Chapter 460: Casually Mentioning a Condition
After Ye Lu finished speaking, the Third and Fourth Princes simultaneously looked at him in disbelief, their eyes full of surprise!
Once they stopped speaking, they exchanged a silent glance, and surprisingly, both of them were once again filled with regret.
They regretted their reaction. They had just made Ye Lu their stepping stone.
That wasn’t their goal.
Not only the two princes but even Ye Junshuo, who was sitting on the Dragon Throne, looked shocked and surprised.
All the civil and military officials and their families also wore expressions of shock.
“Heh, I didn’t expect you, Wei’er, to be right after all. Although this Ye Lu usually seems unrefined and unreliable, I didn’t expect him to choose the path of business. It’s fine. Since you like him, Wei’er, a simple Ye Lu, or perhaps a future of plain happiness, it’s still good.”
Xiahou Yuanwei listened to her father’s words and grew more determined in her resolve.
“Father, you must remember to find an opportunity to report this to His Majesty.”
Xiahou Yuanwei softly reminded him, worried that her father might get too drunk and forget to take care of the important matters.
“I only have you as my daughter, so anything you like, I’ll do my best to get it for you. You don’t have to worry, Wei’er.”
Xiahou Feng’s words reassured Xiahou Yuanwei completely.
Actually, when Xiahou Yuanwei heard that Ye Lu had been doing business for over a year, even going to the wilderness several times for trade, she felt a bit regretful about her impulsive actions today.
She began to wonder if she had misunderstood Ye Lu.
But thinking about becoming the Princess Consort of Ye Lu soon, Xiahou Yuanwei decided not to dwell on it.
The entire room was shocked by Ye Lu’s transformation, though some were clearly displeased.
Ye Lu had lost his mother at a young age, and without the protection of her family, in front of the five adult princes, Ye Lu should have been considered a wastrel, someone who couldn’t be helped.
He had suddenly changed and become serious. Even though he wasn’t helping the Emperor with state affairs, the princes still didn’t want Ye Lu—who they had always looked down on—to change their father’s opinion of him.
“Your Majesty, this Ye Lu has really surprised me. Even though he’s just in business and hasn’t contributed to the state, it’s still a form of progress. Among the adult princes, Ye Lu is the youngest, so it’s truly gratifying to see such a change. I believe you’re happy too, Your Majesty.”
The Empress, with a graceful smile, looked down at Ye Lu and spoke, which made Ye Junshuo, who had been wearing a dark expression, slowly show a bit of satisfaction.
“Indeed, the Empress is right. I should be pleased that Ye Lu has changed. At least he knows how to earn money and supplement the family’s losses. It’s another form of responsibility.”
As Ye Junshuo finished speaking, his smile grew even wider.
He looked back at Ye Lu and waved at him, “Come here, let me try this brightly colored fruit. What kind of delicious thing could it be that you, in such an unexpected way, offer it as a gift to honor me and the Empress?”
Seeing the Emperor, who had suddenly turned into a loving father, the other princes grew anxious.
But they couldn’t stop their father from eating the fruit. After all, angering the Emperor was a consequence they couldn’t afford.
Ye Lu, seeing this, quickly approached Ye Junshuo, holding the basket. He carefully selected the largest fruit and handed it to Ye Junshuo, then chose another one for the Empress and the Queen Mother before stepping back obediently.
The three of them, holding the strawberries, examined them with curiosity.
“This fruit looks really nice. If I found it in the wild, I wouldn’t dare to pick it, since it looks so striking. They say beautiful things often carry poison. This is the first time I’ve seen such a lovely fruit, but I wonder what it tastes like?”
The Queen Mother, holding a strawberry, was deeply curious.
The Empress nodded in agreement.
“Thanks to Ye Lu, we are fortunate to have the chance to taste this new fruit today.”
After speaking, the three of them bit into the strawberries. The sweet and sour juice filled their mouths, and the unique sweetness caused them all to smile in approval.
“Not bad. This fruit not only looks good, but it also tastes sweet and sour. The sourness is just right, making it refreshing and appetizing.”
After finishing the fruit, Ye Junshuo continued to pick several more strawberries from the basket, eating until he was a little full, then looked at Ye Lu with a loving smile.
“Ye Lu, you really put in some thought. The gift may not be expensive, but it’s thoughtful. I’m happy to see the change in you. Alright, alright. Today, I must reward you properly.”
Hearing that there would be a reward, Ye Lu was overjoyed.
Before this, he had tried to find precious gifts, but no matter how hard he tried, his gifts always fell short compared to his brothers’, and they would mock him for trying to impress them.
Fortunately, these fresh, beautiful strawberries had arrived just in time. They were something never seen before in the Eastern Kingdom.
It worked out well—he had to catch them off guard.
“Thank you for your kindness, Father Emperor. I thank you for your favor!”
Ye Lu didn’t hold back. He lifted his robes and knelt on one knee, flattering him as he eagerly accepted.
Seeing Ye Lu like this, Ye Junshuo laughed even harder.
“Haha, you’re not being polite at all. If you have anything you want or any conditions to propose, feel free to tell me. Today, I’ll grant them all.”
For the first time, Ye Lu received such acknowledgment from his father, and he was so excited that he almost floated.
When Ye Junshuo said this, the other princes were stunned!
Even if they had accomplished great feats in the past, they had never made their father so happy. Now, their father was allowing Ye Lu to name his conditions—did that mean Ye Lu would be granted real power?
But no one dared to speak up and ruin the Emperor’s mood at this crucial moment. Everyone was holding their breath, curious to see just how big Ye Lu’s appetite was.
“Father Emperor, is that really true?!”
Ye Lu looked up with anticipation, already having a plan in mind, but he hadn’t expected it to be realized today.
However, as he thought about the conditions he wanted to propose, Ye Lu still felt a little uneasy inside.
He couldn’t help but speak again, wanting to confirm his father’s attitude.
“Hahaha, just say it. As long as it’s not too much, I’ll agree to it.”
Not too much?
But Ye Lu’s request might be a little excessive.
“Well, actually, apart from these strawberries for you, I also want to give you the sword I bought in the city of Feng for 200,000 taels of gold.”
Thinking about how excessive his request was, Ye Lu thought he should sacrifice a little more. At least, if his father got angry later, he hoped the sword would soften his temper a bit.
(End of Chapter 460)
