The sun shines through the half-open window.
The study was filled with smoke and the occasional sound of patrolling guards could be heard outside. Lu Liangsheng raised his eyes and the light that passed through the window lattice fell on his face. He frowned slightly.
"Your Majesty, Chen Jing and Chen Fu came to Qixia Mountain during the heavy snow last year, but I didn't expect them to be so direct."
"National Master Tan**!"
As an emperor, Yang Jian liked Lu Liangsheng's frank character the most. If it were the ministers in the court or other people, they would probably be eager to distance themselves from the rebellious person.
Nodding and saying something appreciatively, the emperor stood up, handed the letter on Southern Chen's military intelligence to Lu Liangsheng, brushed his wide sleeves left and right, sat down casually aside, and looked up at the light shining through the window lattice opposite.
"I have only just unified the world at such a young age, and I don't have much time left. These people wish that the world would continue to be in chaos and division, so that they can tear the nine provinces of the world to pieces..."
He raised his hand and asked the palace maid to bring the wine that was tribute from the Western Regions. He poured a glass for the scholar and filled his own glass.
"Master, if I were your age, or had a few sons with outstanding abilities, I would just let those clowns make trouble for a while, and I would deal with them when I have time."
Xu Xu sighed softly, and Lu Liangsheng, who was holding the military information, read the contents word by word, folded it up and put it on the table, and said casually with a smile:
"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, why are you speaking so sadly? Moreover, among your princes, Crown Prince Yang Yong is gentle and well-read, highly respected by his followers."
"Him? He's just Cao Zhi from the Three Kingdoms. He doesn't deserve the praise of the National Master." Yang Jian laughed, waved his hand, took a sip of wine, slowly closed his eyes, and his rolling Adam's apple savored the sweetness.
"… Yong'er is gentle and polite, but he likes poetry and making friends with scholars. If he becomes an emperor in the future, people below him will not be afraid of him if he only governs with civil skills but not with martial arts. If no one is afraid of the emperor, his head will be in the hands of others."
"The second prince Yang Guang..."
"I have always been very smart and I like to pretend in front of me. I thought I couldn't see it."
When Yang Jian heard Lu Liangsheng mention his second son, he slapped his hands on his thighs and laughed: "My son is actually quite suitable to be the emperor, but I am afraid that he is too conceited and will not listen to honest advice."
Putting the cup on the table, Lu Liangsheng turned his head and looked at the emperor who was supporting himself with his hands on the ground and looking up at the dome. These sudden words made him feel a little uncomfortable.
"Your Majesty, why are you telling me this?"
While thinking, Lu Liangsheng raised his sleeves and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, let's stop here. I am not a court official, and even if I were, I cannot interfere in your Majesty's family affairs."
"Haha, the Imperial Master is just like them on this matter." The emperor sat up straight with a smile, dragged his robes and walked back to the desk slowly, "Well, I don't have anyone to talk to, I am a little nagging, the Imperial Master must have read the military intelligence just now, I want the Imperial Master to go back to Southern Chen and join my Great Sui army!"
The second half of the sentence was spoken with a heavier tone. Yang Jian brushed his wide sleeves and sat down, anger hidden between his brows.
"When Chen Fu was in Lingnan, he fought with our army heading south, causing great suffering to the Sui soldiers. Later, he blocked Lingnan, making it difficult for farmers and merchants to survive, and the soldiers and civilians in the city surrendered. Now, he has returned to the homeland of the Chen Dynasty with the little emperor of the Chen Dynasty, using magic to instigate and kill the generals in our army. I cannot accept this, so I troubled the national teacher to make a special trip."
What he meant was that I should restrain Chen Fu... As long as it wasn't a large-scale killing spree, Lu Liangsheng could accept it. Besides, with him by their side, he could also restrain the generals and soldiers and protect the common people from being affected. If there was no need to resort to violence, it would be even better.
Well... I can also go home and visit on the way.
"This is a national affair, I will do my best!"
Lu Liangsheng accepted the task and went south to quell the rebellion. It would take at least one or two months to mobilize food, fodder and troops, which was enough time for him to return from Wuse Village in Wujiang Mountain.
But there was still one thing that made Lu Liangsheng a little confused. He glanced around at the empty study. In the past, Yang Su was almost always present at such events.
"Your Majesty, why don't you ask the Duke of Yue to take charge of this matter?"
"Yang Su... He's old."
Yang Jian was afraid that Lu Liangsheng would misunderstand him, so he smiled and said, "My heroes who helped me found the country are mostly old now. Duke Yue has fought for me for many years, so it's time for him to take a break. His children will complain that I don't show sympathy in the future."
Of course, there was more of a joking tone in these words, and Lu Liangsheng naturally wouldn't take it all to heart. He just smiled along. Speaking of the issue of age, he did have some thoughts.
"Your Majesty is worried about your advanced age. There are many ways to prolong life in Taoism. Why not find some for Your Majesty?"
Behind the desk, the emperor moved, then sat back down, hesitated for a moment, and waved his sleeves as if to sweep away his excitement.
"Forget it. People have to die eventually. If I live too long in this position, the princes below will feel uncomfortable. Besides, I am not the first emperor. I cannot be so bold as to say 'live as long as the heavens and rule the world'. It's fine like this, but..."
He paused for a moment, and looked at Lu Liangsheng who was standing up to say goodbye and leave, and his tone softened.
"Master, after a person dies, can the soul still have memories?"
Lu Liangsheng stopped at the door, looked at the emperor who was looking at him, and nodded: "There are gods and ghosts in the world."
"Then... can you not enter the cycle of reincarnation and suffer the pain of rebirth?"
Lu Liangsheng nodded: "There are other ways to avoid reincarnation, keep the soul immortal, and keep the memory intact."
"I see."
Over there, Yang Jian seemed to have figured something out, and a smile appeared on his face again. He had been dealing with government affairs since the morning court session, and was a little tired. Lu Liangsheng talked to him for a while and asked him why he asked this. The latter did not answer directly, but it was obvious that which emperor did not want to live longer than others.
Coming out of the side hall, the hot breeze of early summer blew in. Walking through the swaying shade of the trees and the long palace walls, Lu Liangsheng got on the carriage he had come in, and went out of the imperial city and passed through the noisy long street.
"Get out of the way!"
"In front, get out of the way—"
Lu Liangsheng sat upright in the carriage, holding a cup of tea and watching the people coming and going outside the curtain, the people hawking their wares in the street, and the soldier driving the carriage outside shouting loudly. Then, with a "whoosh", the shaft of the carriage suddenly stopped, causing the cup of tea in his hand to spill out.
The water droplets that fell in the air hovered, and when Lu Liangsheng put down the cup, he gently waved his fingers, and the scattered water droplets flew back and fell into the cup one by one.
Then he asked the soldier who was arguing with someone outside.
"What is it?"
"Master, you two are not paying attention to the road. Hey, you two are getting excited..." The soldier said this and suddenly jumped off the carriage, as if he had an argument with someone.
"… I'm talking about you two. What are you staring at? You're wearing animal skins, like barbarians."
"You are a soldier, how can you use the Hu people to criticize us? It's just that you have never been to Chang'an. Let me tell you, if my master hadn't forbidden me to bully our Sui soldiers..."
…
Inside the car, Lu Liangsheng heard the quarrel outside that sounded familiar, so he stood up, opened the curtain and walked out. Many people on the long street stopped and looked over here, watching the excitement.
Opposite the soldier driving the carriage, there were two young men wearing coarse cloth and animal skins. One had disheveled hair and a face covered with short stubble, while the other had his hair tied up neatly. He was arguing with the soldiers while holding a long sword with a green sheath and purple handle.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the curtain of the carriage over there being lifted and a figure walking out. A smile immediately broke out on his face. He pushed the soldiers aside and rushed over. He threw away the green sword in his hand, knelt on one knee on the ground, and bowed.
"Sui'an, meet the Master!"