As soon as Ye Yiming returned to the Duke's Mansion, he was informed by the servants that Duke Wu was looking for him and that he should go to the main hall immediately.
Upon arriving at the hall, Ye Yiming sensed something was amiss. Duke Wu sat solemnly in the main seat of the hall, and beside him was Wang Yulian, with a stern expression on her face. Ye Yiming, led by the servants, stood obediently below.
Why does this feel like a public trial?
This scene startled Ye Yiming. If they added the legendary guillotine, wouldn't this be an otherworldly version of Judge Bao's courtroom?
"Cough, Yiming greets Grandpa and Mother. So, um, what's the matter?" The atmosphere made Ye Yiming speak cautiously.
Duke Wu glanced at Ye Yiming, gave him a look, then subtly glanced at Wang Yulian before resuming his tea.
Ye Yiming immediately understood the hint from his grandfather.
Although it seemed like his grandfather was in charge, the actual person in charge was his mother, Wang Yulian, sitting beside him.
"Hehe, Mother, what do you need me for?"
Seeing his son's smiling face, Wang Yulian said irritably, "If I didn't call you over, I might not recognize what my son looks like anymore!"
Her tone made Ye Yiming's heart skip a beat.
Ye Yiming realized his mother was angry, although he wasn't sure why. But he knew that when his mother was angry, it was no small matter!
Even Duke Wu, who usually paid no mind to the emperor of Tianyang, was seriously 'tasting tea' at this moment.
"Really?" Ye Yiming feigned surprise and then ran behind Wang Yulian, starting to massage her shoulders in a fawning manner.
As he massaged, Ye Yiming smiled and said, "Hehe, Mother, how could you not know what I look like? I am your precious son!"
Feeling the pleasant sensation from her shoulders, Wang Yulian felt comfortable but kept a serious demeanor as she thought about the recent events involving her son. She pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh, really? But how come I didn't know that my precious son can not only write poetry but also refine pills? And most surprising, I didn't know my precious son is a first-rank martial artist!"
The more Wang Yulian spoke, the angrier she got. She stood up, twisted Ye Yiming's ear, and said, "My precious son, tell me, what else are you hiding from me?"
"Ouch! Ouch!" Although Wang Yulian was gentle, Ye Yiming exaggerated his cries, making Duke Wu's mustache twitch and his facial muscles quiver.
"Alright, alright, I didn't use any force. Why are you yelling so loudly?"
Ye Yiming's exaggerated reaction made Wang Yulian laugh, her anger dissipating significantly.
In truth, Wang Yulian wasn't genuinely angry. She was just upset that Ye Yiming had kept so many things from her.
What mother wouldn't want her son to be open with her?
Ye Yiming knew this, so he exaggerated his cries. After Wang Yulian released his ear, he quickly helped her sit down and said, "Mother, don't worry. You sit down, and you can ask me anything. I'll explain everything."
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"Really, anything?" Wang Yulian's tone was skeptical, doubting Ye Yiming's words.
"Really! As true as pearls!" To strengthen his credibility, Ye Yiming patted his chest and spoke sincerely.
After making his promise, Ye Yiming spent the next while explaining everything that had happened to him recently to Wang Yulian. Throughout her questions, he responded with unwavering honesty and sometimes exaggerated gestures, which made Duke Wu suppress his laughter.
This rascal can really spin tales!
You couldn't blame Ye Yiming. He couldn't reveal anything related to the system, so he had to make things up.
After a long time, Ye Yiming finally answered his mother's last question and breathed a sigh of relief.
After listening to Ye Yiming's explanation, Wang Yulian seemed to understand something and said, "So, you learned alchemy from a divine book? And that sensational auction was for the super martial artist pills you made?"
"Yes!" Ye Yiming nodded repeatedly.
"Oh, so those super martial artist pills must be very valuable?"
"Yes, Mother, you have no idea. This morning's auction was a frenzy! Those pills sold for sky-high prices! Just one top-grade super martial artist pill sold for..."
Mid-sentence, Ye Yiming realized something and stopped abruptly. Seeing his mother's smiling face, any dissatisfaction disappeared.
This is?
Seeing his mother's expression, Ye Yiming seemed to understand something.
Instantly, his smugness and excitement vanished, leaving only a look of shock.
"Hahaha!" Duke Wu, unable to hold back any longer, burst into laughter. Pointing at Ye Yiming, he said, "You silly boy, did you really think you were the only clever one? Do you know who gave birth to you?"
If Ye Yiming still didn't understand, he'd be too foolish. Looking at his laughing grandfather and smiling mother, he felt utterly dejected.
After all that talk, this was a trap waiting for me!!!
"Mother, if you knew all this, why did you ask me?"
Seeing Ye Yiming's dejected look, Wang Yulian laughed, "What's wrong? Are you angry?"
Ye Yiming quickly shook his hands to show he wasn't upset and said, "No! Absolutely not, why would I be angry?"
As long as you aren't angry, anything goes!
"Good, that's more like it!" Seeing Ye Yiming's sincere face, Wang Yulian nodded and continued, "Since that's the case, how about you hand over some of the money from today's auction?"
Oh no!
Hearing his mother's words, Ye Yiming sighed inwardly but held onto a glimmer of hope, "Alright, alright, Mother, I have fifteen million here, I'll give it all to you. Is that okay?"
As he spoke, Ye Yiming took out his remaining fifteen million. He felt somewhat relieved.
Fortunately, I only have this fifteen million from selling to Chen Zhihau. The rest is with Xiaolong. Otherwise, I'd be completely bled dry!
Seeing the banknotes, Wang Yulian smiled happily.
"Not bad, my precious son. You're doing well, making money for your mother. It's worth all my efforts in raising you."
"Hehe, it's what I should do. Who else would I honor if not you, Mother?" Seeing his mother happy, Ye Yiming finally relaxed.
But what Wang Yulian did next taught Ye Yiming a truth.
A mother knows her son inside out!
Just as Ye Yiming fully relaxed, Wang Yulian called out to the door, "Since you're here, come on in!"
What?
Ye Yiming was puzzled by his mother's sudden words. Looking towards the door, his eyes widened.
A slender figure, as thin as a bamboo pole, walked in!
It was none other than Wang Weilong.
What are you doing here?
Seeing Wang Weilong, Ye Yiming tried to signal him, but Wang Weilong ignored him, walked up, greeted Duke Wu, and then approached Wang Yulian.
"Aunt!"
"Yes," Wang Yulian nodded, "Hand it over."
Hand it over?
Hearing this, Ye Yiming felt a sense of foreboding. Wang Weilong's next actions confirmed his fears.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
After Wang Yulian spoke, Wang Weilong took out several banknotes from his pocket and placed them on the table in front of her, "Aunt, here are the banknotes totaling 111.27 million taels of gold, all the winnings from the gambling and the auction proceeds."
It's over!
Seeing the stack of banknotes, Ye Yiming groaned inwardly.
"What? Feeling hurt? Reluctant to part with it?" Wang Yulian saw through Ye Yiming's thoughts and said softly.
"No, not at all!"
What could Ye Yiming say at this point? Besides, the money was for his mother, which was like keeping it for himself.
Thinking this way, Ye Yiming's frustration dissipated.
"Mother, my money is your money. It doesn't matter who holds it!"
Ye Yiming's words were free of any complaint, spoken as if it was the most natural thing. This made Wang Yulian smile happily.
"Good, you're indeed my precious son. I'm happy to see you think this way." Wang Yulian's tone was filled with satisfaction. She looked at Ye Yiming and continued, "Actually, the reason I took the money is that I was afraid you and Xiaolong would waste it and end up like those playboys in the capital. That wouldn't do!"
Hearing his mother's words, Ye Yiming felt a surge of emotion.
Sigh, after all, my mother is still looking out for me!