CHAPTER 301: CHAPTER 301: I OUGHT TO SHOW SOME APPRECIATION

Uncle Xiao Feng, auntie, and their family of three never returned, which Meng Yao found a little strange.

Xiao Feng was originally a girl without much independence, but the mentor found for her was extraordinary.

With her around, Xiao Feng wouldn’t suffer any losses.

This was also why Meng Yao felt at ease sending Uncle Xiao Feng’s family to meet with Xiao Feng.

Meng Yao was still pondering how to arrange things for Uncle Xiao Feng’s family after the meeting.

As a result, they simply never came back.

Out of emotion and reason, Meng Yao sent Huang Ying to check on them.

Huang Ying met with Xiao Feng’s mentor and then understood why Uncle Xiao Feng’s family didn’t return.

Xiao Feng’s mentor was effectively helping her resolve a major problem. Meng Yao thought it over and figured she couldn’t let such help go unrewarded, right? So, she personally took a map to have a meeting with Xiao Feng’s mentor.

What was said, nobody knows.

But when Xiao Feng saw her mentor so excited that their lips were trembling, she knew Madam Zhao surely said something important.

She asked her mentor, and they merely whispered that it was something good, something incredibly good, without saying anything more. However, the mentor became much busier than usual and stricter with her.

——

Zhao Ting looked at Meng Yao in disbelief and struggled to speak, "Ay-Yao, are you joking with me?"

Meng Yao replied earnestly, "How could such a thing be a joke?"

Zhao Ting was stunned. Even though they lived in the same house now, they had always lived in separate rooms. In outsiders’ eyes, they were a married couple.

In reality, he hadn’t even held Ay-Yao’s little hand.

Zhao Ting always thought, living together, in time, feelings would naturally develop.

At least, he felt that Ay-Yao wasn’t as opposed to him now as she was initially.

He even thought, soon enough, they could genuinely be together.

But now, Ay-Yao said she wanted to go to Le’an County.

Her reason was quite sufficient; Le’an County was her fief, she couldn’t not go take a look.

"But if you leave, what about the kids?" Zhao Ting asked.

"They aren’t toddlers who can’t live without their mother; how they manage daily now will be how they manage when I’m gone!" Meng Yao said.

Zhao Dajiang now had the backing of the Duke Qi Mansion, and the official position the Duke had gotten for Zhao Dajiang seemed tailor-made for him. Currently, Zhao Dajiang was doing exceptionally well in his role.

He had been praised a few times.

After all, other Ministers of Agriculture directed others to work.

But as for Zhao Dajiang, he personally took the field.

The top official set the precedent, how could those working under dare to be lazy?

Moreover, Zhao Dajiang may not excel in other areas, but when it comes to farming, he’s unbeatable. Since a kid, he loved squatting by the fields, learning the ten out of ten experiences from the village’s old farmers.

Seeing this, other Ministers of Agriculture were unwilling to be outdone by someone so new, so they all started demonstrating their best abilities, leading their teams to work diligently.

Initially, indeed, some people tried to trip him up, but over time, they realized Zhao Dajiang’s nature—he’s an honest person without tricks. Plotting against him only made them feel guilty.

Moreover, he’s the future Duke of Qi.

Such a person is best not to be offended.

Even though, many times, this gentleman couldn’t even tell if someone offended him.

As for Zhao Dahe, he’s not someone she needed to worry about.

In the past, when he had no backing, he managed without concern. Now with the General Mansion as a backing and a maternal great-grandfather as the Duke of Qi, and a biological mother who became a County Princess.

Although, in the Capital City, this wasn’t the most illustrious lineage, it wasn’t poor either.

As for Xiaohua, though young, she’s doing remarkably well in the Medical School. Also being decisive, coupled with being the only girl in the family, she’s truly cherished.

Meng Yao really couldn’t figure out if there was anything she still needed to worry about.

"It’s not like I’m not coming back, I’m just going to have a look." Meng Yao said again seeing Zhao Ting’s extraordinarily grim expression.

"What about me?" Zhao Ting asked.

Meng Yao suddenly felt somewhat guilty.

After they both opened up, she didn’t pretend not to understand Zhao Ting’s intentions.

Honestly speaking, Zhao Ting’s facial features were very much to her liking.

As for his physique, there was nothing to complain about.

But there was one thing that she minded.

At over thirty, yet still always being thought of.

Meng Yao felt uneasy dealing with such matters.

Irritated.

Meng Yao cleared her throat, "You’re a General, the Court needs you, the Emperor needs you, obviously you should stay in the Capital City to follow assignments."

This, she said, was faultlessly correct.

Affairs of the heart are trivial, surely one shouldn’t ignore national affairs for trivial matters?

"Ay-Yao, you know what I mean!" Zhao Ting said, staring intently at Meng Yao.

She was so smart, how could she not know what he meant?

She was simply skirting the issue and avoiding it.

"I don’t want to be trapped in the Capital City." Meng Yao said, "You know, our place... so I want to travel around."

"But, your promise to me and wanting to travel around aren’t conflicting." Zhao Ting said.

"Have you ever seen a lady of a household roaming around instead of staying home?" Meng Yao countered.

Ladies of noble families, which aren’t busy managing household affairs?

"You said you have many things you want to do." Meng Yao added, "I can’t selfishly have you wandering around with me, can I?"

When he was a Prince, he felt suffocated. After acquiring a new identity, he didn’t think about getting revenge but about supporting Emperor Jing well instead.

This breadth of mind is extensive enough.

Meng Yao indeed couldn’t bear for him to abandon his goals.

"So, I think you need a gentle and virtuous wife." Meng Yao said sincerely.

Though a bit regretful, somewhat lamentable, thinking about the vast lush forest outside, Meng Yao felt this little regret was nothing.

Initially, Zhao Ting’s thought was if Meng Yao didn’t want this, he’d let go.

Now, having set his mind on Meng Yao, asking him to let go was impossible!

"Dream on!" Zhao Ting gritted.

"Zhao Ting, there are plenty of fish in the sea, why single-mindedly love one flower?" Meng Yao said earnestly.

Why did those words sound so uncomfortable?

"That’s my business!"

"I’m doing it for your good too."

Primarily because if this matter isn’t resolved, she’d leave with an uneasy heart.

Zhao Ting didn’t want to continue this conversation with Meng Yao, splayed his sleeves, and left.

Meng Yao sighed; fortunately, she wasn’t leaving tomorrow, giving her time to work on Zhao Ting.

If all else failed, she’d have Dahe provide some ideas; that kid usually had plenty of ideas.

In short, she had to leave with no attachments.

Moreover, part of her purpose in going to Le’an was personal, wanting to find out about her biological parents’ matters.

After all, having taken over the original body, she had to make some sort of gesture, right?