If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

The South China Sea is so vast, filled with undeveloped natural landscapes. Zhou Wu had originally planned to spend a month with his family to make up for the time he had missed.

However, a message from the capital forced him to cancel the trip ahead of schedule.

"My lord, a letter has arrived from the palace. The Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet is next month, and you are required to return to the capital to attend."

"The Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet?"

This was the first time Zhou Wu had ever heard anyone mention the title of the Retired Emperor outside. Zhou Wu had even forgotten that the Great Dragon had a Retired Emperor.

"I haven't heard of the Emperor Emeritus celebrating his birthday in previous years."

Zhou Wu complained to his family that he couldn't understand why he had to be invited to the Emperor Emeritus's birthday celebration when he didn't even know him.

"Husband, don't be angry. Since the Emperor Emeritus invited you, it means you are a capable person."

"I feel like I've finally managed to come out and have some fun with you guys, but I'm going to break my promise again."

"Brother Wu, important business is more important."

Hongdou also very sensibly comforted Zhou Wu from the side.

. . . . . .

The Empress wrote a letter saying that the Emperor Emeritus wanted to try bananas, so Zhou Wu had already started arranging for a ship to be filled to the brim. In addition to bananas, there were also many other local fruits, such as pineapples, dragon fruit, mangoes, and coconuts.

Of course, seafood was also essential, but Zhou Wu did not bring any fresh seafood this time because there are ships from the South China Sea that set off almost every day to transport seafood to the capital and some big cities, so big cities do not lack fresh seafood.

Therefore, Zhou Wu brought some of his own treasured dried goods, such as dried abalone, shark fin, fish maw, and sea cucumber. These items were all selected from the largest available, and after being dried, they had an even better flavor than when fresh.

In the end, Zhou Wu still brought Li Baiwei and the others along. After all, they had a house in the capital, and after staying in the South China Sea for so long, it wouldn't be bad to occasionally return to the capital to experience its prosperity.

When Zhou Wu made this suggestion, it was unanimously agreed upon by all the women. It seems that although the South China Sea is nice, it does lack popularity.

Capital.

"Wow~ Beijing, we're back!"

Back in their home in the capital, the three women were noticeably in better spirits, which made Zhou Wu wonder if it was a mistake to force his family to go to the South China Sea.

Before Zhou Wu could think any further, the girls dragged him out shopping.

"I said, aren't you tired after sitting on the boat for several days?"

"I'm not tired, let's go, my husband."

Regardless of the era, accompanying a woman shopping is the most painful thing for a man.

The three women didn't return home until curfew, and Zhou Wu was exhausted, looking like a dead dog.

"I couldn't buy any rouge from Wang's General Store today. Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow."

"Um, okay."

"I heard Zhang's shop has some new patterned fabrics. Shall we go check them out tomorrow?"

Zhou Wu overheard the women's conversation from behind and was on the verge of a breakdown.

. . . . . .

The next morning, after breakfast, the girls discussed going out again, while Zhou Wu was also thinking about how to avoid another disaster.

"Master, someone is coming from the palace."

Just as Zhou Wu was worrying about not having an excuse, the maid's voice was like heavenly music.

"What? Someone from the palace has come? They must want me to go to the palace. Oh, what a hassle. Madam, I'm so sorry, I'm afraid I can't go shopping with you today."

After Zhou Wu finished speaking, he left in a hurry before the women could react.

"Sigh, I was hoping my husband could rest at home today."

Looking at Zhou Wu's busy figure, Li Baiwei felt a little sorry for him, but she thought it made her parents seem capable.

Zhou Wu arrived at the door and saw that it was indeed a palace guard.

"Greetings, Lord Zhou. The Emperor Emeritus has summoned you to the palace."

The palace guards naturally recognized Zhou Wu. This man, who had even dealt with a prince, was not someone they, as lowly servants, could afford to offend. So they waited respectfully outside the door and greeted him with smiles when they saw him.

"What retired emperor?"

Zhou Wu thought it was the emperor himself, but he didn't expect it to be the emperor's father.

Zhou Wu followed the guards into the palace, then took a path he had never taken before, and soon stopped outside a wall.

"Please wait a moment, sir, while we go and report to them."

"Ok."

The guard who went in to report quickly came out.

"Sir, please come in."

Passing through the palace gate, the world inside was completely different from the outside. The palace outside gave Zhou Wu a feeling of solemnity, but the world inside the gate was completely unrelated to the palace.

It's like a city within a city, with open-air pavilions, gardens, gazebos, rockeries, ponds, and a person sitting in the middle of an artificial lake.

Zhou Wu guessed that the man was the retired emperor, because everyone around him was standing, while the man was sitting.

"Your subject Zhou Wu pays respects to the Emperor Emeritus."

It was Zhou Wu's first time meeting the Emperor Emeritus, and he didn't know what kind of temperament the emperor had, so he could only try his best to maintain proper etiquette.

"You're Zhou Wu? The Zhou Wu who's the Grand Commander of the South China Sea?"

"It is indeed your subject."

"Hey, men, seize Zhou Wu!"

Several guards rushed out and surrounded Zhou Wu. Everything happened so fast that Zhou Wu was completely stunned.

"What does the Emperor Emeritus mean by this?"

"I heard that you once beat up the Fourth Prince Li Zheng in public, is that true?"

"Yes!"

It turned out that the grandfather wanted to avenge his grandson. Zhou Wu thought that Li Zheng had staged a coup, but he didn't expect that he would revert to his original form after returning to the capital and know how to use others to do his dirty work.

"When Li Zheng went to the South China Sea, did you only give him two meals a day, and only plain porridge?"

"Yes."

After thinking it through, Zhou Wu was no longer afraid. He thought, "It's just Li Zheng, and you're just the retired emperor. I'm just following orders. What's wrong with that?"

"Then you are not wronged. You assaulted and abused a member of the royal family, which is an unforgivable crime. Drag him away and behead him."

The Emperor Emeritus roared, but this did not frighten Zhou Wu. Just as the guards were about to step forward to arrest Zhou Wu, they did not expect that Zhou Wu would take the initiative and snatch a long sword from the guard's waist.

"Stop right there, let's see who dares."

The guards were stunned, the palace maids were stunned, and the retired emperor was even more stunned.

Zhou Wu then placed his sword directly against the Emperor Emeritus's neck.

"Fine, Zhou Wu, you dare to assist this retired emperor? You're tired of living."

"Hmph, since I'm going to die anyway, I might as well drag you down with me, you old senile fool."

"What? You dare call me senile? You have some nerve."

"Hmph, you don't even know the facts. Just because I beat and abused Li Zheng, you want to kill me. Why don't you ask why I did those things to him? Li Zheng is arrogant and domineering and has done so many bad things. I did this entirely to uphold the dignity of the royal family."

"Then how do you explain mistreating Li Zheng, only giving him two meals of thin porridge a day? Is that also for the good of the royal family?"

"Hmph, calling you senile is no exaggeration."