Chapter 377

Zhu Ti came and sat beside the Fifth Princess, able to clear all her doubts. The King just played by himself, and he and Wei Shen honestly watched the song and dance.

Of course, it was Wei Shen who mainly watched the song and dance; the King ordered a big fruit platter.

He, while eating, couldn't help sighing: "……I still don't understand my father; watching song and dance twice isn't boring, three or five times gets boring—how can he watch it all day, every day, doing nothing? Even those in Chang'an Palace aren't as nice as what we have here!"

Wei Shen: "Could it be that they change the content each performance?"

The King: "No way! Every year's palace banquet is the same routine; I'm familiar with it. Even the makeup and hairstyles are worth a look!"

The King complained and complained, then suddenly his eyes lit up and he stood up. Wei Shen thought he saw something rare and turned his head to follow, only to see a dance maiden descending from the sky, spinning while shaking off some……water apple? from her skirt. The guests in the private room cheered while also reaching out to catch……

The King exclaimed in delight: "The fruit platter doesn't even have this! I haven't had it in ages!" Are there grapes in this season? Delight!

He also reached out to catch it; the dance maiden was very perceptive—even if she didn't know the King, she knew the area marked by the heavenly character, almost handing over her basket to the King. The King was delighted……

Wei Shen: ……

The King sent out an invitation to the world, and indeed many came to join the fun—mainly wealthy, idle scholar-offspring and merchants, plus some commoners from the other four prefectures of the North Border. After his western expedition, his prestige among the people rose in a straight line. Especially near the battlefield where he burned the Xiongnu cavalry, you can just imagine.

As the time approached, many people poured into Youzhou City; inn rooms were hard to come by, and even those slightly affordable had been snapped up by scholar-officials, with many people renting civilian homes.

Youzhou families crowded into a single room, and emptying out houses to rent became commonplace.

The whole city was turned into a festive atmosphere; the King created the conditions for it—if they didn't seize the chance to make a profit, that would truly be a waste.

On the street, many neighbors meeting would sigh once, having lived half their lives never imagining Youzhou could have such a lively day.

"I heard from the storyteller at the street tea stall that the south is in chaos—not only are there several princelings… but also rebel armies! A bandit leader rose up, and he's been seizing people everywhere to conscript them!"

"Fortunately, the King earlier wiped out the bandits in our Youzhou."

"Who would have thought that now the safest place is actually our Youzhou City!"

"I never dared to dream of doing this in the first half of my life!"

"Old Uncle Yu, I heard you also rented out two rooms in your house?"

"Rented to a caravan worker, not even a few coins……"

An rented inn in Old Youzhou City; only after the whole city quieted down did a few burly men drag back a cart of hemp cloth.

The landlord old man got up to open the door for them, saying, "……Looks like not much less? I already said our Youzhou City's hemp cloth doesn't sell well; even the Prosperous Peace Cloth Shop's prices aren't high, and everyone in town buys there."

"Alas, it's not selling well; tomorrow we'll go check the villages outside." The leading burly man wore a look of worry.

The landlord old man nodded and said, "Exactly, exactly—you should try other remote spots. Since we've come all this way, we can wait until after watching the military parade before leaving; it's not too late."

"Rest assured, we'll stay until the beginning of next month, then return after seeing the big bustle in the North Border—this trip isn't easy."

"Quite right!"

After that old man returned to his room, several people gathered together again.

"What a great opportunity today—letting him go would really be a pity!"

"What a pity? Come on, have you thought about what to do if the mission fails?"

"What can we do? Brothers, we'll lay down our lives in the North Border!"

"Foolish! If we fail, the North Border King isn't dead yet; let him find out, then fly into a rage and march south—who could stop him? Even the Xiongnu cavalry were slaughtered by him!"

"……You're the leader, you decide—tell us what to do!"

"The Xiongnu and Western Regions peoples are arriving soon; then Youzhou will truly be lively. Pushing this onto them would be the most appropriate."

"You mean… that also makes sense; they're even more eager for the North Border King to die!"

……………………

I've updated 5600 to come take a look, you guys are shouting for less, even the extra two thousand are shouting for less—family members, give some encouragement, come on (งᵒ̌ dish ᵒ̌)ง⁼³₌₃ Opening the end of the file looks like a big debt collection scene, hey! I'm already exhausted, tomorrow I'll rest a day to catch up, just like this.

Tomorrow's small goal is to reach 6000; if not completed, you'll just hang me on a tree, o(´^｀)o】

★

★

★

……………………New chapter………………

………………New chapter……………………

…………New chapter…………………………

Great King lingered in the 【Spring River Flower Moon Night】 'Flower Heaven Wine Earth', not going back to sleep; the Fifth Princess wasn't anxious, but the barbecue shop's owner was.

The shop's roasting speed couldn't keep up with how fast the bear ate; the owner stood at the doorway, waiting for the Great King so eagerly his eyes were almost turning blue.

This bear, the Great King, was accustomed to eating only the best in the mansion; here too he only chose the finest meat, and others could only appreciate the best, which were just those few most expensive varieties in the shop.

A barbecue restaurant, you see, needs customers to smell the domineering aroma from the grilling process and see the tempting sight of oil sizzling, so this place cooks out in the main hall right in front of the guests.

Customers point out what they want and place their orders; once grilled, the hall runners deliver the dishes to each table.

Weini and Zhetian finished the little bit the Great King had ordered for them, as if a date had dropped into their stomachs— their appetite had just been awakened, and then it was gone.

We·ni sprang up, following the aroma downstairs, and switched to buffet mode.

We·ni and Zhetian placed their orders, and the cooks handled the grilling.

The grilling speed couldn't keep up with how fast they were wolfing it down.

Nobody else knew whose bear it was, but the owner knew!

He dared neither to intervene nor to drive them off, so he could only let the bear and the roc occupy the grill and eat buffet.

Just seeing them off was a hassle for the cooks, and the customers' orders were delayed. The owner took a look and thought, 'This won't do; do the bear and roc really need to eat everything well‑done? Who would grill them for them out in the wild?'

He didn't even think, and right in front of those two guys he blurted out to the cooks, 'Just give them a light sear, don't hold up too many customers' orders.' Who would have guessed that these two, having grown up around humans—one regularly eating feed pellets, the other from the spirit realm—had practically become spirits themselves, not a bit stupid, and they understood!!

Seeing the cook actually grab a big handful of mutton skewers, sear them on the grill, then casually sprinkle some seasoning and was about to plate them, Weini sprang up on two legs and slapped him with a palm.

Grill! Keep grilling! Grill the bear until it's done!

The cook's hands shook with fear: "...... Boss, what... what should we do?"

Shopkeeper: ……

"Grill, grill it done!" I can't afford to provoke him, I can't afford to provoke him.

The guests seated on the first floor burst into laughter; this bear is too clever!

Originally the shopkeeper explained that this was a bear the owner had raised since childhood, non‑biting and very smart, yet they were still a little afraid. The Great Jin aristocrats play with everything; keeping a bear isn't considered out of the ordinary, so everyone just moved their seats farther away. Only one richly dressed young master, bold as could be, deliberately picked a seat close to them to watch the fun.

Now he led the applause and loud laughter, the whole first‑floor mood loosened up, and everyone joined in the merriment.

The shopkeeper hurriedly followed suit, bowing repeatedly to apologize to the guests and asking them to be tolerant of the slower service.

That richly dressed young master was the first to say he didn't mind; he could wait until the bear had finished eating.

Who would have thought that this wait would drag on for a long time……

The King insisted on telling him not to underestimate any little cutie, for his family's Weini's little cutie's stomach is connected to the whole universe…… if this young master could understand what the universe is.

Covering the Sky is just novel; these food flavors aren't really to its taste, and after squabbling with Weini for a while it lost interest. After eating its fill it didn't leave, strictly obeying the King's order to stare at its own bear, fearing 'others might steal it back and hide it.' That's the King's original words—just confidence.

This is a new shop; Zhu Ti also cared, she came straight from the Spring River Flower Moon Night to the barbecue restaurant, and upon entering saw everyone in the shop gathered around watching her master's bear eat its meal.

Looking again at the tables in the main hall, they were very clean……

All right, tonight's work was all for nothing.

When the Fifth Princess grew tired, the King set off for home; they went around to the back door of the barbecue shop and got hold of a bear stuffed up to its throat.

Zhu Ti led the bear to the King and threw him a bill.

The King took it, saw how long the bill was and didn't want to examine it closely, warily asking, "You're still asking the King for silver?" This isn't the King's shop!

His shop, he consumes himself; with the Chief Steward's approval he can directly write off the expense, and the King usually has at most a few coins in his pocket for show.

Zhu Ti: "Not exactly. This month's revenue for the new shop is below expectation; your bear bears direct responsibility, so I'm giving you advance notice."

The King unfolded the bill: "What excuse is this? You're so petty! Even if our Weini could eat a bit, how much could it eat? How could it affect revenue—that just…… can't."

Can.

Canglang mutton skewers x120?

Canglang beef tongue x110?

Really, they eat whatever's expensive, and the quantities are still three‑digit numbers?

The King blinked and said, "Could it be… there's actually a decimal point missing after the numbers?"

Zhu Ti splashed him awake: "No. The new shop's premium‑goods share has been completely wiped out, so I said it would affect revenue."

The King: …… You glutton!

"…Then let's get some more. These days might be the most profitable of the year." Don't delay the grand business of cutting the leeks.

The King, vexed that the bear won't become strong, gave it a whack: "You didn't eat enough at home! Come out and eat so the whole city can see!" After smacking it he turned to drag the bear away, but then heard Zhuti drawl: "Let it walk on its two legs, then bend over and vomit it out……

Weishen Pogong: "Pfft~ hahaha~"

The Fifth Princess finally couldn't help laughing either; the King gave the bear another smack: "You're embarrassing yourself! All you do is eat, eat, eat—only you can eat like this. Tomorrow I'll roast a whole sheep for you!"

Weini, who had been innocently licking the bear's paw to play, suddenly widened its round eyes and they lit up.

The King dragged it by its two paws, striding ahead, and of course didn't notice.

Outside, the times are rough; these aristocratic youths cherish their lives, going out with retinues and servants in droves. As the time approached, the bustle of You Prefecture City not only opened the eyes of the common folk, the King himself was a little startled.

The south has been beaten into a dog's head, yet it doesn't stop the northern aristocrats from mustering forces to come watch the excitement.

They heard the North Territory's security was good, the bandits had been wiped out clean, so they dared bring a retinue of servants north. Upon arriving in You Prefecture they discovered that the North Territory was not merely peaceful and free of bandits—there were no refugees here either!

Along the way every place had some refugees, but upon entering Luo River Pass those ragged, foul‑smelling lowlifes vanished.

They mostly had no interest in wondering why the North Territory had no refugees; they simply rode the flat, straight chariot road straight to You Prefecture City.

Then they opened the door to a new world.

These aristocrats, whose eyes were on the backs of their heads, finally began to look at people and things properly.

The once‑fallen border prefecture of You Prefecture—shouldn't it be covered in yellow dust, impoverished and dilapidated?

They saw the imposing Luo River Pass and said, "The North Territory King must be terrified of death—perhaps he mustered the whole realm's strength to hoist up Luo River Pass, thereby separating the talented, auspicious Central Plains. He surely fears that after Chang'an rests and recuperates, he will launch a northern campaign.

When they saw the level, straight chariot road, they said, "Surely the North Territory King laid it for rapid troop movement—he's truly militaristic and wasteful, willing to spend money on this!

After racing all the way to You Prefecture and seeing its majestic city walls, they remarked, "No wonder the Xianbei couldn't take it—these walls, if given to them, might even be able to hold off the Xianbei!!

Upon entering the city and seeing the lush crops on the open ground, the clean, odor‑free streets, and the neatly dressed townsfolk, they finally began to waver.

You Prefecture—perhaps they really aren't poor.

They didn't realize that in all of Great Jin only You Prefecture City has an underground drainage system; as for street cleanliness, even Chang'an can't compare.

You Prefecture City has some handsome houses that already surpass their ancestral homes.

Upon leaving the old city district and entering the new one, not even a single south‑facing thatched hut could be seen.

The bustling Vermilion Bird Avenue, with the distant jade towers and golden roofs resembling a celestial palace of the North Territory King's mansion, caused their slight pride to completely dissipate.

Their emotional journey was shock, then a hint of sourness, which turned into delight.

Having come all this way, thank goodness I'm here—whoever didn't come to play will regret it! When I go back I'll definitely tell whoever it is about You Prefecture's prosperous world!

The King's Vermilion Bird Avenue—if you've got money, spend it; scatter a little, splurging ten thousand taels a day is nothing.

The three senior officials at court remained wary of the bustle in You Prefecture, repeatedly urging the King not to go out and play lately, for outside this time it's truly a mix of fish and dragons—utter chaos unprecedented in history.

The King, however, likes this chaos—isn't this exactly the popularity he's been dreaming of! Is this ordinary bustle? This is GDP!

The King wishes You Prefecture would stay this 'chaotic' forever.

The gate and city gate can only screen out foreigners; it's too easy for the Jin people to sneak in— which aristocratic clan doesn't bring a bunch of servants?

Right now the city guard can only check weapons.

To put it bluntly, the so-called travel permits that the Jin people coming from the south hold are just worthless paper. The king is already the court's number one hidden trouble; if someone were to openly say they'd come to the northern border to assassinate the king, Bai Li Jin wouldn't just give them a travel permit—he'd even give them travel expenses.

Regarding the instructions of the three senior officials, the king only nodded repeatedly without agreeing to anything else. He has a cheat, so what does he have to fear? He just won't bring his cousin and older sister when he goes out again. Those two going out alone would probably be fine, but being implicated with him would be too miserable.

It's so lively outside, yet you won't let the child go out— isn't that just dangling a carrot in front of a donkey?

The king's heart was itching from being flirted with; as night fell, he changed into beggar's garb and went out.

He pretended to go see where Prefect Tang had gone.