Crying While Filling the Pit I Dug - Chapter 56

Ever since then, Song Miaomiao had hardly ever felt the warmth of familial affection. However, in the last world, upon meeting Song Chaowang, she began to regain that sense of familial love little by little.

Xiao Chengqi smiled and asked, “What are you thanking me for?”

“Brother, I feel so fortunate to have you as my brother,” Song Miaomiao replied. She believed that one of the best things about transmigrating into her novel was meeting someone like Song Chaowang as her brother.

Xiao Chengqi affectionately patted Song Miaomiao’s head and said, “Silly girl. If your brother won’t love you, then who will?”

The Crown Prince and the Princess were both descendants of the former Empress, and they had both lost their mother at a young age. With the Emperor preoccupied with government affairs, there was often a lack of human connection, so their bond had been strong since childhood.

Xiao Chengqi smiled again and said, “Let’s go. Father announced that we will have lunch together. I came here specially to pick you up.”

As they walked towards the Zhanggan Hall together, Xiao Chengqi shared with Song Miaomiao what he had seen and heard in the north. He mentioned exchanging materials for two hundred sheep from the northern Tartars, which Song Miaomiao could enjoy for lunch that day.

“Tartar” was a general term for some ethnic minorities such as Mongolian and Manchu in ancient times. In the modern world, Song Miaomiao loved drinking mutton soup in winter as it warmed her whole body. She recalled the ethnic minority-style fabrics in the box that the Crown Prince had given her and remarked, “Brother, the blankets you gave me are so beautifully woven.”

“Sister, if you like it, besides the ones tributed to the Emperor, I still have some in stock, and I will send them to you tomorrow.”

“Brother, there’s no need.” The Crown Prince was just like Song Chaowang in the previous world. If his younger sister liked something, he couldn’t wait to give her everything he had.

Xiao Chengqi replied, “Is it really unnecessary? You don’t have to worry about me running out of those fabrics here in the future. After returning from the northern tour this time, I have already informed Father that I intend to increase mutual trade with the north in the future. Apart from the border areas, some goods will even be shipped to the Central Plains. More of these Tartar items will soon be circulating in the market, and when that time comes, I’ll buy them and send them to you.”

“Mutual trade?” Song Miaomiao recalled a perspective she had read in modern literature, suggesting that one reason for the ongoing disputes between the northern nomads and the Han people was the inability to sell their goods. The Han people were self-sufficient and didn’t require much from outside, while the nomads needed cattle, sheep, and the Han people’s handicrafts. When trade was hindered, conflicts often arose, sometimes leading to raids. While this was just one aspect of the continuous border friction, promoting trade could undoubtedly benefit the economies of both regions.

With a smile, Song Miaomiao replied, “Brother, that’s a really good idea.”

Xiao Chengqi smiled and asked, “Oh? Why do you think so?”

Song Miaomiao glanced at him, saying, “Everything seems to be in order…”

As they conversed, they were interrupted by the arrival of Yi Qing and Gu Jiaren.

“This servant pays respects to the Prince and Princess,” they both knelt.

Xiao Chengqi kindly instructed, “Please rise.”

Song Miaomiao echoed, “Please stand.”

Yi Qing and Gu Jiaren stood up, and Song Miaomiao sensed potential gossip brewing. With the male lead, female lead, male supporting character, and female supporting character all present, it seemed like the stage was set for some interesting developments.

Xiao Chengqi greeted Yi Qing with a smile, “Heng Zheng, long time no see.” Then, turning to Gu Jiaren, he inquired, “Supervisor Gu, it’s been half a year since we last met. How have you been lately?”

Heng was the name Song Miaomiao had chosen for Yi Qing, derived from “Yi Gu Qing Ren Cheng” (A line from a beauty song poem—A glance from her, the city collapses), but the name also sounded like Yi Qing, which could be interpreted as “easy to fall”. It was her own creation.

His Royal Highness’s kindness towards the male and female leads seemed like the calm before the storm. The better their relationship now, the more turbulent it would become in the future. By using a comparative method to emphasize the turning point in the plot, it appeared that even he was against the abuser back then.

Gu Jiaren’s eyes fluttered as she replied, “Thank you, Your Royal Highness, for your concern. Everything has been well with your servant.”

As they walked and talked, Yi Qing smiled and remarked, “Your Royal Highness, I heard that Northern Xinjiang has been slowly developing in recent years. How is the scenery up north? I remember going to the desert with my father not long after the war, and it was quite desolate.”

Xiao Chengqi responded, “Although the Tatars inhabit the northern cold regions, which are different from the picturesque landscapes of our Central Plains, the desert scenery is also captivating. In recent years, the Tartars have finally settled down in the north. The peace on the frontier is largely thanks to General Yi’s efforts in battling the Tartars ten years ago, guarding the borders and deterring them from encroaching on our territory.”

“His Royal Highness is too polite,” Yi Qing said, cupping his hands respectfully. “This peace depends entirely on His Majesty and Your Highness.”

They exchanged pleasantries, each attributing peace to the other’s family. Xiao Chengqi smiled, avoiding further discussion on the matter. “Only with peace can we seek development,” he remarked. “Years of war will only cause people to live in poverty, and extreme cold will spread everywhere.”

Yi Qing praised, “Your Royal Highness is kind and compassionate.”

Xiao Chengqi diverted the conversation, focusing on the gifts. “Supervisor Gu, before going to northern Xinjiang, I was ordered by my father to bring you a painting of beautiful mountains and rivers. The phoenix peonies embroidered by you were given to the Tartars. They were full of praise for your skills and even offered a sky-high price to buy your embroidery.”

Gu Jiaren smiled slightly. “Your Royal Highness, you’re kind.”

Xiao Chengqi continued, “This time, I also brought knitwear from the Tartars from northern Xinjiang. I will send a box to your workshop tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Supervisor Gu replied. “I heard that Tartar sent a Prince to visit us this time.”

Song Miaomiao pondered, sensing there might be more to the mutual trade and commerce agreement that her brother had mentioned.

Xiao Chengqi frowned and said in a low voice, “Indeed, Heng Zheng spotted Prince Abul of the Tartars during his patrol this morning, didn’t he?”

“I saw him,” Yi Qing mentioned, giving Song Miaomiao a complicated look. “The Prince of the Tartars seems very reckless.”