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墨書 Inktalez
"Father!"
"Old Steward! How can you let me bear such a reputation because of Jiang Han's schemes? Is this fair to me?" Che Chengyun asked earnestly, his body trembling with emotion.
The Crown Prince had never committed such acts, yet he was forced to carry this blame. Jiang Han's methods were too vile.
Langya Prince observed Che Chengyun's aggrieved expression and couldn't help but show his annoyance. "A true man is born between heaven and earth! What does it matter if you suffer some grievances and slander? Remember, Che Chengyun, you are my son!"
He pulled Che Chengyun into an embrace and led him out of the hall, pointing at the grand royal residence. "This entire palace, with thousands of servants and soldiers, will all belong to you! My fief as Langya Prince will also be yours!"
"You must inherit such a vast fortune. From now on, it’s not just about being thick-skinned and ruthless; you must withstand all pressures. What does Jiang Han's slander amount to? If you truly feel distressed, then like a man, remember this humiliation today. When I become emperor and you become the Crown Prince, take revenge on the citizens of the capital! Prove that anyone who dares to speak against us will face immediate execution."
Upon hearing these words, Che Chengyun was shocked, his eyes wide open. He had never imagined that such a grand massacre would be suggested as a means to vent his personal grievances.
Langya Prince continued to gaze ahead, murmuring, "These commoners are ignorant and foolish; they believe every rumor they hear. It would be no loss to kill them. Everything we do is to strengthen the power of Langya Wangfu! Just wait for the day when the world turns upside down; whoever displeases you can be killed without hesitation. The world will see them as innocent victims!"
Che Chengyun nodded fervently, accepting Langya Prince's words and vowing to remember this humiliation deep in his heart.
Seeing that the situation was under control, Old Steward stepped forward and said, "My lord, we should prepare some treasures for the Weapon and Token. Perhaps we should present two items for now! Let’s stabilize things for the moment. After Xia Guo Literary Master arrives, we can strategize for the court!"
Indeed, the arrival of Xia Guo Literary Master coincided with the time when the capital would hold the Keju examinations. That moment would also provide an opportunity to recruit new talents and expand our royal residence's influence.
Recruiting newcomers refers to enlisting those who have passed the Imperial Examination and wish to serve as officials under the royal house. As for giving Jiang Han two treasures, it was merely to placate him and prevent any disturbances.
The remaining three treasures would be delayed for a while, waiting for a change in circumstances. The Langya Prince pondered the Old Steward's words and ordered someone to fetch two treasures along with their sheathed weapons.
Before long, the Wangfu Generals arrived, carrying the Weapon and Token. The Langya Prince picked up the Weapon and Token, examining them closely while recalling his past years on the battlefield. The Weapon and Token consisted of two pieces: a short spear and a long spear, which were the most common weapons used in combat. However, these particular weapons were made entirely of brass, adorned with various gemstones and intricate gilded patterns, symbolizing the highest honor bestowed upon military generals by the Great Zhou Dynasty. They were typically hung from the ceiling to showcase the generals' achievements.
Within the vast expanse of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only the Langya Prince and Lingnan King were granted such honors. As long as the Weapon and Token remained in existence and their owners maintained a good relationship with the emperor, even if their descendants committed capital offenses—provided they were not acts of rebellion—the emperor would show leniency, recognizing the family's contributions to the court.
The Langya Prince gently caressed the gemstones on the Weapon and Token, murmuring, "These two weapons were exchanged for blood over three generations."
Seeing this, the Old Steward stepped forward to offer his counsel. "Your Highness, honor cannot be eaten like food. Besides, if you truly let go of it, these are merely two brass weapons adorned with gemstones! The significance of honor is no longer needed by you!"
The Langya Prince sighed instead, murmuring, "If I display these Weapon and Token at Jiang Han's shop, I fear my royal house will become a laughingstock across the land. We would lose even the honor earned through three generations of bloodshed."
"My lord," replied the Old Steward, "whether outsiders mock us or not is irrelevant. What matters now is stabilizing our situation; we must give these treasures!"
With a deep sigh, the Langya Prince said, "Go tell Jiang Han that I will bathe and fast for three days! Only after properly honoring my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—those who fought valiantly—will I hand over these items! And please remind Jiang Han not to melt them down!"
"Yes, my lord!" The Old Steward turned and headed towards Jiang Han's shop.
The next day, the Old Steward hurriedly arrived and said, "My lord, rumors are rampant in the capital, claiming that we are unwilling to part with the Weapon and Token. Che Chengyun can no longer hold back; we have already promised to give it to him, but only according to the proper procedures."
The Old Steward sighed heavily, "Heir, we have used this process as an excuse before. At this moment, Jiang Han probably doesn't believe us, which is why he is deliberately spreading rumors to pressure us! As for the other two treasures, why not join forces with the Weapon and Token now and hand them over to Jiang Han? We could do it in public, allowing the news to spread across the states to ensure business stability."
The Langya Prince let out a long sigh, feeling powerless for the first time, and could only nod in agreement.
In the afternoon, at the entrance of Langya Wangfu, the Langya Prince followed protocol and stepped out with both hands holding the two Weapons and Tokens. In front of a large crowd, he handed them over to Jiang Han. During the handover process, he continuously performed a scene of pleading for forgiveness, expressing various sentiments about how busy he had been recently and how he was unaware of what Che Chengyun had done that led to the delay in delivering the weapons as per their agreement. He added that he had already punished Che Chengyun in various ways and hoped for Jiang Han's understanding.
Jiang Han remained silent. Seeing the Langya Prince's demeanor, he thought to himself: "Old Prince, you must accept your losses! You lost something and still want me to show mercy before you hand it over! In this critical moment, you still want to put on a grand display of righteousness before merchants, commoners, and officials! Truly a cunning old fox!"
The Langya Prince's words implied that due to his recent busyness, he was unaware of Che Chengyun's actions that led to the delay in delivering the weapons as per their wager. Now that he had punished Che Chengyun in various ways, he hoped for Jiang Han's forgiveness. With the Old Steward arranging supportive remarks alongside him, the common people quickly began to feel that all blame lay with Che Chengyun and had nothing to do with the Old Prince.
The reputation of Langya Wangfu turned around dramatically; news spread like wildfire across various states, calming what had been a tumultuous business situation almost instantly.
Inside Jiang Han's shop, while stamps were still being affixed outside, in the inner courtyard, Princess Piao Xue held up a treasure and pouted, "There are only two pieces! We're still missing one!"
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