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To Be This Lacking in Virtue, What Difference From a Muddled Ruler (3)
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!
The fifth month passed, and the sixth month arrived. Because of the war, even the important holidays, Le Cheng Emperor all didn’t participate in, so naturally don’t count on going to the imperial summer residence. However, the people that can go to the imperial summer residence ultimately were only a few. The great majority of people were all used to the capital’s torrid heat.
Li Hong Yuan was never one to let himself suffer, and further won’t let his wife suffer, directly just moving to the estate to stay. This time, he didn’t even ask Le Cheng Emperor for permission.
Unable to leave for the summer to avoid the heat, many people naturally all acted as such. For the other princes, because only the womenfolk headed over, there was actually no need to inform Le Cheng Emperor.
Li Hong Yuan’s two estates neighbored one another. The one they resided in for the most part didn’t receive outsiders. These outsiders even include his brothers’ wife and children, but there really weren’t many that were able to boldly visit their estate and not worry about getting ignored. The majority of people all had self-awareness, not going to receive that kind of treatment, so as to avoid embarrassing themselves.
Just, this other estate was nevertheless opened to the public. Although it wasn’t a horse racing day, the rest area was still quite delightful. To be able to have fun while avoiding the heat, it truly couldn’t be better. Previously, the focus was on the horse tracks, but now, some people even want to stay here and not leave.
Even the various incidences previously that made people become somewhat fearful of the estate, at this time, all got tossed to the back of the mind.
As such, not only were the people in the nearby estates coming over all day long, quite a few men and women, young and old, from the capital, when free, also came over for a sit. Regardless of which age group, seemingly all were able to find ways to enjoy oneself here. And from the initial deserted atmosphere, to the boiling cauldron of voices afterwards, it also only took less than half a month’s time.
Such a grand atmosphere, even Jing Wan was all somewhat surprised.
And what the flourishing popularity brought about was naturally profits pouring in from all sides. To be making piles of gold a day all wasn’t an exaggeration.
The income per day perhaps can’t compare with the days when horse races were held, but in a month, the total income absolutely will exceed three horse racing competitions by several times.
All this money made Jing Wan’s liver somewhat shake from looking.
Li Hong Yuan, after lifting his brow in a bit of surprise in the very beginning, just completely calmed down, even carrying a bit of nonchalant. “This kind of situation will only last these two three months. Once it passes, it naturally will die down, so how much money can be earned? Moreover, this is a unique place, thus it was like this. Once people secretly start to imitate, it naturally won’t be as popular anymore.”
Jing Wan laughed, “The initial goal although was to provide entertainment for people, but I also never thought of wanting to earn a lot of money, no? Money actually isn’t the most important.”
“Money of course isn’t the most important. After all, the wealth in Wan Wan’s hands, even if you squander away for ten lifetimes, can you even squander it all?”
Jing Wan lightly rolled her eyes at him, “Squander? Those gemstones, pearls, and jade stones you gathered prior to marrying, without even needing to take apart the old to make new ones, I all won’t be able to use up for several lifetimes. And for rouge, powder, and such, all can be taken from the Rouge Pavilion directly. The rest is just the material used to make clothes, but don’t you have workshops for spinning and weaving various kinds of material all over the country? How much can I use up on my own? Speaking of which, it seems only the money spent on food is a bit more, but you similarly have quite a few farmland in various regions. Thus, asking Jin Qinwang, as such and such, how can I squander money?”
Jin Qinwang propped up his chin and slightly pondered for a moment, “Unable to let one’s wife squander money, doesn’t that mean that I, this husband, still hasn’t done enough?”
Exactly was it not having done enough, or having done too much? This wasn’t deprecating oneself, but rather blatantly showing off! If said to the outside, one will just get beaten to death.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Then Wan Wan, how about, in the future, we’ll just spend money to buy from the outside?”
“You really are something.” Spending money to buy from the outside, never mind having to spend more money, the things absolutely won’t be that good. After all, those things that Jin Qinwang gathered, many all can’t be bought with money. Doing this just for the sake of accomplishing the achievement of ‘squandering money’, exactly how stupid would one have to be?
“Alright, looks like destined to be unable to let Wan Wan squander money. My wife has become the most frugal wangfei in history.”
The corner of Jing Wan’s mouth twitched, once again not wanting to speak with him. No matter how ‘frugal’ she was, it was still impossible to reach the so called ‘most’. Just based on her understanding of history, the wangyes that ended up declining in wealth due to various reasons, in the end, all needed their wangfei to secretly cut and save to help subsidize the family expenses, all hating that a single copper coin can’t split into two. Getting forced by life into such a circumstance, they can even compete with the most stingy housewives.
And the current Jin Qinwang Manor, truthfully speaking, even if the money she’s spend isn’t considered a lot, compared to the other princes’ manors, it was still very extravagant. That’s why, she really wasn’t able to be shameless like a certain someone.
“Ah Yuan, the plan targeting West Xiongnu and North Xiongnu, it’s already begun carrying out?” Jing Wan softly asked.
“En, indeed.”
“If the plan succeeds, West Xiongnu’s current situation will just have some changes?”
“Fu Yun Ting ultimately will win a few battles. Otherwise, wouldn’t he be even worse than his past life? After all, we’ve long given him support, his starting point already completely different. However, the commander of the West Xiongnu and North Xiongnu alliance is West Xiongnu’s Daxian Wang (Great Sage King). This person’s prestige in West Xiongnu is very high. Moreover, in his youth, he has lived and studied in many countries before such as Qi Yuan, Former Wei, Souther Qi, and even Cang Jin. Towards these countries, he can be said to have a deep understanding. If he long had the ambitions, then afraid at that time, he would’ve already conducted a certain degree of analysis towards the various countries’ military. He absolutely can be said to be full of strategies. Xiongnu’s army already excelled at fighting to begin with, and by having such a commander, they will inevitably become a very hard to gnaw bone.”
“That’s why, to want to beat Xiongnu, just breaking apart the alliance isn’t enough. The most crucial point is still this Daxian Wang?”
“However, this Daxian Wang isn’t without weaknesses either. After all, Xiongnu’s interior is also full of power struggles. Power, this kind of thing, no matter where, is always something enticing. There will inevitably be people that want to monopolize all the power. Once someone becomes a hinderance, they naturally will want to think of ways to eliminate, even if this person, for the country and for the people, is all very important.”
“Precisely because he’s important, that’s why, they further want to eliminate.”
“That’s right, this kind of person, unless sitting in the highest position, otherwise will always attract the most enemies, getting held back by various parties, getting obstructed on all sides.”
That’s why, what this man before her did was the best, having the power hidden deeply, but on the surface, appear willful and ostentatious, practically just ‘handling matters with a low profile, while conducting oneself with a high profile’.
Jing Wan sat on his lap, tugging his cheeks. That’s why, being able to start over again, sure enough was like having a cheat code, having all the advantages on all sides, especially given that this man’s abilities in itself were already extraordinary. If still unable to win like this, then under the heavens, there probably won’t be any winners.
Another few days passed. Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan received news regarding Su Ming Zhang. Based on the time, he should’ve already reached the place of his exile, but the person that arrived wasn’t really Su Ming Zhang, but rather someone that looked somewhat similar to Su Ming Zhang. Because the locals have never seen Su Ming Zhang before, even if having a portrait, they still never once doubted in the slightest.
“In other words, where Su Ming Zhang got switched out, no one knows?” Li Hong Yuan calmly asked.
“Wangye please forgive.” They didn’t dare to argue, “Should we immediately send people to search?”
Li Hong Yuan waved his hand, “Enough, no need to bother. Since they found someone to replace, then they must have changed his identity. With the world this big, where to go look for?”
“This matter was originally also within expectations. Having severed his path, for someone like Su Ming Zhang, it’s impossible for him to just remain silent like this. He certainly will think of ways to return. Even if it’s abandoning his identity, he also won’t hesitate.” Jing Wan’s expression was similarly indifferent, not caring that much, “Just, don’t know where he will start from.”
“It’s not like the world is in chaos, the feudal vassals dividing, so naturally there’s nothing quicker than rising through the ranks using military achievements. In Qi Yuan, it’s possible for there to be young generals, but impossible for there to be young cabinet ministers and young first rank high officials. Su Ming Zhang is already thirty some, already unable to continue taking the imperial exam path and slowly climb up step by step. Li Hong Ming also doesn’t have the time to wait. After all, Li Hong Ming needs support now. That’s why, judging from the present, the northwest is his only option.”
“Judging from the present? Could it be that there are other options? Or perhaps other places that will also break out into war?”
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