Chapter 1646 – South Sheng Secured, An Huan Killed (Fifty-Six)
“Congratulations, my Lord. Congratulations!”
Hua Yuan clasped his hands together in a gesture of greeting, his sincere demeanor darkening the eyes of the Xichang Princess nearby, who became increasingly wary.
She instinctively stroked her flat abdomen, unable to suppress a sigh, feeling both joy and sorrow in her heart.
The joy was that she was pregnant; this would elevate her status significantly, and even An wouldn’t look down on her, though he wouldn’t mistreat the child growing inside her.
The sorrow stemmed from being a princess of a nation, beloved and pampered in her early years by her father and mother, enjoying earthly riches, only to find herself facing a dwindling homeland, and a life of wandering, reduced to a small lord treating her like a slave, her childbearing no longer her own choice.
She had once despised those nestled within harems who relied on their beauty, never imagining she would be even lower than them.
Though the Xichang Princess was young, her schemes were deep; even with a heart full of woes, her face bore a graceful smile, her lips curling in a gentle, elegant grin. Kneeling beside An, an uninformed observer might mistake her for An’s principal wife.
Hua Yuan’s congratulatory remark was quite ordinary, yet An beamed with delight, increasingly valuing Hua Yuan.
“If anyone should be thanking, it’s me who owes you,” An exclaimed, his face lighting up. “That renowned physician is truly remarkable, competent in healing and moral in character, a saint among doctors.” Unable to help himself, An grasped Hua Yuan’s hand, patting it joyfully. Perhaps due to newfound hope, he seemed rejuvenated, appearing several years younger, “Hua, be sure to properly thank that physician on my behalf; once the little one is born, he’ll deserve ample rewards.”
Without Hua Yuan’s introduction to the esteemed healer, An would have never overcome his hidden ailment or have his own flesh and blood.
In terms of credit, the Xichang Princess could only take second place in the blessing of childbirth; the first belonged undoubtedly to Hua Yuan.
“Understood.”
Heaven knows what willpower Hua Yuan drew on to maintain a straight face before An.
He almost wanted to inform An that the credit shouldn’t go to him, since the one who worked hard was actually the Xichang Prince, right?
After Hua Yuan left, An once more reminded the Xichang Princess.
“Your pregnancy is still in the early stages; you must take good care and nurture yourself. Once the little one arrives, I will ensure you won’t be shortchanged.”
In her heart, the princess felt nauseated, yet on the surface, she had to display a bashful and happy smile.
“I understand, and I will certainly give you a healthy child.”
Feeling assured, An planned to spread the good news far and wide to let everyone share in the joy.
News of the Xichang Princess’s pregnancy spread quickly, and all the ministers rushed to congratulate, earning some delight for An that was almost toothless.
This New Year was the most pleasant celebration since the calamity of the southern barbarians.
Of course, only a handful knew about An’s hidden ailment, the rest of the officials remaining in ignorance.
Those in the know included the old ministers who had fought alongside An in earlier days, like his brothers from the Red Lotus Sect days when they trained in Dongqing.
Speaking of these sworn brothers brought a pained nostalgia.
In his fallen days, An could call them brothers, but as he returned to South Sheng and rose to power, the innate pedigree differences severed him completely from his “sworn” brothers. They, rugged fighters not afraid of death, had been his finest cards when he had none to play, but now, were they still just lost strays in the world of high society?
He’s no longer a mere stray dog but the lord of South Sheng!
Those two brothers were from humble beginnings, barely literate, rough in speech and action. An, however, was from an affluent background, a distinguished aristocrat. The three shared none of the same upbringing, and their values couldn’t align even with a squirt of glue.
Nonetheless, An didn’t want to be labeled a “thankless wolf,” and although his brothers had long fallen behind, he hadn’t abandoned them. Instead, he gave them a chance to live comfortably, being generous despite the disparities.
An felt he had been benevolent, but his two brothers were clearly uncomfortable.
They thought they were significant, but as An climbed higher step by step, or rather reclaimed his lost glory, they began to feel more out of place. Over the years, they had been marginalized; one even faced demotion for mishandling grain supplies, now reduced to being just a bald general. Though called a general, it was mere decoration — he wasn’t even on par with an ordinary centurion.
An relished their fate; they could still stand in the background, a privilege earned by past hardships.
Once the flow of congratulations subsided, the two sworn brothers finally found a moment to chat with An.
One, more straightforward, hesitated before suggesting, “Big Brother, weren’t you… how come Little Sister-in-law…”
Before he could finish, An’s face turned dark as night, and the other brother cut in awkwardly, “Congratulations, Big Brother! Once Little Sister-in-law’s pregnancy reaches full term, I’ll congratulate you again. By the way, I suddenly remembered there are things I should tend to in the camp; I’ll take my leave now.”
With that, he dragged the first brother away without waiting for a response.
Did they want to face the wrath of the furious An?
Didn’t they see An’s face turning green with anger?
Men loathe being cuckolded, and to have his sworn brothers question him to his face?
“Why are you dragging me around like this?”
“If I don’t pull you away, do you want to bring trouble down on yourself?”
“How have I dragged you into anything?”
“Big Brother has clearly recovered enough to make Little Sister-in-law pregnant; don’t you dare question if his ailment is truly healed, lest it implies that the child in her womb belongs to another man!” He was utterly exasperated with this idiot who, even after all these years, lacked common sense!
They had walked with An for years, gradually realizing the meaning of “beyond one’s capability.”
It wasn’t that they weren’t valiant enough in battle, but the world didn’t conform to mere brute strength.
To draw an analogy, when An first started his venture, his main focus was on profits, prioritizing quantity and revenues; his subordinates were a bunch of dropped-out youths. But once he expanded, wanting to grow his business, it was inevitable to focus on transformation, putting more emphasis on product quality and personnel capabilities. The two sworn brothers were like those dropouts trying to catch up; if they wanted to not be eliminated, they needed to work hard to enhance their abilities, competing with elite graduates from prestigious universities. Otherwise, they would face obsolescence.
Speaking of which, Dian Yin under Jiang Ji was a prime example of someone who worked tirelessly to keep up with the pace.
Dian Yin was fortunate; his Lord, Jiang Ji, guided him at the right moment, and Yang Si, an ace strategist, stationed alongside him in Hujun for two to three years, often lending him a helping hand. Initially struggling, Dian Yin persevered and eventually climbed to new heights.
In contrast, the two brothers were far less fortunate; An lacked the patience to guide them, believing their efforts wouldn’t yield significant results. Other “colleagues” looked down on their background and skills, disregarding these rough characters, much less offer any guidance.
That they could still stay on with An and manage some trivial tasks was a testament to An’s kindness and nostalgia.
The two brothers exchanged glances, each reflecting a shared sense of helplessness.
