Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

Imperial City, Princess Yongjia's bedroom.

Prince Murong Qian of the Great Yan Dynasty sighed softly as he looked at his sister Princess Yongjia, who was lying on the bed and had just been rescued by the imperial physician.

"Let's all go out."

After the palace maids and eunuchs left, Murong Qian sat down beside the bed, touched Princess Yongjia's forehead, and said, "Silly sister, why do you have to do this?"

Princess Yongjia stared blankly at the ceiling of the bed, her eyes rolling silently: "Brother Crown Prince, I would rather die than marry a barbarian."

Murong Qian said: "Brother knows you feel wronged, but this is for Dayan."

Princess Yongjia said sadly, "If Grandpa Emperor were here, he would never let me suffer this kind of injustice."

Murong Qian said, "Don't talk nonsense."

Princess Yongjia turned away and ignored Murong Qian.

Murong Qian said a few words but got no response, so he called the palace maids and told them to keep a good eye on Yongjia. If anything went wrong again, it would not be enough to make up for it with just one head, and the whole family would have to lose their heads.

As they walked out of the bedroom, the guard asked, "Your Highness, are you returning to the palace?"

Murong Qian frowned and said, "Go to the imperial study."

In the imperial study, the emperor was reviewing memorials when his personal eunuch came to report that the prince wanted to see him.

The emperor said expressionlessly, "Announce."

A moment later, Murong Qian stepped into the imperial study and knelt down to pay his respects: "Your Highness, your son pays his respects to you, Father."

"Stand up," the emperor said indifferently, "Did you visit Yongjia? How is she?"

Murong Qian said, "The imperial physician has examined him and he's fine now. However, the marks on his neck may take more than half a month to disappear."

"There is still one month left before the wedding, which is enough time," said the emperor.

Murong Qian took a deep breath and said, "Father, do you really have to let my sister marry the Liao prince? Is there no other way..."

"Shut up!" The emperor's eyes widened as he shouted angrily, "I'm not dead yet. It's not your turn to interfere in matters like this."

Murong Qian knelt down again and said, "Your Majesty, I have no other intentions. I just feel sorry for my sister."

"Yongjia said she would rather die than marry. I'm worried that she'll continue to try to commit suicide in the next month."

The emperor slowly stood up and said coldly, "Then what do you think we should do?"

"Declare war with the Liao Kingdom?"

Murong Qian trembled slightly and said, "Increase the annual tribute..."

The emperor sneered, "Two hundred thousand taels of silver, three hundred thousand pieces of cloth, and one hundred thousand pieces of porcelain every year. And you're still increasing it? How much more? Three hundred thousand taels of silver every year?!"

"As the Crown Prince, is it possible that you can't even see the current situation in the court?"

Murong Qian's body was shaking more and more. He said, "I know I am wrong. Please calm down, father."

The emperor exhaled slowly, calmed himself down, and said, "Stand up and talk."

"Thank you...father." Murong Qian got up tremblingly.

The emperor said, "Qian'er, I am very pleased that you care about your sister. But as the crown prince, you are short-sighted, and I am also very annoyed."

"These days, I've been eating less and less, but sleeping more and more. Do you know what this means?"

Murong Qian hurriedly said, "Father will surely live a hundred years..."

The emperor pointed to the chair behind the desk and said, "If I live to be a hundred years old, you will never be able to sit in that position in your lifetime."

"I dare not..."

"As a prince, if you don't have ambition for that position, what kind of prince are you?"

"Your son..." Murong Qian was confused and didn't know how to respond.

The emperor walked up to Murong Qian and said, "Qian'er, I have been on the throne for more than 20 years. I have done some things right and some things wrong."

"But regardless of right or wrong, the consequences of these things should be borne by me, not you."

"What I want to pass on to you is a healthy Dayan, a Dayan that is striving for progress."

"Before that, it's enough for you to be a good prince."

Murong Qian swallowed his saliva and said, "I understand."

The emperor said, "Go tell Yongjia that I have found an attendant for her. This person should be able to bring her back safely from the Liao Kingdom."

Murong Qian suddenly looked up, "Ah?"

"Step back." The emperor waved his hand.

After Murong Qian left, the emperor sent for his personal eunuch to ask, "How is Zhu Sui'an recovering?"

The eunuch said, "Your Majesty, according to the Imperial Medical Bureau, Duke Zhu has almost recovered. He will probably come to bid farewell to Your Majesty in a few days."

The emperor closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Go ahead, I want to go see him."

Zhu Sui'an also has a mansion in the capital, which was where he lived when he sent his wife and eldest son to the capital as "hostages".

Later, his wife, Pan, obtained the emperor's permission and returned to Linshui County to accompany Zhu Sui'an, but his eldest son remained in the capital.

After Zhu Sui'an was injured in the battle against Western Xia, he originally planned to return to Linshui to treat his injuries. However, he was intercepted by the emperor's guards on the way and came directly to the capital.

Pei Ming also came along.

As for the Dingbian Army, it is temporarily under the jurisdiction of the Yongkang Army.

However, the news of Zhu Sui'an's arrival in the capital was strictly blocked, and no one in the court knew about it except the emperor.

The emperor went on a secret visit and entered through the back door of the mansion.

After arriving at Zhu Sui'an's house, the eunuch called out, "Your Majesty has arrived."

The door opened, and Zhu Sui'an walked out quickly with Pei Ming, kneeling before the emperor: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live Your Majesty."

The emperor said, "My dear minister, please stand up."

"Talk inside the house."

"Guard the gate. No one is allowed to come in without my permission."

The last sentence was said to the eunuch.

After entering the room, the emperor looked at Zhu Sui'an and said, "My dear minister, you have suffered."

Zhu Sui'an said: "Fighting for the country is my duty and my honor."

The emperor said: "The Dingbian Army deserves the primary credit for capturing Xiazhou."

"I should have rewarded you, but I didn't. Do you know why?"

A bean-sized bead of sweat appeared on Zhu Sui'an's forehead.

The emperor said coldly, "Li Shirong's wife Feng Chaoying has been hidden by you for more than 20 years."

"Zhu Sui'an, you are so brave."

Zhu Sui'an knelt on the ground with a thud, and Pei Ming beside him also knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I am guilty..."

"I took Feng Chaoying in simply because... I admire her. I have no other intentions. Your Majesty, please understand."

The emperor said, "The three things you did, namely, dismantling the Zhongwu Army, suppressing the rebellion in Mozhou, and recovering Xiazhou, are enough to offset the fact that you secretly harbored Feng Chaoying."

"But Li Shirong's son is still alive. Why did you know this but didn't tell me?!"

"Zhu Suian, raise your head and answer my questions."

"What's your intention!"