"What's more, he tells me to go to the capital to sell pork, so I have to listen to him? Look at him, acting so high and mighty. Why doesn't he tell me to deliver pork legs to the emperor in the palace!"

"Dad, if you want to send it, you can also…"

"Stop talking, stop talking, you tomorrow—no, go out of the city again this afternoon and bring back a pig. We need it for the wedding, preparing the main dish ourselves.

Don't talk about going to the capital with that nonsense anymore. What kind of spell did that little Chengjue put on you? I'm telling you, when I see that little thief tomorrow, I'll teach him a lesson. Does he really think our daughter from the He family has no one to marry!"

"Dad, there's something I need to tell you."

"If you have something to say, spit it out."

"My sister, she's pregnant."

"Pregnant with what?"

He Chu pointed to his belly.

Old He's eyes instantly widened,

In a flash,

It seems the back pain and leg soreness vanished, he stood up immediately and began rummaging through boxes and cabinets.

"Dad, what are you doing, what are you doing?"

"Gathering stuff, going to the capital to sell pork!"

...

"Is it confirmed?"

"Reporting to the Emperor, it's confirmed. The sixth prince called the imperial doctors from the palace to check the pulse.

At first, they sent Doctor Luo, who upon his return requested Doctor Zhu to go as well.

It's indeed a pregnancy pulse, and the pulse is steady. That daughter from the He family has a good constitution."

Upon hearing this, the Yan Emperor set down the memorandum in his hand and placed his hands in front of him.

Wei Zhonghe seized the moment to speak:

"Congratulations to the Emperor, felicitations to the Emperor."

"Where is Cheng Jue?"

"Reporting to the Emperor, the sixth prince left the capital with the daughter of the He family this morning."

"Having confirmed the pregnancy, they still dare to move around without permission."

"Emperor, it seems the sixth prince went to Nan'an County to arrange the marriage."

Previously, due to Lord Jingnan's massacre of the Chu army at Jade Plate City, Yan and Chu relations were extremely tense, and a big war could break out at any time.

Thus, the Eldest Prince's wedding was conducted quietly, and the Crown Prince and Princess's grand wedding was postponed.

Currently, the Chu people seem not to be engaging in large-scale military actions for the time being, so the necessary tasks can proceed.

Furthermore, since the woman is already pregnant with the imperial offspring, her mother's status must be properly acknowledged.

"Was the bride price sent?"

"It was sent, the sixth prince sent someone to the Crown Prince's residence because the Emperor instructed that the bride price be arranged by the Crown Prince."

Double pork hind legs!

"It's impressive he still remembers."

He actually went to ask the Crown Prince for the pork legs.

"Did the Crown Prince give them?"

"The Crown Prince personally led the servants to procure them properly."

Upon hearing this, the Yan Emperor nodded.

"Instruct the Spy Bureau to dispatch men to guard along the way, and also send two imperial doctors from the Imperial Hospital to accompany them."

"Yes, Emperor."

Immediately,

The Yan Emperor picked up another memorandum and flipped through it,

Saying:

"Instruct Ji Wujiang to lead five thousand Northern Defense troops out of the capital and clear the trade routes as Cheng Jue suggested."

"Yes, Emperor."

"Wei Zhonghe."

"At your service."

"I'm going to be a grandfather."

...

"Your Highness, this is the detailed tax report for the past three months." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The tax official handed a booklet to Ji Chengjue.

Ji Chengjue didn't open it but returned it to the tax official.

"Complaints all around, I suppose?"

The tax official smiled bitterly: "They all say it's a fight for profit with the people."

"If we don't fight with them, we'll have to tax the common folk."

The tax official, evidently one of Ji Chengjue's own men, responded: "But, Your Highness, in Nan'an County, there aren't many caravans. But in other places, many of the large caravans are backed by nobility."

"No matter, with father around, they won't dare complain much. Though lately, they've all been quite disciplined. I can't even find a chicken to kill to make an example."

"Your Highness, if there's resentment in your heart, it's harder to handle."

"You don't need to worry about these issues, my heart has its plans. It's a pity, those talented shopkeepers under my command were all scooped up by that Zheng fellow. Snow Sea Pass over there, who knows what's going on, why so slow, those rare items from the workshops still aren't made."

"Is Your Highness waiting for Snow Sea Pass to send reinforcements?"

"Yes, but not exactly. Yan is so vast, just relying on one area for sustenance, no matter how much it produces, it's not enough. My plan is to start from the western desert, east to Snow Sea Pass, connecting Qian and Chu sequentially. Any merchant entering Yan territory must leave a slice of profit for me."

"Your Highness, I feel this approach is a bit too aggressive."

"Heh, I've only heard of starving peasants rebelling, never of merchants rising up due to high taxes. Squeeze the easy targets; if not them, then who?

If Qian and Chu merchants find the taxes heavy, fine, let Qian and Chu surrender to Yan, become our own people, then the taxes would lighten.

Once I leave, you should also depart from Nan'an County and focus on managing the ticket office matters for me."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your support."

"Alright, you can go now. I need to visit my father-in-law to deliver gifts."

"I wish Your Highness a prosperous new marriage. Miss and the old master will be comforted in the afterlife."

"Hmm."

Leaving the teahouse, Ji Chengjue wore a long gown, posing as a learned gentleman. However, due to his good looks, holding a fan, and with a pendant at his waist, he truly cut a distinguished figure.

A carriage was parked in front, with a small convoy waiting behind.

Outside the carriage stood a man in a black shirt.