I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 260 Doing one good deed a day

“Lord, things have come to this point, even if you beat Chao’er to death, it won’t help,” Lady Ning’an advised. “We should hurry up and think of a way to ask the Duke of Wei for forgiveness.”

"You make it sound so easy. Who is Tang Zheng? He's a favorite of His Majesty, a first-class Duke! Now that unfilial son has injured the Duke, what will our family offer as an apology?"

Marquis Ning patted his face. "Do you think my influence alone is enough?"

"We have to give it a try," Lady Ning'an said with a smile. "The old master and General Song, the father-in-law of the Duke of Wei, were once officials in the same court and had a deep friendship. The Duke of Wei will have to give the old master some face out of respect for his father-in-law."

Marquis Ning'an had forgotten about this.

"I have prepared a generous gift, all of which are the finest items selected from my dowry. I am sure it will catch the eye of the Duke of Wei."

Lady Ning'an rolled her eyes. "Speaking of which, Yue'er has passed the imperial examination and been selected as a court official. She will definitely stay in Luoyang in the future."

"As the saying goes, it's easy to get a position if you have connections in the court. If the Duke of Wei could give Yue'er a helping hand in the future, wouldn't Yue'er's future be even brighter?"

The Earl of Ning'an was incredulous. "Our family has offended the Duke of Wei. It's already a favor that the Duke of Wei isn't taking his anger out on Yue'er. You still want to promote him?"

"Then we must find a way to appease the Duke of Wei's anger. Otherwise, it's one thing if the Duke of Wei doesn't promote Yue'er, but if he interferes and makes Yue'er sit on the sidelines for several years, or even throws Yue'er to a poor and remote place to serve as an official, that would be truly terrible!"

The Earl of Ning'an was terrified by what his wife said, and hurriedly took his gifts to Renxin Hall, but he didn't even get to see the Duke of Wei. He was sent away with the words "rest and recuperate."

The Marquis of Ning'an was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Finally, it was the Marquis's wife who suggested, "Why don't we go and ask Princess Zhaoshan for help?"

“Princess Zhaoshan is the daughter of the Duke of Wei. With Princess Zhaoshan speaking up for us, the Duke of Wei should not refuse us entry again out of consideration for Princess Zhaoshan.”

The Earl of Ning'an hesitated. He had heard about Tang Zhao's appeal to the emperor by beating the drum, and he had deep doubts about the father-daughter relationship between the Duke of Wei and Tang Zhao.

But for the sake of the future of the Ning'an Marquis's mansion, the Ning'an Marquis had no choice but to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless.

Qiu Yu announced, "Miss! Marquis Ning'an and his wife request an audience!"

"?" Tang Zhao, who was leisurely sunbathing in a rocking chair, asked in confusion, "The Ning'an Marquis's residence? Are they familiar with us?"

"We weren't familiar with each other before, but now we're getting to know each other better," Qiu Yu whispered, recounting how the Ning'an Earl's carriage had startled the Duke of Wei.

"Hiss!" Tang Zhao felt a pang of sympathy for the Duke of Wei.

What kind of unlucky constitution is this?

"So, you're trying to use my connections to visit Tang Zheng?" Tang Zhao asked. "Did you bring any gifts?"

“Yes, we brought several large carriages,” Qiu Yu said with a sly smile. “I glanced at them, and the items the maids were carrying were all very valuable.”

Tang Zhao was satisfied. "Then let's meet him."

The Earl of Ning'an and his wife were invited into the backyard by Qiu Yu. Upon seeing Tang Zhao, they bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Princess Zhaoshan."

"Lord and Lady, please rise." Tang Zhao sat up straight. "Please sit down and serve tea."

Chunfeng brought out tea and snacks and placed them on the table before stepping aside.

"May I ask what brings you here, Lord and Madam?"

The Earl of Ning'an said, "A few days ago, the carriage my son was riding in suddenly went berserk. While pulling the carriage, it accidentally bumped into the Duke of Wei, causing the Duke of Wei's old injury to flare up again. He has been bedridden ever since. My wife and I feel deeply guilty."

"Now that rebellious son is imprisoned and cannot personally apologize to the Duke of Wei, my wife and I wanted to go to his door to apologize on his behalf, but the Duke of Wei refused to let us in."

The Earl of Ning'an stood up and bowed deeply. "My wife and I have come here today to ask for your help, Princess, so that we may meet with the Duke of Wei and apologize in person. We beg your assistance." The Earl of Ning'an's wife waved her hand, and eight maids stepped forward. The steward removed the red cloth covering the tray, revealing a dazzling array of precious jewels that dazzled Tang Zhao.

"This is a small token of my wife's and my appreciation. We hope Your Highness will accept it."

Tang Zhao maintained a composed demeanor, "Although I can arrange for Father to meet with the Earl and his wife, I cannot be certain whether Father will forgive your son."

Marquis Ning An assured, "As long as the princess can help us see the Duke of Wei, that's fine. As for whether the Duke of Wei can forgive us, that's my wife's and my fate, and it has nothing to do with the princess!"

Since that's what they've said, how could Tang Zhao refuse? He ordered Chunfeng to accept the gift, and then took the Earl of Ning'an and his wife to Renxin Hall.

The young apprentice, seeing the Ning Anbo couple return, was about to shoo them away when he saw Tang Zhao walking behind them. He immediately swallowed his words.

"Your Highness!" the young apprentice stepped forward and whispered, "The Duke of Wei has said that he will not see anyone."

"Even I won't be seen?"

The apprentice was in a dilemma. Based on what he had seen recently, the person the Duke of Wei least wanted to see was Tang Zhao.

It is clear that whether or not Tang Zhao is present is not up to the Duke of Wei.

"Then I'll go and inform them again."

"Go!"

The young apprentice ran into the backyard and then ran back, saying, "The Duke of Wei invites the princess in."

The Earl of Ning'an and his wife were overjoyed and were about to go in with Tang Zhao when they were stopped by the medicine boy. "The Duke of Wei said that only Princess Zhaoshan was seen."

“This,” the Ning Anbo couple looked at Tang Zhao.

"Don't be impatient," Tang Zhao said, giving the Ning'an Marquis and his wife a reassuring look. "I'll be right back."

Tang Zhao strode to the backyard, and the young apprentice hurriedly followed. After Tang Zhao entered the Duke of Wei's ward, the apprentice wisely closed the door, giving the father and daughter some time alone.

Tang Zhao thought through the saddest things in his life but still couldn't cry, so he could only make empty threats and ask, "Father, how did you get injured again?"

Tang Zheng had a headache. How did Tang Zhao find out again!
"Father, I didn't even know you were injured! I'm so unfilial!" Tang Zhao sat by the hospital bed. "If it weren't for the Marquis of Ning'an and his wife telling me, I would still be completely in the dark!"

Tang Zheng frowned. "Did the Marquis of Ning'an come to see you?"

"Yes, the Ning Anbo couple said they had failed in raising their son and were very ashamed for disturbing Father. They originally wanted to apologize to Father, but Father didn't see them, so they came looking for their daughter instead."

“I didn’t want to bring them here either, but I thought that my father and grandmother had taught me since I was a child that it is better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. I thought that the son of the Marquis of Ning’an did not mean to cause my father’s back injury to flare up. Rather than making enemies of the Marquis of Ning’an’s family because of this, it would be better to just forgive him generously.”

"This way, our daughter will have one more source of support in the Northwest. Do you think our daughter's idea is right?"

Tang Zheng was so speechless that he couldn't utter a single word.

Tang Zhao had already said everything he needed to say, so what could he say? Besides a simple "okay," what else could he say?!

"That's wonderful! Then I'll call the Marquis of Ning'an and his wife in to apologize to Father!"

Tang Zhao happily ran out to call for help.

yeah!