Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5270 Deep love between brother and sister
Fang Jun, dressed in a cloak and wearing a mink hat, rode slowly down the street. Snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, pedestrians hurried by, and carriages rumbled along the street. The walls on both sides stood tall, with green bricks and gray tiles. He loved this kind of peaceful and lively atmosphere, a scene of tranquility and serenity.

Men gallop across the battlefield, die on the battlefield, and pursue fame, fortune, and high office, but ultimately, isn't it all for this peaceful and comfortable life?

More than ten four-wheeled carriages followed him slowly into the gate of Jingshan Ward. Upon seeing such a luxurious convoy, the ward guards at the gate quickly opened the gate to its widest extent. After acknowledging Fang Jun on horseback, they hurriedly bowed and smiled apologetically by the roadside.

"Is the Grand Commandant personally delivering New Year's gifts to the Prince of Han's residence?"

Fang Jun smiled on horseback and casually took out an exquisite silver ingot and tossed it over: "Our Prince Han is of noble birth and has a very bad temper. If I hadn't come in person and he had picked on my manners, I would have been in deep trouble."

The servant hurriedly took the silver ingot, and upon holding it, he felt its weight and was immediately overjoyed.

Even today, the circulation of silver among the general public is still very limited, but it has long been used for tipping. This silver ingot is about one tael in weight and is cast into an octagon with exquisite patterns and auspicious characters on each side, making it very suitable for tipping.

"You flatter me, Grand Commandant... Thank you for the reward!"

In the entire city of Chang'an, who doesn't know that His Highness the Prince of Han is like a mouse before a cat when he sees you? You'd be lucky if he didn't beat him up; how could he dare to challenge your manners...?

The Han Prince's Mansion had already learned that the Princess Consort's family was sending New Year's gifts and had been keeping an eye on the gate. As soon as Fang Jun arrived, the manor's steward and a group of servants hurriedly opened the middle gate and went directly to the gate to greet him. The carriage entered the manor through the side gate and went straight to the storeroom, while Fang Jun entered the manor through the middle gate.

He dismounted in front of the mansion gate, tossed the reins to his personal guard, and casually asked as he stepped onto the steps, "Is Your Highness in the mansion?"

The steward hurriedly smiled and said, "Yesterday, a letter was sent from the manor saying that they would be delivering New Year's gifts today. His Highness declined his engagements and waited for the Grand Commandant in the main hall early this morning with the Princess."

In his heart, however, he was thinking, "You personally come to deliver New Year's gifts, how dare His Highness not be at home?"
If we anger you and you were to stage another "horse trampling the Han Prince's mansion," our Highness would probably be too ashamed to show his face in public...

Fang Jun walked through the central gate, waved to the servants and maids standing on both sides to disperse, and said with a smile, "The Han Prince's Mansion is so wealthy and powerful, yet they rely on this little New Year's gift from me to get by? My elder sister wouldn't be so poor that she can't even afford a piece of jewelry, would she?"

Despite the heavy snowfall in the dead of winter, the steward was sweating and managed a forced smile: "Grand Commandant, you jest."

He then shut his mouth and dared not say another word.

If he misspoke and Fang Jun interpreted it as his sister, Princess Han, being "mistreated" at home, he, the steward, might have his legs broken...

Upon reaching the main hall, one could see Prince Li Yuanjia of Han and Princess Fang, dressed in their finest attire, greeting him at the entrance. Countless maids stood on either side of the corridor outside the door, bowing respectfully as Fang Jun strolled in, all speaking in unison.

"Welcome, Grand Commandant!"

Fang Jun stopped at the door, looked around, and said sarcastically, "Oh my, these girls are all so pretty and beautiful. Your Highness, the Prince of Han, is quite lucky. Have you recently taken a new concubine? But please don't blame me for not preparing any extra gifts."

Li Yuanjia opened his mouth as if to speak, but only let out a sigh, shook his head, and looked helpless.

Madam Fang stepped forward, smiled radiantly, and looked her younger brother up and down. She lightly patted his arm and said with a hint of reproach, "You naughty boy again! Don't stand here in this heavy snow. Come in and have a cup of hot tea."

Seeing her younger brother's imposing presence and spirited demeanor, she was overjoyed.

Although a woman is said to obey her husband after marriage, her position in the husband's family largely depends on the support of her maternal family. A prosperous and powerful maternal family naturally gives a woman a strong backbone. Thanks to the legacy of her father, Fang Xuanling, she was highly respected among meritorious families. Fang Jun, on the other hand, ensured that she held a high position and a prominent position among the imperial nobles. Not only did the princesses and consorts often flatter and fawn over her, but even the princes and dukes of the Imperial Clan Court dared not raise their voices at her.

Fang Jun also looked at his older sister and saw that she had clear and bright eyes, full of energy, and fair skin with a pinkish hue that looked like it could be squeezed to produce water. She looked at least five or six years younger than her actual age, and her beautiful face was more attractive than many young women. So he felt relieved.

She smiled and said, "Your Highness didn't let my elder sister suffer, did he? He's a weak and spineless man, and if he's influenced by those alluring concubines in the mansion, who knows what foolish things he might do."

Fang knew her brother was teasing her, so she covered her mouth and laughed happily, her eyes crinkling like a young girl in spring.

Li Yuanjia, standing to the side, said with a dark face, "Don't ruin my reputation! Everyone in the manor knows how much I respect the Princess Consort. Who would dare to be disrespectful to her? Come inside quickly and stop talking nonsense here. If it gets out, people will laugh at you."

Regardless of whether the relationship between brothers-in-law in other families is harmonious, they are generally very authoritative as brothers-in-law. The younger brother-in-law often comes to ask for favors and requests, and he handles his position as brother-in-law very well.

But who knew he'd end up with such a brother-in-law?
As a prince and a high-ranking official in charge of the imperial clan, this brother-in-law not only never asks him for favors, but also has him firmly under his control. Normally, things are fine, but as soon as the princess shows the slightest sign of displeasure, he immediately turns on him...

Tired.

Fang Jun sneered, "Are you afraid of being laughed at? Back when you took a beautiful concubine and doted on her all day long, treating her like a precious gem, almost making my elder sister divorce you, did you not care about becoming a laughing stock?"

Li Yuanjia retorted angrily, "Everyone makes mistakes, but to err is human! I only ever did one foolish thing, and I've already corrected it by kicking that concubine out of the house. Why are you still harping on this for another thirty or fifty years? Don't push your luck!"

Fang Jun ignored her and said earnestly to his elder sister, "Did you hear that? This man is simply cold-blooded and heartless. Back then, when he was holding that concubine, he made countless vows of eternal love, but in the end, he turned around and threw her away. He is a beast in human form. Be careful of his sweet words and be on guard."

Li Yuanjia couldn't take it anymore. Seeing the strange expressions on the faces of all the maids and servants, he struggled to suppress his laughter and quickly pushed Fang Jun, saying, "Enough with the nonsense! Hurry up and come inside!"

……

The room was warm and cozy, with fragrant tea and pastries already prepared on the tea table. Madam Fang pulled Fang Jun to a seat, personally poured him tea, and then placed pastries on a plate in front of him, fearing that he might be thirsty or hungry.

"Have some hot tea to warm yourself up. These pastries are all your favorites. Have a few to tide you over. The banquet in the kitchen is almost ready, and we'll be eating soon. It's been a long time since I've visited. I'll have a few more drinks with Your Highness later."

Listening to Fang Shi's incessant chatter, which sounded like she was nagging a child, Li Yuanjia felt a pang of jealousy and couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Fang Jun ate two pieces of pastry and nodded in praise: "Delicious!"

Mrs. Fang smiled broadly, looking very happy.

"Cough cough!"

Li Yuanjia, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand the closeness between the siblings. He took a sip of tea and looked at the gift list that Fang Jun had brought. He was so shocked that he almost choked on his tea and coughed violently.

"You're not young anymore, so why are you still so impulsive? You can even choke on your tea!"

Fang quickly got up and went over to pat Li Yuanjia on the back to help him catch his breath, while gently complaining.

Li Yuanjia caught his breath and asked in surprise, "Why are there so many New Year's gifts this year?"

The gift list included truckloads of Liaodong furs, Japanese rice, pearls from Mudanjiang and Jingpo Lake, pearls from Hepu, wax, and ivory from Siam... The total value was estimated to be no less than 100,000 strings of cash.

Many countries didn't pay this much tribute to the Tang Dynasty...

Upon hearing this, Madam Fang was also taken aback and quickly said, "Why spend so much money among family? You're always so extravagant; even with all our wealth, it won't last! Take all of this back with you after lunch. It's enough that you have the thought."

Li Yuanjia: "..."

That spendthrift woman! I was just being polite; how could she take back a New Year's gift that was delivered to her door?

At worst, we can just give a larger return gift than in previous years...

Fang Jun smiled and said, "Most of them were sent back from Luoyang by Meiniang. She specifically instructed that the furs, pearls, and ivory be sent to my elder sister. Whether she makes some jewelry or gives gifts, she can present something presentable. Otherwise, if she doesn't have something decent, others will laugh at her. The Han Prince's Mansion doesn't care about losing face, but our Fang family can't afford to lose face."

"Can't you speak properly?"

Li Yuanjia couldn't stand it anymore; his brother-in-law had been acting strangely ever since he arrived.

“Your eldest sister is my princess consort. In this Han Prince’s mansion, her word is law. The servants and maids obey her every command. Her words carry more weight than mine! In the entire Tang Dynasty’s royal family and aristocratic clans, has anyone ever been as in charge as your eldest sister? If you continue to spoil her like this, she will soon become lawless!”

In the past, the label of "henpecked" belonged to Fang Xuanling, but now it has been extended to him. Originally, Fang was a straightforward and decisive person who did not tolerate any wrongdoing. Now, with Fang Jun backing him up, he has become even more domineering. He is suffering!
Fang Jun snorted and turned to ask Madam Fang, "Did you really not suffer any mistreatment in the mansion?"

Fang glared at Li Yuanjia, slightly embarrassed by the question, and whispered, "I really won't stand being bullied. With you, Erlang, backing me up, not only in the Han Prince's Mansion, but in the entire Tang Dynasty, who would dare to bully me?"

Fang Jun also leaned to the side and whispered, "We should just not be bullied, but we shouldn't be too domineering either. After all, men are responsible for external affairs and women for internal affairs. We should still give His Highness Prince Han face and not go too far."

"Yes, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Fang smiled radiantly. Her younger brother was already a powerful minister with immense prestige and great achievements, but he still thought of supporting his sister in her husband's family, just like any other ordinary person. She was secretly delighted.

Li Yuanjia couldn't hear what the siblings were whispering about, but he felt that they were talking badly. He was afraid that Fang Jun would give Fang Shi advice, which would make his household uneasy and his family in turmoil.
He quickly changed the subject: "Erlang, do you think it's possible for me to also seek to establish a fiefdom overseas and become a state?"

Fang Jun was taken aback and asked curiously, "Is this Your Highness's own idea, or is someone else thinking the same thing, and Your Highness is testing me?"