Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 828 - 762: The Grand Finale (Part 2)_10

"One month." Li Xingmao thought for a moment and said.

He actually wanted to stay longer, at least until the seeds were sown before returning.

Li Boxuan did not object, "I agree, however, allowing you to return is not for leisure. The farmlands in Zhen An Prefecture are too few, as are the schools. At that time, our family was only busy with making a living and didn’t have much time to inspect these matters. When you go to Zhen An Prefecture, try to increase the farmland yield there. I’ll approve a reduction of half of their land taxes."

Li Xingmao said happily, "Understood, Father."

Many people avoided farming due to heavy land taxes, or they transferred their land to scholar families or officials. They’d rather rent than farm themselves.

This led to reduced harvests from the fields.

When the Li Family arrived at Taohua Village, they were able to cultivate dozens of acres, not because the villagers neglected exploration, but because of the heavy land taxes that made nobody willing to expand cultivation.

The Li Family dared to cultivate more land because of the village chief’s help in recording only half, and later County Magistrate Li’s tax reduction. Further down the line, Prefect Lou directly ordered not to levy taxes on the Li Family.

.

Li Xingmao and Chai Eying, with their children, set off back to Zhen An Prefecture on the eighteenth day of the New Year.

Except for Li Yuwen and Li Yu En, who were heavily pregnant and did not come, Li Yuzhu and his wife, Lou Chengye, and Pei Shenyan all came to send them off.

Li Xingsheng and Li Xing’an urged Li Xingmao, "Return soon. The documents Father distributed to you are better reviewed by you personally. We’re just filling in temporarily!"

Li Xingmao thanked his two younger brothers with clasped hands, "Thank you for your hard work, brothers. I will surely return to the capital early."

However, although he spoke boldly, it wasn’t until summer of the following year, when reporting that Chai Eying had given birth to a daughter, that Li Xingmao wrote in a letter that he wished to spend the rest of his life with his wife and children in the village and did not want to return to the capital. He even asked his two brothers to help handle court affairs.

Li Xingsheng and Li Xing’an read the letter and scolded him for a long time.

Li Boxuan, upon hearing the news, remained calm.

His son didn’t want to be a member of the Royal Family, and he had no choice. Honestly, he wished he could run away too.

Often, he missed the flowers and grass in the villages of Zhen An Prefecture and the mischievous children in the schools.

Li Xingmao said that after the Li Family left, the village found a teacher to substitute for classes. Who knows if that teacher can handle the students well.

Even Mr. Song couldn’t manage those children; only he could make them obedient.

And the pond in front of the school, it’s time to clear the silt and plant lotus seeds, one would think.

Also, would those old farmers who used to chat with him still visit the school?

Now, those are all past events, only to be recalled in dreams.

Li Xingmao refused to return to the capital, leaving Li Boxuan no choice but to confer upon him the title of Prince Xiao Yao and grant the entire Zhen An Prefecture as his fief.

The eldest son didn’t want to be part of the Royal Family and escaped.

The position of the Crown Prince couldn’t be left vacant.

Li Boxuan set his sights on the second and third sons. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Li Xing’an had anticipated this day would come. Having never been fond of reading or writing ever since he was young, he would rather become a monk than become the Crown Prince managing political affairs.

Being a monk wasn’t an option, so he looked for another excuse.

The one most annoyed by politics soon cried and confessed to the Wei Family, saying he was a ’duan xiu’ and if he became the Crown Prince, the Li Family would have no heirs.

If he became the Crown Prince, he would choose a man as the Crown Princess Consort. He asked whether the Wei Family agreed.

The Wei Family was shocked to realize that the third son indeed had never pursued any women, nor had any romantic rumors with them.

Unlike the second son, whose admirers filled the capital.

"Old Third, are you... are you really ’duan xiu’?" Wei Family asked Li Xing’an, looking surprised, "Are you joking about not wanting to be the Crown Prince?"

"Mother, would I joke about my reputation? Of course, it’s true, mother!" Li Xing’an cried while holding Wei Family’s leg.

Wei Family sighed inwardly; the eldest son refused the throne and fled.

The third son was ’duan xiu’, which left the second son as the only choice.

Moreover, according to the principle of respecting seniority, Li Xingsheng should be chosen.

Thus, Wei Family approached Li Boxuan explaining the situation.

Li Boxuan stroked his beard, pondering for a long time, "Then it’s the second son."

Fortunately, he had many sons, leaving a choice, unlike his cousin who only had one son and ended up with none.

When Li Xingsheng received the royal decree from Li Boxuan’s messenger, he was livid.

Li Xingsheng chased Li Xing’an around the Lu Ling Royal Mansion for twelve laps with a knife.

He had already planned to head to Zhen An Prefecture to find Ling Yuezi the next day. Since Ling Yuezi refused to marry him, he’d carry her away in a sack!

He didn’t want to be the damn Crown Prince!

"Second brother, the rule of prioritizing the elder has been unchangeable for centuries. Why get angry at me? You just happened to be born two years earlier! Moreover, I’m ’duan xiu’! Which dynasty has a ’duan xiu’ Crown Prince?" Li Xing’an, unable to fight Li Xingsheng, could only run while covering his head.

"Dammit, you’re a fake ’duan xiu’. Three days ago, I saw you lustfully looking at a girl on the street. Stop pretending!"

"Second brother, my grandfather is yours too. Curse me further, and he’ll rise from his coffin to beat you!"

"I’ll beat you first!"

The brothers fought long, but nothing changed.

Li Boxuan announced that Li Xingsheng was to be chosen a Crown Princess Consort and ordered unmarried girls from the capital to register for selection.

Li Xingsheng, "..."