CHAPTER 302: CHAPTER 302: SO WHEN ARE WE LEAVING?

Before Meng Yao could find Zhao Dahe for advice, Zhao Ting beat her to it and went to see Zhao Dahe.

"Your mother wants to abandon me, what do you think I should do!" Zhao Ting wore a bitter expression.

Zhao Dahe was momentarily stunned.

"Didn’t you say the other day that everything was under your control?" Zhao Dahe asked.

Zhao Ting smiled wryly, "That’s what I thought. But it turns out, it wasn’t."

He thought he had moved Meng Yao, but as it turned out, he only moved himself.

This cold-hearted woman is too rational.

"I told you, my mother is not an ordinary woman, she can’t be easily coaxed," Zhao Dahe said.

"So, quickly help me think of a way; do you really want to watch us go our separate ways?" Zhao Ting asked, "Can you bear it?"

"I promised my mother not to interfere in your matters with her. Besides, I’m not even married, so I have no experience in this area. Is it appropriate for me to give you advice?" Zhao Dahe spread his hands.

He’s good at talking tactics on paper but has no real-world experience, are you kidding?

"Xiao Hua hasn’t even been proposed to; if your mother and I part ways, it will definitely affect her," Zhao Ting said. "Are you willing to let your sister be looked down upon?"

Zhao Dahe sighed, "Father, you probably don’t understand Xiao Hua very well. To her, mother’s wishes are certainly the top priority. And also, Xiao Hua doesn’t seem like someone who can be easily manipulated."

If the other party tries to use this as leverage, he believes Xiao Hua will definitely cut ties with them without hesitation.

"So there’s no solution?"

"Well, not that there’s no solution at all; there is definitely a way, but it has to come from you, not from us," Zhao Dahe said. "We’ve all grown up, so there’s no need to say we have to endure for my mother or us."

Zhao Ting and Zhao Dahe looked at each other and frustratingly realized that the brat was actually making sense.

Whether things work out with Ah Yao or not relies on him.

"A friendly tip: you can start by cutting off those rotten romances of yours. Although I know you’re not interested in them, they’re quite annoying," Zhao Dahe added.

Zhao Ting locked himself in his room for a whole day and night, and the next day, he emerged looking disheveled.

He headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Jing looked helplessly at the unreasonable Zhao Ting.

Can you blame him for this?

He had joyfully arranged for the title of County Princess and land for her; wasn’t he also happy at that time?

Now that your wife wants to leave, you’re blaming him for giving the land back?!

Is he really to blame for this?

No emperor before him has ever been in such a pitiful situation!

Occupied with state affairs every day, he still has to deal with the domestic affairs of his courtiers!

"What exactly do you want? Speak! The conferred title and land can’t be taken back. I am the Son of Heaven, and my word is gold; I can’t change decrees at a whim," Emperor Jing said, frowning.

"I wish to retire to the fields," Zhao Ting said smoothly.

He came to hassle Emperor Jing with only this one goal in mind.

He wanted to resign from his posts so that wherever Ah Yao wants to go, he can accompany her.

He couldn’t think of any other way to move Ah Yao, but he knew that a necessary condition to touch someone is to be by Ah Yao’s side.

Otherwise, how could he move her?

"Zhao Ting, you’re so accomplished!" Emperor Jing was outraged, "The court needs people right now, and you’re walking away for a woman! Does this justify the trust that I’ve placed in you?"

"There’s no other choice! After all, Your Majesty hasn’t experienced what I have, and doesn’t know how important Ah Yao is to me. And, Your Majesty, if you won’t let me go, all my thoughts will be on Ah Yao, and I can’t help you relieve your burdens," Zhao Ting replied.

"It’s because I’ve been too lenient with you all along, right! Zhao Ting, know your limits," Emperor Jing glared in anger, "Aren’t you afraid that in anger, I’ll order the execution of Meng Yao?"

"Your Majesty, you aren’t that kind of person," Zhao Ting said with certainty.

Not to mention that His Majesty values Ah Yao’s medical skills, considering the Duke Qi Mansion, His Majesty wouldn’t dare kill Ah Yao.

"I promise as soon as I’ve coaxed Ah Yao back, I’ll return immediately," Zhao Ting said. "My son is talented; once he’s finished his exams, Your Majesty can feel free to use him."

"Zhao Ting, you’ve truly lost all face!" Emperor Jing was so angered by Zhao Ting’s shamelessness that he trembled.

"If Your Majesty wants it, take it by all means."

"Get out, out, out."

"I comply with the decree."

Zhao Ting, in high spirits, left the Imperial Palace and headed back to the Zhao Mansion.

When it came to his decision, Old Lady Zhao didn’t react as fiercely as Emperor Jing.

"Ah Ting, you’ve also really let your mother down," Old Lady Zhao sighed, "It’s been so long, and not only have you failed to smooth things out, you’ve driven her to the point of wanting to leave the Capital City. What do you want me to say to you?"

How did it become him forcing her!

He’s been wronged.

"If you can’t coax her back, don’t bother coming back either," Old Lady Zhao said.

Her good grandson is capable; with him around, the Zhao Family need not worry about prosperity in the future.

Her son can just do whatever he wants.

As his mother, there’s not much more she can manage.

——

Meng Yao looked at Zhao Ting with a resigned expression.

He even had his luggage packed, ready to follow her wherever she went.

"Zhao Ting, calm down, will you?" Meng Yao sighed.

"I am very calm!" Zhao Ting replied.

Quitting an official post just like that, how is that calm?

"What are you going to tell the old lady about this?" Meng Yao asked.

"She said that if I can’t coax you back, I don’t have to come back either. In her eyes, Dahe is capable, the Zhao Family has successors, and I, as a son, am dispensable." Zhao Ting replied.

Meng Yao twitched her lips, not expecting Old Lady Zhao to act so unpredictably.

Logically, since Zhao Ting is giving up his career for her, shouldn’t Old Lady Zhao have opposed it and took it out on her, forcing Zhao Ting to cut ties with her?

But what happened was quite the opposite?!

"You’re making things difficult for me."

"You’ve never traveled far, but I have, nearly covered all of Zhou Country. Take me with you, and it will be convenient wherever you go," Zhao Ting said.

"Rest assured, I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do; you can treat me as a mere follower or a guide," Zhao Ting continued.

"If you go to Le’an, it’s a long journey; I can plan the most comfortable route for you, allowing you to see the most beautiful sights and taste the best local delicacies."

"I’m skilled, and I can ensure your safety,"

"In short, you won’t lose anything by taking me with you."

With Zhao Ting like this, what could Meng Yao say?

Moreover, Meng Yao knew from Zhao Ting’s capabilities that even if she tried to leave secretly, he would find her.

Given this, she might as well go along with his wishes.

Isn’t there a saying: traveling together is the best way to truly understand a person’s character?

Perhaps, after the trip, without having to say anything, Zhao Ting might retreat on his own?

"If you’re willing to follow, then follow," Meng Yao said.

Zhao Ting beamed, "So, when are we leaving?"