Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 20 Part 1

“Monks?”

“Mm,” Gu Rong mumbled, “I met them while traveling in the past. We haven’t been in touch for a long time.”

The two didn’t continue the topic, because the Liu residence’s steward had hurried over, bringing two sets of mourning robes. He said the Liu family planned to move up the burial of the eldest young master to today.

Large clans usually placed great importance on funeral rites and the burial time was always selected according to an auspicious hour, rarely altered at will.

Gu Rong couldn’t help clicking his tongue and shaking his head. “This Liu family, even burying their son feels like rushing to reincarnate.”

The Liu family, being a local powerhouse, had advanced the funeral by nearly half a day, yet the ceremony remained grand and astonishing. Beyond the display of honor far exceeding that of common folk, Liu Xin had invited 300 monks and 300 Daoist priests to chant scriptures and lead the procession, praying for his son’s blessing.

Following them were more than thirty horse-drawn carts laden with burial goods, each cart staffed with several servants and piled high with gold, silver, jade, and other valuable treasures. The procession was made up of Liu family members, retainers, and local officials and runners. The funeral cart at the center was exceptionally elaborate, crafted from precious materials, its canopy and walls inlaid with gold and jade, a dazzling and luxurious spectacle.

The massive procession nearly filled an entire main road, with crowds of townsfolk lining both sides to watch.

Jiang Cheng, also dressed in mourning robes, blended into the funeral procession to guard Xi Rong.

Seeing the grandeur of it all, he couldn’t help grumbling bitterly, “The son of a mere town mayor, yet this funeral almost rivals that of a third-rank official!”

Having fought battles in the poverty-stricken Southwest, Jiang Cheng even had the mad thought that if they dismantled the funeral cart, it could probably feed tens of thousands of troops for three to five days. Even prying a few jade pieces off the coffin could be exchanged for enough steamed buns and dried rations to feed an entire battalion for several days.

Let alone those thirty carts of gold and silver.

Gu Rong was lazily holding the Eldest Young Master Liu’s memorial tablet, wide sleeves fluttering, as he sat on an ox cart with Xi Rong.

Because they were posing as the temporary widow and the widow’s elder brother from his maternal home, the two didn’t need to walk on foot like Jiang Cheng and the servants. Aside from occasionally putting on an act and shedding a few tears with the Liu family, Gu Rong spent most of the time leisurely enjoying the scenery, occasionally being wordlessly fed a piece of pastry by Xi Rong.

Hearing Jiang Cheng’s comment, Gu Rong chuckled and said, “This is still a mid-range affair. Last year, Master Li’s funeral in the county was what you’d really call grand.”

The man beside him instantly lit up. “Young master also attended Master Li’s funeral?”

“Yes. Brother, are you in the same trade?”

“Indeed I am! Ah, last year I was in charge of carrying the coffin. It was quite the scene, just the tips I received were several strings of cash. The meals were amazing too; there were chicken, duck, and fish every day. This year, my luck is not so good and I only managed to snag a job as a mourner.”

“Ah, but the mourner’s job has its own nuances. Brother, which gate were you assigned to cry at?”

“You really are in the trade, young master! I was placed at the main gate; not bad, but there were too many people scrambling for jobs. I knelt in the street crying for several days straight, nearly screamed my throat hoarse, and still only made less than a string of cash.”

After saying that, he glanced at the memorial tablet in Gu Rong’s arms. “Young master, that tablet…”

Gu Rong sighed with an air of maturity. “Just like you, brother, one of my ways to make a living.”

“I understand, I understand. We’re all just trying to feed ourselves.”

Jiang Cheng: “…”

He really couldn’t take it anymore.

He couldn’t help turning to the burly man and asked, “Brother, with your size and build, have you never thought of doing something more proper?”

He asked with some hidden intent, trying to take a jab at the young master who mooch off food and drink wherever he went.

But the man wasn’t ashamed at all. Instead, he looked at Jiang Cheng with a bewildered expression. “Proper work? What kind of proper work? Farming for the noble clans? Doing hard labor? After a whole year of that, I still wouldn’t earn as much as I did crying for a few days, and might even end up losing money paying for medicine. These days, there’s no more proper work than this. You have no idea how much effort I spent just to get this job. Easy for you to say, standing there all high and mighty. If proper work were so easy, who would want to bawl at a funeral for someone else? When my own father died, I didn’t cry that hard.”

“I remember the court has strict laws limiting the amount of land noble families can own. What about your own land?” Xi Rong, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

The man waved dismissively. “Our own land? Do you know how much tax you have to pay if you farm your own land? Only an idiot would farm his own land.”

“Doesn’t the Liu family’s residence have to pay taxes for their lands?” Jiang Cheng asked.

“Of course they do, but there’s a whole world of tricks behind that.”

This time, Gu Rong lazily chimed in, “The first trick is land surveying. The second trick is the local officials reviewing the land. But these aren’t even the most important ones. The most important trick is the third: ‘It’s easy to farm if you’ve got friends in court.’”

“Exactly. The young master here is a sharp one. Everyone knows the Liu residence has the Cui clan behind them. Just yesterday, a noble envoy from the Cui clan personally visited the Liu residence for the funeral, startling all the officials in Quyang County. With the Liu family’s eldest young master being buried today, even the county magistrate came running to pay his respects. Within all of Songzhou Prefecture, how many clans have that kind of prestige?”

Gu Rong only smiled and shook his head. As he looked up, he found the young man beside him gazing at him deeply and intently, the corners of his lips carrying a leisurely, unhurried smile.

“You seem to know quite a lot.”

Gu Rong didn’t mind at all and shifted his sitting posture. “This? Just saying whatever came to mind.”

Xi Rong raised an eyebrow. “You’ve even cried at funerals before?”

“…………”

Gu Rong cleared his throat guiltily. “Ahem, just once. They said I wasn’t crying loud enough and kicked me out.”

Seeing Xi Rong silent, only lowering his eyes to look at him with a heavy gaze, Gu Rong cautiously asked. “Are you angry?” But right after asking, Gu Rong felt it was strange.

What was he afraid of?

They were only brothers in name. It’s not like this man was really his elder brother. Why did he care what the other thought?

Xi Rong shook his head. “No. I was just thinking, your life must have been difficult before.”

Gu Rong was taken aback and then said, “Actually… it wasn’t too bad. Really.”

Just then, the man who had been talking earlier suddenly pointed ahead. “Look, the roadside offering ritual’s about to start. Little brother, want to come along? Maybe pick up a little something for you and your elder brother?”

Had it been before, Gu Rong would’ve said yes in a heartbeat without blinking.

But now, given the need to maintain a bit of an image, he modestly declined, “I’ll pass. Go ahead, brother.”

“Roadside offering? What’s that?” Xi Rong asked.

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. When a wealthy household holds a funeral, there’s always a roadside offering. The wealthier the family, the more extravagant it needs to be. See all those people crowding by the road? They’re all waiting to grab something from the offerings. Snag anything at all and it’s basically like celebrating the New Year.”

Only then did Jiang Cheng notice that the enormous funeral procession had stopped at some point. Ahead, both sides of the road were indeed packed with people.

A steward-like figure in embroidered robes came out, arrogantly said a few words, and then clapped his hands. At once, a group of Liu family’s servants came out in a stream and began placing all kinds of offerings along the roadside.

Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened.

Because every container used for the offerings was made entirely of gold.

The townsfolk standing along the road immediately surged forward, scrambling to snatch up the offerings.

Xi Rong tilted his head toward Gu Rong and asked, “Want to eat something?”

Gu Rong blinked. “Hm?”

Xi Rong had already gracefully stepped off the ox cart. He said to the burly man, “I’ll go with you.”

The man grinned. “Great! You’re tall, brother, you’ll definitely grab the good stuff.”

Moments later, Jiang Cheng stood amidst the crowd, bracing against the surge of people, watching His Highness, with an utterly calm expression, tuck a roast chicken into his robe. Staring dazedly up at the sky, Jiang Cheng thought, ‘The wise and mighty His Highness, after just two days with that little swindler, had already been assimilated?’

The funeral ended by midday.

As promised, Gu Rong used the silver he’d earned to invite Xi Rong and Jiang Cheng for drinks at a tavern in town. On the table was the roast chicken Xi Rong had snatched.

Gu Rong grinned as he sighed, “Brother, you’re amazing. I can’t believe you got such a good thing.”

Jiang Cheng felt like his heart had seized. He said coolly, “It’s rare to have the honor of being treated to a drink by the young master.”

Gu Rong was still smiling cheerfully. “No need to be so formal. Today, it’s on me. Order whatever you like, brothers. We won’t leave until we’re drunk.”

Recalling the absurd scene last time when this young master got drunk, Jiang Cheng genuinely said, “Better take it easy this time, young master. Don’t want you getting lost on the way home again.”

Xi Rong tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Gu Rong. “What are you planning to do after this?”

Holding the chicken leg, Gu Rong thought for a moment. “Not heading straight back? Do you have other plans, brother?”

Xi Rong said, “Let’s stop by a clothing shop.”

Gu Rong nodded in understanding.

Right, the young master from a wealthy family hadn’t changed clothes in days. It was about time to get something new.