao Yanci frowned. "I am, after all, the third-ranked scholar personally selected by the Emperor. Aren't you afraid of the court's wrath for slandering my reputation like this?"

"Don't even mention the emperor's personal selection of the third-ranked scholar. Even if it's a member of the imperial family, that doesn't prevent us common people from making a living, does it? We didn't name names, so how can you assume we're talking about you?"

"You didn't name names, but you used the title 'third-place scholar,' which will immediately lead people to associate it with me. How can that not be using me to gain attention?"

"You're the only third-place scholar in the world? Third-place scholar, you're being a bit arrogant. Even the top scholar from the General's Mansion wouldn't dare claim to be the only one!"

"You... would you immediately cancel this show if I gave you five hundred taels?" Xiao Yanci said coldly.

"Five hundred taels... Ha, is that how you treat a beggar? Do you know how much money we can make from staging this play? Let me tell you, staging just one show is worth more than five hundred taels. I'm talking about fifty thousand."

"This is outrageous! This is blatant extortion!"

"If you're not going to give it to us, then don't interfere with our business." The troupe leader said, and then turned to leave.

Xiao Yanci looked at the young actor kneeling on the stage, weeping bitterly, his face ashen: "I'll give it to you, but you have to take it off first. I'll give it to you again in an hour."

"We'll withdraw when you give it to us. If you don't, won't we suffer heavy losses?" the troupe leader said. "Alright, go raise the money!"

Seeing that the troupe leader was unmoved by either soft or hard tactics, Xiao Yanci was furious and had no choice but to leave the theater.

However, 50,000 taels of silver is no small sum. Even if he went to a bank to borrow money, he would need collateral. He had nothing, so the bank wouldn't give him the money.

There's only one way left...

Taoyaofang. Jiang Jing returned carrying her medicine box.

Su Yaoguang was just coming out when she saw her exhausted expression and asked, "Did you come back from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion again?"

"Hmm." Jiang Jing said wearily, slumped on the table. "That heir of the Duke of Zhenguo is really too difficult to deal with, but thankfully, the medicine I gave him can relieve his pain, and he has restrained himself a little."

Can his injury be healed?

“I’ll try my best, but I don’t know yet,” Jiang Jing said. “His injuries are too severe; even the Imperial Hospital is helpless. It would be arrogant of me to say that I can cure him.”

Taoyaofang's business is getting better and better, and Zhou Wangshu is thriving in the officialdom under the guidance of his father-in-law, Su Rende.

The top two scholars of this imperial examination were both famous figures. The top scholar's good fortune and the third-ranked scholar's romantic escapades became topics of conversation for outsiders.

When discussing the good fortune of the newly appointed top scholar, there are many who praise him, many who envy him, and few who speak sourly. Someone has spread the story of the top scholar and the daughter of a great general, and even opera troupes have begun to perform it. Having already witnessed the deeds of the third-ranking scholar, the story of the top scholar and the daughter of a great general supporting each other, loving each other, and going through various hardships together, including the daughter of a great general leading the local government to treat the people of two cities, making them the least affected by the disaster, has now become widely known.

"The Empress wants to see me?" Su Yaoguang looked at Su Rende in surprise.

"Her Majesty the Empress summons you and your mother to the palace," Su Rende said. "It should be related to the play 'The Top Scholar's Wife' that has been playing in theaters recently."

"I don't know the rules of the palace, and I'm afraid I'll be impolite," Zhang Zhaodi said. "Perhaps I shouldn't go to the palace."

“Who says you don’t know the rules? Last time Wang Shu passed the imperial examination with top honors, you went to the palace banquet and did a great job, didn’t you? If you’re nervous, I’ll wait for you outside. Just go ahead.”

Given his current status and position, even if his wife knew nothing, no one would dare to point out her mistakes.

The Empress wanted to see the female relatives, so Su Rende sent his wife and daughters into the palace, and then went to play chess with the Emperor.

When the emperor saw him appear, he smiled and patted the table next to him: "You can watch from the side. I don't want to play with your terrible chess skills. I've summoned your son-in-law to the palace and let him play."

"Your Majesty, he is only a minor official of the fifth rank now, and he is not qualified to meet the Emperor, is he? If you show him such favoritism, be careful that he will attract the jealousy of others."

"Your family has been so ostentatious lately that even if I don't summon him to the palace, he will still attract jealousy. However, your wife and daughter are truly remarkable! I can only say that your family is loyal, and I am very pleased with that."

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wang requests an audience," a young eunuch announced as he entered.

"What is he doing here?" the emperor frowned. "That old minister has been acting more and more recklessly lately, and I don't even want to deal with him anymore."

"Since he has come to the palace to request an audience, he must have something important to discuss."

“Aren’t you two always at odds?” the emperor said. “He wouldn’t speak well of you in front of me on the same matter, but you’re such a foolish and honest man.”

"I just can't stand his hypocritical attitude. As long as what he does benefits the country and the people, I have no objection to him."

Su Rende got up and went into the inner room at the back.

After entering, Prime Minister Wang first bowed and then explained his purpose: "Your Majesty, I have come to request a marriage decree from you."

"Oh, tell me, what kind of marriage proposal do you want?" the emperor said.

"Your Majesty, I would like to request that you grant my daughter a marriage to the newly appointed third-ranked scholar," said Prime Minister Wang. "The newly appointed third-ranked scholar has been the subject of some gossip recently. Those people are deliberately trying to slander him. In fact, he is a man of exceptional talent, character, and appearance. This is a national policy he has submitted. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

The young eunuch took the item handed to him by Prime Minister Wang and presented it to the emperor with both hands.

The emperor unfolded it and looked at it. His initial indifference turned into a burning gaze, and his expression became serious.

"Excellent, very good. This policy document is exceptionally well-written," the Emperor said. "Was this policy document written by the newly appointed third-ranked scholar?" "It was indeed him. Your Majesty, this man is extremely talented, but precisely because he is so outstanding, he easily attracts jealousy and resentment, which is why he is suffering such cold stares and slander. I greatly admire his talent and do not care about those gossips. I wish to take him as my son-in-law, and I humbly request Your Majesty to personally grant this marriage."

"Judging from this national policy, it is indeed very good. Since you trust his character, I have nothing to say." He would give the prime minister this much face if he wanted to request an imperial decree to grant a marriage.

With the emperor's personal assurance, Prime Minister Wang left with peace of mind.

Just as they left, Su Rende came out from inside.

"Does His Majesty truly believe in that newly appointed third-ranked scholar? Forgive my bluntness, but I do not know if this person's talent is truly exceptional, but he may not necessarily be a virtuous minister."

“Prime Minister Wang wants an imperial decree to grant marriage, and I’m not a stingy person, so I’ll give it to him. He just wants to use the imperial decree to save face and give his new son-in-law some prestige.”

Whether someone is a virtuous minister or not has nothing to do with the imperial decree granting the marriage. If he is, he will use him generously. If not, he will demote or execute him directly; who would dare disobey the emperor?
"Your Majesty, Lord Zhou has arrived." The young eunuch led Zhou Wangshu in.

The emperor greeted him, "No need for formalities, come and sit down, and play a game of chess with me."

After bowing, Zhou Wangshu walked over and greeted Su Rende, saying, "Father."

"Why do you call him 'father'?" the emperor asked. "Not father, not father-in-law, but 'father'."

"Among aristocratic families, children call their father 'father,' and sons-in-law call their father 'father-in-law.' But I am of commoner origin and prefer to call him 'father,' as it feels more intimate."

"That's right. My most beloved youngest daughter also calls me that; she's the only child who calls me 'Father.' The other children show more respect than affection. 'By the way, Minister Zhou, what do you think of this policy document?'"

Zhou Wangshu took it, examined it carefully, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a certain understanding with this person, because I have also brought my own treatise on ten years of preparation today."

"The 'Ten-Year Preparation Theory'?"

"These are the areas where our country needs to improve and develop over the next ten years."

"Take it and take a look."

Zhou Wangshu took out a booklet from his pocket.

The emperor took it and saw a thick book inside, which covered the development and important roles of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, as well as the recent activities and plans of neighboring countries...

This booklet shows that he spent a long time preparing it; otherwise, it wouldn't be so comprehensive, including problems from all walks of life.

"Good, very good." The emperor slapped the table and exclaimed in approval. "You've got something special, kid. I thought you were a promising talent when I first saw yours, but now that I see yours, I think you're a prodigy."

"Your Majesty, don't praise him too much, or he'll become arrogant," Su Rende said.

"You old fool, you should be secretly happy! During the years you were suffering from amnesia, I wanted to bestow a marriage upon you, but you refused, saying that you always felt there was someone you loved in your lost memories, and you absolutely couldn't get married in a muddle before you understood everything. I used to say you were foolish, but now it seems you're the smartest one. Now that your wife is back, and you have such an outstanding daughter and son-in-law, the whole family is living in harmony."

"This humble general is just a rough man, unworthy of those noble ladies in the capital. This humble general is quite good as he is now. Your Majesty, please don't bring up that matter again, or my jealous wife will cause me trouble."

"It's worthless."

"Your Majesty, now that we have two national policies, which one do you think is better?"

"Needless to say, your son-in-law's is better. Tomorrow at court, I will announce this matter and have all departments write their plans for the next three years based on this national policy." After the emperor finished speaking, he looked at Zhou Wangshu and said, "It is a waste of your talent to only be a junior official in the Ministry of Personnel. Tomorrow I will promote you to vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel and have you start attending the morning court."

"Thank you Lord for your grace."

"Alright, I brought you here to play chess. Your father-in-law is such a terrible chess player, he learned his skills from me, but even my five-year-old son plays better than him."

Zhou Wangshu thus gained a renewed understanding of the extent to which his father-in-law was favored by the Emperor.

Generally speaking, a military general with too many military achievements would be feared by the emperor, who worried that he might one day become too powerful. However, given the emperor's close relationship with his father-in-law, one might mistake them for brothers.

The father-in-law and son-in-law played a few games with the emperor, and then followed him to the empress's palace to dine with the women of both families. After the meal, the family returned to the general's mansion in a grand and ostentatious manner, carrying a large number of imperial gifts.

The gifts bestowed by the palace were not hidden away at all; they were packaged in very luxurious golden nanmu wood.

Meanwhile, the emperor issued an imperial edict bestowing the marriage upon Xiao Yanci and went to read it aloud at the house where Xiao Yanci was currently residing.

Xiao Yanci's rented house was not big, and it was in the bustling city. Every day he had to endure the harassment of many people, and some self-important village girls would pose for him, as if they thought they could climb up to this newly appointed third-ranked scholar with their looks.

After all, in the play, this newly appointed third-ranked scholar even took a widow as his concubine, which shows that although he was good-looking, he was indiscriminate in his lust and would take advantage of any woman.

After the imperial edict was issued, the local people received the news and dared not harass Xiao Yanci anymore.

"This person really did manage to get on the good side of Prime Minister Wang."

"The emperor bestowed this marriage upon him, which shows how much he values ​​it. Could it be that the story in the play is true, and that this person was actually framed?"

Xiao Yanci listened to the discussions in the crowd, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

Based on his memories from his previous life, he wrote a national policy document. The policies in that document had all happened in his previous life, but that was three years later. Now, by writing down what had happened in his previous life, he became the one who made a great contribution, allowing them to enjoy those benefits three years earlier.

He also got the 50,000 taels of silver that the troupe leader had extorted from him from Jiang Yihuan. After all, among the people he knew, only this woman had that kind of money.

That woman really had a knack for charming men, completely captivating the Marquis of Jing'an, who even entrusted his entire household to her management. If the Marquis of Jing'an knew that this woman was using his money to support her former lover, and even engaging in illicit sexual acts with her in the theater, I wonder what he would think.

Xiao Yanci thought he loathed Jiang Yihuan, but when Jiang Yihuan was no longer his wife in name, but someone else's woman, he suddenly discovered the pleasure of playing with another man's wife.

No sooner had the person who read the imperial edict in the palace left than the steward of Prime Minister Wang's residence arrived at the door.

"Lord Xiao, the Prime Minister invites you to his residence to discuss the marriage." The steward said, "Since you're going to be a live-in son-in-law anyway, you don't need to stay here. This servant will immediately have your things packed and moved to the Prime Minister's residence."