Chapter 205: Three to Five Years of Exile
The next memorial was written in a flamboyant handwriting and was by Yuan Chi.
When Murong Yu saw it, his expression was not happy at all.
It's a good thing that Anaro is dead.
But his decree was to have Yuan Chi kill Ana Luo and then support A Luying as king in Mi Po, so that Mi Po would pay tribute every year and submit forever.
As a result, A Luying died, and Yuan Chi said that the border of Mi Po was full of dangers and difficult to cross, and also mentioned that the soldiers were not acclimatized to the climate and water.
Murong Yu felt that Yuan Chi's courage and ability were just so-so.
Continuing to read, I saw that Yuan Chi also mentioned Heishan Township in Xunzhou, saying that Ana Luo was once captured by the villagers of Heishan Township, but later escaped.
Heishan Township delayed time and protected the people before the imperial army arrived, so it can be considered a meritorious service.
When Murong Yu saw this, he felt dissatisfied with Yuan Chi again.
A mere Mipo barbarian could catch Ana Luo even among the villagers.
Yuan Chi led 80,000 soldiers and horses, but he couldn't even protect the hostage A Luying.
Murong Yu decided to reward the villagers of Heishan Township, but not to reward Yuan Chi, asking him to reflect on his actions.
As an emperor, you should reward your subjects when it is due and suppress them when it is necessary.
Murong Yu had been in power for more than twenty years and felt that he was well versed in this.
"Your Majesty, Hui Zhaoyuan requested an audience and said she had come to bring sweet soup to Your Majesty."
Eunuch Wang knew that Murong Yu didn't like to be disturbed when he was reviewing memorials, unless the person who disturbed him was Hui Zhaoyuan.
Murong Yu's brows relaxed: "Come in."
Pei Shu entered the hall.
Her position was promoted, her clothes were changed into new ones, and a green jade hairpin was inserted in her hair.
Whenever Murong Yu saw Pei Shu, he often felt that no matter what clothes she wore or what hairpins she wore, they all looked the same to him.
Her beauty is like the cool moonlight covering a crescent moon at night, and has nothing to do with external things.
"Your Majesty is busy with government affairs and should pay more attention to his health. I have stewed some lotus seed sweet soup." Pei Shu brought out the sweet soup.
Murong Yu, who had just said that the peach cake was too sweet, now picked up the sweet soup and scooped a spoonful into it:
"Shu'er is thoughtful."
Murong Yu was obviously in a good mood at this time.
Pei Shu smiled gently: "Your Majesty is busy with many things every day. I can't share your worries, so I can only do some small things."
"If you want to share my worries, that's perfect," Murong Yu said casually. "The villagers of Lingnan have made great contributions. How do you think we should reward them?"
Pei Shu's tone revealed a hint of surprise: "Lingnan is a remote place. How could a villager from there accomplish such great merits that the emperor would know about it?"
After asking, she bowed and quickly confessed: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I just made a slip of the tongue and shouldn't have interfered in the affairs of the court."
Murong Yu raised his hand to help her up. "There's no need for this. This isn't a matter of state, it's simply a reward for the villagers. The villagers of Heishan Township performed meritorious service in resisting Mi Po, and I wish to reward one or two. Shu'er, just let me know."
Murong Yu's tone when speaking to Pei Shu was very gentle and doting, just like when he was fascinated by her more than ten years ago.
I feel like even talking loudly is a sin when I'm with her.
Murong Yu couldn't even understand how he had managed to forget about her and leave her in the cold palace for more than ten years. Fortunately, Pei Shu never mentioned her past grievances and was always gentle and virtuous.
Pei Shu heard the words "Heishan Township" and her smile remained unchanged:
"Your Majesty, I don't understand much. I just think that for ordinary people, if they can come to the capital to see the emperor and receive his rewards in person, it is the greatest reward."
Murong Yu's eyes swept over Pei Shu's smile: "Let them enter the capital?"
Pei Shu covered her lips with a handkerchief, as if revealing some of her thoughts:
"To be honest, Your Majesty, I stayed at home all my childhood, rarely going out. Later, I entered the palace, and I've never seen what people from Lingnan look like. I've heard that they have skin as dark as charcoal, are short and thin like monkeys, but move as swiftly as rabbits. I want to see if it's true."
Seeing Pei Shu's childish curiosity, Murong Yu felt relieved.
"Lingnan is remote, and it's rare for its people to come to the capital. Hao Ren from Heishan Township has indeed made great contributions. I will reward him with 100 taels of gold and a seat at the palace banquet on New Year's Eve."
"Your Majesty is wise." Pei Shu reached out and took the empty soup bowl away. "I will not disturb Your Majesty from handling government affairs."
When she stretched out her hand, she revealed a small part of her wrist, as white as snow, on which she wore a bracelet. It was not made of gold or jade, but of many pieces of wood, colorful stones and dried fruits.
Murong Yu grabbed Pei Shu's wrist and said, "I wanted to ask you before, where did this thing come from?"
Pei Shu lowered her eyebrows and said pleasantly, "It was given by Di'er. This child is not as smart as his peers. He picked up some things on the ground and strung them together to make a bracelet for me."
"However," Pei Shu said with relief, "I heard that Di'er has made more friends in Beijing recently, which is different from before."
When mentioning Murong Di, Murong Yu's tone sank again:
"The third brother went to Lingnan last year and seemed to have made some progress. This time, the imperial edict of commendation should be brought by the third brother."
Murong Yu's suspicion started to rise again.
Pei Shu mentioned the third prince in front of him, and it was unclear what her intention was. Although he had expelled the queen from the palace, the crown prince was still the crown prince. The concubines and the heir to the throne should not have any other thoughts.
The third brother's popularity in the capital must be due to Pei Shu's favor in the palace. If the third brother had come into contact with more people in the capital, he might be used as a puppet in the struggle for power.
Since he wants to favor Pei Shu, it would be better for him to send the third child away as soon as possible to avoid any chaos.
Pei Shu: "Let Di'er go to Lingnan?"
Murong Yu glanced at Pei Shu and asked, "Shu'er, are you reluctant?"
Pei Shu shook her head slowly, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself several times.
Murong Yu rarely showed any patience and just waited for Pei Shu to speak.
He looked at Pei Shu's butterfly-wing eyelashes and thought that if Pei Shu begged him not to let the third brother go at this time, he might consider another way.
Smoke curls up from the copper incense burner.
Pei Shu's voice was softer than light smoke:
"I understand what Your Majesty means. Di'er is dull and might be exploited by those with ulterior motives in the capital. It is a good idea for him to travel far away to avoid disaster. Lingnan has just experienced war and the people are in urgent need of comfort. Di'er's going to Lingnan can show Your Majesty's concern for his people. I couldn't bear to leave Di'er in the past because I had no one around me. But now, thanks to Your Majesty's mercy, I can stay by your side. With such love and affection, what worries can I not let go of?"
"I understand that Di'er is not only going, but will be gone for three to five years. It won't be too late to return when the Crown Prince grows up. When Di'er comes to the palace to say goodbye, I will definitely give Di'er good instructions on how to govern Lingnan and help the Emperor transform Lingnan into a place of prosperity."
Her words were lucid, her eyes concealing reluctance, yet also filled with consideration and dependence on the man in front of her.
The hall was silent.
It was so quiet that Murong Yu could hear his own heartbeat.
He knew that in the harem, only Pei Shu could say such words.
Even the Concubine Shu would be anxious and angry if she knew that the second son was going to be sent away.
But Pei Shu wouldn't, she would always consider the overall situation for him.
When the Pei family got into trouble, she took the blame on her own, and now she has taken the initiative to suggest that the third brother be sent away for a few years.
She has always been like this, suppressing her grievances and waiting by his side with her due diligence and consideration.
Murong Yu looked deeply at Pei Shu's fair cheeks and her lips and teeth.
There was only one thought left in his mind:
It's over.
He fell in, again.
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