Chapter 1237 - 305: The Campaign Against Chu

Chapter 1237: Chapter 305: The Campaign Against Chu

"Sisi, where is my snuff bottle?"

Ji Chengjue asked while tying the belt of his court attire.

In Yan, princes are usually bestowed with the title of Prince and have a set style of python robe ready. However, throughout history, ambitious princes prefer wearing court attire over python robes, as it signifies having a position in the court, suggesting that they are not just idle and uninvolved prince deadwood.

The Sixth Prince always held a position watching over the Ministry of Revenue. Holding a ministerial title would seem indecorous and break the rules of the game, so Ji Chengjue, despite being a prince as well as the actual controller of the Ministry of Revenue, usually wore the Sixth Rank attire both in court and at the government office, though deliberately stripped of some specific designs, almost like a plain slate.

Yet, Ji Chengjue rather liked this attire, finding it comfortable and free.

This is much like how Lord Zheng doesn’t like wearing golden armor; the more splendid and eye-catching the clothing, the more its comfort inevitably gets compromised. The python robe is the same.

Ji Chengjue thought, perhaps the dragon robe isn’t comfortable to wear either.

"Is my husband taking a snuff bottle today?"

Today is the funeral day of the Third Prince.

As the Third Prince died saving the emperor, His Majesty decreed a state funeral.

"Of course, why not?"

"Here it is."

He Sisi handed over her husband’s favorite agate Buddha’s hand snuff bottle.

Ji Chengjue pulled out the stopper, took a sniff, closed his eyes, and then slowly opened them, letting out a long breath.

The focus of a snuff bottle has never been on its contents but rather on its exterior, and it’s meant for playing and showing off rather than for use.

Ji Chengjue got on Master Zhang’s carriage, where breakfast and two pieces of white cloth were prepared for the day.

Tying the white cloth around his arm and forehead, Ji Chengjue leaned back slightly against the wall of the carriage.

As the carriage passed through the street, a savory aroma wafted by; it was the smell of fried dumplings.

"Master Zhang, buy two portions of fried dumplings to try."

"Yes, Master."

Master Zhang stopped the carriage, went and bought two portions of fried dumplings, and handed them over.

Ji Chengjue ate with relish, finishing just as the carriage reached the palace gate.

As he got off the carriage,

Master Zhang urgently reminded him,

"Master, your mouth, it’s oily."

Ji Chengjue smiled, wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his court robe, then flicked the cuff behind him, looking at the grand palace gate ahead, his eyes slowly narrowed.

All the ministers attending court today wore white cloth, which was unusually grand for a prince’s funeral, and at least shouldn’t affect the civil and military officials of Yanjing to this extent.

In the past, for the passing of a noble within the palace or the royal family, at most, people would refrain from banquets for a couple of days.

"Third brother, oh third brother..."

The Fourth Prince, supported by two eunuchs, howled as he approached the palace gate.

His carriage stopped farther than usual, so he had a longer distance to walk than normal.

Ji Chengjue turned towards the sound and then stood there, facing his Fourth Brother.

"Third brother, oh third brother..."

The Fourth Prince, Ji Chengfeng, staggered over,

Then,

He saw his Sixth Brother,

Just standing there watching him, watching him, watching him, watching him...

Ji Chengfeng suddenly felt a bit uneasy.

He didn’t know where this emotion sprang from, but it truly emerged within his heart.

"Fourth Brother."

"Hmm, Sixth Brother."

"Let it go."

"..." Ji Chengfeng.

The farewell meal had already been eaten.

The sentiments of departure were already in that night’s wine.

After the incident, Ji Chengfeng considered whether there were any hidden plots behind the Third Brother’s death, no, to be precise, how could there not be hidden plots!

He had gotten some hints from the Ministry of War early on; their father intended to reopen a national war;

Then,

The Third Brother was released,

Then,

The Third Brother died saving the emperor.

So coincidental?

How could it be so coincidental?

Meanwhile, he recalled that night when the Third Brother came out from the lake pavilion. The following night, the brothers gathered to drink and "cleanse" for the Third Brother;

The Crown Prince didn’t come, only sent wine;

In usual circumstances, with the Crown Prince’s habits, he wouldn’t miss such an opportunity to show his kindness and camaraderie.

But Sixth Brother,

On that night, unexpectedly, he furiously scolded the absent Crown Prince,

Called him cold-blooded,

Called him ruthless,

Called him heartless,

Upon belated reflection,

Ji Chengfeng suddenly realized, was Sixth Brother truly scolding the Crown Prince, or was he scolding?

The Fifth Brother Ji Chengmin left Yanjing with Lord Pingye. Because he woke up late, Lord Pingye didn’t wait for him, so he rushed to chase him out of the city.

So,

Ji Chengfeng now had no one to talk to. When the Fifth Brother was around, he didn’t feel so lonely.

Now that the Fifth Brother wasn’t here, he suddenly felt helpless and anxious.

And this feeling peaked when he saw Ji Chengjue looking so calm.

In the end,

Everyone else figured it out,

And he was the only one left in the dark?

Recalling what the Fifth Brother said before leaving Yanjing, words about "being useful" and "useless," Ji Chengfeng suddenly felt that perhaps the Fifth Brother also realized something long ago.

This feeling of being completely isolated was truly unpleasant, and the realization that he was the intellectual underdog was hard for the always proud Ji Chengfeng to accept.

But he had no choice but to force himself to accept it.

Actually,

Ji Chengfeng’s tears today weren’t entirely fake; he was genuinely crying, not acting, nor had he applied ginger.