Chapter 576: Chapter 237 My Son is a Treacherous Minister (Part 13)_3
Rewards had already been distributed.
Then, what about punishment?
The Saint seemed to struggle for a moment to decide how to punish Yang Sanlang.
Because his mistake wasn’t truly significant.
If the punishment was too severe, the noble family would protest.
But if he didn’t punish at all, not to mention An Kang and her mother-in-law, even the Saint himself would feel "remorseful."
After all, to the high-ranking noble families, members of the royal family from warlord backgrounds were also considered coarse and lowly!
It was only because the previous generations of Kings were domineering and used strong tactics, striving to weaken the noble families over the generations.
Otherwise, the age-old, deep-rooted, and flourishing noble families would indeed be a formidable power that could inspire fear.
But even now, with the decline of the noble family, the Saint couldn’t be too coercive.
Strictly punishing Yang Sanlang might provoke a desperate reaction from the noble family.
But if he didn’t show any reaction at all, he would be truly uncomfortable!
Just when the Saint was caught in a dilemma, He Tiantian suddenly spoke up, "Your Majesty, let’s, let’s just forget about this matter!"
"Young Mr. Yang is still young, with limited education, perhaps he’s ignorant and that’s why he made such oral mistakes—"
He Tiantian pleaded for Yang Sanlang with a tone of disguised irritation.
"Ding! Yang Sanlang’s hatred value +30!"
Bullshit young and undereducated!
He, Yang Sanlang, was already twenty-three, even older than He Xi.
Moreover, who in the capital didn’t know of Yang Sanlang’s reputation as a learned man?!
What did this Old Devout Woman mean by her words?
Was she implying he was educated yet lacked manners, grown in age yet ignorant, wasting his studies? Useless as growing a horse’s teeth?!
"Ding! Vice Minister Yang’s hatred value +30!"
Vice Minister Yang’s gaze toward He Tiantian was like Fire Spray.
Such a sinister old woman.
If the Saint, reminded by her, advised Sanlang to read more and learn the principles, then, then Sanlang’s reputation would be destroyed.
Educated yet illogical, old yet ignorant!
Such labels, once officially settled by the Emperor (His Majesty), would bar Sanlang from ever joining the civil service!
The Yang father and son harbored deep hatred towards He Tiantian, but it seemed the Saint caught on.
He appeared not to see the desperate pleas in Vice Minister Yang and Yang Sanlang’s eyes, cleared his throat, and said, "Hmm, the Lady of Chaste and Virtuous makes a good point!"
"A child, being young and lacking in education, may inevitably be influenced by gossiping women in the marketplace. So, Yang Sanlang, I shall order you to read more and earnestly learn the morals in the books!"
"Your Majesty!"
Vice Minister Yang let out a mournful wail in despair.
His brilliant son, to be confined to a study by the Emperor’s decree.
What more reading, more understanding of principles?
Without even a time limit, was his son supposed to read for a lifetime?
Yang Sanlang was instantly dumbstruck on the spot.
Was his career path really over?
Originally, his father and uncle had arranged for his uncle’s friend to recommend him to the Imperial College.
Now, with the Saint’s explicit decree, let alone being recommended, even if he humbled himself to participate in the imperial examination and achieved a ranking, he would not be able to take office.
"Ding! Yang Sanlang’s hatred value +30!"
"Ding! Vice Minister Yang’s hatred value +30!"
"Ding! Yang Sanlang’s hatred value..."
The Yang father and son, vying against each other, continued to provide He Tiantian with an endless stream of hatred value.
Until two days later, when Guo Erlang arrived in the capital, and the matter with the Yang Family came to an end, He Tiantian could occasionally hear the contribution of hatred values from all of the Yang Family (including cats, dogs, and other pets).
He Tiantian:... The Yang Family is really supportive.
However, with Guo Erlang’s arrival, the affairs of the Guo Family Army still needed to be handled.
He Tiantian, having no time to cultivate new "clients," had to stay at home and entertain Guo Erlang.
She was very enthusiastic and accommodating, and on An Kang’s side, perhaps due to her experience of "collaboration" with her mother-in-law, she didn’t reject the woman she had deemed an evil old lady as strongly as before.
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, one able to act, the other willing to collaborate, surprisingly seemed to get along quite well.
Seeing the way He Tiantian and An Kang interacted, a worried Guo Erlang was finally able to relax.
He Tiantian was very observant. After exchanging pleasantries, she took the initiative to find an excuse to leave, giving the siblings some space and time to talk properly.
After dispatching the servants around him, Guo Erlang held An Kang’s hand and asked earnestly, "Is the He Family treating you well? Is that boy He Xi bullying you?"
"Everything’s fine, I’m all right!"
An Kang looked around to make sure there were no eavesdroppers, then whispered in a low voice, "Erlang, you should pay close attention to Deputy General Ma!"
"Ma Mingchang?"
"Yes, him. Yesterday, when I mentioned to Mother-in-law that you were returning to the capital, she unintentionally said, ’Isn’t Deputy General Ma coming back with him’?"
Although An Kang was truly innocent and weak, she wasn’t foolish.
Sometimes, she was even extremely sensitive.
Guo Erlang hadn’t thought much of it, but seeing how serious An Kang was, he couldn’t help but take it seriously, "Alright, I’ll make sure to investigate him thoroughly once I’m back!"