The residence of Zhao Jisheng, a servant of the family, is comparable to the Zhuge family, but more luxurious and elegant than the Zhuge family.
The decoration of the room is full of bright colors of gold, silver, and red, and the clothes of the maids who brought Shui Qiancheng and Xu Gongchun into the room are more fancy than those of the palace maids.
"Looks...so rich..."
"yes……"
Even Xu Gongchun was stunned as he looked at the large plates and jade carvings displayed on the cabinet.
After a while, heavy footsteps were heard.
After the door opened, a man with a thick girth walked in with Lin Bojian and Bai Zikui. When he saw Shui Qiancheng, he immediately opened his arms.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah... the nobles of the Xia Kingdom are far away!"
"Well……"
Shui Qiancheng tilted his head and wondered, and the fat man in red firmly held his hand.
"Huh?"
"Welcome, I am Zhao Jisheng, the head of the Zhao family, and you are His Highness Shui Qiancheng, right?"
"temple……"
...Your Highness?
Shui Qiancheng couldn't help but look up at Xu Gongchun with a look of help. Xu Gongchun also shook his head, not sure what was going on.
Shui Qiancheng was at a loss and was about to cry. Lin Bojian smiled and said, "Shui Qiancheng, the Zhao family used to work for the Shui family when they were in the Xia Kingdom, so Mr. Zhao can be regarded as your old minister."
"ah?"
"Yes, that's right. Of course I don't understand the situation at that time. I heard that your Majesty valued my grandfather very much at that time. Unfortunately, when the Xia Kingdom fell, there happened to be no male in my family to inherit the family business, and the son-in-law who brought me in had been punished.
I cannot protect the Xia Kingdom because of the favor of the Zhou Lu family... Every time I hear these past events, I think of how unwilling my grandfather would be, and I feel very upset..."
Zhao Jisheng squeezed Shui Qiancheng's hand tightly and told him with tears in his eyes. Shui Qiancheng could only nod his head.
"Uh, I know, I know, can you let go of my hand first...?"
"Mr. Zhao, do you want to sit down and chat?"
"Oh, that's right,"
Zhao Jisheng finally let go. Shui Qiancheng secretly shook his red hand and hurriedly found a seat far away from Zhao Jisheng and sat down. Xu Gongchun sat next to him.
"Master Zhao, this is Xu Gongchun, this is the first time we meet. I am Qian Cheng's classmate in private school."
"Xu Gongchun! I heard that you are from Liuzhou, right?"
"Looking at you, it seems that the Zhao family still cannot forget their loyalty to the Shui family."
Xu Gongchun asked with a smile on his face. Zhao Jisheng's short beard on his chin trembled and he said with a satisfied smile: "Of course. We are both from Liuzhou, Xu Gongchun, you should be able to understand this feeling, right?"
"Uh, yeah!"
"Especially the world in front of us, how should I put it, although it is not bad..."
Zhao Jisheng was vague at the end of his words and whispered softly, but it would be difficult to speak from now on.
"What does Mr. Zhao mean by this?"
Bai Zikui asked in fear. Zhao Jisheng snorted and shook his head solemnly.
"At present, we still rely on the late emperor's political achievements. As long as the current policies are not changed, the world will be peaceful. But the current emperor likes to change it here and there. Even the people around the emperor feel that it is too unreliable.
What’s more, I think the emperor’s way of looking at people...ah, I’m so rude, the queen is His Highness’s sister, so let’s just say that the way the emperor looks at women is another matter!”
"Oh no……"
To be honest, although Shui Qiancheng liked his sister very much, he felt that there were beauties like Chun Cha around the emperor, yet he chose his sister to be the queen... He also found it difficult to understand the emperor's aesthetics.
... Although my sister is different from when she was in the village, she is still not as good as Chun Cha or others who grew up in the capital.
It can only be said that everyone likes it differently. In short, Shui Qiancheng still doesn't quite understand.
"Having said that, bloodline is really important. Your Highness looks smart."
Shui Qiancheng knew that Zhao Jisheng was praising him, but he still felt uncomfortable.
"Uh... Well, calling me Your Highness is a bit..."
"What does it matter? If you are born at the right time, you will be His Highness, and I will call you Your Highness."
"Brother Gongchun, stop making trouble, why are you even..."
"If you don't like it, just call you Master Shui... I'll call you that for now."
...Let’s call it that for now?
Shui Qiancheng looked at Zhao Jisheng, who was still smiling.
"this……?"
"I have also discussed it with Bo Jian and the others... As an old minister of the Xia Kingdom, I would rather place my hopes on the young and smart Lord Shui than on the unreliable emperor."
"..."
...So, what does this mean?
"What? Do you want Qian Cheng to be the emperor?"
Gong Chun asked loudly and laughed out loud.
"That's amazing! Qian Cheng, can you be the emperor?"
"ah?"
"Isn't it? Think about it for yourself!... This is very interesting! Qian Cheng, after you become emperor, remember to promote me, and I will definitely work for you. Ah, and you must restore the harem.
"
"this……"
Shui Qiancheng couldn't help but stood up, and then there was the sound of a chair falling to the ground.
...Actually, I originally planned to enter the post-official position.
That murmur like a sigh passed through the depths of his ears.
Although he had never thought about this issue before, a clear idea gradually formed in his mind at this moment.
...If I become emperor...
If she becomes the emperor, she will make Chun Cha the imperial concubine... No, if he says that he can marry her as the empress, she doesn't know what kind of expression she will show.
Her dream can finally come true and she will be extremely happy.
"Your Highness."
Zhao Jisheng suddenly stood up and knelt at Shui Qiancheng's feet.
Then, Lin Bojian also stood up. Bai Zikui hesitated for a moment and then also stood up.
"Your Highness, please consider it carefully. This is the sincere wish of our old ministers of the Xia Kingdom. We implore you to become the emperor of the new Xia Kingdom."
“Please let Yongfeng prosper again.”
"..."
A voice sounded in Shui Qiancheng's ears.
"We once had a noble status, and we must live with pride and dignity."
…
Shui Xinyuan suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and sat up...
There was no one around.
Although he knew there was no one next to him, he still couldn't help but reach out and touch the empty seat next to him to confirm that no one was lying next to him.
The night is very cold.
…I hope Lu Fusu doesn’t catch a cold, and I just hope he returns safely.
I just need to wait here. No problem, he will be back soon.
Although I knew these things, I still felt lonely for the empty bed next to me.
Shui Xinyuan reached under the dragon bed, took out a small box, lay on the bed, opened the lid, and picked up the contents with his fingertips.
Ring...a slight ringing sound in the air.
There are three small bells strung on the plum branches.
She placed the plum branch on the empty couch next to her and closed her eyes again.
Go to sleep, wake up in the morning, night falls again, sleep again, wake up in the morning... As long as you do this day after day, a month will pass quickly.
However, tears still couldn't help but flow down from his closed eyes.
…
Lu Fusu was lying in the guest room of a certain governor who was staying tonight, tossing and turning.
He pricked up his ears and heard the faint sounds of the attendants chatting and laughing who were standing guard at night.
I usually fall asleep at this time, but I can't fall asleep tonight... No, I can't fall asleep tonight either.
Since leaving the palace for inspection, I have always had trouble sleeping at night. Even if I finally fall asleep, I often wake up in the middle of the night.
He has never been a restless sleeper, but over the past year, he has slept soundly every night.
...As long as Shuixinyuan is by your side, you can sleep peacefully.
Lu Fusu sat with one leg up on the bed, smiling bitterly to himself.
With someone beside him whom he could fully trust and love deeply, everything was completely different. He didn't know why there was such a big difference.
Although he decided to inspect the situation in various places after he decided to inherit the throne, but maybe there was no need to be so hasty... This idea made him feel too weak.
After all, I am too weak.
He is a stupid emperor, weak and unreliable, and cannot sleep alone.
Even so, as long as those sincere eyes recognize that I am suitable for my current position, I will work hard to play this role throughout my life.
Lu Fusu got out of bed and lit the candle.
We must inform the Ministry of Industry and the Censor's Office of the situation discovered during yesterday's inspection. Since we can't sleep now, we should write the edict as soon as possible.
When he was about to sit at the table and write, he noticed that the night air was chilly.
...If you catch a cold when you return to work, Shui Xinyuan will definitely be worried.
Lu Fusu put on the jacket that Shui Xinyuan helped him sew and opened the inkstone.
…
After inspecting Shenzhou and passing through Wuzhou, the inspection team came to Liuzhou.
The weather conditions were good and the trip started as planned.
The emperor and his party were warmly welcomed by the people everywhere.
In addition to the fact that after the emperor ascended the throne, he increased the number of supervisory censors, strictly put an end to improper taxation, and actively listened to the people's appeals, it was also because the emperor appointed a farmer's daughter as his queen, which earned him high praise.
...As expected, we should take Shui Xinyuan with us.
Shui Xinyuan is in good health and he should be able to take her with him for a short-term inspection, Lu Fusu thought while sitting in the carriage.
Anyway, all the ministers knew that the emperor doted on the queen. In this case, why not dote on Shui Xinyuan more generously without fear of everyone knowing... He finally figured it out.
Although in the eyes of outsiders, they thought Lu Fusu was doting on Shui Xinyuan, in fact it was Shui Xinyuan who always obediently obeyed Lu Fusu's willful demands and was truly doting on him.
"Your Majesty... Sanhu Village is almost here."
"……Um?"
Hearing the announcement outside the carriage, Lu Fusu opened the window and found scattered villages appearing outside the window.
"We have sent someone to the village chief's house. The village chief will lead the way to the queen's hometown later."
"good."
According to the plan, when arriving in Liuzhou, we have to go to Sanhu Village, Qidu Town, Shui Xinyuan’s hometown.
The edict had been sent before leaving, and Shui Xinyuan also wrote home. Apart from Shui Qiancheng, this was the first time Lu Fusu had met Shui Xinyuan's family.
...From the perspective of communication, I don't feel anything unusual...
Lu Fusu had corresponded with Shui Xinyuan's parents many times, apologizing for marrying Shui Xinyuan without seeking the consent of his parents-in-law in advance.
Although he thought he was not rude, after meeting Shui Qiancheng who came to the capital, he realized that Shui Qiancheng hated him.
Moreover, when he mentioned to Zhuge Qing before that he was going to Shui Xinyuan's hometown, Zhuge Qing once reminded him that his father's emotions when marrying his daughter were very complicated, and even as a high-ranking king, he had to be mentally prepared.