Struggle in Ancient Times - Chapter 155

One month had passed since the officials who came to inspect the progress and woks in Linxian Couty, and planned to promote Liao Tingyu.

However, Liao Tingyu gave up. He did not plan to leave here now. He had witnessed a lot here. Now that the situation was so chaotic, it was better to make it more stable.

Liao Tingyu walked along the forest path to see the changes inside the place he led. He didn’t know if it was because of the imperial edict or because of his state of mind. He felt inexplicably proud now.

This place was once desolate, but now the people lived a prosperous life, and he was just a young man full of ambitions. With the hope for the future in his heart, he used the knowledge of the future to change this place. It could be said that all of this belonged to his credit.

And this land was the testimony of his success, where he gained friendships, and where his children thrived. They were not born here but raised by this land.

He had his own friends and his own memories.

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In the past few years, the people had been on tenterhooks. This was the best official in the history of their county. He had achieved unprecedented achievements and made them rich who were once poor.

If the county magistrate left, no one knew what the next person would be like, but what was certain was that such a good magistrate would never be found again.

When the people heard the news that he was staying in office, they happily prepared delicious food and drinks and sent them to the county government office. The fruits and vegetables from the county government office were piled up at the gate that day.

Mother Deng and her maid picked out the stored ones and put them aside. The other perishables were put into the pot early. Their county government would definitely not be able to finish them all. When they were ready, they would be distributed it to the homeless.

She babbled to Liao Tingyu, “You, it’s better not to leave. How long is a person’s life? It’s better to stay in one place peacefully. I heard that some officials died on the road. They didn’t see their family for the last time, hey! I don’t know what it will be like in the next life. As for the village chief’s son, ask the county magistrate over there to help. Anyway, you are in the sixth rank now and he is in the ninth rank.”

Liao Tingyu nodded, “Okay, I understand, mom, don’t worry anymore.”

“I’m not worried, I’m afraid. I used to be afraid that you, with your thin arms and legs, wouldn’t be able to find food. I hope you won’t live like your father. Now, I just hope that you can be a small official and be safe.” Mother Deng said what was in her heart.

Although she was a little vain, her son was the most important thing in her eyes. With his high status, her horizons had naturally broadened. In the past, she only knew that being an official was good, and one sentence could determine a person’s life or death. She was naturally superior to others.

Now she knew that being an official was hard work. Sometimes when she chatted with the ladies, she heard that so-and-so offended his boss and was demoted to a cold place. He died of hard work on the road, and so-and-so was framed because he was on the wrong team. To deny one’s fame meant that three generations of ancestors and grandchildren would not be able to take the imperial examination.

At that time, she was thinking that her son was a good official who take care of his people, he was just a stupid young man who couldn’t bear to see the disadvantaged groups being wronged. As a mother, she was proud and worried.

Liao Tingyu had no idea what he looked like in his mother’s heart, but it was indeed the case. He was indeed a righteous young man.

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The fourth prince, who was far away in the East Palace, was having a lively chat with the crown prince. Now the situation was clear. The crown prince was now in the mood to drink wine and enjoy the flowers leisurely.

Today, the emperor’s health was not as good as before, and the imperial doctor had concluded that he would not survive the new year. However, his position as the crown prince had become more and more secure. In these years, he had finally seen the light of day.

Thinking about himself secretly making friends with capable people, working hard to use Liao Tingyu’s method of funding to win over a large number of talents, and sharing a lot of the huge profits made by Liao Tingyu’s prescriptions with those in need, he occupied an important position in the hearts of the people. Of course, according to Liao Tingyu, doing good deeds would bring blessings to oneself.

The fourth prince and the crown prince still called Liao Tingyu their teacher in every letter. Although Liao Tingyu didn’t admit it, they didn’t care. Anyway, compared to others, he was more capable and knew how to grasp people’s heart.

“Brother, do you think you can take action now?” Song An had changed a lot over the years. He was originally a thin and small person, but suddenly he had grown taller and bigger. If it weren’t for his fair face, one would have thought he was a general.

The Crown Prince Song Wu looked at his brother like this with some disgust and did not answer him. He complained every day, “Oh, how well-behaved you used to be. Why do you want to practice martial arts? Look at you now, you don’t look like a noble prince at all. As a brother, I have to say…”

“Then don’t say it. My ears are pricked by what you said. I’m asking you something serious. Answer it quickly. Don’t make excuses.” Song An said without being bothered.

What a great figure he had now. His father used to always nag him that a man must have an 8-pack abs.

That was what he called handsome. Looking at his own brother’s body, it was not as good as his.

“Why should I act? The beasts will fight back when they are about to die. The one who attacks first will end up badly. It’s good to wait for him to die.” The crown prince disliked this stupid and foolish brother very much.

Now the situation on his side was very good.

The ones who should be anxious were those whose strength had almost dissipated and were still struggling to death. They were so stupid that they didn’t know what to look forward to when watching such a good thing.

What he needed to do most now was to take good care of himself, stay in good health, and then go enjoy the annual show.

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The Yibao Pavilion that had sprung up in recent years had all kinds of strange things, but he was very low-key, and the owner had a bodhisattva heart. The minister not sure who owned the Yibao Pavilion that suddenly appeared a few years ago, but this did not hinder their appreciation and admiration for what the pavilion did. Such people who did good deeds without seeking fame or fortune could be called sage.

At one point, the ministers even wrote a letter asking the emperor to commend the owner behind this treasure pavilion as a model for the whole world.

The crown prince who had hidden his fame was still there to add fuel to the flames. After all, it was always good to have more fame. No one would dislike a good reputation. It was just a pity that his good reputation was overshadowed by someone else who tried to make trouble.

During the Chinese New Year, a moderate farce occurred in the palace, but fortunately, the crown prince took precautions and easily calmed it down.

However, it was precisely because of this farce that the once most popular prince in the capital was imprisoned, and his maternal clan was also implicated. With most of the capital being emptied out, a further decline in power was inevitable.

This overwhelming victory made the crown prince’s side very proud. Several courtesans and the upstarts who supported him wanted to celebrate. Unfortunately, the crown prince stated that the emperor was not in good health now and everything must be centered on the emperor. With the New Year approaching, everyone still went home to reunite with their families.

The emperor, who had sent his most beloved son to prison, was not initially happy. The empress wanted to trouble the crown prince, but she did not expect the crown prince to be so sensible and could not find any flaws in his behavior.

The emperor looked at the empress, who was busy to save her son, and sighed helplessly: “He is also my son. I feel sorry for him but now that he is in this situation, it is all his own fault. I gave him the rights of a prince, and also gave him support, but he did not grasp it well. You are the empress. Even if the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, he will not do anything to you. No matter what, you are also his stepmother, his legitimate empress dowager. Don’t work in vain anymore. Your beloved son has done what he has done now and deserves to be punished.”

The empress put down the soup in her hand helplessly, with tears in her eyes: “I understand what Your Majesty means, and I also know that I don’t have the best approach to handling this, but he is still my son. Even if the crown prince takes the throne, he is still not son, he did not crawl out of my belly. I can’t help but care for my own son. I am not just the empress; I am a mother.”

Later, the empress invited the crown prince to have a meal in her palace. He stayed for a long time, leaving at noon and returning in the evening.

When he returned home, the fourth prince was very worried and asked him what the empress wanted from him.

The crown prince looked at his younger brother with deep eyes: “Wouldn’t it be great if the empress dowager is on our side?”

Song An felt that he seemed to have been stimulated by something today. How could he say such confused words? Moreover, the empress dowager had been against them for so long, why would she be mentioned now?

Song An wanted to ask about the specific situation, but unfortunately, the crown prince didn’t want to talk about it. He sat alone under a tree and drank wine all night facing the moon.

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In the spring of the next year, the crown prince ascended the throne. The emperor passed away during the New Year, and the empress also left. At the same time, the empress’s son disappeared.

One month before he was about to ascend the throne, he sent an invitation to Liao Tingyu as soon as possible.

Liao Tingyu looked at the letter and smiled happily. He was pleased that the crown prince could finally take charge of the court.

He didn’t have time to go to the capital for the time being, but he still accepted the appointment of the newly appointed emperor, received the newly minted Duke’s token, and the benefits from his gracious students, and enjoyed the spring scenery leisurely.

Standing on the high field ridge, he stopped and looked at the scenes of people behind him working hard and smiling, and said: “I never thought in my life that I would achieve such great things. I truly hope that one day the people of this country will be full of scholars, and it will become a Kingdom of Heaven.”

Thinking of the prosperous scene in his distant memory, he once thought that he could only take care of a small family, but he did not expect that he was so capable and could change a whole dynasty.

Liao Tingyu looked at his hands that had never worked hard before and murmured to himself: “Maybe I can change an era.”

Huang Zilan held their child, while Mi Li held a gourd in his hand and shouted sweetly: “Dad, are you here? What are you looking at? Let’s go home!”

“Okay, let’s go home.” Liao Tingyu turned around and looked at his wife with a smile, holding the child’s other hand, and the family of three slowly walked back to the county government office.

Pedestrians on the road greeted Liao Tingyu cheerfully as before, unaware that he was now the Duke of Linxian Couty now.

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Mother Deng no longer had the sharp edges she once had. She now chatted with other old ladies, drank tea, teased her grandchildren, and lived the life of a wealthy old lady in a colorful way.

Liao Ming still doted on her, engaging in a little romance from time to time, bringing a bouquet of flowers today and delicious food tomorrow. The days of the old couple were filled with happiness.

But Liao Shi didn’t realize this. He had a rare rest today and stayed with Wen Xiuer at home.

Wen Xiuer was now pregnant with another child. Mother Deng hoped for a daughter, considering one son and one daughter to be ideal. Sometimes Liao Tingyu felt there was something peculiar about the Liao family’s bloodline—why were they all so devoted to their wives?

In the evening, he officially announced the good news of the crown prince’s ascension to the throne and his own promotion as a Duke. Mother Deng was overjoyed, while Liao Ming praised him as worthy of his ancestors.

Liao Shi was dumbfounded, and Wen Xiuer held her son tightly, feeling the reality sinking in. Huang Zilan was stunned but eventually recovered.

This meant that he was now the wife of a noble Duke, but the promotion was too sudden.

Liao Tingyu looked at his wife and said, “My father-in-law is going to bring his family over in a few days. I wonder what this new brother-in-law will be like, whether he will be a good boy or not.”

Huang Zilan chuckled at him for being so enamored with raising children. A good boy is good but being a bit naughty wouldn’t hurt.

As they watched the sunset in the peaceful courtyard, the sound of children reading filled the air. This was the day he had dreamed of. He thought about how, once upon a time, he had looked forward to the future with fear, not knowing how lucky he was to meet such a good husband.

The two held hands and saw their reflections in each other’s eyes.

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In the second year after the crown prince ascended the throne, paper was produced in large quantities, with factories, movable type printing, and gunpowder.

In the third year, the emperor organized the opening of a school in the capital. It was stipulated that the school had six grades, with one grade studied each year. There was an exam every year, and after completing each grade, students could directly pass the exam to become scholars and Jinshi.

As the cost of studying was not high, education became increasingly popular in the capital, leading to a rise in literacy rates. This trend spread to other parts of the country, solving the employment problems of many literate individuals.

In the same year, the emperor also prioritized technology, establishing a craft school to teach manual skills and encourage innovation. This initiative yielded numerous inventions that improved people’s lives.

By the time Liao Tingyu had grayed, their country had become the most prosperous in the world. He witnessed scenes of admiration from all nations. When he passed away, the emperor had named the crown prince.

In historical records, the emperor maintained his respect for Liao Tingyu, always referring to him as his teacher and father. Liao Tingyu was posthumously honored with the title of Imperial Teacher.

On the day of his funeral, the entire capital draped itself in white ribbons. People from all walks of life organized themselves to bid him farewell, wearing mourning attire and walking for miles along the procession route.

The capital came to a standstill on that day—no business was conducted, no officials were present, and even the emperor withdrew, leaving only essential guards. It was a true testament to the deep reverence and mourning felt by the people.

Note: this is the end. Thanks everyone for reading^^. Don’t forget to check out my other translation work. Still on the progress re-uploading T.T