Chapter 210

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"North? Isn't the north full of snow disasters and bandits? Going there will make things better?"

After seeing Qi Chen off, Shen Yao sat in the bedchamber and began chatting idly with the System.

"Host, the Luo Zhou Fu where you are still suffers occasional floods; where in this world isn't dangerous?"

There is simply no absolutely safe place; one can only get by, survive this batch, and then see.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao was rendered speechless by the System; she decisively rolled her eyes, turned around, and called the attending maidservant to ask about Wei Cheng and the others' recent situation.

The situation of Wei Cheng's several children was naturally excellent, because whether it was Shen Yao or Qi Chen, they treated them with one hundred percent sincerity.

Even though Qi Chen was not the biological father of Wei Cheng's several children, loving the house and its sparrows — moreover, Shen Yao had just given Qi Chen a son he dreamed of having.

As long as Wei Cheng and the others didn't make excessive demands, whatever they asked for was granted.

"Oh, so that's how it is," Shen Yao laughed cheerfully and let the maidservant withdraw first, then turned her head and called the System to change the topic.

System:...

The System felt the Host's act of allocating space to the several children was truly useful.

Now they had the Prince's Mansion to rely on; not only could they receive better education, even their behavior style had become steady.

"Host, your wish to rely on your offspring for elderly care will likely be smoothly realized in this life," because it saw the children's promising future appearance.

Shen Yao lowered her head to fiddle with her pretty nails, "I don't just rely on offspring for elderly care; I can also rely on offspring to get rewards.

Just wait and see; this time our mission reward won't be less than before."

Shen Yao had absolute confidence in this; after all, she already had rich child-rearing experience. As long as the children were normal people, she was confident in sending them to high positions.

In ancient times, origin was crucial, but personal connections were even more crucial; Shen Yao rubbed her temples, and in the flow of her eyes there was added a degree of strategizing aura.

No difficulty at all.

Thinking Versailles-style in her heart, Shen Yao turned her head to research the place Qi Chen wanted to move to.

Changzhou Prefecture

It is a place whose geographical location is not too far north but is rich in mineral resources and vast in territory and resources.

This is the Emperor's compensation to Qi Chen; the implication is that Luo Zhou Fu must be given up.

"When do we set off?"

"Next spring."

"Must we go?"

"It is the Emperor's decree; the Prince cannot disobey."

Wei Cheng stretched out his hand and pinched his chin, somewhat puzzled by the Emperor's intention.

As far as he knew, the Emperor valued this Prince's stepfather highly, sending generous bestowals every year; there was no reason to let their family suffer grievance.

Shen Yao signaled Wei Cheng to sit down, and simply and crudely explained the country was in difficulty and needed the Jiangnan region's full support.

"Luo Zhou Fu is located on the edge of the Jiangnan region, with abundant products and diverse resources.

The Emperor didn't want the Prince to be in a difficult position, so he decisively reallocated Changzhou Prefecture over.

On paper it seems the Prince suffers a loss, but compared to other surrounding prefecture cities, it's still a bargain."

Luo Zhou Fu had been free of disaster these years; the silver invested inside was countable, and it belonged to normal profit growth year after year.

Even if they went to Changzhou Prefecture located north of the capital, it might require more initial investment, but the subsequent return rate was not low.

But staying might not be certain; the Emperor forcibly plucking feathers from the Jiangnan region, Luo Zhou Fu would inevitably have to bleed heavily.

"This is a benefit others couldn't beg for; we should still remember the Emperor's kindness."

Wei Cheng:...

Wei Cheng frowned, and finally sighed, expressing that these twists and turns he didn't understand.

Shen Yao:...

"If you don't understand, you must learn more, see more, listen more, think more; some things cannot be slacked on."

She didn't expect Wei Cheng to leap the dragon gate, but that didn't mean Wei Cheng could idle away eating and waiting for death.

Even the Prince Mansion's masters said Wei Cheng had martial arts talent; if he could also thoroughly read military books and strategies and apply them proficiently, he would be material for a great general.

Using Qi Chen's springboard to enter the army, and the several daughters using Qi Chen's springboard to marry — these were all things Shen Yao had planned early on.

This doesn't count as immoral behavior; Qi Chen's son is also Wei Cheng and the others' younger brother; their bloodline kinship is real.

Wei Cheng nodded seriously, expressing he would definitely not disappoint Shen Yao's expectations.

"There's also no need to consider others in everything; living in the world, everything follows the heart.

Mother hopes you will live well in the future, able to provide reliable support for descendants, but this doesn't mean Mother is willing to see you make unconditional sacrifices."

Also fearing Wei Cheng would misunderstand, seeing himself too lightly and others too heavily, Shen Yao broke down her partial thoughts and told him in detail.

"Mother, son won't be like that; younger brothers and sisters likewise won't be like that."

Looking at her own son revealing a confident smile, she patted his shoulder, "Go be busy; time is urgent, Ying'er and the others' side is for you to instruct.

Remember, only what is held in hand is your own; be down-to-earth, don't aim too high."

The days staying in the Prince Mansion's back courtyard were, overall, still quite leisurely.

The son was still small, so Shen Yao's activity range was forced to be restricted by more than half; occasionally in the evening when she saw Qi Chen, the two would chat a bit about the outside situation.

There's nothing to say; ever since agreeing to move to Changzhou Prefecture, Qi Chen had begun reaching into the entire Luo Zhou Fu to shear the wool of the sheep he had fattened himself.

It wasn't excessive, and because Qi Chen's methods were gentle, he even gained a not-small good reputation.

Pity Qi Chen was about to leave, and Luo Zhou Fu would also fall back into the Emperor's hands; what state it would develop into was no longer something Qi Chen should worry about.

"But those rich merchants wanting to leave with this Prince is rather perceptive."

Not necessarily truly noticing something, just thinking it was worth a gamble.

This gamble did not refer to the whole family leaving together without leaving any leeway.

Rather, it was mostly about sending out one or two branches to let these people scout the road, also counting as leaving himself some room to maneuver.

Shen Yao leaned against Qi Chen's embrace, her arms around his shoulders pressed close together.

"Your Highness, our leaving isn't exactly secret; bringing more people, I think the Emperor won't blame us."

It was originally the Emperor who wronged Qi Chen; Luo Zhou Fu was a wealthy prefecture city famous far and wide, with a solid foundation accumulated over many years.

Once Qi Chen left, when the Emperor sent someone to take over, the national treasury could be filled up again.

You must know that over these years Qi Chen had used both kindness and force on Luo Zhou Fu, taking the route of slow and steady gains.

Luo Zhou Fu might lack anything but silver money; that could be seen.

"Imperial Brother won't blame us, but others will grow jealous and want to stir up trouble."

"This Prince has already planned to first submit a Confession Letter;" then with both pipelines working at once, who could still say he was in the wrong?

Shen Yao laughed at the words, her voice like a small brush, constantly scraping against Qi Chen's heart, "Your Highness is wise."

Wise? Qi Chen also felt he was wise, or rather, ever since meeting Yao'er, he had constantly turned misfortune into good fortune.

The beauty in his embrace was charming and delicious; Qi Chen no longer pondered leaving, but instead shifted his thoughts to wanting to be happy.

Not long after, sounds of lust came from the room to outside the door.

The steward and others had long been used to it, each standing there with unchanged complexions.

Some were even loyal, hoping their own Prince could be more capable; the mansion had too few Eldest Misses, and the Secondary Princess Consort was blessed, so she should take the opportunity to have a few more children to add some liveliness to the Qin Wang Fu.

Another lively night; when Shen Yao got up, as usual she did not see Qi Chen.

Asking the maid attending by mouth, she only then learned that an urgent letter had arrived that morning; the Prince hadn't even bothered with breakfast, but went to the study to handle it.

"What letter is so urgent?"

Shen Yao washed her hands, and using the handkerchief the maid handed over, simply wiped them.

"This servant doesn't know; probably another place hit by disaster, right?" These years natural disasters occurred frequently, and even Luo Zhou Fu could not avoid them.

As a servant of the Prince's Mansion, the maid knew only common street news, but even that was better than outsiders; commoners only cared about their own one mu three Portion land, belonging to the most miserable people in disaster.

Shen Yao thought of some novel content she had once read; in the books, whenever the protagonist encountered such a situation, it took nine deaths and one life to gain rebirth.

Tap—

After eating and drinking their fill, putting down the bowl and chopsticks in hand, Shen Yao went to the side hall to take a look at her son sleeping soundly, then returned to continue her leisurely days.

The system couldn't bear to watch, reminding the Host to prepare more; once they left Luo Zhou Fu, it would be too late.

Too late?!

Shen Yao keenly sensed the system had something unsaid, but most likely it was still about natural disasters.

They would encounter natural disasters on the road, just like in those novels.

"And what about Qi Chen? No matter how down on his luck, we absolutely cannot suffer too much hardship."

Identity determines status; as long as Qi State exists, the influence of imperial relatives and clansmen is far greater than imagined.

……

"Yao'er, setting out from Luo Zhou Fu to rush to Changzhou Prefecture, the road will probably take two months."

"Chen'er is young, and Yue Yue's body is still recovering; we tentatively plan to depart in early spring, letting you suffer wrongs."

Qi Chen felt a bit embarrassed; when arranging manpower he hadn't felt anything, but as the time drew near, he inevitably felt a stifled emotion in his heart.

It was the shame of being a man yet unable to give his wife and children a stable environment, and also a longing for the imperial power high above.

Who wouldn't want it?!

"Please, Your Highness, don't think too much; this concubine having today is already a great fortune; how could one speak of wrongs?"

Shen Yao's consideration satisfied Qi Chen, but after all it was still his own strength that was insufficient.

Thinking of the words of the strategists by his side, Qi Chen patted Shen Yao's shoulder, "Yao'er, this matter of today, this Prince keeps in heart; in the future I will definitely not let such things happen again."

One cannot have two; the Emperor's face should be given when it should be given, but that doesn't mean Qi Chen is a clay person without temper.

Changzhou Prefecture has rich mining wealth, advantageous for stationing troops and recuperating; he narrowed his eyes, now that he had a consort, certain arrangements should start being prepared.

The festival before departure was spent bleakly, not only in the Prince's Mansion, but also outside.

Shen Fugui's family also had to leave with Qi Chen; having been stable in Luo Zhou Fu for not even a year, they were caught off guard.

The few people at home each had their own little thoughts; unlike moving from Qing River Town to Luo Zhou Fu, going from Luo Zhou Fu to Changzhou Prefecture of unknown circumstances, no one had confidence in their hearts.

Arguments were inevitable; even if Shen Fugui and Lady Zhou both tried their best to suppress, separating the household was still brought out into the open.

Besides Shen Danian's family who had to leave with Shen Fugui and Lady Zhou, Shen Er You's family chose to stay in Luo Zhou Fu, while Shen Si Yu's family wanted to return to Qing River Town even more.