lady, please calm down

During the last few days of the fifth year of Xuanqing in the Great Qi Dynasty, the atmosphere in Tokyo City was somewhat weird.

In the summer and autumn of this year, thanks to the gradual development of Hebei and Northwest China, as well as the bumper harvests in the two traditional grain-producing areas of Huaibei and Central Plains, even with 200,000 troops fighting outside, grain prices hit a new low in more than 30 years.

Externally, Liaodong was conquered in one battle, and the territory was expanded by 3,000 miles, gaining vast fertile land.

He brought back more than 40,000 captured civilians, relocated the burial sites of loyal royal family members, and captured more than 200 civil and military officials of the Jin Dynasty, including Wanyan Hushe and Wanyan Liang.

He let out a strong breath of anger that had been accumulating since the Dingwei year.

Internally, the weather was good and the harvests were good; externally, the territory was expanded.
Against this backdrop, the entire city of Tokyo and even the people of Da Qi were immersed in joy, and they also had more expectations for the future.

But compared to the common people, the envoys from various countries who still remain in Tokyo City cannot empathize with the people of Qi.

At first, there was news that the Jin Dynasty, which was already in name only, planned to offer five golds and seventeen prefectures as a token of its submission.

On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, there was news that the Emperor of Anfeng Dynasty felt that he was old and unable to do things, so he wanted to abdicate and retire, entrusting the people of Huainan to the King of Jin.

The possibility of such news being leaked is extremely low. It is probably that Huaibei deliberately released the news to set an example for Xixia and Lin'an Dynasty.

But no matter what choices Xixia and Lin'an would make, the Huaibei faction's pace of advancement was orderly and unstoppable.

The first day of the first lunar month in the sixth year of Xuanqing.

Dong Tianbao, the owner of Dongji Satin Shop on Niuxing Street, was awakened by sporadic firecrackers before dawn. He only slept for two hours last night because he stayed up all night on New Year's Eve.

But he was not annoyed by being disturbed from his sweet dream. He got up and shouted towards the backyard: "Erlang, Erlang, get up. Don't sleep in on New Year's Day. Get up and set off the firecrackers your father bought a few days ago."

"Father, I know."

After a while, a hoarse response came from the backyard, as if his son had just woken up.

As soon as his son and daughter-in-law had finished washing and dressing, they immediately got busy and moved the offerings, such as noodles, incense and candles, that had been prepared yesterday, to the small ancestral hall in the home.

Dong Tianbao, who was sitting in the main hall drinking tea, couldn't help but miss his eldest son's family. His family used to be prosperous, but after Ding Wei, only he and his two sons were left.

After years of raising them, the two sons got married one after another. Two years ago, in order to expand the family business, the eldest son took his wife to Huaibei to open a branch.

This year, my son wrote to me saying that Chen Yingjun, the son of Chen Jinglie of Huaibei, had organized a batch of silk, porcelain and tea in the local area, intending to sell them to the Arab world and explore the sea route to the far west.

Dong Jiadalang finally managed to secure a share, but in order to prepare for this, he cannot go home for the New Year this year.

Dong Tianbao fully supports his eldest son’s choice, believing that if a family wants to prosper, it cannot do without younger generations who are daring and hardworking.

Moreover, it is well known throughout the world that maritime merchants make huge profits.

Although the risk of going to sea is extremely high, Dong Tianbao, who has been paying attention to this matter, has learned that the background behind Mr. Chen's doing this is that the Tax Police Corps stationed in Zhou State by Huaibei has already taken control of the Quanzhou Maritime Customs.

In Quanzhou, there are many boatmen and sailors who have been sailing on the sea for many years and are familiar with the sea routes.

This solves the problem of going overseas from a technical perspective.

As for safety, according to the eldest son, Master Chen invited the Shi brothers from the Huaibei navy to personally help train the sailors, and installed thunder cannons on merchant ships!
They called these gun-equipped ships armed merchant ships.

In the early years of the Battle of Tokyo, the sight of the thunder cannon roaring outside the city left a deep impression on countless people. With that thing, let alone being robbed by pirates, it would be good enough if they didn't take the initiative to loot the pirates' lairs.

Only a young official like Mr. Chen who dares to do things and has a good background can do this. If it were an ordinary person, he would not be able to accomplish such tasks as coordinating the forces of various parties and purchasing the sky thunder cannon.

Thinking of this, Dong Tianbao, who had experienced twists and turns in most of his life, couldn't help but fantasize about how prosperous his family would be in the future if they could get on the Huaibei line.

While he was thinking, he saw his daughter who had been lost for more than ten years hurried out from the backyard, looking around, as if she wanted to find something to do on her own initiative. She also seemed nervous and uneasy because he got up a little late.

Dong Tianbao's heart ached, and he waved to his daughter, "Ying'er, it's just past the hour of Mao, and it's not even dawn yet, why are you up?"

When Dong Ying heard the voice, her first reaction was to kneel down. Then she remembered her father's words on the first day she came home, telling her not to kneel down at every turn. She lowered her head and said carefully, "My daughter will go and do her work now."

By chance, the second daughter-in-law who was decorating the small ancestral hall passed by here and said casually: "Come, Ying'er, help your sister-in-law hang up the ancestral scroll."

"Slave, come right now."

How could a habit of eighteen years be changed in a short time? Dong Ying blurted out that she was a slave.

Dong Tianbao, who was originally in a good mood, couldn't help but get angry and said, "You are my Dong family's daughter, why are you a slave?"

When Dong Ying heard her father raise his voice, she was so scared that she fell to her knees.

From her habitual movements, we can see how cautious her daughter has been in Liaodong over the years.
It was New Year's Day, and Dong Tianbao felt very upset. He couldn't bear to say another word to his daughter, but turned to look at his daughter-in-law, "Isn't there anyone else in the family? Why do you order Ying'er around? She is your and Erlang's biological sister, not a slave to be ordered around!"

"."

The second daughter-in-law was also full of grievances. It was just a simple sentence that made her father-in-law so angry.

At the middle of the Mao hour, the ancestral hall was decorated.

Dong Tianbao and Erlang went in to worship. The altar was filled with ancestral tablets, but there were only the two of them, father and son, below, which looked a bit out of place.

"Hey, Erlang, do you still remember the scene of ancestor worship during the New Year in the early years?"

Dong Tianbao said with infinite sadness. Dong Erlang knew that his father was talking about the period before Ding Wei. At that time, when offering sacrifices to the ancestors, his father's two brothers and their cousins ​​would fill up half of the room.

Looking at the situation now, it is really sad.

Dong Erlang whispered to comfort him: "Dad, look forward to everything. Now that my elder brother has established himself in Huaibei and my younger sister has been rescued by the King of Chu, our lives will get better and better in the future."

Dong Tianbao wiped away her tears, suddenly pulled her son, and kowtowed towards the Chu Palace on Sui Mian Street in the northwest.

Dozens of breaths later, outside the Dong family ancestral hall, there was a loud sound of firecrackers.

At the end of the Mao period, Gu Yuntang, Xue Zhongyi, Guan Huimin and others who lived in the side courtyard of the Dong family got up and came to the front yard.

This New Year, Tokyo was filled with envoys from various countries and families who came to recognize their relatives. The inns in the city were already full, so the Ministry of Rites diverted some of the people to stay in the houses of wealthy families in the city.

Guan Huimin was born in Liuhuai Preparatory School, and Chen Chu was the honorary principal. Years ago, Dong Tianbao learned that the other party was a student of the King of Chu, and immediately took him home without even charging for food and accommodation.

Dong Tianbao saw that several people had gotten up and couldn't help asking, "Were you woken up by the sound of firecrackers?"

As we speak, the firecrackers celebrating the New Year in the city have not stopped, and are even getting louder.

Gu Yuntang bowed and replied, "This time we came north, it happened to be the New Year in Tokyo, so we can just walk around the city and take in the festive scene. But I wonder if there are any lively places in Tokyo?"

"There are so many lively places to go. Today is the first day of the new year. After visiting relatives and friends, everyone likes to go to Yanqing Temple and Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. If you are interested, you can go out with my family after breakfast."

"Alright."

At the beginning of the morning hour, after breakfast, Dong Tianbao took his family and Gu Yuntang and others to Yanqing Temple.

Along the way, all kinds of businesses did not rest during the New Year. They set up flower doors outside their stores with colorful cloth and silk. Street vendors selling rattles and chicken buses were surrounded by children who had just received New Year's money.

Dong Ying followed Dong Tianbao closely. Everything she saw was new to her, but her eyes were always filled with timidity.

While feeling distressed, Dong Tianbao patiently explained to his daughter the various sights along the way, trying to awaken her childhood memories of Tokyo City.

About a quarter of an hour later, a newsboy suddenly came across the crowd, waving a newspaper to attract the attention of passersby, and shouted excitedly: "The Great Qi Qi Yao Publishing House's New Year Special Edition, the lost imperial seal for a thousand years has recently reappeared in Luoyang. The imperial seal has reappeared in obscurity!"

The chaotic street quickly quieted down because of the newsboy's shouting.

Gu Yuntang and Xue Zhongyi couldn't help but look at each other, and they saw great shock in each other's eyes.

Guan Huimin reacted very quickly and bought one before passers-by surrounded the newsboy.

The three of them gathered together and quickly read the headline of the New Year special issue. The content was very brief, saying that on the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, a farmer named Wang Xiaoer dug out the imperial seal at the site of the Han Dynasty Lizheng Gate in Luoyang City.

After being authenticated by Han Fang and other experts in epigraphy, this seal is authentic!

The already noisy streets became even more lively because of the explosive news.

However, most of those who looked excited or serious were scholars.

Gu Yuntang's mood was rarely complicated. If the jade seal was real, it would represent the destiny. In this way, the legitimacy of the Zhou Dynasty would be completely overturned.

Compared with the Zhou scholars who had different thoughts, Dong Tianbao and other city dwellers were much calmer. Having lived in the Dong family for many days, they naturally knew how important the headmaster was in Dong Tianbao's mind.

Guan Huimin couldn't help but ask curiously: "Uncle Dong, do you know what the imperial seal is?"

"I'm asking, although I'm a businessman, I've also read a lot of books, how could I not know what the Imperial Seal is!" "Then Uncle Dong, do you know what this Imperial Seal represents?"

Xue Zhongyi took over the conversation and asked cryptically.

But Dong Tianbao was much more direct than him and answered directly: "Whoever takes this will become the emperor."

"."

Seeing that he understood everything, yet was so calm, Gu Yuntang blurted out: "Now that the King of Chu has obtained this thing, I'm afraid things will change in your Qi State!"

Dong Tianbao looked at Gu Yuntang as if he were a fool and said, "Whether the prince has this thing or not, it won't hinder him from becoming the emperor! Here, take a look."

Dong Tianbao pointed to the busy and crowded streets and said, "I dare not represent the people of Daqi, but who among the millions of people in Tokyo is not waiting for the King of Chu to be the new king? Since the third year of Xuanqing, when the King of Chu led his troops to defeat the Jin soldiers outside the city, he has been the king in the hearts of the people of Tokyo. The people are not stupid, they know who is good and who can protect their families and houses."

Only at this moment did Gu Yuntang realize that Qi Min had already unknowingly accepted and even looked forward to the change of dynasty.

On the contrary, these scholars overcomplicated the issue. The jade seal was just an excuse, or a tool to eliminate certain noises as much as possible, but its appearance or not would not delay the King of Chu from becoming emperor.

The King of Chu had a strong army outside and the support of the people inside. The jade seal gave the scholars a step and reason to change their allegiance.

Guan Huimin, who is most fond of Huaibei, said easily: "It is what the people want."

On the side, Dong Tianbao fell silent after saying that, because he suddenly thought of Her Royal Highness the Princess.

Although Liu Qi was not a good person, there had indeed been great improvements since the eldest princess came to power.

Even though many good policies came from the King of Chu during the eldest princess' reign, she did not disturb the people. During the Defense of Tokyo in the third year of Xuanqing, she personally climbed to the top of the city wall and beat drums to cheer for the soldiers.

The residents of Tokyo, represented by Dong Tianbao, still have some feelings for the eldest princess.

Dong Tianbao couldn't help but turn his head to look at his daughter who was quietly pulling at his clothes and following him closely, and sighed in his heart. The eldest princess lost her father and brother, she is also a pitiful person.

But since ancient times, political struggles don't care whether you are pitiful or not. If the King of Chu ascends the throne, the eldest princess will probably end up in a bad way.

In short, these things are all on the surface, and anyone who pays attention to the situation can analyze them. Dong Tianbao immediately shook his head and thought to himself: This is not something that an ordinary person like us can control. I hope the eldest princess will have peace in the second half of her life.

The group passed through the crowded streets and finally arrived outside Yanqing Temple.

Coincidentally, Guan Huimin and his companions met Zhong Yan and Cao Bai, two sons of Zhou officials.

As soon as they met, Zhong Yan raised the newspaper in his hand and said excitedly: "Mr. Gu, Mr. Xue, have you read the newspaper? This is not concealed at all!"

After all, they were in Qi, so Zhong Yan didn't dare to mention any names, but everyone knew what he was talking about.

The Jin Empire submitted and Anfeng surrendered its territory. If it wasn't secretly forced, how could the emperor do so "voluntarily"?
Combined with the various deeds of the King of Chu over the past decade, he favored a wicked concubine, slaughtered scholars, defamed the harem, forced the emperor to abdicate, and now he blatantly announced that he had found the imperial seal.

Regardless of whether the jade seal is real or fake, in Zhong Yan's eyes, the King of Chu is definitely not a wise ruler.

Gu Yuntang and Xue Zhongyi did not dare to respond to Zhong Yan's words, for fear that he might say something outrageous and bring disaster upon himself.

But Dong Tianbao was immediately displeased when he saw Zhong Yan's red face due to excitement. "Sir, who are you talking about when you said 'not hiding anything at all'? What does it mean?"

"."

It was only at this moment that Zhong Yan noticed Dong Tianbao who was walking with Gu Yuntang and the others. Seeing that Dong Tianbao was dressed like a businessman, he looked down on him a little.

But being in Tokyo, he did not dare to answer Dong Tianbao's question directly. He just snorted coldly and looked up at the sky: "Justice is in the hearts of the people!"

"Hahaha, you are a Zhou countryman, and you can represent the hearts and minds of the people of Qi?"

Dong Tianbao was not polite at all. When Zhong Yan was about to speak, there was a sudden commotion at the entrance of Yanqing Temple.

Several people couldn't help but look over. Before they could figure out what was going on, they heard someone shouting, "The prince is here, the prince and the princess are here!"

It would have been better if he hadn't shouted. With that shout, the huge crowd in Yanqing Temple suddenly rushed over like a flood.

Dong Tianbao no longer cared about Zhong Yan. He pulled his daughter and tried hard to squeeze forward.

"Ah! You stepped on my foot!"

"Hey, you old man, you have great strength."

"Don't push, don't push, grandpa's shoes have been stepped on!"

However, in the three layers of encirclement inside and outside, the eldest son and his men tried their best to form a circle to prevent anyone from getting too close.

The most tense one, however, is the big sword.
He was seen keeping his eyes and ears open, with his hands always on the handle of the sharp weapon at his waist.

The ones protected in the middle were Chen Chu and Jia Rou.

This was the first time the two appeared alone without any outsiders present.

The reason for doing this was probably to confirm a rumor that had been circulating for a long time. At the same time, it also conveyed a message to the outside world. The so-called King Chu replacing King Qi was not as bloody as everyone imagined.

Seeing that the pressure on the eldest son and others who were maintaining order was increasing, Chen Chu couldn't help but say to Jia Rou: "Say something, so that the people won't get hurt."

Jiarou nodded, lifted her skirt and stood on a bluestone. After looking around, she said loudly: "Fellow villagers, please don't crowd, be careful not to hurt others. This palace and the King of Chu are here to burn incense and pray for good weather every year, for the people to live and work in peace and happiness, and for the prosperity of the country."

After saying that, Jiarou was about to jump off the bluestone, but Chen Chu beside her smiled at her and stretched out his right hand.

There were more than a thousand people watching here, but Jiarou did not hesitate at all. She naturally raised her hand and took Chen Chu's hand, using the force to jump down steadily.

The rumors about the King of Chu and the eldest princess have been around for a long time.

When in Caizhou, many people saw a little girl calling the King of Chu "daddy" and Jiarou "mom".

But this was the first time they held hands openly like this.

The crowded crowd was silent for a moment, as if they didn't know how to react.

Two breaths later, a busybody hid in the crowd and shouted, "May the prince and His Highness live happily together forever."

This incongruous blessing caused a good-natured laugh.

Indeed, there are many people like Dong Tianbao who are worried about the fate of the eldest princess.

Now, the so-called change of dynasties has become an internal affair between the couple. The State of Qi is the eldest princess's dowry.

Over there, Dong Tianbao finally squeezed to the front, but was stopped by Xiao Yi. The old man grabbed Xiao Yi's arm and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Prince, Prince!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Chu walked forward, but when he was more than ten steps away from Dong Tianbao, he was blocked by the big sword.

The meaning of the big sword is very clear. If you get closer, if the opponent has hidden arrows, short crossbows, etc., it will be difficult to guard against.

Chen Chu said, "We are all from the city, who can harm me?"

After that, he walked straight to Dong Tianbao and asked, "Uncle, what do you want to call me for?"

Dong Tianbao had just decided to go out on a whim today, but he never expected that he would have the opportunity to talk to the King of Chu in person.

He had a lot to say to Chen Chu, but as soon as he opened his mouth, tears rolled out first, and his mouth became uncontrollable, and he couldn't utter a word.

In a hurry, Dong Tianbao quickly pulled his daughter to him and used this opportunity to calm down. He sobbed, "Thank you, Your Highness. You have avenged my family and sent my poor daughter back. I have nothing to repay you for. I just hope that Your Highness and Your Highness are in good health."

The originally lively atmosphere suddenly became much quieter due to Dong Tianbao's interruption.

Among the more than a thousand people present, there were many who were trying to find their families like him, or who had suffered misfortune during the Dingwei period.

Suddenly, voices mixed with crying sounded from all directions.

"May the prince live forever and protect us."

"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. Only when you are here, the villains from all over the world will not dare to covet Tokyo."

Dozens of steps away, Zhong Yan, Cao Bai, Gu Yuntang and others who stayed where they were were silently watching Chen Chu who was bowing to all directions.

After a long while, Guan Huimin suddenly looked towards Zhong Yan and sighed, "Brother Zhong, didn't you just say that justice is in the hearts of the people? Right now, this is the hearts of the people."

Zhong Yan's face flushed instantly, and he tried to refute, but he couldn't say anything for a long time. (End of this chapter)