Chapter 1 Ji Chuanye

Chuanye,

Ji Chuanye.

This name couldn’t help but inspire associations, and it was believed that once the Emperor’s eldest grandson’s name spread tonight, a new trend would sweep through.

You must know, the Sixth Prince was already enjoying increasing popularity. Although his methods were sometimes a bit extreme, showing a sense of decisiveness in both dealing with superiors and subordinates, the court and the public had actually become accustomed to it under the Emperor of Yan’s authority.

If the next emperor was still of the same type as the Emperor of Yan, the ministers wouldn’t be unable to accept it, since they had been through it for so many years.

Of course, it would be best if the Crown Prince could inherit the throne, because the Crown Prince fit the ministers’ imagination of a “sage ruler” and would also allow everyone to loosen the chains around their necks.

However, now the Emperor of Yan’s words carried immense weight, and if he wanted to change the heir, no one would dare to oppose him, nor could anyone oppose him.

The Emperor’s eldest grandson’s name couldn’t help but make people feel that His Majesty was sending an implication to the outside world;

The Emperor’s eldest grandson was to "inherit the legacy," inherit the great legacy, so what about the Emperor's eldest grandson's father?

As the Emperor’s eldest grandson cried out for the second time, needing a wet nurse to feed him, the Emperor of Yan rose and returned to the palace, accompanied by Little Qi.

The Fourth and Fifth Princes also returned to their respective residences, which were nearby and not far away anyway.

The First Prince and the barbarian princess stayed a little longer.

"Ji Chuanye, Ji Chuanye, hehe, after this, Sixth Brother, you are one step closer to that position," the First Prince joked.

Ji Chengjue seemed very calm, saying:

"We both know what kind of person the old man is. Don't mention giving my son the name Chuanye, even if he named him Chuanwei (passing the throne),

Hehe,

What does it matter to the old man?

He is now putting me on the fire to roast;

Your younger brother now feels like a roast duck stuck on iron tongs, being slowly rotated by our imperial father to evenly roast out the oil."

"Okay, you're back to your old ways," the First Prince laughed.

Ji Chengjue shook his head and said, "It's really hard being our father's son. Actually, I feel a little nervous now. Before, I was below and Second Brother was above. Now we've switched positions.

Eldest Brother, you've also seen how haggard Second Brother has become since he entered the Eastern Palace."

The First Prince wanted to say, "Isn't half of that because of you?"

But in the end, he didn't say it. Taking advantage of the occasion of a new generation being born today, the brothers and the old man had a rare gathering, and there was still some brotherly affection, more or less.

The barbarian princess on the side sat silently without saying a word. She knew that the fact that these two brothers were saying such things without avoiding her was already a great respect for her, but she was not qualified to say anything.

"Let's take it one step at a time. Anyway, I don't believe that our imperial father has made up his mind to put me up there. If I really thought so naively, then I wouldn't be far from being roasted.

By the way, we haven't had a good chat since you came back last time, Eldest Brother. What's the situation down there?"

"Not very good. The aristocratic families are gone, but they can't be completely eliminated. The big ones are dug out, and the small ones quickly grow back. Except for not having the signboard of 'hundred years,' what they do is actually no different from those aristocratic families back then."

"That's natural. No one is a fool. Everyone knows how to eat, and everyone knows how to eat more. This thing is like the moss on the steps. You have to clean it every now and then, and you can't slack off."

"So, your brother is helping you do this moss-cleaning work?"

"This is not a small matter. The pot is only so big, and there is only so much rice that can be cooked. All I can do to increase revenue is to add a few more dishes outside, but if there isn't enough rice, you can't get full just eating dishes.

If the imperial court eats more, the people below will eat less. If the people below eat more, the imperial court will not be full.

If the imperial court isn't full, the imperial father will be angry, and then, your younger brother will… hehe."

"If you need my help, just say it directly. I'm not as good as you with my brain, especially in terms of money and food. However, Jiangnan in Qian is really too rich. In the same amount of time, the Qian people will recover and accumulate more strength than us.

Last time, Li Fusheng and Li Bao attacked Qian in two routes, one route reaching the capital. Originally, I thought that the Qian people would face widespread famine in the north the following year, but this scene did not happen. Relying on the support of Jiangnan, the Qian people not only stabilized the situation in the north, but even the troops in the three borders were increasing."

"Brother, the accounts can't be calculated like that. My Great Yan is indeed not as rich as Qian, and its population and fertile land are not as good as Qian.

But my Great Yan's century-old illness was forcibly cured by our imperial father and the two marquis of the north and south. What about the Qian people?

Do they really think that a mere official family and a few insightful people can turn around such a big country from top to bottom with a few light edicts?

Impossible, that's wishful thinking.

To give an example, Qian has ten fingers, and my Great Yan only has five fingers, but that Qian official family can only mobilize three fingers. Although my Great Yan has five fingers, our imperial father can mobilize four fingers.

Four against three, we still have the advantage."

Saying that, Ji Chengjue looked at the barbarian princess again, saying:

"It's like my sister-in-law's barbarian race. The desert is vast, and there are countless barbarian tribes. The barbarian race has not actually declined. What has declined is only the royal court."

The barbarian princess did not get angry when she heard this, but instead nodded with a smile.

Xia women have a tradition of following their husbands, whether they marry a chicken or a dog. Even the princess, after deciding that she was going to marry the Crown Prince, directly regarded Ji Chengjue as a thorn in her side and wanted to get rid of him.

In this era, this is the rule.

The women of the desert barbarian race are actually even more so. To a certain extent, they have an even stronger concept of "obeying their husbands" than the Xia women.

Ji Chengjue once heard Zheng Fan say a sentence called productivity determines everything.

Ji Chengjue didn't understand the meaning of the three words "productivity" at first, but he could roughly guess what it meant.

It is too difficult for a woman to live alone in this world, so every family needs a pillar.

And the living environment of the barbarian race is even worse, and the barbarian women have even less choice.

Ji Chengjue spoke very casually, but he was not stupid. He had been learning how to conduct himself since he was in his mother's womb, so the next sentence was:

"If the royal court was still the same royal court as it was a hundred years ago, then it wouldn't be my sister-in-law marrying into our family, but Eldest Brother going to your place."

"Pfft," the princess laughed.

The First Prince shook his head and said, "But in the final analysis, Qian still has seven fingers."

"Brother, I don't understand fighting, and I haven't been on the battlefield, but your younger brother knows that fighting on the battlefield isn't about one side killing the other side completely. Often, one side will collapse directly after one or two out of ten have died.

Therefore, what my Great Yan has to do in two years is to forcefully break off three of Qian's fingers with thunderous force, and the seven below will not be able to gather together.

By the way, Brother, there's one more thing. Originally, I thought it was too rash, but I feel that the time is almost right now. In Yinlang County, Xu Wenzu is having a headache because of that Zhong Tianlang.

Brother, go to Yinlang County."

"Is it appropriate?" the First Prince asked, but his eyes were already shining.

"I've arranged for Xu Wenzu to submit a letter to the imperial court in a few days, asking for assistance, and then I will personally come forward to recommend you in the court, Eldest Brother. What you have to do is not be humble, let alone modest. Just walk out generously and put the knife..."

"Oh no, weapons are not allowed when attending court. Eldest Brother, just hug the pillar of the hall and act like you're going to smash your head to death if the imperial father doesn't agree."

"..." The First Prince.

After hesitating for a moment, the First Prince opened his mouth and said, "What if the imperial father refuses?"

After all, the sons know their father's temper.

If the Emperor of Yan refuses in court, wouldn't he really have to smash his head against the pillar?

Ji Chengjue shrugged and said, "Anyway, you're older than all of us, Eldest Brother, so it's normal for you to die before us.

Besides,

Maybe your death, Eldest Brother, will suddenly make our imperial father understand something and be a little more gentle to our remaining brothers for the rest of his life."

"So, my death wouldn't be in vain?"

"Haha, that's right, that's right."

"But, Sixth Brother, seriously, isn't it too much for you to personally come forward to help me fight for this?"

"Eldest Brother is overthinking it. Eldest Brother, you helped the Ministry of Revenue clear up the business routes outside last year. In the eyes of outsiders, you've long been one of my Sixth Lord's party."

"Sixth Lord's party?"

"I made up the name myself, hehe; and even if I don't come forward, can't others see that it's my intention? Why bother being so evasive?

Besides, since our imperial father named my son Chuanye, and our imperial father is roasting me like a roast duck on the fire, I can't just waste the temperature that our imperial father gave me.

If I come forward, taking advantage of my son Chuanye's reputation, if our imperial father wants to continue roasting me, he has to show me a kind of tolerance and support, and he won't easily refuse.

Moreover, our imperial father has always valued you, Eldest Brother. The Ji family must also have a prince who can hold the ground and lead troops.

Otherwise, is he going to give this opportunity to Fourth Brother?

Fourth Brother has been sharpening his knives and waiting for this opportunity. The Deng family has failed, but the Deng family's legacy is still there. He should still be thinking about finding an opportunity to pick it up, just like your younger brother is cleaning up the Min family's legacy."

Now that things had been said to this point, the First Prince nodded and said, "I understand."

Immediately,

The First Prince let out a long sigh, "If I hadn't made a mistake in the Wangjiang battle, you wouldn't have to be so troubled now, Sixth Brother."

Ji Chengjue shook his head and said, "If you hadn't been defeated back then, Eldest Brother, you wouldn't be here listening to my arrangements."

It can only be said that it is fate.

As the eldest son of the emperor who had always been trained in the military, he could only be reduced to a tool for marriage because of his defeat in Wangjiang.

Ji Chengjue then said to the princess, "Sister-in-law, have you received the letter from home?"

The First Prince looked at his wife. He didn't know about this.

"Don't blame Eldest Brother. Even your sister-in-law doesn't know about this. I took the initiative to send a letter to the royal court through the merchant house, but your sister-in-law should have received the reply before me."

"Sixth Brother, was it your suggestion?" the barbarian princess asked in surprise.

Ji Chengjue nodded.

"My royal father agreed, and my younger brother's envoy has already been dispatched. The letter came faster than the envoy."

"That's good."

The First Prince then understood and said, "Is it about the little prince paying respects to the imperial father?"

Obviously, the barbarian princess did not hide this matter from her husband, and the First Prince also knew about it.

"Sixth Brother, did you suggest this?"

"Yes, who told you to have the hat of a barbarian son-in-law, Eldest Brother? Since the barbarian little prince is willing to recognize our imperial father as his imperial uncle, then the barbarian side has shown their attitude.

In this way, the pressure on your side, Eldest Brother, will be much less, and the Ministry of Rites should also receive a letter soon. With this as a foundation, pushing you to Yinlang County will be smooth."

"I was wondering before why my father-in-law was so easy to talk to this time."

The little prince recognizing the Emperor of Yan as his imperial uncle means that the barbarian king recognizes the Emperor of Yan as his brother, which can be described as a "great insult".

"The royal court lacks everything, but it doesn't lack titles. Now, losing a little bit, first, can prevent the Zhenbei Army on the border from moving, second, can allow my Great Yan's Ministry of Revenue to continue to maintain trade with them, and third, can reduce the pressure on you, Eldest Brother, and also indirectly fight for some benefits for your sister-in-law. The barbarian king is very good at accounting, just like me, and he won't lose out no matter how he calculates it."

"In that case, can I go back and prepare?"

"Of course."

The First Prince clasped his hands and said,

"Sixth Brother, thank you this time."

Previously, clearing up the business routes with troops was not considered fighting at all, but this time, if he could go to Yinlang County and face the Qian front line directly, it would be equivalent to regaining his military life.

As a prince who had been raised in the military camp since he was a child, he longed to go to the battlefield again to prove himself.

"You're welcome, Eldest Brother. We're all members of the Sixth Lord's party, and we're all working for the Sixth Lord."

"You, ah, you," the First Prince was really speechless.

"Alright, Brother, Sister-in-law, I'm going to see my son. I won't see you off."

After the serious business was over, Ji Chengjue went directly into the inner room. His son had just been born, and as a father, he couldn't wait to stay by his side all day long.

When Ji Chengjue came in, the He family father and son were also inside. The father and son were both daughter slaves and younger sister slaves, and they also loved this child very much.

Seeing Ji Chengjue, Old He smiled, cupped his hands, and took two steps back. He Chu also scratched his head with a silly smile.

The father and son didn't dare to be too close to this son-in-law, after all, his status was there, but it wasn't appropriate to be too distant. After all, they were a family.

Therefore, they took a middle value between closeness and distance, which was called...awkward.

Ji Chengjue looked at his son who had just finished breastfeeding and was soundly asleep, and said to his brother-in-law:

"Did you dismiss the teacher?"

Earlier, Ji Chengjue had hired a teacher to teach his brother-in-law how to read.

"I can almost recognize all the characters," He Chu replied.

"There's still a lot more to learn," Ji Chengjue said.

"No, no, it's enough to help my dad with the accounting. I'm a rough person, and it's useless to learn so much."

Old He also said: "Yes, yes, it's enough for him to recognize so many characters. Later, when he goes on a blind date, he can also show it off so that people won't look down on him."

As a member of the imperial family, he was still worried about being looked down upon.

Ji Chengjue naturally knew that this was the He family father and son wanting to abide by their duties.

Originally, Ji Chengjue was still thinking about letting his brother-in-law go to Yinlang County with his eldest brother as a guard to gain experience, but now it seemed that there was no need for that.

"By the way, I remember hearing that you took a fancy to the daughter of the registrar of Nan'an County?"

Old He immediately interrupted and said, "She has already been promised to someone else."

"Oh, then it's a pity." Ji Chengjue sighed and said, "I was negligent. I should have sent someone to make an engagement gift for you earlier."

"How could that be, how could that be, don't worry, son-in-law, I have already found one for him, a family that sells tofu on the same street. That girl is beautiful and hardworking. I'm asking someone to be a matchmaker now. If they can really take a fancy to him, it's a big bargain for this idiot."

He Chu also nodded and continued to smile foolishly, but this smile was not as pure as before.

After all, that registrar's daughter was He Chu's "first love," although the two hadn't said much, that first vague feeling was the most unforgettable.

Ji Chengjue didn't say anything more, but pointed to the child and said:

"In a while, I'm going to move, and then it will be my own house."

"We're not moving in. We're living well. The landlord who rents our house is also..."

Old He suddenly remembered the Emperor of Yan he had seen today, that relative by marriage, that...landlord.

Ji Chengjue smiled and said, "I won't force you to move in, but in the future, I'll have to trouble you to deliver the meat to the house."

Hearing this, He Chu immediately patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely deliver the freshest meat every day!"

At this time, Eunuch Zhang announced outside: "Your Highness, the Fifth Prince has sent a cradle and a small bed."

The Fifth Prince left and came back again, bringing the baby bed and cradle he made himself.

It was very delicate, the carvings were very exquisite, and the materials were naturally excellent.

"Thank you, Fifth Brother."

"Hey, what are you saying, Sixth Brother? What is it for me, as an uncle, to make a bed for the child? It's what I should do, what I should do."

Ji Chengjue suddenly remembered when he and Zheng Fan were chatting and talking about his brothers, Zheng Fan smiled and joked when he heard that his Fifth Brother liked to tinker with carpentry.

Alas,

I don't know when I will see that Zheng guy again.

Perhaps because he was angry, surprised, and happy today, Ji Chengjue rarely joked with his Fifth Brother:

"Fifth Brother, have you finished building your Gundam?"

"..." The Fifth Prince.

...

The next day, Ji Chengjue took a leave of absence and did not attend court.

But staying at home, he also knew the three imperial edicts issued at the early court:

The first imperial edict was that the Emperor's eldest grandson was born, named Ji Chuanye, and there was a general amnesty for the world;

The second imperial edict was to send people from the Ministry of Rites to welcome the envoy of the barbarian little prince;

These two imperial edicts were both expected.

But when Eunuch Zhang mentioned the third imperial edict,

Ji Lao Liu, who was originally teasing his son, immediately widened his eyes, because he was sure that this third imperial edict must have been a whim of his imperial father last night.

The third imperial edict:

Summon Zheng Fan, the General of Cheng and the General Military Officer of Xuehai Pass, the Earl of Pingye, to enter the capital to meet the Emperor.

----

Don't wait for the next chapter, everyone. I'm not sure when I'll finish writing it. Check back tomorrow morning.

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