Persimmons are poisonous.

Chapter 898 Who is the Master

Fang Er took out a map and spread it on the table, pointing at it as he explained to Wu Shiyue and Chai Shao.

"When I returned from the south this time, south of Luzon, there is a large island called Ao Island, equivalent to half the territory of the Great Tang!"

"It is rich in minerals, with towering ancient trees, and countless rare treasures and exotic beasts."

"Both Prince Wei and Prince Han want to report to the Emperor this time and be enfeoffed to Ao Island."

"Ryukyu and Luzon are located between the Great Tang and Ao Island, and are the only way for traveling merchants."

"Therefore, I plan to send some people there to develop it, build docks, and establish cities."

"In the future, it will surely become a trade center larger than Shenyang."

"If Brother Wu is interested, you can select some people and accompany my household to Ao Island after spring."

Wu Shiyue was overjoyed.

"A large island equivalent to half the territory of the Great Tang, regardless of whether the Emperor agrees to enfeoff the Li brothers, someone has to do the business."

"And now that they are engaged, it means that their own son-in-law has the advantage."

"As Fang Er said, the geographical location of Ryukyu and Luzon destined them to become the center for north-south traffic."

"Liaodong is so harsh and cold, yet after Fang Er arrived, it became prosperous in just a few years."

"With Shenyang as a precedent, he dared not imagine what Ryukyu and Luzon would look like in a few years or decades."

"Since my brother is willing to share this path to wealth, then elder brother thanks you for your promotion."

The fifty-something Wu Shiyue clasped his fists and bowed to Fang Er, not feeling embarrassed at all.

"We are in-laws, what is there to say about this?"

Chai Shao stroked his beard and nodded secretly. He did not need to worry about the development in the south at all.

Even if he didn't speak, Fang Er would definitely bring Ling Wu along.

As the few people were talking, Lai Yifa returned with a team of servants.

Boxes of gifts piled up in the backyard of the Protectorate.

The most eye-catching was the ram weighing over a hundred kilograms.

This fellow was the most outstanding among the hundreds of sons of Big Horn. Yelü Tianying had refused an offer of two hundred guan to buy it.

A duck was hanging from the ram's horns~~

It was indeed impossible to buy a wild goose at this time of year, so they had to make do with a grey duck to fill the void.

Wu Shiyue was also discerning enough not to dwell on this.

Sun Simiao and Hua Niang also came along.

One played the role of a fortune-teller, and the other played the role of a matchmaker.

By this time, Wu Shiyue had also called all the family members over.

Wu Mei's mother, Lady Rong, Yang Shi.

And her two elder brothers, Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang.

The eldest sister Wu Shun and the youngest sister Wu Sanniang.

After a round of pleasantries, and seeing the Protectorate that lacked everything, Fang Er proposed.

"If elder brother and elder sister-in-law do not mind, please come to my humble abode, so that elder sister-in-law can meet my wife?"

"How can this be proper? According to the rules, you should stay for a meal today." Wu Shiyue hastily declined.

Lady Rong, Yang Shi, held Wu Mei's hand and stood aside, not saying much.

"Hahaha, what's there to be shy about? Besides, what delicacies can this Protectorate possibly have?"

"Let's go! Big Wu, Little Wu, let's go!"

Chai Shao smiled, got up, and pulled Wu Yuanqing towards the exit.

"Since the engagement is settled, these two little fellows are now their grandson's elder brothers-in-law. It's fine to get acquainted."

Wu Shiyue found it difficult to refuse Chai Shao, so he followed behind with his family.

Lai Yifa, who was standing outside the door, shrewdly sent the news back to the Duke's mansion when he heard the conversation inside.

Li Baoju, along with several kitchen helpers, began busy themselves without waiting for them to return.

When they returned home, Chai Yue was still a bit bewildered.

"What's going on? They went out shopping, and somehow ended up with a daughter-in-law?"

"And she's the daughter of the Duke of Ying, six years older than our son. This is too outrageous!"

"Madam, the master and the Duke of Qiao have returned. The family of the Duke of Ying have also arrived."

Hearing Xing'er's message, Chai Yue came back to her senses.

She beckoned Xue'er to call the Grand Princess and then got up to go outside.

"Hahaha, Yue'er, see who I've brought!"

Seeing her come out of the room, Fang Er, who had just entered the backyard, smiled and pulled Wu Mei towards her.

"Look, this is the wife your husband chose for Xin'er. Do you like her?"

Chai Yue looked at Wu Mei and forced a smile, "What a beautiful young lady. Xing'er, quickly get that phoenix hairpin from my makeup box~"

"Please don't dare, I cannot accept such great favor from Princess Yue~"

Upon hearing this, Lady Rong, before they could even formally greet each other, quickly said.

"Why dare not? My grandson's wife can use a three-tailed phoenix hairpin, what's the problem?"

Just then, Li Xiuning rushed over from the side courtyard. Hearing their conversation, she retorted domineeringly.

"Phoenix hairpins are distinguished by the number of tails.

The Empress uses nine tails, and consorts of higher rank use five tails.

Next are princesses and county princesses who use three tails, and the lowest is one tail."

Upon clearly seeing Li Xiuning, Lady Rong's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Wu Shiyue was not much better, pointing at Li Xiuning and stammering, "Grand, Grand, Grand Princess~"

Regarding Li Xiuning's affairs, Li Shimin had not publicized them widely, and she herself lived in the Duke of Anguo's mansion, rarely going out.

Those who had not seen her with their own eyes treated it as a joke, thinking that Li Shimin's longing had caused him to hallucinate.

After all, the matter of returning from the dead was too incredible.

Now that they truly saw her, it was a cognitive shock that not just anyone's heart could withstand.

"Oh~ why has she fainted?"

Sun Simiao, who was following behind everyone, saw this and quickly stepped forward. He placed his hand on Yang Shi's pulse, took a moment, and then smiled at Wu Shiyue.

"It's nothing, I can fix it with a needle."

After speaking, he took out a wooden box from his embrace, opened it, took out the silver needles, and inserted them into Yang Shi's philtrum.

"Ah~"

As soon as the needle was inserted, Yang Shi slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Li Xiuning standing beside her smiling at her, a startled cry escaped her lips.

"Alright, it's fine now that you've shouted."

Sun Simiao withdrew the silver needle and swaggered into the room.

"Having lived here for so long, and having entered Fang Er's inner chambers more than once, there's nothing to be shy about."

"We are ascetics, and we value freedom~~~"

"You, you, you are really the Grand Princess?"

Yang Shi finally recovered and asked Li Xiuning with a trembling voice, pointing at her.

"What, old sister-in-law doesn't recognize Xiuning anymore?"

Li Xiuning walked over, personally helped her up, and whispered in her ear with a smile.

"You, you, you are not?" Yang Shi still couldn't believe it.

"Heh heh heh, I merely had to retire due to some special reasons, I did not truly die." Li Xiuning had long prepared a speech for her own affairs.

"Special reasons?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wu Shiyue indicated that he understood immediately and quickly pulled his children to bow.

"Greetings, Grand Princess Your Highness~"

Li Xiuning extended her hand to support them metaphorically, and then said with a smile.

"Duke of Ying's health is indeed robust~"

"Alright, leave Little Wu and old sister-in-law to keep me company. You all go wait in the banquet hall. The meal should be ready soon."

If you were to ask who the owner of the Duke of Anguo's mansion was?

Nominally it was Fang Er, but the actual controller must be this domineering mother-in-law!