Gu Ting took a car and came to Xiaozhu.
He was invited to the embroidery tower by the palace maids.
"Your Majesty, the Earl is here!" the palace maid announced.
Gu Jiu instantly became excited, "Please invite Uncle upstairs."
A moment later, there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs. Soon, a familiar yet unfamiliar person appeared in front of her.
"Brother? Brother!"
Gu Jiu raised his brightest smile to welcome Gu Ting's arrival.
Gu Ting grinned like a teenager, "Sister!"
When the brother and sister met, they were extremely affectionate.
"Brother, you've worked hard these years. When you first came upstairs, I almost didn't recognize you. I was thinking, is this still my brother? He's so tanned and thinner."
"I haven't lost weight, I've become stronger."
After saying that, Gu Ting rolled up his sleeves and with a little effort, muscles bulged on his arms.
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "That's great!"
"Because I was busy with household chores, I was unable to visit you in the palace immediately after returning to the capital. Please don't be angry, little sister."
"Do you think I'm a stingy person? Brother, please sit down and talk."
The brother and sister sat facing each other, and the palace maid changed a pot of tea.
"Brother, please try this new tea for winter."
Gu Ting picked up the teacup and took a sip carefully, "My sister's tea is still the best."
Gu Jiu laughed and said, "I asked someone to pick up two kilograms. Remember to take it with you when you leave."
"How has my sister been these years?"
"I'm fine! It's hard for my brother, he's thousands of miles away from home and has to go to that smoky and dangerous place to fight."
"It's not bitter, it's definitely not bitter at all. On the contrary, I enjoy it very much. I'm thinking that after I finish my filial piety, I will go to the south again."
Gu Jiu did not respond, but fell silent.
Gu Ting suddenly became nervous, "Sister doesn't agree with me going?"
Gu Jiu said after careful consideration: "My brother is old, I want him to stay in the capital to lead the troops."
Gu Ting frowned, "Is this what His Majesty meant?"
"That's what I meant." Gu Jiu said frankly.
Gu Ting's brows were furrowed, unable to relax. "You should know that I left the capital because I couldn't adapt to the atmosphere there. I would rather hide in the woods every day than play tricks with a bunch of officials."
"I know! So I gave my brother two choices: one is to lead the troops in the Jing Camp, and the other is to become the dean of the Military Academy."
"Dean? Don't joke with me, sister. I'm not qualified to be the dean. It would be better if you let Gu Rui be the dean."
"I do want to promote Gu Rui to be the dean. Or I can make my brother the vice dean."
Gu Ting shook his head repeatedly. "I can't teach. I only know how to lead troops in battle. If you think the south is too far, why not send me to the northwest? As long as there's a battle to fight, it's fine."
Gu Jiu said: "Go to the Military Academy, you won't be needed to teach."
"I understand what you're trying to say. When I can no longer work, I can consider going to a military academy. But now, I'm young and strong, with rich combat experience, and I can still go to the battlefield. If you ask me to go to a military academy, I can't make up my mind."
Gu Jiu couldn't help but frown when he heard this. "Brother is determined to return to the south to fight. Does my sister-in-law have any objection? Do my nephews and nieces have any objection?"
Gu Ting sighed, "Your sister-in-law is naturally very dissatisfied."
"Brother, don't you think about your family?" Gu Jiu asked him.
"Born on the battlefield, die on the battlefield! My life is destined to be spent on the battlefield."
Gu Jiu picked up the teacup, hiding the worry and opposition in his eyes.
She was silent for a moment, "We'll discuss this matter again after my brother is out of mourning."
Gu Ting had no objection and agreed readily.
"Are my sister and His Majesty okay?" Gu Ting asked worriedly.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Your Majesty and I are fine, brother, don't worry."
Gu Ting was not relieved. "I heard that His Majesty was in poor health, so he moved to Xiaozhu to recuperate."
Gu Jiu's eyebrows moved slightly. "To be honest, brother, His Majesty was injured several times during his early years on the battlefield. Due to limited conditions, most of the time, the wounds were simply treated. Now, his old injuries are starting to cause trouble. Whenever the weather changes, the pain is unbearable. Xiaozhu has hot springs, which can provide some relief."
"Is your Majesty all right?"
"Fortunately, the medication is controlling it. This is also why I insisted on letting my brother stay in the capital. He has been in the army for many years, so it is inevitable that he will be injured. He doesn't feel it now, but in a few years, he may be like Your Majesty, with old injuries flaring up, causing unbearable pain."
Gu Ting was touched. "I'm sorry to have made you worry about me. Think about my future!"
He didn't say anything final.
"Thank you, brother!"
Being able to reconsider it was already a huge concession made by Gu Ting.
"That girl, Ruyang, has been traveling overseas with His Royal Highness the Second Prince. I've seen her twice. Are you really worried? The girl is of marriageable age. Why don't you find a marriage for her and keep her in the capital?"
Gu Jiu smiled bitterly, "I wanted to keep her in the capital, but I couldn't. That girl is ambitious, with aspirations that are no less than men. She wants to conquer the world, and I will create conditions for her to do so. Brother, have you met her? Is she okay? Can she adapt to the climate and diet overseas?"
Gu Ting laughed heartily. "Given her age, she's adapted very well. She and the Second Prince approached Yang Xianggong to negotiate a deal, hoping to take over several ports at once. Yang Xianggong refused, saying that two of the best ports would be managed directly by the Overseas Headquarters. Ruyang pestered him for a long time about this. Yang Xianggong was also ruthless and refused to give in. Ruyang and the Second Prince had no choice but to settle for the next best thing and take over the remaining ports. When I left, they were busy building the city and training the army to maintain law and order. They were doing a great job, which was quite remarkable."
Gu Jiu had known about these situations for a long time, but it did not affect her good mood.
She pursed her lips and smiled, "I didn't expect my brother to think so highly of them."
Gu Ting smiled and said, "I didn't say that, it was Yang Xianggong who said that. He said that if one day the vast overseas lands could really be incorporated into the territory of the Great Zhou and the local people could be assimilated, the Second Prince and Princess Ruyang would be the ones to do it."
"Why did Yang Ji say that?"
"Mr. Yang said that others set up businesses overseas solely for the sake of profit, regardless of the lives of the local people. Only the Second Prince and Princess Ruyang are serious about their business. Not only are they building cities, they're also opening schools and training talent. They employ local people and improve their lives. They even employ local scholars and grant them official positions. In short, they're quite capable. As far as I know, the territory occupied by the Second Prince and Princess Ruyang was the first to stabilize. They're really serious about their work."
Gu Jiu was very proud, "I didn't expect that they could really do something famous."
"The Empress's child is naturally extraordinary. Yang Xianggong even muttered that this was a very good idea. Sending the princes who cannot inherit the throne to overseas would not only expand the territory but also avoid fratricide."
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "Yang Ji really told you everything without any reservations."
Gu Ting said, "Being overseas, the emperor is far away, so naturally there is no need to be shy when speaking."
Gu Jiu took a sip of tea and asked, "What else did Yang Ji say to you?"
Gu Ting hurriedly said, "Prime Minister Yang hopes the court can send more scholars. He said that scholars are crucial to assimilating the local people. The locals admire our Great Zhou culture, and many scholars are eager to get close to the Great Zhou. If we can organize an imperial examination there, or even select some individuals to study at the Shanhe Academy in the capital, it will greatly inspire local scholars and lay a solid foundation for winning the hearts of the people."
"oh!"
Gu Jiu was very interested. "I will carefully discuss this matter with Your Majesty. How come Yang Ji didn't mention such an important matter in his memorial?"
"Perhaps they were worried that the memorial would be secretly seized by the court officials when it reached the imperial court. I don't think any scholar would be willing to teach overseas."
"His worries are unnecessary. His Majesty has already ordered that memorials sent from overseas should be brought directly to the palace, not through the Council of State."
"I don't know about that."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I know why Yang Ji didn't mention this matter in his memorial. He was afraid of being hated. He knew very well that he would return to the court sooner or later. He couldn't make good friends, nor could he offend anyone."
Gu Ting suddenly realized, "Sister, you are indeed perceptive. Will His Majesty really transfer Yang Xianggong back to the capital?"
Gu Jiu was vague, "Maybe!"
"Mr. Yang is a man of great talent, and he deserves to return to the imperial court. However, if he does, who will oversee the overseas operations?"
"Don't worry about it, brother. There will be a way out once you get there. I've already ordered the kitchen to prepare food, so you can stay at Xiaozhu for dinner. Don't worry, it's vegetarian."
"I'll listen to my sister! I don't know if His Majesty has time, but I should go and pay my respects to His Majesty."
"He's still taking a bath right now, so I don't want to disturb him. I'll take my brother over after he's finished cleaning up."
Gu Ting stayed in Xiaozhu for lunch.
Afterwards, he was led by Gu Jiu to meet Emperor Liu Zhao.
Emperor Liu Zhao talked to him about many of his experiences overseas, and they had a pretty good chat.
It was not until dark that Gu Ting left Xiaozhu and took a carriage back to the capital.
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