Three days later, Tao Shan returned to Yunxiang County.

It must be said that the large and small bundles he brought back left Yang Haiyan quite astonished.

Tao Shan arrived that evening.

If it had been a normal journey, he would have arrived in the middle of the night, but this time, Tao Shan was particularly energetic and motivated, so he arrived half a day early.

Not only was Tao Shan filled with enthusiasm and energy, but the guards who traveled with him to the capital were also particularly happy.

Although they hadn’t met the emperor like Tao Shan, they had been to the capital, stood at the palace gate, and even stayed at the Du residence, making them feel quite euphoric.

Qin Fang had already returned and was having dinner with Yang Haiyan.

Wei Ting had returned to the capital, and the matters regarding the medicinal herbs at the Shoushan Daoist Temple had concluded.

The workers from the Ministry of Works were still at the Daoist temple, but there was no longer any need to study the medicinal herbs, so Qin Fang didn’t go to the Daoist temple anymore.

However, he still sent people to surround the area.

The workers from the Ministry of Works could not leave the Daoist temple, under the pretense that the soldiers were protecting them, but in reality, they were being monitored and confined.

The workers were well aware that this was the emperor’s intention, so they complied.

Moreover, they didn’t have to keep watch at the Daoist temple.

There was food prepared for them all day long, and they could occasionally enjoy watermelons, making their lives even better than in the capital.

Tao Shan, looking weary from travel, entered the inner courtyard and said, “I pay my respects to the general.” Despite his fatigue, there was a hint of joy on his face.

Qin Fang put down his bowl and chopsticks. “You’ve returned early this time.”

Tao Shan replied excitedly, “I brought back a secret letter from the emperor, so I dared not delay. Additionally, there are gifts from the Du residence and items bestowed by the emperor.”

Gifts from the Du residence were referred to as “sent,” while gifts from the emperor were called “bestowed.”

If it were the old Tao Shan, he wouldn’t have made such a distinction.

After entering the palace, his personality had suddenly become more cautious, and he was particularly careful with his words.

These sentences had lingered in his mind many times on the way back, so when facing Qin Fang, he didn’t speak with agitation.

Saying this, he handed over the emperor’s secret letter.

Upon hearing this, Qin Fang’s expression became more serious.

He took the letter and quickly began to read.

Yang Haiyan was curious about the gifts; women generally liked gifts.

She asked, “Where are the gifts from the Du family and the emperor? Take me to see them.”

Tao Shan replied, “They’re outside the courtyard; I will bring them in.”

As Yang Haiyan walked out of the hall, she saw several carts filled with gifts and was momentarily stunned. “So many?”

Tao Shan explained, “The Du family sent many gifts: from Madame Du, Old Madame Du, Master Du Er, Miss Du Da, Miss Du Er, and also gifts from Madame Du’s family. Besides that, there are the gifts bestowed by the emperor.”

Hearing the long list of Du family names left Yang Haiyan quite astonished.

After a while, she came back to her senses. “Why did so many people from the Du family send gifts? Even Master Du Er and the married Miss Du Da and Miss Du Er sent gifts? Not to mention the gifts from Madame Du’s family? Did Madame Du distribute the gifts because we sent something?” Did they give a return gift? But this was too polite, wasn’t it?

Regarding this, Tao Shan explained, “Because everyone in the Du family knows you are pregnant, my lady.”

“Did you tell them?” Yang Haiyan thought for a moment and found it unlikely.

Tao Shan further explained, “No, the day after I arrived in the capital, a letter from Master Du reached the capital. In the letter, Master Du mentioned your pregnancy.”

Since Yang Haiyan was Madame Du’s goddaughter, it was natural for her to express her congratulations when she was pregnant.

This was a matter of etiquette.

In some situations, although Yang Haiyan became Madame Du’s goddaughter, it didn’t necessarily connect her with the other members of the Du family.

The relationship of god-kin can be quite complex.

For instance, the empress recognizes her goddaughters, but the emperor would generally not acknowledge them.

However, Yang Haiyan’s situation was different.

Yang Haiyan was the goddaughter of Madame Du, and her husband, Qin Fang, was a student of Master Du.

Additionally, Yang Haiyan held a third-rank noble title and had been bestowed the title of Ice Cloud by the emperor, making her status different from that of a typical third-rank lady.

Thus, besides Madame Du, the others in the Du family treated her with great respect.

Therefore, the gifts were numerous.

Yang Haiyan instructed the servants to unload the gifts from the boxes while saying to Tao Shan, “Tell me what happened after you entered the capital.”

Tao Shan replied, “Yes…”

He recounted the events after entering the capital and his encounter with Officer Du.

By the end, he was quite excited when talking about seeing the emperor.

“You saw the emperor?” Qin Fang’s voice rang out from behind him.

Tao Shan hurriedly responded, “Yes, I saw the emperor.”

Then he took out ten taels of silver. “This is the reward given by the emperor.”

Although it was said to be for him, he couldn’t actually keep it.

He originally wanted to share some with the accompanying guards, but he didn’t dare to make that decision, so he brought it to Qin Fang instead.

Qin Fang did not accept the silver. “You keep it; this is a reward from the Emperor.”

Qin Fang didn’t care about the silver; what mattered to him was, “What kind of person is the Emperor?”

Tao Shan thought for a moment: “I didn’t dare to look closely, just glanced a couple of times. The Emperor looks very young, very… very nice, and he was smiling.”

Of course, the Emperor was smiling when he saw so many gifts. “He is a good person, and not as scary as Lord Du.”

Yang Haiyan: “…”

Luckily, Lord Du wasn’t there; otherwise, it would probably have been even scarier to hear that.

Qin Fang didn’t want to say anything further.

Realizing he had misspoken, Tao Shan hurriedly added, “Not as serious as Lord Du.”

Qin Fang nodded. “You may leave now…”

Yang Haiyan stopped him. “Wait a moment.”

She hadn’t told Tao Shan about Qin Qiuya’s matter, but seeing how much more mature and grown-up Tao Shan had become, she had some hope for him.

Tao Shan looked at Yang Haiyan: “Madam?”

Yang Haiyan asked, “Tao Shan, how old are you this year?”

Tao Shan’s heart stirred at this: “I’m twenty-two this year.”

Is the Madam going to introduce him to a match?

He was quite looking forward to it.

As a twenty-two-year-old bachelor, he really wanted to marry and have children. However, no one had introduced anyone to him.

At twenty-two, he was considered an “aged leftover man” in ancient times.

However, since he was serving under Qin Fang, he might be a “hot commodity” back in his hometown; it was just that no one was introducing him here.

With this thought, Yang Haiyan asked, “Has your family mentioned any matchmakers for you?”

Tao Shan hurriedly replied, “No, no. When I joined the military, I happened to be at the marrying age, but because I had to serve, my family didn’t dare to introduce anyone for fear of wasting a girl’s time. Later, after I finished my service, I was under the General, and when I went home to see my parents, they wanted to introduce someone to me, but… but I had to hurry back to the General and didn’t find anyone suitable.”

Tao Shan’s heart was full of anticipation; the gentleman was going to introduce him to a girl, right?

Right?

He wondered what kind of girl he would be introduced to.

His eyes sparkled with expectation as he looked at Yang Haiyan, more animated than usual instead of his typical lowered gaze and silence.

Upon hearing this, Yang Haiyan asked, “Do you have any requirements for a girl?” She approached the introductions in a modern way, understanding the girl’s requirements first and then asking for the boy’s, making it easier to match.

Tao Shan replied, “As long as she is virtuous.”

Yang Haiyan thought for a moment; it seemed he had no other requirements.

It was typical for men in ancient times to like virtuous women.

However, she said, “Tao Shan, come with me to the study.”

Tao Shan: “Oh.”

Qin Fang watched as Tao Shan followed her inside and also entered.

Yang Haiyan said, “Sit down; I have a question I want to ask you.”

Tao Shan glanced at Qin Fang; since he was Qin Fang’s subordinate and Qin Fang hadn’t let him sit, he naturally didn’t dare to sit down.

Qin Fang said, “You can sit.”

Only then did Tao Shan sit down. “Madam, please ask.”

Yang Haiyan asked, “What is your opinion on marrying into a girl’s family?”

Marrying into a girl’s family?

Tao Shan was taken aback and then decisively said, “Madam, I don’t want to marry into a girl’s family.”

After thinking for a moment, he added, “Generally, families that want to recruit a son-in-law are well-off. I don’t want to marry a girl just for money and then be looked down upon for marrying into her family.”

Yang Haiyan didn’t think too much about it: “Then if the girl is wonderful and her family is good, would you still be unwilling to marry into her family?”

Tao Shan shook his head and then boldly asked, “If the girl’s family wants to recruit a son-in-law, they want a child, right?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “Yes, they only have one daughter, so they want to recruit a son-in-law to carry on the family name.”

Tao Shan said, “Then I still don’t want to marry into her family.”

Yang Haiyan did not dwell too much on the issue of marrying into a girl’s family.

She asked another question: “If you don’t marry into her family, but the first child follows the girl’s family name, would you agree?”

Tao Shan was puzzled. “What is this?”

Yang Haiyan explained, “You don’t have to marry into her family, but the first child will follow the girl’s family name. Would you be willing?”

Tao Shan hesitated for a moment; he wasn’t a fool.

Since the Madam wanted to introduce him, it was clear that he was familiar with the other party and had a good relationship, which was one reason.

The second reason was that if the other party had a connection with the General and Madam, that would be a good thing for him.

The Madam wouldn’t introduce a girl with poor character to him.

Considering these two points, Tao Shan said, “May I meet the girl?”

In ancient times, love wasn’t emphasized, so Tao Shan didn’t think about whether there was chemistry or not.

As long as the other person had good character and a decent family background, he would accept her as long as she didn’t look too bad.

It didn’t matter if the first child took the other party’s surname; after all, it was still his child, and they would not only have one child.

Yang Haiyan said, “I have one more question. If you are interested in the other party, you would have to wait three years to get married. Would you agree?”

Qin Qiuya(Sanya) was only thirteen years old; she couldn’t require the other party to be eighteen before marrying and then having children.

However, waiting for her to be sixteen before marrying was still acceptable.

After all, Qin Qiuya wasn’t her daughter; for Third Uncle Qin and Third Aunt Qin, sixteen was the most suitable age for marriage.

If it were her own daughter, she would want the other party to be eighteen or twenty before marriage.

Upon hearing that he had to wait three years, Tao Shan had only one thought: “Does the other party have to observe mourning?”