We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Although the two strangers met for the first time, they somehow felt that they had met too late.

This is love at first sight.

This situation does not only occur between opposite sexes.

Homosexuality, especially between rulers and their subjects, was common.

For example, Duke Xiao of Qin met Shang Yang, Liu Bang met Zhang Liang, and Liu Bei met Zhao Yun.

For example... Li Che looked at Huo Duanxiao who was getting closer, his eyes sparkling with stars.

This man was dressed like a scholar, covered in blood, and looked out of place.

But Li Che felt that the blood all over his body could not cover up the scholarly air about him. It was a kind of... same kind of air.

"Imperial envoy?" Li Che grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.

Huo Duanxiao was stunned for a moment, then he calmly bowed and saluted: "Your servant Huo Duanxiao, I pay my respects to the Prince of Ninggu."

"This borderland is remote and desolate, and I am covered in filth. I have no time to bathe or change clothes. I am sorry for the inconvenience."

Huo Duanxiao smiled faintly and replied, "Your Highness personally attends to the affairs of state, enduring every hardship. I deeply admire your diligence and love for the people. How could I say anything disrespectful?"

"Hahaha." Li Che laughed heartily, "Mr. Huo, you've been traveling a long way, so please come inside and rest for a while."

Huo Duanxiao was pulled into the wooden house by Li Che and sat down. Looking around, he saw drawings hanging all over the walls and piles of iron ore in the corner.

"Someone, bring Lord Huo a glass of juice." Li Che ordered.

"Here."

Soon, a personal guard brought a cup of red juice of unknown origin and placed it next to Huo Duanxiao.

Li Che smiled and said, "This is a wild fruit that is unique to the outside of the Great Wall. It is called Physalis alkekengi. I usually call it Mushroom Girl."

"This is sweet and sour, and has the effect of clearing away heat and detoxifying. Please try it, sir."

Huo Duanli looked down and saw that there was still dirt on the cup of juice, and unprocessed fruit pulp was floating in the juice. He frowned immediately and was about to speak to help his second brother.

But Huo Duanxiao picked up the cup without hesitation and took a big sip.

"It is indeed sweet and sour and quenches my thirst. I thank Your Highness for the reward."

Huo Duanli widened his eyes in disbelief.

Is this still my second brother?

My second brother has always been very clean. His clothes cannot have even a wrinkle or a speck of dirt. He even bathes every day in winter...

Li Che naturally didn't know that Huo Duanxiao was also a mysophobia patient. Seeing that Huo Duanxiao spoke and behaved naturally and unrestrainedly, he liked him even more.

"I wonder what the emperor's will is, and would you please convey it to me?" Li Che asked.

"Ahem." Huo Duanxiao looked around, coughed a few times, and said, "I'm afraid it's not convenient to announce the decree here."

"Oh? Why?" Li Che looked at him curiously.

Huo Duanxiao smiled and whispered, "This is the decree to confer the title of Highness upon His Majesty."

Li Che was only slightly surprised when he heard this.

The purpose of the consecration?

Does that mean he wants to be promoted from the title of Duke to the title of Prince?

My cheap father is quite generous and doesn't just make promises for himself.

The original agreement was to gain a firm foothold in the Northeast within three years and prepare for the imperial army's expedition to Goryeo, and he was then conferred the title of prince.

Now that I have defeated the Goryeo army, they will definitely not dare to attack in the short term, so I can be considered to have accomplished my mission.

A flash of joy flashed across Li Che's face, and then he said, "Then how about you please come back with me to Chaoyang City to receive the imperial edict there?"

The imperial edict to confer a title of king is quite formal. If one is not dressed properly and receives the edict carelessly, it would be a crime of great disrespect.

Not to mention fasting for three days, at least you should take a bath, change clothes, burn incense and wash your hands.

Huo Duanxiao had been silently sizing up Li Che. Seeing that he had no arrogance on his face, he felt even more satisfied:

"So good."

Li Che stood up and gave Wang Liu a few instructions, then handed the affairs of the mine over to him.

The mine is already on track. The next step is to continuously send the ore to Ninggu County. There is really no need for me to stay here.

After finishing his instructions, Li Che walked up to Huo Duanxiao and said, "Mr. Huo, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Shall we set off now?"

"it is good."

The Royal Guard Battalion and the imperial troops joined together and headed towards Chaoyang City.

Li Che invited Huo Duanxiao and Huo Duanli to get on his carriage, fearing that the blood on their bodies would stain Li Che's carriage frame.

But he couldn't resist Li Che's constant and enthusiastic invitation, so he had to ride in the same car with Li Che.

Li Che's carriage had five carriages. Although the interior decoration was relatively simple, the space was very spacious.

He thinks that people don't need to be extravagant, but there is no need to suffer hardship either. People should still enjoy the benefits they deserve.

The values ​​brought from the previous life cannot be changed even if you travel through time and space and become a prince.

In the carriage.

"So Mr. Huo is the son of the Right Prime Minister." Li Che looked at Huo Duanxiao in surprise. "No wonder he has the demeanor of a famous scholar."

"I am almost thirty years old and have accomplished nothing. I am a disgrace to my father."

"Ah, sir, how can you be so self-deprecating?"

"But I heard that the master is both civil and military, and he defeated dozens of Khitan cavalrymen alone."

"Those Khitans are clearly coming for the mines. They truly have wicked ambitions." A murderous intent flashed across Li Che's eyes. "Thank goodness you took action, sir. Otherwise, if the Khitans had discovered the mines, they would have sent troops to harass us."

Huo Duanxiao said gently, "How dare I talk about merit? It's all the soldiers of the Imperial Guard who sacrificed their lives."

"I wonder where you are now, sir?" Li Che asked again.

Huo Duanxiao bowed and said, "I have not yet entered the government. Can I seek a position under Your Highness?"

Huo Duanli, who was standing by, couldn't help but sigh for his second brother when he heard this.

My second brother, who was a talented prime minister, ended up being reduced to a general on the frontier.

Li Che was overjoyed: "Is that really the case? There is a vacant position in the Chief Secretary's Office within the government. How about asking Mr. Qu to take on the position of Left Chief Secretary?"

As soon as these words were spoken, before Huo Duanxiao could say anything else, Huo Duanli almost fell off the carriage with a "thump".

What position? Zuo Changshi?

The Chief Secretary's Office was the highest-ranking institution in the prince's palace, and the Left Chief Secretary was equivalent to the Left Prime Minister of the current dynasty.

My own father was only a Right Prime Minister, how could the Prince of Ninggu dare to directly give my second brother the title of Left Chief Clerk?!

Huo Duanxiao looked at Li Che in astonishment: "Your Highness...you..."

"Oh, no need to refuse." Li Che waved his hand, "Originally, this position was held by Mr. Qian."

"But Mr. Qian is old after all, and his energy is indeed insufficient. He is also responsible for the financial affairs of Ninggu County. If you come to the Chief Secretary's Office, Mr. Qian will be able to relax a little."

At this moment, Huo Duanxiao's heart was finally moved.

When they first met, they rode in the same carriage, were treated as honored officials, and the king and his subject got along well with each other.

This is the treatment that only famous officials who will be remembered for thousands of years can receive!

Huo Duanli, who was standing by, was already confused. His thoughts were constantly drifting away, and only those three words rang in his ears.

Zuo Changshi!

The Prince of Ninggu knew about the second brother's abilities, so he didn't let him be a military officer, but instead directly appointed him to the high position of Zuo Changshi, the head of the civil officials?

No, why?

Could it be that the Prince of Ninggu is really a wise king who has the ability to judge people and see that the hidden wisdom in his second brother's mind far exceeds his martial arts skills?

What the two of them didn't know was that Li Che really saw that Huo Duanxiao was a man of both civil and military talents.

However, the reason why he was made a civil official was simply because the Ninggu Army had an overabundance of military commanders and no vacant positions...