Marrying the Crown Prince

No sooner had Zhou Zhou finished speaking than Li Ziyan returned.

What a coincidence!

She inwardly complained as she stood up and went to greet him, saying, "Your Highness, I've been waiting for you."

Li Ziyan led her to the soft couch in the bedroom and sat her down. "Well, something came up today."

"Huh?" Zhou Zhou asked, puzzled.

Lately, the weather has been sunny and breezy. It rains when it's supposed to rain and stops when it's supposed to stop. I wonder if anything major has happened recently?

"My father wants me to transport grain to the northern regions."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhou sat up straight. "When did this happen?"

Generally speaking, this is indeed the time when supplies are escorted to the border.

However, the grain transport officials have always been people from the Ministry of Revenue, and they are rarely assigned to other departments, let alone princes or crown princes.

Although the Chen Kingdom is now in its fourth generation, there has never been any major power struggle for the throne.

However, emperors would always be wary of princes who had military power, so military generals and princes would keep a certain distance from each other.

Now, Emperor Chenze has ordered Li Ziyan to go to the Northern Region.

You should know that the Northern Region has the largest army and the most famous general of the Chen Kingdom—Duke Yang Yue of Dingguo!

“I told you this morning,” Li Ziyan replied.

When Emperor Chenze spoke, he was stunned. There was nothing he could do, since there hadn't been any prior warning.

Zhou Zhou pondered for a moment, then looked at him quietly. "Your Highness, I think this is a good thing."

"Before my father ascended the throne, he also went to the frontier." Li Ziyan nodded and began to tell Zhou Zhou about the past.

"However, Father Emperor went to the Northern Region in winter."

During the freezing cold season, mountain bandits roamed freely. Due to a lack of food, the Qiong tribe recklessly crossed the border and stormed into the city.

Having learned from this experience, Emperor Chenze never withheld rations or rewards from the soldiers on the frontier.

Putting aside everything else, if any civil official were to impeach the Duke of Dingguo, saying that his achievements overshadowed the emperor, Emperor Chenze would definitely throw that person to the border so that he could see what the real "desert scenery" was like.

In other words, Emperor Chenze did not have much fear or suspicion of military generals after ascending the throne.

Thus, the soldiers and Emperor Chenze, one guarding the millions of lives behind him, and the other leading millions of people towards prosperity.

With such a good example—no, I should say a good role model—he had long wanted to send Li Ziyan to the border so that he could travel around and see the world.

Unfortunately, the impression that Li Ziyan was physically weak was too deep. Even though the imperial physician said that he was no different from an ordinary person, Emperor Chenze still dared not easily send him to the Duke of Dingguo.

As for now...

Of course, it's because Li Ziyan has broken the record and has been free from illness and pain for almost half a year.

Seeing the healthy Crown Prince, Emperor Chenze's desire to send him to the frontier resurfaced.

So today, he suddenly spoke, startling all the officials in the court.

Then, the court officials argued from the Xuanzheng Hall to the Imperial Study, and have been discussing the matter since the morning court session.

"I see," Zhou Zhou roughly guessed what Emperor Chenze was thinking, and then asked the most important question, "Has it been decided?"

"It's settled." Li Ziyan nodded.

Emperor Chenze was in his prime and had been ruling in his own right for many years. Most of the people in the court were his confidants, and there was nothing he couldn't do if he wanted to.

"Then...when do we depart?"

"It's still early; the Ministry of Revenue will need at least a month to prepare the grain."

Hearing Li Ziyan say that, Zhou Zhou snorted, "A month is not a long time."

Indeed, as Zhuangzi said, "Those who travel a thousand miles should gather provisions for three months."

From Kyoto to the northern region, it's more than a thousand miles.

"His Highness will probably be gone for four or five months before he returns." Zhou Zhou said this without much sadness, but rather with a touch of melancholy.

She has been married into the Eastern Palace for so many years, and the two of them have never been separated.

Li Ziyan, however, was unaware of these things and thought she was heartbroken.

So he comforted you, saying, "I will write to you often."

Hearing him say that, Zhou Zhou thought that the other person was clingy and couldn't bear to part with her.

Thinking this, her eyebrows curved into a smile, and she said gently, "Okay."

Just as they both thought—a month is not a long time, and is even a bit short.

Therefore, the court officials, especially those in the Ministry of Revenue, were so busy that their lips were blistered, and they would grin whenever they spoke, which was quite comical.

The Minister of Personnel couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The Minister of Revenue narrowed his eyes, then grabbed the Minister of Personnel's arm, his voice brimming with joy, "What? Lord Du, you're actually willing to come and help at the Ministry of Revenue? How can I possibly accept this?"

The Minister of Personnel's expression changed drastically, "You..."

"Yes, you're right!" The Minister of Revenue roared, his voice echoing throughout the hall. "We've been friends for many years, so naturally we should help each other. There's no need for this or that."

The Minister of Personnel tugged, trying to wrest his arm from the Minister of Revenue's grasp, but alas...

No, this old man looks so thin and small, how can he be so strong?

When the other officials in the Ministry of Revenue heard their superior say this, their eyes lit up, and they gathered around, bowing respectfully to the Minister of Personnel.

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

"The Minister is truly exceptional; his vision and magnanimity are unparalleled in this world."

"Yes, yes, we can only look up to them in the dust."

Minister of Personnel: "..."

Don't think that by putting me on such a pedestal, I'll agree!

"My beloved ministers, what makes you so happy?" Emperor Chenze asked, looking over.

There was no way to ignore them; they were talking so enthusiastically that it was hard for Emperor Chenze not to pay attention.

The Minister of Personnel was about to speak when the Vice Minister of Revenue covered his mouth.

"Your Majesty, it was Minister Du who said he was willing to come to my Ministry of Revenue to help with the accounting for a couple of days."

Minister of Personnel: "&%+!"

"Your Majesty, look, he's so happy he can't even speak."

Emperor Chenze: "..."

Wasn't he unable to speak because your people covered his mouth?

However, the Ministry of Revenue was indeed very busy lately, so Emperor Chenze pretended to be ignorant and chose to believe it.

He looked pleased and said, "Minister Du is very thoughtful."

As soon as Emperor Chenze spoke, the people around him released their hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise, long live the Emperor!"

Minister of Personnel: "..."

Finally, with the help of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel, all the procedures were completed within a month, and all the necessary documents were gathered within a month as well.

As night fell, Zhou Zhou opened the package she had packed and showed it to Li Ziyan.

"These are changes of clothes."

I didn't bring many, only five sets.

It wasn't that Li Ziyan didn't want to bring more, but there were simply no places to wash up on the march, let alone change clothes.

"These are pills I got from the Imperial Hospital."

The imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Academy were not idle; they often conducted experiments in their spare time and made a lot of pills.

When the Crown Prince went on this trip, Zhou Zhou took a lot of pills from them to treat typhoid fever, headaches, and other ailments.