Chapter 553: Gao Yang's Social Death

"Husband, isn't this a bit too ostentatious… Last year I heard that Cai Duke's lifetime savings were only a little over seven thousand guan, and you're giving a gift of ten thousand guan…"

After entering, Li Lizhi hesitated for a moment, lowered her voice and said, "If today's matter spreads, any gossip would be bad, after all you're currently serving in the Ministry of Revenue…"

"Sister, what are you worrying about him for?"

Before Chen Yan could speak, Gao Yang impatiently said, "Our family doesn't lack those three melons and two jujubes; husband hasn't taken a single thread from the Ministry of Revenue, and the money our husband earned by his own ability can be spent however we want—does anyone have the right to control us?"

"Moreover, husband always takes one step and looks three steps ahead; being so ostentatious today shows he fears no consequences, so there's nothing to worry about."

Rough words but not rough reasoning; although Gao Yang acted as if indifferent, the point is Chen Yan really thought so, comforting her: "Zhao Tang is right; your husband earned the money by his own ability, he can spend it however he wants—why bother meddling with others?"

"If, because I serve in the Ministry of Revenue, I dare not spend the money I earned myself, wouldn't that make me just like those corrupt officials?"

"Don't worry, I have my own sense of proportion."

Hearing the last sentence, Li Lizhi finally relaxed, and a smile returned to her face.

She's not worried about the money, because as Gao Yang said, their family has plenty of cash and doesn't lack those three melons and two jujubes; her only concern is that some bad rumor might spread because of this.

Looking at the bustling scene around her, Li Lizhi chuckled lightly, "What a pity, Xiao Sizi and Cheng Yang love this lively setting, but husband won't let them come."

"It's better that they don't come!" Gao Yang said angrily, "Those two kids are getting more and more out of hand, skinning themselves to death every day, and we don't know who taught them…"

"If we let them come, wouldn't they be like untethered wild horses? Then I couldn't control them!"

Chen Yan: "......"

"Is this teasing him?"

"Hey, isn't that Minister Chen?"

Suddenly, a voice from afar feigned surprise, "Just now I heard your wail right here!"

Yuchi Gong, in a mocking tone, shouted, "Chen Yan, ten thousand guan!"

"Look, how grand."

Beside them, Qin Qiong smiled silently; Yuchi Gong and Cheng Yaojin were each beaten ten slaps because of Chen Yan, a fact everyone knows, and he of course is aware.

If we say that those who were beaten could vent some resentment, that would be all right.

After all, the relationship is laid out here.

The point is, Chen Yan, that mischievous kid, when Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong were bedridden from the beatings, he brought ointments and gifts to their door, plastering his face with a big grin!

Once they could get out of bed, he kept wandering around everywhere.

That really annoyed the two.

Now can't we just exchange a few witty remarks?

"Not at all." Chen Yan modestly waved his hand, "What can I claim? I can't compare to the two Dukes, who display their martial prowess on the Court, truly renowned."

Yuchi Gong: "......"

"Pfft... Hahaha!"

Hearing the phrase "can't compare to the two Dukes," Qin Qiong finally couldn't hold back, clutching her belly in laughter.

The several ladies on the other side smiled faintly.

"Yan brother, come, come sit by Aunt here."

Jia Shi waved to the three, indicating they should sit over.

Chen Yan naturally wouldn't be polite, and brought his wife and child to sit beside them.

"Your Highness Gao Yang, may I hold the little princess?"

As soon as they sat down, Jia Shi couldn't wait and said,

"Aunt calls my husband 'Yan brother', yet calls me 'Your Highness'; that makes no sense, I feel even more uneasy and distant. We're all family; you can just call me Zhao Tang."

"As for your request, that's no problem at all; Xiao Sui An hasn't seen you many times yet, so today we should let her get to know you, lest when she grows up she doesn't recognize you; husband will have to scold me."

Gao Yang is domineering at home, but outside she always gives Chen Yan full face, never finding fault anywhere.

Sure enough, Jia Shi's eyebrows lifted into a smile the moment she heard that; not only did Gao Yang's words instantly bring the relationship closer, but also because of that line letting Xiao Sui An recognize her as 'grandma'.

That means Gao Yang not only set aside her princess status, placing herself in a junior position, and even her daughter acknowledges her as a 'grandma', the address being a rather intimate 'grandma'.

Could she not be pleased?

At this age, she just loves little kids.

"Hey, look, this child is wonderful, the eyebrows and eyes are carved from the same mold as Yan brother when he was young, and he's not afraid of anyone at all, just like Yan brother in his youth."

Jia Shi took the child; Xiao Sui An blinked her big eyes at her, her little face flushed and chubby, which Jia Shi found absolutely adorable.

Even Yuchi Gong, a big burly man, stared continuously, having no mind to pay attention to Chen Yan; hearing Jia Shi's words, he couldn't help but nod, "That little thing is truly a rarity~"

"Tsk!"

The beautiful lady beside him, irritated, gave him an elbow, "If you can't speak properly, say a few less words and go drink your wine."

"Hey, Sister Jia, let me also admire a bit…"

Immediately, Chen Yan's family of three saw Xiao Sui An being fought over by several noble ladies, each loving her immensely.

Crucially, Xiao Sui An isn't shy at all, acting at ease with whatever, essentially becoming a plaything for anyone.

"You're pulling my cheek, right?"

"Fine, if you want to pull, go ahead~"

But precisely because of that, the ladies were even more amazed.

Even Qin Qiong couldn't help exclaiming, "So alike, really so alike!"

"I recall Zi An was like this from birth, not scared at all, neither crying nor fussing, exceedingly obedient."

Saying that, he turned his head to the Qin Huaidao couple on his left and said, "You two aren't young any more, hold on tight; I'm still waiting to hold grandchildren."

Bringing this up, Jia Shi suddenly got energetic, gave Qin Huaidao a good scolding.

Qin Huaidao could only smile wryly and nod, "Mother, I…"

But before he could finish, a "Mother" slipped out, eliciting little response; the obedient Xiao Sui An seemed to trigger a reflex, looking over blankly with her little mouth open, "Eh~"

Everyone: "......"

The people present had strange expressions; Chen Yan's mouth kept twitching, Li Lizhi pinched her thigh hard, maintaining a dignified smile.

Shut your mouth, you must hold it in!

But anyone could see that her smile felt a bit disjointed.

And Gao Yang felt like he was about to split apart, forcing a smile: "The child doesn't understand, he's still young... haha, sorry, sorry."

Faced with everyone's strange expressions, even with Gao Yang's temperament, he wished he could bury his head in his pants pocket.

I want to die!

What to do?

"......"