Chapter 223: Miss Yan’s Dowry
Hearing Eldest Brother’s words, Miss Yan felt much relieved. She wasn’t actually displeased with Han Xing going out to raid and kill. The journey to the Northern Frontier had shown her even more brutal scenes of slaughter.
She also understood that His Majesty, in order to consolidate his reign, implement new policies, and make the entire Great Xia like the Border City, where the common people live in peace and contentment, the old are cared for, the young are raised, and everyone has a future full of hope.
For this goal, many people will die, and much blood will be shed. Han Xing is His Majesty’s sharpest blade!
She was simply worried about Han Xing’s safety. The gentry in Chang’an have darker hearts and more ruthless methods, and their family fortunes are also much deeper. Who knows if they have private soldiers, assassins, or heavy weaponry?
What if they become desperate and hurt Han Xing?
We, we are going to get married very soon.
Thinking of this, Miss Yan’s face turned red, full of shy embarrassment.
Yan Jiu chuckled, “Is there anything else?”
Miss Yan crouched down to his desk, meeting his gaze. “Eldest Brother, His Majesty said that before you return to the Border City, he wants me and Han Xing to get married in Chang’an.”
Yan Jiu nodded. “I know. His Majesty has already bestowed a mansion upon General Han, and Steward Yan can go and prepare it. As for your dowry, I’ve also asked Shiyi to prepare it from the Border City and have it transported over.”
Miss Yan whispered, “Can Second Brother not come to my wedding? If Han Xing stays in Chang’an, will we not see each other for a long time?”
Yan Jiu said softly, “Your Second Brother and I will visit you when we have time.”
As for you two as a couple returning to the Border City, it will indeed take many years. His Majesty will not feel at ease in Chang’an. Only when the Border City is prosperous enough to surpass Chang’an will His Majesty withdraw Han Xing back to the Border City.
Only when the powerful people of Chang’an are completely disheartened and lose the strength to rebel will His Majesty recall Han Xing to the Border City.
Miss Yan sighed softly, “I just promised Suisui that I would be a female teacher at her academy. It seems that won’t be possible anymore.”
Yan Jiu knew his sister was worried. After everyone returned to the Border City, she and Han Xing would have no friends or family in Chang’an and would be very lonely.
Thinking of Miss Ling’s idea for a hot pot chain, he said to his sister, “You can write to Miss Ling to discuss it. You could also open a branch of a women’s academy in Chang’an.”
And your Rouge Shop. This way, you can gather information from all levels for General Han, helping him control Chang’an. You can also achieve something for yourself, rather than just sitting idly at home.
Don’t worry that doing so will displease the noble ladies of Chang’an. What you need to do is change their mindset.
This suggestion instantly made Miss Yan excited as if she had been injected with adrenaline. “Hmph! I don’t care what they think of me! I’m here to look after common women, not those noble ladies.”
Thank you, Eldest Brother! I’ll write to Suisui right away.
Just as Miss Yan hopped over the threshold, she remembered something. “Oh, Eldest Brother, I’ve arranged with Master Liu Yun, who is staying in the Northern Frontier, for him to redeem Han Slaves and have the Yan Clan bring them back for resettlement.”
Since I won’t be in the Border City, don’t forget about this. If Master Liu Yun thinks I’ve gone back on my word and dares not redeem the Han Slaves anymore, they’ll be too pitiful.
At this moment, looking at the vast prairie and feeling the rustling autumn wind, Liu Yun felt that he was the most pitiful person!
Senior Sister, Your Highness, no, Your Majesty, you haven’t forgotten about Liu Yun, have you?
I haven’t received any letters from you for a long time! Even when His Majesty ascended the throne in Chang’an, I only heard about it from that fellow Batel.
His smug expression made Liu Yun suppress the urge to hit him.
Princess Tuoya comforted him, “After His Majesty ascends the throne, he will surely bestow rewards upon Master Liu Yun. Do you want to return to Chang’an?”
Liu Yun shook his head. “I will do as His Majesty arranges.”
He didn’t want to return to Chang’an. He only wanted to go to the Border City to find Senior Sister and Master.
He wanted to learn immortal arts! The wondrous uses of the Qiankun Pouch, he got so excited just thinking about it. If he had a Qiankun Pouch too, what difficulty would there be in traveling the world?
…
“Master Liu Yun, what are you doing? Hurry up, you’ll get hurt.”
Tuoya’s voice rang out. Liu Yun looked down to see Tuoya on horseback, leading a team of bodyguards.
They whistled and reacted quickly. “Pull the net, catch Master Liu Yun!”
Liu Yun glanced at the cliff below. It was only about ten meters down. Even if he didn’t fly, he wouldn’t get hurt with his Qinggong… Hiss, my neck hurt last time, and it still aches when I turn my head.
Looking at the white wings in his hand, he put them on his arms with a solemn, almost tragic expression, as if he had grown wings.
Tuoya was so anxious she was about to catch fire. “Suisui’s Flying Artifact isn’t like that! You’ve tried dozens of times, fallen dozens of times, how can you not wake up?”
Liu Yun raised his chin, his eyes filled with stubbornness and persistence. This is the homework Senior Sister left me! As long as I can create the Flying Artifact and successfully fly, I will surely be qualified to learn immortal arts!
These were things he picked up from the place where Jin Sui and Gu Changxiao fell after they left. He also drew blueprints based on the appearance of the Flying Artifact he saw that night.
But he didn’t know where the problem lay. He had already attempted to fly dozens of times, and not once had he succeeded!
Tuoya tried to persuade him again, “A merchant caravan has already seen flying objects in the Border City. Come down quickly, and I’ll show you the blueprints.”
Liu Yun was overjoyed. “Wait, I’m flying down now!”
With that, he actually leaped. Tuoya screamed in fright and galloped her horse to prepare to catch him.
As a result, the ‘wings’ on his back fell apart in mid-air, almost hitting Tuoya. Without her catching him, Liu Yun used his Qinggong, his toes touching the rocks, and landed steadily.
Tuoya broke out in a cold sweat. She used to admire Liu Yun and regarded him as her master, learning swordsmanship from him.
Later, Liu Yun’s foolish actions became too numerous. Tuoya felt like she was facing Batel in his youth. It was too difficult to persuade a chuunibyou!
I, a dignified princess, have been tormented into becoming a nanny by the two of you.
Tuoya wanted to cry but had no tears. Liu Yun was still reaching out, “Where are the blueprints?”
Tuoya took them out and handed them to him. Liu Yun took one look and declared them fake. “Senior Sister flew something like a giant bird. This is a colored ball! How can a colored ball fly?”
Tuoya quickly said, “But the merchant caravan saw it with their own eyes. They all said that the flying objects in the Border City now are these seven-colored balls.”
Liu Yun still didn’t believe it. He felt very wronged. Without His Majesty’s edict, he couldn’t leave the Northern Frontier.
But he couldn’t do anything here. He wanted to go back to the Border City to learn immortal arts from Senior Sister!
At this moment, Tuoya told him some good news. “After His Majesty ascends the throne, not only will the Border Pass be opened, but the Northwest Pass will also open for trade. The court officials have finally agreed to build a Taoist temple for the Han Chinese.”
Liu Yun’s eyes lit up, and he instantly became energetic. That’s great! Once the Taoist temple is built, I’ll have a legitimate reason to find Senior Sister!
When the news reached the Border City, Jin Sui was comforting a crying Yan Shiyi.
Because Yan Shiyi had received a letter from Yan Jiu asking him to prepare a dowry for Miss Yan, and also forbidding him from attending his sister’s wedding in Chang’an.
Actually, there was no need to prepare any more dowry. From the day Miss Yan was born, her parents had been preparing her dowry. After her parents passed away, Yan Jiu never forgot about it.
The dowry list for his sister grew by a few pages each year, and it was now as thick as a book.
While other women’s dowries were thirty-six, seventy-two, or the highest specification of one hundred and eight carts, their Miss Yan had a dowry of one hundred and eight carriages!
Neither of the two elder brothers had married, so there was no sister-in-law to interfere. The two elder brothers only wanted their sister to have a prosperous future, especially in a place like Chang’an, so of course, they couldn’t be outdone by other powerful families.
Moreover, Han Xing had nothing else besides what His Majesty bestowed upon him. If their sister lacked daily necessities and suffered hardship, their two elder brothers, being thousands of miles away, would be heartbroken.
Therefore, their opinions were surprisingly consistent: to give Miss Yan the best dowry possible.
Yan Shiyi couldn’t cry in front of others, so he always ran to Jin Sui’s place. When he arrived, he would be teary-eyed. “Miss Yan is getting married.”
The first time Jin Sui heard him cry, she would still comfort him earnestly, saying that sisters grow up and get married.
Perhaps in two years, you’ll be an uncle. It’s not like you’ll never see her again. Carriages are faster now, and it’s a quick trip to Chang’an. Besides, Han Xing will be transferred back in a few years.
But this guy was annoying. He would come to cry almost every other day, a grown man crying like SpongeBob.
Jin Sui was too lazy to comfort him anymore and discussed adding to Miss Yan’s dowry with Chen Yunniang.
One day, Yan Shiyi came to cry again, gesturing to Jin Sui. “Miss Yan was so small then. When we went out to play, she only let me carry her, she wouldn’t let Eldest Brother carry her.”
“That’s because your Eldest Brother was too thin, and it wasn’t comfortable to sit on his shoulders.”
“She always ran after me, calling me ‘Eldest Brother, Eldest Brother,’ but she called me ‘Love Brother, Love Brother’…”
“That’s because her speech was unclear. She was calling you ‘Second Brother’.”
“She told me everything. We’d hide things from Eldest Brother together. I’d secretly take her out to play, crying, such a little girl, how can she be getting married?
What if Han Xing bullies her? What if she can’t get used to the climate and water of Chang’an?”
Just then, Liu Yun’s letter arrived. Jin Sui, annoyed, deliberately exclaimed in the courtyard, “Heavens, what is that?”
Yan Shiyi fell for the trap and rushed out to look at the sky. “What is it?”
Jin Sui quickly ran back into the house and slammed the door shut. “Turtle, you should go home. Stop bothering me!”
Yan Shiyi: … Unfeeling and unrighteous woman!
When you get married, I bet no one will cry for you!
Liu Yun’s letter was very long, detailing his life in the Northern Frontier in great detail. Jin Sui read two pages and found it increasingly strange.
Although it was a long discourse, the words were filled with grievance and complaint.
It was almost as if he was directly writing, “Have you all forgotten about me?” “When can I return to the Border City?” “When will Master teach me Taoist arts?”
…
Jin Sui silently took out a copy of the Tao Te Ching, preparing to have it sent to Liu Yun.
Upon seeing that he mentioned King Batel agreeing to build a Taoist temple, Jin Sui was overjoyed. With Grandpa gone, she found other Taoist priests.
She excitedly asked, “Does anyone here want to go to the Northern Frontier to spread the teachings?”
As a result, the Taoist priests looked more bitter than each other, clearly not wanting to go. The Border City was about to become the capital, and Master Ling was the Empress’s grandfather. How glorious it was for them to be here.
Who would want to go to the Northern Frontier! One wrong step and they could be beheaded by the volatile Tartars.
Jin Sui didn’t force them, only asking them, “Then write a document outlining the organizational structure and operational management model for the Taoist temple. I’ll have them spread the teachings themselves in the Northern Frontier.”
Taoist priests, unlike monks, don’t need to shave their heads. Sending dozens of Taoist robes and giving them a quick training session would be enough for them to start.
Cai said that the Taoist temple in the Northern Frontier wasn’t really for spreading teachings, but for me to find petroleum, to rescue Han Slaves, to gather intelligence from the Northern Frontier, and for trade and business.
Seeing Liu Yun’s curiosity about the Flying Artifact, Jin Sui thought about it and sent him a hot air balloon. Anyway, there was no fire-resistant cotton in the Northern Frontier, and they couldn’t build compressed flame throwers, so they couldn’t replicate it even if they wanted to.
It was mainly for Liu Yun to play with. She was afraid the child would get too frustrated. If he threw a tantrum and quit, where would she find such a good source of cattle and horses?
She still couldn’t figure out why Liu Yun suddenly wanted to become a Taoist priest, to take her as his Senior Sister, and insisted on learning Taoism from her.
Unfortunately, I’m a fake Taoist nun, I really can’t teach you anything!
However, I can give you some grain-abstinence pills and penicillin, and pretend to be a Celestial Master. When Liu Yun’s name as Celestial Master resounds throughout the Northern Frontier, haha, that scene will surely be hilarious.
The items for Liu Yun were prepared and sent along with the Yan Clan’s caravan, heading to the Northern Frontier Royal Court before the winter snow arrived.
This was likely the last batch of goods going to the Royal Court this year, as the roads would be difficult to travel after the winter snow. Therefore, the merchant caravans of the Yan land gentry all carried a large amount of goods.
Those who had just arrived in the Border City were envious of the people in Chang’an! It turned out that the profit from trade between the Border City and the Northern Frontier was so high!
Prince Yu’s faction is ruining the country! They insisted on closing the trade routes from Chang’an to the Western Regions and the Northern Frontier, causing the economy of Chang’an to decline so much over the years!
Half of the officials who were imprisoned in the refugee camp had been released because they had indeed completed their tasks.
Jin Sui also gave them new tasks: either to take the refugees to the East Sea Base for resettlement or to reclaim land.
She conveyed a signal to all officials with an extremely stern attitude: the Border City does not support idlers, let alone idle officials!
If you imagine living like you do in Chang’an, attending morning court every day, and then going to listen to music, drink wine, and enjoy the scenery of the four seasons after court.
Impossible!
Even I haven’t lived such a life!
Everyone, get to work! Roll up your sleeves! A brand new court needs vitality, not old fogies who are listless and sluggish.
Besides the matters of the refugee camp, the officials who came from Chang’an did something that made her very angry. This time, the punishment was even heavier; they were directly taken by the army to perform forced labor.
This was done by the third batch of officials who came to Chang’an, because they discovered that there were no brothels or entertainment venues in the Border City!
Simply unbelievable! A prefecture city without brothels and entertainment venues, could it be considered a prosperous great prefecture city?
Without song and dance, could it still be considered a capital city?
Jiangnan’s prosperity produced lean horses, Luocheng’s prosperity produced courtesans, and Chang’an’s prosperity produced top scholars.
And the Border City actually banned brothels! It was simply inconceivable, going against the natural order!
They heard that Miss Ling had banned them, thinking that women were all like that, with narrow vision.
But they didn’t dare to openly oppose Jin Sui. Since you don’t allow brothels to be opened openly, then I’ll use my own singers and dancers to entertain friends, that should be fine, right?
At first, they only entertained friends. When they discovered that Miss Ling didn’t manage this matter, they became bolder.
Often at night, one could hear decadent music. Many officials gathered together, drinking and feasting, holding beauties and enjoying sensual dances.
Upon hearing this, Jin Sui directly ordered Cheng Yu to lead troops to raid these ‘dens’.
