Misty Rain of the Old Times

Years ago, Xiao Gao presented the old man with a painting of pine trees and cranes symbolizing longevity, and received four words of encouragement from the old man: "Study hard." Those words are still enshrined in the Gao family today, so it's no exaggeration for Chen Xuan to say that he considers this letter a family heirloom.

If the old man hadn't once been the ruler of a country, and his calligraphy wasn't easily allowed to leave the country, and if Chen Xuan hadn't dared to be too presumptuous between father-in-law and son-in-law, he would have wanted the old man to write several boxes of calligraphy for him, just like he had squeezed Ning Guiliang.

Chen Xuan had been thinking about collecting these things for a long time and was already putting it into practice. He had brought home quite a few of Xiao Gao's manuscripts, but he wasn't that obsessed with it. He just let things take their course and didn't force it.

After all, he was supposed to live a very long time. As time passed, the poems, songs, classics, articles, and paintings he collected would become witnesses and marks of an era. He wasn't just waiting to become an antique and appreciate in value.

The little princess, both amused and exasperated, playfully punched him, saying speechlessly, "Brother Xuan, are you serious? Aren't we short of good stuff in our storeroom?"

Chen Xuan carefully put the letter away, then turned back and said earnestly, "How can they be the same? No matter how good something is, it can't compare to my father-in-law's letter. The meaning is completely different. To me, even priceless treasures can't compare to a single word in this letter."

Upon hearing this, the little princess was slightly moved. After thinking for a moment, she nodded in deep agreement. Yes, no matter how good something is, nothing can compare to the little things left behind by loved ones.

Then Chen Xuan suddenly pouted and said, "My dear wife, my father-in-law said in his letter that he originally wanted to bestow upon me the title of a king of a different surname, but then he changed his mind and said that I was not worthy. What kind of nonsense is this? He's not just trying to whet my appetite, but he's also extinguishing my hopes."

He was just chatting with his wife and didn't really care about it. If the old man had actually done that, he would have found it troublesome. Is it so easy to be a king of a different surname? It's not for showing off. You have to bear the corresponding responsibilities and obligations. At that time, you won't be able to control your own destiny. There are many people watching. The officialdom has its own rules. You can't let him do whatever he wants.

The little princess rolled her eyes at her and shook her head, saying, "Whose fault is that? Didn't Father make it very clear that if you, my husband, had even the slightest achievement, he would have stood up against all opposition to solidify your position? But what have you done, my husband? Think about what contributions you have made to this country."

"Oh, just kidding, why take it seriously?" Chen Xuan shrank his neck and said awkwardly. He had been a lazy bum all day long, so what achievements did he have? It was normal that he didn't deserve it. On the other hand, with his abilities, wouldn't it be easy for him to be made a king or prime minister? It's just that he didn't even have that kind of idea.

The little princess covered her mouth and laughed, "Although it wasn't said explicitly, Father Emperor made up for it in other ways. Not only did he marry me off to you, but he also brought a dowry that stretched for ten miles. What more could you ask for?"

“I have not wronged my wife. To me, all those material possessions combined are not worth a single finger of yours,” Chen Xuan said without hesitation.

With a smile, the little princess blushed and said, "My husband always says sweet things to make me happy. It's late, my husband, we should go to bed."

This was a signal, Chen Xuan understood instantly, and of course he was happy to oblige. Not to mention they were in the midst of a tender and sweet relationship, even a young man like him couldn't refuse. Having a strong body was a real advantage; otherwise, for an ordinary person, having such a beautiful wife would probably shorten their lifespan by ten years...

The next morning, after some activities and breakfast, Chen Xuan found himself with nothing to do again. He had originally come to visit the old man, but the old man had gone sightseeing and he didn't know where to look for him. Suddenly, he had lost his purpose.

However, since some things had already begun, Chen Xuan naturally wanted to follow up. While the little princess was still getting ready, Chen Xuan had someone summon Steward Hua.

"Master, you summoned me? What can I do for you?" Steward Hua quickly came to inquire.

In the garden, Chen Xuan lazily rose and said, "Manager Hua, please sit down and have some tea. We can chat slowly."

Chen Xuan still respects the old woman who has taken care of the little princess for many years. Now the whole family still has to rely on her to handle everything in detail. It is estimated that someone else would not be able to manage it in a short time.

Steward Hua didn't take Chen Xuan's politeness for granted. After some polite refusals, she sat down with a cheerful smile and said, "Then I'll take the liberty of speaking freely, sir. I'll make all the arrangements perfectly."

Considering that Steward Daohua not only has to manage the entire household but also her fiefdom, she must be quite busy. So Chen Xuan said directly, "Elder Hua, I would like to ask about the tax situation in Qian Ning's fiefdom. Could you tell me about it?"

Steward Hua wasn't surprised by this. After all, the princess was married into the family, and Chen Xuan was the one in charge. It was normal for him to inquire about these things. There was no reason for Chen Xuan to be so concerned about everything concerning the little princess.

However, Steward Hua hadn't anticipated this issue beforehand. Fortunately, she was well-informed about everything, big and small, and after a moment's thought, she said, "Master, regarding the taxation in the fiefdom, it's divided into commercial tax and agricultural tax, which are further subdivided according to different circumstances. The taxes for different goods traded and agricultural products are also different. For example, in terms of mining, salt, and iron, we manage these ourselves and only need to pay wages. Tea, wine, silk, and cloth are different..."

Chen Xuan was getting a headache listening to this, so he coughed lightly and interrupted apologetically, saying, "Um, Elder Hua, you don't need to go into so much detail. Just give me a general overview."

Having long understood his master's personality, Elder Hua decisively and briefly explained, "The general situation is similar across the country, perhaps with a few exceptions in smaller places. Since everything in the fiefdom is the private property of the master and His Highness, a portion of the taxes collected doesn't need to be handed over to the national treasury. Therefore, relatively speaking, the taxes in the fiefdom are actually lighter than in other places. After all, His Highness's expenses haven't always relied entirely on the fiefdom's revenue, and His Highness isn't the type to exploit the lower classes."

At this point, Steward Hua paused for a moment and then said, "If I may be so bold as to ask, what is the meaning behind all this, sir? If there are other arrangements, I can make adjustments immediately to avoid delaying your important matters."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, signaling her to calm down. After a moment of contemplation, he said calmly, "Elder Hua, there hasn't been any rain since the beginning of the year. I think everyone knows what will happen if this continues. The prosperity and extravagance of the capital city have masked this. For now, no one dares to discuss this matter openly to avoid unrest among the people, but we must start making the necessary preparations."

Steward Hua's heart sank. Just because something isn't mentioned doesn't mean it hasn't happened. Now that Chen Xuan has said so, she roughly understands what he means. She said solemnly, "Please speak, Master. Everything is up to you."

Nodding, Chen Xuan thought for a moment and said, "It is said that having grain in hand brings peace of mind. Now that we have quite a bit of resources, let's buy and stockpile as much grain as possible. Things are still relatively peaceful now, so let's not be too ostentatious. Steward Hua, do you understand what I mean?"

"Don't worry, sir, I will make proper arrangements," Steward Hua said solemnly, knowing that his master was taking precautions.

Then Chen Xuan continued, "What I mean is, if a situation that no one wants to see really happens, other taxes should be determined according to the overall situation, but one thing must be arranged: minimize the taxes on ordinary people who make a living by farming. If the situation worsens to a certain extent, taxes can be waived or even distributed to them to ensure they can survive. Does Elder Hua understand what I mean?"

"I understand, and I will certainly make proper arrangements for you, sir, and will not let you down," Steward Hua said earnestly. Chen Xuan then continued, "I naturally trust Steward Hua to handle things. Next, I will trouble Steward Hua to convey my stance. I am a person who is fair in rewards and punishments and will not tolerate any dishonesty. I will not mistreat my subordinates, but if anyone tries to have any ulterior motives in this matter, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

With a sharp look in her eyes, Steward Hua said coldly, "What you say is absolutely true, Master. Human nature is unpredictable, and the evil in human nature is most evident at times like these. I will keep a close eye on my subordinates. Even without your reminder, if such a thing happens, I will not let them off the hook!"

Steward Hua is getting on in years, and at this point in his life, he naturally wouldn't be greedy for such a small gain. But he can't stop his subordinates from having ulterior motives. Anyway, Chen Xuan has already made it clear that if anyone dares to take advantage of the situation, he will deal with them without any leniency!
Waving his hand, Chen Xuan calmly said, "Buy and stockpile as much grain as possible, so that our high grain prices don't affect others. Then, if disaster strikes, reduce the tax burden on farmers to make their lives a little easier. Adjust the specifics according to the facts. If the day truly comes when people are destitute, the grain we buy will come in handy. You heard about Gao Zhuangyuan's answers in last year's imperial examination, right? Keeping people alive is the most important thing, even if the process is somewhat inhumane. In short, we can't control too much, but let's try to do our best in our own little corner. Our abilities are limited, but we'll do what we can to sustain ourselves for as long as we can. As long as we've done our best and have a clear conscience, that's enough."

After hearing Chen Xuan's words, Steward Hua stood up, his expression moved, and said, "Master is so kind and benevolent. If the common people in the fiefdom knew that Master was thinking of them so much, they would be moved to tears."

With a smile, Chen Xuan shook his head and said, "I don't care about these things. I'll just do my best. That's about it. Is there anything Elder Hua needs my approval beforehand? I'm not here often, so I want to avoid any trouble later."

After careful consideration, and knowing that Chen Xuan had already given all the instructions, the remaining task was simply to carry them out. So, Steward Hua cupped her hands and said, "Nothing for now. Please don't trouble yourself with anything else, sir. If there are no further instructions, I will go about my business."

Since that's the case, Chen Xuan stood up and said, "Very well, thank you for your trouble, Elder Hua. Please take care to rest. Just give instructions to the people below and don't overwork yourselves. Later, go to the storeroom and get an ounce or two of dragon blood to nourish your body. We're all family, don't be shy."

"Thank you, sir. I'll take my leave now," Steward Hua said with a smile, without refusing to accept the offer.

There was indeed some dragon blood in the Chen Xuan Mansion's storeroom. The little princess had only glanced at it when she was looking through the account books last time and remembered it. She guessed it was left over from the dragon that had crippled Mr. Yushan after it was killed. It had been decades, and she didn't know how much was left. It was well preserved and still looked as fresh as if it had just been drawn.

Anyway, Chen Xuan doesn't need these things, so he might as well give them to the people around him. They've done so much for him, so there's no need to be stingy. They're just sitting there anyway.

Chen Xuan had already considered what he had said to Steward Hua when he asked the little princess about her fiefdom yesterday. Now that it was finally settled, he could finally put his mind at ease.

He's not a saint; he can't care about so many things. He won't profit from others' suffering, nor will he empty his pockets to do good deeds. He won't do things that require hardship to endure. He can only do what he can and as long as he has a clear conscience, he doesn't care what others think or say. Others have no right to interfere in his family affairs. If he offends anyone's face or interests, they can come and hit him if they dare.

So, he didn't immediately say that the disaster was probably unavoidable and to exempt farmers from taxes, but rather made adjustments based on the actual situation. He wasn't that stupid; after all, he had followed that smart guy Xiao Gao for so many years. A generous gesture that comes out of thin air might not necessarily earn gratitude from others; it would probably backfire, and some people would even call him an idiot behind his back.

Not long after Steward Hua left, a fragrant breeze wafted over, and the little princess, who had just finished dressing up, asked curiously, "I just saw Elder Hua here, where is she? Brother Xuan, what are you talking about?"

"Do you remember what I told my wife yesterday? I asked Elder Hua to come and inquire about the situation in the fiefdom, and then... that's about it. My wife won't be upset that I didn't tell you, will she?" Chen Xuan told her the general situation. The couple had nothing to hide from each other.

Nestled close to him, the little princess smiled radiantly and said, "What are you saying, my husband? You are the head of the household, and I will support whatever you do. I hope you won't find fault with me. I am just a weak woman and cannot consider everything so thoroughly. These important matters will have to be handled by you, my husband."

“We are husband and wife, and we should discuss everything together. Actually, I’m quite lazy, so to avoid trouble later, I simply gave the instructions in advance. How far things will go depends on fate,” Chen Xuan said, pinching her cheek.

Leaning against him, the little princess thought to herself how wonderful it was to have a man to rely on. She realized that she herself wouldn't think that far ahead or dwell on such things. She looked up and asked, "Husband, what are your plans for the future?"

Chen Xuan shrugged and said, "What plans could I possibly have? My father-in-law has disappeared somewhere, and I can't see him even if I wanted to. Do you remember I said I would take you around to see the world? Now I have to keep my promise. Is there anywhere you'd like to go, my wife?"

Old Deng went sightseeing and wouldn't be seen for a while, so Chen Xuan simply took his young wife on their honeymoon.

Chen Xuan thought he would set a limit of three months. The reason for the three-month limit was that the old man reminded him that he could only read the letter three days after receiving it, and that the important things in the letter should be said three times. With his tacit understanding with the old man, he naturally understood what it meant.

Three months, is there only three months left?
Hey……

Unaware of the hidden repression in Chen Xuan's heart, the little princess exclaimed excitedly, "Great! I don't know where to go either, and I've never traveled far before. My husband can take me anywhere!"

Nodding, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "In that case, let's not decide where to go right away, let's just go wherever we end up. But before that, we need to go back to Yang County, and then set off in a couple of days."

Chen Xuan had told the little girl about the trip back to Yang County, and he hadn't forgotten that it might rain at any time.

The little princess readily agreed, saying, "I will do as Brother Xuan says."

Just then, Chen Xuan turned his head in astonishment to look into the distance and blurted out, "Holy crap, there's another expert!"

The little princess was puzzled and asked curiously, "Brother Xuan, please don't use foul language. What happened?"

Turning back, Chen Xuan still looked astonished and asked, "Wife, your brother, Prince Qing, has rebelled! Can you believe it?"

"What? How dare he!" the little princess exclaimed in disbelief.

...(End of chapter)