They stayed in the northwest as minor local officials, with their son attending the academy to become a teacher. Although this life was not as illustrious as being a high-ranking official in the capital city, it was stable and comfortable.
Mo Jiuye sincerely hoped that the others would remain in the northwest to assist him, but he could not be so selfish, for they were all talented and accomplished men who might have greater opportunities to put their abilities to use in the capital city.
However, the others had made up their minds, and despite understanding the reasoning, they remained steadfast in their desire to stay in the northwest.
Mo Jiuye was very gratified by this, and it also made clear that they were indeed men of honor and loyalty.
Time flew by in the busyness.
The Mo family welcomed their second Spring Festival in the northwest.
This night was different from previous years, as it was the first time in over a decade that the entire Mo family was gathered without a single person missing for the reunion.
In the past, even when there were no reports of the Mo men being killed in battle, there were always some who could not reunite with their families due to guarding the frontier.
Old Lady Mo was the happiest today, as she saw her husband and sons all present, but more importantly, He Zhiran had given birth to a new addition to the Mo family this year.
Seeing the harmonious scene of the entire family sitting together, the old lady could not help but shed tears of joy.
Mo Qing saw his wife crying, and without asking, he knew the reason, for he too felt an urge to tear up at that moment.
The women rushed to comfort the two elders, while also reflecting on how precious this reunion was.
Little Pearl was the best at lightening the mood. Sensing the elders' emotions, she immediately made sounds to draw everyone's attention.
Soon, Pearl had captured everyone's attention, and they all wiped away their tears, vying to hold this mischievous little one.
Pearl truly had a knack for it – in an instant, the atmosphere in the Mo family had done a complete 180-degree turn, with broad smiles adorning everyone's faces.
Six years later...
In a sprawling compound at the foot of Tian Xiang Mountain, located in the northwest's provincial capital city.
This was the King of Defending the West's Mansion, personally overseen by Hu Cong in its construction over more than half a year.
The mansion occupied an extremely vast area, with over a dozen separate quadrangle courtyard residences within its walls, in addition to the requisite facilities.
At first glance, its layout resembled the houses the Mo family had built at the foot of Xi Ling Village's mountain.
Most importantly, the mansion backed onto a great mountain, covered in various fruit and tea trees, giving a refreshing and invigorating feeling from afar.
On this particular day of crisp autumn weather, Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran, both dressed casually, strolled along the bustling commercial street in the northwest.
The commercial street was always crowded, but most of the people were visitors from afar, drawn by its reputation.
For the local residents of the territory were busy working at this time of day, with no leisure to wander the street.
They would only come here to spend their hard-earned money in the evenings.
Indeed, there were now hardly any idlers in the northwest territory.
This was because their princess was so formidable, having established countless factories and workshops, so that any of her subjects willing to work could find stable and lucrative employment.
The children, too, boys and girls alike, all attended school daily.
Moreover, with the cultivation of high-yield crops in the rural northwest, after paying the grain tax, the surplus could be sold to outside grain merchants, providing a considerable annual income.
The commercial street beneath Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran's feet was established five years ago, the second year after the Mo brothers' triumphant return.
It was jointly planned and designed by He Zhiran and Mo Jiuye.
Along both sides of the entire street were shops of the same scale and style.
When the commercial street first opened, He Zhiran proposed opening it up for outside merchants to purchase shops, but at that time, no one saw potential in the business environment here. Those merchants felt that the Princess of Defending the West was being fanciful, building these showy shops in the impoverished northwest just to make money.
She did indeed intend to make money, but He Zhiran wanted to make a great fortune, while also hoping to introduce some businesses she hadn't thought of to the northwest.
Little did she know that those people simply didn't recognize her approach, so when the shops first went on sale, there were no takers.
Just because others lacked vision didn't mean Tang Mingrui did too, after working with He Zhiran for so long.
How could he not know the future commercial value of these shops?
At this time, although Tang Mingrui had earned some money, purchasing all the shops on the entire street was still a great burden for him.
But if he gave up such a great opportunity due to this minor difficulty, he would not be Tang Mingrui.
Tang Mingrui found a money house to borrow silver from, and ultimately bought more than half of the shops on the northwest commercial street.
He never intended to transfer these shops to others for a profit differential once the street became prosperous. He wanted to use them all for business ventures in cooperation with the Mo family.
And so it was – since He Zhiran disliked business and had no choice but to become a supplier, all the products from the Mo family's workshops and factories now cooperated with Tang Mingrui's ventures.
Tang Mingrui's business has grown ever larger, now spanning all of Da Shun and its neighboring small kingdoms.
Last year, at Meng Huaining's recommendation, he contributed his hard-earned silver to the court to fund Da Shun's construction of the Grand Canal and levees.
For such a great contribution, Nan Yu would certainly not disappoint Tang Mingrui, bestowing a gilded signboard inscribed with the words "Imperial Merchant of Da Shun."
Tang Mingrui had officially become a renowned imperial merchant, five years earlier than Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran knew from history.
There were many shops on the commercial street, but Tang Mingrui and He Zhiran's cooperative businesses also dealt in many kinds of goods, so there was no concern about so many shops lying vacant.
As for the remaining few shops, after Tang Mingrui established various businesses that drove the street's economy, they too were quickly snapped up.
Those people who hadn't seen potential here in the beginning could be said to have regretted it bitterly.
Nowadays, a shop on this street could scarcely be had for any amount of money.
The owners were making more than enough, so who would be willing to sell?
The commercial street's reputation only grew more resounding, to the point that the wealthy from all regions of the Da Shun court wished to come here and open their eyes.
The couple strolled leisurely along.
"Lord Mo, Princess He..."
This voice was all too familiar, and the two turned with looks of surprise on their faces.
"Your Maj..."
Mo Jiuye had barely uttered a syllable when Nan Yu silenced him with a gesture.
Nan Yu looked even more seasoned than six years ago, more mature, but the aura of imposing righteousness remained.
"Just call me 'Third Prince.'"
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran exchanged smiles.
"When did Your Third Highness arrive in the northwest? Why didn't you inform us so we could receive you properly?"
Nan Yu waved his folding fan, his face full of smiles.
"I only just arrived today. I thought I would first take a look at Da Shun's most famous commercial street, but I didn't expect to run into the two of you."
Speaking of the commercial street, pride shone in He Zhiran's eyes – this was her painstaking creation.
"What does Your Third Highness think of this commercial street?"
