Eunuch Gao coughed twice to remind him, "Young Master Xiao, the Emperor is here."
"Cousin." Xiao Liuchen stood up: "Your subject Xiao Liuchen greets Your Majesty."
Lu Qingyan also stood up: "This commoner, He Yiyi, greets Your Majesty."
The Emperor first helped Xiao Liuchen up, saying, "Alright, there are no outsiders here, why are you being so polite with me?" Then he said to Lu Qingyan, "You should get up too."
Lu Qingyan rose to her feet, discreetly observing the emperor. Perhaps it was due to the peaceful political climate, or perhaps it was due to his excellent self-care; despite being in his forties, he looked like a young man under thirty. His appearance couldn't compare to Xiao Liuchen's, but it was still quite handsome. Years of experience had given him a unique charm, which explained why the ministers of the previous dynasty kept urging him to hold a selection of concubines.
The Emperor sat at the head of the table and complained, "You little rascal, you always give me trouble. You brought him back without saying a word."
Xiao Liuchen grinned and said, "My cousin loves me so much, how could he bear to let my mother punish me? I finished this task in just two months, so my cousin must reward me handsomely." As he spoke, he presented the account books he had collected and the stolen portraits of beauties.
The Emperor, instead of greedily eyeing the Song family's treasure and looking at the portraits of beauties, began to peruse the account books. Xiao Shiliu was very reliable; the account books for fifty or sixty officials, large and small, filled several boxes. The Emperor casually opened one, read two pages, and then slammed his fist on the table in anger: "This is outrageous! Since the founding of our dynasty, we have treated these officials with the utmost generosity, their salaries being three times that of the previous dynasty. They eat the nation's salary but do not care for the country; instead, they abuse their power for personal gain and oppress the people. They are a cancer on our dynasty, unworthy to be our subjects."
After the emperor finished his tirade, Xiao Liuchen asked for permission to go south on behalf of the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I am willing to go south on Your Majesty's behalf to eliminate the scourge and restore peace to the people."
"Good, good!" The Emperor clasped his hands together and nodded repeatedly: "I know your abilities, so I'll trouble you to make this trip."
Xiao Liuchen smiled and said, "I will definitely live up to your expectations, cousin. Just wait for my triumphant return."
Eunuch Gao continued, "Young Master Xiao's journey will be no easier than leading troops into battle. I hope you will be careful and not let anyone take advantage of you. The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Eldest Princess are all waiting for you in the capital."
Eunuch Gao originally wanted to add that Miss He was also waiting for him here, but considering that the imperial decree had not yet been issued and the marriage had not yet been arranged, he refrained from mentioning it for the sake of the woman's reputation.
Upon hearing what Eunuch Gao said, Xiao Liuchen gratefully stepped forward and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Thank you for reminding me, Eunuch Gao. I will pay attention."
The Emperor glanced at Lu Qingyan and said, "Back then, I was truly powerless to help Minister He. After I ascended the throne, I found the remains of the He family. However, due to some reasons, it was impossible to distinguish who was who, so I buried them all in one place. Liu Chen knows that place, so I'll have him take you there later."
When Lu Qingyan heard the Emperor mention the He family's remains, she froze on the spot. Her heart pounded in her chest as if it were on fire, and tears streamed down her face, soaking her clothes.
These were the original owner's emotions; for so many years, she hadn't been able to see her relatives. Liu Yu had been by her side constantly, giving her earnest advice, as if those people were still alive beside her, their feelings running deep.
Xiao Liuchen, at a loss, hugged her and comforted her, "Yiyi, don't cry. I'm right here. You'll be meeting them soon, you should be happy, why are you crying?"
Xiao Liuchen was unaware of the reason and was somewhat surprised that they had such a deep relationship despite never having spent time together. He also felt guilty for making her shed so many tears.
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