Chapter 103 Dropped The lon
That afternoon, Ning Wang received two baskets of honeydew lons sent by the Imperial Household Departnt.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince said that since you like eating honeydew lons, you should finish these two baskets and not waste the Crown Prince’s thoughtful gesture,” the leading eunuch smiled and said, “The Crown Prince also said that as long as you like them, any kind of lon that appears in the future will be sent to you first.”
Ning Wang looked at the two baskets of lons, and his calves trembled slightly.
“Please express my gratitude to His Royal Highness,” Ning Wang instructed his attendants to bring the two baskets of lons into his courtyard and let out a long sigh. Although he enjoyed eating lons, this ti he truly had no interest.
So many lons, how could he finish them all?
With the Crown Prince’s pettiness, if he found out that Ning Wang had distributed these lons to his attendants, he might have the Imperial Household Departnt deliver four more baskets of lons and even assign soone to watch him finish eating them.
“Soone, bring the clothes Benwang wears when going out.”
Upon hearing the words “going out”, Ning Wang‘s attending eunuch felt a bit troubled and hesitated, “Your Highness, Consort Rong has said that she doesn’t want you to do those things anymore.”
“I’m useless in literature and incapable in martial arts, unable to do anything. Can’t I have a few hobbies?” He impatiently waved his hand and said, “Go, go, hurry up.”
The attending eunuch felt bitter in his heart. While others’ hobbies involved composing poems or painting, his master had a rather unique one—he liked wearing simple clothes, mingling in the market, and selling things as a vendor. When he had nothing to do, he enjoyed “eating lons” with elderly vegetable sellers.
Consort Rong had scolded and even punished him, but his master couldn’t change this habit.
The servants had no choice but to change into coarse clothes and pretend to be vendors, setting up their stall alongside Ning Wang to ensure his safety.
Ning Wang placed a small stool on the ground and skillfully greeted the nearby vendors.
“Wang LaoEr*, you haven’t been seen in the market for a long ti. Has your family struck it rich?” a vegetable seller next to him pointed at the sky, “It’s already afternoon, you won’t make much money setting up a stall now.”
[*Lao Er here ans Old Second. Wang is the surna. Ning Wang is masquerading himself as this imaginary Wang family’s imaginary second son.]
“Recently, my younger brother married a wealthy wife. Our family has beco prosperous,” Ning Wang put his hands into his sleeves and said proudly, “My sister-in-law is particularly good to . She bought a big estate for our whole family to live in. But I can’t stay idle and miss you all, so I ca out to set up the stall and pass the ti.”
“Oh, that’s great,” the vegetable seller selling bamboo shoots said enviously, “If I were you, I would just stay at ho as a young master and not bother selling vegetables.”
“Do what one loves,” Ning Wang neatly arranged the honeydew lons, “Is there any interesting news lately? Tell about it.”
“I don’t think you are here to sell vegetables. You must be bored at ho and ca to chat with us,” the couple selling fish next to him laughed and said, “You know what, there’s been so much fresh news recently.”
Ning Wang, masquerading as Wang LaoEr, was very popular in the market. Firstly, he never competed with other vendors for the business. Secondly, the stalls he purchased were often left unused, and he didn’t mind others borrowing them. Thirdly, whatever he couldn’t sell, he would give away to everyone, showing great generosity.
The most important thing was that when people talked gossip with him, he listened attentively, giving the gossiper a great sense of accomplishnt.
As soon as Ning Wang asked, everyone started chatting animatedly. With few custors in the market in the afternoon, they were all bored and enjoyed chatting to pass the ti.
Thus, they discussed husbands who were cheating on their wives behind their backs, and mothers-in-law mistreating daughters-in-law, causing them to consider divorce.
The most exciting story was about soone’s son who turned out to be from another family. Ning Wang listened with great interest and imdiately shared a few lons with everyone, encouraging them to eat and continue sharing stories.
“I recently heard a small piece of news, but don’t spread it outside. It’s related to a noble in the palace, and if it gets out, heads will roll,” the bamboo shoot seller said mysteriously, arousing everyone’s curiosity.
Ning Wang‘s guards, disguised as vendors, had a change in their expressions. Ning Wang handed another piece of lon to the vegetable seller and said, “Quickly tell us. We are ordinary commoners, and even if we were to spread it, the nobles wouldn’t listen to us.”
“You can boast all you want. As a bamboo shoot seller, how would you know about noble affairs?” the fish-selling woman scoffed, “I think you just want to trick Wang LaoEr into sharing his lon with you.”
The bamboo shoot seller beca unhappy and imdiately retorted, “Do you know the princess?”
“Of course, she’s the Emperor’s daughter, right?”
“The Emperor’s sister, she’s also a princess,” the bamboo shoot vendor said, “I have a relative who sells spices. A few nights ago, he saw a person in black jumping around inside this princess’s estate. That person in black seed tall and moved very quickly, disappearing in the blink of an eye.”
“Oh!” The vendors suddenly beca excited, “Could that be the princess’s…”
The common people at the bottom of society usually had few sources of entertainnt. When they heard any slight movent in soone’s household, it beca the topic of their conversations over tea and als. If it involved nobles, they beca even more interested.
“I heard that the princess’s Fuma used to be a famously handso man in the capital. Who would have thought he would end up wearing a green hat?” After imagining how the princess secretly t with a young man, the conversation turned increasingly vulgar, “Isn’t her Fuma a scholar? How could he tolerate such a thing?”
Seeing the conversation turning distasteful, Ning Wang quickly interjected, “Don’t make baseless guesses. Perhaps it’s just a petty thief trying to break into the princess’s estate?”
“Which thief would enter through the side entrance?” the bamboo shoot vendor confird, “There’s definitely sothing fishy going on.”
Ning Wang‘s mind was filled with endless speculation, but he maintained a smile and nodded, “You make a good point.”
“And my relative saw it more than once,” the bamboo shoot vendor continued mysteriously, “But he said that yesterday afternoon, the person in black was captured by the Ministry of Justice. Maybe the scholar Fuma found out that he was being cuckolded by the princess but couldn’t vent his anger on her, so he had the adulterer captured.”
“You an, the adulterer was captured by the Ministry of Justice yesterday afternoon?” Ning Wang was so startled that he dropped the lon in his hand.
“How can it be false?” the bamboo shoot vendor said, “My relative had a deep impression of that adulterer. When the Ministry of Justice captured him, he recognized him at first glance. But that adulterer looks quite ordinary. I don’t know what the princess saw in him. Could it be that the Fuma… isn’t capable enough?”
Ning Wang didn’t care whether the Fuma was capable or not, his heart was in turmoil. He couldn’t even focus on his usual interest in gossiping about family affairs. He found an excuse to leave the market, went ho, changed his clothes, and rushed to Chenyang Palace.
Inside the Chengyang Palace, Emperor Changlong was reading a confidential report.
“The Daimao Crown Prince has passed away,” Emperor Changlong handed the report to the Crown Prince, “Zhen rembers that the Third Prince of Daimao was also born to the Empress?”
“Yes, both He Yuanting and the Crown Prince were born to the Empress. With the Daimao Crown Prince’s death, he is the only legitimate son,” the Crown Prince looked over the confidential report. The Daimao Crown Prince had died half a month ago, but did He Yuanting, who remained in the capital of Great Jin, know about it?
If he did, his reaction was surprisingly calm.
In the Crown Prince’s impression, He Yuanting was a lukewarm prince. Aside from having a sowhat attractive appearance, he had almost no outstanding qualities. If he didn’t speak, no one would notice him.
“Father Emperor, didn’t we invite the Jinpo envoys to be our guests?” The Crown Prince placed a confidential report on the table and calmly said, “As the hosts, we shouldn’t treat our guests differently. So, let’s also let the Daimao envoys stay in the capital for another month.”
Emperor Changlong jokingly scolded, “Are you trying to infuriate the Third Prince of Daimao?”
“Erchen has good intentions in hosting them. How could that infuriate him?” the Crown Prince smiled, “So ti ago, the Kingdom of Daimao envoys were clamoring for an audience with us. It’s no big deal if we et them once every three to five days for the next month.”
“You make a valid point. Do as you wish,” Emperor Changlong knew that the Crown Prince wanted to delay He Yuanting’s departure to investigate recent events. He had no intention of interfering with his plan.
“Your Majesty, Ning Wang seeks an audience.”
“Announce him,” Emperor Changlong sighed. His second son rarely sought him out unless he wanted sothing or had run out of money.
He never had a steady occupation—never excelled at anything, wasted everything he had.
“Father Emperor,” Ning Wang entered the hall and, seeing the Crown Prince present, quickly recounted what he had heard, adding, “Erchen suspects there’s sothing wrong with Xie Fuma.”
“Where is this vendor selling bamboo shoots? Did you investigate this relative of the vendor?” Emperor Changlong’s expression changed slightly, even his posture.
“The bamboo shoot vendor is, of course, at the vegetable market,” Ning Wang looked at his father perplexed, wondering why he would ask such a foolish question.
Emperor Changlong took a deep breath, reminding himself that this was his biological son and he couldn’t scold or hit him. He had no one else to vent his anger on and he had to remain calm and restrained.
“Find that bamboo shoot vendor at the vegetable market imdiately and protect him and his relatives,” the Crown Prince, seeing his father too angry to speak, rose and called the Golden Armor Guards at the door, “Hurry and do it without delay. Also, try to conceal your actions and not alert anyone.”
“Yes!” The Golden Armor Guards took their orders and left.
Emperor Changlong felt slightly calr after the Crown Prince’s instructions. It was fortunate that he had a clear-headed son; otherwise, he might have been driven to an early grave by anger.
When the Crown Prince returned, Ning Wang cautiously said, “Third Brother, thanks to the lons you sent, Benwang was able to learn about this news.”
“What do the lons have to do with what you heard from the vendor?” Emperor Changlong looked at Ning Wang suspiciously, “What were you doing?”
The Crown Prince glanced at his second brother, who was acting evasive, and smiled as he gracefully lifted a teacup and took a sip, appearing like an elegant young noble untouched by worldly matters.
“Father Emperor, I… I…” Ning Wang couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Emperor Changlong no longer paid him any attention and called in Ning Wang‘s attendant eunuch, “You, tell Zhen, what has your master been doing recently?!”
The attendant eunuch was frightened by the sight of Emperor Changlong and his legs turned weak. However, he didn’t dare to betray his master. Trembling like grass in the cold wind, he remained silent.
“Father Emperor,” tired of seeing this trembling display from both master and servant, the Crown Prince lazily spoke up, “Second Brother is usually cautious and won’t cause any major trouble. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have gotten this significant evidence. Considering his contributions this ti, please don’t punish him.”
Emperor Changlong took a deep breath. He didn’t want to punish his second son in front of his third son, so he said, “Stop idling around and do so aningful work. Starting tomorrow, you will go to the Ministry of Works to learn how to be productive. They are currently busy with the selection and cultivation of grain seeds, so you’ll accompany them.”
For Ning Wang, this news was nothing short of a thunderbolt on a sunny day. He imdiately pleaded, “Does Father Emperor think Erchen is the type of person who can do aningful work? For the sake of the esteed officials at the Ministry of Works, please rescind your command.”
Emperor Changlong: “…”
What sins had he committed in his past life to have such a son?
With a resounding roar from his father, Ning Wang, who was given a task at the Ministry of Works, left the Chenyang Palace in tears. His sorrowful and lonely figure was like a commoration of his vanished carefree life.
“Father Emperor, please calm down,” the Crown Prince changed Emperor Changlong’s tea, “It’s getting late, and Erchen was thinking…”
“Don’t think about anything. Don’t go anywhere until the morials are finished,” Emperor Changlong said coldly and rcilessly, “Zhen helped you matchmake your marriage since you were shaless enough to ask for it. You even took the jewelry and gemstones from the private treasury to the Eastern Palace. What more do you want?”
The Crown Prince smiled and said, “Erchen was thinking Father Emperor might be hungry by now. Would Father Emperor like so dinner?”
Emperor Changlong: “…”
His son cared about his well-being but he got angry at him. Thinking about this, Emperor Changlong felt sowhat guilty. His tone softened, and he asked Zhao Sancai to prepare dinner.
After finishing dinner, the Crown Prince continued to smile and said, “Father Emperor, in a few days, the Hundred Nations Banquet will be over, and soon it will be sumr. After sumr passes, winter will co.”
“What are you trying to say?” After the al, Emperor Changlong’s mood stabilized.
As a weary old father, he had grown accustod to his sons’ behavior and had plenty of experience in calming himself.
“Doesn’t Father Emperor think it’s ti for you to urge the Astronomical Bureau to calculate an auspicious wedding date so that Erchen can marry Fushou Junzhu?” the Crown Prince asked.
“Didn’t you visit the Astronomical Bureau in recent days?” Emperor Changlong sighed. He knew that his third son had suddenly beco so patient because he wanted sothing.
“Without Father Emperor’s command, they have beco lax in their work,” the Crown Prince said, “Erchen thinks August would be a good ti—it’s neither too cold nor too hot.”
Emperor Changlong nodded helplessly, “Zhen will discuss this matter with General Hua and General Wei.”
“Thank you, Father Emperor,” the Crown Prince achieved his goal and obediently sat in a chair, helping Emperor Changlong finish reading the morials.
“Father Emperor, it’s late at night. Father Emperor should return to the palace and rest,” the Crown Prince put down his brush and rubbed his hands together, “Erchen heard that the envoys from various countries have brought many beautiful gemstones. Erchen wants to make a few sets of gemstone clothes for my wife. What does Father Emperor think?”
“Get lost!”
What sins had he committed in his past life to have such shaless children in this life?
“Thank you, Father Emperor. Erchen will be off to choose the gemstones,” the Crown Prince, the biggest freeloader in Great Jin, smiled and walked towards Emperor Changlong’s private treasury.
Emperor Changlong: “…”
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