Thief Emperor

Chapter 1132 Regrets in Life
His Highness the Crown Prince led his officials to escort the imperial procession for dozens of miles outside the city before watching it disappear into the distance.

After His Majesty the Emperor's carriage had traveled further and further along the official road, the Crown Prince looked at the road, then turned to Minister Xue and said with a smile, "Old Minister, this official road is really well repaired; it's much easier to travel on than before."

Zhuo Guangrui bowed slightly: "Your Highness is too kind. If the official road is well-constructed, it is also thanks to the Ministry of Works."

The Crown Prince glanced at Zhuo Zhong, the Vice Minister of Works, in the crowd, smiled, and said without replying, "Alright, it's getting late. Everyone should return to their respective offices and not delay official business."

After saying this, he walked towards his sedan chair. Halfway there, he remembered something and waved to King Zheng.

Prince Zheng stepped forward, bowed his head, and asked, "Brother, is there anything you wish to do?"

"Come, come, get in the sedan chair."

The prince smiled and said, "Let's ride together."

King Zheng responded, and then the Crown Prince addressed the crowd: "Return to your respective offices and resume your regular duties."

Having said that, he bent down and climbed into the sedan chair, and Prince Zheng could only follow him into the Crown Prince's sedan chair.

If it were an ordinary family's sedan chair, it would be a bit difficult for two adults to get in, but the prince's sedan chair had sixteen people carrying it, so it could be said to be very stable.

Inside the sedan chair, the two brothers sat facing each other. King Zheng was still somewhat reserved, with his head slightly lowered.

The prince looked at him and said with a smile, "I've heard that there are many novelties in Liulichang. When I'm less busy someday, could you take me to Liulichang to have a look?"

King Zheng quickly lowered his head and said, "Of course, when you have some free time, please send me a message and I will greet you at the gate of the imperial city."

"Well."

The Crown Prince said, "Then when I have time, we brothers will go and take a look together."

As he spoke, he sighed and said, "Third brother, you may not know, but I am very interested in novel things, especially telescopes and muskets. It's just that I've been too busy these past few years."

"I was also worried that my father would say I was indulging in frivolous pursuits and neglecting my duties."

King Zheng shook his head and said, "My father is kind and forgiving, and he doesn't forbid us brothers from playing these things."

"I know."

The crown prince was silent for a while before continuing, "But I am the eldest, and I have to shoulder some responsibilities."

He sighed silently: "Only after serving in the Secretariat for the past few years have I realized how hard my father worked in the first ten years of his reign. Thinking back to when my father started his career, I have no idea how difficult it was."

Prince Zheng lowered his head slightly: "Once you've been to Liulichang, I'll send you any new and interesting things there first."

He paused, then smiled and said, "If anyone asks, I'll just say it's for my nephews to play with."

The Crown Prince looked at the Prince of Zheng and said in a daze, "No wonder people in Luoyang say that you, Third Prince, are very shrewd and resourceful."

"It truly lives up to its reputation."

"I had no choice."

King Zheng sighed: "Given my humble origins, I must be careful in everything I do and cautious in every situation."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince patted King Zheng on the shoulder.

"I know it's not easy for you either."

King Zheng lowered his head and said, "Elder brother, you are busy with countless affairs every day; that is truly arduous."

At this point, the two brothers exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

…………

A month later, the emperor's procession finally reached the vicinity of Qingyang Prefecture.

Today, Qingyang Prefecture covers a vast area, not only the original Xuanzhou Prefecture, but also annexed several former prefectures and counties, becoming the largest administrative region in the entire Jiangnan Circuit.

In terms of area, it even surpasses Jinling Prefecture.

As they approached the territory of Jinling Prefecture, Prince Jin walked to the front of the imperial carriage, met His Majesty the Emperor, clasped his hands in greeting, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, there are only seven or eight li left before we enter Qingyang Prefecture. If we hurry, we should be able to reach Qingyang City tomorrow."

At this moment, the group had stopped to rest. The emperor was sitting in a chair, and after Li Zheng finished speaking, the emperor beckoned to him, signaling him to come closer and sit down. After Prince Jin sat down, the emperor smiled and said, "When we arrive in Qingyang tomorrow, let's rest for a while. I'll take you to find that Xiangfu Tower and see if the woman from more than twenty years ago is still there."

Prince Jin's face flushed slightly. He was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, but dared not lash out at Li Yun. He could only turn his face away and say with a wry smile, "It's been so many years, I had already forgotten. How come Your Majesty still remembers?"

At this moment, Prime Minister Du was also nearby, carrying a document. He overheard the two brothers' conversation, handed the document to Li Yun, and said, "It was sent from Luoyang."

After saying this, he looked at the two brothers and asked with some curiosity, "What Xiangfulou? What are Your Majesty and Prince Jin talking about?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yun stopped flipping through the documents and said with a smile, "Brother Shouyi, you really don't know about this. Let me tell you."

“Back then, he and I came down from the mountain and went to live with my father-in-law. We worked as clerks in the Qingyang County government office. There was a small tavern near the Qingyang County government office called Xiangfulou.”

His Majesty the Emperor spoke with great relish.

"We brothers would often go there to drink together. The young couple who ran that tavern had a daughter who was only sixteen or seventeen at the time, and she was quite beautiful." The emperor pointed at Li Zheng and said with a smile, "They had this guy completely infatuated with her."

Sitting to one side, Minister Du asked curiously, "And then what happened? Did the woman refuse?"

Li Yun shook his head: "He was too timid and didn't even dare to say it. Nobody knew about it. By the time we returned to Qingyang, it would be a year or two later. I should have been in Yuezhou or Wuzhou by then."

"She's already promised to someone else."

The usually lively and talkative Prince Jin sat to the side, silently listening to Li Yun's words, his head bowed and saying nothing.

Du Qian and Li Zheng were also very close, having known each other for so many years. He looked at Li Zheng and asked, "Your Highness, why didn't you give it a try back then? Given His Majesty's personality, he would probably have tried his best to help Your Highness achieve your goal."

Li Zheng tilted his head back and took a sip of water from his water pouch. He glanced at Li Yun and shook his head. "Who could have imagined this day? Not everyone has the same temper as Second Brother, who would snatch anything he wants."

He lowered his head and sighed, "He was still a thief."

Du Xiangong remarked, "The prince is indeed a gentle person."

"The fact that Your Highness could think that way back then shows that you were no longer a thief when you were in Qingyang."

Prince Jin looked up at Du Qian, then shook his head and said, "Forget it, it's all in the past, there's no point in thinking about it."

The somewhat chubby Duke of Ying, Liu Bo, also came over, sat down beside him, and said with a smile, "He's just a coward. He didn't dare tell anyone. Otherwise, if the brothers had helped out back then, that young lady would be the Princess Consort of Jin now."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Li laughed heartily.

"The next day or the day after, the three of us brothers will go and see this Princess Consort of Jin together."

Prince Jin suddenly stood up, waved to the crowd, turned and strode away.

Liu Bo said with a smile, "It's been more than 20 years, and this guy still can't take this joke."

Minister Du sighed, "Back then, Prince Jin had just descended the mountain, and his temperament was probably far less mature than His Majesty's. At that time, he..."

He said softly, "He must be utterly in love with that woman."

Emperor Li narrowed his eyes, about to speak, when dozens of riders came galloping from the official road in the distance. Immediately, the Imperial Guards went to meet them, and after checking them, the riders were allowed to enter.

However, a member of the Imperial Guard immediately came to report to Li Yun.

"Your Majesty, the young master of Ningguo Mansion has come to greet you."

Li Yun and Liu Bo exchanged a glance. Liu Bo stood up and said with a smile, "I'll go greet him."

He went to greet him with his hands behind his back, and soon brought over this young master from Ningguo. Although he was called a young master, he was actually around forty years old. After seeing Li Yun, he knelt on one knee, kowtowed and said, "Your subject Zhou Bi pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

The emperor rose, stepped forward to help him up, and shook his head, saying, "Why have you come?"

"I knew Your Majesty was coming, so I rushed here to greet you."

Zhou Bi originally worked in the Privy Council, but after Zhou Liang fell seriously ill, he took leave and rushed back to his hometown. After Zhou Liang passed away, he stayed in Qingyang Prefecture to observe the mourning period.

The emperor pulled him to sit down beside him and then asked, "Is everything alright at home?"

Zhou Liang originally only had one son, Zhou Bi. Later, after Jiangdong rose to power, he held a high position and began to have other ideas. He took several concubines, who gave birth to a younger brother and two younger sisters for Zhou Bi.

"Your Majesty's concern is appreciated."

Zhou Bi lowered his head and said, "Everything is fine at home."

The emperor nodded and said, "Very well, when we arrive in Qingyang Prefecture, we will stay at your house."

As he spoke, he patted Zhou Bi on the shoulder and said slowly, "Kid, take it easy."

Zhou Bi bowed his head deeply: "Almost a year has passed, and I have adapted."

Li Yun looked at him and asked, "Then will you come back to Luoyang with me next year?"

Zhou Bi shook his head, his eyes still a little red.

"My dear parents, you toiled so hard to give me life."

He said, "My parents held me in their arms for three years, and I should also observe three years of mourning."

"rare."

The emperor patted him on the shoulder and said with emotion, "Now you're studying too."

"If you don't want to take up an official post, how about you accompany me to Nanjing next year?"

Zhou Bi lowered his head and said.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to follow you!"

(End of this chapter)