A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

T/N: Thank you so much for the ko-fi, Nonesh! I’m so sorry for the irregular updates this past month. Real life things have started to calm down so hopefully I’ll be back to regular updates from next week. On another note, reading the comments, I realized that we have underestimated our dear ML a lot. Guys, he’s grown up now, proud to see that his father-in-law’s way of educating him is working. Without further ado, enjoy the chapter

 

He thought too much; that must have been a mere coincidence.

 

After matters concerning the disaster relief were finished discussing, the officials and the princes except Chen Wang withdrew from the main hall. The Emperor had him stay back.

 

Qi Wang glanced at Huai Wang with a faint smile: “Elder brothers care for their younger brothers. Fifth brother and you seem to share quite a deep bond of brotherhood.”

 

Huai Wang, who was hit by this statement out of the blue: “……” 

 

How would he know why Yun Duqing suddenly went crazy?

 

“Haha, as the eldest brother, taking care of younger brothers is a given.” Huai Wang smiled: “This elder brother’s regard for you and fifth brother is the same.”

 

No matter which younger brother, they were nothing but a pain in the neck. What difference could there possibly be?

 

“Eldest Brother has always been benevolent to us younger brothers.” Qi Wang cupped his hands: “Farewell.”

 

“Take care, you don’t have to bother seeing me off.” Huai Wang cupped his hands in return and spoke with a fake smile pasted on his lips. What he disliked the most was precisely this, Yun Yanze’s hypocritical attitude.

 

Once seated inside his carriage, the light smile disappeared from Qi Wang’s face as he said: “Go and find out what kind of dealings had been done between Yun Liu’an and Yun Duqing recently.”

 

Emperor Longfeng had no legitimate son. Yun Liu’an was the eldest of them. So if Yun Duqing, who was fully pampered by their Father Emperor, turned to support lao da, the situation would become extremely disadvantageous for him.

 

“Father Emperor, you had erchen stay back. Is there something you want to ask?” Chen Wang sat down on the chair and yawned twice. Last night, he had looked through the records about the farm implements for each province and county till his forehead had become a notch wider1T/N: People with wider foreheads are considered to be smarter because their brain capacity allegedly seems to be larger..

 

Even so, he didn’t dare to not read it. In case Ming Jingzhou tested him on its contents and he was unable to answer, how could he have the cheek to show off his abilities in front of Ming Xiaozhu in the future!

 

“Sleep a bit early at night.” Seeing him yawn again and again, Emperor Longfeng had a palace maid to bring him refreshing tea, “Why do you appear so listless at your age?”

 

“Erchen has Father Emperor’s heroic bearing and Mother Consort’s beauty. So erchen’s listless appearance is also good-looking enough to be attract others.”

 

Although Emperor Longfeng felt a bit angry at his shamelessness, he also found it laughable: “Attract whom?”

 

Of course it was Ming Xiaozhu.

 

Ming Jiuzhu’s white and tender countenance subconsciously emerged in Chen Wang’s mind.

 

He coughed dryly: “Attract your and Mother Consort’s affection; who else would there be.”

 

Emperor Longfeng smiled helplessly, and asked Liu Zhongbao to bring some light refreshments for Chen Wang: “It’s unusual for you to speak up and recommend someone but why did you choose Wu Mian? Zhen remembers that you didn’t have a good relationship with lao da in the past. How come you helped his father-in-law get an opportunity to render meritorious service?”

 

“Wu Mian is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works. Erchen has read his strategy on disaster relief strategy and thinks that is pretty good. So erchen naturally thinks he is suitable for this responsibility.” Chen Wang picked a piece of pastry and threw it into his mouth: “My relationship with eldest brother is indeed not good but that’s a trifle only between us brothers. What does it have to do with the common people? Wu Mian is your subject and an official, he will need to obey your words and handle the matter well. In case he offends me in the future, I will also not give him any face as before.”

 

Emperor Longfeng was a little stunned. Soon after, he smiled: “You certainly have a clear distinction between gratitude and grudges.”

 

“Erchen has always been highly principled.” Chen Wang swung his hands magnanimously: “Father Emperor need not praise erchen.”

 

Emperor Longfeng thought carefully, when did he praise him?

 

“Wu Mian became a jinshi during the late Emperor’s reign. How come you read his strategy?” Emperor Longfeng wondered when his son became so diligent.

 

“Erchen initially got to know of it very recently because Lord Ming had let erchen familiarise himself with the affairs of the Ministry of Rites through some relevant documents after he went there.” Chen Wang sighed: “Father Emperor, you don’t know this but nowadays whenever erchen dreams, he only sees Lord Ming asking him questions.”

 

Emperor Longfeng nodded, feeling deeply moved in his heart: as expected of Ming Jingzhou. He can even suppress Duqing’s temper.

 

From childhood to now, all the teachers who were infuriated by Duqing were too many to count with one hand. Now that Ming Jingzhou could make him realize things about the officials of the court, he marveled at how meticulously the former had looked after his son.

 

“Ming Jingzhou is loyal and reliable. He has both talent and integrity. You can learn a lot of useful things if you keep heeding his words and actions.” Emperor Longfeng patted his son on the shoulder: “He is your future father-in-law, he will definitely not harm you.”

 

He was undoubtedly a monarch with unique insight. He not only chose a Wangfei with a strong predestined affinity for his son but also a father-in-law with outstanding capabilities.

 

“Stop.” Through the window curtains of the carriage, Qi Wang caught sight of a girl clad in a pink dress walking into a teahouse with another girl in a blue dress and asked the coachman to stop the carriage.

 

“Your Highness?” The attendant brought a stool: “Does Your Highness want to go upstairs and drink tea?”

 

“En.” As soon as he entered the teahouse, an attendant came forward and greeted him cordially: “Distinguished guest, please go upstairs.”

 

He glanced upwards, lifted your foot and took a step.

 

Zhou Xiao had brought Jiuzhu out today to introduce her to some of her closest boudoir friends. They were all from the families of officials loyal only to the Emperor and had developed a pretty good relationship over the years. Thus, they accepted Jiuzhu as soon as she appeared.

 

The people and customs of Da Cheng were open-minded so the segregation and distinction between men and women were not at all severe. It was quite common to see women working outside in order to earn a living.

 

Sitting around the table and separated from the other guests by a screen, Jiuzhu and the young ladies chatted about interesting and strange things that happened in the capital while laughing and cheering from time to time.

 

“So what if you have both a son and a daughter? It is not as good as having a daughter who can earn a title for the family just by fawning upon a favored imperial concubine.”

 

When the words reached everyone’s ears, Zhou Xiao and the others stopped laughing and frowned.

 

“Brother2T/N: Once again, this ‘brother’ [兄台] is a polite way of addressing a friend of similar age. It doesn’t refer to familial brothers. is right. Studying strenuously while having a difficult life, getting up early to practice martial arts, all cannot compare to having a daughter who could marry the son of a favored concubine. Who doesn’t envy the Ming family for raising such a promising daughter nowadays?”

 

“A teahouse is not a place to say such things. I think these two people are doing it on purpose to spread rumors.” The young lady of Chen family had a straightforward personality. She stood up and said, “Don’t be afraid, Ming meimei. I’ll tell them to shut up immediately.”

 

Jiuzhu grabbed Miss Chen’s sleeve: “Jiejie, there is no need to argue with them. It’s useless for these people to feel envious. They cannot raise a good daughter like me.”

 

Miss Chen: “……”

 

Was this the main point?

 

She glanced at Jiuzhu, what was that slightly proud expression on her face?

 

“If my Father hadn’t achieved the third rank of tanhua in the imperial examination, how might I have possibly been betrothed to Chen Wang?” Jiuzhu said with all seriousness, “From this, it can be seen that a painful life of strenuous studies is the most important.”

 

“If one doesn’t study hard, they can only be like the two people outside who dare to say anything without having enough knowledge.”

 

The group of friends: “……”

 

A life of strenuous studies is indeed quite important, but Assistant Minister Ming might not really want you to marry Chen Wang.

 

Hearing the remarks outside, Qi Wang got up and pushed the screen aside, intending to stop the two.

 

“Where is the ugly dog that hides itself from blame and keeps on barking here?” Wearing a flamboyant red dress embroidered with gold patterns, Chen Wang walked in with his attendants and armed guards, and kicked away the chair by his feet. It flew out and hit one of the two.

 

The person who was hit was so frightened that his face turned deathly pale; he didn’t even dare to make a sound.

 

He raised his hand, and the guards behind him drew their swords flickering menacingly out of the sheath.

 

“Come on, keep shouting a few times so that I can listen carefully.” Chen Wang sat down on the chair and stretched out his hand. The attendant hastily delivered a teacup. 

 

Silence.

“Why don’t you speak?” Chen Wang sipped his tea as he asserted with an indolent smile: “Go on.”

 

1T/N: People with wider foreheads are considered to be smarter because their brain capacity allegedly seems to be larger.2T/N: Once again, this ‘brother’ [兄台] is a polite way of addressing a friend of similar age. It doesn’t refer to familial brothers.