After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 154

Chapter 154: Traveling in Jiangzhou

 

They stayed in Yunzhou for two months. After completing their matters there, they went to Xizhou and Liangzhou, inspecting various locations.

 

While in Liangzhou, they encountered General Wan and Prince Duan, Rong Yu. In the previous battle, both had made considerable efforts; at one point, due to being surrounded, they even had to endure a brief period of surviving on nothing but pickled mustard greens. Thus, in a restaurant, when General Wan saw the plate of pickled radishes served before him, his face turned a little green.

 

General Wan was evidently very fond of the Italian cannons sent by the Emperor. Seeing them put into the military arsenal left him feeling reluctant to part with them. After leaving Liangzhou, Zhou Xun and the Emperor continued southward. Upon arriving in Jiangzhou, the two walked around the city. Annoyed by the Emperor’s increasingly incessant chatter, Zhou Xun had no choice but to take him on a tour of the city.

 

The Emperor expressed his fondness for Jiangzhou and his deep interest in it.

 

Zhou Xun felt he was not good at being a tour guide. He was never skilled at saying flowery words, so his explanations of the places they visited were purely recitations of records related to those landmarks. Yet the Emperor said to him, “You don’t have to say all that. Just say something simple.”

 

Zhou Xun hesitated. “Then… what should I say?”

 

“Tell me about when you came here as a child and what you did here. That’s enough.”

 

“… How is that considered tourism?”

 

“Tourism is about going to places you like, places you’re interested in, and having fun!” The Emperor was brimming with enthusiasm.

 

Zhou Xun thought to himself, The places the Emperor likes and finds interesting are the places where I… grew up?

 

The Emperor was always so forthright, but he also had a way of making Zhou Xun blush uncontrollably.

 

Switching to sharing his own experiences in certain places, everything became much easier.

 

Zhou Xun said, “At this temple… when I was five, I was chased by a dog here. That dog kept running toward me and scared me to death.”

 

Zhou Xun said, “In front of this stele, I was bored and secretly used my finger dipped in water to write tally marks on it.”

 

Zhou Xun said, “I really liked the crystal buns from this famous restaurant… uh, back then.”

 

Gradually, he began to say more, not just about landmarks and tourist hotspots, but also about countless little shops, and streets and trees that might seem unremarkable to others. “The rabbit noodle soup at this place is really good, but unfortunately, there’s never enough rabbit meat,” Zhou Xun said. “There are only ever a few pieces.”

 

“Let’s go!” The Emperor patted his shoulder. “Let’s go in and eat!”

 

With that, the Emperor went inside and tossed a gold ingot onto the counter. “Boss, kill ten rabbits and make them all into noodles!”

 

…

 

“I used to love visiting this bookstore. There were always stray cats by the entrance. I’d bring food to feed them every time,” Zhou Xun said.

 

So the Emperor and Zhou Xun sat on a stone bench by the entrance and waited all day until a stray cat finally appeared at dusk.

 

…

 

“The trees here always bear dates, but they were too tall for me to reach as a kid. I had to use a pole to knock them down… Oh.” Zhou Xun stood on his tiptoes and touched a branch. “I can reach them now.”

 

He picked a date and handed it to the Emperor, but the Emperor looked dejected. “What’s wrong?” Zhou Xun asked.

 

The Emperor replied, “I was just about to suggest you sit on my shoulders to pick them.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The two of them sat under the tree eating dates. Looking at the nearby academy, the Emperor asked, “Was this where you were sent to study as a child?”

 

Zhou Xun: “Yes.”

 

“Indeed, there are two date trees here—one date tree, and another date tree.” The Emperor murmured, looking at the trees.

 

Zhou Xun couldn’t help but laugh. “And indeed, my classmate’s father used to bring him oranges every month.”

 

“And there was also that classmate who fought stray cats with a bamboo pole,” the Emperor said, just as they saw a stray cat dashing by with a piece of cured meat in its mouth. An old scholar, fuming with anger, chased after it with a bamboo pole.

 

“There was also that classmate who played cards every day and kept a diary,” Zhou Xun added.

 

The two of them exchanged a look and suddenly burst out laughing. It was an evening in Jiangzhou. The twilight bathed them both in warm light as they sat under the tree, shoulder to shoulder, laughing softly yet joyfully.

 

The Emperor laughed heartily, “The things you said back then were really amazing! Do you know, you almost scared me to death? I thought I’d somehow offended a big-shot local!”

 

Zhou Xun also thought that his ability back then to speak words that coincidentally resonated with the Emperor’s feelings was indeed a stroke of luck.

 

After visiting the countryside academy, the Emperor made a donation to it and took a look at the nearby watermelon fields. Tu Run, who was serving as an official elsewhere, would undoubtedly return here to become a teacher after retiring.

 

Walking through the streets of Jiangzhou, Zhou Xun spoke slowly as they went. After a long while, the Emperor remarked, “Hey, this really feels like…”

 

“Feels like what?”

 

“Feels like I got to grow up with you. I finally got to share your memories of growing up in Jiangzhou,” he said in a wistful tone. “Ah, if only I could’ve grown up with you. Childhood friends, innocent and carefree… heh.”

 

Zhou Xun was momentarily stunned, his eyes reddening slightly. When they passed a post station, Zhou Xun stopped again.

 

The Emperor noticed and asked, “Did you see something here?”

 

“In the rain, I saw you here,” Zhou Xun replied softly.

 

On a rainy day, he had walked here under an umbrella, slowly. He saw his entire life as barren, despairing, and shrouded in hopelessness. Then, through the misty rain, he saw the Emperor sitting here.

 

The Emperor had said he felt that everyone wanted to stay in the days when they were happiest. He feared Zhou Xun wouldn’t return.

 

But what the Emperor didn’t know was that simply staying by his side was Zhou Xun’s happiest time. And now, a year later, as they walked through Jiangzhou together, recounting the harshness of the past, Zhou Xun felt that his once gray and bleak boyhood had grown sweet and tender.

 

It turned out there were so many small, sugar-like memories hidden in his past.

 

He thought to himself, I am truly fortunate in this life.

 

Before leaving Jiangzhou, Zhou Xun went to pay his respects at Lin Yan’s grave.

 

This time, Lin Yan’s actual remains were finally laid to rest in her grave. Zhou Xun solemnly lit three incense sticks.

 

“She was my mother. It’s only right for me to honor her,” Zhou Xun said. “Even though she never loved me, she gave me a name, and that’s enough.”

 

“As for her past complicity in evil, I won’t forgive her on behalf of the people she wronged. All I can do is dedicate my life to repaying those people, ensuring that no more Lin Yans or Lin families ever exist in this world.” Zhou Xun spoke softly, “I hope for a world where everyone can live happily.”

 

As light smoke curled upward, they left Jiangzhou. On the ship, the Emperor held Zhou Xun’s hand firmly and declared, “We are moving toward that kind of world.”

 

Zhou Xun nodded seriously.

 

Looking at the Emperor’s back, he thought, As long as I follow him, I can go anywhere with certainty.

 

…

 

Their great victory over the Northern Wei strengthened the people’s confidence. In the past, they had paid annual tributes to the Northern Wei, which had already caused considerable dissatisfaction. But now, for the first time in decades, Jing had triumphed over the Northern Wei!

 

The Emperor generously waived this year’s taxes, and the people of the capital rejoiced. When the Emperor returned to the capital, the citizens spontaneously took to the streets to welcome him. During the months he had been away, leaving affairs to his prime ministers, his prestige had not diminished but instead increased. Even after his carriage entered the Forbidden City, the citizens continued to cheer outside the walls.

 

However…

 

“Recently, there has been frequent criticism of the Emperor, especially among scholars,” the Emperor’s confidants reported. “Most of it concerns the recent war.”

 

“Why?”

 

It was the same old “burdening the people and wasting resources” argument. This time, however, they cleverly used the plight of a few war widows as leverage, presenting a concrete tragedy to attack the Emperor. Such widows easily garnered sympathy, leading to complaints about the Emperor’s refusal to pay tribute for peace.

 

Some even went so far as to label the Emperor a “tyrant,” citing his canal construction, large-scale projects, and warfare as evidence.

 

“They’re insane! It was the Northern Wei who attacked us first!” The Emperor was furious.

 

Zhou Xun calmly asked, “Were the widows properly compensated?”

 

Compensated—of course, they had been. However, as for additional benefits…

 

That was self-explanatory.

 

The Emperor continued to grumble. Zhou Xun rubbed his temples and asked, “What do the common people think?”

 

The common people?

 

The common people had no particular opinion about it. They had always been the silent majority. In their eyes, an emperor who refused to bow to Northern Wei, secured a victory that restored national pride, and subsequently reduced taxes, even if labeled a tyrant, was still a tyrant who brought them satisfaction.

 

As for dredging the canal? As for large-scale construction? The sewage system in the capital indeed rarely clogged anymore, and the once-dilapidated slums had taken on a new appearance. As for the canal? The embankments? Well… as long as the wages were paid in full, what issue could there be?

 

What they feared was forced labor without compensation. But if working for the government meant earning wages, why would they care about the purpose of the construction projects?

 

What’s more… since part of the canal had been dredged, the speed of cargo transport increased, leading to noticeable drops in the prices of fruits, grains, and meat.

 

The common people did not care about the moral character of their ruler; they only cared about whether they benefited. And now, in their eyes, they had benefited.

 

“Damn!” Zhou Xun was deep in thought when he suddenly heard the emperor slap the table. “Paying wages… printing money, I forgot about inflation!”

 

Zhou Xun: ???

 

The emperor: “We really need to slow down in the future!!”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He continued pondering the matter of the widows and instructed his subordinates to proceed in several ways—first, to incorporate the dangers of paying tribute into storytelling and to create stories of heroic victories, embedding them into plays or tales, or even illustrating heroic generals on walls. Second, to explain the matter clearly to the scholars. Third…

 

To investigate who was orchestrating these rumors behind the scenes.

 

Zhou Xun did not believe public opinion would simply ferment in one direction.

 

Moreover…

 

In his heart, he already had a suspect.

 

The subordinates accepted their tasks and set to work.

 

The first task progressed smoothly. The second encountered some resistance, but with statements from Chancellor Lu, Justice Minister Xie Zhengqing, and Li Miao, things became much easier. What surprised Zhou Xun was that Yan Jia also spoke up. It seemed that after the incident with Miss Yan, Yan Jia had indeed matured.

 

Zhou Xun had once encountered Yan Jia on the street. Yan Jia was shopping, but his demeanor had transformed from the timidity or aloofness of the past to a gentler disposition. When he turned and saw Zhou Xun, he was initially stunned, but then smiled at him.

 

“Everything well lately?” he asked proactively.

 

There was no shadow in his expression, only a broad and serene kindness. He told Zhou Xun that Minister Yan had also come to accept his daughter’s elopement. Miss Yan often sent letters home. Minister Yan eventually chose his daughter’s happiness over his pride. He frequently read her letters in private, worrying about her safety. He wanted to apologize to Zhou Xun but hadn’t yet mustered the courage.

 

Zhou Xun smiled. Looking at the Yan Jia of today, he thought that the future was still long.

 

They were all young men, with decades of service ahead of them. Perhaps one day, they would laugh about their youthful arrogance and become friends again.

 

As for Minister Yan’s pride? Zhou Xun didn’t mind when he might set it aside. Minister Yan was old. Let him cling to his stubbornness, or let him, one day, finally grow gentle.

 

Meanwhile, Xie Zhengqing had become much quieter after the death of Qingruo. He increasingly resembled the head of his household, though he gently refused his father’s arrangement for him to marry the granddaughter of Grand Academician Gu. He still often drank tea in that teahouse, gazing at the empty window across the way in the misty rain.

 

There were no orchids on the window sill, nor was there a stunning beauty inside.

 

But he showed more kindness toward the poor. It was said that he and Li Miao, inspired by the story of the late Li Zhiwei, did many things to aid the destitute. He remained the kind-hearted Xie Zhengqing. Though he carried a gravestone in his heart, it did not cause him to fall into despair.

 

The Xie family head was somewhat dissatisfied with this, but he knew he would grow old. The person to succeed him would be Xie Zhengqing—a young man of the new generation.

 

As for the third task, the investigation was still ongoing.

 

Apart from this, there was another small piece of news—the head of the Ye family finally succumbed to the relentless pressure of his guilty conscience and went mad. He bit off his tongue and died in terror.

 

With this, the enemies of the Lin family, except for Zhou Cai, were completely eradicated.

 

Old Shen often visited the Li family’s cemetery to drink by the unmarked gravestone. He never seemed sad but rather exuded happiness and serenity.

 

Meanwhile, Lu Xiandao’s health was gradually improving. Bai Yuxing frequently visited him. One day, Bai suddenly asked Zhou Xun what kind of gift one should give to someone.

 

What kind of gift?

 

Zhou Xun noticed Bai Yuxing’s troubled expression and saw Zhang Lingsu entering to take Lu Xiandao’s pulse. Bai immediately seemed a little tense, but it was clear he wasn’t nervous about Zhang Lingsu. Instead, he kept sneaking glances at Lu Xiandao, watching to see if his gaze drifted toward the young lady.

 

Zhang Lingsu left, meeting Xiao Wu outside. The two walked away, chatting as they went. Xiao Wu mentioned that if he ever had a daughter, he’d name her Juzi (Orange). Zhang Lingsu countered, saying that if he were to choose a name, it would be Lan (Orchid)—she loved orchids, not oranges.

 

“Then why do you always accept the oranges I give you?” Xiao Wu asked.

 

Their voices faded as they walked away.

 

Back here, Bai Yuxing was still eagerly waiting for Zhou Xun’s answer. Zhou Xun looked at him and suddenly smiled mischievously. In a low voice, he said, “Haven’t you realized? Lu Xiandao has never liked Miss Zhang.”

 

“Then who did he like?” Bai Yuxing blurted out, only to immediately feel embarrassed and a bit anxious. Zhou Xun noticed Lu Xiandao glancing out of the room and said with a smile, “Naturally, he’ll like a gift prepared with care.”

 

“A thoughtful gift…”

 

“Why do you want to give him a gift?”

 

“Well,” Bai Yuxing hesitated, then laughed heartily, “humanitarian concern, plus to thank him for counseling me after my heartbreak…”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He patted Bai Yuxing on the shoulder and entered the room.

 

Bai, chewing on a grass stem, mulled over the idea on his own.

 

Zhou Xun sat by Lu Xiandao’s bed. Lu Xiandao, who had been quietly watching Bai outside, turned to Zhou Xun, struggling to greet him formally.

 

Zhou Xun stopped him.

 

“…Have they found him?” Lu Xiandao asked in a hoarse voice, followed by a cough.

 

“In recent days, there have been traces of him. However…” Zhou Xun paused and said cautiously, “Northern Wei is demanding his return. Qin Liangru is like a father to the Northern Wei emperor. He would never allow him to die in Jing.”

 

Lu Xiandao let out a low hum, his eyes filled with the fire of vengeance.