Chapter 43: Leaving the City (Part 1)

Everyone present voiced their agreement with Li Ji's proposal.

Almost all of these young rascals were the second, third, or even concubine-born sons of their respective noble households, with zero hope of inheriting titles. Free from any financial worries regarding food and clothing, they naturally had no need to study literature, practice martial arts, or busy themselves with affairs of state. Instead, they spent their days dissolutely idle, shouting dice games, and indulging in wine and women, which made them a massive headache for everyone.

Consequently, packing all these troublesome fellows off to the suburban farms would allow the situation to gradually quiet down while granting the elders out-of-sight, out-of-mind peace. It was truly a brilliant idea.

Emperor Li Er was also quite satisfied. It protected the Prince of Wei, Li Tai, while resolving the issue at hand, so he dismissed the officials.

Stepping out of the spring-warm Taiji Hall and into the freezing, snow-covered plaza, the ministers couldn't help but shudder violently as anger surged from the bottoms of their hearts. If not for these brats, they would already be sipping fine wine and burrowing under the warm, fragrant quilt of a concubine. Why should they be out here freezing, suffering, and enduring this misery?

Naturally, they wore dark expressions as they unleashed a torrent of scoldings and curses, dragging their respective rebellious sons back home.

Emperor Li Er initially wanted to keep Fang Jun behind for a stern reprimand, but after a moment of thought, he ultimately abandoned the idea.

Towards Fang Jun, Emperor Li Er actually felt immense disappointment.

Marrying Princess Gaoyang off to Fang Jun in the first place was meant to show trust and heavy reliance on Fang Xuanling, while also ensuring that the Fang family would possess such a royal connection to guarantee generations of wealth and nobility. Towards Fang Xuanling, Emperor Li Er had truly poured out his heart.

Yet mixed into this was also a certain expectation Emperor Li Er held for Fang Jun.

Given Princess Gaoyang's temperament, if she were to marry a slightly strong-willed husband, it would surely be like the point of an awl meeting the blade of a pair of scissors, neither giving an inch. How could they live a life together then?

Fang Jun had a naturally honest and simple disposition. Though not especially clever compared to ordinary people, he was no fool either—just the right match for the willful and eccentric Princess Gaoyang. Since ancient times, there has been talk of the wife following the husband's lead, but there were also plenty of historical precedents where the husband followed the wife's lead.

However, looking at it now, he realized he had misjudged the man.

This Fang Jun was honest all right, but his temper was far too explosive. Regardless of who the person was—royal or noble—if they crossed him, he would let fly with massive fists and beat them up without the slightest regard for the consequences. If he were to marry his own daughter in the future, would that still be acceptable? As the saying goes, no one knows a daughter better than her father, and Emperor Li Er knew Princess Gaoyang's personality inside out. That sharp little mouth could suffocate someone with logic even when she was entirely in the wrong; Fang Jun definitely wouldn't be able to win an argument against her. And since verbal sparring was out of the question, he would inevitably resort to physical violence.

Just imagining Fang Jun's fists smashing into his own daughter's willow-branch-slender frame—at that prospect, Emperor Li Er felt a slight shiver run down his spine...

Of course, mismatched personalities wasn't actually the real reason for Emperor Li Er's dissatisfaction with Fang Jun.

The real reason was that Emperor Li Er truly, truly suspected that Fang Jun might be a "rabbit"—a homosexual...

In case Fang Jun really did harbor a "fondness for Longyang," wouldn't he be pushing his own precious daughter into a pit of fire with his own hands?

"Sigh..."

Emperor Li Er stroked his forehead with a soft sigh, filled with boundless melancholy.

Children are all debts one collects in this lifetime...

********

Upon returning to the estate, Fang Xuanling fumed with anger, ignoring Fang Jun completely as he walked straight to his bedchamber to sleep.

Madam Lu, however, pulled her son's hand and asked, "Did you get beaten in the palace?"

Fang Jun smiled and replied, "No."

Madam Lu wore a look of suspicion. "His Majesty let you off that easily? That shouldn't be..."

Everyone in the Great Tang knew that when Emperor Li Er was reasonable, he was truly reasonable, but when his temper flared, he could bite a chunk right out of a solid rock!

Today's daytime brawl had nearly dismantled the Qingyuan Temple, and the uproar had filled the entire city. Public dissatisfaction among the commoners regarding the aristocratic and martial nobility had reached its absolute peak, with almost everyone crying out for their punishment. How could he have let them off so lightly?

Fang Jun explained, "It's not quite over just yet. His Majesty issued an imperial decree: all participants must go to the farming estate outside the city to reflect on their wrongs, and they are forbidden from entering the city for two months."

"What kind of punishment is that?" Madam Lu asked in confusion, thinking to herself that this was no different from getting neither a beating nor a reprimand.

The Princess of Han, sitting in the main hall, clearly understood politics much better than Madam Lu. "The Emperor's intention is probably to draw the firewood from beneath the cauldron, letting the matter slowly dissipate."

Fang Jun gave a thumbs-up. "Older Sister is still the smart one." Then, turning his head to look at the sky outside, he asked in surprise, "The curfew has been in effect for nearly two hours, why hasn't Older Sister returned to her own manor?"

The Princess of Han's expression stiffened, and she retorted ungraciously, "What's this? Eldest Sister comes home to stay for a couple of days and already you find me unwelcome? You haven't even taken a wife yet; once you marry, won't I, your older sister, be barred from even entering the front door?"

Fang Jun thought to himself, *Where on earth did that come from?* He quickly smoothed things over. "Older Sister, how can you say that? How could such a thing happen? Your younger brother would eagerly wish for you to stay a few more days..."

In his memories, the original Fang Yi'ai had a rather mediocre relationship with his older brothers, but felt an exceptional closeness and fondness for this elder sister. Before the Princess of Han was married off, she had also favored Fang Yi'ai greatly, frequently provoking the jealousy of the third brother, Fang Yize, who would run crying to their mother to complain.

The Princess of Han looked at Fang Jun and sighed. "Second Brother has really changed quite a bit these days. At the very least, that mouth of yours is much more eloquent than before."

Fang Jun was startled inwardly.

It seemed he would have to pay closer attention to his words and actions from now on, ensuring no one discovered that he was vastly different from his past self.

One had to bear in mind that in this era where superstitious beliefs had reached their absolute zenith, people would unhesitatingly believe in any ghostly or supernatural occurrence, blowing things completely out of proportion and triggering massive uproars.

If he were slapped with the label of "soul possession"—which was indeed the truth, though he would deny it unto death—he would truly be finished. It was entirely possible that his old man, Fang Xuanling, would personally build a bonfire and burn him to death!

If that day ever truly came, he, Fang Jun, would officially set the record for the most tragic transmigrator in history...

As they spoke, the maidservants brought out a late-night snack consisting of a few small side dishes and a bowl of clear congee.

Fang Jun was indeed ravenous. Reaching out for his chopsticks, he began to eat.

Madam Lu chided him affectionately, "This child, you didn't even wash your hands. Are you a starved ghost reincarnated?" Even as she scolded, she shifted the dishes closer to her son, afraid he wouldn't be able to reach them.

The Princess of Han, however, had exceptionally bright eyes as she stared fixedly at Fang Jun. "Mother, why do I feel like Second Brother's changes are really quite significant?"

Madam Lu asked in bewilderment, "What changes?"

The Princess of Han watched Fang Jun's table manners and said, "Look at him, Mother. If this were in the past, when Erlang was this starved, he would undoubtedly have bolted his food down messily, spilling soup everywhere. But look at him now—his posture is upright, urgent yet orderly, almost as if he possesses refined breeding..."

This remark startled Fang Jun all over again.

Consider that in his past life, he was a dignified deputy county magistrate—a mid-to-low-ranking official at the section chief level. His experience at banquet tables for official receptions was undeniably rich, and long ago he had cultivated a set of dining etiquette. Habit had become second nature, deeply engraved into his very bones.

Yet now, it had been detected by the Princess of Han.

Madam Lu, however, was displeased. "You girl, why must you always wish to see your own brother acting devoid of proper form? Is my Erlang somehow inferior to your Prince of Han? If I hear you say such a thing again, see if I let you off!"

Hearing this, the Princess of Han rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Mother, you are far too biased. Your son is born of you, but was your daughter picked up off the street?"

Ignoring her, Madam Lu turned to Fang Jun. "Since His Majesty has issued a decree, it should be done sooner rather than later. Coincidentally, the steward of our estate in Xinfu County is right here in the manor. Tomorrow, I will give him instructions, and you can accompany him to the farm." At this point, she muttered to herself, "Yet the time is far too rushed; your clothes and bedding have not yet been prepared, and the farm certainly lacks anything ready for use. I fear even the cook there will not suit your tastes..."

The Princess of Han protested, "Mother, the more you talk, the more biased you become! When I got married, you weren't even this meticulous."

Madam Lu remained unrepentant. "How can those two things be compared? Back then, you were marrying into a royal estate—what fine things did they lack? Your brother is heading out to a suburban farm now; you know as well as anyone how harsh the conditions are there."

The Princess of Han hummed twice and said, "That's true... I happen to have a large black bear-skin cloak with me. I originally intended it for Father, but I might as well give it to Erlang... And oh, the scented charcoal in my chambers is of exceptional quality—it burns hot and smells wonderful. Bring fifty catties of it along for Erlang..."

The mother and daughter chattered endlessly, discussing whether to pack this or that for Fang Jun. After arguing for a while and completely ignoring Fang Jun, who was still eating, they summoned the maidservants and retreated to their respective chambers to busy themselves with gathering the items Fang Jun would need for his journey the next day...

As Fang Jun ate his meal, a wave of cozy warmth rose straight from the bottom of his heart, making his nose sting so intensely he almost shed tears...