Cheng Zhiyuan was the only Great Zhou person who had entered the capital alongside those Westerners with their various hair colors. When Emperor Tai’an heard he was Old General Lin’s adopted son and that his son Cheng Shu was a member of the Imperial Guards, summoning him to the palace was not surprising.

“Commoner Cheng Zhiyuan greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty.”

Emperor Tai’an’s tone was gentle as he told Cheng Zhiyuan to rise and asked about overseas matters.

Cheng Zhiyuan had wandered the Western seas for several years and had even single-handedly built up considerable influence. Naturally his words had substance—every sentence was new knowledge and valuable experience for Emperor Tai’an.

The sea most clearly demonstrated nature’s unpredictable power. Which maritime routes had less risk, how to avoid or resist danger when encountering it, where pirates were rampant, what grudges various factions held, as well as the laws and customs of overseas nations—these weren’t things that could be understood and mastered just by opening up maritime trade and casually forming a merchant fleet.

If there was a reliable person of their own who was familiar with these matters to lead the way, it would undoubtedly multiply their effectiveness.

Emperor Tai’an conversed freely with Cheng Zhiyuan for half the day before letting him go. Having spoken so much, he drank two cups of clear tea before his throat felt more comfortable.

Liu Chuan hastily congratulated Emperor Tai’an on obtaining a talented person he could use.

Emperor Tai’an was in a rare good mood these days, though his expression remained calm. “Although this Cheng Zhiyuan is Old General Lin’s adopted son, he hasn’t been in the capital for many years. Even if he truly has ability, using him requires caution.”

Though he said this, the corners of Emperor Tai’an’s mouth couldn’t help but lift upward.

In the following period, ministers held countless court assemblies large and small regarding maritime trade matters, almost all with Cheng Zhiyuan’s participation as an unofficial member. Thus people knew this adopted son of Old General Lin would most likely become one of the newly favored.

Upon further inquiry, Cheng Zhiyuan’s only son Cheng Shu had not yet married. How could this be? Immediately countless matchmakers trampled flat the General’s Manor’s threshold.

Upon yet more inquiry, Cheng Zhiyuan himself also had no wife? So the General’s Manor’s newly replaced threshold welcomed another great wave of matchmakers’ trampling.

Lin Shi couldn’t help but sigh to Old Madam, “I truly never expected that at Elder Brother’s age, he would be so popular.”

Old Madam smiled without speaking.

That the father was even more popular than the son wasn’t solely because Cheng Zhiyuan had gained the Emperor’s favor, but also because of his enviably substantial wealth.

Those manor households were the type who wouldn’t release the hawk without seeing the rabbit. Ever since Emperor Tai’an had revealed thoughts of opening maritime trade, they had dispatched people to investigate along the coast, or had already been secretly managing maritime business. Therefore, when Cheng Zhiyuan appeared in the capital, even if they couldn’t fully uncover his background, a little inquiry revealed this was an extremely wealthy master.

Too old? Don’t be ridiculous—he was only in his early forties and was quite handsome.

“There are even girls of fourteen or fifteen!” Lin Shi felt her eyes had been truly opened these past days.

“Then what do you think?” Old Madam asked impassively.

The man walking toward the door paused in his steps.

Lin Shi was suddenly asked and couldn’t think at all about herself, curling her lip. “I think it’s inappropriate. Marrying a young girl whose age could make her your daughter—aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?”

Old Madam’s mouth twitched hard. “It’s not that serious…”

In this world, old husbands with young wives differing by twenty years weren’t few.

“How is it not serious? Just thinking about if Chan’er and A’Hao were to find sons-in-law around my age—” Seeing Cheng Zhiyuan enter, Lin Shi stopped speaking.

“Zhiyuan has been so busy these days. Why did you come back at this hour?”

“A shipment of foreign goods I commissioned has arrived. I brought it back home.” Cheng Zhiyuan restrained the impulse to look at Lin Shi, asking impassively, “Just now how did I hear mention of sons-in-law—”

Old Madam was amused. “It’s still because of Wanqing. Seeing that those coming to propose marriage to you include girls as young as A’Hao and the others, she’s somewhat worried.”

Lin Shi felt her mother’s words were a bit strange. She wasn’t worried—clearly she was shocked.

Cheng Zhiyuan’s smile was exceptionally brilliant. “Wanqing, rest assured. I definitely won’t marry a young girl—that would be so inappropriate. I was just about to tell Adoptive Mother, please help me refuse all these marriage proposals. I’ll be busy with maritime trade afterward and temporarily don’t have that leisure.”

Heaven knew how nervous he had been standing outside the door when Adoptive Mother asked Wanqing her thoughts. But Wanqing’s words made him understand—she still had no such thoughts about him now.

It was a very heartbreaking and helpless fact, yet he still felt fortunate. At least he could wait openly and honestly, no longer bearing the shackles of coveting another man’s wife.

“Since you temporarily don’t have this inclination, then we’ll decline them first.” Old Madam knew full well her adopted son’s thoughts and was happy to see this come to fruition.

Lin Shi smiled. “It’s good for Elder Brother to make plans after he’s not so busy. But Shu’er’s marriage should be arranged.”

Cheng Zhiyuan stole time from his busy schedule to discuss Cheng Shu’s marriage with Old Madam and Lin Shi.

Someone else concerned about this father and son’s marriages was Emperor Tai’an in the imperial palace.

During this time, it was enough for the Jinlin Guard along the coast to transmit back some information regarding Cheng Zhiyuan.

Emperor Tai’an reviewed it repeatedly. At least from the intelligence gathered, Cheng Zhiyuan hadn’t done any great evil. Of course, wanting a share of maritime profits inevitably required using some methods, which Emperor Tai’an didn’t consider significant.

What he wanted was talented personnel who could fill his national treasury with gold and silver, not a gentleman with flawless morals.

If someone could earn money and had no treasonous intent, then they could be used.

To be even more at ease, Emperor Tai’an thought of marriage alliance.

If Cheng Zhiyuan were heavily relied upon, it wouldn’t be long before he left the capital. Even if a princess were bestowed in marriage to him, a wife with whom he spent little time and had no deep feelings would likely find it difficult to influence his decisions at certain crucial moments.

What could truly influence Cheng Zhiyuan was his only son Cheng Shu, and the people of the Lin family from the General’s Manor.

After contemplating for two days, Emperor Tai’an went to Cining Palace. Just as he approached, he heard the Grand Empress Dowager’s laughter.

He involuntarily softened his facial expression and walked in with a smile.

“The Emperor has arrived.” The Grand Empress Dowager’s voice was gentle, clearly in a good mood.

Kou Wan, who was keeping her company, respectfully bowed in greeting.

Emperor Tai’an smiled and told Kou Wan there was no need for excessive courtesy. After chatting for a while, he had people withdraw.

“Mother Empress seems to be in good spirits.” Without the younger generation present, the conversation between mother and son became much more casual.

The smile at the corners of the Grand Empress Dowager’s mouth deepened. “Wan’er is a lively and pure-hearted child, a source of joy.”

These words made Emperor Tai’an involuntarily think of Kou Wan’s older sister, Princess Yi’an, Kou Jiao.

That young woman who called him “Imperial Father” hadn’t entered the palace for quite some time.

He had little affection for Kou Jiao, especially since what kind of temperament Kou Jiao had couldn’t possibly escape his eyes. But in this instant he inevitably felt the thought that the Grand Empress Dowager’s heart was hard.

Of course, Emperor Tai’an understood even more clearly that in this imperial palace, having a hard heart was normal. This thought dissipated without even stirring a single ripple in the lake of his heart.

“How old is Wan’er this year?”

The Grand Empress Dowager’s eyes flashed. “She’s sixteen.”

“Sixteen—truly a wonderful age.” Emperor Tai’an smiled and stated his purpose for coming. “This son feels that Old Madam Lin’s grandson, Cheng Shu who serves in the Jinwu Guard, is a capable and upright fine young man, quite well-matched with Wan’er. What do you think?”