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"A little sweetness."

Such a major issue as flood control cannot be resolved in just two or three days. What Qingyang can do is to inspect Xingyang's existing flood control measures, correct their shortcomings, and then propose new flood control ideas, which will be handed over to local water conservancy officials to survey the terrain and canals to verify whether her ideas are feasible.

Therefore, after staying in Xingyang for two days, the emperor continued his journey eastward as planned. When he encountered a small county town, he would only stay overnight to replenish food and grass, and when he encountered a large city, he would inspect it for two or three days.

Emperor Xingwu delegated all responsibilities for dealing with local officials to Qingyang and his sister, and he simply took Concubine Li on sightseeing tours, essentially a form of incognito tour. Qingyang had originally planned a private tour of her own, but when her father and mother took over, she focused solely on dealing with the officials. She rarely needed her brother's help with the civil officials, but she could see the military officials whenever she dined with her father, and whenever she could spare the time, she would accompany her brother to observe military exercises.

Before she knew it, the little princess had become the busiest person on the emperor's southern tour.

Concubine Li felt sorry for her daughter, but she had no choice during the march. Once they entered the city to rest, Concubine Li would personally determine the food provided by the kitchen, making sure her daughter had meals and soups that suited her appetite every day. She would also take care of the appetites of Emperor Xingwu and Prince Jing, and then take care of her future son-in-law Zhang Su separately.

Emperor Xingwu had high hopes for his little princess, and the more so, the more he wanted to give his daughter experience instead of constantly worrying about her being tired or sunburned. However, Emperor Xingwu did not forget that his little princess was only sixteen years old this year, and that there were some natural physical differences between men and women, especially since girls had their periods every month.

Once you remember these days, it will become a pattern. When the day is almost here next month, Emperor Xingwu can guess it by paying a little attention to his daughter's complexion and Concubine Li's attitude.

After breakfast, Emperor Xingwu left his daughter alone. While drinking tea, he said, "Lin'er, stay at the post station with your mother for the next two days. Your father will handle the government affairs. You've been idle for so long, it's time for you to stretch your legs."

Qingyang understood as soon as she saw her father deliberately avoiding her gaze. "Don't worry, Father," she said. "If I were truly unwell enough to affect our work, I wouldn't have acted stubbornly in your presence. But the fact that I haven't asked for leave proves that I'm fine. So, you don't have to think too much of your daughter."

As she grew older, Qingyang understood more and knew that some women would suffer during their menstruation. However, she didn't know whether it was because of her persistence in practicing martial arts or her natural physique, but she didn't have much trouble in this regard.

Emperor Xingwu coughed, looked at his daughter and asked, "You've been busy for so long, aren't you tired?"

Qingyang: "When I travel, I always take a carriage. It's much more comfortable than my second brother's. I get enough sleep at night, so I don't feel tired at all."

In terms of physical strength, she was naturally not as good as her second brother and Zhang Su, who practiced martial arts almost every day when they were young, but she rested more than the two of them along the way, which can be considered a combination of work and rest.

Emperor Xingwu looked at his daughter's bright eyes and knew that she was really enjoying the various experiences of this southern tour. He smiled and said, "Okay, go ahead. You can rest when you want."

The little princess said goodbye to her father and set out to meet the officials.

Emperor Xingwu went to pick up Concubine Li, preparing to start the emperor and concubine's private visit today.

Concubine Li was worried about her daughter, fearing that she was still trying to be stubborn.

Emperor Xingwu: "Lin'er isn't that type of person. Think about it, I've praised her since she was little. She doesn't need to force herself to please me, my father, who already loves her, nor does she need to rely on official positions to get promoted or make a fortune. Why would she endure physical discomfort to be so strong? I actually feel that Lin'er is becoming more and more like me. She's naturally... likes to have everything under control."

Officials serve in office with the ambition to serve the court and benefit the people, but in fact most of them do so just to collect a salary, and the officialdom is just their place to make a living.

The imperial family was different. The entire empire belonged to them, so they had to find ways to manage their empire well. Peace for the empire was the foundation of their family's well-being; if the empire fell into chaos, the imperial family would be destitute. So, while officials might work to fulfill their duties, the imperial family worked to further their family's wealth. Their motivations were completely different.

Unfortunately, he had five children. The eldest daughter had the desire but not the talent to be a housekeeper. The eldest son was timid and afraid that he could not manage the household well. The second son was always thinking about watching over the house and fighting. The third son was a lazy guy who would fall with the taller ones if there were others to hold him up. Only the youngest daughter knew how big the family business was since she was a child, and she was willing to assist her father in managing the family business.

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On the eighth day of the sixth lunar month, when the emperor was traveling through the mountains north of Fuzhou, the weather suddenly changed.

The light in the carriage was noticeably dimmer. Qingyang lifted the curtain, exchanged a glance with Zhang Su who was standing outside the carriage, and then looked up at the sky. Sure enough, there was a layer of dark clouds.

Zhang Su: "When the dark clouds first appeared, the Emperor had already sent out sentinels to explore the way ahead."

Qingyang nodded and cast his eyes towards the hills covered with trees on both sides of the official road. Each hill was not high, but they were connected to each other and there was no end in sight. From Yangzhou to Fuzhou, such hills could be seen almost everywhere. It was humid and hot in midsummer, but fortunately, the carriage brought a breeze when it passed.

"There are many mosquitoes in the mountains. Your Highness should lower the gauze curtain." Zhang Su reminded in a low voice, and at the same time waved away a small insect that tried to fly into the car window.

Qingyang looked at his handsome face which had become even tanned, then looked at the sachet of insect repellent powder on his waist, smiled, and hung up the thin and breathable gauze curtain.

Not long after, the sound of horse hooves could be heard from the front, stopping beside his father's carriage. After a moment, Zhang Su spoke from the window, "The official post station is over fifteen miles ahead. The emperor has ordered the carriage to proceed at full speed. The road is bumpy, so be careful, Your Highness."

Qingyang responded, and then sat side by side with Fu Liu and Jie Yu, who were accompanying them, in front of the couch. This way, even if the carriage was bumpy, the three of them could support each other.

The official roads in this area weren't as smooth as those in the north, and the carriage jolted even more violently as it sped. However, the carriage's speed couldn't keep up with the rain, and dense raindrops soon pelted the windows. Worried that the rain would seep through the gauze curtains and soak the interior, Jie Yu and Fu Liu lowered their respective bamboo curtains, making the interior even darker. The sound of rain pounding against the roof and body was deafening.

It was raining heavily, and outside one could hear the sound of three thousand cavalrymen galloping along with several carriages.

While enduring the bumpy ride in the carriage, Qingyang thought of Zhang Su outside the carriage. It rains a lot in the south, so a straw raincoat was prepared for this march. However, Zhang Su clearly did not bring the straw raincoat just now, and only carried a bamboo hat on his back.

Qingyang lifted the heavy bamboo curtain, and a white mist rushed towards him. Qingyang tilted his head, and after getting used to it, he looked out again and saw the figure on horseback wearing only a bamboo hat.

Not wanting to distract him, Qingyang lowered the bamboo curtain in time.

After an unknown amount of bumpy ride, the carriage slowed down and must have arrived at the government post station.

Qingyang looked out the window again and saw that the rain had eased a bit. The hills continued to roll on both sides, but at the foot of the right mountain, across a stream, there was a wider area where the official post station was located. The stream was narrow, with only a stone slab bridge across it, wide enough for three people to walk side by side, making it impassable for carriages.

He Yuanjing ran over from the front holding an umbrella and said, "Princess, you have to get off the car. The mountain road is muddy. The emperor asked you to slow down."

Qingyang nodded at him.

He Yuanjing went back to report. Jie Yu took out a set of silk oil-made clothes from the carriage, and together with Fu Liu, they helped the little princess put them on.

Just as Jie Yu was about to help the little princess put on her deerskin rain boots, the future prince consort, dressed soaking wet, arrived at the door of the carriage.

"The ground is dirty and messy. If Your Highness doesn't mind, I am willing to carry you across the bridge."

Qingyang looked at Zhang Su's feet and found that his boots were indeed stepped into two sunken puddles. At this moment, the figure of his father and mother walking side by side appeared on the bridge.

Qingyang rejected Zhang Su's suggestion, put on her deerskin boots and got off the carriage, but she stretched out her left arm, which was covered with oilskin sleeves, so that Zhang Su could hold it steady.

Zhang Su then held the little princess's wrist.

The rain was drizzling, but the air in the mountains was moist and fresh, and there was mist like clouds in the mountains.

Qingyang liked the rainy scene in the mountains and said to Zhang Su, "Go change your clothes later and then go out for a walk with me."

Zhang Su said hello.

The mud was slippery, and Qingyang rarely walked on such muddy roads. He accidentally slipped twice, and each time Zhang Su held him firmly.

Qingyang whispered, "It's more dangerous to carry someone on your back on this kind of road." If you hold one person, you can take care of the other, but if you carry him on your back, if Zhang Su slips, they will both fall.

Zhang Su: "I was inconsiderate."

Qingyang glanced at his commander's robe, which was wet and stuck to his body. Suddenly, a guess came to his mind. He looked up at him and said, "Could it be that you didn't wear the straw raincoat just to make it easier to carry me?"

Zhang Su avoided the little princess's gaze and looked ahead, saying, "I just think that it's hot in the summer, so a little rain won't be a big deal."

Qingyang: "If something serious happens, it's too late. Next time, dress properly and don't get wet in the rain."

Of course Zhang Su had to obey the order.

Walking across the stone bridge that was washed clean by the rain, Qingyang found that the section at the end of the bridge was actually a gentle slope. Seeing his father holding his mother and standing on the flat road at the bottom of the slope looking back at him, he must be worried that she would fall. Qingyang imitated his mother, broke away from Zhang Su's hand, and then took the initiative to hug his arm.

Noticing Zhang Su stiffened for a moment, Qingyang warned, "If you dare to throw me, even if I'm not angry, my father will punish you."

Zhang Su didn't dare to drop the little princess, nor was he willing to let her drop, so he walked down steadily with the little princess.

At the end of the slope, Concubine Li couldn't help but say to Emperor Xingwu, "For three months, Lin'er has been busy with his duties. Today, I can finally give Su'er a little sweetness."

Sometimes Emperor Xingwu would accompany her on trips and sightseeing. Concubine Li really wanted Emperor Xingwu to be busy so that her daughter and Zhang Su could have more time to strengthen their relationship.

Emperor Xingwu snorted, "After the wedding, he'll have a lifetime to be close to Lin'er, so a few months of southern tour won't be a big deal."

He was in his thirties when he met Concubine Li, Zhang Su. This guy has been by his daughter's side since she was born!

"Come here, let's walk together as a family of three."

As soon as his daughter approached, Emperor Xingwu stretched out his free hand to greet her.

Qingyang: "The road is so slippery, father, please focus on taking care of mother."

As she said this, the little princess let her future prince consort hold her wrist again.

While listening to the little princess, Zhang Su looked at the emperor a few steps away.

Emperor Xingwu glared at him and walked forward with Concubine Li.

After they were a little further apart, Qingyang teased Zhang Su, "I thought you would let me go after being glared at by your father."

Zhang Su did not answer, but just tightened his five fingers slightly.

【Author’s words】

I will only update today. Tomorrow I will talk about things in the capital. I should be back soon.

100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow~