Chapter 153 I really need to find a few men
Suo Hongzhu hesitated for a moment. She didn't believe that Lu Jinlan was so kind, but then she thought that it wouldn't hurt to listen, so she said, "Please give me your guidance, Your Majesty."
Lu Jinlan smiled before speaking and said in a low voice, "Don't be angry when I tell you! I think you can consider supporting the nineteenth princess to ascend the throne."
Suo Hongzhu remained frozen in her listening posture, and before speaking, she had to take a deep breath. "Your Majesty, why are you joking?"
Lu Jinlan shook his head. "How could I joke about such an important matter? I am serious."
Suo Hongzhu's aged yet vigorous eyes flickered, even more puzzled. "The nineteenth princess is not of the late emperor's bloodline. If I were to support her ascension to the throne, wouldn't that be confusing the royal bloodline?"
Lu Jinlan retorted, "Is the common people more important, or is the royal bloodline more important? Your recently deceased emperor, though he had royal blood, was he of any use? No, he was useless."
"This...this..." Suo Hongzhu was speechless with anger. "This shouldn't be the case! Besides, even if I didn't reveal the matter of bloodline, the nineteenth princess is still young. The previous emperor couldn't handle the situation, how could she possibly handle it?"
"Furthermore, we ministers have already decided to select the crown prince from among the current emperor's daughters. The late emperor's daughters were constantly fighting amongst themselves and none of them could think about the overall situation, so we have already decided to discontinue their selection."
Lu Jinlan scoffed, "Your late emperor's daughters fought for the throne for so many years. Do you think they'll stop fighting once you put a junior on the throne?"
"I'm not trying to scare you, but apart from the nineteenth princess, I'm afraid that whoever you put on the throne will be in a precarious position, and who knows how many bloody palace incidents it will cause."
Suo Hongzhu retorted, "If I help the nineteenth princess ascend the throne, do you think the other princesses will let her off the hook?"
Lu Jinlan leaned back in his chair and smiled slightly, "Yang'er is my daughter. Would they dare to lay a finger on her?"
"Although it is inconvenient for me to announce to the world right now that she is my biological daughter, I can tell everyone that she is my adopted daughter. I want to see who dares to touch her."
Suo Hongzhu was speechless for a moment, but she still felt that something was strange about this matter.
Lu Jinlan said, "Ever since we fought that battle five years ago, your Jiang Kingdom has been in turmoil, causing unrest throughout the country. You have powerful enemies outside and are not united internally. If you do not take extraordinary measures, you will not be able to stabilize the situation."
After a moment of silence, Suo Hongzhu finally voiced her question: "Why do I feel that this extraordinary method is tantamount to handing over the empire to you?"
Lu Jinlan quickly waved his hand, "You can't say that. It's about making Yang'er the emperor of your Jiang Kingdom, not me. With you, General, watching over me, why would I want your Jiang Kingdom's territory?"
"I assure you, as long as you help Yang'er ascend to the throne, I will make arrangements with the surrounding countries. With the strength of my Hua Kingdom, if I speak up, everyone will have to give me some face."
"Although Yang'er is a child, she is a smart one. With the dedicated assistance of you key ministers, she won't cause any trouble. Right now, the most important thing is to stabilize the situation; nothing else really matters."
Suo Hongzhu nodded slightly, "That seems to make sense..."
She was completely bewildered by Lu Jinlan's words and set off on her journey with her mind a complete mess.
A highly skilled guard team, composed of Lu Jinlan's trusted confidants, was added to the group to protect the Crown Prince and the Nineteenth Princess.
Suo Hongzhu pondered all the way. Lu Jinlan's words always seemed absurd, but upon closer examination, they all made some sense.
After all, the nation is now united and powerful, and is the world's leading power.
On the contrary, the countries surrounding Jiang State were eager to take advantage of the chaos in Jiang State, seize its land, and gain some benefits.
If Lu Jinlan can become a powerful ally of the Jiang Kingdom, that alone will be enough to secure external stability. Internally, there's even less to worry about; although the princesses are vying for power, once Helian Yang ascends the throne, who would dare to harm Lu Jinlan's daughter?
Let alone taking her throne or her life, even if he were to injure a single finger of hers, Lu Jinlan would probably use that as an excuse to bring his army to the city gates...
Suo Hongzhu sat on her horse, frequently looking back. She saw Helian Yang sitting upright in the carriage, intently turning the pages of a book.
The little girl seemed completely unfazed by the cold, casually draped in a mink blanket and wearing only a thin cotton coat. She held a book in her hand, reading it so intently, just like an adult.
She's not even five years old yet, how can she be so calm?
Noticing Suo Hongzhu's gaze, Helian Yang looked over and asked with a smile, "Why is the General looking at me like that?"
Suo Hongzhu smiled and said, "It's so cold outside, why is Your Highness keeping the window open?"
Helian Yang said, "I am naturally hot-tempered and not afraid of the cold. Besides, being cool makes one's mind clearer, which is more conducive to studying."
Suo Hongzhu advised, "The carriage is bumpy, Your Highness, please take a nap. You are young and intelligent, why must you study so hard?"
Helian Yang showed her the book cover in his hand, "This isn't homework, it's... a history book my adoptive mother gave me. I read it for fun when I have nothing else to do. Nowadays, all the official roads in Hua Kingdom are paved, and my carriage has been fitted with new tires made in Hua Kingdom, so I don't feel any bumps at all."
"Although I am young, I should study hard. If one day I am given a great responsibility, I will be able to face it calmly."
As she said this, a sly glint appeared in her eyes, and her expression was exactly like that of a younger version of Lu Jinlan.
Suo Hongzhu's heart skipped a beat; she had been a fanatical believer in bloodlines.
Helian Yang was not a blood relative of the late emperor, which made her suspicious.
But now she suddenly thought: Since Helian Yang has Lu Jinlan's bloodline, could he also become a great ruler like Lu Jinlan?
Perhaps, you could give it a try.
*
While the State of Jiang was embroiled in internal strife, the State of Hua was preparing for spring planting.
Xiang Ruzhen was overjoyed as she looked at the good news reports sent from all over the country. The scientific farming methods that she and Lu Jinlan had insisted on promoting had been improved year by year, and the farmers' harvests had almost more than doubled.
Xiang Ruzhen went to find Lu Jinlan excitedly, only to find that Lu Jinlan was ordering people to pack their things, and Guan Shanyue and Xu Lin were also there.
Xiang Ruzhen hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, what are you doing?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "I was just about to send someone to inform you and Wuxin, and it's perfect that you're here. You should go back and pack your things; we're going to Jiangnan."
Previously, Lu Jinlan asked Guan Shanyue to find someone, and Guan Shanyue found him. Someone had seen Qingxuan near Dagu Temple in Suzhou.
Lu Jinlan realized that she had never been to Jiangnan. She had spent the last few years in the north, witnessing the desolate deserts and the vast plateaus under the setting sun, but had never seen the water towns of Jiangnan.
Everyone says this empire belongs to her, but she hasn't even had a proper look at it yet. This is a perfect opportunity to go on a trip, enjoy herself, and bring Qingxuan and the children back.
That's what she thought, but of course she wouldn't say it aloud. Her friend was a confidante, but precisely because of that confidante relationship, she knew exactly what Xiang Ruzhen would think.
So when Xiang Ruzhen asked, "What are you going to do in Jiangnan?"
Just as Lu Jinlan was about to come up with a new excuse, Guan Shanyue spoke up: "The Qingxuan Master whom the Emperor asked me to find has been found. He is at Dagu Temple in Suzhou."
As soon as she said it, Lu Jinlan rubbed her ears, sensing that Xiang Ruzhen was about to start chanting.
Xu Lin, unaware of the situation, chimed in, "Ah, His Majesty is truly a man of deep affection and righteousness."
Sure enough, Lu Jinlan then heard Xiang Ruzhen take a deep breath and begin to chant.
"Your Majesty bears the weight of the world on your shoulders. How can you make such a fuss over a man? Your Majesty's journey is no small matter and has cost a great deal of money."
"Although our country is currently prosperous, we must remain vigilant. In recent years, we have undertaken large-scale construction projects, which have already cost a fortune. This year, the Ministry of Works has planned even more projects than in previous years, which will require even more significant expenditures."
"The Emperor's departure from the palace has caused a great deal of trouble and expense for officials, soldiers, and civilians across the country, who have been welcoming and seeing him off..."
Lu Jinlan waved his hands repeatedly, "Finding Qingxuan was just a side matter. I care about the world, how could I travel thousands of miles for a man? Isn't it almost spring plowing time? Jiangnan is a land of fish and rice, I want to inspect the spring plowing and understand the people's conditions."
"There is no need to trouble officials, soldiers, and civilians. I will travel incognito and it will not cost much. I will bring my mother along, and all expenses will be covered by the Lu family. There is no need to use the national treasury."
Guan Shanyue frowned slightly, still pondering to himself: The Emperor didn't mention inspecting the spring plowing just now!
Xu Lin remained calm and composed, saying with maturity and composure, "It is true that His Majesty values loyalty and righteousness, but he values agriculture even more."
Guan Shanyue suddenly looked at her. She had never seen anyone in the world so good at flattering others, and who could also make such a sudden turn in her opinion.
With that, Xiang Ruzhen's worries were all resolved. She said nothing more, but simply asked cheerfully, "When shall we set off?"
*
Three days later, a carriage dressed as a merchant left the capital and headed towards Jiangnan.
Lu Jinlan, Yan Wuxin, and Xiang Ruzhen rode in front on horseback, while Guan Shanyue and Xu Lin rode behind on horseback. Lu Jinzhao and Ping Xiyu sat in the carriage.
Ping Xiyu was originally unwilling to get into the carriage, and kept muttering, "There is no reason for me to ride in a carriage if the emperor is not riding a horse."
Lu Jinlan pressed her directly into the carriage, saying, "Now that we're out here, we don't distinguish between emperor and subject anymore; we're all commoners. You're my elder, so you should ride in the carriage. I'd rather ride a horse with them."
A single word from an elder brought tears to Ping Xiyu's eyes. "How could you say that?"
Lu Jinzhao pulled her along and laughed, "This child has always been like this. Even as the emperor, he has no airs. You come with me in the carriage. Don't be fooled by how easy the carriage ride is. These young people only care about important matters and don't concern themselves with trivial ones. They rely on us two old folks to take care of their food and lodging along the way."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "I told you I would bring two men along to handle some trivial matters, but you wouldn't allow it. Now, it's all on you and Manager Ping who have to worry about it. I've come all this way to Jiangnan, and I'm only interested in having fun. I don't care about anything else."
Xiang Ruzhen rode over, asking, "What are you saying?"
Lu Jinlan chuckled, "Let's talk about understanding the people's conditions."
After several days of travel, Lu Jinzhao was the first to regret her decision. She went to talk to Lu Jinlan, and upon seeing him, she exclaimed, "Why is there a wet patch on your trouser leg?"
Lu Jinlan: "Don't even mention it. I just went to pour out the water for washing my feet, and my hand slipped and splashed all over my own shoes. My trouser legs are all wet."
Lu Jinzhao asked with a smile, "Haven't you poured out your foot bath water in years?"
Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "More than that! Since I got my husband, I haven't washed my own feet."
“At home, you don’t have to bend your back; in the palace, you have people to serve you; and even in the military camp, you have people to do chores and tidy up.”
“This time, you wouldn’t let me bring any men, saying you’d take care of the trivial matters. Ruzhen wouldn’t let me bring any attendants, saying she’d serve me, but I don’t know where she’s gone. I’m already being lenient by not serving her.”
The mother and daughter smiled, and Lu Jinzhao said, "It was my mistake not to let you bring men out. We, a group of strong women, really need a few thoughtful and caring men to take care of us."
“I think we should look for suitable ones along the way and bring them back to the palace. If we really can’t find any suitable ones, we can buy a few male servants and have them do short-term work, and we’ll pay them more wages. However, this will make it inconvenient for us to talk on the road.”
Judging from Lu Jinlan's tone, Lu Jinzhao had thought about this matter carefully.
She was taken aback for a moment. "This is a bit sudden. Where can we find someone in this unfamiliar place? There aren't any suitable people either. It would be good if we could find Qingxuan. Whether he goes back to the palace or not is another matter. Let him wash my dirty clothes first."
Lu Jinzhao smiled slightly, "You are the emperor, so it's natural that you are more selective in choosing men, and it's not easy for you to find one. I'm different. At my age, and as a businessman, it's not difficult for me to find someone."
...
A series of unsettling thoughts flashed through Lu Jinlan's mind. She suddenly began to suspect: Could it be that Lu Jinzhao initially forbade her from bringing men along so she could pick up a few on the road?
When Yan Wuxin entered the room, he saw Lu Jinlan sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. "What are you thinking about?"
Lu Jinlan snapped out of her reverie. "Nothing, just thought of a line of poetry: 'An old woman, suddenly feeling youthful again.' By the way, where have you been?"
Yan Wuxin said happily, "I went to the street to inquire about interesting things! Guess what? I actually heard something interesting."
"The two sons of the local wealthy merchant Liu are getting married, and I've heard they're both incredibly beautiful, practically stunning. They're holding a public selection tomorrow, and young ladies from over a dozen nearby towns are coming. Let's go join the fun!"
Lu Jinlan dismissed it, saying, "What kind of stunning beauties could this small place have? Let's see tomorrow."
As the two were talking, Xu Lin requested an audience from outside, "Your Majesty... Second Hero Lu, may I come in?"
"Come in."
Xu Lin brought in a large basin of hot water. "Your Majesty, would you like to wash your feet?"
Lu Jinlan sighed, "You're too late, I've already finished washing up."
"Oh," Xu Lin said with a hint of regret.
Just as she was about to leave, Lu Jinlan suddenly said, "Wait a minute! Don't waste the water, wash my clothes for me."
Yan Wuxin quietly added, "I also have a bag of dirty clothes..."
*
Lu Jinlan and Yan Wuxin chatted in bed until late at night when Xiang Ruzhen finally returned.
Lu Jinlan: "Where did you go? We were both about to go out and look for you. We thought you were lost."
Xiang Ruzhen said excitedly, "I went to observe the local conditions and I found out that the local security is very good. There are no beggars at all. Almost everyone leaves their doors unlocked at night. The people are honest and kind, and the officials patrolling the streets are very responsible. There are many stalls in the night market, and I even brought back some late-night snacks for you."
Upon hearing this, the two immediately climbed out of bed, one peeling sweet potatoes and the other eating wontons.
Xiang Ruzhen smiled and rolled up her sleeves. "You two are so greedy and lazy. I knew you must be hungry if you didn't sleep. If I didn't bring back some food, you would have complained about me all night. You eat, and I'll go get you some water to wash your feet. There's no one to serve you here, but I'll do it."
The two quickly replied, "We've finished washing our feet."
Xiang Ruzhen then said, "Give me the dirty clothes, I'll go wash them."
At that moment, Xu Lin passed by the door carrying a large basin of washed clothes, and greeted us wearily, "Your Excellency, you're finally back?"
Xiang Ruzhen suppressed a laugh, "Lord Xu, thank you for your hard work."
Xu Lin shook her head and silently went to hang up the clothes.
The three of them exchanged a glance and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Yan Wuxin: "This is the first time I've seen Lord Xu so taciturn."
Xiang Ruzhen: "Sigh, these trivial matters are not something we women are used to doing. Don't even mention that Lord Xu is a scholar who has never done these things before. My father now has four male servants to attend to him. He is pampered and does no work. He has gradually forgotten how to do anything. In the end, we really need to find a few men to serve us."
As Xiang Ruzhen finished speaking, she suddenly said, "I heard that the two sons of the Liu family are going to have their marriage proposals tomorrow. Let's go and take a look."
-----------------------
Author's note: I wanted to introduce the two sons of the Liu family, but I haven't managed to do so yet. They will officially appear in the next chapter!
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