Ten years after the new emperor ascended the throne, Jiangbei, which had been occupied by barbarians, gradually recovered its vitality.
Large numbers of people returned to their homes, or simply the poor people of Jiangnan went to Jiangbei to seek opportunities to get rich.
Ten years of hard work and dedication have finally brought this scarred land back to life.
Some courtiers suggested moving the capital back, but the new emperor rejected the idea outright.
Geographically, Xindu has the natural barrier of the Jinsha River, convenient waterways, and serves as a natural defense line.
Traditionally, everyone prefers the climate and scenery of Jiangnan.
So, the relocation of the capital was eventually replaced by the construction of a new imperial palace.
The capital city of Jiangjing was replaced by a temporary palace, and the new capital city will remain the center of Tianwu's cultural and economic development.
The national treasury was full, and the grain in the granaries everywhere was almost overflowing.
Therefore, when people were conscripted to work during the off-season, they ate well and received wages, so they didn't have any resistance or complaints.
Of course, this is also why the new emperor sent out countless inspectors, and there were even spies among the common people and craftsmen.
The officials dared not embezzle or mistreat the people, otherwise... those few who initially didn't believe in the evil would still be standing on the flagpole blowing in the wind!
Killing the chicken to scare the monkey is a crude but always the most effective method.
In the palace, the maids and eunuchs performed their duties diligently and conscientiously.
But since it's early summer and the weather is getting a bit hot, it's inevitable to find a place to take a nap after finishing some work.
Inside the Xilong Pavilion, the new emperor was reviewing memorials when a small, snow-white fox lay on one side of the table, idly swishing its tail.
With a pained expression, Eunuch Feng brought in tea and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, um... Her Majesty the Empress sent someone to say that the First Prince has a cough and requests Your Majesty to come and see him."
"If you're sick, go see the imperial physician. What good will it do me to go see him?" The new emperor didn't even raise his eyes, and sneered, "Issue my decree: since the eldest prince is weak, he shall rest for a month and need not go to the Imperial Study. The empress needs to be cared for attentively, and the power of the palace will be temporarily handed over to the Consort!"
Eunuch Feng quickly agreed, wondering how the Empress would regret it upon hearing the news.
Her original intention was to use her child to gain favor, but unexpectedly, her son was unable to study, and her power in the palace was also taken away.
Women are easily blinded by love. Even the Empress couldn't see that the Emperor's heart was never with them.
Just then, the deputy chief steward brought over a box with a young eunuch. After a few words, Eunuch Feng happily entered the room again.
"Your Majesty, the Third Princess has sent you a box, saying it contains some novelties from Quanzhou!"
The new emperor immediately put down his pen, his eyes filled with surprise and delight. "Is that so? Bring it here!"
The box was quickly opened, and inside was a large carpet with a pattern of vast seas and skies.
The sea is a deep blue background, with dark blue reefs, white waves, seagulls skimming across the surface, and in the distance, half of the rising sun is leaping out of the sea, turning the surrounding area golden!
"Oh my, this rug is so beautiful, and the meaning is so nice. The size is just right for this place!"
Observing the situation, Eunuch Feng immediately instructed the eunuchs to spread a carpet on the open ground in front of the table.
Then, he quickly withdrew with the young eunuch.
There was only one person and one fox in the room. The new emperor took off his shoes and socks and slowly stepped onto the carpet, which truly felt like stepping on a white sand beach.
The little fox excitedly rolled and jumped, nuzzling here and there, extremely happy.
The new emperor sat down, embraced the little fox, and enjoyed the rare tranquility.
After a long pause, he slowly smiled, patted the little fox's head, and asked with a smile, "She once said that I would be a good emperor. Now, haven't I lived up to that promise?"
"Chirp!" The little fox cried out in protest as it dodged the devil's claws, which made the new emperor laugh heartily, a laugh tinged with a well-hidden hint of regret...
Inside the princess's residence, the third princess was leading her son through a pile of boxes, picking and choosing, or rather, scrambling and grabbing at them.
"Mother, that dagger is mine! My aunt, the princess, said it was found overseas! It was a special birthday gift for me!" The nine-year-old boy preferred martial arts to literature, which made him look much stronger than other children his age, and he had a particular fondness for weapons like knives and guns.
Fortunately, his features resembled those of the Third Princess by about 50%, otherwise the Third Princess would have thought that the son had been switched at birth.
She rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair wrists, and stabbed the dagger directly into her belt, refusing to back down.
"You brat, I'm your mother. What's wrong with playing with a dagger for a while? You're so stingy! I'll give it back to you in a few days! Put that jeweled music box down, be careful not to drop it, your aunt gave it to me!"
The mother and son were bickering and making a lot of noise. Caiyun, who was already married and had a child and was now a nanny, followed by her, smiling from ear to ear, and made a suggestion.
“Princess, aren’t you going to the southwest? Why don’t you detour through Quanzhou and visit the princess?”
The third princess and her mother were both taken aback, but then became excited.
"Mother, let's go to Quanzhou!"
"Yes, we'll definitely go. We'll send someone to ask the Li family's fleet when they're leaving. We'll go out incognito and have a good time."
After giving birth to her son, Lu Zong was taken back to the southwest by the old general, who then used the excuse of being ill to avoid appearing in public again.
But in recent years, the old general has never forgotten his daughter-in-law and grandson, and his motorcade has been sending them things back and forth every month.
Hearing that his grandson was a martial arts prodigy, he sent over his best men to teach him horseback riding, archery, and military strategy, leaving no stone unturned.
Even the stubborn Third Princess was moved by the old general.
Ten years have passed, and it's time to send my son to the southwest to see his grandfather and prepare him for taking over the border garrison in the future...
In the Jia family courtyard not far away, Baozhu was holding a cute, chubby baby girl and talking to her mother, Madam Jia the Second.
Seven years ago, Old Madam Jia's health deteriorated, and fearing that it would delay Baozhu's marriage, the family moved the date forward, and Baozhu was married off to Xiujie of the Liu family three months earlier.
Actually, the connection between the two families wasn't intentional.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, he showed no intention of taking action against the Li family and others, so Zhimin and Xiujie were forced to return to school to study and take the imperial examinations after playing for a few months.
Baozhu missed Jiayin and often accompanied her mother to visit the Liu family.
Madam Liu thought Baozhu was lucky. Zhimin's wife should marry a woman from a prestigious family so she could become the head of the household. But Xiujie, the youngest son, didn't have such a heavy responsibility. He just wanted to marry a woman with a good personality so the couple could live harmoniously.
With this in mind, the two families visited each other frequently, and Baozhu and Xiujie also spent more time together. The two foodies, who shared the same hobby, gradually developed some feelings for each other.
The two families happily got engaged, which led many people to secretly say that the Jia family had climbed the social ladder.
Now, Baozhu's eldest son is five years old, and last year she gave birth to a chubby girl, making her a perfect family with both a son and a daughter.
At this moment, Baozhu handed her daughter to her mother and wandered around looking at the things in the box, overjoyed.
"Oh my, this is spicy anchovy! It must have been made for me by Sister Jiayin! And this crab sauce, and this grilled fish slices! These are all my favorites!"
Madam Jia smiled indulgently, "The princess knows your temperaments too well. Most of your things are food, but you don't use many other things."
Baozhu opened a jar of spicy silver fish, quickly put it in her mouth, and seeing her daughter looking at it longingly, she stuffed another one into her mouth. As a result, the little girl burst into tears from the spiciness.
Enraged, Madam Jia raised her hand to avenge her granddaughter, but Baozhu jumped up and ran away, still holding the jar in her hand!
Xiu Jie came in from outside. He was nearly thirty years old, in the prime of his life. He wore a blue brocade robe and had his hair tied up with a silver crown. He had long lost his mischievous and flamboyant appearance from before.
He had just finished his official duties and returned home to find his wife and children missing, so he changed his clothes and came over.
Seeing that his wife had angered his mother-in-law again, he quickly protected his wife.
Baozhu smiled and stuffed a small silver fish into her husband's mouth as well.
Even though she's a mother of two, she still retains the same mischievous and carefree demeanor as before.
After finally appeasing his mother-in-law, Xiu Jie picked up his daughter and, holding his wife's hand, whispered as they stepped out the door, "I got a job inspecting the south; it'll take three months. Want me to take you with me? You can stay in Quanzhou for a month first, and I'll come pick you up when I'm done!"
"Wow!" Baozhu was overjoyed. She cheered in a low voice, pulled her husband and child into the car, and as soon as the door closed, she gave her husband a big kiss!
The chubby girl watched from the side and, imitating him, also gave her father a kiss.
Xiu Jie's cheeks were covered in saliva, but he didn't seem to mind at all.
The three of them got together and laughed like idiots!
Today's update is here!
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