Chapter 1107: Returning to the Imperial Court

Qi Xiuyuan looked at his brother carefully and asked seriously, “Have you gained weight?”

His cheeks, which had slimmed down because of the war and his getting injured, were now bulging. It was obvious that he had gained a fair bit of weight, so much so that he now looked similar to back when he still had baby fat.

Qi Haoran looked at his obviously thin big brother and cousin and coughed lightly. He complained guiltily, “Ah Ling always makes me drink soup and doesn’t allow me to get out of bed. That’s why I’ve gotten so fat…”

Fan Zijin sized him up for a moment and said sourly, “I thought you still couldn’t get off the bed. I didn’t expect you to be so energetic.”

Mu Yangling said something in fairness. “It’s been almost 50 days and his wound healed quickly. The imperial physician said that as long as he doesn’t exercise intensely, he’ll be fine.”

Qi Haoran nodded repeatedly. “That’s why Ah Ling doesn’t even let me go out.”

At this point, Qi Haoran really felt a little aggrieved. He had never been someone who could sit still. If not for Mu Yangling accompanying him, he would have run outside long ago.

Although the two of them were a little jealous that he had so much leisure time, they were sincerely happy that his recovery had gone well.

Upon summoning the imperial physician, Qi Xiuyuan was told that Qi Haoran could travel as long as he was careful. Having seen Qi Haoran’s lively appearance with his own eyes, he no longer worried and ordered to set off.

Qi Xiuyuan returned to the imperial capital directly, but Qi Haoran’s family parted ways from them in Jinan Prefecture and went to Jingzhao Prefecture by sea.

One of the reasons Mu Yangling followed Qi Haoran to the war was so that she could go home to take a look. However, because they were in charge of the central route’s battlefield at that time, she hadn’t had the chance to go back. Now that Qi Haoran was injured and would be recuperating when he returned to the capital anyway, Qi Xiuyuan assigned him two imperial physicians and gave him a break.

Little Bear had never been to his maternal grandfather’s house before, so he was eager to tag along. Hence, the family took a boat from Jinan to the west. Halfway through, they switched to a carriage and circled around for nearly half a month before finally arriving at Jingzhao Prefecture.

Qi Haoran lifted the curtain and looked up at the city wall of the Imperial Capital. Then, he turned around and said to Mu Yangling, “We’re finally back.”

Mu Yangling looked at the towering city wall in front of her and felt a little complicated. After a while, she said, “Since we’re going to stay in Jingzhao Prefecture tonight, where should we spend the night?”

“Let’s just go to the General’s Residence.” Qi Haoran said, “Big Brother’s residence has been maintained and he has also sent someone to guard and clean it. We’ll stay there for a night before heading to Xingzhou Prefecture through Hanzhong Prefecture tomorrow.”

Mu Yangling looked at his chest. “With your injury, should we take it easy? Why don’t we stay in Jingzhao Prefecture for two more days?”

“Forget it.” Qi Haoran said disdainfully, “My wound has already healed. Only you and the imperial physician told me that I have to take medicine since I injured a vital spot. I already take enough medicine. If we stop and rest, won’t I have to take more medicine?”

Actually, Qi Haoran really felt that he had recovered, but the imperial physicians were very careful. Mu Yangling also felt that it was very dangerous for him since he almost injured his heart, so during this period of time, she never stopped feeding him medicine. Although it had already changed from morning and night to once a day, he still found it intolerable.

Fortunately, they were about to reach Xingzhou Prefecture. When Qi Haoran thought of his mother-in-law’s culinary skills, he drooled. He said eagerly, “Let’s just continue on our way. The earlier we reach, the sooner I’ll get to rest. We’ll head to Xingzhou Prefecture tomorrow morning.”

This being his first time in Jingzhao Prefecture, Little Bear looked around curiously as he rode on a horse and guarded the carriage. He had heard from his father that he used to be a Little General here, and that his parents were married here. Thus, he couldn’t help but gaze around curiously.

The Jingzhao Prefecture was filled with joy. Firstly, Great Qi had won a huge victory and taken back the territory that had been occupied by Great Jin. Since Jingzhao Prefecture was no longer the border now, the commoners would finally be spared the fate of being beaten up. Every time the commoners thought of this, they would cry tears of joy and wish they could celebrate with firecrackers.

Secondly, although there were occasional natural disasters this year, the harvest was considered decent. Now that the autumn harvest had already begun, everyone wore the joy of an abundant harvest on their faces.

The people on the street had happy smiles on their faces, looking harmonious. Little Bear couldn’t help but smile when he saw this. Therefore, when he walked around the street and saw the commotion in front, Little Bear couldn’t help but take a few more glances and prick up his ears.

“Let me tell you, I’m only patronizing your eatery because I think highly of you. Why don’t you open your eyes and see who I am? I guard the residence for His Majesty. Be careful that I’ll send him a memorial to have your three generations killed!”

Little Bear’s expression changed and he reined in his horse. Seeing this, the coachman beside him hurriedly stopped the carriage, too. The group of five carriages stopped in the middle of the road, but everyone’s attention was attracted by the commotion over there, so not many people looked at the five carriages.

In the carriage, Qi Haoran, who was a little groggy after taking the medicine, woke up from the jolt. He opened his blurry eyes and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Having also vaguely heard some movement, Mu Yangling patted his hand and said, “It’s fine. Little Bear wants to watch the show.”

Mu Yangling comforted him. Seeing that he had fallen asleep again, she lifted the curtain and said to Little Bear, “Go take a look with Xiao Lou and two guards. Your father and I will go back first.”

Little Bear was rubbing his fists and nodded when he heard this. Mu Yangling reminded him, “It’s best if you can get the shopkeeper to sue him in the government office and see how the magistrate judges him.”

At this reminder, Little Bear replied happily, “Mother, I understand what to do.”

Little Bear decided not to ride anymore. He got off the horse and pulled Xiao Lou into the crowd. Shocked, the two guards accompanying him hurriedly pushed through the crowd to follow.

The shopkeeper who was surrounded in the middle was kneeling on the ground and pleading with someone dressed in silk and satin. Before Little Bear came, he had heard from his parents that his Royal Uncle had asked Zhu Quan’s family to stay behind to guard the residence. Zhu Quan and the head steward of the family, Zhu Liang, were cousins. It was said that his father, Zhu De, and Head Chief Zhu, who was in charge of Royal Uncle’s inner treasury, were biological brothers. They were servants that his deceased grandmother had left for Royal Uncle and his father, and were considered loyal. He narrowed his eyes and sized up this person dressed in silk and satin, but he did not find any similarities between him and Zhu Liang. He whispered to the surrounding commoners, “Who is this person? He’s so domineering.”

The person he asked glanced at Little Bear. Seeing that he was young, he lowered his voice and said, “You’re an outsider? No wonder you don’t know. That’s Head Chief Zhu’s son-in-law, Wang Ping. In the past, he was just a bumpkin like us. Later, when His Majesty became the Emperor, his social status greatly elevated by virtue of the fact that he was married to Head Chief Zhu’s daughter.”

“Is Head Chief Zhu the person-in-charge of the Emperor’s inner treasury?”

“Geez, it’d be even worse if it’s that person! It’s the one guarding the residence where the Emperor lived before he ascended the throne. The Emperor trusts them and handed his previous residence to their family to manage.”

“But aren’t they ruining His Majesty’s reputation by snatching the commoners’ wealth like this? Doesn’t the local government office interfere?”

“Interfere? How can they do that? Being so far away, how can His Majesty possibly know? Head Chief Zhu’s brother is the Emperor’s chief steward, and his nephew is Prince Rong’s chief steward. A letter from him can make the magistrate lose his head. Who’d dare to interfere?”

Little Bear was so angry that his face turned red when he saw that his family was also implicated.

When the people beside him saw this, they thought that he had come to defend the victim against injustice, so they patted his shoulder and said, “Young pal, don’t be too angry. Actually, this Emperor is considered good. Although this Zhu family is a little overboard, they’re still much better than the corrupt officials of the previous dynasty. Don’t cause trouble on impulse.”

Hearing this, Little Bear was even angrier. Is it good just because it wasn’t worse than the previous dynasty?

He glanced coldly at Wang Ping in the crowd and gave Xiao Lou a look, indicating for him to go forward and urge the shopkeeper to report Wang Ping to the government office.

At this moment, Mu Yangling’s carriage had just arrived at the General’s Residence.