Chapter 982: Chapter 982 Gambling_1 Chapter 982: Chapter 982 Gambling_1 Yang Wenxiao’s response was within Yang Hao’s expectations, for it was the first time in these years that he saw Yang Wenxiao so delighted for several days in a row.

It was good for him to stay here, as long as Yang Wenxiao was happy, he could stay as long as he wanted.

Two days later, Yang Hao set off alone for the return journey to the Capital City; the snow on the road was nearly melted, making the surface quite muddy.

As the carriage passed, if the load inside was heavy, it would leave deep ruts in the road.

With enough ruts, they turned into potholes.

The freshly repaired road became pocked with pits.

Yang Hao sat inside the carriage, jostled so much that he couldn’t even hold a teacup steady.

He couldn’t help but silently praise the agreement that Yang Wenxiao had come up with, for with Qiao Xiaomai’s ability to raise money, renovating all of Daqi’s official roads was not a difficult task.

Well, after confirming the duration of the agreement following next spring’s harvest, Qiao Xiaomai could start road construction.

He’d start with the stretch from Bailu Town to the Capital City first.

The journey was rough, and with no urgency, so it took Yang Hao a full four days to reach the Capital City.

He lived within the Imperial Palace, but before returning to the Palace, he first made a detour to the Prince Wei Residence.

There was only one master in the Prince Wei Residence, Yang Ye, and now that the master was not there, he went to check if the Residence was still maintained as before.

Everything in the Prince Wei Residence was as usual; the servants had not become lax in their duties due to Yang Ye’s absence.

He gathered everyone together for a talking-to and then, satisfied, returned to the Palace.

First, he went to Daming Palace to see Emperor Yong’an and reported to him all that had transpired during these days.

It was nearing dinner time, and Emperor Yong’an was not in Daming Palace but in his mother’s Yuexian Palace.

Thus, he left Daming Palace and headed to Yuexian Palace. As he approached the Main Hall, he hadn’t even entered when he heard his father’s hearty laughter; upon entering, the sight made him smile too.

Inside the Main Hall, his father and mother were enjoying a game of Mahjong with his wife and child.

Emperor Yong’an’s face was alight with a smile, and upon seeing Yang Hao enter, he gestured eagerly, “Come, come, I’ve won quite a lot in just this short while. You come and play for Zhengzheng.”

“Hmm?” Yang Hao noticed piles of silver next to each of the four players and asked curiously, “Is this gambling?”

“What gambling? It’s only a tael of silver for each game, it’s just for fun. It’s more interesting with a prize at stake!” said the Empress Mother Yao Xian of Daqi with a smile gleaming in her eyes.

Just sitting and playing without any stakes would be too dull, win or lose.

A tael of silver was nothing to those present; it was purely for enjoyment.

“But I’ve already lost all my monthly allowance of silver today.” Thirteen-year-old Yang Zheng frowned, puffing his cheeks as he eyed the small pile of silver in front of the three adults, his expressions unspeakably cute.

“You’ve lost all your monthly allowance? How much have you lost?” At this moment, Yang Hao had approached and bent down to pick up Yang Zheng, “Come, let Daddy win it all back for you!”

Upon hearing this, Yang Zheng wrapped his arms around his neck, nestling into his embrace, and asked, “Is Daddy very good at stacking gold bars?”

“So-so, but probably better than Zhengzheng,” Yang Hao said with a grin, looking down at the Mahjong tiles Yang Zheng was holding, “These tiles sure are pretty!”

He and Yang Wenxiao had initially used wooden blocks, then Gao Lian made them a set out of white jade, but the set before him was made of emerald-green jade, and the carvings on them were of plum blossoms, orchids, and bamboo, not vulgar gold bars.