Chapter 1429 - 344: Dragon Body

Chapter 1429: Chapter 344: Dragon Body

Yanjing,

Royal Mansion;

Lingxiang stepped forward proactively to help Chengjue wear his court attire.

Having just shed the innocence of girlhood, she exuded a watery charm, her brows and eyes seemed to brew an appropriately gentle spring water temperament.

Chengjue half-closed his eyes, propping up his arms, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

"Isn’t it grandmother’s birthday soon?"

Grandmother refers to Fengxin, one of the Lok Family, who was once the current emperor’s wet nurse.

One of her sons, Lok Bing, though just a low-profile officer within the governmental offices, appears to have been afforded favors due to a bond between milk brothers with the emperor.

But in truth...

Chengjue knew well that in his father’s hands, beyond the apparent Spy Bureau, there was another organization, even more loyal and pure, hidden beneath its ranks.

The person responsible for that organization might very well be his father’s wet nurse’s son.

During the wedding, He Sisi was placed temporarily in the Lok Family to represent her maternal home, the Lok Family spared no effort to honor them, preparing ample dowry and servants; among them, Lingxiang, previously a close maid to Fengxin, was sent to He Sisi as a personal servant, and after entering the door, He Sisi gave birth to Ji Chuanye, only then was she taken in by Cheng Jue.

"Yes, Your Highness, it will be on the eighth of next month. Sister has already discussed with me about preparing a birthday gift a few days ago."

Within noble families, the true clique is formed as family heads occasionally set up feasts to gather; for close-knit families, it’s usually the brothers who interact or the women of the backyard conversing together.

The more common and widespread approach is for those in charge at home, who follow the protocol of reciprocity recorded on the gift list, people may not attend, but gifts must be reciprocated.

Living in prominence is not easy, indeed referring to this "gift".

The Lok Family is another "maternal home" for He Sisi, which she naturally takes to heart.

Ji Chengjue nodded in acknowledgment upon hearing this.

Once properly dressed, he went to the backyard to see his son. His son had already awakened, flipping around while wearing a bib, He Sisi, slightly more plump following childbirth, watched her son with joy.

The more the mother laughed, the more enthusiastic her son became in his tumbling.

"Son."

Ji Chengjue bent down, picked up his son, pressed his face close, and gave him several kisses.

The son seemed resistant, persistently using his feet to kick at his father’s face.

Ji Chengjue was undisturbed, laughing cheerfully as he returned his son to the infant’s bed.

"For Fengxin’s birthday gift, there’s no need for extravagance, since now the court is deploying troops nationally, these days are tough."

"Yes, husband." He Sisi nodded to indicate her understanding.

"No need to wait until next month, either, choose a day in the next two days, take our son to visit the Lok Family to see the elderly lady, spend more time talking with her. Just say what I’ve instructed: May the elderly lady live as long as Nanshan, blessed with a life of fortune, and ask for some things for our son to wish him prosperity. Whatever the elderly lady gives you, just take it without refusing."

"Yes, I understand."

"Mm."

Ji Chengjue nodded, walked out, boarded the carriage driven by Master Zhang, heading to the imperial palace.

During the journey, the carriage came to a halt.

"Master, it’s the Fourth Prince’s carriage."

Ji Chengjue sat in the carriage, resting his chin in his hand.

Soon, movement was heard outside the carriage, and the curtain was lifted.

"I knew there was ice in your carriage, Chengjue!"

In the carriage, there was an ice basin with a large chunk of ice that emitted a white vapor.

After the Fourth Prince sat down, he loosened his collar, visibly overheated previously.

Ji Chengjue reached over, took the sour plum icy drink he had sipped earlier, and handed it to the Fourth Prince, Ji Chengfeng.

The Fourth Prince took it, not minding that it had been drunk from, gulped several big mouthfuls, and crunched the ice before feeling satisfied.

"Isn’t it odd that this summer is so unusually hot and long?"

Ji Chengjue nodded upon hearing the remark, responding, "According to the observatory, when such conditions occur, it’s hot and dry here, while somewhere else, there’s continuous rain."

"Sigh."

The Fourth Prince was uninterested in observatories, merely pointing at the ice basin in front, saying:

"Chengjue, father has stopped the delivery of ice blocks sent to the Prince’s residence every summer. I’ve been unbearably hot these days, can you?"

"Dig an ice cellar at home, and when winter comes, go to the lake pavilion to break and store ice; it’ll be usable next summer."

"Can I just dig at the Prince’s residence?"

"Just dig, your nephews will be grateful to you for it in the future."

"Ha ha, if I dare to dig, the censor will soon impeach me for digging cellars at the Prince’s residence to forge weapons and raise men of sacrifice!"

"They won’t."

Ji Chengjue shook his head, confidently stating:

"Because Wong Rui from the censor’s office is my man."

"......." The Fourth Prince.

The carriage resumed its journey forward.

The Fourth Prince continued to sip the icy drink slowly, while Ji Chengjue continued resting his chin.

After a long while,

The Fourth Prince spoke again: "Is there great pressure on the Ministry of Revenue now?"

"The Ministry of War isn’t idle either, is it?" Ji Chengjue countered.

The Fourth Prince still had some influence in the Ministry of War, though because of the Deng Family’s downfall, it had now really dwindled.

"To the east, how much longer do we need to fight? Is there no definite timeline? A batch of young and strong men is being sent over there; money and grain are continually being hauled over there. Based on Yan’s foundation, which we know quite well, how can it endure such torment?"