Yuanying has been creating a fuss recruiting people so everyone found out about his grand plan to leave for his fiefdom this year.

Wei Zheng is not deaf, so he naturally heard about everything.

Rumors has it that Li Yuanying had persuaded everyone he could. But Wei Zheng was still waiting for him to come by and discuss. He waited and wait but didn’t even see the boy’s shadow.

Wei Zheng asked his granddaughter about her plan.

“I will definitely follow him.” A few years ago, Yuanying promised to bring her along and said that he will build her an Academy. Wei Zheng was fuming when he heard Wei Shu’s matter of fact reply.

It’s true that you can’t keep girls when they grow up!

Wei Zheng was in an extremely bad mood and find fault in everyone he encounters. If someone were to drop by and have a proper discussion, he is flexible to make adjustments, but what does it mean when you don’t even come to the door?

After Lady Liu reminded him, Yuanying realized that he had been too busy and had forgotten about Wei Zheng.

He and hurried out of the palace to the Wei family home. He asked Mrs. Pei to say some good words for him before Wei Zheng came home.

Mrs. Pei likes the boy as he was handsome and sweet. Which elder wouldn’t like him?

But when it came to Wei Shu, Wei Zheng’s favorite granddaughter, Mrs Pei can’t make any decision too. She just hinted that: “Grandfather has been in a bad mood lately. If he scolds you, don’t take it to heart.”

“Okay, I got it!”

Old Wei scold the Emperor too, so what’s the big deal to berate his grandson-in-law? Besides, he really did forget about this!

Yuanying admitted his mistake sincerely. As soon as he saw Wei Zheng, he followed him around admitting that he was too busy lately and had forgotten to discuss things with him.

Li Yuanying is a dedicated follower. Even when Wei Zheng went to the toilet, he stayed outside asking if he wants more toilet paper.

Wei Zheng couldn’t take it anymore: “Go back to the room and sit down!!!”

Yuanying turned back embarrassedly.

Back in the house, Yuanying slipped to sit next to Wei Shu and whispered to her: “I heard grandfather’s voice is loud and full of energy. I think his health is getting better day by day. This way we can go to Tengzhou without any worry!”

Wei Shu also heard Wei Zheng’s roar. She realized that grandfather had no way to deal with Li Yuanying except to get angry.

“Don’t always make grandfather angry.”

“I didn’t, I’m trying very hard to win his understanding. In my heart you are my princess, so you will definitely come with me. If mother hadn’t reminded me in time, it’ll be terrible!”

He secretly grabbed Wei Shu’s hand: “If grandfather says no, are you willing to follow me in secret? We will then become…. oh oh, I remember! We will be desperate mandarin ducks ^[1]couples on the run!”

Wei Shu: “…”

When Wei Zheng return, he witness a kidnapping scene: Li Yuanying pulling his granddaughter’s hand and asking her to go with him secretly, to be desperate mandarin ducks!

Wei Zheng was furious. He kicked Li Yuanying out on the spot, and told him to never come again!

All of Li Yuanying’s shouting at the door and climbing over the wall was no use. Seeing that the palace gates were about to be closed, he return home to ask Li Er for help.  

At first, Li Er thought that Old Wei being petty. Didn’t Yuanying just forget to inform him because he was too busy?  The boy had came to apologize, but he kicked him out!

But after listening to the whole story, His Majesty was silent for a long time. He then pointed at Li Yuanying and cursed: “You deserve to lose your wife!”

Where did this kid get the courage to come ask him for help?!

“My wife is not lost. We are on great terms!”

After that, he begged His Majesty to help him bring sister Shu to the fiefdom together.

Li Er finally relented and agreed to be a lobbyist so that Wei Zheng and he could sit down and discuss.

The next day, Li Yuanying waited for the Emperor since early morning and followed him everywhere he went.

Chengqian now had to learn to govern the country, so he came early to meet the Emperor. Seeing young uncle following the Emperor around he got curious.

“Uncle, why are you following father so early in the morning?”

Yuanying shared how he had angered Wei Zheng and that the Emperor had promise to mediate. Wei Zheng would not allow him to enter the house, and he would never see his sister again!

Chengqian was speechless. Anyone who heard their conversation to elope would be furious, not to mention Wei Zheng’s temper.  “

Can’t you pick a word with a better meaning? Desperate mandarin ducks sound unlucky!”

“I couldn’t think of anything else back then?”

The two whispered to each other, until the Emperor Li glared at them. They then they shut up tacitly and listened to the meeting that was happening in Court.

There was no proper Court session today, just people dropping by to submit reports.

Li Yuanying felt a little bored.

He hated doing this following proper procedures. When he was at Hu County, Wu Mei assigned routine affairs to others, and he was only responsible for new things.

Since he was bored, Yuanying secretly asked Chengqian for a pen to sketch the ministers coming and going. He sketched them on paper, including those with unique features like mole beside their ears,small noses and thick lips, and those with treacherous smile.

Chengqian didn’t know what Yuanying was doing at first, but when he took a look, he got excited too. Yuanying’s drawings were very accurate. With only a few strokes, he drew the characteristics of each person vividly, and they were recognizable at a glance. Moreover, when he sees them in the future, he would pay special attention to certain features of theirs!

Seeing Chengqian admiring his masterpiece, Yuanying became excited and whisper that he will draw the three ministers of East Palace for him.

Among the the 3 main ministers of East Palace known for scolding people, Kong Yingda is the one Yuanying is most familiar with. After much interaction, Yuanying thinks that he could sense a little bit of kindness in his serious face!

As for Zhang Xuansu and Yu Zhining, Yuanying hasn’t had much interaction with them but he has met them in person and  drew their scolding looks without hesitation.

Soon, a painting of “the 3 Ministers of East Palace” is done. 3 old men with big heads and small bodies all had stern faces with their own unique fierceness! They all held long scripts filled with criticism in their hands.

How long was it?

All 3 ministers held one end of the script, each holding a long section that was densely covered with words. Right next to Kong Yingda was another longer script piled up like a mountain. They wouldn’t finish scolding even if they were at it for three days and nights!

Li Chengqian: “…”

Although he felt sorry, he kept in his laughter because the painting was so funny. Usually he had to obediently endure their scolding, a little laughter and fun of watching Li Yuanying paint shouldn’t be seen as rebelling.

And Chengqian underestimated Li Yuanying’s courage. After the officials left, this guy actually moved next to the Emperor and boldly shared his masterpiece.

No wonder Wei Zheng kick this kid out! The Emperor ruthlessly confiscated the stack of crooked drawings and told him to reflect on his mistakes. No more scribbling and slandering the ministers.

After finishing business, Li Er finally fulfilled his promise and summon Wei Zheng to discuss the marriage of the two.

The Emperor thinks that it’ll be good to take advantage of Li Yuanying’s time in Taiyuan to make preparations and marry them when they came back. Anyway, the match had been decided much earlier, it doesn’t matter whether the wedding was held early or later.

It is said that the eldest brother is like a father figure. Since there is no other elders in their family, shouldn’t he worry about Li Yuanying’s marriage? He had agreed to this a long time ago, so let’s just get Li Chunfeng to choose an auspicious time!

Of course,the Emperor didn’t say it so casually in front of Wei Zheng. He sincerely asked Wei Zheng’s opinion on behalf.

Before Wei Zheng could express his thoughts, Yuanying objected: “No, sister Shu and I should not get married so soon. We are still young, and don’t look good in wedding clothes. We need to grow up a little bit to look good!”

Wei Zheng’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

It was the first time he heard such a stupid reason for postponing a wedding!

Yuanying didn’t think it was stupid. He actively expressed his opinions to the two parents, saying that he and his sister Shu should wait until the most suitable time, otherwise there would inevitably be some regrets! Then he also analyzed it to Wei Zheng from a health perspective: “After they are wedded, they will want children. Sister Shu is still so young, how can she have children now?! As a grandfather, don’t you feel sorry for your granddaughter!”

Wei Zheng was about to spit fire: “I didn’t agree to this marriage!”

His Majesty was too lazy to speak, he let Li Yuanying do whatever he wanted. Wait until he loses his princess and let’s see if he will cry bitterly!

Li Yuanying dared to provoke even the Emperor, so he naturally isn’t afraid of Wei Zheng’s anger. He met the angry eyes seriously and expressed his thoughts: “Sister Shu is the youngest among the new Jinshi, and is in fact the youngest since the founding of Tang. Is her ability worse than the boys? Did she get her Jinshi status by fraud?”

“Of course not.”

 “If someone is willing to recommend her to be a county magistrate or to manage a state school, shouldn’t they follow the rules of the court?”

Wei Zheng did not speak.

“Sister Shu has proved her ability and talent. Why must we be married before she can follow me to the fiefdom? I don’t want Sister Shu to be known as Princess Teng all her life. Sister Shu is ‘Wei Shu’, why must she be Princess Teng so early? She is obviously better than many, and she will do better than many!”

Wei Zheng was shocked.

If he had heard these words at ordinary times, Wei Zheng would have thought that Li Yuanying was an outcast.

Throughout history, how many women will leave their names in history? A girl get married, and  after that they should obey their husbands. And from then on they should be contented to be members of their husbands’ family, supporting and raising children.

Yuanying said that women can be “themselves”, what else could it be but blasphemy?

However, this is his granddaughter!

Li Yuanying understood his granddaughter better than anyone else, and is willing to support her in things she wanted to do!

Wei Zheng stared at the boy.

Seeing that Wei Zheng’s attitude has soften, Yuanying bowed deeply and pleaded earnestly: “Please rest assured and hand over Sister Shu to me, I will protect her, never let her suffer any grievances, let alone any harm.”

Seeing Yuanying’s attitude, Wei Zheng’s dissatisfaction dispersed immediately. This kid looks carefree and playful, but in fact insight and intelligence that many can’t match. He knows how to convince others, and every word hits the hearts.

Wei Zheng sighed: “Do whatever you want.”

The Emperor and Chengqian, who were watching the drama, looked at each other. They  will not let Li Yuanying speak freely in the future. Look at how capable this kid is that even Wei Zheng can be persuaded!

Normally, if you hear that there is a b*stard who doesn’t want to marry your granddaughter but wants to take her away, shouldn’t you beat him to death?

Notes from the Author:

His Majesty: Why weren’t you beaten to death?

Eldest Nephew: Why weren’t you beaten to death?

Little Prince: Can’t you hope for something good? (pointing & grumbling)