Chapter 1 The Descent of Magic

"Hey, isn't that Old He?"

"Yeah, it really is Old He. Didn't he send his sister off to marry someone?"

"That's right, it's been almost half a year. He's just getting back now. Could it be the old He family got swindled?"

"Maybe He Chu himself was tricked into becoming a gigolo, who knows? Otherwise, why is he only coming back now?"

"Hey, Old He, where's your brother-in-law?"

"Yeah, Old He, where's your brother-in-law? Why are you slinking back alone?"

He Chu sat on the carriage. It was the same carriage that had carried his sister and brother-in-law to the capital. Now, he was driving it back himself.

Compared to half a year ago, the carriage was a bit more worn and old, but the horse had fattened up.

Now he was about to enter the city, ready to go home. There was a checkpoint at the city gate, and a merchant caravan ahead, so he had to wait a while.

Hearing someone mocking him,

He Chu didn't get angry or make a fuss.

He just pretended not to hear the sarcasm and ridicule in their words,

And nodded with a smile,

Saying:

"Yeah, I'm back."

Seeing Old He's demeanor, those people were too embarrassed to say anything more. They just cupped their fists in greeting again and entered the city.

They were just some small vendors in the city, with small shops, peddling some goods. He Chu used to travel with them when he went to the countryside to buy pigs. After all, there was no deep-seated hatred.

The caravan entered the city very slowly because the goods had to be counted and taxes had to be paid. The tax official and his tax clerks were inspecting very carefully.

In the past, it wasn't this strict. There weren't even specialized tax clerks like this. They had only been dispatched from Yan Jing in the last few months.

After the caravan finished the handover, He Chu drove the carriage over. There were no goods in the carriage, so he was let through directly.

The He family's pork shop was still there.

Because it was noon and the sun was scorching, Old He simply closed the stall and sat in the house, shirtless, holding a palm-leaf fan in one hand and gnawing on a large piece of watermelon with the other.

Why not sit outside to enjoy the breeze and eat watermelon?

He was afraid that the neighbors and passing children would see him and he'd have to share it for no reason. He couldn't bear to.

He Chu drove the carriage back, and Old He heard the noise, hurriedly dropped the watermelon, pushed open the door, and ran out.

"Son!"

"Dad!"

He Chu ran to his father,

But unexpectedly, his father suddenly picked up the pig-slaughtering knife.

He Chu screamed in fright and quickly stopped, but he couldn't stop in time, and the two of them crashed into each other.

"Bang!"

"Ouch."

"Dad, are you okay?"

"You unfilial son, unfilial son!"

Old He fell and twisted his back. He Chu carried him into the house, intending to put him on the bed, but Old He refused. He stubbornly sat on the long bench.

When a father faces his son, the most helpless moment is when he is lying in bed looking at his son.

So, as Old He saw it, as long as he had a breath left, he would never lie in bed and talk to his son!

"Bastard!"

"Dad, you can scold me, I'm your son, it's your right to scold me, but don't scold yourself."

"........" Old He.

He Chu reached out, took the half-eaten watermelon his father had been eating, brought it to his mouth, and continued to eat.

Old He calmed his breath,

And asked:

"What happened? What happened? Do you know, your dad almost closed this shop several times and went to the capital to find you two!"

"Didn't I write you letters, Dad?"

"Bastard!"

"Dad."

"Your letters only said this was good and that was good, that you were eating well and sleeping well, that your sister was eating well and sleeping well, but you didn't say a damn thing about anything actually useful!"

It was clearly his daughter going to her in-laws' house with her husband,

But what could he do when the two families were so far apart?

And his daughter had foolishly given herself away first,

So he could only lower his head and let his daughter go to her in-laws' house to see. But what next? What next? What next?

It had been almost half a year,

And other than a few letters saying everything was fine,

What about the rest of the process?

He Chu hesitated,

Looking at his father.

"Why are you frowning?"

"I'm not, Dad."

"I'm asking you, what are your brother-in-law's family's conditions like?"

"Good."

Good was the only word.

Old He pointed to his face,

And asked:

"Better than our family?"

A pork shop might not seem like much, but it brought in a lot of money. Besides, Old He had secretly bought some land over the years.

He Chu blinked.

Seeing this, Old He

Felt relieved,

And snorted coldly:

"Heh, don't think that just because they live in the capital they're all rich. Your dad may not have been to the capital, but I know it's not easy to live there. People in the capital put on a show of wealth, but eating, drinking, and shitting are all damn expensive. Who knows how many are just putting on a brave face and pretending to be rich!"

"Brother-in-law's family isn't just pretending to be rich."

"Not pretending to be rich? Heh, you're still not old enough, you haven't seen enough people and things. You can't be fooled by appearances."

"Dad, to be honest, I was fooled at first."

Of course he was.

The first time he saw the grand eunuch in the palace,

The first time he saw the grand eunuch in the palace kneeling to his brother-in-law,

The first time he saw the imperial palace,

After that day,

He Chu was in a daze for ten days, as if he were dreaming.

"Heh, I told you, we're just a small family, what we care about is the process and rules of living. Besides, that constable, no, that Little Liu.

Little Liu, you know, is he the sixth child in his family?"

He Chu nodded.

"Does he have five older brothers above him?"

He Chu continued to nod.

"Does he have any younger brothers below him?"

"Yes."

"How about sisters?"

He Chu shook his head.

"No sisters?"

"It seems, there aren't any."

"That's right!"

Old He slammed his thigh, pulling his old back, and immediately gasped.

"Dad, Dad, slow down, slow down. You, you knew all along?"

"Nonsense, I guessed it!"

"Dad, you really guessed it!"

"Nonsense, I'm your dad! He has so many brothers, how much will be left for him, Little Liu, after the family property is divided? And he doesn't even have a sister, no dowry to collect!"

"........" He Chu.

"So, you have to be patient. Remember, your sister isn't marrying up. Our old He family never thought of marrying off our daughter to climb up the social ladder!"

"Marrying up?"

"Marrying up to what? Do we not have hands or feet? Are we going to starve to death? Now that I hear there's no war, life will definitely be better than before.

Tell me more about the details of this marriage. Did you meet their elders?"

He Chu shook his head.

"You didn't meet them?"

"I didn't meet them, but my sister did."

"You let Si Si meet her in-laws alone?"

He Chu nodded.

Old He immediately raised his hand, but couldn't stand up because of his back pain.

He Chu immediately understood and leaned his head over.

"Slap!"

Old He slapped his son on the head.

"You coward, don't tell people you're a pig butcher outside. We pig butchers can't afford to lose face to you. You actually let your sister meet her in-laws alone. What did I mean by letting you go with her?

It was to support her. If the in-laws were to bully Si Si, you, as her brother, would have to argue with them. If they were really unreasonable, you should slap them on the head like your dad!"

"........" He Chu.

"Are his parents still alive?"

Old He began to inquire about the details of his son-in-law's family.

"Brother-in-law's mother is no longer alive."

Consort Min had passed away many years ago.

"Hey, no mother-in-law?"

Old He was happy. No mother-in-law was good.

"There is."

"Hmm? A stepmother?"

"No."

"Is his mother a concubine?"

"More or less... almost."

The Empress was the legal mother; the other concubines were actually all concubines unless they were conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort.

"Hiss........"

Old He gasped.

The situation in his son-in-law's family was much worse than he had imagined.

"Damn it, he's actually the son of a concubine!"

"Dad........"

"I asked someone at the yamen, and they said that Little Liu seems to have committed something. He's no longer a constable. Are you saying he was planning to escape back to the capital to take refuge and just kidnapped our Si Si along the way?"

"Dad........"

"Damn it, we've been tricked! We've been tricked!"

Old He became anxious and continued to say to his son:

"Forget it, forget it. Looking at his family's situation, it'll be difficult to live a rich and comfortable life. How about this, you go find your brother-in-law again and have him come back. Our He family will spend some money to smooth things over with the yamen, and we can settle it peacefully.

If that doesn't work, then have him come back and become my live-in son-in-law.

Our old He family's property, you, as his brother-in-law, can split it with him equally. We can draw up a written agreement."

"Live-in... live-in son-in-law?"

He Chu's face was very interesting.

"Speaking of which, you bastard, you've been in the capital for the past half a year? If you hadn't sent letters every now and then, your dad would have thought you were dead! What were you doing in the capital?"

"Reading, learning to write."

Old He was stunned, blinked, and asked:

"What were you doing?"

"Reading, learning to write."

"You're a pig butcher, why do you need to know how to read? To write a will for the pigs?"

"Brother-in-law told me to learn to read, so I learned."

"He told you to do whatever he said? You're the older brother, how can you listen to everything he says? If he told you to break into the imperial palace one day, would you obediently go break in?"

"Ah, um, okay."

"You, you, you, you're going to be the death of me!"

"Dad..."

"What's the situation? Why hasn't this marriage been finalized yet?"

"Didn't I come back, Dad? It was because of the war before, so the wedding had to be delayed. Now that it looks like there won't be a war, that's why I came back."

"You came back alone?"

"Brother-in-law came back too, but he's a day behind me. He'll be here tomorrow, with the betrothal gifts."

"He'll be here tomorrow. Oh, and where's your sister?"

"Sister is coming back with brother-in-law."

"That's right, that's how it should be, that's proper."

"Dad, you should close up the shop."

"I should close it up, take care of the wedding first."

"Dad, what I mean is, you should close the shop for good."

"Close it? Are you out of your mind? How can you say such nonsense?"

"Dad, close it."

"If I close it, what am I going to do?"

"Go to the capital, go to the capital with us."

"Go to the capital to do what?"

"You, let him support me? Can he afford to support me!"

"Uh..."

"Besides, all I know how to do is slaughter pigs and sell meat."

"Brother-in-law said you can open a pork shop in the capital."

"Hmm? Go to the capital to sell pork?"

"That's right."

"Are you trying to trick me? Your dad just told you, it's not easy to live there, and I don't know anyone there. Even if I did my original job, God knows if I could make it work.

Besides, he tells me to go to the capital to sell pork, so I have to listen to him? Am I supposed to give the emperor a pig leg in the palace!"

"Dad, if you want to give him one, you can also..."

"Don't say it, don't say it. Tomorrow, no, this afternoon, go out of town again and buy a pig. We'll need it for the wedding. We'll prepare the main course ourselves.

Don't say any more nonsense about going to the capital. Look at what kind of bewitching soup that Little Liu has given you. Let me tell you, when I see that little thief tomorrow, I'll see how I deal with him. Does he think our old He family has no one to marry our daughter!"

"Dad, there's something I need to tell you."

"Spit it out."

"My sister, she's pregnant."

"She's what?"

He Chu pointed to his stomach.

Old He's eyes widened immediately,

And in an instant,

It seemed his back didn't hurt anymore, and his legs didn't ache anymore. He immediately stood up and started rummaging through the chests and cabinets.

"Dad, what are you doing? What are you doing?"

"Packing up, going to the capital to sell pork!"

...

"Has it been confirmed?"

"Your Majesty, it has been confirmed. Sixth Prince had a palace physician come to take her pulse.

The Imperial Hospital first sent Physician Luo. After Physician Luo returned, Physician Zhu was invited to go again.

It is indeed a happy pulse, and the pulse is stable. That He family girl has a good constitution."

The Yan Emperor put down the memorial in his hand and placed his hands in front of him.

Wei Zhonghe took the opportunity to say:

"This servant congratulates Your Majesty, and offers his felicitations to Your Majesty."

"Where is Cheng Jue?"

"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince left the capital with the He family girl this morning."

"Since it was discovered that she was pregnant, how dare he move around without permission."

"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince should be going to Nan'an County to present the betrothal gifts."

Previously, because the Marquis of Jingnan massacred the Chu army under Yu Pan City, the relationship between Yan and Chu was very tense, and a major war could break out at any time.

Therefore, the First Prince's wedding was held quietly, and the wedding of the Crown Prince and the Princess was postponed.

Now, it seems that the Chu people do not have any signs of launching a major war in the short term, so the things that should be done can be done.

At the same time, the woman is already pregnant. After all, she is carrying the imperial bloodline, so the mother cannot have an improper status.

"Did he bring the betrothal gifts?"

"Yes, the Sixth Prince sent someone to the Crown Prince's residence to get them, because His Majesty gave an oral order that the betrothal gifts would be handled by the Crown Prince."

Double the pig hocks!

"It's hard for him to remember."

He really went to the Crown Prince to ask for pig hocks.

"Did the Crown Prince give them?"

"The Crown Prince personally led his subordinates to help purchase them properly."

The Yan Emperor nodded upon hearing this.

"Order the Secret Espionage Department to send people to escort them along the way, and also order two physicians from the Imperial Hospital to accompany them for support."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Then,

The Yan Emperor picked up another memorial, flipped through it,

And said:

"Order Ji WuJiang to lead five thousand North Suppressing Army troops out of the capital, and clean up the commercial roads as Cheng Jue said."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Wei Zhonghe."

"This servant is here."

"I am going to be a grandfather."

...

"Your Highness, this is the detailed list of the city's tax revenue for the past three months."

The tax official handed a booklet to Ji Chengjue.

Ji Chengjue did not flip through it, but instead returned it to the tax official.

"There is a lot of resentment, right?"

The tax official smiled bitterly and said, "Everyone is saying that we are fighting with the people for profit."

"If we don't fight with them, we will have to collect from the common people."

The tax official was obviously one of Ji Chengjue's own people, and he replied after hearing this, "However, Your Highness, Nan'an County is fine. There are not many merchant caravans. However, many of the large merchant caravans that pass through other places have royal nobles behind them."

"It's okay. With Father Emperor here, they don't dare to complain about anything. However, they have all been quite well-behaved during this period of time, so I can't even find a chicken to kill as a warning to the monkeys."

"Your Highness, it will be even more difficult to deal with if there is resentment in their hearts."

"You don't have to worry about these things. I have my own plans in mind. It's a pity that the group of shopkeepers I had in my hands were all plundered by that Zheng fellow. I don't know what's going on with Snow Sea Pass. The actions are so slow, and the rare objects from those workshops have not been produced yet."

"Is Your Highness waiting for Snow Sea Pass to help you out of the emergency?"

"Yes and no. Yan is so big, and we are only focusing on eating in one place. No matter how large the output is, it is not enough to eat. My idea is to connect the merchants from the desert in the west to Snow Sea Pass in the east, and then to Qian and Chu. Anyone who enters my Yan territory will have to be skinned by me."

"Your Highness, this subordinate thinks it is a bit too radical."

"Hey, I have only heard of displaced people rebelling because they can't get enough to eat, but I have never heard of merchants rebelling because of heavy taxes. Pick soft persimmons, who else should we pinch if not them?

If the Qian and Chu merchants think the taxes are too heavy, then okay, let Qian and Chu submit to my Yan and become our own people, then the taxes will be lighter.

After I leave, you will also be transferred from Nan'an County and concentrate on helping me manage the silver house."

"Thank you for your promotion, Your Highness."

"Okay, you can go. I also have to go to my father-in-law's house to deliver the gifts."

"This subordinate here wishes Your Highness a happy wedding. The Miss and the old master know in the afterlife, they will also be gratified."

"Okay."

Ji Chengjue, who left the teahouse, was wearing a long gown, dressed as a scholar, but because of his good looks, he was holding a fan in his hand, and he was also wearing a pendant around his waist. He really had the air of a refined gentleman.

A carriage was parked in front, and a small convoy was waiting behind.

A man in black stood outside the carriage.

"Oh, I say, big brother, you just led your troops out of the capital and ran to me. Are you afraid that others won't know that you and I are standing together?"

Ji Wujiang smiled indifferently and said:

"I was able to return because of your memorial. Whether we are standing together or not, we are standing together. What are we afraid of? Besides, you said you were here to help me clear the commercial roads. If you don't point out the places to go, I can't just lead my troops to kill people indiscriminately, right?"

"Hehe." Ji Chengjue nodded and said, "Brother, you are too serious. It is only natural for us brothers to support each other."

"Also, today you are presenting the betrothal gifts. According to the rules, it should be led by the elders of the family. Father Emperor can't come, so it is my duty as the elder brother to come forward and help you."

"This younger brother thanks elder brother. Come, please come here."

The He family girl was sitting in the carriage and was pregnant, so Ji Wujiang, as the elder brother, could not enter the carriage. Therefore, the two brothers walked in front, and the carriage and the convoy carrying the betrothal gifts followed behind.

Because the number of pig hocks in the betrothal gifts was too large and "eye-catching," it attracted the attention of many people in Nan'an County along the way.

Ordinary families could not see gold, silver, jewelry, jadeite bead curtains, etc. for their weddings, but pork was a hard currency, and this team with the word "happiness" on it could be said to be quite arrogant from the perspective of the common people.

Ji Chengjue always felt it was a pity, a pity that his old man was busy with state affairs and could not come in person, otherwise, if he let him stand here and look at the envious eyes of the surrounding people, he should be extremely satisfied.

"You acted quickly and actually got pregnant. None of us brothers have any offspring yet, and this one of yours is Father Emperor's first grandchild.

They all say that grandparents are more affectionate with their grandchildren. Look at the arrangements Father Emperor has made for you this time. I'm a little jealous."

The First Prince had been in the army in his early years, and later he was assigned the task of marrying the Barbarian Princess, so he married late, and there was still no news about the Barbarian Princess's pregnancy.

The Crown Prince and the Princess's wedding has also been delayed until now.

The Third Prince is now useless.

The Fourth and Fifth Princes are about the same age as Ji Chengjue, but the Fourth and Fifth have not yet married.

As for the Seventh Prince, he has not even grown up yet.

"Oh, speaking of which, elder brother, you really have to thank my child, who is still in his mother's womb. Without him, your release this time might not have been so smooth."

"Yes, yes, yes, when the child is born, I will personally prepare a generous gift for him, but speaking of which, it is also a coincidence."

"It's not a coincidence. I knew that Si Si was pregnant half a month ago, but I delayed it for a while before sending the memorial and then asking the imperial physician and notifying the Father Emperor."

"You are even using your unborn child?"

The First Prince spoke very directly.

Ji Chengjue nodded and said, "He should. If it is a girl, then she will be my little padded jacket to help her father, and if it is a boy, he should be doing something now to compete for the position of imperial grandson."

"Chengjue..."

"I know what elder brother wants to say. Don't worry, elder brother, I won't be like our Father Emperor. That kind of thing is too boring.

By the way, elder brother, Snow Sea Pass sent a victory report a while ago. The dowry you sent has made a contribution."

"I also know about it. That Zheng Fan is also a man of courage. Counting the days, the Keyan Tribe should have just arrived and was dragged by him to fight in the snowy plains."

"Yes, by the way, elder brother, do you know what I am thinking about now?"

"Thinking about what?"

"I am thinking about when that Zheng fellow will have children. I hope he has a daughter. My family is a boy, so I can take advantage of him."

The First Prince suddenly asked:

"What if it's a boy?"

"Then I won't learn Father Emperor's old tricks."

"Chengjue, what do you mean by that?"

"It doesn't mean anything. Look, brother, in front is my father-in-law's house. The one standing next to him is my brother-in-law, He Chu. It's a coincidence that you came. I was originally planning to let my brother-in-law go to you after I presented the betrothal gifts this time. Now it's just right. You can take him with you tomorrow and keep him by your side. You don't need to train him. Just let him see some blood and gain some knowledge."

"Okay."

"Okay, I'm going to pay my respects to my father-in-law. Elder brother, you should learn from me."

"Does your father-in-law not know your identity yet?"

"I told my brother-in-law to go back and tell him in advance, but it seems he hasn't said it yet."

Saying that,

Ji Chengjue reached out and pointed to Old He in front of him and continued:

"Otherwise, my father-in-law wouldn't dare to hold a kitchen knife and wait for me, his future son-in-law, here."

————

Good night.