47: Traveling around the world, a poem for Si Lili

Chapter 47: Discussion of Traveling the World, Poems for Si Lili

Over the past four years, Shen Wansan had already established the Wanshan Merchant Guild.

The Wanshan Merchant Guild primarily operated pharmacies, restaurants, and Brothels, with some of its establishments also serving as Net strongholds.

The guild had numerous shops and properties in Northern Qi, Southern Qing, and Eastern Yi City, and this year, it finally found the miraculous medicine, 'One-Smoke Ice'.

Looking at Lin Wan'er's young and innocent eyes, Li Chang'an had no choice but to swallow the joke about only being able to completely cure her through Dual Cultivation.

"During the three to four years of taking the medicine, you cannot have children."

One-Smoke Ice was potent and required other medicines to neutralize it.

These neutralizing medicines had not yet been found, but they were easier to find than One-Smoke Ice itself, so they would surely be found eventually.

Lin Wan'er had social anxiety as a child and usually only interacted frequently with the simple-minded Ye Ling'er; she didn't know much about matters between men and women.

She lowered her head and mumbled, "That's fine too. Anyway, I won't be having children right now."

Li Chang'an said seriously, "Having children is very simple. You'll naturally know how when you grow up."

Lin Wan'er smiled charmingly, "Uncle Prince Yong is the most amazing; everything sounds so simple when it comes from you!"

"You taught Wan'er how to write poetry, and you taught me how to play mahjong. Will you teach me how to have children in the future too?"

Li Chang'an stared at Lin Wan'er's clear eyes, not feeling guilty in the slightest.

"Don't worry, this prince will definitely teach you diligently and guarantee that you learn!"

Lin Wan'er frowned and asked, "Compared to playing mahjong, which is more difficult, having children?"

Li Chang'an thought for a moment and said, "This question varies from person to person; the difficulty of learning is different for everyone."

"However, for you, playing mahjong is clearly simpler, while having children will be a bit more difficult."

Lin Wan'er let out a soft laugh and said, "Uncle Prince Yong knows so much. Then I'll rely on you to teach me in the future."

Ever since Li Chang'an achieved Major Achievement in light body techniques, entering and exiting Lin Wan'er's villa was as easy as walking on flat ground.

In these three or four years, Li Chang'an had visited at least dozens of times.

"Wan'er, I'm going to leave the capital for a period of time. I estimate I won't be able to see you for one or two years."

Upon hearing this, Lin Wan'er almost pricked her hand with a needle. "Where is Uncle Prince Yong going? Why will he be away for so long?"

Li Chang'an said, "My Imperial Concubine is too controlling; staying in the prince's manor is boring. I want to tour the mountains and rivers of Great Qing!"

For Lin Wan'er, who had been cooped up in the royal villa, traveling the world was incredibly tempting.

"How I envy you, but for a prince to leave the capital for so long, will His Majesty agree?"

Li Chang'an answered confidently, "When His Majesty was young, he also traveled the world; he will agree."

Lin Wan'er stood up, took a small box from the bedside, and handed a delicate jade pendant from inside to Li Chang'an.

Lin Wan'er giving a jade pendant, and Fan Ruoruo giving a sachet, were essentially the same gesture.

Li Chang'an caressed the jade pendant, then turned his gaze to Lin Wan'er.

Lin Wan'er's face flushed, and she unnaturally tidied her hair, "Uncle Prince Yong, be careful on your journey and bring more guards."

Looking at Lin Wan'er's delicate cheeks, Li Chang'an put away the jade pendant without hesitation.

"Wan'er, do you know about the matter of the Brothel girl accusing me?"

Lin Wan'er whispered, "I heard about it, but I can't tell if it's true or false.

But Uncle Prince Yong often comes to see me and even finds medicine for me; he is an incredibly good person."

Emperor Qing had always doted on Lin Wan'er, but in reality, it was all a pretense, all in preparation for Fan Xian to take over the Imperial Treasury later.

Fan Xian, oh Fan Xian, this prince doesn't care for the Imperial Treasury at all.

But Lin Wan'er's waters are too deep and slippery; you can't handle her, so let this prince suffer for you... A few days later, in the Imperial Study.

After discussing state affairs, Eunuch Hong said to the dispersing princes and ministers, "Prime Minister Lin, Director Chen, Vice Minister Fan, please stay."

Subsequently, Eunuch Hou unrolled a magnificent map of Southern Qing. Emperor Qing looked at this map, so angry his teeth itched.

"Look at this! A perfectly good map of Great Qing, yet he insists on drawing all these messy arrows on it!"

Eunuch Hou said to the three, "Three sirs, this is the 'World Travel Map' presented by His Highness Prince Yong."

"His Highness Prince Yong said that staying in the prince's manor all day has exhausted his creativity, and he wishes to tour the mountains and rivers of Great Qing."

"His Highness personally drew a map of Great Qing's mountains and rivers and marked his travel route."

Chen Pingping glanced at the map, seeing no beautiful landscapes, only colorful arrows.

"Eastern Yi City must not be visited. The area around Qianlong Bay and Langya Mountain, where Great Qing is currently in a stalemate with Northern Qi, also cannot be visited!"

"His Highness Prince Yong is crucial to Great Qing's cultural heritage; he must be wary of assassination attempts from Eastern Yi City and Northern Qi."

Lin Ruofu looked at the mountain map, revealing a look of envy.

"His Highness Prince Yong is truly the most carefree person in Great Qing, visiting all the scenic spots of Great Qing's mountains and rivers!"

"If he can leave behind famous works in these places, it will be a grand event for Great Qing's literary circles!"

Fan Jian frowned and said, "Your Majesty, I suggest granting His Highness Prince Yong the authority to mobilize one hundred soldiers, just in case."

"Great Qing only pacified the south a little over ten years ago, and there are still many stubborn remnants of the former regime.

While His Highness Prince Yong's travels are beneficial to the literary world, the dangers must also be guarded against."

Emperor Qing snorted coldly, "Li Chang'an is clearly being too strictly controlled by Imperial Concubine Liu.

This boy is clearly running off to have fun; do you really believe his 'traveling the world' excuse?"

"Given that boy's character, aren't you afraid he'll go on a trip and just randomly abduct civilian women?"

The three simultaneously lowered their heads in silence. If a child is not taught, it is the elder brother's fault; these three outsiders didn't concern themselves with such matters.

Emperor Qing's face was grim, and his tone was unkind, "Issue an imperial decree to Prince Yong: after his house arrest ends, he must present another map of mountains and rivers without marked routes."

"Then he must memorize 'The Great Qing Law' and submit a memorial to me explaining his intentions, otherwise he is not allowed to travel!"

"Also, order Prince Yong not to recruit constables from other yamen to join his personal guards again!"

"If another official goes to serve as Prince Yong's guard, I will strip him of his princely title!"

Xing Yusen, the head of the Ministry of Punishment, still couldn't resist Wang Qinian's sugar-coated bullets. He ultimately abandoned his official position to join Prince Yong's personal guards, becoming the deputy commander of the personal guards.

This incident caused a joint boycott from the Six Ministries and Kyoto Prefecture, which is why Emperor Qing issued a strict order to Li Chang'an.

Three months later, Li Chang'an's house arrest ended. He recited 'The Great Qing Law' in its entirety and submitted a memorial to Emperor Qing.

The memorial's words were earnest, expressing his commitment to abiding by national laws and never again abducting civilian women.

After Emperor Qing agreed, he sent Eunuch Hou with a miniature imperial decree, inscribed with "Can mobilize one hundred soldiers," with all five characters covered by the imperial seal.

It was euphemistically called 'convenient to carry' and could serve as a small tiger tally for troop mobilization.

In these four years, not counting the Wanshan Merchant Guild, Li Chang'an's earnings from selling calligraphy, paintings, and magazines also amounted to several million taels.

His Shadow Guard had been completely brought into the open, now named Prince Yong's Personal Guards.

Among the one hundred Shadow Guard members, only twenty were of the eighth-rank, and most of them were merely lower eighth-rank.

A prince keeping highly skilled individuals did not violate regulations; even Prime Minister Lin Ruofu's manor had dozens of seventh-rank experts.

Li Chang'an earned so much money. Not hiring courtesans or keeping guards, accumulating so much money would make many people uneasy.

It wasn't that he couldn't afford more people, but the Supervisory Council had too many informants, and too many people would cause trouble.

Li Chang'an left the capital, leaving twenty secret guards to protect the prince's manor, and taking everyone else with him.

All one hundred Shadow Guard members had reached a state of absolute loyalty; they would follow Li Chang'an even if he were to rebel.

Even Xing Yusen, the newest addition, had reached absolute loyalty, and a large part of his swift allegiance was due to Wang Qinian's efforts.

Old Wang was well-connected in the capital; he first found someone to treat Xing Yusen's elderly mother and then enrolled his children in the best academy.

Next, Li Chang'an advanced Xing Yusen three years' salary, allowing Xing Yusen to buy a large mansion.

Middle-aged men living within the capital's system were actually very easy to win over; help them solve their practical difficulties, and they would almost kneel before you.

Drunken Immortal Tavern.

Si Lili, who was in charge of training the virtuous courtesans, was reading the latest installment of 'the story of the stone', wiping away tears as she read.

"Crane's shadow crosses the cold pond, the cold moon buries the flower's soul... I'm going to cry myself to death..."

As she cried, she thought that such poetry was also written by Li Chang'an.

On that first meeting with Li Chang'an, and even when she was writing poetry in his arms, she had an extremely good impression of His Highness Prince Yong, and had even fallen for him.

Even after being imprisoned for a month, Si Lili harbored little hatred for Li Chang'an, as he had not handed her over to the Supervisory Council after all.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. "His Highness will be traveling far soon and has written some poems to give to the young lady."

The maid in Si Lili's room opened the door and found a letter placed outside, but not a single person was in sight.