Chapter 918 Prince of Pingxi, Welcoming the Emperor

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!!!"

"Your Majesty, take care, Your Majesty!!!"

"Your Majesty... please reconsider!!!"

The Emperor sat on a large imperial carriage pulled by thirty-six pixiu beasts, with Empress He Sis in by his side.

Outside, the officials who had come to see him off were still putting on a show of "reluctant farewell";

He Sisi peeled a grape and fed it to the Emperor.

Back in Nanan County, with mutual affection, He Sisi had taken the initiative to sleep with the future Emperor of Great Yan;

Ji Laoliu still remembered that night, waking up late, opening his eyes to see He Sisi already sitting there with her hair neatly styled in a married woman's bun, making Ji Laoliu wonder if he was the one who had been deflowered.

Back then, in their intimacy, they would feed each other fruit mouth to mouth.

The butcher's daughter was still quite simple in that regard, but Ji Laoliu had pretended to be a licentious prince for a long time to deceive his own father, a period of "lying in wait";

In short, he knew how to have fun.

He taught, and He Sisi learned, not just to serve him, but because young couples naturally enjoyed each other's company.

Now, they had two children.

For some inexplicable reason, the couple no longer fed each other mouth to mouth; not because they found it disgusting, but because they felt it was unnecessary.

"Your Majesty, what are you daydreaming about?" He Sisi asked.

Ji Laoliu snapped out of his reverie and turned to look outside the imperial carriage, where the officials seeing him off were finally receding into the distance.

"Sigh, those old fogeys gave me a headache."

The Emperor reached out and tapped his forehead.

The Empress leaned in to help him massage his temples.

In the court, there was a group of people with seniority, upright character, mediocre but passable abilities, who did not form factions or engage in corruption, and were loyal.

Even the Emperor found himself helpless against these old officials;

There was nothing to exploit about them... no, mainly because they had no value to exploit.

That was why they dared to cry at the carriage today as they saw the Emperor leave the capital.

"The officials are loyal," the Empress consoled.

"I know. In their eyes, this eastern tour is me delivering myself as a fat sheep into the Prince of Pingxi's mouth."

"Pfft..." The Empress chuckled.

"Sometimes, I feel quite sad, and at the same time, I realize how great my father was... it wasn't easy.

Emperors are also human. Throughout history, how many emperors have truly been tolerant?

Being able to leave someone with a dignified end is already excellent. Few rulers and subjects remain on good terms until the end.

And subjects…

For example, that Zheng fellow,

Winning battle after battle, expanding territory, and raising our country's prestige, he never faltered. Basically, as long as he was dispatched, I could wait for news of victory in the imperial study.

But the more he did, the more the officials in the court saw him as a thorn in their side.

Despite his repeated military achievements for the country, they increasingly regarded him as a national traitor.

Putting myself in Zheng's shoes, I would also feel resentment in my heart."

The Empress quietly sat there, listening to the Emperor speak.

The Emperor was truly a "lonely man." Few in this world were qualified to hear his innermost thoughts.

Perhaps, just two.

One was herself. Lingxiang didn't count, because the Lu family stood behind Lingxiang. Although the Lu family was very disciplined, the position Lu Bing held was too important.

Fortunately, the Consort gave birth to a princess. If it were a prince, the situation would definitely be different, and it would be hard to say if Lu Bing would have the qualification to reorganize the Secret Intelligence Agency.

As for her own background, the Emperor knew exactly how her brother and father, as well as her sister-in-law's family, were living their lives.

He Sisi was undoubtedly more sentimental. She always had a guess about her father-in-law, the late Emperor of Great Yan.

Did he agree to her marrying his son with such an arrangement in mind?

Not only to prevent in-law interference in politics, but also to hope that his son would have someone he could confide in?

She had not spent much time with the late Emperor, nor had she seen him often, but every time she met him or faced him on formal occasions, the late Emperor had always treated her with a kind of... politeness, and even a little kindness.

Of course, she knew how much her husband had hated his father in his heart, but the late Emperor had treated her well.

Perhaps because of some preconceived notions, and because the concept of the Emperor was too great for her at that time, even a little politeness felt like "being bathed in imperial grace" to her.

"There's an old saying that barefoot people aren't afraid of those wearing shoes. That can be reversed. Because the Emperor possesses everything in the country, he is the most timid and the least able to gamble.

That Zheng fellow once said, 'I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me.'

Damn it,

That Zheng fellow always has so many golden quotes, and they often taste better the more you savor them, so you have to ruminate on them from time to time."

The Emperor leaned against the dragon couch in the imperial carriage, his gaze lost in reminiscence.

The Empress smiled slightly and peeled another grape, feeding it to the Emperor.

She thought that there were probably only two people in this world to whom the supreme Emperor could fully confide;

Herself, because she shared his fate, and had no powerful relatives, so it didn't matter.

The other,

Was the Prince of Pingxi.

But the Prince of Pingxi was the opposite of her. Precisely because the Prince of Pingxi was now powerful, with strong troops stationed in one area, and his prestige shook Great Yan, he had the qualification to sit on equal footing with the Emperor.

Because they could sit together as equals, there was no need for pretense.

Her husband had more than once used the character "friend" as a metaphor, saying that only those who possessed an equal string of coins could be friends.

"Heh, those old fogeys are afraid that after I go to Jin, that Zheng fellow will do something untoward. Only I know that Zheng won't do that.

He's pretentious. He's the most pretentious person I've ever met.

Even if he wants to rebel, he wouldn't bother to hold me hostage to win a dishonorable victory. He would think it's not beautiful."

"Not beautiful?"

"Like looking at a painting, tasting a pot of wine."

"Your concubine seems to understand."

"Unless I make a wrong move and make him feel uncomfortable, I guess he's too lazy to bother.

But I keep reminding myself to always be a good person, a good brother.

Stabbing a brother in the back is very tempting, but I know I must never do it.

It's not that I'm afraid of him, but I think it would be too boring to turn against him, especially for the sake of the dragon throne.

He's sat on that dragon throne before. It looks majestic, but it's actually uncomfortable.

So, this time I didn't listen to them and didn't dispatch many imperial guards to follow, nor did I let the local troops mobilize first.

I'm coming like this, leaving like this,

Slowly coming, slowly leaving, and slowly watching.

Looking at the lands my father conquered for me, looking at these, my people."

As the Emperor spoke, he seemed to tire and slowly closed his eyes.

The Empress felt sorry for the Emperor. She knew that one of the reasons why the Emperor was in such a hurry to go on an eastern tour just after the New Year was that the series of sacrificial ceremonies before the New Year had exhausted him;

And the sacrificial ceremonies after the New Year were no less numerous than those before the New Year. The Emperor was just running away early to slack off.

The Emperor, with his eyes closed, smiled slightly,

And said:

"Empress, do you know why I dare to leave the capital so carelessly, without worrying about home at all?"

"Your Majesty must have made arrangements long ago."

"First, the various procedures and regulations after the New Year are merely a continuation of those established before the New Year. I have already arranged the direction and indicators, and the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet are capable of handling them;

Second,

I don't worry about anything happening at home.

Because I'm on an eastern tour, home will be more stable. Even the resistance to the implementation of the new policies will be much smaller than expected."

"Your Majesty, why is that?"

"Even an emperor as decisive as my father could not represent the court. The court is an object, but it is also thousands upon thousands of people, who have countless connections with the local areas because they originally came from those areas.

They dare not openly resist me, but if they really play a game of passive resistance and neglect, I really can't do anything about it.

The court is like an ox, and the Emperor is the one driving the ox. You have to whip it.

I also have to thank my father and the others for that stunt they pulled.

Once I leave,

They panic, and they will subconsciously run to plow the land for me.

My father used the two royal uncles from the North and South to stage a cavalry charge against the aristocratic families.

They're afraid,

Afraid that I, as a son, would learn from my father and borrow a knife from Jin and Dong, hahaha."

The Emperor laughed happily. Perhaps he was too excited, coupled with the fact that he had gotten up early today, and although the imperial carriage could shield him from the sun and wind, it was still much drier outside than in the deep palace.

Therefore, the Emperor's nose started bleeding.

"Your Majesty, it's... bleeding again."

The Empress immediately took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the Emperor's nose. Fortunately, there wasn't much blood, and it stopped after a few wipes.

The Emperor didn't mind,

Reaching into the Empress's formal dress,

Looking at her with the eyes of a lecher,

And said:

"I'm feeling a little heated. Please help your Empress to relieve Xiao Liuzi's heat."

The Empress slapped the Emperor's chest, but didn't remove the hand that was causing mischief under her dress,

Instead, she scolded:

"You're acting indecent as soon as we leave the capital."

"Zheng has a son and a daughter, he's catching up with us. No, we have to work harder.

Come, come,

Lie down,

Damn it,

Why are there so many buttons on this dress?

When we get back, I'm going to order the Ministry of Rites and the Embroidery Bureau to alter the Empress's phoenix robe. Isn't this delaying the imperial succession!"

At the front of the imperial carriage,

Eunuch Wei waved his horsetail whisk,

And the curtain slowly fell behind him.

He took three steps forward and swept his gaze forward.

All the eunuchs and palace maids serving here lowered their heads and slowly walked outside the imperial carriage.

Eunuch Wei listened to the sounds,

And entered a state of meditation.

……

The Emperor's eastern tour; although everyone in the world with clear eyes knew where the Emperor really intended to go.

But an eastern tour was still an eastern tour.

The late Emperor had reigned for a long time, but after ascending the throne, he had basically never left the capital. The furthest he had gone was to the back garden outside the capital for a temporary stay and recuperation.

So,

This was the first time in nearly twenty years that the Emperor of Great Yan had officially left the capital to inspect his territory.

It was also an official acknowledgement by the Emperor of Great Yan of the Three Jins, which had recently been incorporated into the territory of Great Yan.

Therefore, the Emperor's imperial carriage couldn't travel too fast.

Upon arriving at a place, he had to stop and delay a bit, meet with local officials, and show concern for the people's sentiments. Representatives of the gentry, remnants of the nobility, romantic literati, and so on, all had to be arranged and gone through.

When passing famous mountains and rivers, he also had to climb high, look far, inscribe words, and erect steles.

The Emperor was the symbol of Great Yan. Only the land personally walked by the Emperor could be considered truly imbued with the aura of Great Yan.

In short, the Emperor was very busy, and the journey was very slow.

But as they got closer and closer to Jin and Dong,

Many gazes unconsciously focused there.

Even the activities of the Silver Armored Guards and the Phoenix Nest Internal Guards became more frequent, even at the cost of having several strongholds uprooted.

The Emperor of Great Yan was about to arrive in Jin and Dong. What would the Prince of Pingxi do?

The spring breeze of the first year of Ying'an heralded the arrival of the revival of all things.

The other countries weren't fools. They could taste the meaning from this reign title;

If Yan didn't descend into chaos again, the others would truly have no chance.

Moreover,

Why,

Why could Yan play like this for two generations without any consequences?

Those shoes ought to get wet now!

……

"Empress, touring the realm is really more tiring than being with you."

The Emperor lamented as he rubbed his back.

Seeing that this fellow was being a hypocrite after taking advantage of her, the Empress didn't hesitate and took a step forward, half-squatting, and reached towards the waistband of the dragon robe.

"No, no!"

The Emperor took two steps back in fright,

"Let me rest, let me rest."

The couple then laughed together.

At this time, Eunuch Wei announced:

"Your Majesty, the Prefect of Ying, Xu Wenzu, is waiting outside the imperial carriage."

"Summon him."

"As you command."

In fact, the Emperor's entourage had already passed through Ying and even stayed in Ying for several days, receiving representatives of local forces in Ying, including Prince Cheng Situ Yu.

But Xu Wenzu himself wasn't in Ying at the time, but had gone to inspect the spring plowing in the areas below.

Originally, Xu Wenzu had taken the time to wait for the Emperor's arrival in Ying, but the Emperor had delayed his trip midway, missing the schedule arranged by Xu Wenzu. Seeing that the Emperor had broken his promise, Xu Pangpang didn't wait any longer and went to busy himself with his own affairs.

In the end, the Emperor stayed in Ying for an extra day before leaving the city, which could be considered waiting for Xu Wenzu.

In addition, Xu Wenzu had also done something: as the Emperor's entourage was about to enter the territory of Da Ying, he had submitted a letter suggesting that the Emperor's entourage change its original route so as not to disturb the local people and officials, affecting the progress of spring plowing.

"Prefect of Ying, Xu Wenzu, greets Your Majesty, may my Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"

Xu Wenzu, standing up, was like two mountains of meat piled together. Kneeling down, he directly merged into one.

The Emperor stepped down from the dragon chair and took the initiative to help him up.

Xu Wenzu hurriedly said, "This is not proper, this is not proper, Your Majesty."

As a result, a scene of harmonious ruler and subject that should have been a set procedure accidentally turned into Xu Pangpang slipping and falling head over heels. The Emperor was only able to stabilize himself because Eunuch Wei had timely intervened to help.

"Hahahaha..."

The Emperor laughed loudly,

"Xu Qing, you've gained weight again."

Xu Wenzu had already gotten up again and said;

"Ying is a nourishing place, making Your Majesty laugh."

"You are very capable, turning Ying into a nourishing place in just a few years. You've done a great job, and I'm very satisfied."

"Your Majesty is too kind, I am terrified."

"If it were someone else who dared to leave me hanging and to inform me in advance to make way for spring plowing, I would definitely think that he was trying to gain fame through self-promotion.

But because it's you,

I won't think that way. You are a practical person, my capable official, and the backbone of Great Yan!"

The Emperor's personal praise was something that would be recorded in the history books.

When mentioning Xu Wenzu in the history books, they would definitely add the sentence: The Emperor praised him and said: The backbone of the country.

Xu Wenzu knelt down again, took a deep breath, and said:

"Your subject is ashamed and dare not accept such praise. It is merely my duty. As a prefect of a place, I should shepherd the local people well for the Emperor. Your subject dares not take credit!"

"Alas, if the officials of Great Yan all took Xu Qing as an example, the unification of my Great Yan's realm would be just around the corner, no, it could be expected even sooner."

"Your subject is willing to serve Your Majesty with the utmost loyalty, and to dedicate everything to Your Majesty's great cause of unifying Zhuxia!"

"Alright, Wei Zhonghe, help Xu Qing up."

Xu Wenzu was helped up, and the ruler and subject each took their seats, beginning their discourse.

It was mainly listening to Xu Wenzu's development plans for Ying in the future. The Emperor asked, and the Prefect answered. The accompanying historians were taking notes.

Of course, these records would be redacted later, and the historians themselves knew what should and shouldn't be recorded.

The ruler and subject talked happily, from the time Xu Wenzu caught up with the imperial carriage in the morning until nearly dusk;

In the middle, the ruler and subject even shared a meal together in the imperial carriage. Xu Wenzu was granted the honor of dining with the imperial food.

Finally,

The conversation was over.

Because Wangjiang was already visible.

The ruler and subject tacitly entered the final rhythm of their conversation.

When everything was about to end,

Xu Wenzu suddenly knelt down again,

Kowtowing and said:

"Your Majesty, your subject risks death to offer a suggestion. Please, Your Majesty, do not cross the river in the imperial carriage. Please, Your Majesty, consider the importance of the Great Yan's territory and the stability of the nation!"

The atmosphere,

Suddenly turned cold.

The Emperor turned the teacup in his hand, which was supposed to be used to send off the guest,

And laughed;

"I know that you and Zheng have a very good relationship."

"Mutual confidants, no less than brothers."

"Then why do you say this?"

"Your subject is a Yan person, and Your Majesty is the ruler, the foundation of Great Yan's nation!"

"Do you think that if I cross this Wangjiang, the Prince of Pingxi will rebel?"

"Your subject does not believe that the Prince of Pingxi will rebel."

"Then why are you stopping me from crossing the river?"

"The Prince of Pingxi will not rebel, but who can guarantee that the proud and fierce generals under the Prince of Pingxi will not commit the crime of insubordination?

Your Majesty,

The founding Emperor of the Qian Dynasty added the yellow robe to his body; the lessons of the past are not far away!"

The Emperor's imperial carriage had imperial guards protecting it, but how could these imperial guards possibly be a match for the tigers and wolves of Jin and Dong?

"I've already come all this way, I'm already at the riverside. How can I not cross the river? The other side of the river is also my Great Yan's territory."

"Your subject knows that I cannot dissuade you, but I have to. This is also my duty."

"Alright, I understand. Xu Qing has worked hard..."

At this time,

A report from the commander of the imperial guards came from outside.

Wei Zhonghe immediately went out to meet him and quickly returned, with a strange expression:

"Your Majesty... the... the Prince of Pingxi has arrived."

"Oh, that Zheng fellow has come to pick us up? On the other side of the river?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Prince of Pingxi has already crossed the river."

"Oh, how many troops did he bring?"

Wei Zhonghe hesitated,

Finally,

He laughed:

"Your Majesty will know if you go out and take a look for yourself."

"You dog slave, you're actually trying to sell me a mystery here." The Emperor scolded Wei Zhonghe with a smile, then directly lifted the curtain himself and walked outside the imperial carriage.

Outside the imperial carriage,

There were thousands of imperial guards who had escorted him all the way from the capital, surrounding the imperial carriage, closely protecting it.

When the Emperor walked out of the imperial carriage and stood on the platform of the temporary palace,

He saw in front,

Before the imperial guards,

A figure wearing black armor and riding a pixiu was standing there quietly.

Seeing this scene,

The Emperor's nose felt a little sore,

He blinked hard,

And cursed:

"Beast."

Between them,

There was quite a distance,

But almost at the same time,

The Prince sitting on the back of the pixiu,

Also cursed:

"Bitch."

In the spring of the first year of Ying'an, the Emperor toured the East to Jin and Dong;

The Prince of Pingxi of Great Yan,

Welcomed the Emperor alone on horseback!