Summer of the fifteenth year of Heqing.
The Dayu Dynasty engaged in a fierce battle with the Tartars, defeating 100,000 enemy troops with 150,000 iron cavalry, achieving an unprecedented total annihilation.
In the same year, the traitors Zhu Changyu and Fang Yuan were executed, their bodies left no trace.
By the time the message reached Fengjing, the weather had already become hot.
Lychees from Jiuzhenfang are once again being supplied in large quantities. Those with money can buy lychees from Lingnan, while those without can buy lychees from Sichuan and Chongqing. Desserts related to lychees are emerging one after another.
Long queues formed at both shops in Fengjing, with demand exceeding supply.
Even someone as cautious as Zhang Xianglian couldn't help but mutter, "Let's talk to Ruqian and see if we can open a third one."
Jiang Sheng, who was secretly eating lychees, looked up and said, "Him? He went to Suzhou to mine gold bricks a long time ago. I'm in charge of all the shops in Fengjing. I'm so tired every day."
"You're complaining about being tired when you're counting money." Wen Zhiyun licked the medicinal herbs, and tears welled up in his eyes from the bitter taste. "Didn't you say you were going to open Jiuzhenfang all over the country? Now you're not keeping your word?"
“It counts, of course it counts.” Jiang Sheng finished eating the flesh off the lychee seed. “Just like Second Brother said, how can we only make money from the people of Fengjing? If we’re going to make money, we should make money from the entire Dayu Dynasty.”
This spirit deserves praise.
Xu Mo nodded approvingly, "The Guan Jin line is tattered, the 150,000 soldiers have suffered various injuries, their armor is broken, and their longswords are dull. These are all areas where money is needed."
"Fortunately, we won the battle, and won it beautifully. The loss of 100,000 cavalrymen will take them three to five years to recover."
If the Tartars cannot recover their strength, they cannot launch attacks and raids at will.
Conversely, the frontier warriors of the Dayu Dynasty could also rest and wait for the national treasury to be full.
"But..." Xu Mo's smile faded as he mentioned this, "In the letter from the third prince, he said that too many people had died and there were severed limbs everywhere. He was unable to find the bodies of the second prince and Fang Yuan."
Such a ruthless act of revenge, even if found, might not be identifiable as to who committed it.
"If we can't find him, then we can't find him." Chang Yan, dressed in the crown prince's python robe, turned around, his face revealing no emotion. "His merits and demerits cannot offset each other. He caused the deaths of innocent soldiers and should be buried with them."
Only occasionally, when I think of the Second Prince's tragic life, I can't help but sigh.
Sighing at the vicissitudes of life, sighing at the changes of people and things.
If it weren't for Zhu Changyan, with Zhu Changyu's cunning and skill, he might have been able to seize the throne and rule the country.
With Fang Yuan's shrewdness and strategic thinking, he might very well become a powerful minister.
But fate is cruel, and life is unpredictable. If Yan was born, why was Yu born as well?
“I can’t judge whether Second Brother and Fang Yuan are right or wrong. Perhaps some of their methods are not honorable, but how many people in power are completely upright?” Chang Yan’s fingers brushed across the envelope. “It’s just that since some things are unsavory, they have to bear the infamy of being exposed.”
Such as cheating in the imperial examinations, or seizing power and betraying the country.
History will not be lenient; all the black and white will be revealed: the cowardice and righteousness of the imperial family, the pride and arrogance of Consort Ju, the incompetence and cowardice of the eldest prince, and the coldness and desolation of the second prince.
"It's a pity the story didn't turn out as my grandfather hoped. I wish my family members harmony and mutual support."
The sunlight was blinding. Chang Yan, dressed in an orange-yellow prince's python robe, stepped in and began his journey back to the palace.
Since the rebellion at the gates of the capital, the emperor has never been clear-headed again, and almost all political affairs have been handed over to the crown prince, who has been responsible for them.
When Changyan had a spare moment, he would go to the small courtyard to reunite with his brother and sister, but he spent most of his time in the East Palace writing and handling various affairs.
In a sense, he was free.
But he was trapped forever.
Jiang Sheng held two lychees, staring blankly at her fifth brother's back, unsure of what to say.
Xu Mo rubbed her head and said, "Cheer up. The battle is won, and the general and the third brother can go home."
"Really?" Jiang Sheng grinned. "When Third Brother comes back, we'll all stay in this city with Fifth Brother, right? He won't be lonely, right?"
Xu Mo did not answer.
"Little Jiang Sheng, someone has come to Jiuzhenfang to discuss business." Zhang Xianglian's voice rang out at just the right time.
Jiang Sheng gave a crisp reply and then went off to get busy.
Xu Mo breathed a sigh of relief.
The summer sun was always so scorching. He opened his oil-paper umbrella, leisurely left the small courtyard, and took a carriage to a small villa outside Fengjing City.
Calling it a separate courtyard is not accurate, because the courtyard walls are exceptionally high, the wooden doors are thick and sturdy, and the locks are secured with iron chains as thick as a wrist.
Schumer stopped the carriage, expertly tied the reins, carried a package out of the carriage, unlocked the chain with a key, and pushed open the door to enter.
If his younger siblings saw this, their eyes would probably pop out of their sockets, thinking he was keeping a mistress.
Upon closer inspection, there was indeed a young girl sitting in the courtyard. She was young and beautiful, but her embroidery movements were stiff and rigid, like a mechanical swing.
Only when she heard the door open did she turn around, revealing an overly pale face, and say, "You've come."
"This is a few days' worth of food and water." Xu Mo coldly put down the package. "Live well."
The girl seemed to have heard a great joke, "You imprisoned me here, yet let me live a good life. Do outsiders know how much Lord Xu disregards the law and discipline?"
Xu Mo was unusually taciturn.
I didn't understand before; I always thought that one should be upright and have a clear conscience.
Even after Wang Fufeng passed away, the culprit Wang Yuyao remained at large. His eyes were stained with blood, and he tried his best to find a loophole in the law.
Whether it was Fang Yuan's crime of deceiving the emperor or Zhu Changyu's plot to seize power, both successfully absolved Wang Yuyao of responsibility.
She was a helpless girl, living with her unmarried husband, completely unaware of and ignorant of everything.
Until the two betrayed their country and fled, the Zhu and Tao families instantly switched sides, and Wang Yuyao was merely packing her bags to return to Anshui County.
But what gives her the right?
Those who persecuted Wang Fufeng to death must count down the days.
For the first time, Xu Mo used his power to forcibly seize Wang Yuyao and imprison her in a remote, deserted suburb.
"I'm letting you live well, not just live." He finally spoke, his tone chilling. "I'm letting you see him one last time because of Ah Heng."
When the topic of childhood sweethearts came up, Wang Yuyao's mask finally shattered.
She turned around in a panic, her pale yellow dress swirling in the air. "No...you can't bring him here. Just kill me. Let me die, and I'll give you my life in return, okay?"
"No way." Xu Mo sneered, "If you dare to commit suicide, I will go to Anshui County and wipe out the Sun family."
"Live well, this is your punishment."
The gate closed again, the chains rattled, and the padlock tightened.
Indeed, it is true that as long as a person has selfish desires, it is difficult for them to maintain an upright and honest character.
Xu Mo took one last look at the towering courtyard wall before driving the carriage back to Fengjing.
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