Chapter 650: Returning Home in Honor (1/2)
Zhu Hanwen frowned at this. Wasn’t his imperial father being a little too lenient? It was too obvious that he had some vague intentions towards Official Yu. That wouldn’t do! He needed to surreptitiously remind his mother a bit on another day. His imperial father had always respected his imperial mother’s opinions, so he should be willing to listen to her advice. He needed to make sure that this got nipped in the bud before it got too late!
Following that, at the next court session, Yu Xiaocao had been promoted to the fourth rank ‘Clerk of the Capital for Grain’ for her efforts in eradicating the poisoning case at the stud farm as well as the promising results in the rice paddies. She was now completely in charge of crop breeding and her task was to improve the rice paddy yield as well as the winter wheat seeds.
The emperor recalled that Xiaocao was Great General Zhenxi’s fiancée, so he especially summoned her along to leave the capital to welcome him back home. His intention was simple. He wanted to give her the opportunity to see her fiancé as soon as possible. However, he would have never expected that his younger cousin had snuck into the capital earlier and had bummed around the Yu Residence, acting lovey dovey with his future wife, before he finally left.
Regardless, Yu Xiaocao felt a sense of pride and glee rise up within her heart when she saw that familiar dark figure within the army as she rode next to the emperor’s carriage with the envious gazes of other officials surrounding her. When a woman’s man was successful, her face also became brighter.
The high-ranked officials who had come out today to receive the army all felt mixed feelings arise in their hearts when they saw the handsome and heroic Royal Prince Yang come back. In the past, Royal Prince Yang was impetuous and cruel with a cloud of bad rumors surrounding him. His reputation wasn’t much better than the hedonistic good-for-nothing sons from rich families. Who would have thought that after he turned fifteen and was given the mission to travel to the west, he would come back like a changed man. His personality had become stable and steady and he became more and more outstanding as time passed.
He not only brought the high-yielding corn seeds back, but he also luckily discovered the current ‘Clerk of the Capital for Grain’, Official Yu, who had a talent for farming. With higher-yield crops now on hand, the commoners, who had previously been living in harsh, post-war times, now had a surplus to eat. As the fortunes of the people rose, so did the fortunes of the empire. Now that the commoners were living better lives, the empire was now richer and more powerful than ever.
Furthermore, Royal Prince Yang wasn’t just good at regular issues, he was also a genius at military matters. After the Xishan Barracks were given to him to manage, in less than two years, any soldier from that assignment could easily fight against three to five ordinary soldiers with ease. The firearms division was especially astounding. Each soldier there had top-notch martial arts skills like the rest of the soldiers within the Xishan Barracks, and they were also sharpshooters with their firearms. They were truly the best of the best!
Not only was he talented at training troops, but he was also skilled at military strategy and tactics. When the northeast rebellion had occurred, it felt like only a practice session for him to put it down. This time, with the war in the northwest, he was finally able to display his outstanding abilities. Even the previous dynasty’s Old General Zhao and Young General Zhao had to admire this young and skilled royal prince’s talents.
Furthermore, the two generals from the Zhao Family were only alive today because of him. Naturally, this was also related to the fact that Royal Prince Yang had external help——Royal Princess Jinan’s medicinal abilities. Only he had a fiancée who was skilled at medicine and detoxifying poisons.
It was also rumored that the unfathomable Military Inspector Su had been saved by him! Chief Steward Su was the emperor’s closest and most intimate confidant and subordinate. Unfortunately, he was very hard to get close to and was extremely cunning and sly. Whoever could catch his eyes and have him say a few flattering words in front of the emperor naturally had a career that would soar without boundaries. However, Royal Prince Yang didn’t require his good words as his own abilities were more than enough to ensure a smooth and steady climb up to the top!
Royal Prince Yang was a youth with an extremely promising career ahead of him. Unfortunately, he was an engaged man. The high-ranking officials who had previously rejected Princess Consort Jing’s attempts to matchmake her son in years past were now incredibly regretful. If it weren’t for the fact that they had disdained Royal Prince Yang when he had a bad reputation, they could be his future father-in-law now and have another strong ally at court. Thus, their official careers would also be more smooth. What a pity...
However, there were still some people scheming quietly in the background, thinking about their concubine-born daughters at home. Some of them even thought about offering their legitimate daughters to the prince to become his concubine. What man, especially the hardworking and talented ones, didn’t have a crowd of wives and concubines at home? Royal Prince Yang was very likely going to be promoted into an imperial prince in the future, and it was very normal for a grand and noble imperial prince to have a courtyard full of women at home, right? For example, Royal Prince Yang’s imperial uncle, Imperial Prince Sa, not only had two ranked concubines at home but he also had so many lower ranking concubines that he couldn’t keep them straight.
Naturally, there were also some people who wondered whether Royal Princess Jinan could even marry the prince at this point. No matter whether it was personal or familial status, the two of them were not of the same background. Royal Princess Jinan was truly talented. After all, a little girl climbing up to a fourth-ranked official’s position wasn’t something to be scoffed at.
However, the vast majority of men preferred women who were gentle and unassuming. If one had to be honest, Royal Princess Jinan’s personality couldn’t be considered sweet and considerate...perhaps the position of Royal Prince Yang’s official wife was something that could be negotiated!
Royal Prince Yang had no idea that his future marriage and inner courtyard was currently being schemed over by many people. Currently, he had just spotted his little lass, who was next to the golden yellow imperial carriage. She was dressed in a tiny official’s robe and her hair had been styled into a nimble and handsome ponytail. The day before yesterday he had been preoccupied with spending time with her, so he didn’t pay attention to the fact that she had some pretty significant physical changes in the past year.
Although she still had a very slim and slender figure, she had grown perceptibly in height. By now, the top of her head should be around his chin height. Her facial features had also blossomed. She had a pair of round and innocent looking eyes that now seemed more elongated. They glittered with liveliness and an air of coquettishness. Her roomy official’s robe also couldn’t completely hide her alluring body figure, mhm...his little lass had truly matured and was becoming more and more beautiful with every passing day.