The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

Chen Yong went to persuade someone, while Chen Xi went to the inner quarters to inform his mother and sister.

The Chen residence was extremely large, and Chen Yong had many wives, concubines, and children. Chen Xi walked towards the inner courtyard and encountered many of Chen Yong's concubines, brothers, and sisters born out of wedlock.

Regardless of their social status, Chen Xi would always bow slightly when meeting his father's concubines, and greet his younger brothers and sisters with a simple "yes".

He did not look down on them because of his status as the eldest son.

Chen Xi arrived at the backyard, asked the maid, and then entered the east wing, where he met his mother, Liu, who was doing needlework, and his younger sister, Chen Mingzhen.

"You're finally back! Tell your mother about He..." Madam Liu was talking to Chen Mingzhen when she heard the noise and looked up, asking with a smile. Seeing her son's unusual expression, she stopped speaking and asked, "Has something happened?"

Lady Liu also came from a merchant family, making her a suitable match for the Chen family. She was beautiful, with especially fair and delicate skin, like jade. She was gentle and kind, and also skilled at managing the household. After marrying into the Chen family, she and Chen Yong lived in harmony.

Chen Mingzhen turned her head and tilted her little head.

Her courtesy name was Daosheng, and she was fourteen years old this year. She had snow-white skin, extremely delicate features, especially her pair of large, expressive eyes, and was dressed in gorgeous clothes with an upright posture.

Chen Xi sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of guilt. His younger sister was perfect; if he had to pinpoint any flaw, it was that despite her young age, she lacked the vivacity of a typical young woman.

My younger sister could have married a wealthy merchant or a nobleman from a humble background as his principal wife, but now she's to marry a prince and become his queen in the deep palace. Especially since this prince has a terrible reputation, the inner quarters will probably be in turmoil.

"Brother, is this related to me?" Chen Mingzhen, with her keen sense of perception, immediately noticed something amiss and asked softly.

This doesn't seem like good news. Madam Liu's expression turned serious.

Chen Xi nodded, first dismissing the maid beside him, then knelt down in front of his mother and sister, and quietly recounted the events.

"How could a prince who is obsessed with money be a good family? Besides, they are not a good match. My daughter is going to suffer. How could you father and brothers be so heartless?" Madam Liu's eyes immediately reddened, and she grabbed her daughter's hand and cried.

Chen Mingzhen was surprised, but more composed than her mother. She shook her head slightly and said, "Father gave me life, and my elder brother protected and loved me. For the sake of the family, this is what I should do. Besides, a great reputation is hard to live up to. Young Master Chen loves money, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's difficult to get along with. A person with a good reputation may be cruel and demanding in private. Mother and elder brother, there's no need to worry."

She looked at her mother and brother, and a smile as gentle as a spring breeze appeared on her little face.

Chen Xi felt a lump in his throat, realizing that his younger sister was truly the apple of his eye, yet he and his father were about to push her into a pit of fire.

"Alas." Madam Liu felt the same way, let out a long sigh, and continued to shed tears.

Although nothing was actually going to happen yet, the Chen father and son were very confident in their family's financial resources. They began dividing their assets and preparing the dowry.

...........

in the afternoon.

Chengdu.

Although it was nearing evening, there were still many pedestrians and vehicles on the streets.

Li Qiu had just finished get off work and was returning home in a sedan chair. He lowered his head, his expression slightly somber.

The matter was being arranged by Consort Li. However, Consort Li was only a concubine in the palace, and her influence did not extend outside the palace, so only her family could handle the affairs.

This was unheard of, and extremely attractive to wealthy businessmen. The Li family was quite agitated for a while.

This matter was truly absurd, and even the Li family was implicated and ridiculed.

"Sigh." Li Qiu sighed. The carriage stopped, and he looked up to see that they had arrived at the mansion. He stood up, stepped off the carriage on a small stool, entered the inner courtyard, went to the study, and waved for a maid to go find his eldest son, Li Ding.

He sat for a while, and then Li Ding walked in from outside.

"Father," Li Ding said, stopping and bowing.

"How many are there in total?" Li Qiu asked directly.

"There are eighteen," Li Ding replied.

"Which family contributed the most money and also had the best family tradition?" Li Qiu asked again.

Wealthy businessmen are not necessarily heartless. Given Liu Chen's bizarre request, finding him a family with good morals and a decent reputation was the only thing his uncle could do.

"The Chen family of Fan County," Li Ding replied.

"Send a reliable person to investigate. If the family tradition is indeed good, then send another woman into the inner quarters to examine the boy's appearance. If everything is satisfactory, we will arrange the marriage after the young master is enfeoffed as a king," Li Qiu said.

"What about the Emperor?" Li Ding asked after a moment's hesitation. Despite Consort Li's seemingly elaborate arrangements, it ultimately required the Emperor's approval.

"I met a distinguished person today, and the Emperor has already agreed," Li Qiu said, then sighed and added, "The Emperor has many sons, and this young master is the fifth. The Emperor doesn't seem to care much about him."

Or rather, the emperor favored Huang Hao and was close to the sorcerer. Even Empress Zhang and the Crown Prince had to step aside. Li Qiu reached out and scratched his beard, sighing inwardly.

"Yes," Li Ding bowed in response.

The following day, a team meticulously organized by the Li family left Chengdu and headed to Fan County to investigate.

.............

The Li family busied themselves with preparations for Liu Chen's marriage. However, Liu Chen himself didn't seem to care much.

Spring has arrived, and Liu Chen is unable to go hunting.

He could only study in the palace and practice martial arts on his own.

Life went on very peacefully.

Time flies like an arrow; it passes in the blink of an eye.

In the third month of the second year of Jingyao.

This month is very important; it's the season for planting millet, the staple food of the Han Dynasty.

The court was bustling with activity, and Liu Shan showed great emphasis on agriculture and sericulture. He held sacrifices to Heaven and his ancestors.

I pray that this year will bring favorable weather and abundant harvests.

It was a grand and extravagant affair, but also incredibly wasteful.

Liu Chen worked tirelessly, doing all sorts of things.

Unlike Liu Shan's macro-level thinking, he paid more attention to details.

The day after finishing his business at court, Liu Chen, accompanied by eunuchs and guards, left the palace in a palanquin, exited Chengdu through the north gate, and headed towards his estate.

Of course, it's still a royal estate now, but it will soon belong to him.

It has 5,500 mu of land and 100 households.

"What a fine estate!" Liu Chen stopped the carriage, looked up at the vast fields in front of him, and smiled.

Plots of fertile land were divided up, and irrigation canals crisscrossed the area.

Farmers are working in the fields, and oxen, strong yet gentle, graze. This idyllic scenery is picturesque, a true paradise on earth.

City dwellers were overjoyed, while farmers toiling in the fields wore bitter expressions.

Fortunately, he doesn't have to work in the fields.

After observing for a while, Liu Chen ordered the carriage to set off, and they arrived at the "Royal Palace" along the main road.

It's called a royal palace, but it's actually just a manor.

Liu Chen simply had Meng Hu build him an outer wall befitting his status as a feudal lord, including a magnificent palace gate.

A main hall was built inside, and the granaries and storehouses were expanded. Everything else remained largely unchanged.

Before Liu Chen arrived, he had already sent someone to inform the estate owner. The official in charge of managing the estate led the steward out to greet Prince Chen.

The carriage stopped, and the guards immediately reined in their horses.

The official led the crowd in bowing and said, "Your subject Zhao Jun greets Your Highness." The stewards behind him simply kept their heads down like ostriches.

Liu Chen sat on the carriage, coldly surveying the crowd, his sword still in his hand.

Everyone felt nervous and lowered their heads even further.

After a long silence, Liu Chen finally spoke: "I am different from my father. I don't concern myself with the past. From this day forward, every grain of rice produced in these fields belongs to me. Anyone who steals will be killed. Anyone who fails to properly guard the granary and causes a rat infestation will be punished with beating. Do you understand?"