"Heās upset we didnāt take him out," Yang Chuxia said with a laugh.
"Wife..."
"Hmm?"
Seeing that he didnāt speak, Yang Chuxia curiously raised an eyebrow.
"If I become a big fatso, would you despise me?" Ye Ziāan struggled with the thought, deeply troubled about his image.
He didnāt know how he had gained weight, and what if he kept getting fatter?
Seeing his face full of turmoil, Yang Chuxia wordlessly twitched the corner of her mouth, wondering why men cared so much about weight, just as many women do.
Seeing that she didnāt respond, Ye Ziāan grew deeply sorrowful, "Wife, you wouldnāt, right? One mustnāt be so superficial. After all, weāve been married for many years, and our child is already so big. If you scorn me, it will disrupt our family harmony and make the child unhappy."
Hearing him talk more and more nonsensically, Yang Chuxia rolled her eyes helplessly, "Shut your mouth, will you? What are you even saying? Didnāt you say we were going to the town? Letās hurry up and leave."
But Ye Ziāan, not having received a satisfactory answer, would not easily give up.
As soon as they got on the carriage, he asked again, "Wife? Would you really despise me? Donāt!"
Hearing this, Yang Chuxia let out a chuckle, "Whether Iād despise you, I really donāt know. After all, you havenāt turned into a pig yet. However, thereās one person who would definitely be very, very sad to hear youāve gained weight."
"Who?" Ye Ziāan was somewhat confused at the time.
"Your eldest son!" Thinking of Lele who should still be on the road, Yang Chuxia chuckled, "Lele would be worried thinking, during the days heās not at home, his father didnāt miss him and lose weight, but instead fattened himself up. He will surely be concerned that you donāt value him enough to eat well and sleep soundly."
On hearing this, Ye Ziāanās face instantly fell.
"If you donāt tell him, the son wonāt know," Ye Ziāan sighed, thinking of his eldest son, "Ah, I wonder how the boyās doing. When we get back from town, I need to send him a letter."
"You also need to send some banknotes along," Yang Chuxia reminded him, "Although heās in the palace and doesnāt need to pay for food and drink, those people in the palace are good at buttering up and putting down. If you donāt bribe them with some money, even with the Emperor there, they wouldnāt hesitate to deceive and bully our son."
"Hmm, that is necessary. Also, Iāll send some of our pearl and coral jewels. In case something happens, weāll have something impressive to offer."
The people in the Capital City are the most tiresome. At the slightest occasion, they love to throw a feast and invite people over. Today itās someoneās birthday, tomorrow anotherās. They donāt care about age; even three- or four-year-olds like to hold parties, inviting their close friends over. If someone invites you, you must bring a gift, and if you donāt go, they say youāre disrespectful.
I recall the palace is full of princes and grandsons. The Emperor is unpredictable regarding when heāll send my son back. If the stay becomes prolonged, how could one not run into such events?
"Remember this and make sure to send it when itās time," Yang Chuxia instructed again.
Thus, one day Baili Yan received a package full of gold and silver. At first, he thought Brother An had finally wised up, realizing heād been a bit poor this year, and decided to show some filial piety. But upon closer inspection, it turned out it was for someoneās son, and he felt utterly drained.
The carriage traveled rather slowly, and by the time they reached the town, the sun was high in the sky.
"Letās go to the store first and park the carriage. Then we can come out."