Chapter 114 Familiar Scene

Familiar areas, familiar routes;

But the scenery and the customs were different.

In just one spring and summer, Jade Plate City was even more lively than it had been last winter.

Most eye-catching was the river channel from Jade Plate City to Wangjiang, where painted pleasure boats had reappeared;

That familiar, decadent music played once more.

Considering the tragic state of Jade Plate City back then, when living people were treated as two-legged sheep, the current vitality didn't feel repulsive at all, but rather caused people to sigh with emotion.

The rapid recovery of Jade Plate City was partly due to Xu Wenzu's effective governance.

After the chaotic purge in winter, the troublemakers were mostly eliminated. Without the distraction of political infighting, Xu, the Fatty, settled down to focus on people's livelihoods.

Now, outside Yingdu City, there were no longer piles of refugees to be seen; most had returned to their hometowns.

On the other hand, the development and restoration of JEastern, along with its massive trade, drove the development of Jade Plate City.

Merchants were the lifeblood, and in Fengxin City, the Marquis's House's monopoly was too strong. Even if the Red Account divided people into different classes, it still wasn't as enjoyable;

Jade Plate City had been famous for being a den of luxury. Don't let the sight of these painted boats, where a sister might have just one, or two maids – one to pole the boat, one to pour wine – fool you; a guest might be one or two at most;

But their average transaction price was high;

Behind a small painted boat, there could be many mouths to feed.

However,

What surprised Zheng Fan the most was that,

When his team passed through Jade Plate City,

The garrison general of Jade Plate City led a group of his subordinates to pay respects.

And that general,

Was none other than Ran Min!

He had finally made something of himself.

In this chaotic world, even though the Yan Emperor had overthrown the aristocratic families, it was still extremely difficult for commoners to rise to the top.

To this,

Zheng Fan didn't want to comment;

Those in high positions seemed attractive, but in reality, they were too far away from you. Get closer, and who didn't have a pile of shit on their ass?

He merely sent a guard to comfort him, and then mentioned that he was entering the capital under imperial decree, needing to hurry on, so he wouldn't be staying in Jade Plate City.

I myself can be disgracefully dirty,

But I still like to make friends with honest people.

That night,

It started to rain lightly.

The team crossed the river,

And camped in a small ferry town on the western bank of Wangjiang River.

Zheng Fan didn't expect that, just as he sat down on the blanket, ready to drink the warmed milk that Si Niang handed him,

He received a report from a guard that the Fifth Prince requested an audience.

Fortunately, Zheng, the Marquis, had cultivated his mental state well. He swallowed the milk in his mouth instead of spitting it out.

A rainy night,

A ferry crossing,

A marquis entering the capital under imperial decree, with a tacit understanding among the court and the public that this trip would determine the foundation of the country;

And a prince,

Suddenly requesting an audience.

No matter how you looked at it, there was a problem; no matter how you thought about it, there was something fishy;

This was a straight hook, too straight to be straighter.

But Zheng Fan still met him.

Yellow mud had already fallen into his crotch; it wasn't that, but it might as well be that; might as well meet him.

Then,

The Fifth Prince Ji Chengwen also had a depressed expression as if he had just taken a big bite of Coptis chinensis.

A great Yan meritorious marquis, meeting a prince, should by rights pay his respects to the prince. But if you didn't, no one but the Emperor could punish you.

Zheng Fan just sat there, looking at the Fifth Prince.

"Marquis Zheng, this Prince didn't want this."

Zheng Fan shook his head,

And said:

"Your Highness, this Marquis has always been timid; don't scare me."

"I didn't know that you would cross the river at night. I was originally inspecting the newly built river embankment. There happened to be a leak here, and I led a group of laborers to repair it in the afternoon. I just finished eating, and you crossed the river. Your guards directly surrounded my laborers.

Am I stupid?

Am I waiting here specifically to see you because a donkey kicked my brain?"

Zheng Fan believed this explanation,

Because if this was intentional, it was too stupid.

Even if they wanted to meet, they could have plenty of ways to communicate privately. Since the Fifth Prince had been governing river works in Yingdu, the Marquis's House had prepared a gift for him every year and holiday. It could be said that they already had contact.

If,

The news coming from Yanjing at this time was that the Yan Emperor had suddenly passed away, the Crown Prince had ascended the throne, and Little Sixth's desperate attempt had failed and he was killed by the Crown Prince;

Well,

At this time, it would be most correct for Ji Chengwen to come to him openly.

But the Yan Emperor was clearly still holding on, and Yanjing had been maintaining a balance.

Little Sixth's letter had already made his attitude clear: whether it was a mule or a horse, bring it to Yanjing for a stroll; it was just that one hammer strike.

Zheng Fan reached out and poked his head,

And said:

"But Your Highness, whether your brain has been kicked by a donkey or not is no longer important. After tonight, everyone will think you've been kicked, and by the way, they might also suspect that this Marquis has been kicked along with you."

"Anyway, it's nothing to do with me."

There wasn't a chair in Zheng Fan's tent. If Si Niang wanted to sit, she would sit on the blanket with Zheng Fan. The Fifth Prince simply sat on the ground.

At this moment,

Zheng Fan could finally take a good, serious look at the Fifth Prince's recent condition.

Well,

He was thinner and darker again.

He could only sigh that none of the Yan Emperor's sons were fuel-efficient lamps. With a little polishing, they would shine like beautiful jade.

"Alright, this Marquis will arrange a tent for Your Highness. After resting, I'll send you back to Yingdu tomorrow."

"I'm not in a hurry to return to Yingdu. I still have to go upstream to inspect. It's not easy to restore the vitality of the land, and I can't let the Wangjiang River flood again.

Otherwise,

This JEastern, along with my Great Yan, will not have a good time.

This year,

My Yan Kingdom is still suffering from continuous droughts."

JEastern actually didn't have less rain this year than last year, but how to put it? Perhaps because the dikes were opened when attacking Chu last year, which was equivalent to dredging rather than blocking, it led to a sharp decrease in the pressure on the Wangjiang River system this year.

In peaceful times, without a national war as an excuse, who would dare to breach dikes to control water?

Therefore, it was very likely that in the next two or three years, JEastern would have to bleed to support the Yan Kingdom.

"Your Highness, you've worked hard."

This was the truth, not flattery. If JEastern, that is, the Yingdu area, could be developed, it would be a great help to JEastern.

In the calculations of the two old silver foxes, Blind Man and Gou Moli,

The Yingdu area, which was also the traditional core area of the Situ family, was the meat on the Marquis's House's lips in the future.

If they didn't rebel, JEastern could receive a reverse subsidy from this area, and trade and population flow would be more developed;

If they really wanted to rebel one day,

The iron cavalry would cross the river to the west,

And directly take this wealthy place as their forward base.

"Marquis Zheng, since I'm already sitting here, let's just open the skylight and say something frankly. Do you support the Crown Prince, or Little Sixth?"

Zheng Fan shook his head and said, "It's not that this Marquis is deliberately perfunctory to Your Highness, but that this Marquis himself doesn't really have a particularly strong inclination in his heart."

"Oh?"

"This Marquis only hopes that Great Yan can have long-term peace and stability. This Marquis only hopes that in the next ten years, I can lead my Great Yan iron cavalry to destroy Chu, step on Qian, and rebuild the Xia."

The Fifth Prince looked at Zheng Fan very seriously,

And finally,

Nodded.

He stood up, seemingly intending to go out and rest in the tent Zheng Fan had arranged for him, but he stopped at the curtain, turned around, looked at Zheng Fan, and asked:

"Marquis Zheng."

"Does Your Highness have anything else?"

"Actually, I'm very afraid of death, really."

"What a coincidence, this Marquis is also very afraid of death."

"Haha."

The Fifth Prince laughed,

And then,

Pointed to his chest,

And said:

"I don't have too many thoughts about that position."

"You'd better not have any. If even you start to think that you might have a chance, then Great Yan really doesn't know how chaotic it has become."

"Yes, but, Marquis Zheng, I want to ask you for a guarantee."

"Your Highness, please speak freely."

"If it really comes to a day, I... I hope I can go to your Marquis's House and ask for protection."

"As a general of Great Yan, protecting my Great Yan royal family is my duty."

"You know that what I want is not this kind of platitude."

"Your Highness."

"Hmm?"

"This Marquis still can't guarantee it, just like Little Sixth now can't guarantee that I will staunchly support him."

"But if Little Sixth entrusts his orphan to you, I know that you will protect him at all costs!"

"That's natural."

"Then what about me? What I'm asking for is just this."

"Your Highness, are we... very familiar?"

"........." The Fifth Prince.

The Fifth Prince was a little muddleheaded,

Then squatted down,

Covering his face with both hands.

Zheng Fan sighed when he saw this, and walked over.

Reached out,

And gently patted the Fifth Prince's shoulder,

And said:

"Your Highness, as long as you don't think about that aspect, you are safe. Take good care of the Wangjiang River, and the people along the coast will remember your kindness.

After the river works are completed, return to the capital, enter the Ministry of Works, and win the title of Five Virtuous Prince;

Wherever there is a disaster, you go there,

This,

Is the talisman that you can truly control yourself."

Ji Chengwen raised his head, looked at Zheng Fan, and nodded,

And said:

"Marquis, these words are really thinking of me, I can hear it."

"To put it bluntly, that chair, it might be fresh at the beginning, but slowly, it will become boring and monotonous. If you really have the title of a virtuous prince, in future TV dramas, the female lead will fall in love with you."

"Marquis, may I ask what a TV drama is?"

"Storytelling, cross-talk, and Ping Opera are what wild people call them."

"Oh, I see."

"Alright, Your Highness, go and rest. Tomorrow, you should do what you should do. Have some confidence in Great Yan, some confidence in His Majesty, and some confidence in your brothers.

Actually,

This Marquis really likes this Great Yan,

Because in Great Yan,

People who can really do things and will do things can get better treatment.

Your brothers, to say nothing else, have enough breadth of mind."

"Yes, alas, alright, I'll go and rest, Marquis, bon voyage."

"The same to Your Highness."

The Fifth Prince left the tent,

Si Niang walked in,

Holding,

Another cup of hot milk.

"I've already drunk it," Zheng Fan said.

"You only drank half, Master."

"Alright."

"Master, do you think I'm too annoying, like a mother forcing her child to drink milk every day?"

Privately, everyone was actually very open, and there were even fewer restraints in their words.

Zheng Fan shook his head,

And said:

"I really haven't experienced my mother forcing me to drink milk every morning."

"Then, Master, do you want to experience it?"

Zheng, the Marquis,

Smiled.

………

The next morning, the team set off again.

Zheng, the Marquis, couldn't be said to be glowing with health, but you could see that he was in high spirits.

The team didn't plan to pass through Yingdu.

Actually,

The number of days had been calculated in advance,

And enough time had been reserved for possible accidents or other factors that might cause delays on the road.

But this Yingdu,

There was really no need to go in again.

Zheng Fan preferred to spend the reserved time in Li Tian City with Old Tian.

Since Old Tian had returned to Li Tian City, he had cut off contact with him. According to the intelligence from there, Old Tian hadn't left the former Marquis's House.

However, the Sword Saint said that,

When his realm took another step forward that day,

He had made eye contact with Old Tian.

Zheng Fan didn't believe it at first,

And the Sword Saint didn't bother to explain,

Later, Blind Man came up and said that the Sword Saint was holding Tian Tian in his arms at the time.

Perhaps Old Tian had placed some restrictions on Tian Tian that allowed him to sense his son.

And the Sword Saint holding Tian Tian might really have some kind of response in the dark.

Of course,

This was the most adept thing for Qi Refiners,

Qi Refiners were not good at fighting,

But they seemed to be quite good at everything other than fighting.

However,

This made Zheng Fan think of a sentence Old Tian had once said again:

He,

Only had a superficial understanding of magic.

Alright, alright, Zheng, the Marquis, was used to it.

He was used to the people around him, one by one, holding the script of the protagonist, used to his own feeling of being a cannon fodder, who would count the arrows on A Ming's body one by one as soon as he went to the battlefield.

However,

Zheng Fan didn't plan to enter Yingdu,

But Xu, the Fatty, from Yingdu was very generous.

In a temporary pavilion,

Xu, the Fatty, had prepared wine and snacks,

Planning to personally see Zheng, the Marquis, off.

The relationship between the two was actually really good.

Xu Wenzu felt that Zheng Fan was a person who was capable, competent, and knew how to behave, and he was also genuine!

Most importantly,

Zheng Fan was his lucky star!

Unfortunately,

What he didn't know was that,

After Zheng Fan met Sha Tuo Qieshi back then,

He had asked Sha Tuo Qieshi to deliberately rush into the team and lift the carriage where Xu Wenzu was supposed to be, smashing it into the gate of the Zhenbei Marquis's House, directly smashing it to pieces.

If Xu Wenzu hadn't been conveniently having diarrhea in the car at that time,

Now,

Several flowers should have grown on that fertile land in front of the Marquis's House.

But, these were all things of the past. The past can't be chased, so forget it.

Zheng Fan flipped down from Pixiu,

And walked quickly to the pavilion.

Xu Wenzu also stood up and walked quickly out of the pavilion.

"Brother Xu!"

"Brother Zheng!"

The two men's hands quickly clasped together, deeply interpreting what was called brotherhood in adversity.

A Ming silently drank a mouthful of blood in the back, and muttered to himself when he saw this scene: "It looks a little familiar."

Fan Li behind him opened his mouth and said:

"Second Brother;

Third Brother."

A Ming nodded:

"It has that flavor."

Fan Li was greatly encouraged, and said again:

"Prime Minister,

Royal Uncle."

Who was Prime Minister Cao?

A Ming didn't ask, because it was obvious.

Xu Wenzu took Zheng Fan's hand and led him into the pavilion.

In the pavilion,

One table, three chairs.

After Zheng Fan sat down,

He asked;

"Who else?"

"Originally, Grand Tutor Sun also wanted to come here to see you off, but when he got up in the morning, his family came to send a message saying that Grand Tutor Sun had caught a cold last night and really couldn't leave the house today."

"Oh, so that's how it is. Grand Tutor Sun is old, so he should take good care of his body."

Zheng Fan actually had a pretty good impression of Sun Youdao, not only because this old man had finally brought the Sun family onto his ship, but also because this old man had lived a life that was worthy of his heart, both in his career and his family. He was powerful in doing things, and he was also particular and generous in being a person.

"I think Grand Tutor Sun's body is still alright. To be honest, with him around, I feel more at ease in Yingdu. He's a sensible person."

Zheng Fan shook his head and said:

"It's different. Grand Tutor Sun is getting old after all, and the problem with his body can't be taken lightly;

People,

Are like this,

After reaching a certain age, it's easy to accidentally..."

Zheng Fan was originally planning to use this topic to persuade Xu, the Fatty, to eat a little less meat, so as to avoid the three highs.

Although in this era, men symbolize wealth and status with fat, the problem is that fat is prone to problems.

But before Zheng, the Marquis, could finish his words,

He saw a knight from Yingdu galloping over,

After dismounting, he quickly knelt outside the pavilion,

"Greetings, Lord, greetings, Marquis."

Xu Wenzu put down his wine glass,

And asked;

"What's the panic? What happened?"

"Lord, the Sun family has just sent a message, saying;

Grand Tutor Sun,

Is gone."

"Hiss..."

Xu Wenzu suddenly glared at Zheng Fan.

"........." Zheng Fan.

"Brother Zheng, this..."

Zheng Fan subconsciously turned his head back. He didn't bring Liang Cheng out today.

Then,

Zheng, the Marquis, stood up,

And said:

"Brother, I'll still go to Yingdu to offer incense to Old Grand Tutor."