The return of the two princes to the capital shocked the city.
The common people of the capital flocked to the streets to catch a glimpse of the two princes.
As a result, the convoy slowed down significantly as it entered the city gate.
Ruyang looked outside through the car window and said, "It's a bit more lively now than when I left."
Second Prince Liu Heng laughed and said, "It's said that the population of the capital city is increasing year by year. The city can't accommodate so many people, so everyone is crowding out. Remember the Imperial College after it was relocated? There were houses all along the railway tracks, all the way to Xinmin County. Because the rent is cheap, many people have rented houses there. From the Imperial College down, it's becoming increasingly lively."
Ruyang said nothing.
The Second Prince, Liu Heng, asked her, "Compared to overseas, the capital is full of prosperity and luxury. Are you really willing to leave and continue living a simple life overseas?"
"Is it hardship? I don't think so. Overseas isn't even one-tenth as bustling as the capital, but it has everything it needs, so how can it be called hardship? If it really is hardship, it's just the acclimatization problems caused by the hot climate. Besides, my royal city is becoming more and more prosperous, and the population is growing. Even if it can't catch up with the capital, one day it will catch up with the cities in the south of the Yangtze River."
"It's great that my sister has such ambition!"
Ruyang looked around gracefully, "Brother, what are your plans? Will you choose to stay in the capital?"
The Second Prince Liu Heng smiled and said, "In such a huge capital city, there is a place for me to display my talents."
"The court is where my brother can display his talents."
"That's not necessarily true."
Ruyang understood, "Are you worried about a conflict with Big Brother?"
The Second Prince, Liu Heng, said, "With our status, we are destined to always be surrounded by people with ulterior motives to sow discord, and peace will never come. I don't want to argue with my eldest brother, and I don't want to see us brothers turn against each other under the instigation of court officials. Therefore, it is wise to leave the capital. There are so many vast territories overseas, enough for me to spend my entire life managing them."
Ruyang sighed, "As a prince, I often have no choice. The court officials are abominable. They are afraid that the princes will get along well. They wish every prince would beat their brains so that they can profit from it. It seems that we princes and princesses have become tools for the court officials to play tricks on us. No wonder we never see princes getting along with each other in the past dynasties."
"Driven by profit, they can create things that don't exist. Sister, don't be angry. The worst that can happen is that you can leave the capital. Even if the court officials want to do something bad, they are too far away to do anything to us."
Ruyang nodded.
The convoy passed through the crowded crowd and finally entered the imperial city.
When the carriage drove into the palace gate, the heavy and solemn palace was dazzling.
Ruyang whispered, "Only after returning here did I realize how much I missed this place."
The Emperor and the Empress are waiting for the two highnesses in Xingqing Palace.
The brother and sister got off the carriage, entered the hall, and knelt down to pay homage to their father, the emperor, and their mother, the empress.
Tears glistened in Gu Jiu's eyes.
Emperor Liu Zhao grinned with a happy look on his face.
"No need to be polite! Hurry up and let me see you."
"Thank you, Father and Mother!"
"She's gotten darker, thinner, and taller. My Ruyang has grown into a big girl, but her skin isn't white enough for her to wear bright red or green clothes."
"Mother, my daughter just came back and you're already thinking about how to dress her up. Why do I feel like you're disgusted with my ugliness?"
Ha ha……
"I don't think you're ugly. You're not. It's just that you've changed so much from what I remember. You need to give your mother some time to adjust."
"The Queen Mother still dislikes my ugliness."
Gu Jiu smiled helplessly and glanced at Liu Zhao.
Liu Zhao grinned like a fool.
"How could my daughter be ugly? Look at how beautiful she is. No other lady in the capital can compare to her. Ruyang, don't blame your mother. Your mother has a flawed vision."
"You said there's something wrong with my eyesight? Speak clearly!"
Gu Jiu was unhappy.
In her eyes, Ruyang was full of heroic spirit and had a very handsome demeanor.
When did she say Ruyang was not good-looking?
It’s just women’s habitual thinking. When they see their daughter, they think about how to dress her up.
Does this have anything to do with beauty or ugliness?
She just wanted to give her daughter the best and dress her up beautifully.
She glared at him, and Liu Zhao immediately gave in.
"It's my fault, it's all my fault. I said something wrong, Queen, please don't hold it against me."
The brother and sister laughed secretly.
My father is still afraid of my mother.
The third prince Liu Xun came hurriedly.
"Second brother, sister!"
When the three siblings met, their eyes were red.
"Our brother has grown taller."
"Brother Xun is already an adult."
"I don't like what you said, sister. It makes you sound like you're much older than me. You were only born half an incense stick earlier than me."
"Half an incense stick is bigger than you."
The siblings’ daily bickering is still the familiar formula and the familiar taste.
Gu Jiu was very pleased to see the brother and sister getting along well with each other.
Family dinner at noon.
Princess Sun Qinniang of Qi entered the palace with her three children.
After a trip to the sea, Ruyang's personality changed and he became especially fond of children.
I was so happy to see my three nephews and nieces.
She told Gu Jiu, "It was only after my daughter went overseas that she realized the value of children and the importance of population. The increase in the city's newborn population every year is something worth celebrating."
"I heard that you're encouraging the crew and guards to marry local women. Has it been effective?"
"The crew members were happy to settle down there, marry, and have children. The guards weren't so keen. The first group of guards around my daughter were mostly from the capital, and they certainly didn't want to stay overseas. I didn't force them. Later, the guards were gradually replaced, and only the sons of decent families from the coastal areas were recruited. Only then did the intermarriage policy make progress."
Gu Jiu nodded secretly, "You must pay attention to your own safety when you are outside, and you must be wary of others. You can't put your safety completely in the hands of one person, this is a taboo. Your guards must check and balance each other."
"Daughter understands! Thank you for the reminder, mother."
"When you're away from home, I worry about you every day. Now that you're back, don't leave."
"I can't bear to leave my mother, the Queen Mother! However, my roots are overseas, and I can't give them up."
Gu Jiu was filled with sorrow.
She straightened Ruyang's collar.
Ruyang finally changed into women's clothes. The slightly plain clothes suited her very well.
"I support you in pursuing your dreams, but the thought of having to separate for many years before we can meet again fills me with reluctance. Please stay in the capital for a while longer this time."
"A daughter obeys her mother."
The three nephews and nieces all received gifts and were very happy.
He said in a baby voice, "Thank you, aunt, thank you, uncle."
The second prince Liu Heng picked up the two boys and cherished them very much.
"It's a pity that my eldest brother is not at home."
The family dinner lasted two hours.
Gu Jiu was slightly tipsy, and Liu Zhao's face was flushed from drinking.
He is happy!
He rested his head on the pillow, which was placed on Gu Jiu's legs.
He was dizzy, but his mind was still clear.
"The children are back. I'm so happy! The palace hasn't been this lively for a long time."
"While they are back, let's settle the children's marriages at the same time."
"The second son got married right away. He's been engaged for so many years, and he's made the girl older."
Before Liu Heng left the capital, he arranged a marriage, and he chose the one himself.
The little granddaughter of Lord Li Bingming.
Unfortunately, Lord Li Bingming has passed away and was unable to see his granddaughter's wedding.
"And the marriage between Ruyang and Brother Xun."
"I don't worry about Brother Xun'er's marriage. The only thing I worry about is Ruyang's marriage. Look at our daughter, how great! A young woman, in charge of more than a dozen cities, with 7,000 or 8,000 armed soldiers under her command, plus local yamen runners, there are more than 10,000 people. How amazing! Such a great girl, a young man from a noble family in the capital, I can't think of anyone who is worthy of her. The one who is worthy of her is at least a generation older than her. The boys of her age are still childish and don't even have a career foundation. Ruyang's marriage is difficult!"
Liu Zhao was both proud and melancholy.
My daughter is so outstanding that as a father, I am so proud that I can't stop smiling.
But my daughter's marriage has become a big problem.
What a sweet burden.
Gu Jiu said: "The second brother quietly told me that Ruyang has found a partner."
"Huh?"
Liu Zhao jumped up instantly, "Whose brat deceived my daughter? I must break his legs."
Gu Jiu laughed, "Just now you were still worrying about Ruyang's marriage, and now you want to break someone else's legs. You are really fickle."
"That's different! Anyone who hasn't passed my inspection is not qualified to marry my daughter. Who on earth is this boy that Ruyang could fall in love with him? I must take a closer look."
Gu Jiu said, "The second brother refuses to speak! I plan to wait for Ruyang to explain to me personally."
"That won't work! We have to find out more about the other party's situation before we can seize the initiative."
"Then send someone to find out. If Ruyang gets angry with you, don't complain to me."
Liu Zhao was confused.
He almost forgot that Ruyang had a very bad temper.
"But she's been overseas for many years, so her personality and temperament are definitely different from when she was little. She won't get angry as easily as she did when she was little. Don't forget, our daughter is the mayor of more than a dozen cities!"
Liu Zhao laughed, looking very proud.
When I think of my daughter's achievements, I feel refreshed like drinking ice water in the hottest days of summer.
In fact, Gu Jiu was also very curious about what kind of person would be favored by Ruyang.
Liu Zhao was ready to make a move, so she asked him to come forward to inquire about the news.
Liu Zhao said to her, "If there's any trouble in Ruyang, you have to speak well of me."
It's rare to see such a cowardly father.
Gu Ji pursed his lips and smiled, "Okay! I promise to say good things for you."
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