Flowing clouds blend, and spring is bright. This year, the new scholars are dressed in a green uniform, waiting under the red pavilion for the upcoming palace examination.
This year marks the third year of the official completion of the unification of the North and South, as well as the third year for scholars from the South and the North to compete and participate in separate exams in the same hall.
Since the implementation of the system of selecting scholars based on different subjects in Jiangbei, there have been countless scholars from humble backgrounds who aspire to enter the officialdom through this path every year. In the end, they can stand out in fierce competition, and those who stand under this towering banner and have the opportunity to take the palace examination are naturally the most outstanding among the same generation of scholars.
In the past years, at this moment, the scholars from the north and the south, who are harmonious on the surface but distinctive in terms of their positions and accents, must have started all kinds of wars of words and sarcastic battles.
Southern scholars need to show off their achievements in various subjects this year. The number of Southern scholars still surpasses that of Northerners, indicating that their Jiangnan region is indeed blessed with beautiful scenery and talented individuals.
The northern scholars, on the other hand, would taunt the southern scholars with weak descriptions, saying that each of them looked weak and useless. If they were to become officials and enter the court in the future, they might vomit, have diarrhea, and fall ill before they could even enter.
This naturally has precedents. After the unification of the North and the South, in order to better promote in-depth economic and cultural communication between the two sides, all newly elected scholars, when appointed as officials, gave priority to southern scholars entering the north as officials, while northern scholars gave priority to entering the south to govern. Southern scholars bring the long-standing Jiangnan customs and cultural etiquette into the northern regions to educate the local people, while northern scholars fully utilize their sharp and capable style to help the southern people strengthen their physical fitness and eliminate laziness.
The geographical and climatic differences between Jiangnan and Jiangbei are significant, and such a form of appointment can easily lead to problems with local conditions. Last year, a Jiangnan scholar who went to work in the northern region couldn’t adapt to the scorching summer in the north, and on the way to his post, he suddenly developed dysentery and fell ill. The Ministry of Personnel had no choice but to request the court to still allow this scholar to return to Jiangnan as an official.
This has become a valuable tool for northern scholars to mock and ridicule southern scholars.
As usual, the sharp-tongued scholars in the south must fight back: “It’s a fact of life that people are not acclimatized to the local conditions. Don’t you hear that it’s said in the book that ‘oranges that grow in Huainan are oranges, and when they are grown in Huaibei, they are citrus fruits1It means that the same thing will change due to different environments.’? There is no shame in occasionally becoming unwell due to the local conditions. But, everyone, haven’t you been acclimatized since entering Jiangnan? I heard that some brothers came home three times less than a month after their arrival in office, not to visit their parents nor to do anything important, but to secretly pack some sacks of Mantou cakes.”
From then on, the verbal altercations were even more powerful than the cockfighting in the arena.
This is not because the scholars from the north and south who have taken the imperial examination this year are particularly united and friendly; rather, it’s because the one who presides over today’s examination. Not His Majesties, but the Crown Prince.
A scholar who was not familiar with the situation quietly asked, “I have heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is good at both civil and military, intelligent, decisive in right and wrong, and a first-class good young man. He handles affairs impartially and selflessly. Is there anything wrong for His Highness to preside over the palace examination? Why do all brothers describe it as such?”
Several older scholars glanced at the scholar with ignorant eyes at the same time.
“Brother Chuntai should have the most say in this matter.”
One person suddenly said.
The gazes of all the people were fixed on a two-stack, slightly pale scholar who was already nearly half a hundred years old.
That old scholar originally stood with his chest and back straight, and upon hearing these words, he seemed to recall something terrifying. His face turned pale, and he waved his hand repeatedly in a begging posture, saying, “Don’t ask me, I don’t know.”
He looked at the crowd with a hint of anger and said, “His Highness is wise and powerful, quite like the two Majesties, it’s not something for you and me to discuss, I advise you to be careful with your words, be careful with your words ah.”
Several informed individuals couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“In fact, this is not a secret either. It’s just your first time taking an exam, and you may not even know that Brother Chuntai has already taken the second exam this year.”
The young scholar indeed showed a surprised expression.
“That senior Chuntai was admitted in the last imperial examination.”
“It was last year.”
The scholar was even more surprised.
“Since he has been admitted to the imperial examination, why hasn’t he been appointed as an official?”
Although entering the imperial examination only means entering the selection list, it does not necessarily mean having an official position. However, during the current period of the Great Unification of the North and South and at a time when the court is in need of people, His Majesty Zhaowen has removed “appearance” from the election criteria to ensure that all talented individuals have the opportunity to showcase their talents. Generally speaking, as long as there is no significant stain on the family background and personal moral cultivation of the candidates, they will have the opportunity to be appointed, with the only difference being the size of their position and their official position.
Except for the special situation where parents suddenly pass away and need to return to their hometown to observe filial piety, it is rare for someone who has already passed the imperial examination but has not been appointed as an official. That person said, “Because of last year’s imperial examination, Brother Chuntai did not pass.”
“To be precise, it was while Brother Chuntai was engaged in a theory exchange debating when His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly arrived…”
Although the young scholar still doesn’t know what exactly happened, there is a faint sense in the pitiful and slightly sympathetic eyes of fellow scholars and those around him.
“It is said that His Highness the Crown Prince was summoned by His Majesty Zhaowen to visit and learn. Ai, after the Crown Prince arrived, His Majesty Zhaowen intended to train His Highness and ordered the Crown Prince to conduct the next examination.”
Then, old man Ji Chuntai’s nightmare came.
Although a whole year has passed, old man Ji still can’t forget that phoenix-eyed, stern, and flamboyant teenage Crown Prince in his vermilion clothes and sharp words. His step-by-step and aggressive appearance.
Old mam Ji was originally just a little nervous and not very fluent in answering. After two rounds, his face had turned rosy, like pig liver, and he was ashamed and angry to death.
Finally, he was so nervous that he fainted in the hall.
Before fainting, the old man heard the Crown Prince above say with a hint of disdain, “This old man doesn’t seem to have a good mental state. Erchen only asked him a few simple questions, and he was already this scared. If we really encounter bandits, won’t he be scared to death?”
His Majesty Zhaowen seemed to rebuke him to not being arrogant and rude.
The Crown Prince stood up to apologize and stated that he would pay attention to his speaking speed and maintain a proper attitude.
What happened after that, and how he himself was carried back to the inn by people, the old man did not know anymore.
Since the implementation of the scoring system for selecting scholars, old man Ji has relied on grinding iron pestles into needles and the will to go home and plant sweet potatoes if they fail the exam. Every year, he must take the exam, from the Mingjing section to the Jiujing section, from the North South confrontation exam to the North South unification exam, and finally get through the five hurdles and beat the six generals. However, he unexpectedly stumbled into the most crucial palace examination.
After waking up, the old man cried a lot and was not willing to give up. On the contrary, he was quite old and determined, with more setbacks and bravery. This year, he not only passed the imperial examination twice but also passed the most difficult Jiujing examination.
It was supposed to be a joyful event, but unexpectedly, when he entered the palace today, officials from the Ministry of Personnel informed them that recently His Majesty Zhaowen and Yiwu went out to inspect the people’s situation. This year’s palace examination will be fully presided over by the Crown Prince.
No one in the court was unaware that the two Majesties have a deep affection for each other. Generally, activities like inspecting people’s situations are basically about traveling to the mountains and enjoying local delicacies.
Old mam Ji’s once proud face instantly turned into a frosty eggplant, and he was momentarily subdued. The other scholars’ situations were not much better. Although they had not witnessed the young Crown Prince’s demeanor, they had already heard a little about his usual style of behavior.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has a noble status and now bears the heavy responsibility of supervising the country. It is not inappropriate for him to preside over just one palace examination. However, it is said that His Highness is more in turn with His Majesty Yiwu in terms of temperament, and his speech and actions are very sharp and straightforward…”
It’s actually venomous.
When His Majesty Yiwu was young, he fought in all directions. Although he was a bit ruthless, but after ascending the throne, he was accompanied by His Majesty Zhaowen, and his temper had become much more restrained. Even when punishing people, he remained calm and smiling. However, for His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, indigo blue is extracted from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant it comes from2It is often used as a metaphor for students to surpass their teachers or for future generations to be better than their predecessors., not only inheriting His Majesty Yiwu’s flamboyant and fierce demeanor, but also perfectly inheriting His Majesty Zhaowen’s discernment talent.
When these two qualities are combined, the power is terrifying.
It is said that during the time when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was in charge of the country, all officials in the court, from civil service officials to military generals, from seventh to second rank, were often criticized and questioned about their lives.
As for why the first rank was able to avoid being scolded, it is because there are two Zaizhi who are now ranked as first, one who happens to be sick and not in court, and the other is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. Zhao Yan, the eldest disciple of the former Left Prime Minister of the Sui Empire, Jimo Qingyu. Although the Crown Prince has the attribute of a poisonous tongue, he is a good disciple who honors his master.
“Look, that’s the Crown Prince’s chauffeur.”
Someone let out a low cry, and the scholars quietly looked up. In the distance, on the palace path, the palace attendants were carrying a magnificent chauffeur with silk curtains hanging on all sides, carrying it over. The curtains were adorned with golden silk patterns, and through the curtains, one could vaguely glimpse a corner of a brocade robe displaying a handsome and incomparable side profile.
Prime Minister Zhao Yan, who was helped out of the carriage by his disciples, watched the scene and shook his head slightly.
“Master, what’s wrong?”
The disciple asked in a low voice.
Zhao Yan stroked his beard and looked across the road, not knowing what came to his mind. After a while, he smiled and said, “His Highness is now becoming more and more like the two Majesties.”
The beauty of Jiangnan and the coldness of the north blend perfectly with this youth.
Just as many years ago at that Spring Banquet, there was a stark contrast between the bold and rebellious Crown Prince of Jiangbei and the elegant and unparalleled young gentleman in a green robe when they were together.
The officials responsible for maintaining order in the Ministry of Personnel immediately and respectfully welcomed the Prime Minister upon seeing him.
Zhao Yan asked, “When will the palace examination start?”
The official answered that it was in a moment.
“Quickly help this prime minister pass by.”
Zhao Yan said to his disciples.
“This temper of His Highness’s… before His Majesty set out on his journey, he had instructed me to be there to keep an eye on him.”
The scholars waiting under the jade steps clearly saw this scene as well, and someone immediately exclaimed, “Prime Minister Zhao has arrived. With Prime Minister Zhao present, we may have a smoother day today.”
Although Prime Minister Zhao Yan came from the Left Prime Minister Mansion and was a renowned disciple of the great Confucian scholar Jimo Qingyu, as well as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, but he did not rely on any special care from his school or the Crown Prince Mansion after ascending the imperial examination. Instead, he diligently rose from the position of a local petty official, and with outstanding political achievements and a good reputation among the people, he gradually rose to the position of prime minister. His reputation among scholars was also excellent.
With the official transmission, the first batch of scholars were summoned into the palace.
The palace examination officially began, and the remaining scholars couldn’t help but feel nervous. The young scholar who had previously questioned received the kind of popularization from his senior brothers, and obviously also had some fear of the upcoming palace examination Q&A. He asked in a low voice, “With Prime Minister Zhao present, will the Crown Prince definitely treat us kindly?”
“Of course not.”
Someone immediately poured cold water in.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has a clear division between public and private affairs. Although he respects Prime Minister Zhao, but it’s not like there have not been disagreements and conflicts with him in national affairs.”
“Of course, this is not the most important thing yet.”
“What’s the most important thing?”
“The most important thing is to pray that during our palace examination process, it is best to have someone who can turn the tide of spring and rain and never have anyone who adds fuel to the fire and angers His Highness again…”
As soon as the young scholar was curious about what it meant to turn the spring breeze into rain and add fuel to the fire, he heard a resounding sound of military armor in his ears. An agile figure dressed in dazzling purple gold armor, with a sword at his waist and a jade crown on his head, had already disregarded the palace’s obstruction and strode on the jade steps towards the Wenhua Hall direction, where the palace examination was held.
The young scholar was surprised as to who dared to act so recklessly in the palace, and asked, “That’s…”
“It’s over, it’s over, it’s really over today. This County King Yuzhang3This is Xiao Junwang y’all. Since the author no longer addresses him as Xiao Junwang and only Yuzhang Junwang I’ll use the English word for Junwang instead.has an impatient and domineering temperament, and he is at odds with His Highness the Crown Prince. Judging from his appearance, he must have come to argue with His Highness again.”
“That’s actually County King Yuzhang.”
The young scholar suddenly understood.
It is said that the nephew of His Majesty Yiwu, County King Yuzhang, has been learning at the Crown Prince’s mansion in Jiangbei since childhood. He has been fighting against the Hu people in the desert for many years and is brave and skilled in battle. He is the top general of the Empire and has made countless military achievements. If it wasn’t for the fact that his rank couldn’t cross over to his own old father, he would most likely have already been crowned a king title.
The time for the palace examination was coming soon. Zhao Yan entered the Wenhua Hall and saw that the newly enrolled scientific scholars had been waiting respectfully in the hall this year. The seat next to the imperial seat was still empty, so he asked the imperial official, “Where is the Crown Prince?”
“County King Yuzhang has come over, and His Highness the Crown Prince is talking to County King Yuzhang in the side hall.” The official said with a bitter expression.
Zhao Yan let out a click in his heart and quickly went out of the hall to search for the side hall. As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the hall, he heard an angry voice coming from inside: “Anyway, do what you want. If I don’t get the money today, I won’t go back to the Northern Mobei!”
A sneer rang out immediately afterward.
“Do you consider this national treasury to be a private treasury? Previously, in order to raise money for you, Gu offended a group of old people from the Ministry of Revenue and almost suffered a family punishment from Emperor Father. You’re good, burn money like paper. You obviously said a year, it hasn’t even been half a year yet you came crying for being poor again. You can stay as long as you like, and this time, Gu won’t care about you anymore.”
“It’s not like I’m spending the money myself, but I’ve beaten the sh*t out of that old man Wu Chixi, and he’s hiding back in the royal court of the Northern Mobei. If you don’t take advantage of the situation, do you want to save it for New Year’s?”
“Lower your voice, Gu’s head hurts!”
“When did I raise it?”
County King Yuzhang grunted twice.
“Don’t think I don’t know. Last month, you just allocated a large amount of money to that old thing, King Changning, for him to support himself. That old thing is indulging in indulgence, why bother with him? That’s a lot of money. You should have given it to me.”
“You still have the nerve to speak!” Not sure which of His Highness’s nerves is involved again: “If it weren’t for you breaking his son’s leg and causing him to cry in front of Emperor Fathers, how could Gu have put in effort to clean up the aftermath for you? That old King Changning is Imperial Grandfather’s Imperial Brother, with military achievements. That year, in order to protect the Longxi Gate, most of his strong men died, and even with the temper of Emperor Father, who couldn’t tolerate sand in his eyes, he wouldn’t provoke him easily either. You dare to act recklessly! That old King Changning was wounded in battle and has only one son left, he is counting on him to carry on the family line. You broke his leg. Isn’t this just taking his life? If it weren’t for Gu interceding for you in front of Emperor Fathers, you see how would Emperor Fathers deal with you? And you still have the nerve to bring this matter up to Gu.”
“Who let that thug bully both men and women? He deserves it. Next time he runs into Grandfather, Grandfather will beat him up.”
As County King Yuzhang spoke, he suddenly laughed and said, “You don’t have to give me the Crown Prince’s face. Can you get away with this matter? You obviously saw through my plan. Why didn’t you tell His Majesties? Moreover, before this county king picked him up that day, that turtle grandson’s horse spooked for no reason when he dismounted. If it weren’t for that kid’s quick reaction, he might not have only broken his leg on the spot. Hmph, you say, who was so cunning and tampered with that old man’s horse?”
At this time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should naturally be righteous and say, “This has nothing to do with me.”
“That’s obviously you.”
County King Yuzhang triumphantly said.
The Crown Prince also snorted softly, “Everything must be proven with evidence. You falsely accused Gu with such empty words. Beware that Gu will punish you for slandering the Crown Prince. But that old man should learn a lesson.”
Zhao Yan’s head was spinning as he listened outside and thought to himself, these two young boys are so brave. Fortunately, that old King Changning didn’t have any major issues; otherwise, it wouldn’t be a matter of alimony.
Inside, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had already begun preparing to end the conversation: “Gu still has business to attend to. Gu is too lazy to chat with you here. Get the hell out of here, don’t stand in front of Gu.”
Then the eldest disciple who followed Zhao Yan also smiled and said, “His Highness is cold on the surface but warm at heart. He always sneers at County King Yuzhang. Every time County King Yuzhang encountered an accident, wasn’t it the Crown Prince who was the first to step in and maneuver for the County King to make amends? Otherwise, with the County King’s temper, don’t know how many people in the imperial court will be offended and how many things will be provoked. At last year’s New Year’s Eve banquet, County King Yuzhang’s half brothers and sisters publicly slandered him, saying that County King was militaristic and ambitious. His Highness the Crown Prince publicly pulled aside and scolded the group of princes and princesses of King Rui’s mansion one by one, scolding several of them to tears. The second princess of King Rui’s mansion felt aggrieved, saying that His Highness only favored her eldest brother. His highness the Crown Prince sneered and said, Gu and Imperial Brother have grown up together since childhood, our brotherhood is not comparable to that of others.”
“Yes ah.”
Looking at the two boys he had taught, Zhao Yan was both amused and helpless. Obviously, they both miss each other in their hearts, but they have been arguing since they were small, and they didn’t stop for a moment.
“You go busy by yourself, I’m not leaving.”
Inside the palace, County King Yuzhang crossed his legs and spoke again. “I heard that Ah Yu will be back in the next two days. I’ve brought him a lot of goodies from Mobei this time.”
The young Crown Prince, who was already about to leave, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“How come Gu doesn’t know that Ah Yu will be back?”
“Do you still need to think about it? Of course, he doesn’t want to talk to you, this elder brother.”
Immediately after, a scream rang out, and County King Yuzhang received a punch from His Highness the Crown Prince due to his loose-tongue.
Under the courtyard, the remaining scholars who were waiting became more and more nervous as time passed. The young scholar couldn’t help but ask again, “Who is the person you just mentioned who can turn the crown prince into a spring breeze and rain?”
“Naturally, it’s His Highness the Second Prince.”
Someone immediately answered on his behalf, indicating that this matter is well-known to the world and there is no such thing as the second answer.
“His Royal Highness the Second Prince, Sui Yu, was the only disciple’s disciple of the former Left Prime Minister in Jiangbei.”
“Yes. Who doesn’t know that although His Highness the Crown Prince is sharp and outspoken, the only thing he has ever done to his little brother is to give him whatever he wants and is never willing to say anything harsh. A palace full of courtiers can be disrespectful to His Highness the Crown Prince himself, and if any of them dare to be disrespectful to the Second Prince, hump, well, it will be interesting. It’s said that the Young Master of General Liu’s family was beaten to the ground by His Highness the Crown Prince in the past because he glanced at the Second Prince a few times at the palace banquet and tried to coax the young Second Prince to drink. That’s terrible.”
There was another burst of emotion from the scholars.
When it comes to this young prince, he is also a legendary figure. His Highness has been a fairy since childhood, intelligent and eager to learn. People who have seen him think he was a fairy child who descended into the mortal realm. At the age of five, he was taken in by the arrogant Left Prime Minister of Jiangbei and the head of the Jimo family, Jimo Qingyu, and raised as a disciple. It is said that the Left Prime Minister loved this disciple to the bone, every time he had a symposium, he would bring him with him. There are many envious young aristocrats of the same age in the Sui capital city. At the age of eleven, this young prince moved the south and north of the Yangtze River with a famous autumn song and was once hailed as a prodigy. For an ordinary young boy, if he had achieved this, he would naturally strive for greater breakthroughs and achievements in his studies. However, His Highness chose to leave the Left Prime Minister’s mansion and began to travel around, hoping to broaden his horizons. This trip has reached the present day, and during this time, the place where His Highness stayed the most is Dongzhou. One reason is because, during his time in Dongzhou, which was once the capital city of Qi, he met a master of the Mo family who was skilled in mechanism casting. His Little Highness is a well-behaved and studious person. When he was playing with the mechanism birds at a young age, he became obsessed with this thing and decided to stay and learn mechanism casting techniques from that master, achieving remarkable results. It is said that any mechanism bird produced by His Little Highness has been sold for thousands of gold in the market. The second reason is that His Little Highness has a great talent for music. Although he has already been taught by the world-renowned music master, he was still not satisfied. While studying mechanism casting in Dongzhou as a guest, he also entered Marquis Duan nMansion in Dongzhou to learn music from the world’s top musician, Marquis Duan.
“Is it Marquis Duan who just passed away two years ago?”
“That’s right, he was.”
Some of the scholars who knew something about it sighed.
“I heard that this Marquis Duan has a high reputation among the people of Dongzhou. It is only because he once assisted the licentious King Lie of Qi in the past, and after taking charge of Dongzhou, he has always regarded himself as a sinner. He works hard in politics but never takes a penny. On the day of Marquis Duan’s burial, the people of Dongzhou spontaneously kneeled on both sides of the street to bid farewell, crying loudly. Over the years, Dongzhou’s society has been stable and prosperous, and the people live and work in peace, all of which are the achievements of Marquis Duan.”
“I also heard that after the news of Marquis Duan’s serious illness spread, the two Emperors personally rushed to Dongzhou and stayed for a while. His Highness, the Second Prince, together with Marquis Duan, held a ceremony for descendants rather than an apprenticeship, personally delivering the funeral for Marquis Duan. And I also don’t know why…”
“What else can it be? Of course, they are grateful for the contributions made by Marquis Duan during his lifetime. However, I heard that now, Marquis Duan’s son, Qi Ziqi, has upheld his father’s will and managed Dongzhou in an orderly manner. Under the grave, Marquis Duan can also rest in peace.”
There was actually another big event happening during that time.
Not long after the passing of Marquis Duan, His Majesty, the former Emperor of Jiang, who later became the Emperor Emeritus of Jiang, also suffered a sudden heart attack and fell ill. He passed away in the winter of that year.
Those unknown feelings of gratitude and resentment buried deep in the yellow dust have also turned into clear winds and flowing clouds with the departure of the deceased, and no one knows them anymore.
“Look, who’s that?!”
There was another low cry—a low cry tinged with shock.
The scholars followed the sound and saw the officials respectfully leading a teenager in a moonlight white robe through the palace path towards the direction of the Wenhua Hall. The teenager’s eyebrows were like ink paintings, his eyes were like stars, his demeanor was elegant, and his appearance was unparalleled. He was wearing a long robe, the tunic he wore was not a brocade robe but a very common cotton and linen fabric. He also carried a bookcase on his shoulders, but just a glance was enough to amaze all beings.
“With such a look and age, there could only be His Highness the Second Prince.”
“Haha, His Little Highness has returned, His Highness the Crown Prince will definitely be in a mood, he will not make things difficult for us anymore.”
Zhao Yan stood on the long steps, looking at the young man in white clothes who calmly climbed the jade steps, and his spirit shook again.
“Master.”
Sui Yu’s eyes gently curved, smiling as he bowed to Zhao Yan. His eyes were clear, like the spring water of March.
As the young man entered the palace, the disciple standing behind Zhao Yan once again sighed, “The Second Highness’s grace is truly unparalleled in the world.”
But Zhao Yan knew it wasn’t.
However, with the passage of time, many young people have never met the young gentleman who was dressed in a green robe and had a beautiful physique. What a peerless charm he once was. How many stories and legends have been born in that turbulent world?
The palace examination ended smoothly in the evening. As expected by the scholars, the return of the Little Highness, Sui Yu, made the Crown Prince’s mood particularly happy and his mouth particularly lenient. Most of the scholars passed the assessment smoothly, and even the old man Ji Chuntai was granted a vacant position in the Hanlin Academy. The old man did not faint due to nervousness this time, but after leaving the hall, he collapsed due to excessive excitement. After being poured two large bowls of ginger water by someone, he woke up.
In the side hall, three people sat around the table. The Crown Prince Jiang Nuo’s sword-like eyebrows flew diagonally, his face was as bright as jade, and he was dressed in a vermilion Crown Prince’s court uniform. First, he sharply glanced at County King Yuzhang, who was similarly rolling his eyes at him. He then ordered the palace attendants to bring the precious osmanthus honeydew to his beloved younger brother to drink.
The return of His Little Highness Sui Yu not only benefited a group of new scholars but also easily resolved the difficulties that troubled the two brothers.
When he learned that his eldest cousin was worried about military expenses, the Little Highness took out 100,000 taels of gold tickets without blinking his eyes and placed them in front of County King Yuzhang. He also said that if it’s not enough, there’s more, and that it shouldn’t be a problem for him to help his eldest cousin finish off the Mobei Royal Court. He just had to go specifically to Dongzhou to pick them up. The Crown Prince Jiang Nuo instantly felt that he, as the Crown Prince, was particularly stubborn. For a moment, he even suspected that his innocent and kind brother, who was easy to coax, had followed a bandit to rob houses.
It’s true that His Highness the Crown Prince protects his younger brother, but when it comes to disciplining his own brother, he is also never hesitant. He immediately asked in a serious tone, “Ah Yu, you be honest, where did you get so much money?”
His Little Highness Sui Yu calmly recounted his legendary experience. Originally, the master who taught this Little Highness the technique of casting mechanisms was not an ordinary craftsman but a descendant of the Mo family’s public transmission. The old man was addicted to mechanical techniques and had no wife or children in his life. Due to his excessive love for this talented young disciple, he passed on the family’s head orders directly to His Little Highness Sui Yu on his deathbed. Nowadays, the government agencies and animal shops in Dongzhou are already the private property of His Little Highness Sui Yu.
His Little Highness Sui Yu humbly stated that these 100,000 taels were originally used as travel expenses for himself. Since his cousin needs them, he can easily give them to his poor cousin. He can just make a few mechanism birds and will be able to earn it back.
The opposite duo had complex expressions, especially His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was the protective devil of his younger brother. At this moment, he really wanted to jump up and knock on his silly younger brother, using 100,000 taels of gold tickets as travel expenses. He’s afraid that he might be targeted by bandits before he could even hit the road. It’s really the blessing of their ancestors that he was not knocked unconscious in a sack and held captive in the cottage.
His Little Highness Sui Yu explained that he had flown back in the latest-developed wooden kite, and there’s no chance of encountering bandits. If the eldest cousin is willing, he can also launch several newly developed new types of wooden cattle and horses into the Mobei battlefield to help the eldest cousin fight. But due to the immature technology, he cannot guarantee its effectiveness.
County King Yuzhang immediately wanted to collect and promised to bring back some boxes of good items for his dear cousin, but was stopped by Crown Prince Jiang Nuo’s blank gaze.
“Soldiers fighting is not a child’s play. You must not act recklessly; otherwise, Gu will inform Emperor Fathers.”
“Is it me fighting or you fighting?”
“If Gu says it’s not usable, it’s just not usable.”
“I don’t need you to care about my affairs.”
“Heh, you keep your word. Next time those concubines in your mansion fight again, don’t ask Gu to help you clean up the mess. Gu is ashamed of you for not being a good husband.”
“……”
Seeing that they were about to escalate from a verbal dispute to a physical competition, His Little Highness Sui Yu immediately stated that he would double his efforts and, in addition to writing articles, playing music, and studying architecture and carefully studying casting techniques, he would strive to bring more mature wooden cattle and horses to the battlefield in order to finally end this dispute.
“Prime Minister, you can rest assured now. With His Highness the Second Prince present, those two cannot argue.”
The disciples of the Prime Minister’s mansion still stood outside the side hall with their own Prime Minister Master, listening to the three noble Highnesses arguing and talking.
Zhao Yan smiled and said, “Although these three little kids have different temperaments, fortunately they all have ideas and plans in their hearts. Even the most straightforward Xiao Junwang has many clever strategies and has fought many beautiful battles on the battlefield. In this way, there will be a successor to the kingdom, and I will be able to explain to the two Majesties as well.”
After speaking, this now-renowned prime minister, with his broad sleeves, stepped down the jade steps and walked towards the palace gate, facing the lights that were lit up in the palace.
[End of text]
T/N: It’s officially ended, Nuo Nuo is literally mini SH haha T__T I feel a bit regretful for not being able to see SH and JY one last time. Anw, thank you all for being with me throughout this journey ^^ Also I’d like to apologize for any inaccurate or incorrect meaning throughout the whole novel. English is not my first language and my knowledge of it is also limited (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄ ) so I hope you guys understand (feel free to correct me ≧◠ᴥ◠≦).
