novelraw Chapter 195
Chapter 195
Chapter 195: Freedom and Responsibility
For the Merchants' Alliance, Deng Zhengde had worked diligently in Ziyang County for several months.
It was only after the Merchants' Alliance was successfully established and cooperation was achieved with the Yizhou aristocratic families that Deng Zhengde prepared to personally visit the capitalto see the Wise King with the results.
This could be called a “glorious return home.” Having accomplished something, it was necessary to take it out and show it to the backing power.
For his first trip to the Capital, Deng Zhengde brought many things.
The factory, the Merchants' Alliance’s accounts, and the silver notes earned were definitely brought along. As for the others, most of them were treasures voluntarily “offered” by various merchants of the Merchants' Alliance.
Regarding these “offerings,” since the supplier himself was not the main figure, Deng Zhengde felt it improper to shirk responsibility, so he could only temporarily accept all the items and leave it to the Wise King to handle later.
It took ten days for the group to travel from Ziyang County to the Capital.
Before he even had the chance to take a good look around the Capital, Deng Zhengde heard many people talking by the roadside about some birthday banquet.
“There are so many people! This morning, quite a few carriages passed right in front of my place.” “Oh, it really is the prince, the face really makes a difference. From what I see, this banquet looks even bigger than the last one held at the Duke Sheng’s mansion.”
“Aren't you stating the obvious! One is the Wise King, the other is a duke—how can they compare?”
Wise King?
Passing by, Deng Zhengde was stunned.
He couldn’t help but stop and turn around to ask the two men who were talking, “Gentlemen, a younger brother who has just arrived here accidentally overheard your conversation—please forgive me—may I ask, is today the Wise King’s birthday?”
The two men didn’t mind at all and responded warmly.
“Yes, you’re lucky—today happens to be the Wise King’s birthday banquet. Many nobles in the capital have gone to attend.”
“The Wise King is benevolent. For his birthday today, he even specially ordered servants at the mansion gate to hand out candy. That candy was so precious, many people scrambled for it at the time. But if you go now, it might all be gone…”
The two men chatted back and forth, and Deng Zhengde quickly understood what was going on today.
He didn’t expect such a coincidence—arriving at the capitaland immediately hitting the Wise King’s birthday banquet. But it could be considered fate.
After sincerely thanking the two men, once they parted ways, Deng Zhengde decided to first settle the people he brought along, then immediately visit the Wise King with the gifts to pay his respects.
–
Wei Yu regretted again.
He stayed in the front courtyard, smiling so hard at the guests who came to congratulate him on his birthday banquet that his face almost felt frozen.
Yet, his Fifth Brother was next to him, holding a fan and waving it back and forth, teasing him from time to time.
Fifth Prince said: “Ninth Brother, look over there—that’s the Duke Sheng. His household has a granddaughter who’s as beautiful as a flower and of the right age. You’re sixteen; she’s fourteen. You should arrange a marriage. In a couple of years, it would be the perfect time for the wedding…”
This was the seventh time his Fifth Brother had mentioned some girl to him.
Wei Yu’s smile never changed; he said nothing, only hoping his Fifth Brother would leave him alone.
“If you have nothing to do, go entertain Eldest Brother and the others, will you!”
He said this through gritted teeth. Wei Yu felt mentally exhausted just from the tedious birthday banquet, and having a brother next door pestering him about marriage was truly infuriating!
“No.”
Fifth Prince cheerfully waved his fan, watching Wei Yu like a spectator enjoying a show. “Little Ninth, don’t blame Fifth Brother for talking too much. Among us brothers, only you and Eighth Brother haven’t been betrothed yet.”
As Fifth Prince spoke, he glanced around at the guests who seemed busy but were actually paying attention to this side, deepening the smile on his face.
“Those Princes who aren’t betrothed are all prized catches. Anyone would want to take a bite. If you don’t plan ahead, be careful that Father Emperor might personally arrange a bride for you that you don’t like.”
*Sigh*—
Annoying!
Wei Yu was very tired of all this marriage pressure.
He actually knew that in ancient times marriage happened early; some boys his age even already had children. As a Prince, wanting to be a happy bachelor wasn’t impossible, just very difficult—there would be lots of public opinion pressure. But if he could just withstand his father’s pressure, what others said wouldn’t matter so much.
Why didn’t he want to marry and have children?
It wasn’t that Wei Yu was being difficult; it was just that such things were never part of his life plan.
He could stay in the capital and fight for the prosperity of Great Wei, but he also wanted to travel anywhere in the world—to witness the misty rainy scenes deep in towering mountains, to personally witness the heavenly canopy over vast deserts and wastelands, to see the endless wonders of the sea…
A person with a big heart never feels content just staying home.
He might naturally have attachments in his heart, but he didn’t want to be bound by imaginary shackles.
Even if he were to marry, it must be with both sides willingly.
He wasn’t ready to become anyone’s husband, nor ready to be anyone’s father.
This wasn’t being difficult—it was simply the freedom and responsibility that everyone born as a human should have.
Perhaps, there was also a subtle little bit of romance deep in his bones?
“Fifth Brother.”
Not wanting to continue discussing which girl from which family, Wei Yu collected his smile and turned to his Fifth Brother, speaking seriously: “Your younger brother is still young. Marriage is too early for me now. If you feel things with Fifth Sister are too dull, I could talk to her for you.”
Fifth Prince’s face stiffened.
His expression instantly turned serious as he said firmly to Wei Yu, “Ninth Brother, you misunderstand. Your Fifth Sister has been very busy these days. If you have nothing to do, it’s better not to bother her, alright?”
Wei Yu’s eyes became very subtle. “…Fifth Brother, you’re hopeless.”
Fifth Prince: ??
A man can’t be called hopeless!
When it came to topics about his own wife, Fifth Prince no longer found Wei Yu amusing. He only prayed that this kid wouldn’t really blabber nonsense in front of his Princess Consort.
“Little Ninth, you’re still young and don’t understand the value of family harmony nor the troubles servants have when gods fight. So, for the sake of everyone in your Fifth Brother’s household, you know what needs to be done, right?”
Wei Yu: …
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Wei Yu looked at his Fifth Brother silently shaking his head. “Fifth Brother, you are truly hopeless.”
Said so nicely, but still afraid of your wife?
Hiss—so Fifth Brother wanted to let him experience the chaos of marriage too?!
Fifth Prince was annoyed and walked away.
Once he left, Wei Yu’s ears finally found peace.
Feeling refreshed, he greeted the incoming guests. Suddenly, a servant came to report that someone named Deng Zhengde was waiting outside with generous gifts.
Wei Yu was surprised.
Wasn’t this the merchant talent he left behind in Ziyang County? How did he suddenly rush to the Capital?
The surprise came too quickly. Wei Yu hurriedly instructed the servants to welcome Deng Zhengde inside.
The Wise King was always impartial before, but now joy was suddenly apparent on his face—it was clear something good had happened.
The guests who saw this became curious and couldn’t help but, along with Wei Yu, all eagerly stared toward the doorway.
So, when Deng Zhengde walked in, he was stunned by the many gazes fixed upon him.