Chapter 20 Nonsense

Prince Jian had been suffering from Wind-cold since the beginning of the year, and his condition lingered without improvement. Confined to his bed for three months now, his advanced age had left him with diminished vitality. After the imperial physicians subtly hinted at his prognosis, Prince Jian came to terms with the fact that his days were numbered.

Fortunately, his heir Yaerjiang’a was already in his twenties, ensuring the Prince Jian’s household wouldn’t be left without a pillar after his passing. The old prince had already handed over his affairs and was peacefully recuperating, enjoying a period of tranquility—until just moments ago, when a sudden commotion erupted through the mansion, as piercing and eerie as the wails of ghosts!

Prince Jian jolted awake from his daze. Before his attendants could even step out to investigate, someone knelt outside, wailing loudly, “Your Highness, save us! Save our heir! The Crown Prince… the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince…”

How was the Crown Prince involved?

Suppressing his dizziness, the old prince summoned the person inside for an explanation. After hearing only a rough account, he nearly fainted from rage—Pests of the Nation? What vile deeds had Yaerjiang’a committed?!

If such a plaque were to be hung, how could the Prince Jian’s household ever show their faces in public again?!

“You unfilial wretch! You unfilial wretch!” The old prince struggled to his feet, pointing at his heir’s nose and berating him with growing fury, his anger revitalizing him. “How dare you offend the imperial family? Who gave you the audacity?!”

Yaerjiang’a hadn’t expected his father to be roused by this matter. He shook his head repeatedly, his face ashen, too stunned to defend himself. Trembling, he pointed outside—

When the old prince looked up, he nearly choked on his breath. There stood the Crown Prince himself, holding tools, while the Fourth Prince calmly steadied a ladder. Beside them was an exceptionally handsome young boy, and the glaring, blood-pressure-spiking plaque with its enormous characters.

Hong Yan, having finished directing his father and uncle, continued ordering He Zhuer, Su Peisheng, and Sanxi, who followed him closely: “The ladder isn’t tall enough—go buy another from the sundry shop. Remember, the plaque must be aligned at the right angle…”

The Crown Prince knew Hong Yan was putting on an act—after all, the plaque was fake, and hanging it for real would be disastrous. Yet, contrary to his usual demeanor, he didn’t scold or stop him. Instead, he played along with his son’s script, smiling approvingly. “Quite right.”

Yinzhen, however, was more inclined to teach Yaerjiang’a a lesson, his phoenix eyes icy with severity. Su Peisheng stammered in agreement and began the task with a sense of doom. Before long, an aged voice called out from nearby, “Your Highness, Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, I beg your forgiveness!”

The old prince had already wrung the full story from Yaerjiang’a and wished he could faint on the spot.

Unwilling to part with five hundred thousand taels, the fool had even dared to demand repayment of a favor. How could the Crown Prince, tasked with collecting the debt, tolerate such arrogance?

And this plaque—had the Emperor… had the Emperor learned of his heir’s schemes?!

The Prince Jian’s household relied entirely on imperial favor and could not afford defiance. The more the old prince thought, the more terrified he became. Trembling, he bowed deeply. “My unfilial son has behaved disgracefully, even offending the Young Master. This is entirely due to my failure in discipline. By tomorrow, without needing Your Highness’s reminder, our household will return the full five hundred thousand taels!”

Yaerjiang’a gasped, his heart wrenching in agony, but the old prince continued, “For committing such a grave offense, I am deeply ashamed! Your Highness, please lead the way—I will go at once to the palace and beg the Emperor’s forgiveness. But this plaque… this plaque…”

The old prince clutched his chest in anguish. Such a verdict was well-deserved for his wayward son, but from this day forth, where in the capital would they find a place to stand? All the merits earned by their ancestors would be utterly disgraced!

The Crown Prince was slightly surprised by Prince Jian’s sudden appearance. Seeing him thus, he gave a slight nod before casting a glance at Hong Yan.

Hong Yan, ever straightforward, had no intention of making things difficult for the elderly. He sighed and said sorrowfully, “Your Highness is a good man, but your heir has inherited none of your integrity. On the fifth day of the first month, he accepted eighty thousand taels in bribes. On the tenth, he harassed a married woman. On the nineteenth of the second month, he rode recklessly outside the city, injuring commoners and refusing to pay for their medical treatment.”

It was as if his skin had been peeled off. Yaerjiang’a’s face twisted momentarily, overtaken by boundless fury and terror.

How could this be? How could the Emperor’s eldest grandson know about this?

This was impossible!

Hearing this, Prince Jian’s face darkened further, nearly fainting on the spot.

So this was the reason. There was a reason behind the bestowed words. The Emperor wouldn’t warn Yaerjiang’a without cause. The phrase “Pests of the Nation” was utterly fitting, without a shred of falsehood.

“Since he brought this upon himself, this old subject has no face to enter the palace,” the old prince said bleakly, shaking his head as if he had aged ten years in an instant. He spoke calmly, “Servants, bring the rods.”

Yaerjiang’a shuddered, but then Hong Yan abruptly changed his tone, saying brightly, “Since the heir has already learned his lesson, there’s no need to hang the plaque. After all, Your Highness’s character is so esteemed that even Hanmafa praised it, mentioning to me your heroic demeanor in youth.” He paused, then whispered to Sanxi, “Go fetch what you’ve been carrying.”

Linmen had been left behind in the palace to mind the household, so Sanxi hurriedly complied. Under the baffled gazes of the crowd, he scurried out of the estate and returned in a flash.

The Crown Prince had a bad premonition, and the Fourth Prince’s expression shifted slightly—

It was still a plaque, exquisitely crafted, bearing the words “Heroic Demeanor” in bold, powerful strokes that seemed carved into the wood.

“Your Highness should admire it privately and avoid flaunting it. There are many who envy you—like Minister Mingzhu, who dreams of receiving words from Hanmafa,” Hong Yan whispered conspiratorially as he leaned in. “You alone have been granted this honor.”

The Prince Jian’s estate fell into silence. After a long moment, the old prince barely managed to suppress his excitement, nodding repeatedly as if revitalized. His face flushed, this time from exhilaration, and even the pallor of illness vanished!

Tears streamed down Prince Jian’s face as he murmured the Emperor’s name, looking at Hong Yan with gratitude as if the young man were his most beloved descendant. “Thanks to the Young Master’s kindness, the Emperor thinks I’m not yet old. Indeed, this old man can still live to see my grandson grow up, can still don armor and campaign for the Emperor!”

With that, he shot his heir a fierce glare, wiped his tears haphazardly, and repeated, “Servants, bring the rods.”

The prince was so invigorated that he no longer needed support. He struck his son with even greater force. “I’ll teach you to take bribes, to seize women! From now on, my grandson will be raised by me personally. And every tael you’ve embezzled—you’ll spit it all out!”

Amidst the screams, Hong Yan stifled a laugh and hid behind the Crown Prince.

Noticing this, Prince Jian paused briefly to reassure him, “This is what the unfilial son deserves. Young Master, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.”

Yinzhen watched the scene in silence, while the Crown Prince’s face twitched. It took him a while to find his voice. “To avoid disrupting Uncle’s… enthusiasm, I should return to the palace.”

In this single outing, they had witnessed a medical miracle and effortlessly earned credit for five hundred thousand taels. The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince were thoroughly astounded.

After Prince Jian finished disciplining his son, he hurried to his study. A quarter of an hour later, he mysteriously handed Hong Yan a letter, saying it was a return gift for his grandson.  

In the carriage, without waiting for the Crown Prince’s hint, Hong Yan obediently presented the letter with both hands, looking very well-behaved.  

The Crown Prince snorted in amusement but thought better of praising him. Instead, he warned, “Today’s events were unexpected, but there must never be a next time. If you fabricate nonsense again, even I won’t be able to protect you. Understood?”  

Hong Yan was very agreeable. “Understood.”  

Since the “moth” plaque had already been used, it didn’t count as fabrication—it was within the bounds of what his father allowed.  

Satisfied, the Crown Prince nodded and opened the letter, his eyebrows rising high as he read.  

The letter contained two matters. First, as the head of the imperial clan, Prince Jian held immense seniority among the imperial relatives. With his endorsement, most of the clan’s debts would no longer be a concern. Second, Prince Jian suggested that those unwilling to repay their debts should also get a taste of being labeled “Pests of the Nation.” After all, even waste could be put to good use.  

“…” Ignoring the second point, the Crown Prince felt both pleased and slightly unsettled.  

How many people had shown goodwill toward Yuanbao in just a few days?  

Yinzhen, sitting nearby, had been lost in thought for a long time. The more he pondered, the more astonished he became. Yuanbao’s ideas, though seemingly whimsical, were always purposeful and never wasted effort.  

This was talent, the result of intelligence. Once again, he lamented—why couldn’t such a brilliant debt-collector be his own?  

Yinzhen mulled it over until a sudden epiphany struck him—he had sons too.  

Once Honghui and Hongyun turned five, he could have them learn these things just like Yuanbao. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for father and sons to share the same legacy?  

·  

At the same time, in the Hall of Heavenly Purity.  

The Emperor flipped through the register in his hand before setting it down on the table, eyeing Da Age, who stood waiting before him. “Is everything written here true?”  

“In reply to Father Emperor, my Eighth Brother and I have carefully screened the list and dare not deceive you,” Yin Zhi said respectfully. “This is only a portion.”  

After a long pause, the Emperor nodded mildly. “Good.”  

A glimmer of joy flashed in Yin Zhi’s eyes, but then the Emperor continued, “How about I assign you a team to confiscate the properties listed here? That way, you can see this matter through to the end.”  

Da Age, eager for merit, was about to accept when Mingzhu’s warning abruptly surfaced in his mind—  

*The Emperor dislikes those who overstep their authority. Lord Prince must maintain proper boundaries, remember!*  

“Father Emperor, it is enough for me to fulfill my duties. The rest can be handled by Fourth Brother,” he said humbly, hesitating before adding, “After all, this involves Fourth Brother’s concubine. I should avoid any impropriety.”  

The Emperor gave a noncommittal hum, neither approving nor rejecting the suggestion, and waved him off. “The Crown Prince has done well. You should all take him as an example. Go.”  

Da Age’s heart skipped a beat—had the Crown Prince made progress again?  

Anxious, he unconsciously quickened his pace. Li Dequan watched silently and shook his head inwardly.  

The Imperial Study Room was quiet. Suddenly, the Emperor let out a cold laugh.  

“‘Fulfill my duties’—how very modest. Let’s see just how long Da Age can keep up this act.”  

Picking up his brush again, the Emperor mused leisurely, “If the roots are rotten, they must be uprooted all at once. But before that, they must be nurtured—let them grow to a sufficient scale before striking.”  

Li Dequan lowered his eyes, not daring to speak.  

The Emperor chuckled. “Yuanbao is truly clever. After cutting the roots, he still knows to water and loosen the soil, letting them grow exactly as he envisions.”

At the mention of this, Li Dequan had something to say.  

Even if the Young Master ascended to the heavens, he would still be perfect in your eyes!  

Just then, a clever-looking young eunuch hurried over and knelt on the ground, about to speak, but the Emperor stopped him: “Don’t rush to speak. Let me guess first.”  

“If Yaerjiang’a refuses to repay the silver, sending him ‘Pests of the Nation’ would suffice. If Prince Jian intervenes… could it be ‘Long Life and a Hundred Years’?” The Emperor racked his brains.  

The young eunuch flattered, “Your Majesty is wise! Only the latter was ‘Heroic Demeanor.’ I heard the Prince was moved to tears of joy.”  

The Emperor fell silent, and Li Dequan did the same.  

After half an incense stick’s time, the Emperor slapped the table and declared, “I won’t lie through my teeth. Someone, replace it with ‘Old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles,’ and while you’re at it, bring back those two stolen by Suo’etu!”  

Author’s Note:  

Prince Jian: A medical miracle.  

Suo’etu: The pinnacle of life.  

Yuanbao: The dreamweaver.