Chapter 234

Chapter 234: What Good Would Knowing Do?

Qi Shu Xian guessed right. Moments after he led his men away, the Northern Di army recovered their senses and sent soldiers after him.

His fierce battle at Beyond the Pass a few days prior had etched his name deeply into Northern Di hearts.

Luckily, Qi Shu Xian had retreated in time.

During this night raid, Sheng Kingdom’s Wudu Pass army, over forty thousand strong, faced fifty thousand Northern Di soldiers.

Yet, Sheng Kingdom only lost around two thousand men, while nearly ten thousand Northern Di troops were slain.

Even more crucially, they burned Northern Di’s barracks. Without shelter in such freezing weather, Northern Di’s troops had no choice but to retreat across the border for resupply.

Qi Shu Xian, having just arrived at Wudu Pass, had achieved a spectacular victory in his very first battle commanding the Northern Desert army.

Governor Xu, overcome with excitement, quickly dispatched messengers galloping towards the Capital City.

…

The seventeenth year of Sheng Chen’s reign.

Fourth day of the third month.

An auspicious day for marriage arrangements.

As Emperor Chong Sheng himself bestowed this royal marriage, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had already matched the couple’s eight characters, and thus, the betrothal and auspicious rituals were held together on the same day.

Early in the morning, a proud goose led the procession, followed by eight chests each of gold and silver ingots, countless jade pendants, pearls, and jewelry; silk and brocades; Fen wine, yellow wine, fruit wines; rice, flour, and cakes. Behind them came three silly-looking sheep, two pigs adorned with red ribbons, geese, and other livestock…

The long, magnificent bridal gifts extended down Yongkang Street and beyond.

Commoners crowded eagerly along the street, jostling to watch the spectacle.

The nanny Liang Rao had sent felt dizzy just counting the boxes. When she returned with her report, it was Liang Rao herself who ended up dizzy.

She’d initially thought, since Shang Hang Yu had so heartlessly driven them from the residence, she would ignore his marriage. Shang Hang Yu, an ignorant wastrel, wouldn’t know the first thing about these complicated rituals. Any mistakes would be his own disgrace.

If higher-ups blamed her, she’d simply play the victim—forced out of her own home, bullied by her stepson. Ultimately, Shang Hang Yu would bear all the shame.

Yet who knew Shang Hang Yu understood every subtlety perfectly.

Not only that, but he had used the highest possible standards for a woman entering her second marriage.

And where did Shang Hang Yu get all these treasures?

From her own storerooms, of course!

Liang Rao, in a fury, lost her dignified General’s Madam composure for the first time. She smashed cups and plates, loudly cursing Shang Hang Yu until her voice echoed harshly throughout her rooms.

The courtyard wasn’t large. Shang Xiu Yuan, who had been hiding at home for days, heard his mother’s every bitter word clearly.

Half irritated, half resentful, Shang Xiu Yuan thought: [Why is Mother shouting now? If she’d been ruthless enough back then, she should’ve gotten rid of Shang Hang Yu before he grew up. What good was throwing tantrums now? Every dish she breaks must be replaced, and that costs silver. I can’t even afford a decent inkstone anymore.]

He had just discovered his mother knew nothing about business. The shops previously turned profits only because Qin family stewards managed them well. Shang Hang Yu had cleverly reclaimed those businesses along with their capable stewards. Without them, his father’s few recently acquired shops had emerged, losing money, even requiring silver from their farms and estates to sustain them.

Now, whenever Shang Xiu Yuan visited, his mother complained endlessly about such matters, no longer asking him about poetry or his friends.

Friends…

Thinking of this, Shang Xiu Yuan grew even more upset. Since that humiliating incident, he had tried countless excuses, but none helped. Wherever he went now, silence followed. Once the center of attention, he found this change unbearable. Thus, he withdrew entirely, avoiding all interactions except official check-ins.

He dared not tell anyone Shang Hang Yu might have hidden talents. If people discovered Shang Hang Yu had been pretending, what would happen to Shang Xiu Yuan’s reputation built on belittling his brother?

And what about Father? Would Father abandon him for Shang Hang Yu?

Though Shang Hang Yu was now a Prince Consort, history showed consorts sometimes took on powerful roles. Rules were fixed, but people were unpredictable.

What if Shang Hang Yu rose?

Shang Xiu Yuan didn’t dare gamble on that. Like an ostrich burying its head, he wished Shang Hang Yu would continue pretending forever.

As Shang Xiu Yuan stuffed cotton into his ears, a shriek suddenly came from the adjacent courtyard—

“Someone come! The red coral General gifted me has vanished!”

Shang Xiu Yuan stiffened, remaining silent.

Due to the Emperor’s strict orders, nothing from the incident at Gathering Worthies Teahouse had leaked out, and in his anger afterward, Shang Xiu Yuan had even forgotten to mention the red coral to his mother.

Only now did he remember…

Shang Xiu Yuan wished he hadn’t heard anything.

But soon, his mother’s voice reached him again: “What? Are you certain? You saw it among Shang Hang Yu’s bridal gifts?”

“Wonderful! He dares steal a gift the General gave me to save face? Gu Yu! Report this to the officials immediately. Say our General’s estate was burglarized!”

Liang Rao sneered.

She’d see how Shang Hang Yu could bear the disgrace of having stolen from his stepmother on his betrothal day.

“Yes,” Gu Yu replied, preparing to leave.

But just then, Shang Xiu Yuan suddenly opened his door, commanding darkly, “Stop. No one goes anywhere!”

Liang Rao stared at him, confused. But her patience with her son was immense; Shang Xiu Yuan was her pride and future. Compared to Shang Hang Yu, who’d only gained a position through marriage, her Yuan’er was vastly superior.

“Are you feeling better, Yuan’er?” Liang Rao stepped forward gently.

To avoid suspicion, Shang Xiu Yuan had claimed he caught a chill during the literary gathering. Although Liang Rao doubted him somewhat, seeing him emerge now relieved her.

Shang Xiu Yuan pulled away from her touch. “Mother, I’m fine. I need to speak with you.”

He led her inside.

Liang Rao followed, perplexed yet pleased that her son wanted a private conversation. But as soon as they sat down, Shang Xiu Yuan said directly, “Mother, that red coral—I gave it to Xing Yu.”

“What?” Liang Rao stared, stunned.

He continued, “I can’t explain why right now. But if Mother wants red coral, I can find another. One pot, two pots—even three. Whatever you want, I’ll bring you.”

Liang Rao pressed her lips tight.

But how could that compare? No matter how many pots he brought, they’d never be the original gift from the General.

“Yuan’er, tell Mother honestly—what happened recently?”

Shang Xiu Yuan impatiently retorted, “Even if you knew, what good would it do? If you have the energy for curiosity, Mother, you’d better spend it managing this household properly!”