Martial King's Retired Life

If you were to tell someone that the man, who was fiddling with his teacup filled with steaming brown tea, in the unadorned room was the man ruling the Nine Provinces, you’d be told to take your medication. Only once he heard the individual who offered three kowtows outside left did Emperor Yuansheng exhale and lean back in his chair.

Green Prince took proper care of Emperor Yuansheng while the latter was in town and personally greeted his father good morning daily just as if they were in the imperial palace. Green Prince never bemoaned once notwithstanding his father not responding to his greetings or having saying a single word to him since arriving in Xiuyu.

Although he wasn’t given any directives, Green Prince had a strong suspicion that he was ordered to return to Xiuyu immediately after the event in Huzhou for something major. While the explicit order was to prepare backup for his father’s plans, Green Prince knew that the decree to return to Xiuyu at once meant that his punishment would be delayed until they were in Xiuyu. For that reason, Green Prince’s daily visits weren’t purely to pay respect but also to request his execution.

Emperor Yuansheng suffered no less than Green Prince. He still couldn’t accept, or perhaps, decide how to face his son. Sure, his son wasn’t entirely to blame for Luo Ming’s actions, but he was the catalyst. Luo Ming resented both of them due to his losses, and Green Prince deserved every bit of the resentment. Alas, Emperor Yuansheng’s heart throbbed whenever he saw his son’s expression of regret.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

Standing outside, Shen Yiren replied, “Uncle, I’ve made you some soup. I personally shopped for you to replenish your energy during this stressful period. You must try Nanjiang’s renowned supplements.”

Of course Shen Yiren could tell what bothered Emperor Yuansheng. When else had she ever gone shopping for ingredients?

“Come in.”

Even though they weren’t in the imperial palace, Shen Yiren still abided by all etiquette protocols exercised in the imperial palace prior to filling up two bowls of duck soup. She placed one bowl on Emperor Yuansheng’s desk and kept one on hand. “Yiren shall dine with you.” She only sat down once she received tacit permission to.

Emperor Yuansheng’s appetite was non-existent. Nevertheless, he had a taste as he didn’t want to waste Shen Yiren’s efforts. Upon tasting the rich, yet not greasy, flavour, he found it bowl-licking delicious and had a second serve, holding up the bowl to his mouth to chug.

Having successfully cheered Emperor Yuansheng up, Shen Yiren smiled herself. “Were you missing Her Highness Consort Lian?”

Emperor Yuansheng projectile vomited a piece of chicken from his mouth that Shen Yiren deftly slipped. “I-I was going to compliment you for learning to be considerate, but it turns out you’re still as blunt as ever.”

“I heard Lyufei’s mother is your most beloved. You would not detest him in consideration of her feelings. You must have had a good reason to assign him to Nanjiang, correct?”

Emperor Yuansheng’s Empress only gave birth to his twin sons. As for his other five sons, they were the offspring of his concubines. Teal Prince’s mother – Consort Rong, Red Prince’s mother – Consort Hui, and Green Prince’s mother – Consort Lian, had bid this world farewell.

Emperor Yuansheng and Consort Lian grew up as childhood friends, but he lost her to an illness more than ten years ago.

“She often complained he wasn’t physically gifted, was obese and shied away from competing. Before she passed away, though, she held me by the hand and told me to take care of Lyu’er. Her condition had deteriorated to the point where she couldn’t remember what she said, so she kept repeating it. I will never forget my promise to her… Lyu’er isn’t hopeless, and his kindness isn’t something to be condemned. Regrettably, his kindness will cost him his life in the contest with his brothers.

“I had to send him far away to protect him from his brothers. I’ve kept a pulse on Xiuyu for a long time, so I know he’s safe here. Keeping him out of the circle is the only way to prevent others from speculating he is competing for the throne… I… have never hated him.”

The contest for the throne was never between the Princes alone; their supporters had to be included in the equation. Given Green Prince had the weakest background and least support, Emperor Yuansheng was the only one who could protect Green Prince from the overwhelming competition.

“Lyufei will understand one day.” Shen Yiren cheerfully had another serve of soup.

Green Prince, who was listening in outside, trembled as tears coursed down his face.

Feeling better subsequent to getting it off his chest, Emperor Yuansheng questioned, “By the way, it’s been ages now. Has my son-in-law arrived?”

Emperor Yuansheng miserably failed his attempt to gracefully slip as Shen Yiren did before; he absorbed every drop of her soup blast with his face.

Instead of worrying about blaspheming Emperor Yuansheng’s face, Shen Yiren asked, “Wh-what was that?! What son-in-law?!”

Emperor Yuansheng wiped his soggy face and cracked a smirk: “Heh, you forgot you and Ming Feizhen are now the owner of Yizhen Company? I should be calling him son-in-law.”

“Yes, but are you not Hero Li? You have a plot hole.”

“Hahaha, do I?”

“Hmph, old yet childish.”

Emperor Yuansheng burst out in laughter as he watched a bright shade of red dye Shen Yiren’s face.

A dark silhouette flitted through the door, generating a breeze, and parking in a corner of the room.

“Sister-in-law, I am here to report.”

Shen Yiren set her bowl down and switched into business mode. “Speak.”

“I have three reports,” Sima Huai began. “First, someone from the Heisina Tribe you told me to keep an eye on has finally come and made contact with Su Xiao. Second, I just saw Fifth Sister with Su Xiao. I received Second Brother’s letter today informing me he was on his way. He always arrives before his letters do, so he should be nearby. Third,” Sima Huai hoisted up a soldier, “I noticed this minion sneaking around outside our place when I was on my walk today. Based on his token, he should be an adjutant of Baimu. You have the authority to decide on what to do with him.”

Shen Yiren deliberated and then said, “Good job, Third. That’s good news on all three fronts. His capture is your best accomplishment. You have a reward you want?”

“I do.”

“Go ahead.”

“Can I get an exemption from toilet cleaning?”

“Denied.”

“… Okay.”

Glossary

“… personally greeted his father good morning daily just as if they were in the imperial palace.” – It was a tradition for children to go to their parents’ palace to greet them daily, which usually also functioned as an opportunity to curry favour in some shape or form.