Chapter Five, Visiting Pengcheng from Afar.

Zhuang Xin, please remind your husband to come back early tonight when you go to the shop later." After handling everything, Zhang Cui instructed Zhuang Xin. Generally speaking, when entering the city, Li Xi would separate from them, first inspecting the shops in the city before returning to dine with them in the evening. They would go directly to the residences of the Li family scattered in various locations or to the inns that had been arranged in advance.

To speak of it, among the royal family of the Han Dynasty, only the lineage of King Yuan is truly abundant in talent. The previous marquises, such as Ying Ke of Shangpi, Fu of Hongyi, Sui of Shenyou, and Diao of Zaole, can all be regarded as well-rounded in both literature and martial arts. Even the current King of Chu, Dao, and the marquises, Zhang of Hong and Ying of Zhao, are still considered wise and virtuous.

"What?" Zhang Cui and Chen Jiao exclaimed simultaneously. However, Chen Jiao was astonished that such a scoundrel was actually a member of the royal family, while Zhang Cui was surprised because he recalled the strength of Prince Liu Fei of Jiangdu.

Curiously looking at the Li Xi couple, Chen Jiao couldn't help but interject, "How could that King of Jiangdu be involved with such a book? The interference of feudal lords in politics is a serious taboo for the royal family"

Li Xi walked over with a smile to his wife, who was chatting casually with Chen Jiao, and handed her a small piece of silk book to look at

In fact, although the Han Dynasty issued policies to suppress merchants early on, such as in the 8th year of Emperor Gao's reign (199 BC), which prohibited merchants from wearing brocade, embroidery, silk, and other fine fabrics, wielding weapons, and riding horses, the implementation of these policies was significantly undermined in the early Han period. Throughout the reign of Emperor Gao, the constant state of warfare made it impossible to genuinely suppress merchants, who had already become an important force in society. During the reign of Empress Dowager Huo and Emperor Hui, as the world began to stabilize, laws against merchants were relaxed again, allowing the people to rest. However, the descendants of merchants were still not permitted to hold official positions. It was not until the reign of Emperor Wen that the emphasis on agriculture was reintroduced, but it did not yield effective results. By the time of Emperor Jing, frequent droughts occurred west of Shangjun, leading to a revision of the law on selling titles, allowing offenders to redeem themselves with money, which resulted in an increase in officials from the salt and iron merchants. During the reign of Emperor Wu, the living standards of merchants were actually above those of the general populace, and they held considerable social status, as evidenced by the separate section on merchants in Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian".

After breaking up with Gongsun Hong, Chen Jiao followed the Li couple southward, arriving at Pengcheng in the State of Chu. The hardships along the way are naturally left unmentioned, and now they are driving through the city gates of Pengcheng

My husband says that these industries are sufficient for making a living. If we are to speak of significant enterprises, the Wuyan family in Guanzhong and the Zhuo family in Shu are truly commendable large merchants. During the time of the late emperor, when the Seven States of Wu and Chu rebelled, only the Wuyan family dared to lend money to the imperial family, later reaping tenfold profits and becoming immensely wealthy in Guanzhong. As for the Zhuo family, they have amassed wealth through iron mountain drum casting, employing thousands of servants. " Zhang Cui chuckled lightly, parted her lips to speak, and gently refuted Chen Jiao's praise. However, the information revealed within her words left Chen Jiao astonished. The Zhuo family, they have amassed wealth through iron mountain drum casting, employing thousands of servants. " Zhang Cui chuckled lightly, parted her lips to speak, and gently refuted Chen Jiao's praise. However, the information revealed within her words left Chen Jiao astonished.

"What about after that?" After Zhang Cui's remark, Chen Jiao also developed a sense of crisis. She noticed that Li Xi mentioned "during this period of time," and hurriedly asked what would happen next.

The current King of Chu is named Dao. He is the son of King Wen, who is the third son of King Yuan. Because King Yuan once studied the "Book of Songs" under the disciple Fu Qiu Bo of Xunzi, the study of poetry in the State of Chu is the most prosperous in our Great Han. Zhang Cui, while pointing out the scenery along the road, was introducing the city they were about to arrive at to Chen Jiao beside her

In the future, Li Xi smiled and said, "The power of the vassal states is great, and the current emperor is no fool. I believe that within a few years, the court will inevitably adopt strategies to limit the vassal states. Jiangdu is a prosperous land and will naturally be the first to bear the brunt. As for Liu Jian, I know him well. He is nothing but a talentless and immoral lecher, yet he is unwilling to be lonely. How can he possibly shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the King of Jiangdu? It seems that the Jiangdu state will be abolished and transformed into a territory directly under the court's control, which I believe will happen in just a few years."

Crown Prince Liu Jian of Jiangdu (Note 3), a notorious lecher in history, traveled here from Jiangdu to enjoy himself due to the proximity of his fief to the State of Chu. Upon discovering the two stunning beauties, Chen Jiao and Zhang Cui, who were in no way inferior to the concubines in his own palace, he immediately harbored ill intentions

The King of Jiangdu petitioned to attack the Xiongnu, but the Emperor did not grant permission, holding the feudal lords accountable for interfering in governance

Seeing the faint smile at the corner of Zhang Cui's mouth, Chen Jiao was taken aback, feeling that there was too much probing intent behind Zhang Cui's seemingly candid words. Zhang Cui and Li Xi were a couple who appeared to be extremely cautious, yet they were willing to take in someone of unknown origin like herself. Although Li Xi treated her as if she were invisible, it was undeniable that Zhang Cui had been very warm and friendly throughout. However, Chen Jiao dared not equate this warmth with genuine sincerity; after all, this was ancient times, an era where imperial authority reigned supreme. The couple, no matter how one looked at it, was indeed very cautious, yet they were willing to shelter someone of unknown background. Although Li Xi ignored her, it was undeniable that Zhang Cui had been consistently kind. Nevertheless, Chen Jiao could not bring herself to believe that such kindness and heartfelt sincerity could be placed on the same level, especially in this ancient context, where the woman from a merchant family was openly discussing state affairs in front of an outsider. Ultimately, Chen Jiao did not dare to follow Zhang Cui's lead in the conversation; she returned a smile and gently shifted the topic.

"Your words are mistaken, my husband. If the current emperor were not so talented and ambitious, how could he possibly consider waging war against the Xiongnu? Since the King of Jiangdu was born with the surname Liu, his fate was already predetermined." Zhang Cui smiled as she corrected her husband.

Oh. Chen Jiao nodded in realization, but in her heart, she was thinking that she never expected the rogue emperor Liu Bang to have such a brother.

Suddenly, Zhang Cui and Chen Jiao were surrounded. Chen Jiao realized she had been too reckless the moment she reached out, but it was already too late to take it back. Now, seeing the two of them encircled, she was at a loss for what to do.

Chen Jiao discovered for the first time that her brother-in-law was actually a master. She initially wanted to offer some compliments, but then noticed that Li Xi's expression was terrifyingly dark. She was immediately frightened into silence.

"Husband, it was I who suggested this game," Zhang Cui said, tugging at her husband's clothing, explaining that no one knows a husband better than his wife

Note 1: In 206 BC, this year became known as the first year of Emperor Gaozu in Chinese history, marking the beginning of the Han Dynasty. However, Xiang Yu's power still posed a threat to Liu Bang, who had not yet declared himself emperor. In 202 BC, historically referred to as the fifth year of Gaozu, Liu Bang officially proclaimed himself emperor, yet some resistance forces remained unvanquished. In the twelfth year of Gaozu (195 BC), the Han Dynasty eliminated the last remaining resistance force (Ying Bu), but during this campaign, Gaozu was wounded by a stray arrow. That year, Gaozu passed away at the age of sixty-two. It is evident that throughout his life, Emperor Gaozu was embroiled in warfare and did not experience a reign of peace.

Sister knows so much. Chen Jiao is not particularly interested in these feudal lords, as she cannot remember these complex names anyway

A few days later

As she watched the couple speak so eloquently, Chen Jiao, standing by, felt not only extreme shock but also a sense of absurdity regarding the strange paradox created by the power struggles among the royal families of ancient dynasties

Li Xi's tone was filled with a sense of regret for King Liu Fei of Jiangdu, stating, "The King of Jiangdu has a decent relationship with the current emperor and possesses considerable talent. If the current emperor were merely of average capability, he might agree to his memorial. Unfortunately, the current emperor is a person of great ambition and strategy, and it is impossible for him to long tolerate the vassal states challenging the authority of the court. Therefore, he is destined not to become a general who fights on the battlefield"

"You can leave; we do not need your company." Liu Jian's smile was so repulsive that Chen Jiao felt an urge to vomit. She instinctively adopted the attitude she used to fend off harassers while shopping in the 21st century, rejecting him without any courtesy.

As Chen Jiao watched the approaching large hands of the guards, she resignedly closed her eyes. However, the anticipated pain did not come; instead, she heard Zhang Cui's joyful exclamation beside her. When she opened her eyes, she realized that Li Xi had stepped in front of her and had grasped the guard's hand.

After reading these few simple words, Zhang Cui was filled with surprise. "The King of Jiangdu has been reprimanded by the current emperor?"

For Chen Jiao, who grew up in a big city, traditional temple fairs were still a rather unfamiliar affair. Soon, she was captivated by the bustling scene filled with people coming and going. The diverse array of traditional Chinese snacks completely won her over. The two of them were filled with excitement as they looked around at this and that. The sight of two women walking together was already quite eye-catching, especially since they were both exceptionally beautiful. Before long, they attracted the attention of a predatory wolf.

Hey, what a beautiful scenery, isn't it lonely without a man to accompany you? Liu Jian certainly could not just step back like that

What is there to fear? This young master can obtain anyone he desires Liu Jian laughed arrogantly and then said to his bodyguards What are you standing there for? Quickly capture them

"Hmph, that woman in the green shirt behind you slapped me. How do you think I was offended?" Liu Jian looked at the guard who had been kicked to the ground with disdain, expressing his dissatisfaction. In his view, Li Xi was merely a frail scholar, and he certainly had no good feelings for the guard who had been kicked away.

"It's nothing. At worst, we can leave Jiangdu," Li Xi said nonchalantly. "But rest assured. This time, his private departure from Jiangdu to Pengcheng is already illegal. If the King of Jiangdu finds out, he will be the first to suffer the consequences. I believe he won't have many opportunities to encounter us again. For the time being, we just need to avoid traveling through Guangling County."

Note 2: From "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Empress Dowager Lu": (The Grand Historian said: During the reign of Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Dowager Gao, the common people were able to escape the hardships of the Warring States period, and both the ruler and the subjects desired to rest in tranquility. Therefore, Emperor Hui ruled with a light hand, and Empress Dowager Gao held the reins of power. Governance did not extend beyond the inner chambers, the world was peaceful, punishments were rarely employed, and offenders were few. The people focused on agriculture, and their clothing and food flourished)

Your request is something I cannot comply with. Li Xi appeared as if nothing had happened, still smiling. Afterwards, he simply smiled as he looked at Liu Jian's trembling legs, wrapped his arms around his wife and Chen Jiao's shoulders, and left

"Ah, we've arrived," Zhang Cui suddenly exclaimed. Chen Jiao turned her head to see that the car had stopped in front of an ordinary residential house. Zhang Cui and Chen Jiao helped each other out of the car. As usual, Zhang Cui directed Zhuang Xin, the young man who had rescued Chen Jiao from the river that day, to arrange the luggage and other items, while Chen Jiao watched everything from the side. Despite Zhang Cui's insistence that Chen Jiao should not help, repeatedly saying, "You are meant to be cherished, little sister. It was not easy for me to find a sister, so how could I let you do these things?" after two months, Chen Jiao had become quite accustomed to her idle status.

This, the King of Jiangdu, is the fifth son of the late emperor and the half-brother of the current sovereign. Moreover, he has made significant contributions during the Wu and Chu rebellion, and many distinguished guests are in his service. Offending his son in this manner... Zhang Cui reacted quickly, immediately shifting from shock to concern

"My husband, is it really appropriate for you to act this way towards that person?" Zhang Cui asked with a hint of concern, "From his attire, he seems to be of considerable status."

Chen Jiao only felt a gust of wind sweep past her. When the wind ceased, the guards who had originally surrounded them had all fallen down. Liu Jian, even more so, was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground

This time, you really guessed correctly," Li Xi said, tapping Zhang Cui's nose, "He is the crown prince of Jiangdu.

Thus, the Emperor reprimanded the King of Jiangdu, for such tendencies cannot be allowed to persist. This remark was made by Li Xi, who then shook his head and continued, "In fact, the King of Jiangdu is quite talented. However, as a feudal lord, he is destined not to command troops for the court. After the pacification of the Wu and Chu rebellion, he has had no opportunity to showcase his military skills. Now, with the Xiongnu troubling the borders, he perceives that the Emperor also has intentions of military action against the Xiongnu, which is why he submitted a petition. However, from the Emperor's perspective, it is impossible to appoint a feudal lord as the main commander against the Xiongnu."

"Sister, let's go out for a stroll in a little while. Pengcheng is not only the center of poetry studies, but it is also bustling with merchants from all over, making it quite lively," Zhang Cui said with a smile as she approached Chen Jiao after taking care of her household matters.

Indeed, it is. Although the guards felt some reluctance to let these two beautiful women fall into Liu Jian's hands, they also realized that their own lives and deaths were in Liu Jian's control, and thus they could not afford to dwell on such matters.

***

"Two beauties, where are you planning to go? Allow me to accompany you," Liu Jian said, feigning charm as he walked over to Chen Jiao, a mischievous smile plastered across his face.

Hehe, both my sister's family and her husband's family are merchants. Most of the princes of the same surname, who were granted fiefs by our great ancestor, have established their own kingdoms. The policies and taxes under their rule are determined by themselves. Since our shop is here, we can directly sense which prince is good and which is not from the taxes. Zhang Cui shook her head and explained to her, "In fact, all of this is to maintain the family finances, which is unavoidable. However, perhaps in the future it will no longer be necessary. Since the time of the late emperor, many princes have lost their governing powers and can only content themselves with being wealthy idlers. The current emperor has been striving for a new atmosphere since he took office, and it is likely that in the future, these princes will lose even more."

Li Xi looked at his wife, who was afraid he might vent his anger, and Chen Jiao, who wore a face of fear. He was suddenly at a loss for words and could only let out a long sigh.

In fact, this kind of being taken care of is quite new for Chen Jiao. Since her parents are both busy with work and she has no siblings, she has taken care of herself since childhood, living alone. Now, with an older sister who worries about everything, she feels as if she is almost being spoiled.

"Who are you? Get out of my way," Liu Jian shouted at the suddenly appearing Li Xi.

Zhang Cui explained to Chen Jiao: "It is indeed a great taboo for the royal family to allow the feudal lords to interfere in governance. However, the vassal states are currently powerful, and our Han Dynasty has always adhered to the teachings of Huang-Lao, allowing the common people to be governed naturally. Therefore, the late emperor and the previous regent, Empress Dowager Dou, treated the royal family generously, and the feudal lords are sometimes permitted to submit petitions and express their concerns"

Note 3: Among the numerous Liu clan princely families during the Han Dynasty, the Jiangdu royal family is considered one of the more renowned families. The second generation Jiangdu Prince Liu Jian is noted in history for his debauchery and shamelessness. While he was the crown prince of Jiangdu, he had an affair with his father's concubine, and during the mourning period, he engaged in promiscuous activities with more than ten of his deceased father's concubines. His sister, Liu Huichen, who returned home to observe mourning, was also violated by him. He even ordered palace maids to copulate with sheep, dogs, and other animals. According to unofficial historical records, mules were produced from a group of horses and donkeys that Liu Jian had brought together to mate. He harbored delusions of becoming emperor, commissioning the private carving of a jade seal and the creation of weapons. Eventually, his schemes were exposed, and he faced severe punishment from the court. In 121 BC, fearing punishment for his crimes, Liu Jian committed suicide, leading to the abolition of the Jiangdu kingdom by the court, which was then renamed Guangling County. Among Liu Jian's descendants, there are three notable beauties. One is Princess Liu Xijun, who married into the Wusun Kingdom in the sixth year of Emperor Wu's Yuanfeng era (105 BC), known historically as the Wusun Princess or Jiangdu Princess. The other two are the sisters Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede, who were Liu Jian's great-granddaughters.

I see. Li Xi still smiled gently, leading Liu Jian to believe that he was someone who could be easily coerced. However, in an instant, that gentleness vanished without a trace, replaced by a chilling aura of murderous intent

Indeed. The trace of worry between Zhang Cuimei's brows finally faded away

What do you want?" Seeing that the situation was not right, Zhang Cui hurriedly spoke up, "This is under the rule of King Chu. Are you not afraid of King Chu's punishment for being so lawless?"

In fact, over the past month, they have traveled through many places. The official roads of the Han Dynasty were a torment for Chen Jiao, who was accustomed to cement pavements and shock-absorbing rubber wheels, making her feel as if she were suffering a fate worse than death. Consequently, every time Chen Jiao arrived at a location, she appeared breathless and was generally unwilling to step outside her sleeping quarters. Now, after a month, Chen Jiao had somewhat adapted, and since Pengcheng was a large city, the road conditions nearby had improved significantly, allowing her to regain some strength on this day. Zhang Cui's suggestion piqued Chen Jiao's interest. Zhang Cui, being quite perceptive, immediately guessed Chen Jiao's thoughts upon seeing her suddenly brightened eyes and promptly said, "Then let's go out. I heard that there is a temple fair in Pengcheng recently, and it's quite lively."

The family business of my sister seems quite large. As we walked along, there were shops everywhere responsible for hospitality. My younger sister was quite surprised upon seeing this. This was her true feeling; due to the misleading information in her high school history textbook, she had always thought that ancient commerce was underdeveloped. However, what she witnessed along the way completely overturned her previous views. Of course, this might also be related to the current prosperous era.

It turns out that merchants during the Han Dynasty could become this wealthy, while the Li family's business merely sustains their livelihood. However, that Wuyanshi truly has a keen eye; the Zhuo family in Shu should refer to the Zhuo Wenjun family, right? This talented woman is now married to Sima Xiangru, isn't she? Chen Jiao thought to herself.

However, my sister has previously stated that the vassal states hold significant power. If they still have the right to intervene in national affairs, would that not be even more dangerous? Although Chen Jiao does not fully understand these political matters, she recalls that the powerful vassal kings of the Western Han Dynasty were consistently one of the sources of national turmoil

Zhang Cui turned around and smiled charmingly, saying: "Prince Yuan is the youngest brother of Emperor Gaozu. Among Emperor Gaozu's brothers, only Prince Yuan rose in arms alongside him, earning the greatest merit. He was the first among the same clan to be conferred the title of prince."

Afterward, no matter what Chen Jiao and the others said, Liu Jian blocked their way without letting them pass, which infuriated Zhang Cui and Chen Jiao. In the end, Chen Jiao could no longer tolerate it; she reached out and slapped Liu Jian. Liu Jian, whether due to weakness or lack of preparedness, was unexpectedly knocked down to the ground. Having been treated this way for the first time in his life, it greatly humiliated him; even though he was facing a beautiful woman, he could not care less. After awkwardly getting back on his feet, he instructed the guards beside him, "Arrest these two troublemakers for me." Liu Jian had never been treated this way before, and it greatly humiliated him; even though he was facing a beautiful woman, he could not care less. After awkwardly getting back on his feet, he instructed the guards beside him, "Arrest these two troublemakers for me."

Oh," Li Xi frowned as he glanced back at Chen Jiao, who was dressed in a blue robe, thinking that she was indeed a big trouble. "So, what does this young master intend to do?"

Looking at the seemingly harmless man in front of her, Chen Jiao suddenly realized that her thoughts from two months ago were not wrong; Li Xi would definitely not be an ordinary small businessman, as his vision was terrifyingly precise

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Indeed. Li Xi sat beside his wife and took a few pieces of cake into his mouth. "This way, you should be able to rest assured. The Prince of Jiangdu is being reprimanded like this, so it is likely that the Jiangdu Prince's residence will remain quite peaceful for a long time."

"How about it?" Liu Jian chuckled and said, "The two of them will come back to the mansion with me right now, and I won't hold anything against them."

"Who is Yuan Wangjiao?" Upon hearing this unfamiliar name, Chen Jiao inquired.

"I wonder how my humble wife and younger sister have offended this young master?" Li Xi said, kicking away the guard who had just attempted to seize Chen Jiao, shielding Chen and Zhang behind him, his brow furrowed in inquiry