Thief Emperor

Chapter 980 The Dragon Leaves the Nest

The art of being an emperor is different from the way of being an emperor.

Checking and balancing ministers, maintaining a secure throne, consolidating power, and ensuring the continued functioning of the court are all skills.

The true way of an emperor is to say that the people are the foundation of the country. There are not many emperors who can do this and put it into practice.

Even fewer are able to practice it throughout their lives.

These emperors who were able to fulfill their duties throughout their lives did so largely because they died too early. If they had been given another 20 or 30 years, they might have turned evil and become tyrants.

After all, throughout history, there have been countless cases of elderly emperors causing trouble.

After all, just a few simple words may become extremely difficult when it comes to specific application and practice.

It is impossible to learn what Li Yun has realized after being an emperor for so many years just by listening.

It is extremely difficult to use it flexibly.

After spending an hour having a family dinner with his wife and eldest son, Emperor Li stood up, staggered to the harem, and came to the palace of Concubine Shu.

Concubine Lu Huan was busy packing up in the palace because she was going to accompany the emperor on the eastern tour. When they saw the emperor arriving, all the palace maids knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the emperor.

His Majesty the Emperor raised his hand, motioning for everyone to stand up, then helped Concubine Shu up and said with a smile, "How is Huan'er's preparation going?"

Concubine Lu led the Emperor into her bedroom and, while pouring tea, she said softly, "Everything is almost ready. When will Your Majesty leave tomorrow?"

Li Yun thought for a moment and said, "We should leave early in the morning, otherwise the officials in the court will have to see us off all the way, and we won't be able to leave Luoyang until noon."

Concubine Lu smiled and brought the tea to Emperor Li. She then walked behind the emperor, gently pinched his shoulders, and said with a smile, "I've read stories in storybooks that show that when the emperor goes on tour, he often meets beautiful women on the road. Your Majesty, when you go out this time, I'll help you find some and add a few more sisters to the palace."

Emperor Li took a sip of water and said seriously, "How can I be a lustful person?"

Concubine Lu leaned down, got close to the Emperor, put her arms around his waist, and said with a smile, "Last month, didn't you accept all the twenty beauties presented to you by Japan?"

Emperor Li was speechless and said, "Many of those women have black teeth. I don't like them."

Concubine Lu hugged the Emperor and smiled softly, "Then your Majesty, please bring Concubine Lu with you on this trip. Then we sisters can accompany your Majesty back to Luzhou to take a look."

Concubine Lu is Concubine Lu’s younger sister, Lu Lang.

When Li Yun rescued Concubine Lu, this little sister was still very young and was always kept by Concubine Lu. A few years ago, she was already about 20 years old, but still refused to get married and wanted to marry her brother-in-law who saved her.

With the mediation of Concubine Lu and the fact that Empress Xue did not object, Li Yun's sister-in-law entered the palace a few years ago and gave birth to a son for Li Yun.

He is the current seventh prince.

Hearing this proposal, Emperor Li's heart was moved. He looked up at Concubine Lu, hugged her in his arms, and said with a smile: "Huan'er has become worse over the years."

"What's broken?"

Concubine Lu laughed and said, "I just want to go back home with my sister and take a look at my family. Your Majesty, are you overthinking?"

His Majesty the Emperor's hands were no longer very honest at this moment. He pulled lightly and a vast expanse of white appeared in front of his eyes.

Concubine Shu exclaimed, looked outside the house, and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's broad daylight, and there are palace servants packing things outside the door..."

Emperor Li was in a good mood and whispered in her ear with a smile: "What we want is broad daylight."

The imperial concubine exclaimed: "Have the attendant follow your majesty and write down whether I am still alive..."

His Majesty the Emperor turned a deaf ear to him, just looked outside the house and said loudly: "Gu Chang, Gu Chang."

"Go call Concubine Lu. I have something to discuss with her."

The eunuch Gu Chang outside the door responded quickly.

In the room, Concubine Lu was already looking seductively at the emperor. She put her arms around the emperor's neck and spoke softly.

"Your Majesty is really bad."

His Majesty the Emperor said with a smile.

"The Tang Dynasty is now flourishing. During this tour to the east, Huan'er..."

"Give me another prince."

…………

The next day, the emperor left Luoyang. This time, there were not many officials accompanying him, only Yao Zhong, the prime minister, and a dozen clerks of the Secretariat, as well as several attendants under the Secretariat.

They must follow the emperor, after all, their daily notes will be written and recorded in history books in the future.

Among the military officers, apart from Lord Yang Xi, the general of the Yulin Army who was obliged to accompany him, there was only Zhou Wei, the director of the Inspection Department of the Privy Council, and no one else.

As for the harem, His Majesty the Emperor brought along Concubine Lu and her sister, Concubine Lu, as well as the Emperor and Concubine Lu's eldest daughter, Princess Lujiang Li Shu, the eldest princess of the dynasty.

This was the emperor's second tour after he ascended the throne.

The last time was at the beginning of the founding of the country. The emperor went to Guanzhong, inspected the old Zhou capital, and renamed that capital Chang'an.

At this time, seven years had passed since that inspection.

Seven years ago, the Li Tang court was just established, many systems were not perfect, and the emperor's tours were not too glorious. But this time was very different.

More than seven years, almost eight years, had passed, and Li Yun had already built this new court into a powerful country, and the personnel in the court offices were basically fully staffed.

Therefore, this eastern tour was very grand. The emperor's guard of honor alone was extremely long, like a long dragon.

Around this long dragon were the emperor's personal troops, the Yulin Army, following closely behind. All of these Yulin Army soldiers wore black armor and had a terrifying aura.

It was almost noon when the Emperor's dragon chariot finally left Luoyang City.

At the gate of Luoyang City, Emperor Li got off the sedan chair, pulled the sleeve of Prime Minister Du who was seeing him off, and said with a smile: "Brother Shouyi, I have worked hard for so many years, and finally I want to go out for a walk. All the affairs of the court are left to you."

Upon hearing this, Du Xianggong could only bow his head and smile bitterly, saying, "I cannot guarantee anything, I can only say that I will do my best."

"Don't worry, don't worry."

His Majesty the Emperor patted the back of his hand and said with a smile: "These past few days have been good news. The disaster in the disaster area has been basically under control. The fight in Meng Qing in the northern border is also going smoothly. Nothing serious will happen."

"Brother Shouyi just needs to take care of the court."

Du Qian bowed his head and said yes, then asked, "When will Your Majesty return to the capital?"

Emperor Li stroked his chin and said, "This time, we have to go to the disaster area first, then return to Xuanzhou, and then stay in Nanjing for a while. It will take at least half a year."

"If I delay, I may not be able to return to Luoyang until next spring."

Du Qian heard this and said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, please go and return as soon as possible. I may not be able to hold on for too long."

He looked at Li Yun and sighed, "Perhaps by the time Your Majesty comes back, I will be exhausted to death."

This was just a joke. Apart from Du Qian, no one dared to say such a thing to His Majesty the Emperor. Emperor Li was not angry, but just laughed: "Brother Shouyi, you must not tire yourself to death. If you do, I really don't know where to find such a good prime minister again."

Hearing the word "Prime Minister", even Du Qian couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Since the old Zhou Dynasty implemented the system of multiple prime ministers and divided the power of prime ministers, there have only been prime ministers in the court, and no longer deputy prime ministers.

Although Du Qian's status and position already meant he was actually the prime minister, these words sounded different coming from the emperor.

Du Qian was a little excited, bowed his head and saluted, saying: "I...will do my best for Your Majesty!"

"OK OK."

Emperor Li patted him on the back and said with a smile, "It's getting late. If we don't leave now, we won't be able to leave today. Brother Shouyi, take the civil and military officials and the prince back to the city."

"I'm leaving now."

After saying this, he stepped onto the sedan chair. Prime Minister Du, along with a group of officials, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, along with a group of princes who were able to walk, all knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the emperor's sedan chair.

Li Yun just turned around and waved to them, then got on the sedan chair.

As the chariot started moving, the emperor slowly left Luoyang.

The Crown Prince and Du Qian watched the Emperor for a long time. When the Emperor disappeared from sight, the Crown Prince looked back at Du Qian, bowed to him, and said with a wry smile: "My nephew knows nothing about government affairs. I am sorry to trouble you, Prime Minister."

Mr. Du quickly bowed in return and smiled bitterly.

"Your Highness, I..."

"Just do your best."

(End of this chapter)