A gust of north wind stirred Cui Xue’er’s inky hair, and a hint of coolness made her shiver.
Xiao Ming wrapped his cloak around Cui Xue’er. Then he rose and looked at Xiao Yi, who was playing.
For him, this question was indeed somewhat cruel to Cui Xue’er. So he said, “Of course, I will not force you.”
“Your Majesty misunderstands me. If Your Majesty has made up your mind, I, your concubine, am willing to write a letter to admonish my imperial father. After all, as the Imperial Consort of the Great Yu Empire, I too wish to see the Great Yu Empire grow stronger and richer, just like the common people of the realm. I believe my imperial father will also understand,” Cui Xue’er said clearly.
Xiao Ming looked at Cui Xue’er. After a long moment, he said, “This puts you in a difficult position. My promise to you will not change. Your imperial father and elder brother have rendered service to me, and I am unwilling to meet them on the battlefield.”
Cui Xue’er nodded heavily upon hearing this.
The next day, the Qingzhou Daily was published as usual. The content on the front page immediately caused a huge uproar in Qingzhou City. People in the streets and alleys discussed animatedly.
Living in Qingzhou Province, the political center of the Great Yu Empire, they were all extremely sensitive to politics. The information revealed in this report was too much.
In their opinion, the Great Yu Empire was about to become turbulent again.
“If you ask me, these feudal lords should have been dealt with long ago. Otherwise, once they become too powerful, they’ll just be trouble in the future.”
At a breakfast stall, Zhu Wuliu was eating fried dough sticks and tofu pudding. With the development of industry, the Great Yu Empire’s products were becoming increasingly abundant. Especially with the rise of stir-fried dishes, soybeans and rapeseed were widely planted among the common people. The oil for stir-frying subsequently became more abundant and cheaper, even allowing roadside breakfast stalls to deep-fry dough sticks.
Opposite Zhu Wuliu was Zhu Sansi. Hearing this, he said, “You should interfere less in government affairs. Just focus on your business.”
“Brother, you’re making too much of a fuss. It’s published in the newspaper. Can’t I discuss it?” Zhu Wuliu pursed his lips.
Zhu Sansi frowned. He said, “In short, it’s for your own good. I don’t want to meet you on the battlefield one day.”
Zhu Wuliu looked puzzled by what he said and could only helplessly shake his head. “Brother, what you said is quite alarming.”
Zhu Sansi glanced at his younger brother and sighed. In truth, there were some things he couldn’t say directly. He was going south in a few days after returning this time.
He and the other generals already understood the matter of the merchants’ council and the State of Chu. It was precisely because of this that he was worried, fearing that his younger brother might also go astray.
This worry was not without reason, because with the development of Qingzhou Province, the common people and merchants were increasingly keen to discuss national politics.
Originally, this was fine, but this would inevitably lead to different voices, some even extreme. He was very worried that Zhu Wuliu might go astray.
In recent years, their Zhu family had become increasingly prosperous. Not only did they own hundreds of mu of fertile land in Zhu Family Village, but Zhu Wuliu’s business had also opened up markets in Goryeo. Now, he could earn eight hundred Golden Dragons each month.
Such substantial profits allowed Zhu Wuliu to purchase a large mansion in Qingzhou City. This time, he was staying at his brother’s residence upon his return.
“I’m not trying to scare you. You can talk about these things all you want, but remember not to harbor any other intentions,” Zhu Sansi reminded him again.
Zhu Wuliu nodded, said nothing more, and instead pricked up his ears to listen to other merchants’ discussions. Zhu Sansi, seeing this, sighed slightly.
Just then, he suddenly felt a pat on his shoulder. Turning around, he was startled and immediately stood up to salute, “Division Commander Cui.”
The person Zhu Sansi called Division Commander Cui was none other than Cui Shang’an. At this moment, he had a look of indignation, appearing quite displeased.
“You’ve read the newspaper,” Cui Shang’an said seemingly casually.
In Zhu Sansi’s hand was a copy of the Qingzhou Daily, which Zhu Wuliu had bought. He couldn’t help but smile wryly, “I have.”
Cui Shang-an’s face showed a self-mocking expression. “Don’t worry. This matter is now known throughout Qingzhou Province. It’s nothing.”
With that, he sat down and ordered a serving of tofu pudding and fried dough sticks.
Zhu Wuliu looked at Cui Shang’an in confusion. He was about to ask something but was interrupted by Zhu Sansi.
“Wuliu, isn’t your business very busy? You should go back now,” Zhu Sansi ordered.
Zhu Wuliu was startled. Whenever his brother spoke in this tone, it always meant something very important. He responded and walked towards his workshop, worriedly.
Cui Shang-an glanced at the departing Zhu Wuliu. He said, “You are quite concerned about your younger brother.”
Zhu Sansi said seriously, “He’s been rather thoughtless since he was little. I have no choice but to watch over him.”
Cui Shang-an chuckled, “I love my younger sister the same way. It’s just that she’s become the Imperial Consort now, and I have to bow to her when I see her.”
Zhu Sansi was somewhat confused by what Cui Shang-an was thinking. Unfortunately, at this critical juncture, this Cui Shang-an was his direct superior.
He was a division commander, and he was a brigade commander.
Seemingly discerning Zhu Sansi’s thoughts, he suddenly laughed, “You needn’t worry. I’m not here to persuade you to rebel with me. I’ve lived in Qingzhou Province for two years, and I know my own capabilities very well, and also the capabilities of the State of Huainan.”
After a pause, he continued, “I knew this day would come. With His Majesty’s personality, it’s impossible for him to tolerate the continued existence of feudal lords. However, even so, it’s still uncomfortable when the axe falls on your own head.”
“Actually, I don’t understand too much, but I understand that there is gain only through sacrifice, don’t I?” Zhu Sansi said ambiguously.
The situation of the realm was clear to any discerning eye. Unification was the overwhelming trend. The popularization of the concepts of nation and ethnicity made the common people eager to have a complete nation.
Moreover, they understood that there were still many nations in this world, and some of them were a threat to them.
Cui Shang-an nodded. He said, “You are an honest man, and you speak honestly. Father King cannot defeat His Majesty; I know that much better than he does.”
After speaking, he hastily ate his meal and left, leaving a bewildered Zhu Sansi. In the army, he had a good relationship with this Prince of Huainan’s son. He truly did not want this Prince’s son to do anything foolish, otherwise, he would have no choice but to displease him.
While the matter of reducing feudal lords’ power fermented in Qingzhou Province, news also quickly reached the Prince of Yong’s residence in Jizhou. Two days had already passed by this time.
When the Prince of Yong finished reading the contents of the newspaper, he was not angry; instead, he breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The Prince of Yong’s consort beside him said, “The previous matter already showed signs. Now, it seems that the reduction of feudal lords’ power will indeed happen. Your Highness, His Majesty has not yet explicitly stated his position. This is giving us a way out. I think we should set off for Qingzhou Province tomorrow. The days of anxiety should also come to an end.”
The Prince of Yong sighed deeply, “You’re right. It’s time for this to end.”
The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/caleredhair