Jing-wang had already arranged Li Yu’s suggestions in a report and sent it to the Imperial City previously. With the extermination of the locust plague imminent now that a few of the towns in the West Frontier had their locusts eradicated completely , Jing-wang drafted another more detailed report.
Last time, he already mentioned wanting to marry Li Yu to the Emperor. The Emperor didn’t actually reply. Jing-wang understood that the Emperor must have withheld the response. Before he opened up this topic, he already revealed many of Xiao Yu’s good qualities little by little. He also took advantage of the Emperor’s moment of complacency. Therefore, the Emperor didn’t actually refuse directly. This meant that the Emperor had some hesitation. With this new report being sent over, the Emperor’s convictions would definitely waver.
Xiao Yu’s true identity couldn’t be revealed. Jing-wang hoped that he could make the Emperor understand how good Xiao Yu was just like this. That even though Xiao Yu didn’t have an illustrious birth, and even though he couldn’t bear children, he was still worthy of the title of wangfei and of standing by Jing-wang’s side.
In Jing-wang’s life, he had never begged the Emperor for anything. The position of crown prince he will obtain with his own strength, so he didn’t need to request it. The only thing he wanted to beg for was this hand in marriage. Perhaps it might anger the Emperor, perhaps the Emperor would completely take away his chance of fighting for the throne, if that were really the case…….
Jing-wang glanced at Li Yu, who was currently teaching the fish babies how to play tug-o-war. Although the West Frontier was destitute and austere, these days that he spent together with his family of six were actually the happiest days of his life.
If the Emperor really gave up on him, then he would request to remain in the West Frontier forever. Like this he and Xiao Yu can still be together.
However, this was the worst-case scenario. It shouldn’t reach this point. Jing-wang still had other plans that he didn’t bring out yet.
At last, Jing-wang sent his and Li Yu’s wedding certificate along with the newest report to the Emperor.
Imperial City, Ganqing Palace.
When the Emperor received Jing-wang’s report once again, he discovered the wedding certificate that came together with the report.
The Emperor was very dissatisfied with the way that Jing-wang had taken matters into his own hands. However, at the same time, the Emperor also understood that Jing-wang specifically attached the wedding certificate to express his staunch decision to the Emperor; it was also as a wordless request.
In the Emperor’s memories, Jing-wang had never begged anything from him. Even during his birthday celebration when he had just received Jing-wang’s gift and ended up sending Jing-wang off to the West Frontier, Jing-wang didn’t ask him for mercy. Instead, he indifferently accepted it, indifferently kowtowed and said his farewells, and then indifferently left the Imperial City.
Jing-wang’s personality was cold. The Emperor had thought, this was how it should be.
However, now he unexpectedly discovered that Jing-wang actually also had an obstinate and fervent side to him. As a leader, this kind of stubbornness wasn’t actually a good thing. However, who didn’t have something they were strongly attached to? The Emperor himself was no saint either.
The Emperor can recognize that the ‘marriage vow’ written on the marriage certificate was in Jing-wang’s own handwriting. This was the marriage certificate that Jing-wang wrote himself. It was enough to show how important this marriage was to him.
…… Jing-wang most likely really did fall in love.
The Emperor recalled when the Old ChengEn Gong jokingly mentioned that it might be genuine. The Emperor had been on the throne for many years. He could have very well just smiled and brushed this matter off; however, he inevitably started considering it seriously.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
He placed the wedding certificate heavily inside his box of files and then started flipping through Jing-wang’s report. Jing-wang was probably going to praise Li Yu again.
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What will the report contain this time?
It wasn’t until after the Emperor finished reading the report that he learned that Jing-wang had already gone ahead and implemented Li Yu’s suggestion on the locust plague in the West Frontier.
If this matter was given to anyone inside the Ministry of Works to deal with, they would need to draft a detailed plan of action to be examined by the high official of the Ministry of Works. After discussing it in court with other government officials, the Ministry of Revenue would allocate the funds–this process would take about a month of planning before the Ministry of Works can finally send people to the places suffering from the plague.
However, Jing-wang didn’t mention any of this in his report, just plainly stating that he used his own money and did it. And, he ended up doing it pretty well. The locust plague at the West Frontier has been controlled.
Stinking brat! So audacious!
The Emperor couldn’t really describe how he felt, however… was this because he had withheld the report from before, so now Jing-wang was purposely throwing a beautiful looking accomplishment in his face!
The Emperor was a bit angry, but he still had the conscience to say well done. Of his many sons, the most decisive and most agreeable was, as expected, still Jing-wang. The locust plague in the West Frontier had already reached a point where the Emperor had a hard time resting peacefully. If they had to follow the proper procedure, who knows how it would have been now. While the government officials firmly abided by established rules, the ones who’d end up suffering were the civilians below. In comparison, although what Jing-wang did was rather reckless and impulsive, it did effectively control the locust plague.
The Emperor put down the report, looking pensive. Raising his head, he discovered there were some reports from the provinces near the West Frontier, which were also delivered at this time. The Emperor read through them at a fast pace. So apparently while Jing-wang was dealing with the locusts, he needed to buy plenty of ducks. The nearby provinces were pestered quite a bit by him. Nevertheless, all of these reports were filled with heartfelt gratitude towards Jing-wang. If the locust plague at the West Frontier couldn’t be controlled, they’d probably also be affected by the plague in the future.
Some of the reports narrated what happened rather humorously. The Emperor could practically see the uproarious scene and felt the corner of his mouth twitching.
The trip to the West Frontier allowed Jing-wang to gain inadvertent support. This was something that the Emperor had not foreseen.
Based on Jing-wang’s accomplishment, he can allow Jing-wang to continue to grow. Or he can decide to suppress Jing-wang because this son of his had also schemed against him. By stubbornly attempting to marry someone who absolutely couldn’t be wangfei, Jing-wang had made the Emperor extremely displeased.
The Emperor recalled something and flipped Jing-wang’s report until the very end. As expected, Jing-wang placed all of the credit on Li Yu again.
All of this was still to pave the way for Li Yu.
If it wasn’t something so easily tested, the Emperor really would like to know, if Jing-wang could only pick one, either the position of crown prince or his wangfei, which one would he choose?
The Emperor sighed and continued to withhold his response.
Everything that Jing-wang did in the West Frontier was no secret. It’s already been spreading around the court.
Back then when the court learned that Jing-wang was sent to the West Frontier by the Emperor, plenty of government officials felt like Jing-wang had offended the Emperor. Yet the 6th Prince started to worry faintly. Jing-wang clearly won over him during the birthday celebration with his gifts. If the Emperor was really angry at Jing-wang, why didn’t he reprimand him on the spot in front of everyone?!
Also the ChengEn Palace estate– ChengEn Gong and that Ye QingHuan guy were on the same side as Jing-wang. They were Jing-wang’s biggest support. Yet even when Jing-wang was about to leave the Imperial City, they didn’t beg for leniency for him in front of the Emperor. Most likely, Jing-wang had notified them of something else beforehand.
Why the Emperor sent Jing-wang to the West Frontier, Mu TianXiao(6) still couldn’t figure out.
But the unease in his heart was very quickly erased by the Emperor’s next move.
Because of the nursery rhyme and fake monks, the Emperor had punished the 3rd Prince and 6th Prince with spankings and sent them to confinement. The Emperor’s punishment to the 3rd Prince was really very harsh, yet he only treated the 6th Prince as an accomplice. In a fit of anger, he removed the 6th Prince’s official post at that moment. In order to regain the Emperor’s trust, Mu TianXiao(6) did plenty of maneuvering privately. Hard work paid off. After Jing-wang left, the Emperor gave him the task that Jing-wang was working on.
Jing-wang had pretty much finished this assignment. Mu TianXiao(6) only needed to close it up. The Emperor also ordered the assistant of the Ministry of Works to aid him. Making a mistake was pretty much impossible; this accomplishment was basically freely given to him.
Although the Ministry of Works was the last of the Ministries, and renovating ZhongCui Palace wasn’t anything impressive; but at least it said that inside the Emperor’s heart, he still thought of the 6th Prince, showing clearly that he was more important than Jing-wang who was a thousand miles away.
Mu TianXiao(6) felt more at ease. Jing-wang was ultimately a mute. Plus, the West Frontier was a place of dispute and chaos. If he aptly did something, perhaps he can completely get rid of Jing-wang……
However, since he just gained the Emperor’s trust, he definitely couldn’t act recklessly. It’s better to first just watch Jing-wang’s good show unfold. Perhaps he didn’t even need to do anything; Jing-wang would end himself first.
But what arrived wasn’t Jing-wang’s humiliation. Instead, Jing-wang first won against the bandits and gained praise from several of the high ministers. The Emperor’s mood greatly increased as well. In comparison, his little accomplishment in renovating the Zhongcui Palace was basically nothing to look at.
There were actually officials who secretly supported the 6th Prince who casually criticized Jing-wang slightly in court, but they were very quickly drowned under Jing-wang’s praises.
Finally, Mu TianXiao(6) deeply understood, even if Jing-wang was far away at the West Frontier, he was still a formidable enemy.
In the last few days, he heard that Jing-wang had eradicated the locust plagues at the West Frontier. Logically, the Emperor should be even happier and reward Jing-wang heavily. However, when the government officials praised Jing-wang once again, the Emperor didn’t seem particularly interested in hearing it. Mu TianXiao(6) keenly noticed this point and sent people to Ganqing Palace and the Jing Estate to make some inquiries. Finally he discovered the secret within.
Apparently, Jing-wang was completely audacious, took interest in a youth at the West Frontier, and requested the Emperor to make him his main wife!
Jing-wang was already a mute. His illness was very likely to pass onto his children. If he then married a male wangfei, who couldn’t even bear children, as his main wife……
This was extremely beneficial to the 6th Prince. Mu TianXiao(6) was practically laughing with glee even in his sleep. After learning that the Emperor was still suffering a headache over this matter, Mu TianXiao(6) decided that no matter what, he had to make this into reality.
He knew that the Emperor still held guilt towards Empress Xiao Hui. Therefore, he urged his birth mother, Concubine Zhang, to step forth.
Not long ago, the Emperor had arranged for the 6th Prince’s own marriage and engaged him to the main daughter of a marquis. Concubine Zhang used to be Empress Xiao Hui’s maid. To be able to reach where she was today, it was very much due to Empress Xiao Hui’s grace. Because of this, when Concubine Zhang went to thank the Emperor, she began to reminisce about the past in front of him.
As Concubine Zhang recounted many things about Empress Xiao Hui while she was alive, Concubine Zhang ‘unintentionally’ mentioned that the Empress once spoke often about hoping Jing-wang would be able to live a peaceful life according to his wishes.
The speaker said this with intent; the Emperor also had considered this somewhat. With Concubine Zhang’s status and plus sincere affections, it’s rare that she’d say such things to him; therefore, it seemed rather credible. Furthermore, the paving that Jing-wang had done for Li Yu previously was actually fairly effective. After the Emperor returned to Ganqing Palace, he sat there alone for two hours. After pondering deeply, he finally wrote a reply to Jing-wang’s request.
“Li Yu has the qualities of a main wife, but because he was a man and was unable to bear children, he will be uniquely given the position of side wife.”
After Li Yu learned of this news, he ran over to console Jing-wang. At least the Emperor agreed to allow the two of them to be together. The days were long and they had time. Perhaps if he gave some more contributions, the Emperor might become really happy and change him to main wife?
When Jing-wang received the reply however, he laughed. After all of his scheming, what he was waiting for was exactly these words from the Emperor.
As long as the Emperor stated that the only reason Xiao Yu couldn’t become the main wife was because he couldn’t bear children, then it really wasn’t a problem here.
Xiao Yu had already given him four fish sons.
According to the time, the fish babies should be transforming soon. Now was just the time to announce a pregnancy.
Jing-wang originally planned to fabricate a nonexistent concubine and temporarily ‘attach’ the fish babies under ‘her’ name. He was confident that the Emperor would be easier to convince now that he had children. However, first he was worried that Xiao Yu might have new fish babies in the future which couldn’t be covered up again. Second, he was afraid that the Emperor might still refuse because of the reason that Xiao Yu couldn’t bear children himself.
Actually, there was no need to fabricate some random person. Jing-wang can just say that Xiao Yu was a man with special physical characteristics and that he can give birth. Even if no one has ever seen such a person, it didn’t represent that this was completely impossible. Although it sounded rather incredulous, after the fish babies transform, they will become the best evidence.
Since the Emperor already clearly stated that Xiao Yu couldn’t become the main wife only because he was ‘unable to bear children,’ then the Emperor won’t be able to oppose anymore like this.
The West Frontier had all sorts of inconvenience, but the location was also an advantage.
If Jing-wang said that Li-gongzi was pregnant, no one would dare to doubt him. If The Emperor wanted to send a physician that specializes in childbirth over to confirm, the journey was far. By the time they arrived, the fish babies should all have transformed and been ‘born’.
The reason why Jing-wang didn’t play this card at the beginning was only because he was afraid the Emperor would find some other excuse to refuse. Jing-wang had advanced gradually, step by step, to dispel all other biases that the Emperor could have towards Xiao Yu, leaving only this one left. Although it was somewhat troublesome, he can also resolve this.
Jing-wang supported Li Yu by the waist and touched his stomach, thinking that it was about time to stuff some small pillows inside.
Li Yu: ???
Ooooooh that’s how he’ll do it. I wondered how they’d explain the babies. Pretty smart.
Thank You for the chapter ( ꈍᴗꈍ) ❤️
thanks for the chapter!
I was wondering how Jing-Wang was gonna explain Li Yu’s pregnancy! I thought he might just say Li Yu delivered alone, or bribe a physician to say they were there for the birth, but this is actually really clever!
Bring forth the fish pillows! Hahahahaha! Thanks for the update 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣❤️🐟
Scheming ML pffffft XD
The Emperor will surely be stressed out.
The emperor works hard but jing-wang works harder
Smart couple we love to see it 😌
Ahahaha enemy helping him
Ahahaha enemy helping
I love Jing-wang scheming. And it’s a logical explanation too. This evil 6th prince is in for a surprice.
Thank you for the chapters!!! 💖💖💖
Jing-wang, the brains of this couple. Li Yu, of course, is the heart ❤
I absolutely love jingwang🖤🖤
hahaha! enjoy the comfort of pillows!!
he can just say he’s intersex, no? is that not a thing in this world? … strange…
but hahaha!! emperor! you’re fallen into his schemes again! you won’t be happy, ba! haha