Chapter 3219: It’s a waste if the officials don’t like it
Zhu Feng said calmly, "It doesn't matter if I don't like it, as long as the people like it."
Nan Yan said with a smile, "What you're afraid of is that the governor is allowed to set fires but the people are not allowed to light lamps, right?"
Zhu Feng said, "There are also some officials who, if they don't like something, don't allow the common people to like it. Humph, you know, their dislike is nothing; the common people's preferences are what matter most."
As he spoke, he covered his nose with his hand again, lifted the curtain and took a look outside.
Although the aroma was so strong that it kept hitting his head like a hammer, he couldn't help but smile when he saw the dazzling array of goods and the bustling scene outside. He said, "It's only decent if we have everything that exists in the world."
Nan Yan smiled and nodded, leaning on his shoulder, watching the situation outside and laughing.
After a while, the carriage arrived at the Wen family.
This street is relatively remote and there are few people coming and going, but the accompanying Jinyiwei still sent people to patrol the area in advance. After confirming that there was nothing unusual, they welcomed the emperor and the imperial concubine from the carriage, and Xiao Shunzi went over to knock on the door first.
"Who is it?"
A clear voice came from inside, which sounded familiar, and then the door opened.
A child about ten years old stood at the door: "You are - Oops!"
He seemed to recognize someone all of a sudden. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Zhu Feng standing behind Xiao Shunzi. He stammered, "Huang, Huang——"
It turned out to be Wen Bieyu.
It has been five or six years since the three of them were brought back from Yumen Pass. The child has grown a lot taller from a skinny kid like a bean sprout, but he is still thin. His big round eyes look particularly lively on his thin face.
At this moment, he was obviously startled by the arrival of His Majesty the Emperor and had no reaction.
Xiao Shunzi asked, "The Emperor is here, why don't you welcome him?"
Wen Bieyu was so flustered that he didn't know what to do. He just turned around and ran inside, shouting, "Grandpa, Grandpa, the emperor is here!"
Xiao Shunzi stamped his feet: "No rules!"
Zhu Feng frowned and shook his head, then walked inside with Nan Yan.
This house was purchased for them by the imperial court. Although it was not big, there was a large courtyard in the middle. In the courtyard, there was a stone pond with some small fish in it. Because it was cold in winter, the fish just stayed at the bottom of the water and did not move. On the water surface, there were several small boats made of small wooden strips. They looked quite realistic and seemed to be arranged in some kind of battle formation.
Zhu Feng stood by the pond, looking at the small boats. At this moment, the old man Wen Liyu stumbled out with the help of a crutch. Wen Bieyu was still supporting him. The two men came to Zhu Feng and immediately knelt down.
"Your Majesty, I deserve to die for not welcoming you. Long live the emperor."
They had lived in Yumen Pass for a long time and knew nothing about the outside world. Although they were taken back to the capital by Zhu Feng, they obviously had little contact with outsiders and did not know the rules of receiving the emperor. Even their kowtow was so chaotic.
Fortunately, Zhu Feng didn't bother with them.
He just smiled faintly and said, "Old man, are you used to living here?"
Wen Liyu knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "Good, this place is great! The life we three generations of grandparents and grandchildren can have today is all a gift from the emperor."
Zhu Feng said, "Okay, the ground is cold, get up."
After saying that, he motioned to his attendants to help them up.
When they helped him up, they saw that Wen Liyu looked much older than he was five years ago. His hair was as white as snow, his face was full of wrinkles, and his back was so hunched that he could hardly straighten it. Fortunately, judging from his clothes and expression, his food, clothing and other expenses should not have been deducted.
He said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please come and sit in the inner room."
Zhu Feng was originally planning to go in, but when he looked at the small boats in the pool, he stopped and asked, "What are these?"
Wen Liyu took one look and immediately turned to glare at his grandson: "Seventeen, you playing in the water again?"
Turning around, he saw that Wen Bieyu's cuffs and the corners of his clothes were wet, and his fingertips were red. He lowered his head and said, "I know I was wrong."
"Pick it up quickly, it's in a mess."
"oh."
The child lay down on the edge of the pond and tried to fish out the boats. Zhu Feng stepped forward and asked, "Did you do all this?"
Wen Bieyu said: "Yes."
He probably didn't have many playmates, so he could only mess around in the yard by himself. Finally, someone asked him something. Although he shouldn't talk too much in front of the emperor, he couldn't help but say, "I'm fighting a war."
"fight?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, you see, the two fleets met here. Then, I ordered the ships here to circle here and attack from the rear, and then from the front-"
He chattered and reached out to fiddle with the small boats.
Although they were small boats made of bamboo strips, they were quite interesting to see lining up and sliding around in his hands. Zhu Feng looked at his serious expression and couldn't help but smile. He said, "Do you like playing war games?"
"Yes,"
Wen Bieyu looked up and said, "Fighting in the water is especially fun."
“Why is it the most fun in the water?”
“It’s fun in the water.”
He was still young and couldn't explain what he was saying incoherently, but Zhu Feng understood that most children, especially boys, like to play war games with swords and knives - except for his "useless" prince - and Wen Bieyu grew up in Yumen Pass, where there was endless yellow sand and only a few raindrops were seen throughout the year. Naturally, he was extremely eager for water. When he arrived in the Central Plains, although there were no rivers in the capital, at least there was enough water. He played the water war game as he wished.
The old man, Wen Liyu, was afraid that the child's words would offend the emperor, so he whispered, "Your Majesty, please don't be offended. The child is ignorant."
Zhu Feng looked at him for a while and said with a smile, "What's the big deal?"
After saying that, he rubbed his hands and said, "Well, it's quite cold outside."
Wen Liyu hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please sit in the inner room. It's warmer there."
Zhu Feng was not impatient at all. He just smiled and took Nan Yan and the others into the house with him.
The inner room is not small either, and has all the necessary furniture and utensils. Although it is not luxurious, it looks more homely. They also built a fire pit in the middle of the room, which can be used to boil water and keep warm. As soon as you walk into the room, you can feel a burst of warmth, which makes you feel very comfortable.
Old Wen asked Wen Bieyu to boil water and make tea, and he asked Zhu Feng to sit on a chair beside him.
Zhu Feng glanced around and said with a smile, "Is there enough charcoal for the winter?"
Elder Wen nodded hurriedly and said, "It's enough. Just two days ago, Lord Heyi sent some more rice, flour, and charcoal."
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