The Second Master of the Red Chamber

"Your Majesty~"

On the top deck, several female soldiers who were not on duty placed their helmets upside down on a rack and played pitch-pot with the arrows that had been removed.

Under the parasol beside them, Sister You San drank tea while acting as referee for them.

Upon seeing Jia Lian approach, You Sanjie quickly moved closer to him.

"Your Highness, has your war meeting concluded?"

Jia Lian nodded and opened his arms, and You Sanjie immediately began to remove Jia Lian's armor.

The female soldiers who had stopped fooling around also came over to help.

After they removed their heavy armor, Jia Lian walked under the parasol, lay down on the armchair, and leisurely closed his eyes.

Seeing this, You Sanjie knew that Jia Lian had nothing important to do for the time being.

So she poured herself a cup of tea, nestled into Jia Lian's arms, fed it to him, and then smiled:
"Your Highness, is the army about to launch an attack?"

I just saw the troop movements of the various ships being frequently changed, and many ships have already weighed anchor and set sail.

Jia Lian put his arm around her waist and smiled as he looked down, "Not bad, you can analyze military situations now."

Faced with Jia Lian's teasing, You Sanjie flattered him politely, saying, "That's right, don't you know whose soldiers they are?"

Seeing that Jia Lian was indeed smiling broadly, she then inquired further:
"Your Highness, are we about to launch a landing operation to kill those Japanese pirates?"

"You, killing Japanese pirates?"

"Why does Your Highness look down on people? I'm very accurate at archery and shooting!"

Sister You was not convinced.

As someone whose ancestral home was Nanjing, she had naturally heard of the numerous crimes committed by Japanese pirates along the southeastern coast.

She also deeply hated these Japanese pirates and wished she could get rid of them as soon as possible.

Moreover, as she said, her swordsmanship is hard to say, since she has never fought a life-or-death battle with anyone.

But she is indeed quite accurate at archery.

Even when it came to learning how to use a musket, she learned it faster and better than the female soldiers under her command.

Seeing that You Sanjie had turned away and was ignoring him, Jia Lian couldn't help but coax her:
"Okay, I didn't mean to look down on you."

But I can't bear to let you go and kill the Japanese pirates.

Even if you kill ten or eight Japanese pirates, if you get hurt even a little, it's still a losing proposition for me.

You are my precious darling.

Upon hearing this, You Sanjie immediately turned her anger into shyness, nudged Jia Lian, and said coquettishly, "Oh dear, what are you saying?"

"Now they're not treating me like a soldier anymore."

"Where in the world can you find a soldier as handsome as you?"

The female soldiers who had just finished hanging up Jia Lian's armor and returned secretly chuckled upon hearing their commander's conversation with the prince.

But I dared not laugh out loud.

Because they remained silent, Sister You could pretend they didn't exist.

If they make a sound, they are likely to be driven away, which means they can no longer stay by the prince's side or hear his interesting words.

Because You Sanjie was still wearing alloy armor, which was quite uncomfortable, Jia Lian ordered her to take it off.

You Sanjie rolled her eyes at Jia Lian. Generally speaking, if Jia Lian asked her to remove her armor, it meant he had designs on her.

But she didn't refuse; instead, she stood up cooperatively and beckoned the female soldiers to come and help her.

As Jia Lian watched You Sanjie remove her armor, revealing her naturally graceful curves, he smiled and said:

"Forget about amphibious operations."

We'll be spending a long time on this ship for the foreseeable future.

"A landing will have to wait until the soldiers have completed the construction of the military port and fortress."

Back in Liaodong, Jia Lian personally led the troops because his forces were insufficient and the enemy was extremely powerful.

He had to personally take charge and strive to maximize every bit of his strength.

Now that he has many soldiers and generals under his command, and the war he is fighting is not related to the vital interests of the Great Wei, he naturally does not need to risk his life.

On the contrary, it is best for his generals to stay in a safe place and command, so that they can feel at ease.

After all, given Jia Lian's current status, if anything were to happen to him...

Even if we win the war, it will be a case of having done more harm than good.

Therefore, Jia Lian only needs to oversee the overall situation from the rear, while leaving the actual fighting to his generals.

Firstly, it would give them more opportunities to make contributions; secondly, compared to the outcome of this battle, the two hundred or so new warships in his hands were more important.

This is his life's work, and the spark of the Great Wei Navy; it must not be lost under any circumstances.

The fact that the Japanese were able to cross the sea to invade Korea at least indicates that they also had a considerable number and quality of ships.

Although the possibility is small, we must guard against a surprise attack from the sea.

They didn't care about losing those old-fashioned warships.

Each of these new warships, which he personally oversaw the construction of, was extremely valuable, and the loss of even one would break his heart.

You Sanjie nestled back into Jia Lian's arms, showing no regret about not being able to go ashore to fight.

She actually just wanted to go out with Jia Lian to broaden her horizons. She was actually afraid of going to the battlefield and fighting, and didn't really yearn for it.

For her, having witnessed the vastness of the sea and the grand spectacle of Jia Lian's thousands of troops along the way, she was already completely satisfied.

Now she just wants to stay by Jia Lian's side and try to please him when he has free time.

After all, she understood that once she returned to the capital, she wouldn't have such a good opportunity to spend every day with Jia Lian.

Suddenly remembering that she hadn't finished her task for the day, she gave a look to the female soldiers who were spying on her, signaling them to leave. Then she leaned close to Jia Lian and whispered, "Does Your Highness have any free time now? I need to fulfill my promise."

Jia Lian chuckled and patted her bottom: "You still remember?"

"Of course. They are people of their word; they do what they say they will do."

After saying that, You Sanjie shrank off Jia Lian and lay between his legs.

Jia Lian raised his head and looked at You Sanjie's face, which was as bright as a peach blossom, with a persistent and earnest expression. He couldn't help but pat her head affectionately and approvingly.

Then I lay back down and looked up at the azure sky, realizing that life on the ship was anything but boring.

……

Days passed by, and soon it was three months after Jia Lian went on his campaign.

The capital of the Great Wei Dynasty.

The retired emperor ultimately did not survive the unbearable heat of June and passed away.

The whole country mourned for a time.

What the common people didn't know was...

Immediately after the death of the retired emperor, news spread from the palace that Emperor Ningkang was critically ill.

Fortunately, this news was only known to a limited number of people within a limited circle.

Otherwise, it might not be a nationwide mourning, but a nationwide shock.

It's unknown how many scheming and ambitious individuals will take advantage of this opportunity to cause trouble.

The fourth prince was undoubtedly the busiest and most depressed person.

He not only had to fulfill his duties as regent, but also had to be responsible for his own grandfather's enormous and boundless funeral.

Even when they had a spare moment, they still had to follow the instructions of the ministers of the Ministry of Rites and go to Emperor Ningkang's sickbed every day to show their filial piety.

It could be said that he did more serious work during this period than he did in his entire life.

On this day, the fourth prince finally managed to leave the palace and return to his residence as the crown prince.

The Crown Prince's residence was his former residence, that of Prince Xiao.

Some ministers also suggested that he move into the former crown prince's residence.

After all, although his Prince Xiao's Mansion was built specifically for him by Emperor Ningkang, its initial layout was that of an ordinary prince's mansion.

Its structure and functions are insufficient for use as a prince's residence.

However, the fourth prince did not agree.

Just as he got out of the carriage, a thin man rushed towards him from the street, shouting that he wanted to see the Crown Prince.

He was stopped by the Crown Prince's guards before he could even reach the Fourth Prince. Seeing that he was thinly dressed and unarmed, and did not appear to be an assassin, they did not kill him on the spot.

Just as they were about to drag him away, the Fourth Prince heard the commotion.

He turned and walked over, ordering his men to release the man, and asked, "Who are you, and why do you want to see me?"

The man knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly before saying, "Your Highness, I am merely a lowly servant of the Imperial Clan Court."

Actually, it's not me who wants to see you, it's Prince Yun, no, it's the former Prince Yun who wants to see you.

He was about to die and said that before he died, he wanted to see his family one last time.

But none of the officials in the Imperial Clan Court paid any attention to him, so he begged me to help him deliver a message.

I dared not agree at first, but it was only because of Prince Yun…

As the man spoke, he began to cry.

"Prince Yun actually knelt down before me on the spot, begging me to help him this time."

He also said that his fourth brother, the Crown Prince, is the most kind-hearted.

Even if he has done something to wrong you, you would agree to see him one last time, considering he is about to die.

He was, after all, the former Prince Yun, the dignified Third Prince.

I couldn't bear to do it, so I risked coming to deliver this message.

If I offend the Crown Prince, even if he were to order my death, I would have no resentment.

Upon hearing this man's words, the fourth prince remembered that he had an elder brother who was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court.

He immediately became very angry.

The deeper the love, the harsher the criticism.

He had always respected his third elder brother since he was a child.

After all, unlike the eldest prince who was arrogant and unruly from a young age, the third prince took good care of and united the members of the imperial clan.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been known as the "wise king".

However, the fourth prince never expected that the third prince's virtue was all an act.

Given the opportunity, he will be more wicked and vicious than anyone else.

He not only killed his elder brother, but he also dared to attack his father!

Therefore, even knowing that he was still alive, and even knowing what fate awaited him if he was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, he never visited him once.

Just pretend you don't have this imperial brother.

He wanted to rebuke him, but then he saw the messenger kowtow repeatedly after finishing his sentence, until his scalp was bleeding.

I also found it meaningless.

So I asked, "Is he really going to die?"

"it is true.

How dare a lowly person deceive the Crown Prince?

The Crown Prince should know that the Third Prince was subjected to the most severe imprisonment, and could only stay in that dark room, which was about ten feet square, every day.

Since the time of Emperor Taizu, almost none of the princes who were punished and imprisoned in such places survived more than half a year.

The Third Prince has been tortured for four or five months already…

Upon hearing this, a hint of reluctance appeared in the eyes of the Fourth Prince.

His personal eunuch saw this and quickly reminded him, "Your Highness, you must not be soft-hearted."

You've forgotten, the Third Prince sent troops to attack the Daming Palace, attempting to assassinate the emperor.

Such a vicious person is better off dead; I'd better not get involved in this matter.

"I know." The Fourth Prince glared at his attendant.

After hesitating for a moment, he said to the man, "Take me to the Imperial Clan Court."

If I find out you're mocking me, I won't let you off easily.

The man was overjoyed and repeatedly said he dared not accept such praise.

The Imperial Clan Court was an extremely important government office.

It occupies a very large area.

An official who walks out of there is of a much higher rank than an ordinary government office.

When he was led to the area where princes and nobles were imprisoned, the fourth prince instinctively disliked the atmosphere there.

As I passed by a high wall, I was surprised to hear an old man singing inside.

Judging from the old voice, he was actually an old man in his seventies or eighties. The fourth prince was surprised and asked the official from the Imperial Clan Court who was with him.

The man replied, "Your Highness, the person imprisoned here is Prince Kang from the reign of Emperor Muzong."

Rumor has it that this Prince Kang once attempted to assassinate the retired emperor.

However, the retired emperor was merciful and did not kill him, but instead ordered people to take good care of him.

That's why this old prince is still alive today.

The fourth prince sighed upon hearing this.

The retired emperor ruled the country for more than fifty years.

His father had been on the throne for eight years.

How many years must this old prince from the reign of Emperor Muzong have been imprisoned?

It's truly a miracle that he's still alive and well.

Without intending to cause any further trouble, the Fourth Prince led a large group of people and continued deeper into the area.

Soon they arrived at an even more gloomy and lifeless place.

Even the air itself reeked of decay.

An official from the Imperial Clan Court advised, "It's filthy inside; Your Highness, you shouldn't go any further."

"If you wish to see the Third Prince, I will have someone bring him out."

"No need."

The fourth prince, who had initially hesitated, decisively refused.

He wanted to see for himself whether his third brother was really going to die or if he was conspiring with others to deceive him.

So they continued walking forward and soon came to a row of stone houses.

Each stone house is small, about ten feet in size.

Many of the large brass locks on the doors were rusty, indicating that they had been abandoned for many years.

The officials from the Imperial Clan Court originally intended to open the door themselves, but after taking only two steps, they realized the smell was truly unpleasant and retreated, ordering their subordinates to unlock it.

The fourth prince and his entourage couldn't help but cover their noses.

As the door opened, an even stronger stench wafted out.

Upon hearing this, the officials of the Imperial Clan Court, fearing that the Crown Prince would think they were mistreating a prince, immediately rebuked their subordinates: "Didn't we tell you to clean up the filth regularly? Why is it still so smelly?"

His subordinates didn't dare to talk back and could only take the blame.

The fourth prince had already believed the messenger's words.

If he were to live in a place like this, he wouldn't be able to stand it for even three days, let alone a few months.

I forced myself to walk forward despite feeling nauseous, and came to the door of the stone house.

It was pitch black inside, and it took quite a while before I could barely see anything.

A stone bed, a pile of straw, a small table, and a bench.

The arrangement couldn't be simpler.

Amidst the filthy, scattered straw, one could vaguely see a person huddled up.

Seemingly hearing the noise at the door, he struggled to get up from the haystack, his forelimbs bracing against the ground, lying down like a dog.

He stared blankly at the doorway for a long time before a glimmer of life returned to his eyes.

As if recognizing the person, he excitedly rolled off the bed and crawled towards the door.

"Fourth brother, is that you? Fourth brother, I knew you would come to see me..." (End of this chapter)