Chapter 391: Imperial Heir

“Hey, isn’t that Old He’s eldest?”

“Looks like it really is. Didn’t they say he went off to marry his younger sister out?”

“Exactly. He’s been gone nearly half a year. Only just came back. Could the He family have been cheated?”

“Maybe He Chu got conned into working as a brothel pimp too. Why else would he only be coming back now?”

“Hey, Brother He! Where’s your brother-in-law?”

“Yeah, Brother He, where is he? Why’d you come slinking back alone?”

He Chu sat on the wagon.

It was the same wagon that had once carried his younger sister and her husband toward Yanjing.

Now he had driven it all the way back.

Compared with half a year ago, the wagon was more battered and worn.

The horse, however, had grown fatter.

He was waiting to enter the city and return home, but inspections were being carried out at the gate. A merchant caravan stood ahead of him, so he had to wait.

Hearing the mockery around him, He Chu did not become angry.

Nor did he show off.

He simply pretended not to hear the sarcasm hidden inside their words and smiled as he nodded.

“Mm.

“I’m back.”

Seeing him respond like that, the others felt awkward continuing.

They cupped their hands and greeted him properly before entering the city themselves.

They were petty traders with small shops inside the city.

Back when He Chu traveled into the countryside to buy pigs, he often shared the road with people like them.

There was no real hatred between them.

The merchant caravan entered slowly because its goods had to be counted and taxes collected.

A tax officer led a group of clerks through the inspection in great detail.

Earlier, the city had not been this strict.

There had not even been a dedicated group of tax clerks.

They had only been dispatched down from Yanjing in recent months.

Once the caravan finished clearing the gate, He Chu drove his wagon forward.

There were no goods inside.

So he was waved through immediately.

The He family pork shop was still where it had always been.

It was noon.

The sun was fierce.

Old He had simply closed the stall and gone inside.

He sat shirtless in the shade, holding a palm-leaf fan in one hand and gnawing a large slice of watermelon with the other.

Why not sit outside in the breeze and eat watermelon?

Because passing neighborhood children might see him.

Then he would have to share.

And he could not bear wasting that much watermelon.

He Chu drove the wagon back.

Hearing the movement outside, Old He immediately tossed aside the melon, shoved open the door, and hurried out.

“Son!”

“Dad!”

He Chu ran toward his father.

Then, Old He suddenly grabbed a pig-slaughtering knife.

He Chu yelped in fright and stopped dead.

Or tried to.

He failed to brake in time.

Father and son crashed directly into each other.

*Bang!*

“Ow!”

“Dad, are you all right?”

“You unfilial bastard!

“Unfilial bastard!”

Old He had fallen badly and twisted his waist.

He Chu carried him inside and tried to put him on the bed.

Old He refused.

He insisted on sitting upright on the long bench.

For a father, the moment he felt most powerless in front of his son was lying on a bed and looking up at him.

So as far as Old He was concerned, as long as he still had one breath left he absolutely would not lie in bed while speaking to his son.

“You bastard!”

“Dad, curse me all you want.

“I’m your son.

“It’s only right.

“But don’t curse yourself too.”

“...”

Old He stared at him.

He Chu reached over, picked up the half-eaten watermelon his father had abandoned earlier, and continued gnawing it.

Old He finally caught his breath.

“What happened?

“What happened?

“Do you have any idea how many times I almost shut down this shop and personally went to Yanjing looking for the two of you?”

“Didn’t I send you letters?”

“You bastard!”

“Dad.”

“Every letter said this was good, that was good.

“You ate well.

“You slept well.

“Your sister ate well.

“Your sister slept well.

“But not one damned useful thing was written down!”

Technically, his daughter had followed her husband back to his family.

Unfortunately, the two households lived so far apart.

Worse his foolish daughter had already given herself to the boy before marriage.

So the He family had been forced to lower its head first and let her follow him home.

Fine.

Then what?

And after that?

And after that?

Half a year had passed.

Other than several letters saying everything was fine what about the actual marriage arrangements?

He Chu hesitated.

Then looked at his father.

“What are you frowning about?”

“I’m not, Dad.”

“I’m asking you.

“What are your brother-in-law’s family conditions like?”

“Good.”

One word.

Good.

Old He pointed at his own face.

“Better than ours?”

A pork shop might not look impressive.

But the income was hardly poor.

And over the years, Old He had secretly bought some farmland too.

He Chu blinked.

Seeing that expression, Old He relaxed.

He snorted.

“Heh.

“Don’t assume everyone living in the capital is rich.

“Your father may never have been to Yanjing, but I still know how hard it is to live in a great city.

“People there look grand in front of others, but every bite they eat and every trip to the privy costs money.

“Who knows how many are slapping their own faces swollen just to look fat?”

“My brother-in-law’s family genuinely isn’t pretending to be rich.”

“Oh?

“Not pretending?

“Heh.

“You’re still too young.

“You haven’t seen enough people or enough of the world.

“You can’t let appearances fool you.”

“Dad, don’t laugh.

“At first—

I really was fooled by appearances.”

Of course he had been.

The first time he saw a Grand Eunuch from the palace.

The first time he saw that Grand Eunuch kneel to his brother-in-law.

The first time he saw the imperial palace.

For ten whole days afterward—

He Chu had walked around in a daze, feeling as though he were dreaming.

“See?

“What did I tell you?

“We’re still a small household.

“What matters to us is whether people know how to live properly.

“And that constable— no.

“That Little Sixth.

“Little Sixth, right?

“He’s the sixth son in his family, isn’t he?”

He Chu nodded.

“He has five older brothers above him?”

He Chu nodded again.

“Any younger brothers?”

“Yes.”

“Many younger sisters?”

He Chu shook his head.

“No sisters?”

“Seems like there aren’t any.”

“That explains everything!”

Old He slapped his thigh violently.

The movement pulled his injured waist.

He immediately sucked in a cold breath.

“Dad, easy!

“Easy!

“You... already figured it out?”

“Of course I figured it out!”

“Dad, you really did?”

“Nonsense!

“I’m your father!

“With so many brothers in that family, once the property gets divided, how much could possibly reach Little Sixth?

“And no sisters either.

“Not even anyone bringing dowry money into the household!”

“...”

He Chu stared silently.

Old He continued:

“So calm down.

“Remember this— your sister is not marrying above herself.

“Our He family never intended to sell a daughter in order to climb somebody else’s ladder!”

“Climb above ourselves?”

“Climb what?

“Do you and I have no hands?

“No feet?

“Are we going to starve to death?

“I’ve heard the fighting has stopped now.

“Life should only get better from here.

“Tell me more.

“What exactly has been arranged for this marriage?

“Did you meet his parents?”

He Chu shook his head.

“You didn’t?”

“No.

“But my sister did.”

“You let Sisi meet her future parents-in-law by herself?”

He Chu nodded.

Old He immediately raised his hand.

His waist hurt too badly to stand.

He Chu understood at once and leaned his head closer.

*Smack!*

Old He slapped his son across the skull.

“You coward!

“From now on, don’t tell people outside you’re a butcher.

“We butchers can’t afford this kind of humiliation!

“You actually let your little sister go meet her in-laws alone?

“Do you know why your father sent you with her?

“To support her!

“If her future in-laws tried bullying Sisi, you were supposed to stand up and argue with them!

“If they were truly unreasonable— you should have copied your father and slapped them across the forehead!”

“...”

He Chu remained silent.

“Are both his father and mother still alive?”

Old He began interrogating him about the son-in-law’s family.

“My brother-in-law’s mother is gone.”

Consort Min had been dead for many years.

“Oh?

“No mother-in-law?”

Old He brightened.

No mother-in-law was good.

“There is one.”

“Mm?

“His father remarried?”

“No.”

“His mother was a concubine?”

“More or less.”

The Empress was the legal mother.

All the other imperial consorts were technically concubines unless elevated to Imperial Noble Consort.

“Hiss...”

Old He sucked in a sharp breath.

The son-in-law’s household situation was far worse than he had imagined.

“Damn it.

“He’s even a concubine-born son!”

“Dad...”

“I went to the yamen and asked around.

“They said Little Sixth apparently committed some offense.

“He even lost his constable post.

“Tell me— was he actually planning to flee back to Yanjing to avoid trouble and conveniently abduct our Sisi along the way?”

“Dad...”

“Damn it!

“We fell for it!

“We got taken!”

Old He grew so angry he nearly lost his breath.

Then he continued:

“Forget it.

“Forget it.

“Judging from his family situation, living richly and comfortably probably won’t be easy.

“Here’s what we do.

“You go find your brother-in-law again and bring him back.

“As for the yamen trouble, our He family can spend some money and smooth things over.

“If it can be settled, settle it.

“If not— bring him back anyway.

“He can marry into our He family.”

“A... live-in son-in-law?”

He Chu’s expression became indescribable.

“Yes.

“All the property your father owns can be divided evenly between you and him.

“We can put it in writing.”

“...”

“Speaking of which, you bastard, did you really spend this entire half year in Yanjing?

“If not for those occasional letters, your father would’ve thought you were dead!

“What exactly were you doing in the capital?”

“Reading books.

“Learning to write.”

Old He froze.

He blinked.

“What were you doing?”

“Reading.

“Learning characters.”

“You’re a butcher!

“What the hell do you need literacy for?

“You planning to write wills for pigs before you slaughter them?”

“My brother-in-law told me to learn.

“So I learned.”

“He tells you something and you just do it?

“You’re the elder brother!

“How can you listen to him about every damned thing?

“If one day he tells you to storm the imperial palace— will you obediently go storm the imperial palace too?”

“Ah.

“Mm.

“Sure.”

“You...

“You’re going to anger me to death!”

“Dad...”

“So what exactly is happening with this marriage?

“Why has there still been no proper news after all this time?”

“That’s why I came back, Dad.

“Before, the war forced the wedding date to be postponed.

“Now it looks like no major fighting is going to happen for a while.

“So I was sent back first.”

“You’re the only one who returned?”

“My brother-in-law is coming too.

“He’s one day behind me.

“He’ll arrive tomorrow.

“And he’s bringing the betrothal gifts.”

“Tomorrow?

“Oh.

“And your sister?”

“She’s coming back with him.”

“That’s proper.

“At least they know the rules.”

“Dad, pack up this shop.”

“We should tidy it up.

“We’ll be busy with the marriage.”

“No, Dad.

“I mean— close the shop for good.”

“Close it?

“Do you have a fever?

“How can you say something that stupid?”

“Dad, close it.”

“If I close it, what am I supposed to do?”

“Go to Yanjing.

“Come with us.”

“What would I do in Yanjing?”

“What?

“Let him support me?

“Can he afford that?”

“Uh...”

“And besides, slaughtering pigs and selling meat is the only trade I know.”

“My brother-in-law said you can open a pork shop in Yanjing.”

“Mm?

“Sell pork in the capital?”

“Yes.”

“You really have gone stupid.

“Didn’t your father just tell you how hard it is to live in a great city?

“And I don’t know anyone there.

“Even if I do the same trade, Heaven only knows whether I can make it work.

“Besides, just because he tells me to go sell pork in Yanjing, I’m supposed to obey him?

“Look how capable he thinks he is!

“Why doesn’t he just tell me to enter the imperial palace and deliver a pig leg directly to His Majesty?”

“Dad, if you really wanted to deliver one... you probably could—”

“Enough!

“Enough!

“This afternoon— no.

“You go outside the city again and buy us a pig.

“We’ll need it for the marriage feast.

“A proper meat dish ought to be prepared by ourselves.

“And don’t say any more nonsense about moving to Yanjing.

“Look at what kind of bewitching soup that Little Sixth fed you.

“I’m telling you— when that little thief arrives tomorrow, just watch how I straighten him out.

“What?

“Does he think nobody else would marry a daughter of my He family?”

“Dad, there is one thing I need to tell you.”

“Then spit it out.”

“My sister... has something.”

“Has what?”

He Chu pointed toward his own belly.

Old He’s eyes widened instantly.

In that single moment his waist seemed to stop hurting.

His legs stopped aching.

He stood immediately and began rummaging through boxes and cupboards.

“Dad?

“What are you doing?

“What are you doing?”

“Packing.

“We’re going to Yanjing to sell pork!”

...

“Confirmed?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, confirmed.

“His Sixth Highness summoned an Imperial Physician directly from the palace to examine the pulse.

“The Imperial Medical Bureau first sent Imperial Physician Luo.

“After Imperial Physician Luo returned, Imperial Physician Zhu was asked to make another visit.

“It is indeed a pregnancy pulse.

“And the pulse is stable.

“The He family girl is physically strong.”

Hearing this, the Emperor of Yan placed the memorial in his hand down on the desk.

Both hands rested before him.

Wei Zhonghe immediately said:

“This slave congratulates Your Majesty.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Where is Chengjue?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, His Sixth Highness left the capital with the He family girl this morning.”

“After learning she is pregnant, he still dares let her travel around without permission?”

“Your Majesty, His Sixth Highness should be going to Nan’an County to present the betrothal gifts.”

Previously, because the Marquis of Jingnan had massacred the Chu army beneath Yupan City, Yan–Chu relations had become extraordinarily tense.

Another great war could have broken out at any time.

That was why the First Prince’s wedding had been held quietly.

The Crown Prince’s wedding with the Princess had also been postponed.

Now—

Chu did not appear likely to begin another major war in the short term.

The matters that needed to be done could finally be done.

More importantly, the woman was already pregnant.

This was an imperial descendant.

They could hardly continue leaving the mother without proper status.

“Did he bring the betrothal gifts?”

“Yes.

“His Sixth Highness sent someone to the Crown Prince’s Residence to ask for them.

“After all, Your Majesty previously gave an oral decree ordering the Crown Prince to arrange the betrothal gifts.”

Double the pork hind legs.

“And he still remembered that.”

He really had gone to the Crown Prince to demand pig legs.

“Did the Crown Prince provide them?”

“The Crown Prince personally led his servants in purchasing everything.”

Hearing this, the Emperor of Yan nodded.

“Order the Secret Intelligence Department to send men to protect them along the road.

“Have the Imperial Medical Bureau dispatch two Imperial Physicians as well.

“They will accompany the party and safeguard the pregnancy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Then, the Emperor of Yan picked up another memorial and opened it.

“Order Ji Wujiang to lead five thousand Zhenbei Army soldiers out of the capital.

“Do exactly as Chengjue proposed.

“Clean up the trade routes.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Wei Zhonghe.”

“This slave is here.”

“I... am going to be a grandfather.”

...

“Your Highness, these are the detailed entry-tax records for the last three months.”

The tax officer handed a ledger to Ji Chengjue.

Ji Chengjue did not open it.

He simply handed it back.

“People are cursing us everywhere, aren’t they?”

The tax officer gave a bitter smile.

“They all say we’re fighting the people for profit.”

“If we don’t squeeze them, then we have to squeeze the common people.”

The tax officer was obviously one of Ji Chengjue’s own men.

He replied:

“Your Highness, Nan’an County itself is manageable. There are not that many merchant caravans.

“But the large caravans traveling elsewhere often have princes, dukes, and nobles standing behind them.”

“It doesn’t matter.

“With Father Emperor there, they won’t dare complain openly.

“Unfortunately, they’ve all behaved very well recently.

“Even if I want to kill a chicken to frighten the monkeys—

I can’t find one.”

“Your Highness, hidden resentment may be even more difficult to manage.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.

“I have my own arrangements.

“What irritates me is that the batch of capable shopkeepers I once had were all scraped away by that bastard surnamed Zheng.

“And I don’t know what Snow Sea Pass is doing either.

“They’re moving too slowly.

“Those unusual goods from the workshops still haven’t been produced.”

“Your Highness is waiting for Snow Sea Pass to rescue the finances?”

“Yes.

“And no.

“The Great Yan Dynasty is enormous.

“If we stare at only one place and try to eat from it, no matter how much it produces, it will never be enough.

“What I want is a chain running from the western desert all the way east to Snow Sea Pass, connecting Qian and Chu along the way.

“Any merchant who enters Yan territory—

I want to strip off one layer of skin.”

“Your Highness, this subordinate still believes the plan is somewhat too aggressive.”

“Heh.

“I’ve heard of starving refugees rebelling because they couldn’t eat.

“I’ve never heard of merchants raising banners in rebellion because their taxes were too high.

“If we’re going to squeeze someone, why not squeeze the soft persimmons?

“If Qian and Chu merchants think the taxes are too heavy, fine.

“Let Qian and Chu submit to my Great Yan.

“Once they become our own people, their taxes can be lighter.

“After I leave, you’ll also be transferred out of Nan’an County.

“Focus entirely on helping me manage the draft-bank business.”

“Many thanks for Your Highness’s promotion.”

“Enough.

“You may go.

“I also need to visit my future father-in-law with gifts.”

“This subordinate wishes Your Highness great fortune in marriage.

“If the young lady and the old master knew from the Yellow Springs, they would surely be comforted.”

“Mm.”

Ji Chengjue left the teahouse wearing a long scholar’s robe, deliberately dressed like a man of letters.

Fortunately, his appearance was good.

With a folding fan in one hand and a pendant hanging at his waist, he genuinely did look like an elegant young gentleman.

A carriage waited ahead.

Behind it stood a small convoy.

Beside the carriage stood a man in black.

“Oh?

“Eldest Brother.

“You only just led troops out of the capital and already ran straight to me?

“Are you afraid people might not know you and I stand together now?”

Ji Wujiang smiled indifferently.

“My return to command was made possible by your memorial.

“Whether we stand together publicly or not, everyone already knows we do.

“What is there to fear?

“Besides, Father Emperor said I’m here to help you clean up the trade routes.

“If you don’t tell me where to go, surely you don’t expect me to lead troops around the countryside killing people at random?”

“Heh.”

Ji Chengjue nodded.

“Eldest Brother overstates matters.

“We brothers supporting one another is only natural.”

“There is one more thing.

“You’re presenting betrothal gifts today.

“By custom, an elder relative from the family should lead the proceedings.

“Father Emperor obviously cannot come.

“As your eldest brother, helping you arrange the matter is also my responsibility.”

“Then this younger brother thanks Eldest Brother.

“Please, this way.”

He Si sat inside the carriage and was pregnant.

Naturally, Ji Wujiang could not enter and sit with her.

So the two brothers walked in front, while the carriage and gift convoy followed behind.

The number of pig hind legs included among the betrothal gifts was so large and eye-catching that they attracted enormous attention from the people of Nan’an County all along the road.

Ordinary households marrying sons and daughters would never see gold, silver, pearls, jade curtains, and the like.

Pork, however was hard currency.

So from the common people’s perspective, this entire convoy covered in red wedding characters looked outrageously rich.

Ji Chengjue continued feeling regret.

His own father was too busy with affairs of state to come personally.

Otherwise, standing here and seeing the envious looks all around them the Emperor would probably have felt tremendously satisfied.

“You work quickly,” Ji Wujiang said.

“To think you already have a child.

“Among all of us brothers, none has produced an heir yet.

“Your child will be Father Emperor’s first grandchild.

“They say grandparents love grandchildren especially deeply.

“Look at everything Father Emperor arranged for you this time.

“Even I’m a little jealous.”

The First Prince had spent his younger years in military camps and later became responsible for the marriage alliance with the barbarians.

So he had married late.

The barbarian princess still had no news of pregnancy.

The Crown Prince’s marriage to the Princess had also been delayed until now.

The Third Prince was crippled.

The Fourth and Fifth Princes were roughly Ji Chengjue’s age, but neither had married.

As for the Seventh he had not even fully grown up yet.

“Oh?

“Speaking of which, Eldest Brother really should thank this child still sitting inside its mother’s belly.

“Without this little one, your present deployment outside the capital might not have gone nearly so smoothly.”

“Yes, yes.

“When the child is born, I’ll prepare a generous gift.

“Still— the timing really was convenient.”

“It wasn’t coincidence.

“I knew Sisi was pregnant half a month ago.

“I deliberately waited for a while.

“Only after I sent up my memorial did I summon the Imperial Physicians and notify Father Emperor.”

“You’re already using your unborn child?”

The First Prince spoke bluntly.

Ji Chengjue nodded.

“It’s only right.

“If she’s a girl, then consider it my little padded jacket helping her father once.

“If he’s a boy— then even now he should begin doing something toward competing for the position of Imperial Grandson.”

“Chengjue...”

“I know what Eldest Brother wants to say.

“Don’t worry.

“I won’t become like Father Emperor.

“That way of living— is far too boring.

“Right.

“Some time ago, Snow Sea Pass sent in a victory report.

“That dowry you sent over— performed quite well.”

“I heard too.

“That Zheng Fan really does possess nerve.

“By the timing, the Keyan Tribe must have barely arrived before he dragged them straight onto the snowfields to fight.”

“Mm.

“Eldest Brother, do you know what I’m thinking about now?”

“What?”

“I’m wondering when that bastard surnamed Zheng will have a child.

“I hope he has a daughter.

“And I hope mine is a son.

“That way—

I can finally take advantage of him.”

Ji Wujiang suddenly asked:

“And if he has a son?”

“Then I still won’t repeat Father Emperor’s old affairs.”

“Chengjue.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“Nothing.

“Look, Brother.

“My future father-in-law’s house is right ahead.

“The man beside him is my elder brother-in-law, He Chu.

“Your timing is convenient.

“I originally planned to have this brother-in-law join you after the betrothal ceremony.

“Now you can simply take him away with you tomorrow.

“Keep him nearby.

“No need to cultivate him especially carefully.

“Just let him see blood and broaden his experience.”

“Fine.”

“Good.

“I need to go greet my future father-in-law.

“Eldest Brother should learn from this too.”

“Your future father-in-law still doesn’t know who you are?”

“I sent my brother-in-law back early specifically to explain.

“But judging from the look of things— he probably still hasn’t said it.”

As he spoke, Ji Chengjue pointed toward Old He ahead.

Then continued:

“Otherwise— my future father-in-law would never dare stand there holding a butcher’s knife while waiting for this troublesome son-in-law.”

————

Good night.

[End of Chapter 391]