Chapter 48: Bai Li Heng's Shock

The next morning after getting up, the King's first task was to order the Internal Affairs Bureau to find a skilled craftsman good at making jewelry.

When the artisan arrived, the King personally summoned him. He personally asked how to make a set of beads into a wearable ornament without damaging the beads themselves, what he planned to do.

The craftsman thought and said he planned to use high-purity gold in a half-wrapped filigree setting to inlay the beads. Looking at the King, thinking it was for a child to wear, he added that if necessary, silver wire could be added around the outside for reinforcement.

The King imagined it and thought it sounded fine. He then took out the shark pearls he had hidden under his pillow overnight—eight in total—counted them again, and solemnly handed them over to the palace craftsman. These were the goodwill sent by the non‑human beings of the myriad worlds; he intended to cherish them well.

After finishing his morning lessons, the King changed clothes and eagerly continued treasure‑hunting on the street; who would have thought that in just one day he would become addicted to setting up a stall?

Speaking of Chang'an City.

Emperor Ningde had Yin, Minister of the Household prepare grain to send to his son; the grain was ready quickly, but choosing who would make this trip became a problem again.

That was Secluded Prefecture—the Secluded King had been there less than half a year, the tribute hadn't arrived, and now it was so poor it needed imperial relief.

This was clearly not a cushy post; nowadays no one in the court volunteers. Originally it wasn't a big deal—Yin, Minister of the Household just needed to send a low‑ranking doctor from his staff on the trip—but coincidentally, the assigned doctor was no ordinary physician; he came from the Great Origin King Clan, whose family influence was also great, and they were unwilling.

Who doesn't know that the road to Secluded Prefecture is long and it borders the frontier; even setting aside the threat of the Northern Barbarians, bandits roam this route—who would dare to risk their life?

The King Clan took the opportunity to drag out the Second Prince; this fellow had been causing the court to argue for days, with officials saying he would stir trouble just out of idleness, unaware of hardship—better to let him go north to see what kind of life his younger brother leads.

Emperor Ningde also thought it would be good to let the Second Son lay low for a while; he really couldn't stand the constant bickering over the Second Son both inside and outside the court.

An imperial decree sent Bai Li Heng to Secluded Prefecture to deliver grain.

The northward journey was not peaceful; moreover, a severe drought struck Fishing Sun and Secluded Prefecture. The Gold Clan feared for his safety even more than Emperor Ningde did, so besides the imperial guard, the entourage also included a sizable contingent of private guards supplied by the Gold Clan.

Thus the whole convoy was quite conspicuous, just as when the Secluded King came; even starving bandits wouldn't dare to mess with such a tough target.

All the way in grand procession, upon reaching the outskirts of Secluded Prefecture City and seeing that broken gate, the Second Highness was even more startled than the King had been initially.

After all, he had never known a day of hardship since childhood, having grown up amid piles of gold and jade.

Bai Li Heng had formerly felt neither love nor hatred for the Third Son—after all, he was just an invisible nobody—but now only sympathy remained. At the same time he secretly swore that in this struggle among the brothers he could not lose; he did not want to end up like this.

This long procession entering the city didn't draw the populace's attention; seeing those familiar black armors, could it be the King?

After all, the King had recently been stirring things up inside and outside the city several times; everyone curiously stopped to look, and finding they couldn't see inside the carriage, they just went about their business. The King is benevolent; when he himself does not show his face, the populace need not kneel before the carriage.

In fact, Bai Li Heng inside the carriage could see outside; its curtain was made of purple wisteria brocade, which from afar shimmered with a purple sheen in the sunlight, but up close it was actually semi‑transparent.

Through the thousand‑gold‑worth purple wisteria brocade, Bai Li Heng gazed at the dust‑kicked earth road outside, at the ragged, filthy common folk, and was utterly stunned.

This Secluded Prefecture is absolutely poorer than what the Third Son's lamentations of poverty claimed!

Who would have thought this kid still cares so much about face!

No, where does that stench come from?

Looking up, not far from the carriage frame there was a barefoot child in late autumn driving a few sheep past; the sheep kept pulling…

Ugh—

He had just wanted to signal the palace attendant to lower the heavy curtain when he saw a chubby child running toward the carriage frame, waving as he ran?

Tsk tsk, finally seeing someone who isn't just a skeleton!

As the child eyed the approaching carriage frame, a scene from a storybook that Bai Li Heng had read flashed in his mind—could this child possibly be coming to stop the carriage?

Stop the carriage for what?

Bold… ignorant? Or seeking redress?

The Third Son's only been here a few days, and he's already preying on the people?!

The distance was actually close, leaving him no time to think further; the chubby child in grayish clothes had already leapt onto the carriage side and shouted crisply, "Second Brother!"

If one had to describe Bai Li Heng's mood right now, it would be that old‑school phrase that fits perfectly—instantly, ten thousand grass‑mud horses galloped across his heart!

Good heavens, this is actually his family's Third Son, Bai Li Jing!

Bai Li Heng flung open the carriage curtain with a swish, "…Third Son, you've ended up… like this?"

The King almost burst out crying with a "wang!"

Upon inspection, the entourage really saw the Secluded King, and quickly halted. When the carriage stopped, the King scrambled up using hands and feet, "Ah~ Second Brother, you've come! Are you here to take me back?" The King wailed while looking hopefully at Bai Li Heng.

Bai Li Heng leaned against the carriage wall—this dirty child actually was the Secluded King; how impoverished Secluded Prefecture is, that the King has reduced it to this!

Taking him away is out of the question; Bai Li Heng racked his brain for a topic, "…How did you recognize me?"

The King wiped nonexistent tears, tugged at the other's purple wisteria brocade, "There's the Black Armor Army guarding the carriage, which uses purple wisteria brocade—aside from you, Second Brother, where else in the Great Jin could you find a second? By the way, Second Brother, how did you come? Are you here to take me back?" The King imitated Winnie, staring with round eyes and a pitiful gaze at Bai Li Heng.

This trick really works.

Winnie's way—he could swindle jerky from him; the King did the same, and Bai Li Heng's gaze darted away, he couldn't bring himself to meet the King's eyes.

Back in the palace, Bai Li Heng wouldn't have known how loud to laugh!

"How could the Father Emperor's edict change? Just govern Secluded Prefecture well; this place… will surely improve sooner or later." Who would believe that!

Bai Li Jing kept up the puppy‑dog eyes: "Really?"

Bai Li Heng: ……

Don't push me.