The Crown Prince said gently, “Father, let’s listen to Shan’er! Building roads is not only good for the economy, but also a great thing for the country and the people. You emptied the national treasury back then just so that the people could have food to eat. Now the national treasury is much fuller than before…”
The emperor waved his hand, stopping the crown prince from speaking.
As the ruler of a country, every decision he makes can affect the common people, and he understands the great principles better than anyone else.
"I understand. You can have Minister Qin make a few more trips later... Never mind, you and Minister Qin can think about it more and bother this girl less! Alright, I'm going back now. You don't need to see me off. Fu Ai Liao will see me off!"
The emperor got up and left, with the crown prince following closely behind.
Jiang Shan gave a perfunctory bow and watched Fu Qiyuan see the father and son off.
Seeing that the emperor still looked displeased, Fu Qiyuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Shan'er is straightforward and outspoken, please don't take it to heart."
The emperor stopped and glared at Fu Qiyuan, saying, "I'm not bothered by her bluntness. Didn't you hear what she said? She said she doesn't care! She doesn't care what decisions I make, she just listens! Listen to that, is that something she should say?"
What if he makes a decision blinded by greed in a moment of irrationality, and she knows it's wrong but doesn't care or ask questions?
Fu Qiyuan sighed, his clear black eyes meeting the emperor's sharp and piercing gaze. He said, "Your Majesty, what are you expecting? Do you expect a pregnant woman six months along to have a long talk with you about the ways of governing the country? Or do you expect a princess who helps you make money to stand before you and influence your shrewd decisions as emperor? Neither is acceptable! Regardless of what you think in your heart, I may be so bold as to say some things to Your Majesty: Shan'er is my wife, the mother of my child, and someone we cherish as our own lives. No one can force her to do what she doesn't want to do!"
The emperor exhaled a sigh of frustration, which made his beard bristle, but he couldn't utter a single word.
He glared at Fu Qiyuan with resentment, then suddenly turned to the Crown Prince and said angrily, "Am I such an unreasonable person?"
Before the crown prince could speak, she angrily turned and left.
The Crown Prince twitched his lips and comforted Fu Qiyuan, saying, "Father didn't mean anything by it. Although he relies on Shan'er, he understands very well that he won't make things difficult for Shan'er."
Fu Qiyuan bowed deeply to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was a wise man. He knew from the beginning that this family had no ambition and would rather be wealthy and idle than suffer in the court and its troubles.
His ambition wasn't in high office or wealth in the imperial court, but in to roam the world freely!
The Crown Prince now has a clear understanding of everyone around Jiang Shan!
Having handed over the year's income and expenditure, Jiang Shan strolled off with a sense of relief to see her mother preparing food for the New Year.
Logically speaking, with such a large mansion as the Grand Tutor's, there should be many things that the mother and daughter shouldn't need to handle personally, but Jiao's mother was still worried.
With no other option, Qiao Shi temporarily put aside his duties as the head manager and rushed home to help his wife personally manage the family's food, drink, and other necessities for the New Year.
Needless to say, the shopkeepers and managers of each store had already prepared lists and sent them to the mansion. Everything was included. All that Jiao's mother needed to do was to select the appropriate items from the list, organize them, and send them to the appropriate stores.
Saves trouble!
For home use, you can have more variety.
Qiao Shi was frying seafood balls, while Jiang Shan stood beside him, eating with a bowl in hand, his cheeks bulging like a little hamster.
Jiao's mother pulled her a little away and scolded, "Don't get oil on your skin. Go back to your room, and I'll bring it to you later."
"No, I want to eat it freshly caught!"
"Don't eat too many fried meatballs, they're hard to digest. Mom will cook you seafood porridge later."
Jiang Shan stared longingly at the steaming hot oil in the pan, "The meatballs smell so good!"
Jiao's mother smiled and said, "Yes, Huai'er also likes to eat fried seafood balls. Tomorrow, I'll have them send some up the mountain by fast horse so that Huai'er can eat them during the New Year."
Jiang Shan smiled and nodded repeatedly.
That night, the family gathered together again to pack various delicacies for Jianghuai.
The New Year's gifts from Qingcheng Mountain were sent away just half a month ago. It has to be said that this family's love for Jianghuai has transcended time and distance and is omnipresent.
...
On Mount Qingcheng, Jiang Huai stared at the gift list his mother had sent up the mountain, muttering to himself, "It's not enough! It's not nearly enough!"
Fu Li was also very troubled. The young master was too popular in Qingcheng Mountain. He had friends all over the mountain, including hunters, farmers, merchants, and scholars. From sixty-year-old men to young children, they were all his "good friends".
Apart from a few personal items belonging to Jiang Huai, most of the gifts on the list belonged to the Fu family of Qingcheng Mountain. Jiang Huai knew this, which was why he had been so troubled that he hadn't slept well for several nights in a row.
The old patriarch Fu watched with a smile as his beloved great-grandson struggled with his own thoughts, not intending to get involved.
This is the result of his own actions, and he should be the one to find a solution.
Jiang Huai was so regretful!
He shouldn't have shown off his mother's cooking skills in front of his good friends, and even boasted that he would let them taste the delicacies of Beijing during the Chinese New Year!
Now look what's happened, they've really blown their own horn!
There are only two options now:
First, he lost the trust of others and would have no face to stand in Qingcheng Mountain from then on.
Secondly, he would rush back to the capital, ask his mother and the shopkeeper to quickly prepare some food for him, and then urgently send it to the mountain. It would be a waste of manpower and money!
With the New Year fast approaching, Jianghuai was at his wits' end when someone from the capital arrived!
They delivered three whole truckloads of food for the Chinese New Year, all of which are Jianghuai's favorites!
When Jiang Huai opened the carriage, he laughed until tears streamed down his face.
She truly deserves to be his most beloved mother!
Not only did it solve his immediate problem, it also made him look good!
Jianghuai finally dared to show the gift list he had drafted himself.
By giving this child two lion's head meatballs and that family a bowl of braised pork, the people of Qingcheng Mountain finally understood the unparalleled affection that Jianghuai had for his friends.
Geng Xiaosan, Fu Li, and several guards led Jiang Huai to deliver New Year's gifts all over the mountain. After running around the mountain, Jiang Huai's stock was almost gone.
The last two bowls of fried meatballs were secretly prepared by the old master of the Fu family for his beloved great-grandson to eat during the Chinese New Year!
Although Qingcheng Mountain has everything, there is no substitute for the unique longing that Jianghuai has for Jiangshan. During the New Year, Jiangshan cannot miss the food that he personally makes for his son.
At the New Year's Eve dinner, looking at the table full of food prepared by his mother, Jiang Huai smiled so hard his eyes crinkled. Tears mingled with his giggles, echoing in the room, a scene that evoked a deep sense of melancholy.
This child is so young, yet he is extremely loyal and righteous, broad-minded, kind and compassionate, and has a clear sense of right and wrong. He is a rare and promising talent!
This is the evaluation of Jianghuai by those renowned martial arts elders from Qingcheng Mountain.
What else is there to say? Now that they've chosen Qingcheng Mountain as their reliance, the stronger the backing, the more at ease those martial arts practitioners will feel. As for those secret techniques, they should contribute what they can and stop hiding them!
So, early on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Huai was dragged out of his warm bed to practice martial arts, euphemistically called: tempering!
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