"Hahaha~ Little Sixth, you've had your capping ceremony now, you're a grown man."
"Father Emperor, you should call me the Sixth Prince, Yadu, now."
"Yes, Yadu has grown up."
After Yang Tang left, Yang Jian also dismissed the palace maids, eunuchs, and musicians.
Only their family of four remained on the high platform of the capping ceremony, the atmosphere awkward, which Yang Zhong and the other two broke first.
"Heh heh~"
Yang Hong flicked his sleeve, smiling faintly, finding it even more amusing inwardly.
"Ahem~ Little Sixth, Imperial Grandfather has prepared a grand gift for you.
Have you heard of the Song clan, the aristocratic family from Lingnan?
Song Que, the head of the Song clan, has a second daughter, Song Yuzhi. She is exquisitely beautiful, as lovely as a flower, capable of toppling cities and nations, a picture of delicate charm..."
Yang Hong looked at Yang Zhong with an expression that said, 'You're trying to fool me.' Having read novels about the Great Tang, he naturally knew that Song Yuzhi was, at best, merely pretty, a delicate beauty, certainly not matching the myriad of flamboyant adjectives Yang Zhong used.
Slightly embarrassed by Yang Hong's gaze, Yang Zhong coughed and concluded.
"In short, she's very beautiful.
I owe Song Que several life-saving favors. This Song Yuzhi is not yet married, and I have already decreed that he send his daughter to the palace to marry you."
After speaking, Yang Zhong looked proudly at Yang Hong, expecting praise.
The corner of Yang Hong's mouth twitched, and he almost cursed.
He was a prince with no cultivation, confined to the Cold Palace, and now he was being given a wife who was a martial arts expert. Was this meant to be a way to deal with him?
However, he didn't want to expose his martial arts skills, to avoid trouble.
"Thank you."
"Heh heh~ If you like it, then it's good."
Seeing Yang Hong's acceptance, Yang Zhong chuckled, his mind already contemplating what kind of wine Yang Hong would brew next.
He had Yang Hong's wine recipes and brewing procedures, but the wines he brewed had almost no special effects, only good taste.
It wasn't just the wine; he had also had people replicate Yang Hong's planting methods and procedures, but the vegetables grown also lacked any special properties, merely tasting slightly better.
This was the true reason he was willing to be shameless and placate Yang Hong.
"Hong'er, you have also grown up and will have responsibilities in the future. Your father has nothing else of value, but here is a silkworm silk inner armor. Since you have no martial arts, this armor can offer you some safety assurance."
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
This inner armor was the same as the one Yang Zixuan had boasted about. It was said there were only ten in the entire world, making it a precious treasure.
For such a treasure, calling out "Father Emperor" didn't feel demeaning.
"In addition, I have also collected some agricultural books and wine recipes for you and sent them to your study."
"Oh~ Thank you."
Yang Hong knew that this person was also aware of his wine.
"Sixth Prince, your mother also has a gift for you.
I see that the land you cultivate is getting larger and larger, and your manpower seems insufficient. So, I have allocated all six courtyards nearby to you, along with the women residing there.
The Ministry of Works will come to renovate the courtyards the day after tomorrow."
"Tha~ Thank you~"
Yang Hong's thanks were reluctant, his face even showing resistance.
"Dugu Jialuo, what do you mean by this? Are you still trying to harm Little Sixth at this point?"
The Supreme Emperor Yang Zhong, standing beside them, directly called out Empress Dugu's name, his tone laced with anger.
"Father Emperor, your daughter-in-law's arrangement has its reasons. Please listen to me."
Despite Yang Zhong's anger and Yang Jian's murderous glare, Dugu Jialuo showed no fear and continued to speak eloquently.
"Father Emperor, Your Majesty, you both know that the Sixth Prince is a genius. The vegetables he grows and the wine he brews are extraordinary things.
You wouldn't want these things to be leaked, would you?"
"And for his capping ceremony, it is bound to be publicized, which will inevitably attract suspicious eyes.
If we allow those six concubines in the Cold Palace... um, to bear some of the blame, wouldn't that shift much of the attention away?"
Yang Hong inwardly grumbled, *This way, more people will pay attention to me.*
Yang Zhong lowered his head, deep in thought.
Yang Jian, on the other hand, had a fluctuating expression.
If the six concubines were to bear the blame, Dugu Jialuo, the instigator, would not escape it either, and he, the emperor, would certainly be looked down upon.
"Your Majesty, if those concubines were to help with the wine brewing here, it should increase the output of fine wine; and it would be more convenient for maintaining secrecy."
Seeing Yang Jian's expression, Dugu Jialuo continued.
"I think it's a good idea."
Upon hearing that it would increase the output of fine wine, Yang Zhong agreed immediately without even asking Yang Hong.
"Hmm~ Then let it be so."
Yang Jian seemed to have thought of something and also nodded in agreement.
Yesterday, he had obtained three types of wine from the Supreme Emperor and immediately conducted an experiment.
After consuming three jin of wine, the injuries he sustained from forcibly breaking through to Grandmaster had significantly recovered.
Yang Hong felt that these three were insane.
Even if it was the Cold Palace, even if those six concubines were doomed, such a scheme was truly...
F*cked up!
And what about human decency?
Filial piety?
As for human rights?
In a feudal society, human rights are irrelevant, so let's skip that.
"Ahem~ May I object?"
Yang Hong couldn't hold back any longer and spoke directly.
"Good grandson, this is for your own good. Once people know about these wines of yours, someone might come to assassinate you.
Let me tell you, there is a super expert hidden in the palace, and he is..."
Yang Zhong stepped forward, holding Yang Hong's hand, and earnestly recounted the strength and situation of the black-clothed figure Yang Hong had impersonated. He was genuinely concerned for Yang Hong's safety,
although in the end, his concern still revolved around the wine and vegetables.
However, admitting such a shameful matter to Yang Hong, a prince of the Cold Palace, was proof enough of his concern.
"Hong'er, what Father Emperor said is true. Although we don't let you leave the Cold Palace, it is for your own good. In the future~ I will tell you the reason when there's an opportunity.
In short, everything we do is for your own good."
Upon hearing about the mysterious black-clothed man, Yang Jian fully supported Dugu Jialuo's plan.
This treasure, Yang Hong, must not be exposed. If he was to be disdained, so be it. He had already gone all out.
Seeing the three reach a consensus, Yang Hong found it rather amusing. These royals, resorting to any means to achieve their goals, had no regard for their reputation.
But shouldn't you at least ask for my opinion?
"Sixth Prince, those women who entered the palace at the beginning of the year, as long as they are not pregnant, we will not interfere with whatever happens to them.
I will remove their governesses from the Cold Palace, and much information will be kept confidential."
Seeing Yang Hong's continued disdain and clear resistance,
Dugu Jialuo continued.
"Hmm~ This is necessary. I will find some younger women for Little Six later."
"Does Hong'er have any girls he likes? You can also mention them, and I will help you take them in if they are suitable."
Yang Zhong and Yang Jian spoke successively. They genuinely wanted to appease Yang Hong, so that he would continue to cultivate and brew wine.
Yang Hong, who was about to refuse, suddenly found himself unable to speak.
The Emperor Yang Jian's concubines, although second-hand, would definitely be beautiful, and Lady Zhou was a prime example.
Moreover, he could find younger ones.
"Slurp~"
Yang Hong, who had been single for over 50 years in both his past and present lives, was actually starting to be tempted.
"Ahem~ I'll consider it."
While saying he would consider it, Yang Hong's eyes lit up.
This was probably the dream of all modern single dogs, right?