Chapter 49

Bai Li Heng's carriage stopped at the gate of the Secluded Prefecture Prince's Residence, waiting for a gap in the opening of the gate to say to his younger brother, "At least this prince's residence still looks somewhat decent!"

Great King pouted, "You'd better think that way even after you go in."

"What do you mean?"

He immediately understood: the Second Prince's carriage naturally had the right to use the main gate, let alone that they came bearing the emperor's edict.

After entering the South Splendid Gate, Bai Li Heng lifted the curtain in surprise and asked, "Where are the buildings?"

How could the layout of this prince's residence be so strange!

He is a few years older than Bai Li Jing, not someone who never went out to wander as the third brother. Bai Li Heng had also visited many officials' and nobles' mansions in Everlasting Peace; this was the first time he'd seen such a layout.

In his astonished gaze, his family's third brother pouted, gesturing for him to look far ahead: "Isn't there something over there! When I arrived, it was just this empty; the prefect said there was no money to build, so he only marked off the land, letting me build later when I have money. Humph! With this poverty of Secluded Prefecture, when will I ever have money!"

Bai Li Heng truly felt deep sympathy this time; seeing such a vast place with only a few scattered buildings, the poverty exceeded his imagination.

"I heard Father Emperor say you were to rebuild the new prince's residence on the frontier and personally guard the border—what is it like?"

Great King lifted his head, "The walls of that new prince's residence are really high… but… Second Brother, how much money did you bring to Secluded Prefecture?"

Understood, they built another high wall, inside waiting to borrow money.

"This journey isn't peaceful; for my safety I wouldn't bring too much money!" Bai Li Heng was very vigilant.

Great King: "Hmph! I'm just asking."

The Second Prince arrived bearing the emperor's edict, and Minister Xue came out with his retinue of officials to greet him.

Minister Xue saw the Second Prince about to offer a proper smile and salute, but then saw a gray, fluffy dumpling jump down from behind the Second Prince, and Minister Xue's smile froze on his face.

"Your Highness, what is this?" he asked the Great King with his mouth, but his eyes looked toward the Grand Tutor Xu.

"What do you mean by this?!" the Great King almost jumped up, "Minister Xue! I didn't skip class today!" What kind of look is that?

Bai Li Heng: "... Oh oh, I understand."

Today he didn't run away; before, he often ran away.

Old Three is completely hopeless, can't even get his act together; even if he grows up and has ideas later, Youzhou wouldn't allow it either!

When Bai Li Heng looked at the king again, his gaze was much kinder.

Emperor Ningde brought his three sons 2000 dan of grain and an imperial edict.

The edict basically says plainly: this is the last time I will relieve you, my son; I am not very wealthy either, the north is suffering a great drought, and I still have to support the frontier troops. From now on, you must strive to govern Youzhou yourself; you cannot always rely on your father for relief!

The king pouted, humph! But his mouth corners quickly turned up—2000 dan of free grain; he counted on his fingers, enough for the palace guard plus the prince's residence to eat for a month!

Are you crying happy tears?

Picked up for free, eh! He just gave it a try, didn't expect it to succeed; from now on he'll keep pressing forward. You say Emperor Ningde said he won't care about him anymore? Say what you will—these hands are the king's own, he can't stop me from writing letters!

The king glanced at the sympathetic Old Two beside him, and also couldn't forget Bai Li Heng—they're both targets for almsgiving. If this guy uses one less bolt of purple-gold silk, the younger brother could eat well for much longer!

Bai Li Heng and his entourage saw the Youwang receive the edict, his face excited as he bowed toward Chang'an, saying, "Thank you, Father Emperor, for saving my life!"

Oh oh, you see what's good about being enfeoffed? Even a mere 2000 dan of grain makes him cry happy tears. But this Youzhou… really exceeds his imagination of poverty.

After receiving the edict, the prince's officials also knelt to give thanks; once the formalities were done, it was mealtime. The Second Prince, who had come from afar, must be entertained with a banquet. The king specially instructed: just keep it at the usual level, don't try to look rich by pretending to be fat—pick a good fish, that's enough; what else hasn't his second brother eaten?

So Bai Li Heng's first meal in Youzhou was quite ordinary, nothing like his meals in Chang'an; it was just one more fresh sea fish added to the makeshift road rations, and the Second Prince couldn't help feeling a bit resentful.

But that sea fish was indeed very fatty; Chang'an is far from the sea, and even with money one can't get fresh sea fish nowadays. The Second Prince felt that Old Three could maintain his former physique thanks largely to this fish.

After the meal, he stood in the vast courtyard where one could see to the end and asked Old Three, "What tasty or fun things does Youzhou have? It's not easy to come here—you must show the Second Prince around."

The king's eyes shifted, and he began chatting warmly with his second brother.

When he was in the palace he always addressed him formally as 'Second Imperial Brother'; back in his hometown he became much more familiar, and after calling out 'Second Brother' on the street, it felt natural to keep using it.

In short, he didn't feel any direct conflict with Bai Li Heng; those three ambitious folks, when they meet, are like squabbling chickens—he's just a transparent add-on. Now that he's reached Youzhou, there's even less of a main contradiction. Even eating is a struggle; the king never wastes thought on useless things.

The king warmly recommended his aquatic world to his second brother, of course he couldn't directly say it was his, otherwise it'd be awkward for the shopkeeper to set a price!

After arranging for Bai Li Heng to rest, he immediately sent someone to tell the shopkeeper: First, you don't need to come settle accounts today, and tomorrow you must pretend not to know him—that shop isn't his. Second, the guests he brings tomorrow must be made to spend at least ten thousand taels.

His second brother spending ten thousand taels is as easy for him as spending one hundred taels; such a fat sheep delivered right to his doorstep—if he doesn't take a cut, the king will lose sleep over it.

He plans to squeeze all the remaining revenue from the outside world out of his second brother. There's no way around it: the wealthy people in Youzhou have already bought what they could; what's left are those who simply can't afford it, and after a few more days their numbers will dwindle until revenue hits zero.

In Youzhou, it's not easy to come across a wealthy person!

Sorry, second brother, mwah~

Bai Yang finished dinner and waited for the empty-handed king—what about the promised resupply?

The king scratched his head: "I went out today and still haven't bought anything; I just ran into my second brother on the street, couldn't buy anything, so I hauled a bulky leftover item from the old palace that hadn't been moved—it's too heavy, I've stored it in the warehouse."

Bai Yang was extremely curious—isn't the king's second brother just another feudal lord?

"How did your second brother end up in your fief?"

"Ah, I forgot to tell you—he's here to deliver grain; the emperor sent 2000 dan of grain to Youzhou! I'm just used to playing miserable, dragging out Youzhou's tribute, never expecting it to actually arrive, hahaha!" Although Emperor Ningde also said this would be the only time, no more next time, but the king outright ignored it. We'll still demand what we're owed—you can't stop us!

"Was it transferred nearby from your second brother's fief?"

"Nope, my second brother has no fief; he's still in Chang'an. He's the legitimate son of the Empress, his maternal family is the richest in the world—he's not like me, who since childhood wanted to be enfeoffed as a prince."

Bai Yang immediately understood: Old Two is waiting for the crown prince position.

I can't help feeling a little sympathy for the young king—he's the younger brother, yet at a tender age he already has to worry about a nation's people, while his older brother enjoys wealth and luxury in prosperous Chang'an.

As for the king, living well in the palace, how could he even think about leaving for a fief?

His emotions surged; just a few seconds after feeling sympathy, he heard the king beside him complain, "I hope we can quickly make up the headcount tonight—I still want some free time to stroll the Phoenix Market, see if there are any affordable novelties I can pick up and resell to Old Two; he's a filthy rich big shot of the Great Jin!"

Bai Yang: …No wonder it's you.