jdhmnovel Chapter 165 The Retired Emperor Handles Business
Chapter 165 The Retired Emperor Handles Business
Xiao Han snorted and said, "Of course I know he's doing this for the country, but he can't ignore this old man like me. Today in court, some of the matters reported by the ministers are better handled by him than by me. The floods in the south and the harassment by barbarians on the northern border are urgent issues that need to be addressed, but he wasn't there."
Mu Qingling gently patted his hand and said, "Don't be too anxious. Even without Jingchuan, you've handled things very well, haven't you? The ministers also respect you greatly. Besides, with so many years of experience, you're more than capable of handling these matters."
Xiao Han shook his head slightly and said, "That's true, but I'm getting old after all. Young people are more energetic when it comes to new ideas and practices. Jingchuan has his own set of strategies for governing the country, and I hope he can come back as soon as possible to govern the country better."
Mu Qingling nodded and said, "I believe he will be back soon. When he returns, you can talk to him about matters of the court and pass on your experience to him."
Xiao Han sighed and said, "I hope so. I still feel uneasy. I don't know if he's taking good care of my grandson while he's out there."
Mu Qingling looked at Xiao Han with tenderness in her eyes and said, "You're just destined to worry. Jingchuan is already the ruler of a country; he's capable of taking care of his child and He Liuli. Just relax, get some rest, and don't overwork yourself."
Looking at Mu Qingling, Xiao Han's agitation gradually subsided. He gently took her hand and said, "With you by my side, I feel more at ease. It's just that this child is really a worry."
Mu Qingling said with a smile, "As parents, how can we not worry? When Jingchuan comes back, he might bring us some specialties from Xijing Kingdom."
Xiao Han slightly raised the corners of his mouth and said, "I hope he can return safely. By the way, things in the palace have been very busy lately, so don't overwork yourself. If there's anything you need, just tell the servants to do it."
Mu Qingling nodded and said, "I know. Don't worry too much. As for matters of the court, take them off if you can. Don't make yourself sick."
Xiao Han stood up, walked to the window, looked at the scenery outside, and said, "In my whole life, I have worried myself sick for the Nanzhao Kingdom and for Jingchuan. I only hope that he can govern the Nanzhao Kingdom to prosperity and let the people live in peace and happiness. Then I will be satisfied."
Mu Qingling walked to his side, gently leaned on his shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, Jingchuan won't let you down. We'll just wait for him to come back so the family can have a proper reunion."
Xiao Han nodded slightly, his thoughts tangled like a jumbled mess. His concern for his son, Xiao Jingchuan, and his worries about court affairs intertwined, leading him to decide to write a letter to Xiao Jingchuan, who was far away in Xijing Kingdom.
He slowly walked to the desk and gently brushed away some dust from the surface, as if to soothe his restless heart.
On the table lay exquisite writing implements, the Xuan paper as white as snow, exuding a faint fragrance of ink. Xiao Han reached out and picked up the familiar wolf-hair brush; the handle was as smooth as jade, yet it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds in his hand.
He closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.
The image of Xiao Jingchuan appeared in his mind, the son he had watched grow up and on whom he had placed countless hopes.
After a long while, he opened his eyes, his gaze fixed firmly on the rice paper, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the brush was dipped in thick ink.
The moment the brush tip touched the rice paper, it made a soft "shush" sound, as if it were the outpouring of his heart.
His handwriting is strong and powerful, and every stroke contains his emotions and expectations.
“My son Jingchuan, several days have passed since you went to Xijing Kingdom, and I am very worried about you.”
He wrote that the reports from the ministers in the court, the floods in the south, and the border unrest in the north weighed heavily on his mind like a boulder.
"The affairs of the court are numerous and complicated. The floods in the south have displaced people and destroyed farmland. I have ordered the Ministry of Revenue to allocate materials and the Ministry of Works to send people to repair the damage, but we still need to consider this carefully."
"The northern barbarians are harassing the border. Although General Wang Meng, the General Who Guards the North, is fighting valiantly, the situation is tense, and the need to reinforce troops is urgent." His brush paused slightly, a sense of helplessness and weariness welling up in his heart, and the brush in his hand seemed to become somewhat heavy.
"My son, as the ruler of a nation, you bear the weight of the rise and fall of the Nanzhao Kingdom. If you have successfully completed your mission in Xijing Kingdom, I hope you will return soon, as the affairs of the court urgently await your decision."
Although I can temporarily take over as your father, I also long for your early return to take charge.
As he wrote this, a hint of anticipation appeared in Xiao Han's eyes. He seemed to see Xiao Jingchuan's figure when he returned, that monarch full of vigor and wisdom.
"While you are away, please take good care of yourself, the children, and Liuli. I look forward to your return!" With the last stroke, Xiao Han let out a long sigh, put down the brush, and looked at the words on the rice paper, his emotions complex and hard to describe.
He carefully folded the letter, placed it in the envelope, and sealed it with wax, as if sealing away his emotions and hopes. Then, he looked up and called out, "Sky Blue!"
The bodyguard Tian Qing appeared in the room like a ghost, knelt on one knee, and respectfully said, "Master."
Xiao Han handed the envelope to Tian Qing and solemnly said, "This letter must be delivered to Jing Chuan personally, and there must be no delay on the way."
Tianqing took the envelope, felt its weight, and knew the importance of the letter.
He nodded slightly and said, "Rest assured, Master, I will certainly live up to your expectations." After saying that, he disappeared from the room like a gust of wind and embarked on his journey to Xijing Kingdom.
Xiao Han stood by the window, gazing in the direction Tian Qing had left, silently praying that Xiao Jingchuan would receive the letter soon and return home.
Tian Qing nimbly flipped over and steadily mounted the horse. He gently patted the black horse's neck and whispered, "Buddy, I'm counting on you for the rest of the journey." The black horse seemed to understand him, neighing and raising its front hooves high in response to its master's entrustment.
With a crisp crack of the whip, the black horse galloped off like an arrow, its hooves flying and kicking up clouds of dust.
Tianqing's figure was like a steady mountain peak, clinging tightly to the horse's back, rising and falling rhythmically with the black horse's gallop. His eyes were firm and focused, staring intently at the road ahead, as if trying to see through all obstacles.
On the official road, dust billowed as the black horse moved at great speed, the trees and scenery on both sides flashing past like phantoms.
His sky-blue robes fluttered in the wind, like black wings, highlighting his coldness and determination.
It was midday, and the scorching sun beat down relentlessly on the earth, baking it to a fever pitch. The black horse was quickly soaked in sweat, panting heavily, but it continued running with all its might, its pace undiminished.
Tianqing would occasionally tug lightly on the reins, adjusting the black horse's direction to avoid pedestrians and obstacles on the road.
When encountering narrow sections of road, he skillfully controlled the black horse, allowing it to nimbly navigate through them.
Whenever he passed a post station, he would only stop briefly, quickly change into a new, faster horse, and continue his journey.
As night falls, the sky is dotted with stars, and the moonlight shines on the earth like quicksilver.
Although the black horse had exhausted some of its energy, it still maintained a high speed under Tianqing's encouragement and drive.
Tianqing's eyes gleamed in the darkness as he warily observed the movements around him.
Occasionally a night breeze would blow by, carrying a slight chill, but it could not dispel the anxiety in his heart.
As we passed through a dense forest, we suddenly heard a rustling sound.
Tian Qing's heart tightened, and he immediately gripped the dagger at his waist, cautiously glancing around.
He knew that he might encounter danger at any time during this long journey.
However, he breathed a sigh of relief when he discovered that it was just a few startled rabbits darting out of the grass, and continued riding forward.
And so, Tianqing and his black horse traveled day and night, crossing mountains and rivers, and passing through fields and villages.
He had only one belief in his heart: to get the letter into Xiao Jingchuan's hands as soon as possible.
Finally, after several days and nights of travel, the city walls of Xijing Kingdom came into view. He knew that victory was just around the corner, so he whipped his horse hard again. The black horse neighed and galloped toward the majestic city walls.