EMHTC -Chapter 124 Xu Lang at Twenty, Comes of Age

After the morning court session, Liang Rui completed the attendance check and took leave to return home for half an hour.

To avoid arousing Xu Yanmiao’s suspicion with any abrupt actions, he planned his movements carefully: first, he went to the small dining hall prepared by the emperor for officials to have lunch. Then, as if by accident, someone clumsily spilled sauce on his official robe, giving Liang Rui a legitimate excuse to take leave and return home to change.

Upon arriving home, Liang Rui casually remarked, “I heard that Prime Minister Dou is worried about the Grand Madam feeling lonely, so he wants to find her a companion.”

—Of course, this was completely fabricated.

Before Liang Youwen could react, Liang Rui immediately flew into a furious rage. “What kind of look is that?! You little scoundrel! The Grand Madam is already ninety-five years old—she could be your great-grandmother! And yet, you dare to express feelings for her?! I’ll beat you to death, you disgraceful wretch!”

With that, he grabbed a firewood stick from the corner of the courtyard and began thrashing his eldest son.

Liang Youwen took a deep breath, his pupils quivering in shock.

Had his thoughts really been that obvious?!

Before his mind could even process the situation, the pain spread through his body in an instant. A surge of heat shot to his throat, forcing out a powerful cry:

“AAAH—!”

Liang Rui was not holding back.

He was genuinely furious—and he was also putting on a performance for the emperor, empress, and prime minister.

Liang Youwen dodged to the side, only for the stick to chase after him with relentless force.

“Ah!” he yelped, narrowly avoiding a hit to his leg.

“Ah!” he howled again as the stick smacked his hand precisely.

But Liang Youwen refused to yield!

【Wow!】

Xu Yanmiao was closely following the commotion, unknowingly providing a live broadcast to his colleagues.

【Liang Youwen, I, Xu Yanmiao, acknowledge you as the strongest!】

【Even after such a beating, you can still shout at your father: ‘A fair lady, a gentleman’s pursuit!’ And even: ‘A single man, an unmarried woman—what’s wrong with me admiring the Grand Madam?!’】

【Wow, wow!】

Xu Yanmiao clutched his outer robe in excitement.

His colleagues—including, for some unknown reason, officials from Department A, members from Temple B, and personnel from Bureau C—were all gathered in the Ministry of Appointments. Perhaps due to the frequent personnel transfers at the end of the year, they needed the ministry’s approval.

The Minister of Appointments had originally planned to go to the restroom, but at that moment, his plump body tensed, clamping his thighs together, determined to hold his bladder in—ready to stay on duty until the last moment.

【Old Liang goes all in, his words as sharp as ever! Truly a man who once proposed driving all the Wokou onto a single island and letting them kill each other.】

【He stabbed his son right in the heart with his words—‘Your love will affect the Grand Madam. Have you considered that being with you might ruin her reputation in her later years? Have you thought about how others will see her? No, you haven’t. You only think about yourself.’】

【And another thing—】

【The Grand Madam is so old! Have you considered whether she can even handle knowing about this? What if she just keels over on the spot?】

【Every word cuts like a knife!】

【Little Liang is crying!】

The Minister of Appointments nearly let out a cheer.

Though he felt a bit sorry for young Liang, he had to admit that Liang Rui’s words were a textbook example of striking where it hurts most.

He didn’t say, “You can’t do it.”

He didn’t say, “The Grand Madam would never like you.”

He went straight for the kill: “If you truly love her, you should be thinking of her well-being.”

Liang Youwen had walked right into his father’s rhetorical trap!

—Honestly, for a woman with power and influence, keeping a younger lover wasn’t a big deal. Even if they married officially, no one would bat an eye at a sixty-year-old man marrying an eighteen-year-old girl. So why was it unacceptable for a ninety-five-year-old lady to be with a thirty-two-year-old man?!

Liang Rui tossed aside the firewood stick and looked down at his son, who was sitting on the ground, covered in dust and tears. He sighed, patted his son’s head, and asked, “Do you really like her that much?”

Liang Youwen hiccupped but didn’t answer.

Liang Rui spoke calmly, “Have you thought about the fact that even if the Grand Madam likes you back, you’ll face a storm of gossip? And you’re already thirty-two, while she’s still full of vitality. Have you considered that she might live past a hundred?”

Liang Youwen: “That would be great!”

Liang Rui: “Then what about your descendants? There’s only a limited window for a man to have children. Sure, some people father kids in their fifties, but are you really that sure you’ll be one of the lucky ones after the Grand Madam passes?”

Liang Youwen glanced at his father as if looking at an outdated relic.

“Dad, not everyone gets married just for the wedding night or to have kids.”

“The moment I saw the Grand Madam, I had already decided—I don’t need children.”

Liang Rui was momentarily speechless.

Liang Youwen, after successfully stunning his father into silence, blinked back tears. “Father, I understand your meaning. I will hide these improper thoughts from now on…”

Liang Rui instinctively responded, “No need.”

The entire court already knew.

Liang Youwen was bewildered. “What?”

With a sigh, Liang Rui patted his son’s head again. “If you manage to pass the exam this time, you’ll understand.”

Unable to make sense of it, Liang Youwen decided to stop thinking about it and instead tried to ease the tense atmosphere. “Father, I recently learned to make a dish called ‘Steamed Duck Feet with Ham.’ The duck feet have been soaking for a while now—I’ll make it for you.”

After being skinned, the duck feet had plumped up nicely from the yellow wine, looking tender and chewy.

Watching his son skillfully remove the main bone and tendons from the duck feet, Liang Rui narrowed his eyes. “Did you learn this for Grand Madam?”

His eldest son, who had been silent ever since he started cooking, finally spoke. “Mm. Later, I’ll sandwich the duck feet with ham, coat the bamboo shoots with honey, and slow-steam everything until it’s soft, fragrant, and rich in flavor.”

Liang Rui said flatly, “You might not get the chance to cook for the Grand Madam.”

Liang Youwen smiled. “Father, haven’t you always taught my brother and me to plan carefully before taking action? No matter the outcome, I should at least prepare everything first.”

Liang Rui fell silent again, simply watching his son focus intently on cooking.

After a while, he suddenly spoke. “Other things are impossible, but if all you want is to cook a meal for the Grand Madam, I can ask Prime Minister Dou for a favor.”

Liang Youwen’s eyes lit up. He immediately dropped the spatula and sat down beside Liang Rui. “Father! Are you serious?”

Liang Rui shot him a glare. “Only under the guise of a gratitude gift—don’t get any strange ideas. Remember, the Grand Madam doesn’t lack cooks.”

Liang Youwen nodded firmly. “I understand, Father. I just want to make her a meal. I won’t ask for anything else.”

Three days later, on New Year’s Eve, Grand Madam Yuchi enjoyed a delicious reunion dinner.

Beaming with joy, she rewarded the cook and then cuddled her granddaughter, listening to the child’s crisp voice as she excitedly chattered:

“Grandmother, you wouldn’t believe my luck at Uncle’s house the other day! They had just harvested fresh winter dates, and I ate a whole basket in one go! So crunchy and sweet! That kind of coincidence almost never happens!”

The Grand Madam chuckled and tapped the little girl’s forehead. “You little glutton.”

Her granddaughter fished a handful of winter dates from her pocket. “Grandmother, I brought some for you! Try them—they’re delicious!”

Though old, the Grand Madam still had strong teeth. She bit into a date, savoring its sweet flesh, and smiled contentedly.

Surrounding her were her surviving siblings and their spouses, her children and in-laws, her nephews and nieces—all kneeling to offer her tea in filial respect. The room was bustling with lively conversation and laughter.

One granddaughter recited poetry with a proud shake of her head. After each poem, the Grand Madam handed her a red envelope.

A grandson performed acrobatics to entertain her, flipping in the air. The Grand Madam laughed and rewarded him with another red envelope.

Her grandson-in-law made himself at home, bossing the steward around: “I want sticky rice cakes! I want rice noodles! I want tofu! I want New Year’s cake!”

Other grandchildren ran wild through the courtyard, playing and shouting…

“How wonderful.”

From afar, Liang Youwen watched the scene, clutching the reward money in his hands, smiling as he quietly turned to leave.

【How wonderful…】

As Xu Yanmiao scrolled through his gossip network, he suddenly froze, his gaze lingering on this moment.

【Such a lively New Year’s Eve.】

Even though Xu Yanmiao was also celebrating in the palace with other ministers, it just didn’t feel the same.

The young man lowered his head slightly, his gaze resting on the faint ripples in his cup of water. It was unclear whether he was seeing the reflection of bustling streets or towering buildings.

The old emperor, having heard his unspoken thoughts, glanced at Xu Yanmiao from a distance. Leaning on the armrest, he stood up.

No one paid attention to the emperor rising from his seat.

—It was the same every year. Around this time, the emperor would call the empress and his children to spend the New Year’s countdown together in private.

A moment later, a eunuch approached Xu Yanmiao. “Lord Xu, His Majesty requests your presence.”

Xu Yanmiao was stunned for a moment before rising to follow the eunuch.

After winding through several corridors, they reached the boundary of the harem. Xu Yanmiao abruptly stopped, alarmed. “Wait, this…”

【No way? Again?!】

【He’s not going to set me up with another palace maid, is he?!】

Just then, the old emperor’s impatient voice rang out. “What are you standing there for? Get over here already!”

Xu Yanmiao let out a huge sigh of relief and jogged over. “Your Majesty?”

“Follow me.”

The old emperor tossed out the command and strode ahead. Xu Yanmiao, still utterly confused, could only trail behind him.

They walked and walked until they reached a brightly lit hall.

Suddenly, the Prince of Tang came running out with heavy footsteps. “Father! Where did you go? Why are you so slow—Eh?! You’re… You’re that guy!”

Xu Yanmiao cupped his hands in greeting. “Xu Yanmiao greets Your Highness.”

The Prince of Tang grinned. “So you really are my father’s secret—mmph mmph mmph!”

【Huh? Secret what?!】

The Crown Prince swiftly covered the younger prince’s mouth and dragged him away. Before disappearing, he turned back and smiled at Xu Yanmiao. “Since my father brought you here, just come in and make yourself comfortable.”

Xu Yanmiao was even more confused now.

Following the old emperor inside, he saw Empress Dou seated at a large round table, accompanied by the Crown Prince, Prince of Qin, Prince of Han, and the now-muffled Prince of Tang, who was still grumbling after his “lesson.” Princess Wangshou, Princess Qinghe, and Princess Xiangyang were also present.

Further back, more of the emperor’s children sat at another large round table.

The old emperor took his seat at the head and gestured for Xu Yanmiao to sit on his right-hand side. Then he called out, “Time to serve the dumplings!”

Palace servants brought steaming dumplings, carefully placing a bowl in front of each person.

The old emperor picked up a dumpling and took a bite. “Hey! Why is this tofu and vermicelli filling? Where are my pickled cabbage and pork crackling dumplings?!”

He grumbled indignantly, “Pork crackling dumplings are the best! You take a long strip of fatty pork, dice it up, and slowly render it over low heat. Add a bit of salt, and once all the fat has melted out, the remaining cracklings are so fragrant they practically melt on your tongue!”

Xu Yanmiao stared blankly at the dumplings in his bowl.

The others had already started eating.

Xu Yanmiao picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. His dumpling was indeed filled with pickled cabbage and pork cracklings. As he bit down, the rich oil oozed out.

Meanwhile, the old emperor continued his storytelling, “You all have it good now. When I was a kid, I used to crave dumplings so badly. Whenever my parents went out to work in the fields, my siblings and I would sneak some flour from home to make dumplings.”

“We were always afraid they’d come back suddenly, so our hands were shaking the whole time. We could never get the fire going properly.”

“I got so anxious that I kept jabbing at the stove with the fire poker, but instead of flames, I ended up with a face full of smoke—eyes and nose streaming from the irritation.”

“Eventually, we managed to get a small fire going and hurriedly dumped the dumplings into the pot. But the water never came to a full boil. After half an hour, the dumplings had turned into a pot of wild vegetable soup. Still, my siblings and I ate it happily, licking our bowls clean.”

Listening to the story, Xu Yanmiao continued eating. The dumpling skins were thin, and the fillings were generous. He downed seven or eight in one go and still felt unsatisfied.

Across the hall, the emperor’s large family—dozens of people—were all gathered around, eating dumplings together.

As he chewed, Xu Yanmiao suddenly bit down on something hard. Spitting it out, he found a small coin.

Princess Xiangyang clapped her hands and laughed. “Xu Yanmiao, you got the lucky coin! That means wealth and prosperity in the coming year!”

Outside the window, snowflakes swirled through the air.

Suddenly—“Duang—”

A loud, resounding bell chime rang out.

The new year had arrived!

Xu Yanmiao felt something placed on his head.

It was a ceremonial crown.

He looked up in shock and saw the old emperor gazing at him with a slight smile.

“Xu Yanmiao, congratulations—you’ve come of age.”

—In the 35th year of Tian Tong, at the age of twenty, Xu Lang reached adulthood.