Chapter 0033: Proactive

Chapter 0033: Proactive

Qu Yunmie had lived for twenty-four years, and this was the first time he had been held in a woman's arms. ...Actually, that wasn't quite accurate, because Chen Sheyu was very short, and she had shrunk even more with age. Now, she barely reached Qu Yunmie's chest. It was more like Qu Yunmie was holding her rather than the other way around.

Qu Yunmie opened his eyes wide, revealing a look of helplessness for the first time in his life.

Xiao Rong: "..."

Initially, he had been quite nervous, but now he felt both amused and exasperated.

He hurried to Chen Sheyu's side, trying to sound cheerful. "Grandmother, I am Rong'er."

Everyone else, except Xiao Yi, had nearly been scared stiff. Hearing this, they finally reacted and rushed over, chattering away. "Yes, yes, he is your grandson!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheyu slightly loosened her grip on Qu Yunmie but still clung to his sleeve. She looked at Qu Yunmie's stiff expression before turning to Xiao Rong with confusion. "Do you also call yourself Rong'er?"

Xiao Rong sighed. "Grandmother, there is no one else named Rong'er; it's just me."

Xiao Yi didn't know who Qu Yunmie was, but he sensed that Qu Yunmie was someone not to be trifled with. He was a bit afraid of him, so he kept pulling at Chen Sheyu, urging her to look at Xiao Rong. "Grandmother, this is my elder brother!"

Chen Sheyu looked even more confused. "But he looks exactly like your grandfather..."

Xiao Yi: "..."

You really are confused, Grandmother! When my grandfather was alive, wasn't he about the same height as you?

After much commotion, Chen Sheyu finally realized she had mistaken someone for her grandson. The young man she had hesitated to recognize was indeed her grandson. For the rest of the journey, she kept staring at Xiao Rong, making him feel uneasy. It wasn't until they crossed the threshold of the marquisate that she said something that made Xiao Rong relax.

Chen Sheyu whispered to Xiao Yi, "I remember now; your elder brother looks like your aunt."

Xiao Yi nodded with a smile. "That's right, you finally remembered."

But in his heart, he thought, what aunt? You only gave birth to sons!

After accepting that her grandson looked like this, Chen Sheyu seemed delighted whenever she looked at Xiao Rong, often touching his face and lamenting how thin he had become. Xiao Rong remained silent, giving her an awkward smile. As they passed through the first corridor, Gao Xunzhi, having heard the commotion, came out to greet them.

Among their group, Gao Xunzhi was the most adept at socializing, able to communicate with people of all ages and backgrounds. He had already selected a small courtyard for them, which was originally intended for the marquisate's heir. It was spacious, with many rooms and clear pathways. The courtyard was divided into front and back sections, ensuring that visitors would not disturb the elderly lady. Gao Xunzhi asked Xiao Rong if this arrangement was acceptable, and Xiao Rong, of course, had no objections. Thus, Gao Xunzhi led them inside.

Xiao Rong should have gone in too, but he was feeling mentally exhausted and decided to rest by the rockery outside. Puffing out his cheeks, he let out a long sigh. Only then did he notice that Qu Yunmie had been watching him from the other side of the rockery.

Xiao Rong: "..."

Qu Yunmie's expression was inscrutable, making it hard to discern his intentions. Feeling uncomfortable, Xiao Rong tried to make conversation. "This is my grandmother. Please bear with her, Your Majesty."

Hearing this, Qu Yunmie raised an eyebrow. "Your King is not unreasonable."

Xiao Rong inwardly scoffed but showed no outward reaction. He simply looked away and glanced at the waterfall beside the rockery. ...There was actually a waterfall here.

No wonder when refugees stormed into the mansions of nobles, the first thing they did was kill everyone inside. Their lives were worlds apart.

Feeling refreshed, Xiao Rong straightened up and went to find Gao Xunzhi. He noticed that Qu Yunmie was still there, staring at him. Xiao Rong finally found it odd. "Why are you looking at me, Your Majesty?"

In response, Qu Yunmie smiled faintly. "So you do get scared sometimes."

Xiao Rong: "..."

Seeing Xiao Rong's surprised look, Qu Yunmie's mood improved. Without waiting for another question, he turned and walked away, his lips still curved upward.

Xiao Rong watched him go, genuinely annoyed. This time, he audibly scoffed before entering the courtyard.

Though there was only one elderly lady, she was still a female relative, so Gao Xunzhi arranged everything for them and left after instructing them to seek him if needed. Zhang Biezhi had brought Xiao Yi and Chen Sheyu, but everyone's attention had been focused on the old lady and the child, so no one noticed him following them in. After Gao Xunzhi and the guards left, the room became much emptier, and Xiao Rong noticed the stranger.

The stranger gave him a resentful look, opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Chen Sheyu fondling the bed sheets, he closed it again.

Forget it, don't cause trouble for yourself.

He then bowed to Xiao Rong and left, seemingly dejected.

Xiao Rong: "...Who is that?"

With everyone else gone, only the four of them remained in the room. It was Chen Sheyu's bedroom, and the elderly lady acted like a young girl, looking around curiously. To her, it felt like her maiden bedroom. When she married, her husband's family was still prosperous, so she had been a proper noblewoman. But within two years of marriage, her husband's family was expelled, and she never had a good life since then.

Now, she could use silk and brocade again, and the house had more than just a bed and a patched table. She was delighted, and just looking at these things kept her busy.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yi gazed at Xiao Rong expectantly. The latter paused for a moment before instructing Ah Shu. "Ah Shu, stay here with the elderly lady. I need to talk to Yi'er."

Ah Shu responded affirmatively. Ever since he saw Xiao Rong again, he had been smiling nonstop. Xiao Rong hadn't realized how much Ah Shu loved to smile.

When Xiao Yi asked Ah Shu to follow Xiao Rong, Ah Shu agreed without hesitation. Xiao Rong hadn't noticed that Ah Shu considered this journey to the Northern Pacification Army as a death trip. He had prepared himself to never return or see Xiao Yi again before leaving with Xiao Rong.

Leaving the two happy people behind, Xiao Rong took Xiao Yi to his own room.

The governor of Chenliu was watched closely by the Northern Pacification Army as he moved out. Under the watchful eyes of soldiers, he dared not take all the valuable items with him. However, everyone knew the Northern Pacification Army was not discerning, so he left behind large but worthless furniture while taking smaller, valuable items like porcelain and ornaments.

Neither the furniture nor the ornaments belonged to the governor but to the former marquis. The marquis died before Emperor Great Tranquility, and no one dared touch the imperial property. The marquisate should have belonged to the Prince of Chenliu, but Emperor Great Tranquility never granted it, leaving it abandoned. It wasn't until the fifth year of Emperor Great Tranquility's reign, when the emperor died and rebellions broke out, that the marquisate was reclaimed by powerful individuals. Over the next twenty years, it changed hands repeatedly before finally falling into Qu Yunmie's possession.

Despite all the changes, there were still so many valuable items left. Look at this—this is the coveted life of nobles.

In contrast, Qu Yunmie, as the Northern Pacification King, lived a frugal life. Xiao Rong had known he was frugal but hadn't realized how frugal until now. Well, now he understood.

The marquisate was not as large as the palace in Yanmen County, but it had over a hundred rooms, including eight reception halls spread far apart. Inside, pavilions, rockeries, and lakes dotted the landscape. The rockeries were not made of stones but were mounds of earth surrounded by lakes, with green plants and stairs leading to pavilions.

The lakes had winding bridges, and opposite was a long corridor with six doors leading to different places.

Xiao Rong wasn't sure if the marquisate violated any regulations. If it did, he could accept it. If not... building such a grand marquisate must have cost a fortune. How much more would it cost to build palaces and imperial residences?

At the time, plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum had not yet become the Four Gentlemen, but the appreciation of flowers and bamboo was already popular. Eighteen decades ago, a chaotic era began, accompanied by vibrant cultural exchanges and an awakening consciousness of individuality. Five-character poems flourished, seven-character poems emerged, and masterpieces abounded. Influential writers easily guided the lifestyle of an entire era. In the past, people valued status and hierarchy, but now they valued reputation and elegance.

This might seem insignificant, but in reality, the rules of life multiplied and had to be followed. Feudal rulers imposed numerous rules, such as only the emperor being allowed to live in a nine-by-five residence, to distinguish the royal family from ordinary nobles. After the rise of the scholar class, they added more requirements to differentiate scholars from commoners. For example, scholars loved bamboo, so homes had to have bamboo. If someone didn't have bamboo, it meant they were illiterate and uncouth.

Including the placement of decorative items, what to place and how to arrange them also represent a pursuit of art. When everyone else is doing it, you cannot be eccentric. After all, neither Qu Yunmie nor Xiao Rong has a reputation so great that they have unconditional followers. The cohesion among the scholarly class surpasses everyone's imagination. If you are not one of them, you cannot propose new ideas or change their behavior.

Xiao Rong's principle is that when he cannot fight back, he will join first. Infiltrating the enemy and dismantling them from within is also a good strategy. ...

After passing through a short corridor, Xiao Rong returned to his room. He casually glanced at the furnishings inside before turning around to look at Xiao Yi, whom he had not seen in a long time.

Xiao Yi is now fourteen, about the same age as Ah Shu, but three months younger by birth month. As for height, he is shorter than Ah Shu, currently standing at only six feet six inches, making him appear slightly shorter.

Regarding his appearance, Xiao Rong finds it hard to describe. He always feels that Xiao Yi looks like a scholar. Although his family background is not good, his demeanor is that of a noble scholar. When he does not smile or speak, he exudes a natural aloofness, as if he is above others. Despite his young age, he gives off an air of having read books all his life, making people subconsciously accept his superiority and treat him with respect.

These feelings would become clearer to Xiao Rong if he met more members of high-ranking families. This is what a scion of a noble family looks like, cultivated over generations, changing even their facial features. Of course, no matter how much these faces change, their essence remains the same. Not everyone is as kind-hearted as Xiao Yi; some may look more refined but secretly do terrible things.

Strangely, whenever Xiao Rong thought of Xiao Yi on the way to Chenliu, he felt nervous. Now that they were face-to-face, Xiao Rong felt relieved.

He asked, "Has anyone given you trouble these past few months?"

Xiao Yi shook his head: "No, I don't cause trouble, so no one causes trouble for me. El—Elder Brother..."

When he said this title, Xiao Yi stuttered. Xiao Rong was silent for a moment before interrupting him: "From now on, just call me Big Brother."

In those times, "Elder Brother" usually referred to a biological older brother, while "Big Brother" was used for sworn brothers or in large families. However, if mixed up, no one would say anything.

Hearing this, Xiao Yi felt a pang in his heart. He understood Xiao Rong's meaning: Elder Brother is Elder Brother, Big Brother is Big Brother. Even though he recognized Xiao Rong as his Big Brother, it did not mean he had to forget his original Big Brother.

Xiao Yi sniffled, a dimple appearing on his face: "Okay, Big Brother. Is your health better? I heard from Ah Shu that you coughed up blood?"

Xiao Rong: "..."

Why bring up the sore point?

Xiao Rong waved his hand: "It's nothing, just minor issues. I know my own body. Others make a big fuss, but there's really nothing wrong."

Xiao Yi: "..."

He did not quite believe it, but there were many unusual things about Xiao Rong. Xiao Yi secretly guessed that he might be a disciple of a reclusive master who came down the mountain to save the world during these turbulent times.

That master... might even be a deity.

Thinking about it, Xiao Yi looked at Xiao Rong with admiration, his face full of reverence, which made Xiao Rong feel strange.

Shaken, Xiao Yi blushed instantly and started stuttering again: "B-Big Brother, I've completed the task you gave me. When we arrived in Liyang, the scholars there were already talking about it." Xiao Rong raised an eyebrow.

Liyang is only a hundred miles from Jinling, so close that if Liyang knew, Jinling definitely knew too.

Thinking of the Southern Yong court's reaction, Xiao Rong chuckled and praised Xiao Yi: "Good job. I trusted you with this task because I believed in you."

Xiao Yi was dazed by the praise and lowered his head shyly.

Xiao Rong pressed on: "I assume you haven't neglected your studies during this time. The anthology must be completed before the King departs. When it opens, Yi Er, why not participate?"

Xiao Yi was stunned and waved his hands: "This anthology is a grand literary event! I haven't read enough books to go and embarrass the Xiao family and you, Big Brother!"

Xiao Rong: "..."

If you lose, it's due to lack of knowledge, not embarrassing me.

After a pause, he said: "Precisely because it's a grand literary event, you must participate. This event is organized by the Northern Pacification King, planned by me, and overseen by Prime Minister Gao. We want to showcase the talents of Southern Yong's scholars, but we can't let them take all the limelight. Besides, there must be both winners and losers. If there are no outstanding scholars under the Northern Pacification King, and it's just internal competition, what's the point? Yi Er, do you understand what 'packaging' means? We need a genius, someone Southern Yong's scholars will hate so much they won't want to leave, wanting to debate with them every day."

Xiao Yi: "............"

His expression turned fearful: "But Big Brother, I'm not a genius!"

Xiao Rong smiled: "If you're not a real one now, then pretend to be one. Study hard every day and strive to become one soon. The King's library has many books and collected bamboo slips. I've already spoken to the King, and you can read them freely. Master them, and you'll surpass most scholars. Don't worry about the remaining few; after all, you're my little brother, and I won't let you suffer."

Xiao Yi stared at him blankly, not understanding: "Big Brother means—"

Xiao Rong smiled gently: "The anthology will open around mid-June, giving us a month and a half. I'll give you the three questions, and you must write satisfactory answers within this time."

Xiao Yi was shocked and blurted out: "Big Brother wants me to cheat?!"

Xiao Rong: "..."

He retorted unhappily: "This isn't cheating. Cheating is when you get a prize unfairly. But we both know you're young and inexperienced. Even with a month and a half, you can't write a winning essay. You won't get the ten thousand gold coins, and honestly, I don't expect you to place in the top ten."

Xiao Yi: "..."

This harsh truth hurt his heart.

Xiao Rong continued: "I want you to participate to set an example. Your age will compensate for your lack of skill, and people will be more lenient. Seeing a fourteen-year-old write such an essay will motivate others. This will boost your reputation and help you find a great teacher."

Xiao Yi hesitated: "But, that's not my true ability..."

Xiao Rong raised an eyebrow: "Why not? Even if it takes longer, every word is written by you. No one will help you. You think it's unfair, but the anthology is inherently unfair. The gap between noble and commoner scholars is vast. True fairness starts at birth. Also, this anthology aims to attract talented scholars and identify true aspirants. Being recognized by others doesn't guarantee recognition by the King. The most prominent in the anthology may not succeed in the future."

Pausing, Xiao Rong looked at the stunned Xiao Yi and sighed softly: "Yi Er, this anthology isn't for you but to give others a chance. If your essay inspires many to participate, you're helping them. They don't believe the King is recruiting scholars and miss opportunities. How often does one get such a chance in life? Can you bear watching them miss it?"

Xiao Yi felt as if struck by lightning. After a moment, his face showed "I understand."

He looked at Xiao Rong enlightened: "Big Brother is right! Yi Er was shortsighted. Yi Er will not disappoint Big Brother's expectations!"

Xiao Rong looked at him moved: "Good boy, go study."

Xiao Yi: "Yes!"

He turned and ran, eager to dive into his studies.

Xiao Rong crossed his fingers, satisfied, thinking it was good to have a cheap little brother. This child is so easy to deceive.

Xiao Yi didn't realize that Xiao Rong had not addressed his concerns, instead shifting the focus elsewhere and successfully convincing Xiao Yi to follow along.

Xiao Rong was in a good mood and wanted to have some tea, but he found that there was no teapot in the room. After a moment of silence, Xiao Rong remembered that his bags had not been brought in yet, so he went out to look for them.

Living in a larger place with more people meant there were more things to do. Fortunately, Xiao Rong had several guards dedicated to protecting him, and sometimes they also served as attendants.

After unpacking everything and taking a nap, he got up to have a meal. By the time it was dark, everyone gathered together for a meeting.

The matter of compiling the anthology could be put off for a bit longer since they hadn't even met the wealthy families and the three elders in the city yet, let alone discuss how to compile the anthology.

Currently, they were discussing their arrival in the city. Everyone sat together, offering suggestions freely, as there weren't many people, so formalities weren't necessary.

After Gao Xunzhi finished speaking, Xiao Rong raised an issue: "Your Majesty, what will the army outside the city be doing these days?"

Qu Yunmie paused slightly: "Setting up camp, and then conducting daily drills."

Xiao Rong nodded: "Could we allocate another five thousand men?"

Everyone looked at Xiao Rong.

Qu Yunmie asked in confusion: "Who do you want to fight?"

Xiao Rong: "..."

Assigning troops doesn't necessarily mean going to war, can't you think of anything other than fighting, you brute!

Xiao Rong silently swallowed his complaint and smiled at Qu Yunmie: "Not to fight anyone, but our arrival has caused some inconvenience to the citizens. I thought about assigning a few thousand men to help the citizens, like repairing houses, digging wells for easy access to water, or helping them harvest vegetables from their fields. Oh, just harvesting! No taking their things!"

Qu Yunmie: "..."

He knew that!

Gao Xunzhi reacted first and slapped his thigh: "Good idea! Other armies harass the citizens, but our Northern Pacification Army not only avoids harassment but also helps solve their problems. However, the soldiers might grumble a bit."

Xiao Rong smiled: "That's why we should choose some diligent soldiers who can focus on the work without needing to be overly talkative with the citizens. Besides, after a few days, they'll realize the benefits and might even compete to do the work."

Xiao Rong smiled like a fox, but others didn't understand what he meant. Work is just work; who would want to compete for such tiring tasks?

Yu Shaoxie seemed to grasp his intention and was about to ask something when a guard suddenly burst in from outside.

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, a person has arrived from outside the city, claiming to be the Governor of Jianning, Huang Yanjiong, saying he has come to meet Your Majesty upon Your Majesty's invitation!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. They had heard about Huang Yanjiong coming, and they knew it was Xiao Rong's idea.

They looked at Xiao Rong, but he was also surprised because he didn't expect Huang Yanjiong to arrive so quickly... so eagerly? That's unusual.