Chapter 1125: The Crown Prince Returns to the Capital

"We respectfully welcome Your Highness back to the capital!"

Outside Xiangfu Post Station, the Crown Prince's carriage halted in the middle of the road. Before it, a refined and scholarly-looking young man stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

The curtain opened, and Crown Prince Liu Yang poked half his head out. Seeing who had come, a warm smile immediately spread across his face: "I've troubled my second maternal uncle to come welcome me—no need for such ceremony!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

The young man receiving the carriage was only in his early twenties, but he carried himself with elegance. From the Crown Prince's form of address and attitude alone, one could tell who he was. Fu Zhaoyuan—second son of Fu Yanqing, the Duke of Chenliu and the Emperor's father-in-law, younger brother of Empress Fu, and Liu Yang's own maternal uncle.

Ever since Fu Yanqing's eldest son, Fu Zhaoxin, had died young, the youthful Fu Zhaoyuan had unquestionably become the future heir of the Fu clan and received focused cultivation. Over the years, he had gained no small reputation among the noble scions of the Eastern Capital. His persona was well-established—gentle, refined, and humble in his dealings with others.

Two years ago, he had been placed in the Eastern Palace as a companion reader, accompanying Crown Prince Liu Yang in his studies. Clearly, the Fu family saw no need to conceal their support for the Crown Prince—the relationship was right there, impossible to hide.

Though they were uncle and nephew, Liu Yang and Fu Zhaoyuan were not far apart in age, and their relationship had always been close. Thus, Liu Yang showed warmth toward Fu Zhaoyuan, asking: "It's merely a return to the capital—why trouble yourself to come welcome me in person?"

Fu Zhaoyuan replied: "Your subject comes at the order of the Junior Tutor!"

At present, the Eastern Palace's staff had undergone another round of reorganization. Apart from lacking an independent palace guard command, all subordinate officials were fully staffed. Chancellor Wei Renpu held the concurrent title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, while Li Fang served as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, becoming the chief administrator of Eastern Palace affairs. Naturally, as Liu Yang grew older and his stature increased, he needed assistance in handling palace and governmental matters.

This spring, Liu Yang, as Crown Prince, had gone on an imperial inspection tour to the west on behalf of Emperor Liu, examining official governance and encouraging agriculture and sericulture. Moreover, Emperor Liu had decreed that Liu Yang travel independently, with Li Fang and other senior Eastern Palace officials forbidden from accompanying him.

This time counted as Liu Yang's first tour relying solely on his own wits. Emperor Liu's efforts in cultivating him could truly be said to be painstaking. Now, nearly half a year later, he had finally returned to the capital.

With the Crown Prince's ceremonial retinue present, the officials of Xiangfu Post Station naturally made active arrangements to maintain order and prepare for the reception. Facing the attentive station master, Liu Yang glanced at the sky, then noticed the occupied road and the commoners who had been cleared aside, and said: "The day is still young—I shall not stay the night here!"

"Pass the order to move out! Don't block the main road and impede the travelers!" Liu Yang instructed in a low voice.

"Yes!" The officer in charge of the ceremonial guard immediately went to make arrangements.

The Crown Prince did not wish to stay, and the station master was naturally disappointed. But he dared not say anything—not even a word of complaint. He could only obediently withdraw and watch the carriage depart.

"Uncle, please board the carriage and ride with me!" Liu Yang invited Fu Zhaoyuan.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Fu Zhaoyuan did not decline. He gave his thanks with a bow and calmly boarded the carriage.

In the relatively private space of the carriage, the uncle and nephew both relaxed considerably, no longer needing to maintain their formal bearing as they would before outsiders. Looking at Liu Yang, Fu Zhaoyuan said: "During these months of Your Highness's inspection tour, my elder sister has been worried sick. Several major events have also occurred at court!"

"This journey afar was indeed no short one—I've troubled my mother with worry!" Liu Yang sighed, then asked Fu Zhaoyuan: "I heard that Duke Wei has passed away from illness!"

"Indeed! The mourning period has just ended!" Fu Zhaoyuan said: "His Majesty was deeply grieved by Duke Wei's passing!"

"What a pity! Duke Wei was a pillar of the Great Han, and moreover His Majesty's sworn brother-in-arms. Heaven is merciless, to snatch away his life..." Liu Yang also felt regret at this, saying: "After I return to the capital, I shall go pay my respects at his funeral!"

"That is only proper!" Fu Zhaoyuan said, a slight smile appearing on his face as he told Liu Yang: "Word has already spread in the palace—His Majesty and the Empress have decided to take the young lady of the Murong family as the Crown Princess. Your Highness's return to the capital this time means you should prepare for your wedding!"

Hearing this, Liu Yang was somewhat taken aback, and a trace of shyness finally appeared on his face, though he quickly recovered. As the heir carefully cultivated by Emperor Liu, Liu Yang had no particular resistance to an arranged marriage. With a moment's thought, he could already see the help and benefits that an alliance with the Murong family would bring him.

"If I remember correctly, Duke Wei had no daughters!" Liu Yang raised the question: "Which young lady of the Murong family is it?"

Fu Zhaoyuan said: "Murong Yue, the eldest daughter of Murong Yanqing, Chief Commander of the Capital Region!"

Liu Yang nodded, pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up: "Uncle, this young lady of the Murong family—what of her appearance, what of her character?"

Noticing Liu Yang's somewhat tense expression, Fu Zhaoyuan couldn't help but laugh, letting out a hearty chuckle: "Your Highness need not worry. Those chosen for you by His Majesty and my elder sister are naturally women of both talent and beauty, of pure and virtuous character. An ordinary painted face would hardly be worthy of the heir apparent."

Hearing this, Liu Yang also laughed: "When my elder brother married, I watched from the sidelines and found it merely amusing. Now that it's my turn, I can't help but lose my composure!"

Mentioning Liu Xu, Fu Zhaoyuan picked up the thread: "The Duke of Qin has also been transferred out of the Ministry of Rites."

"Oh? What post has Father arranged for my elder brother now?" Liu Yang asked with some curiosity.

"He's been appointed Left Vice Minister of the Bureau of Barbarian Affairs, handling matters concerning the four barbarian peoples!"

"Those barbarian tribes are no easy thing to manage! In recent years, problems in the northwest have erupted frequently—all because of those various barbarians stirring up trouble!" Liu Yang thought for a moment and said.

"Perhaps for that very reason, His Majesty has decided to launch a military campaign in the northwest, to thoroughly resolve the problem of the Dingnan Army and the Tangut!" Fu Zhaoyuan said with some excitement.

"I've heard of this matter as well!" Liu Yang said: "All along, the Li clan of the Dingnan Army has been like a fishbone stuck in the throat. Father has long harbored the intention to digest them. After dragging on for so many years, it truly is time to stop letting them remain outside the Great Han's military and governmental system!"

"With Commander-in-Chief Yang leading the troops, victory is certain—the Dingnan Army will surely be pacified and destroyed. This time, quite a few noble scions in the capital have been selected to accompany the expedition westward—how enviable!" Fu Zhaoyuan said.

"Who are they?" Liu Yang asked with great interest.

"Yang Yanzhao, Li Jilong, Guo Yi, Xiang Deming, Sun Yun..." Fu Zhaoyuan reeled off a long string of names.

Hearing this, Liu Yang's brow furrowed slightly. Indeed, they were noble scions of suitable age. He was not surprised by this, but inwardly he sighed—his imperial father was beginning to focus on cultivating a new generation of generals. This situation was familiar to him, for Emperor Liu had trained him in exactly this way.

"Guo Yi and Li Jilong are only sixteen or seventeen now, aren't they? Are the Duke of Xing and Chancellor Li willing to let them risk danger in the northwest?" Liu Yang asked casually.

"With His Majesty's decree in place, how could the two lords dare oppose it? Moreover, neither lord is the indulgent type. Following Commander-in-Chief Yang, they can learn a great deal..."

Hearing Fu Zhaoyuan's words, Liu Yang looked at him: "Uncle sees Father's intentions quite clearly!"

At this, Fu Zhaoyuan hastily shook his head and waved his hands: "His Majesty's divine will is unfathomable—how could a mere youngster like me presume to guess it? I was only speaking tentatively."

"The Junior Tutor's position may soon see some change!" Fu Zhaoyuan added another remark.

Liu Yang immediately perked up and asked: "Did the Junior Tutor tell you this?"

Fu Zhaoyuan shook his head: "He did not say so explicitly, but the meaning he hinted at led me to think so. Not long ago, His Majesty also summoned the Junior Tutor to the palace to give lectures..."

Li Fang was, for Liu Yang, a true mentor and friend. Suddenly hearing such news, Liu Yang felt a pang of reluctance. Still, he managed a smile: "The Junior Tutor has taught me for quite some time now. With his talent and character, he ought to hold high office at court. To keep him long in the Eastern Palace would be to bury his abilities. With his qualifications, if he were transferred, he should head a ministry!"

"Which of the important posts at court are currently vacant?" Liu Yang raised the question.

Fu Zhaoyuan shook his head. There were indeed quite a few high-ranking posts at court, and expecting them to guess which one blindly was asking too much. Of course, given Li Fang's qualifications and abilities, it would certainly not be some minor department.

"By the way, my sister-in-law should be close to giving birth soon!" Liu Yang suddenly said.

"By my reckoning, it shouldn't be much longer!" Fu Zhaoyuan replied.

"In that case, I'm about to become an uncle!" Liu Yang remarked, with a sense of unreality about it—after all, he was only seventeen years old now.