"These tiger skins are basically free, whatās the harm in giving one to my dad?" Lele rolled his eyes and added, "Heās my real dad! My own flesh and blood, how could I be reluctant to part with a tiger skin?"
Lele thought about how his father fought for a royal title for him; if he couldnāt even part with a tiger skin, wouldnāt that be too unfilial?
"Alright, letās keep it then." Yang Chuxia laughed, "We can make your father a cape from it later."
As the three of them were chatting, Ye Ziāan returned and happened to hear Leleās words, which warmed his heart.
"Why are you back so late?" Yang Chuxia asked.
"Spent the afternoon playing chess with the Emperor, with Prince Le and Concubine Ming by the side." Speaking of Concubine Ming, he glanced at Chengcheng, who was quietly listening, and picked him up in his arms, "Chengcheng, are you comfortable staying here?"
"Comfortable!" Chengcheng replied crisply, then added, "Uncle, I want to go to school with my brother."
"Go to school?" Ye Ziāan shook his head, "Youāre too young, you canāt go to school yet. Stay at home and play with Yueyue and Qingqing, wait for your brothers to come back from school and then play with you, okay?"
After thinking for a while, Chengcheng nodded, "Okay!"
Seeing him so obedient, Ye Ziāan patted his chubby face, then the little guy suddenly laughed, "Uncle, I like you!"
"Uncle likes you too!" Ye Ziāan, caught in the moment, even kissed him on the forehead.
This feeling was something Chengcheng had never experienced before; at least Mu Shaoling never did such things, so his little face was happily flushed.
Ye Ziāan, seeing this, said to Yang Chuxia, "When Mu Shaoling comes back someday, if I tell him about this, he might poison and blind me."
"Then donāt show off in front of him."
Ye Ziāan laughed at the remark, noticing Lele still looking at things, he leaned over to take a look and said, "Hmm, your mother is good at this, unlike you. Your father was too embarrassed to criticize you yesterday. Although your father doesnāt do business, when he heard you selling all skins for thirty taels, he thought only a fool would do such a thing."
Lele put down the paper and looked at Ye Ziāan with resentment, suddenly realizing he couldnāt stay here anymore. Is there no family love left here?
Everyoneās coming to criticize him, whatās the meaning of this!
"Tsk, tsk." Ye Ziāan shook his head at him, "What are you sulking for? Boys should be resilient to setbacks; a bit of criticism is healthy."
"Haha!" Yangyang laughed, "Father is right!"
Even Yang Chuxia laughed.
A while later, Yueyue and Qingqing came over. Seeing Ye Ziāan holding Qingqing, Yueyue stretched out her arms, asking to be held too, so Ye Ziāan had to have one sit on each leg.
Qingqing seeing this, ran over to sit in Yang Chuxiaās lap.
At night, the children had all returned to their rooms.
Ye Ziāan leaned against the bed and said, "Thereāll be a decree at home tomorrow, remember to prepare the incense altar."
"What is it?" Yang Chuxia paused, "A decree for your reappointment?"
"Yes, to become Assistant Minister at the Ministry of War."
"Oh?" Yang Chuxia laughed, "Should I congratulate you on your promotion?" She remembered that a Prefect was a fourth-rank official and Assistant Ministers were generally third-rank.
"Nothing worth congratulating." Ye Ziāan waved his hand, "Even though the Emperor agreed and tomorrowās decree is prepared, watch out. Things arenāt that simple; Prince Le will surely stir up trouble. Whether I can hold this Assistant Minister position steadily is still uncertain."