Thief Emperor

Chapter 1163 The Emperor's Leisure Affairs
Of course, Li Yun wouldn't plant all of these precious seeds himself. After all, he was the emperor, and he had to deal with state affairs most of the time every day, so he couldn't spend too much energy taking care of them.

Li Yun had Zheng Wang hand over most of the seeds that had a chance of germinating to the Agricultural Institute, where they were cultivated by the people there.

The first generation of this plant may not be very satisfactory, but with each generation of selection and breeding, it will eventually yield results.

Moreover, Li Yun planted these things not to use as a staple food.

However, these two items can allow some dry land that is not suitable for growing rice to be utilized during the rice planting season, at least giving people more options.

Even if we take a step back and assume that this product is promoted in the future, it will at least add a few new options to the meals of poor people.

After all the seeds had been planted and watered, His Majesty the Emperor looked at the Crown Prince, who was panting heavily, and shook his head with a smile, saying, "Young man, try to exercise more in the future. Duty is duty, but don't ruin your health."

The crown prince wiped his sweat and smiled at Li Yun, saying, "I will try my best to learn from you."

The emperor thought for a moment and then said, "When I was a child, an old man taught me a method of breathing exercises. This method is great for strengthening the body. I've been thinking about it these past few days to see if I can organize it and teach it to you."

To be honest, Li Yun had completely forgotten this breathing technique.

It's not that he forgot; he's completely forgotten about the original Chief Li.

After practicing for several years, they have become completely at ease and no longer need to consciously control their breathing. Their breaths naturally follow the method, including Li Yun's now.

His breathing was deep and even; anyone with martial arts skills could sense his internal martial arts prowess simply by getting close.

To really organize it, I'll need to think about it myself.

At this moment, the palace servants brought over a basin for the father and son to wash their hands. As the crown prince washed his hands, he said with a smile, "Father, you are so busy with state affairs, I dare not waste your time. I will go to Master Pei later and ask him for advice."

The emperor thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Very well, Pei Zhuang is becoming increasingly formidable."

He looked at the Crown Prince and instructed him, "Remember, the purpose of practicing martial arts is to strengthen the body and cultivate the spirit. Do not go astray, and do not think about any kind of magic."

Knowing that his father disliked those who were above worldly affairs, the prince quickly nodded and said with a smile, "I have remembered it all."

After the father and son washed off the mud, the emperor put his shoes and socks back on and was about to lead a group of young princes back to the inner palace when Empress Xue arrived. All the princes, including the crown prince, stepped forward to pay their respects and addressed her as "Empress Dowager."

His Majesty the Emperor had just finished putting on his shoes. He looked up at the Empress and said with a smile, "What brings you here, Madam?"

"I heard that His Majesty is here, leading the children in farming."

Empress Xue looked at her son and the other princes, and shook her head, saying, "Why did Your Majesty suddenly decide to do these things?"

"This didn't just happen suddenly."

The emperor stood up, stepped forward, and said with a smile, "I have been looking forward to this day for several years."

Looking at the newly cultivated land, he said, "These seeds came from overseas. I also distributed some to the Agricultural Institute. In a few months, when they are ripe, I will personally cook some for my wife to try."

Empress Xue thought for a moment and asked, "Last year before the end of the year, Sanlang left Luoyang for Jiangnan. Was it for these things?"

"I suppose so."

The emperor smiled and said, "Our land is vast and rich in resources, but it is not without everything. In this great world, there are always some things that we can use."

"In recent years, the imperial court has begun to send envoys to various countries around the world, including those in the southeast, as well as the Western Regions and even more distant places."

“I have already told those vassal states that when they come to pay tribute, they should bring their local specialties, especially seeds, to be given to the Agricultural Institute for planting and selection.”

The emperor looked up at the sky and continued, "Nowadays, many of the surrounding countries have begun to pay tribute to our Great Tang. I think that in another ten or twenty years, most things in the world will be able to take root in the Great Tang."

Empress Xue glanced at the mud spots on Li Yun's body, then said to the Crown Prince, "Yuan'er, you take your younger brothers and go ahead."

The crown prince nodded quickly and led the other princes away.

Empress Xue looked at Li Yun and sighed, "After more than twenty years of hard work, my husband is still so energetic and likes to keep things going."

"There's no point in not making a fuss."

The emperor stretched and said, "My former adversaries are either gone or have already surrendered, and they are all nearing their end."

The emperor sighed, "I can only devote my energy to this country."

He looked at Empress Xue and said with a smile, "You have read many books, so you should know that dynasties in this world have varying lengths of life, some lasting only a few decades or even a dozen years, while others can last for nearly three hundred years."

“Building a long-lasting dynasty is not easy. It requires laying a solid foundation at the beginning of the dynasty. Since the founding of the dynasty, I have spent about seven or eight years accomplishing this task, restoring production and designing new systems.”

"Up to now."

The emperor said quietly, "I have nothing else of great importance to do, so I can only do my best to improve the lives of the people."

He looked at Empress Xue and said with emotion, "When we arrived in Jinling, as you saw, the people of Jinling knelt for dozens of miles to welcome us. When I went on a private visit to the countryside, some people still remembered the kindness of the King of Wu."

Empress Xue nodded silently. She looked at Li Yun and asked, "What's next? What does my husband plan to do?"

"Once these seeds sprout and bear fruit," the emperor said with a smile, "if the weather is favorable this year, I will take you on another trip next year."

Empress Xue was somewhat surprised: "Didn't His Majesty just return not long ago? Is he going out again?"

"no way."

The emperor smiled and said, "Your son is unwilling to take over the administration of the country from me, so I have to let him oversee the administration from time to time."

"Besides, although I went out, I didn't cause much trouble or waste money. I had someone estimate the cost of our trip the year before last."

"The expenses along the way amounted to approximately one million strings of cash, which I will cover from the imperial treasury."

Empress Xue asked, "Where is my husband planning to go this time?"

"I might go to Youzhou for a visit, and then pass through Yanzhou on my way back."

His Majesty the Emperor looked at Empress Xue and said with a smile, "Last year the weather was favorable and the harvest was plentiful. So far this year, many vassal states have come to pay homage. In the past few days, many ministers have submitted memorials requesting that I go to Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan ceremony and offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth."

Empress Xue then understood and said with a smile, "So Your Majesty wants to perform the Fengshan ceremony."

"Not at all."

His Majesty the Emperor remained calm and said with a smile, "I mainly want to take advantage of my still being able to move around and see what the people under my rule have been like over the past ten years."

"After all, the Crown Prince is already qualified to oversee the country."

As he spoke, His Majesty the Emperor sighed, "It's a pity there's no major battle on the border, otherwise I would like to personally lead the expedition and relive the feeling of those days."

Empress Xue rolled her eyes at him, but didn't say anything more. She paused for a moment, then said, "Yesterday, I went to see Su Mei. She's been sick for the past few days and is feeling a bit weak."

"She was already thin..."

Empress Xue sighed: "Husband, please take some time to go and see her."

The emperor nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Does she know about the Prince of Qin's matter?"

Empress Xue shook her head: "I don't know if she knows, but judging from her bad mood, she probably does."

The emperor frowned as well: "I wonder who has been so nosy."

Empress Xue thought for a moment, then said, "They, mother and son, naturally corresponded; perhaps it was Erlang..."

"Erlang is not the type to do such a thing."

The emperor said quietly, "However, I have already given this a lenient punishment."

He shook his head and didn't say anything more, only saying, "I'll go check on her in a bit."

Consort Liu was already frail, and coupled with her thoughtful and prone-to-overthinking nature, Li Yun really needed to talk to her and make things clear. If something happened to her, and Prince Qin was first deposed and then lost his mother, the bond between father and son would probably be almost gone.

Empress Xue nodded first.

"My lord, there is one more thing."

“My second brother’s youngest daughter is of marriageable age this year. I’m wondering if we could let her marry into the Prince of Jin’s household?”

The emperor stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and nodded, saying, "As long as the children are willing, I have no problem with it. One day, Madam can have Second Brother Xue and Li Zheng talk to each other themselves."

The second elder brother of the Xue family, namely Lord Xue Fang, has done a lot for Li Yun over the years. Originally, there was no problem with him marrying Li Yun's princess, but now he wants to marry into the Prince of Jin's family.

There are no major problems.

Li Yun wasn't too bothered by the interactions among these people. After all, being in the upper echelons of the empire, they would inevitably become intertwined, each with their own interests intertwined with the other.

It's just a matter of speed.

There is no need to stop this inevitable historical process.

Empress Xue then smiled and said.

"Okay, then I'll help with the arrangements."

The emperor looked at Empress Xue and said with a smile.

"Madam, please make some arrangements for Wulang as well."

Empress Xue glanced at Li Yun.

"I've been busy arranging every single one of my children's weddings."

(End of this chapter)