Chapter 460: Chapter 461: Wailing Internally

Cao Xiangqian gulped down a large mouthful of tea, then crudely spat out a tea leaf. "I had you boys go there to diligently learn some real skills, and it was for your own good.

"If you can just learn half of what that Store Manager knows, you’ll be able to find a way out even in the most desperate situations.

"Remember, I went to great pains to arrange for you to follow Mrs. Gu. It wasn’t so you could just loaf around and wait to die. If you don’t forge a path for yourselves, no one will be able to help you in the future."

Cao Lijia said, "But why Mrs. Gu?"

Cao Xiangqian replied, "That’s a good question. I’ll take this opportunity to tell you all why I chose Mrs. Gu.

"Right now, Ancient Wen Heng’s official post may not seem prominent, but he is an intelligent man with luck on his side. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have advanced so quickly in such a short time.

"To have come so far at such a young age without any backing is already quite remarkable."

"But Lu City..."

"What about Lu City?" Cao Xiangqian glared at the grandson who had spoken. "Don’t just follow the crowd and parrot what others say.

"Lu City... It’s not as if I’ve never been there. The assassination of the last Prefect of Lv City was an isolated incident. If those bandits are allowed to succeed again, wouldn’t General Zhou lose face?

"So, no matter the reason, as the new Magistrate, Ancient Wen Heng will ultimately overcome this crisis.

"Besides, in the most difficult of places, an intelligent man will find a way to make notable achievements. You can just imagine it—by the end of his term, he’ll probably be promoted another rank.

"And his wife—to become an Imperial Merchant at such a young age with just a secret recipe... Do you think she’s some ordinary person?"

Cao Xiangqian looked at his stunned grandsons and let out a long sigh. "Fortunately, you lot haven’t disappointed me. Though you were reluctant, you’ve been dutifully working and learning all this time.

"While I can still hold down the fort for a while longer, you all should focus on learning as much as you can.

"Remember to build good relationships with the shopkeepers. Do your best to become a part of the shops. While the Gu Family couple are away from Shangjing, use this opportunity to help them look after their businesses. They will remember this favor."

’If this Ancient Wen Heng really rises to power one day, then because of the help we’re giving now, he will surely be willing to lend a hand to the Cao Family’s descendants should they ever face trouble.’

The Cao Family descendants, "..." ’Who dares call their grandfather a brute? Look at him, he’s actually learned the tricks of the civil servants and is busy plotting.’

"You brats, what’s with those looks? Who do you think I’m doing all this for?" Cao Xiangqian hadn’t wanted to explain so much, afraid they would act too opportunistically and give the game away.

’But it seemed he was mistaken. If he didn’t spell things out for these dense boys, who knew what kind of trouble they would stir up given enough time.’

’The Gu Family couple has barely been gone, and these boys are already getting restless and impatient?’

’He couldn’t have them failing to build a good relationship and earning resentment instead. That was not his intention at all.’

...

While most other noble houses lost sleep over this matter, for Chen Zishu, receiving the Empress’s edict immediately sent his wife into a frenzy, scratching at her own face.

She only had two daughters from the main line, and now, because of Chen Zishu, both had been forfeited to the Imperial Palace.

His younger brothers watched silently from the side. The Chen Family had not yet divided the household. ’Does this mean it will be our children’s turn next?’ they wondered.

Seeing their disapproving gazes, Chen Zishu cried out silently in his heart.

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’If I had known the Emperor would act this way, I would never have been the one to stick my neck out.’

He didn’t even dare to recall the final look in his second daughter’s eyes as she was led away by the palace maid; otherwise, he felt as if he might suffocate.

...

Meanwhile, Hua Shunming leisurely summoned Liu Donglai. "Old Prime Minister, We trust you have heard of the recent events in court. We have summoned you today to ask for your opinion."

Liu Donglai kept his gaze lowered. "This old subject has been retired for many years. I am not as well-informed about court matters as I once was."

"However, before entering the palace today, I did hear a few things about what transpired in court. Holy Emperor, for you to make such arrangements, you must surely have your reasons."

"Old Prime Minister, there are no outsiders here. There’s no need for such empty words." Hua Shunming hadn’t expected much of an answer; he simply wanted someone to listen.

"In his youth, the late Emperor waged campaigns in every direction. But in his later years, he unexpectedly came to feel that the karma from all the killing was too heavy, and he began to favor civil matters over the military.

"It was because of this policy that our borders have grown unstable these past years.

"And those civil servants he so favored, having figured out his mindset, advised nothing but retreat and forbearance at every sign of invasion.

"And look at the result. The war dispatches have grown more and more frequent over the years, yet these people pay them no mind. They are still just scrambling and fighting amongst themselves for power."

Liu Donglai kept his head bowed low. ’This young Emperor...’ he thought, ’I wonder if he’s deliberately forgotten that I, too, am a civil servant.’

Hua Shunming continued, "We... We dare not even imagine it. If We were to actually follow their proposals, how long would it be before We become the emperor of a vanquished nation?"

Terrified, Liu Donglai immediately fell prostrate. "Holy Emperor, you must not speak such things!"

"Hah. Just because something is left unsaid doesn’t mean it won’t happen." Hua Shunming made no move to help him up. ’I still remember,’ he thought, ’when My own imperial sister was sent away for a political marriage. This man was not the one who proposed it, but he was among the silent.’

"You literati are always advocating for caution in war, for ’instructing before fighting.’ Very well, We shall grant them their wish.

"We just hope that this ’conviction’ of theirs continues."

Liu Donglai, "..." ’I really don’t know what those officials in the court were thinking,’ he lamented internally. ’They’ve turned a perfectly refined and gentle Emperor into... this. I wonder if they will one day come to regret it.’

"Old Prime Minister, do you perhaps feel Our methods are a bit... radical?"

"This old subject wouldn’t dare," Liu Donglai groaned internally. ’I’m just an old official who’s been retired for years. Why does the Emperor always single me out?’

’If I weren’t so accustomed to living in Luohu Village, and if the place didn’t suit my temperament so well, I’d pack up and leave this very night.’

Hua Shunming sighed. "We just want to find someone to talk with. Why must it be so difficult? Old Prime Minister, speak your mind freely. We grant you pardon in advance."

Liu Donglai, "..." ’Can this old subject perhaps say that he has nothing to say?’

"The Holy Emperor does this with the intent of pacifying the borders. It is merely that the other officials would perhaps prefer to handle these matters with a gentler touch."

Hua Shunming said, "Now, We are acting according to their wishes. We can only hope they maintain such ’conviction’ in the future."

Liu Donglai, "..." ’You didn’t summon me for advice,’ he realized. ’You summoned me to be your mouthpiece.’

’I suspect that once I leave the palace gates, I won’t be heading home anytime soon.’

’Indeed, Hua Shunming was seething with frustration. He was not like the late Emperor. These old foxes would not be able to fool him as they had before. If they tried, he would show them the true meaning of imperial power.’

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