[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-18":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270026,4432,"Chapter 18: The New Year","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-18",18,"\u003Cp>“Master, do you think Master Zhu will let the kitchen cook braised pork this New Year’s Eve? I heard they brought in two whole pigs yesterday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao spoke with shining eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could even still smell the aroma of last year’s braised pork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That flavor, no matter how many years pass, he’d never forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people in Qinghe might eat meat only once a year, but in the Zhu household it was possible—this was why some were willing to sell themselves into slavery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui gave Wang Zhao a knuckle bump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All you think about is eating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, have you remembered everything I taught you—adding beans and eggs, and how to tell if a horse has a bloated belly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao nodded proudly: “I remembered it all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My master is so kind!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were all the stable hands’ most secret knowledge, and he’d dumped it all on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, Wang Zhao seemed to realize something, and his face fell into a gloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, are you going to die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please don’t die. Not until after the New Year, at least.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d often heard the village elders say that before death, a person gets a premonition—his great-grandfather had put on clean clothes and gone to bed himself before he passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master’s behavior these past few days all looked like he was making final arrangements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui glared at Wang Zhao: “You little brat, are you cursing me to die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his master’s reaction, Wang Zhao relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui looked at Wang Zhao’s carefree face and sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their master-disciple bond was at its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his current strength, getting himself out was already a miracle—he couldn’t possibly take Wang Zhao with him. The Zhu family was the top household in Qinghe, and he couldn’t afford to cross them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he bought his freedom, Wang Zhao would likely become the new stable hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That position was originally meant for Ma Yang, but he was too eager—and ended up losing his life because of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Old Yang, no special arrangements were needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong was already a guard, with decent standing in the Zhu household; he’d just need a few drinks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d already arranged everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow is the day I buy my freedom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhu family was a major household with countless customs; preparations for the New Year had begun a full month ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening the ancestral hall, cleaning, tidying the ritual vessels, inviting the ancestral tablets, replacing peach charms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The New Year was a family’s most important event—it couldn’t be taken lightly, for it reflected family values, and if mishandled, other families in town would mock them for a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did Lady Zhu push hard, but Master Zhu himself often came to inquire personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all lasted until the twenty-ninth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this day, the master’s household usually showed mercy by granting servants a day off; in families with better morals, the head would even pay to treat the year’s hardworking servants to a good meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year’s braised pork had been eaten at this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this year was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because someone in the Zhu household was about to turn seventy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Yu Kingdom law, seventy was a sign of auspiciousness, and local officials were required to visit in person—but today, the visitor to the Zhu residence was not the County Magistrate, but the Jail Warden, the fourth-ranking official in the government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Ma’s visit brings honor to our humble home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhu, Zhu Ping, greeted him personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhu family’s business was large, but it relied on the county government office’s help; naturally, they treated these officials with courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Ma was a thin, middle-aged man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten years ago, at forty, he passed the provincial examination and became a Provincial Graduate, then took up the post of Jail Warden—a position responsible for local rites and laws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Zhu, I hear your household has a septuagenarian. I’ve been sent by Magistrate Zhang to pay a visit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ping’s already small eyes vanished into a smile: “Yes, it’s our stable hand, Li Rui—he’ll turn seventy come spring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone living to seventy was a matter worthy of being recorded in the county annals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhu family would gain prestige from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, in ancient times, it was a symbol of family prosperity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Zhu Ping had treated Li Rui fairly over the years—he’d been afraid Li Rui wouldn’t live to seventy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then invited Master Ma into the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And ordered the steward to bring Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a court official, even at seventy, be expected to walk to meet a servant? That would be a disgrace!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Li Rui was brought in by the Zhu steward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the man seated beside Master Zhu on the main seat, he immediately recognized him as the Jail Warden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed his head to kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Ma waved his hand ahead of time: “At seventy, you needn’t bow to me—I couldn’t bear it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Rui straightened his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Ma chuckled: “You’re Li Rui, about to turn seventy come spring?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent, excellent. With Elder Li alive, it shows Qinghe is well-governed, and our great Yu is peaceful and prosperous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Ma was in high spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A septuagenarian under his jurisdiction meant another achievement to add to his record.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achievements piled one by one—perhaps someday he could become a Registrar, even an Assistant County Magistrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for County Magistrate? He dared not even dream of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A poor scholar like him, making it to Assistant County Magistrate was already ancestral smoke rising from the grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhu, Zhu Ping, also wore a broad smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Master Ma, this was an achievement; for him, it was proof of good household management. The Zhu family had risen from an obscure minor clan to Qinghe’s foremost household in just thirty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the boldness and grit of the two Zhu brothers in their youth, it was also due to Zhu Ping’s emphasis on family discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew clearly: if he wanted the Zhu family to become one of those century-old, even millennium-old great clans,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>family values mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servants from those great clans were more dignified than the legitimate heirs of minor families—that was the difference in household management.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he strongly disapproved of his younger brother’s behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Engaging in shady dealings was no lasting path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Ma then asked Li Rui a series of warm, caring questions, expressing the magistrate’s “concern” for his people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was only words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was also sensible, and made no demands that would embarrass Master Ma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Ma couldn’t help but sigh—if all Qinghe’s people were as agreeable and obedient as this old man, how wonderful it would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Zhu Ping and signaled him to begin the final ritual of the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ping smiled broadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, how has the Zhu family treated you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master has treated me exceedingly well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Li Rui’s answer, Zhu Ping was even more satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, let’s see—you’ve been with the Zhu family for fifty years now, serving three generations. Your service is great. If you wish, you may stay; if not, you may leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ping spoke with complete confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was already seventy. Outside the Zhu household, he couldn’t even till the soil, and he had no wife or children—a widower with nowhere to go. Why would he leave?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he was so certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Rui shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I do not wish to stay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I beg Master’s grace to release me from slavery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1275,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a84fde4c81195f08feb326d2444260a0f9dd27af6c48d73a5cd984fc11a82b24","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-19","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-17",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]