There used to be only Huangfu Yuchen behind the imperial desk, but at some point, it started having him and Yan Ge together. At first, the eunuchs in Tenglong Palace found it awkward, but they eventually got used to it.
“The national taxes will start arriving in the capital next month, right?” Yan Ge casually asked while looking at a document from the Ministry of Revenue.
Huangfu Yuchen handed him another document, saying, “Yes. But at the moment, I’m more concerned about the cement issue. Many local officials have already inquired about when the cement roads can be repaired in their respective jurisdictions. It’s only a matter of time before the news about cement spreads outside the borders.”
Yan Ge browsed through the contents of the document, frowning slightly. “Considering our financial resources, it’s impossible for the imperial court to bear the cost of repairing all the roads in the kingdom. What do you plan to do?”
Huangfu Yuchen was about to speak when a voice came from outside the door, announcing, “Reporting to the Emperor, General Yang requests an audience.”
“Let him in.”
Yang Zhuo walked in confidently, knelt, and performed the proper salutation. “I pay my respects to the Emperor and to Yan Caiqing.”
“Rise.” Huangfu Yuchen nodded at Yan Ge. “You may continue your conversation.”
“General Yang, please have a seat and let’s talk,” Yan Ge said.
“Thank you, Yan Caiqing.” Yang Zhuo sat down and clasped his hands together. “May I ask what instructions Yan Caiqing has for me?”
Yan Ge gestured for him to have some tea. “I have a favor to ask you, General Yang. But before that, I need to invite someone else . Xiao Changzi, go to the First Company and bring Deng Mama here.”
“Yes.”
Yan Ge said to Yang Zhuo, “General Yang, the matter I need your help with is related to Deng Mama.”
Yang Zhuo asked, “Please go ahead, Yan Caiqing.”
While Huangfu Yuchen reviewed the memorials, he listened to Yan Ge’s explanation.
Yan Ge said, “I recently wrote a book, which tells the story of a beautiful woman searching for her lost husband. I find the story very touching and plan to have a theater troupe perform it on New Year’s Eve as a reward for the hard work of all the employees in my company throughout the year. Deng Mama is one of the main characters…”
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Yuchen silently applauded his baby’s wit.
“But the problem is, I haven’t been able to find a suitable candidate to play the husband’s role. After much consideration, I believe General Yang is the best choice. General Yang, are you willing to help?” Yan Ge added pressure to his request.
Yang Zhuo felt somewhat embarrassed by the request. “I would be honored to assist Yan Caiqing. However, theatrical performances are usually better suited for literati and talented individuals. As a military general, I am but a rough person. I’m afraid I might disappoint Yan Caiqing. Besides, if I were to perform on stage, it might affect the image of the Imperial Guards…”
“General Yang, you’ve misunderstood,” Yan Ge smiled. “It’s my fault, I didn’t explain clearly. I only want you to help Deng Mama become familiar with the script until we find a suitable candidate to play the husband’s role. This doesn’t mean you will actually perform on stage. You know, this is my first time organizing a performance, and it’s crucial for me. So, this play must not fail. To be honest, this is a true story and Deng Mama is indeed the woman who traveled a long distance to find her lost husband. In other words, she is a married woman. And it’s widely known that General Yang is not interested in women. Acting alongside Deng Mama wouldn’t give rise to any gossip. You are a very suitable candidate.”
Huangfu Yuchen almost burst out laughing. Describing Yang Zhuo as “not interested in women” was quite fitting.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Yang Zhuo replied, “If this play becomes a big hit, it will undoubtedly help Deng Mama find her husband. General Yang, I assume you wouldn’t refuse to help others, right?” Yan Ge applied more pressure.
At this point, Yang Zhuo could only nod. Even though he didn’t dare lift his head to meet the Emperor’s gaze; he could still sense the warning stare.
“I’m more than willing to help,” Yang Zhuo said.
Yan Ge pretended not to notice his reluctance and happily exclaimed, “Excellent.”
Xiao Changzi’s voice came from outside, “Deng Mama has arrived.”
Shortly after, a woman appeared at the door. She was in her thirties, the most mature and charming age for a woman. She walked in gracefully and performed a dignified bow.
“I pay my respects to the Emperor and to Yan Caiqing,” she said.
“Rise.”
Yan Ge introduced, “General Yang, this is Deng Mama. Deng Mama, this is General Yang.”
Deng Mama bowed to Yang Zhuo.
“Madam Deng, there’s no need for such formality…” Yang Zhuo saw Deng Mama’s face and was slightly taken aback, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Yan Ge said, “There will be many people present during rehearsals, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
“Understood.”
Yan Ge called out, “Du Juan.”
Du Juan stepped forward, saying, “Yes, young master.”
Yan Ge instructed her, “I’m entrusting this matter to you. I’ve already told you what to pay attention to during rehearsals. I hope you haven’t forgotten.”
Du Juan replied, “Please rest assured, I remember everything.”
“That’s good. Take them downstairs and start practicing. General Yang is busy with official duties, so we shouldn’t take up too much of his time.”
Yan Ge’s words shattered Yang Zhuo’s hope of dragging this out for as long as possible.
Du Juan led Yang Zhuo and Deng Mama away. Only then did Huangfu Yuchen ask Yan Ge, “Baby, do you think this will work?”
Yan Ge replied, “Deng Mama mentioned that there were some unforgettable moments between her and Yang Zhuo. By recreating those scenes, we might be able to evoke some of his memories. The most unforgettable of them all is the day they got married. If everything goes smoothly, Yang Zhuo should be able to remember the past. Even if all that fails, they will spend time together, and perhaps feelings will develop over time.”
“But what if he doesn’t regain his memories and also doesn’t develop feelings for Deng Mama?” Huangfu Yuchen thought his baby was being too optimistic and wanted to prepare him for possible disappointment.
Yan Ge smiled confidently. “If that’s the case, we have one final step: finding an excuse for him to protect Deng Mama and accompany her to their hometown. If that doesn’t work… well, it means they are destined to be apart.”
“Both of them are fortunate to have met you, my love. It’s the result of their good karma over several lifetimes.” Huangfu Yuchen hugged Yan Ge’s head and gave him a kiss. “But I don’t like you spending so much effort on others. You even wrote a script specifically for them. Byt I’ll consider it as a favor to Deng Mama and Yang Zhuo, who have been of great help to us.”
“No, I was too busy during that time. I didn’t have time to write a script,” Yan Ge deliberately messed up his hair. “I only provided the idea, and Du Juan wrote the script based on Deng Ma’s account.”
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled and held him tightly around the waist, kissing his cheek, lips, and chin, drawing closer and closer.
Yan Ge pushed him away breathlessly. “Aren’t you supposed to review the memorials? Focus on your work.”
Huangfu Yuchen gave him a peck on the cheek and, without insisting, turned his attention back to the memorials. “Speaking of the national road repairs, I have two ideas. One is to find a way to get donations from wealthy merchants, and the other is to sell cement abroad and use the proceeds to fund the road repairs. However, while these two methods can alleviate the pressure on the treasury, they each have their drawbacks. Convincing merchants to donate money might not be easy, and if we sell cement to other countries, their infrastructure development might surpass ours, and I’m not content with that.”
“I’m also discontented,” Yan Ge nodded. “Cement is our invention, why should they use it before us? Naturally, we should wait until we have built our own Great Han to a certain extent before selling it to them. In that case, let’s go with the first method.”
A warm current surged In Huangfu Yuchen’s heart, and his deep gaze overflowed with a smile. He lovingly kissed Yan Ge’s smiling eyes, nose, and chin, drawing closer and closer, his arms wrapping around him tightly.
Yan Ge pushed him away again. “We’re supposed to review the memorials, remember? Focus on your work.”
Huangfu Yuchen kissed his cheek and didn’t insist, returning his mind to the memorials. “It’s good to hear that you have a plan for the first method, but convincing merchants to donate money won’t be easy.”
“Not difficult at all.” Yan Ge leaned leisurely against him, appearing very relaxed.
Huangfu Yuchen raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You have a solution?”
Yan Ge smiled mischievously. “I can tell you, but you have to agree to a condition.”
“What condition?” Huangfu Yuchen asked.
Yan Ge said, “Let’s live as commoners for a few days.”
Huangfu Yuchen was taken aback. “You want to live as a commoner?”
Yan Ge smiled mischievously. “I want to see you experience life as a commoner.”
Huangfu Yuchen rubbed his forehead. He knew that Yan Ge’s ultimate goal was simply to see him make a fool of himself.
“Do you agree or not?” Yan Ge couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of Huangfu Yuchen causing all sorts of funny incidents.
Huangfu Yuchen sighed helplessly. “Baby, would you be so cruel to me?”
Yan Ge narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Cruel.”
Huangfu Yuchen leaned in and bit his lips.
“Do you agree or not?” Yan Ge tilted his head, dodging his attack.
Huangfu Yuchen held him tightly to prevent him from dodging and successfully bit him, chuckling softly. “I agree. Why wouldn’t I? After all, I have you by my side.”
Yan Ge grinned mischievously. “Should we bring the Little Prince along?”
“Absolutely not!” Huangfu Yuchen quickly pleaded, “Baby, let me preserve some dignity as the emperor.”
“You’re so easily scared.” Yan Ge burst into laughter. “I was just teasing you. Since you agreed, let’s choose tomorrow as the day. Do you have free time?”
Huangfu Yuchen pondered for a moment. “I have no free time tomorrow morning. How about in the afternoon?”
Yan Ge firmly refused to let him find a way out. “Alright, tomorrow afternoon until the following afternoon. Regardless of the start time, we’ll dedicate a full twelve hours.”
Huangfu Yuchen sighed. His beloved’s wit also gave him a headache. He had a feeling that tomorrow would be quite disastrous.
There used to be only Huangfu Yuchen behind the imperial desk, but at some point, it started having him and Yan Ge together. At first, the eunuchs in Tenglong Palace found it awkward, but they eventually got used to it.
“The national taxes will start arriving in the capital next month, right?” Yan Ge casually asked while looking at a document from the Ministry of Revenue.
Huangfu Yuchen handed him another document, saying, “Yes. But at the moment, I’m more concerned about the cement issue. Many local officials have already inquired about when the cement roads can be repaired in their respective jurisdictions. It’s only a matter of time before the news about cement spreads outside the borders.”
Yan Ge browsed through the contents of the document, frowning slightly. “Considering our financial resources, it’s impossible for the imperial court to bear the cost of repairing all the roads in the kingdom. What do you plan to do?”
Huangfu Yuchen was about to speak when a voice came from outside the door, announcing, “Reporting to the Emperor, General Yang requests an audience.”
“Let him in.”
Yang Zhuo walked in confidently, knelt, and performed the proper salutation. “I pay my respects to the Emperor and to Yan Caiqing.”
“Rise.” Huangfu Yuchen nodded at Yan Ge. “You may continue your conversation.”
“General Yang, please have a seat and let’s talk,” Yan Ge said.
“Thank you, Yan Caiqing.” Yang Zhuo sat down and clasped his hands together. “May I ask what instructions Yan Caiqing has for me?”
Yan Ge gestured for him to have some tea. “I have a favor to ask you, General Yang. But before that, I need to invite someone else . Xiao Changzi, go to the First Company and bring Deng Mama here.”
“Yes.”
Yan Ge said to Yang Zhuo, “General Yang, the matter I need your help with is related to Deng Mama.”
Yang Zhuo asked, “Please go ahead, Yan Caiqing.”
While Huangfu Yuchen reviewed the memorials, he listened to Yan Ge’s explanation.
Yan Ge said, “I recently wrote a book, which tells the story of a beautiful woman searching for her lost husband. I find the story very touching and plan to have a theater troupe perform it on New Year’s Eve as a reward for the hard work of all the employees in my company throughout the year. Deng Mama is one of the main characters…”
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Yuchen silently applauded his baby’s wit.
“But the problem is, I haven’t been able to find a suitable candidate to play the husband’s role. After much consideration, I believe General Yang is the best choice. General Yang, are you willing to help?” Yan Ge added pressure to his request.
Yang Zhuo felt somewhat embarrassed by the request. “I would be honored to assist Yan Caiqing. However, theatrical performances are usually better suited for literati and talented individuals. As a military general, I am but a rough person. I’m afraid I might disappoint Yan Caiqing. Besides, if I were to perform on stage, it might affect the image of the Imperial Guards…”
“General Yang, you’ve misunderstood,” Yan Ge smiled. “It’s my fault, I didn’t explain clearly. I only want you to help Deng Mama become familiar with the script until we find a suitable candidate to play the husband’s role. This doesn’t mean you will actually perform on stage. You know, this is my first time organizing a performance, and it’s crucial for me. So, this play must not fail. To be honest, this is a true story and Deng Mama is indeed the woman who traveled a long distance to find her lost husband. In other words, she is a married woman. And it’s widely known that General Yang is not interested in women. Acting alongside Deng Mama wouldn’t give rise to any gossip. You are a very suitable candidate.”
Huangfu Yuchen almost burst out laughing. Describing Yang Zhuo as “not interested in women” was quite fitting.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Yang Zhuo replied, “If this play becomes a big hit, it will undoubtedly help Deng Mama find her husband. General Yang, I assume you wouldn’t refuse to help others, right?” Yan Ge applied more pressure.
At this point, Yang Zhuo could only nod. Even though he didn’t dare lift his head to meet the Emperor’s gaze; he could still sense the warning stare.
“I’m more than willing to help,” Yang Zhuo said.
Yan Ge pretended not to notice his reluctance and happily exclaimed, “Excellent.”
Xiao Changzi’s voice came from outside, “Deng Mama has arrived.”
Shortly after, a woman appeared at the door. She was in her thirties, the most mature and charming age for a woman. She walked in gracefully and performed a dignified bow.
“I pay my respects to the Emperor and to Yan Caiqing,” she said.
“Rise.”
Yan Ge introduced, “General Yang, this is Deng Mama. Deng Mama, this is General Yang.”
Deng Mama bowed to Yang Zhuo.
“Madam Deng, there’s no need for such formality…” Yang Zhuo saw Deng Mama’s face and was slightly taken aback, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Yan Ge said, “There will be many people present during rehearsals, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
“Understood.”
Yan Ge called out, “Du Juan.”
Du Juan stepped forward, saying, “Yes, young master.”
Yan Ge instructed her, “I’m entrusting this matter to you. I’ve already told you what to pay attention to during rehearsals. I hope you haven’t forgotten.”
Du Juan replied, “Please rest assured, I remember everything.”
“That’s good. Take them downstairs and start practicing. General Yang is busy with official duties, so we shouldn’t take up too much of his time.”
Yan Ge’s words shattered Yang Zhuo’s hope of dragging this out for as long as possible.
Du Juan led Yang Zhuo and Deng Mama away. Only then did Huangfu Yuchen ask Yan Ge, “Baby, do you think this will work?”
Yan Ge replied, “Deng Mama mentioned that there were some unforgettable moments between her and Yang Zhuo. By recreating those scenes, we might be able to evoke some of his memories. The most unforgettable of them all is the day they got married. If everything goes smoothly, Yang Zhuo should be able to remember the past. Even if all that fails, they will spend time together, and perhaps feelings will develop over time.”
“But what if he doesn’t regain his memories and also doesn’t develop feelings for Deng Mama?” Huangfu Yuchen thought his baby was being too optimistic and wanted to prepare him for possible disappointment.
Yan Ge smiled confidently. “If that’s the case, we have one final step: finding an excuse for him to protect Deng Mama and accompany her to their hometown. If that doesn’t work… well, it means they are destined to be apart.”
“Both of them are fortunate to have met you, my love. It’s the result of their good karma over several lifetimes.” Huangfu Yuchen hugged Yan Ge’s head and gave him a kiss. “But I don’t like you spending so much effort on others. You even wrote a script specifically for them. Byt I’ll consider it as a favor to Deng Mama and Yang Zhuo, who have been of great help to us.”
“No, I was too busy during that time. I didn’t have time to write a script,” Yan Ge deliberately messed up his hair. “I only provided the idea, and Du Juan wrote the script based on Deng Ma’s account.”
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled and held him tightly around the waist, kissing his cheek, lips, and chin, drawing closer and closer.
Yan Ge pushed him away breathlessly. “Aren’t you supposed to review the memorials? Focus on your work.”
Huangfu Yuchen gave him a peck on the cheek and, without insisting, turned his attention back to the memorials. “Speaking of the national road repairs, I have two ideas. One is to find a way to get donations from wealthy merchants, and the other is to sell cement abroad and use the proceeds to fund the road repairs. However, while these two methods can alleviate the pressure on the treasury, they each have their drawbacks. Convincing merchants to donate money might not be easy, and if we sell cement to other countries, their infrastructure development might surpass ours, and I’m not content with that.”
“I’m also discontented,” Yan Ge nodded. “Cement is our invention, why should they use it before us? Naturally, we should wait until we have built our own Great Han to a certain extent before selling it to them. In that case, let’s go with the first method.”
A warm current surged In Huangfu Yuchen’s heart, and his deep gaze overflowed with a smile. He lovingly kissed Yan Ge’s smiling eyes, nose, and chin, drawing closer and closer, his arms wrapping around him tightly.
Yan Ge pushed him away again. “We’re supposed to review the memorials, remember? Focus on your work.”
Huangfu Yuchen kissed his cheek and didn’t insist, returning his mind to the memorials. “It’s good to hear that you have a plan for the first method, but convincing merchants to donate money won’t be easy.”
“Not difficult at all.” Yan Ge leaned leisurely against him, appearing very relaxed.
Huangfu Yuchen raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You have a solution?”
Yan Ge smiled mischievously. “I can tell you, but you have to agree to a condition.”
“What condition?” Huangfu Yuchen asked.
Yan Ge said, “Let’s live as commoners for a few days.”
Huangfu Yuchen was taken aback. “You want to live as a commoner?”
Yan Ge smiled mischievously. “I want to see you experience life as a commoner.”
Huangfu Yuchen rubbed his forehead. He knew that Yan Ge’s ultimate goal was simply to see him make a fool of himself.
“Do you agree or not?” Yan Ge couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of Huangfu Yuchen causing all sorts of funny incidents.
Huangfu Yuchen sighed helplessly. “Baby, would you be so cruel to me?”
Yan Ge narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Cruel.”
Huangfu Yuchen leaned in and bit his lips.
“Do you agree or not?” Yan Ge tilted his head, dodging his attack.
Huangfu Yuchen held him tightly to prevent him from dodging and successfully bit him, chuckling softly. “I agree. Why wouldn’t I? After all, I have you by my side.”
Yan Ge grinned mischievously. “Should we bring the Little Prince along?”
“Absolutely not!” Huangfu Yuchen quickly pleaded, “Baby, let me preserve some dignity as the emperor.”
“You’re so easily scared.” Yan Ge burst into laughter. “I was just teasing you. Since you agreed, let’s choose tomorrow as the day. Do you have free time?”
Huangfu Yuchen pondered for a moment. “I have no free time tomorrow morning. How about in the afternoon?”
Yan Ge firmly refused to let him find a way out. “Alright, tomorrow afternoon until the following afternoon. Regardless of the start time, we’ll dedicate a full twelve hours.”
Huangfu Yuchen sighed. His beloved’s wit also gave him a headache. He had a feeling that tomorrow would be quite disastrous.
