With the news of Bai Lu's return, in the afternoon, Wu Lifeng also sent her a letter. Xie Kun had also returned, bringing his parents and his younger brother's family with him, all ready to settle within the inner city!
They say good things never come in pairs, but coincidentally, Huangfu Xian and Huangfu Xu both sent good news!
The emperor, with no other choice, agreed to Huangfu Xian and Huangfu Xu's demands. The cities outside their fiefdoms were to be closed, and they were to declare themselves kings. From then on, the Yun Kingdom would no longer have jurisdiction over them!
Some rejoiced, while others despaired. A strong nation was thus divided. This move completely bewildered the vassal states!
As soon as the third month ended, the city gates were completely closed. Thus, the fiefdoms of the Four Kings merged into a small country, with the inner city as its core, forming a fortified city!
The Four Kings were: Fan Zehao, Fan Xudong, Huangfu Xu, and Huangfu Xian!
It is said that father and son fight together, and brothers fight together. Looking at this lineup, it was not untrue; they were all pairs of brothers!
The situation even involved brothers-in-law. Although Fan Zehao did not approve of such a relationship, Huangfu Xian was thick-skinned enough!
"Eldest brother, eldest brother, decide." Being called "big brother" by Fan Zehao was truly a helpless situation!
He corrected him once again: "From now on, you will call me Your Highness. You are not allowed to call me big brother anymore. I have long severed ties with you and your concubine's family!"
Huangfu Xian said indifferently: "Even if ties are severed, they can be reconnected. Moreover, after all these years, let bygones be bygones. Since Fan Zhang, Fan Fu, and Cao Meihua are all dead, only the siblings Fan Shurong and Fan Mingyue remain. They have been living honestly all these years. Big brother, please forgive them, after all, the blood in your bodies is the same!"
The blood in their bodies was the same?
Fan Zehao found this statement very ironic!
If their blood was truly the same, why did they not offer any assistance during his family's most difficult times, but instead made things worse and kicked him while he was down? Such relatives were better off without!
"Huangfu Xian, don't stand there and preach! If I don't forgive them, with my power, killing them would be as simple as crushing an ant!"
"However, forgiveness does not mean we can still associate with them. As long as they live a humble life and do not violate the laws of my inner city, they can do as they please!"
In other words, it was absolutely impossible for them to sit at the same table and eat with him. He had already done his utmost!
Back then, they had even used his father's grave to threaten him, and even planned to dig up his father's grave. He would never forget such despicable tactics!
He tried his best to control himself and not think of them, fearing that he would retaliate out of personal vengeance!
Huangfu Xian was about to say something more when Zhao Jiaqi on the side shook her head at him, immediately interrupting him: "Do not advise kindness to those who have not suffered. This matter ends here. No one is allowed to bring it up again!"
Seeing that his sister-in-law's expression had also changed, Huangfu Xu knew that this matter was perhaps not as simple as they understood. He quickly changed the topic.
"Big brother, sister-in-law, now that the four of us are united, I was wondering if we should consolidate our military power. If anything happens in the future, who will take the lead?"
As soon as Huangfu Xu finished speaking, Fan Zehao immediately refused him!
This young man was as cunning as a sieve. He had finally managed to extricate himself from the whirlpool of politics and did not want to enter another one!
"Take the lead for what? You are all kings of your respective fiefdoms. From now on, manage your own affairs within your fiefdoms. Now, everyone go back to your own homes and find your own wives!"
With that, regardless of the expressions of those present, he took his wife's hand and left the front hall, grumbling all the way: "These Huangfu brothers have a good plan, always wanting to reap where they haven't sown, to get something ready-made. There's no such good thing!"
The woman covered her mouth and smiled. Her husband was truly childish, changing his mood as quickly as he flipped his face. The Huangfu brothers were probably still in a daze.
"Alright, stop being angry. After lunch, we have to go visit the nearby villages in the afternoon. It's time to water the fields this season. Even if there is a drought, we must ensure the villagers harvest their crops!"
Hearing this, Fan Zehao finally remembered about the grain.
"Our family has stored millions of taels of grain. It is all in the granary. If the common people in the fiefdoms harvest their grain now, I think they will have enough to eat for the year!"
Zhao Jiaqi sighed. The two of them stood in the small garden, watching the leaves on the trees grow lush and green, full of vitality. Yet, beneath this, turbulent undercurrents were hidden.
"Husband, when it comes to people's livelihood, we shouldn't use words like 'should' or 'perhaps.' We should store more, just in case. If it's not enough to eat, then the common people will starve. A million taels of silver is nothing to us now, but that grain is a lifesaver for the common people!"
Fan Zehao was no longer angry. Instead, he bowed deeply to her: "My dear wife, your teachings are correct. Your husband has noted them. I will have my subordinates go to other vassal states to procure more grain. As long as it is edible, be it potatoes, sweet potatoes, or sorghum, even if it's pig feed, I will have them bring it back!"
This was getting more and more absurd. Pig feed was for pigs; he wouldn't even eat it himself!
"Can't you be more serious for once!" Zhao Jiaqi said teasingly. "The children are all confined within the inner city now. Our two sons are fine, but Yu Meng is always thinking of going to the military camp. See if you can arrange a position for her there!"
"What, have you changed your mind and want your daughter to be a female general now?" Fan Zehao asked her with a smile!
Zhao Jiaqi snorted coldly. How could this be something she could control?
Since her daughter was willing, then so be it. She had also come to terms with it and would no longer restrict Yu Meng with baseless concerns.
As long as she was happy and joyful, and had the ability to distinguish right from wrong, she would be content!
What was the point of hoping her children would be filial, shine brightly, or bring glory to their ancestors? They truly did not need these things.
As long as their children were healthy and they passed on their life skills to them, what they would become in the future was up to them to decide!
Lunch was simple. Mother cooked for them; it was plain noodles with minced meat sauce, although the chunks of meat were a bit large and abundant.
Compared to the bowl of noodles they ate on their wedding day, it was much more lavish!
She would never forget this bowl of noodles over the years!
After freeloading a meal in Mother's courtyard, the couple went to the fields in the afternoon. They did not bring anyone with them, as it would be inconvenient to inspect if they had attendants.
Fan Zehao led the horse with one hand and his wife with the other, walking along the edges of the fields. The blue sky and white clouds, the green mountains and clear waters, and the wheat swaying in the wind!
It was a beautiful scene!
Watching the villagers diligently opening the sluice gates to water the wheat fields, Zhao Jiaqi roughly calculated that the harvest would be in two months.
Time truly flew. After the busy farming season came the autumn planting, then the autumn harvest, and before they knew it, it was the end of the year...
"I see that the villagers are very obedient. The reservoir is full, and there is no drought in the fields. However, the water level in the great river has dropped by more than a meter!"
Standing by the riverbank, Fan Zehao pointed at the place where the river had receded, as if he were directing the affairs of the country.