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End of the Year, the Start of War
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Speaking of which, the time in between actually wasn’t long. As such, the eighty-one treasured locations naturally haven’t been selected yet, let alone starting the construction for the altars, and during this time, many things have already fermented enough.
Certain people, for the sake of preventing this matter, when unable to get what they want through Le Cheng Emperor, it was nothing more than just thinking of ways to ruin the Imperial Noble Consort’s reputation. This was the most effective and also the most malicious method. Judging from the present situation, it was still very effective. After all, for the commoners, towards matters such as this, the first thing they would think of was just forced labor. In addition to some specious remarks, they naturally just opposed even more. That’s why, this matter, for the most part, no one supported.
Le Cheng Emperor sat above the imperial court. Many court officials wanted to block this matter to begin with, so the situation among the commoners, they won’t keep from him.
With the court officials opposing, and the commoners opposing, Le Cheng Emperor’s mood was as what one would imagine. But, precisely because it was the commoners, he instead wasn’t able to punish them like with the court officials. Moreover, with this many people, some things, even if wanting to stop, all unable to stop.
In comparison, Li Hong Yuan didn’t have the slightest peculiarity at all, as if this matter didn’t have anything to do with him at all.
The previous jade pendant had been placed on Shu Consort Qin for three days. Li Hong Yuan went to see her again on time, specially arriving a bit early, personally witnessing Shu Consort Qin change to the Imperial Noble Consort.
Li Hong Yuan didn’t hide either, directly stating his purpose in coming.
For the Imperial Noble Consort to be able to once again, in the most direct way, see her son and talk with her son, she naturally was very happy. And once Li Hong Yuan stated his purpose, she was moved by everything he did for her, and tempted at being able to accompany her son in a normal manner, but in the end, she sunk into a brief silence, “Yuan’er, consort mother is very happy, but consort mother doesn’t want you to harm the innocent, especially younger sister Qin. You have to know, in the very beginning, if she had been unwilling, then consort mother wouldn’t have had a place to stay, and perhaps would’ve already disappeared thoroughly.
For consort mother to be able to exist in this kind of form, it is already more fortunate than many people. As people, we need to know how to be content. If too greedy, in the end, perhaps one would lose even more. Yuan’er consort mother wants to watch you continue on, wants to see your children be born, because consort mother had missed out on your growth, so further hoped to be able to participate in theirs, but one can’t because of this, just deprive others of hope and happiness. If consort mother is destined to be unable to see, then that is also just fate. Although regretful and also unsatisfied, it still isn’t an excuse to harm the innocent.
Regardless of what, consort mother all hope for you to be able to smoothly live out your life, safe and healthy, and most importantly, need to be happy. This is enough.”
Li Hong Yuan didn’t comment on her words, just stating, “This son understands.”
As such, the matter of ‘receiving the people’s prayers’ further can’t have any mistake.
The situation right now, Li Hong Yuan had also predicted, and already had a way to deal with. Just, right now, there was no need to hurry. Certain people spreading awareness among the people was precisely what Li Hong Yuan needed. In the end, the more people participating in this matter, the better, and naturally he was happy to let certain people help him, even saving time and energy. Towards the end, when the matter reverses, Li Hong Yuan also wants to see the entertaining expression on their faces.
On the eighth, every household and family all began cooking the laba congee[1]. The palace similar had congee to bestow. Of course, that flavor, let’s just not count on. Moreover, by the time it reaches the various families, it would already be ice-cold. After heating up again, that flavor further don’t need to be mentioned. However, every official all hoped to have such a bestowment, not for the sake of eating, but rather for the sake of that honor.
The laba congee that got sent to Jin Qinwang Manor didn’t even get tasted. Li Hong Yuan just let someone have it taken care of. To not eat their own home’s various piping hot congee that was both fragrant and glutinous, and instead eat that thing?
The things in Jin Qinwang Manor were all the best, so in this aspect, it naturally wasn’t an exception. And Jin Qinwang Manor’s chefs naturally have cuisines they were proficient in. The laba congees they cooked up also had their respective characteristics, using the best ingredients, having different flavors, but they all had a common ground, and that was just being praiseworthy.
Jing Wan tasted a bit of every kind. It was warm and satisfying. She ordered someone to send a sufficient portion to the Luo family, and compared with the ones from the palace, it certainly would be different, having taken appropriate measures to keep warm, so it won’t change in flavor. And after reaching the Luo family, the temperature would also be able to be just right, perfect for entering the mouth.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
The ones from the palace, Sir Luo didn’t eat a bite of, but the ones from Jin Qinwang Manor, he actually had two big bowls.
Of course, it can’t just be the Luo family. However, the rest, Jing Wan just wasn’t that meticulous about. Just, ever since Li Hong Yuan opened his manor until now, this was the first time sending out laba congee, so more or less was a bit rare.
It was slowly getting closer and closer to the lunar new year’s eve. Although the undercurrents were still churning, but most people were still preparing for the new year. No matter how poor, at this time, one would still be more willing to spend money than normal, let alone those upper class large families. All in all, it diluted the tense atmosphere of the imperial court. The great majority of officials expressed that they were all able to slightly relax a breath.
However, this breath didn’t relax for long. During the middle third of the twelfth lunar month, urgent news came from the northeast. The various tribes beyond Qi Yuan’s northeast border had formed an alliance and invaded. Invading Qi Yuan’s borders in the middle of winter where the snow had sealed off the mountains, the approaching momentum like a torrent, from the looks of it, it completely wasn’t the usual looting and plundering. Originally, because of the various countries’ national letters arriving in Qi Yuan’s capital at the same time on the eve of the emperor’s birthday, it had already caused everyone to have suspicions, having many guesses, and at the same time, also carrying out defensive measures. However, afterwards, although problems had occurred during the emperor’s birthday banquet, the borders were nevertheless safe and sound. More than a month had already passed. They thought that at the time, they’d thought too much, yet at this time, something like this happened!
Le Cheng Emperor was just irritable to begin with. It can be said that this year, from beginning to end, there just weren’t that many happy moments. The fortunate thing among the many misfortunes was that the northeast border town had General He watching over. With the preparations ample, there shouldn’t be any big problems.
Compared to the others, Li Hong Yuan just wasn’t that relaxed, because he knew the intensity of this battle. Even if he’d made many preparations in advance, he still wasn’t able to be a hundred percent certain that they’ll be able to turn the tides.
In this very moment, he was sitting in his study with the map spread open, and the sand table[2] to the side. He Shi Hai sat across from him with a solemn look.
“The time in which this prince has been teaching you although not long, it wasn’t short either. Do you have anything you want to say?” Li Hong Yuan although wasn’t relaxed inside, he wasn’t that worried either. Towards ‘turning the tides’, his confidence was still relatively ample. After all, what can be done, he has already all done. To still not be able to change the situation from the previous life’s, can only mean…………..
Li Hong Yuan’s gaze grew a bit dark. In a certain sense, this battle, he will only allow General He to come out victorious and won’t accept his defeat. Thinking to here, Li Hong Yuan felt that he should still do a bit more.
Although He Shi Hai was a battle addict, liking brute force, and not liking brain power, it didn’t mean that he didn’t have brains. After all, with his old man and mother placed there, his natural born conditions weren’t that lacking, in addition to Li Hong Yuan not sparing any energy in training him during this period of time, to the extent that even when not in Jin Qinwang Manor, He Shi Hai would all reflexively go learn, and when encountering something, he would also subconsciously contemplate. Additionally, towards war, he actually also possessed a kind of beast-like intuition.
[1] Laba Congee – Ceremonial rice porridge eaten on the eighth of the twelfth lunar month during the Laba Festival. Before the Qin dynasty, this festival was originally a celebration of the new harvest, hence why the porridge is usually made up of various grains, such as rice and millet, various types of beans, lotus seeds, various nuts, and dried lily or other dried fruits. After buddhism spread to China during the Southern and Northern dynasties, the date was fixed on the eighth of the twelfth lunar month, which was also the enlightenment day of Buddha. Laba literally just translates to eighth of the twelfth lunar month, La(臘) – twelfth lunar month, ba(八) – eight.
[2] In military, it’s a 3d model of the terrain made from sand and dirt used for strategic planning. They will also have little wooden models to represent the armies as well as special locations.
T/N: The war mentioned in the title is the exact one LHY has been mentioning since several chapters ago, the one that wiped out the entire He family.
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I wonder what’s the deal with Shu Consort Qin. She seems sus