Chapter 337: Like a Grand Tutor

This time the vehicle sent to fetch the Great King was a newly purchased carriage, more luxurious than before, with brand-new corner lanterns all bearing the words 'Northern Border King's Mansion'. The carriage was black and gold, splendid and noble.

After the Great King and the two water‑based mascots of You Prefecture finished their interaction, they agreed to meet again another day; he then wanted to withdraw, hungry.

This carriage is of high specification, so its size is indeed not small. Not a single palace lady or eunuch accompanied it; all were black‑armored soldiers, and even the coachman driving up front wore armor, looking capable of moving mountains.

So there was no little eunuch kneeling to serve as a footstool, nor a beautiful palace lady to lift the curtain for the Great King. Just a burly rough‑man, Zhou Ke; the deputy commander reached out wanting to hoist the Great King up.

After being glared at fiercely by the Great King, he finally reacted and had someone bring a footstool.

Only then could the Great King continue to keep his smile and steadily invite Xie Yuan to share the carriage.

Had it not been that there were really many people this time, the Great King would have already scrambled aboard earlier.

Under everyone's gaze, the Great King elegantly stepped onto the stool and boarded the carriage; Xie Yuan knew he could not escape this time and resignedly followed him aboard.

Xiong Bei Lingyin and Wei Shen were forcibly dragged onto the rear carriage; the Great King's carriage soon started, the whole procession like a metallic‑colored giant dragon winding along the dock, and soon its golden dragon head faded into the distance.

After the Great King's carriage departed, the scholars and commoners on the deck were finally allowed to leave.

Lu Xin spat out a mouthful of air, repeatedly replaying in his mind the scene of the Great King tossing a pill, the 'Dragon' flying over and stretching its neck to catch it. 'Senior brother, the master has come out of seclusion. Should we have the senior brother's family move to You Prefecture?'

'Have you decided, junior brother?'

'My hometown is not far from River Summer; I heard the court has already moved to surround and suppress the rebel king of Han Longevity. If successful, they will soon turn to deal with the King of River Summer. Then perhaps the surrounding commanderies and counties will all become battlefields.'

'I have already written home; my father only lets me temporarily stay in You Prefecture, by my teacher's side.... I'll write another letter when I go back.'

'Then I will also write a letter home when I return.'

With many people and mixed eyes, they didn't say much when outside.

The Great King's carriage also had an inner and outer chamber; Xie Yuan entered and found the inner chamber quite warm.

Having just blown the cold wind of a northern winter at the dock, a true gentleman pays attention to appearance, yet the cold is genuinely cold.

The inner chamber of the Great King's carriage is a continuous soft couch, with a brazier placed in the middle; upon entering one feels the warmth, but it is not excessively stuffy.

The Great King sat down, directly picked up the fox fur from the couch and handed it to Xie Yuan, saying, 'Please cover yourself with it, I am not cold.'

Having said that, Xie Yuan then noticed the Great King wore only a single robe, similar to his own, but he always draped a fur‑lined cloak over himself.

Kids have firepower, but there isn't such a fire technique, right?

'Wasn't Your Highness cold just now on the shore?'

'As a martial practitioner, I, the King, don't feel cold— as long as the imperial concubine and my elder sister aren't here, I don't need to wear padded clothes.' He is invulnerable to all poisons; of course the cold wind can't do anything to him, but it's frustrating that most people simply don't believe he feels no cold at all.

Xie Yuan: ……

He gained a new understanding of the Great King's martial prowess.

The new king he favors might truly be a connection of the Heavenly Court; not only can he wield golden spears and iron horses, his aura swallowing myriad miles, he also has an excellent physique.

This is indeed a great weapon!

He has none of the aristocratic diseases of affluence!

Then the problem arises: the great weapon is still small, nothing is set yet— what if he goes astray? Throughout history, have there been few heirs of the royal family who went astray? Do those emperors actually want to choose a problematic heir?

No.

Isn't there a saying that early brilliance does not guarantee greatness?

Just look at those cavalry outside, that fleet at sea— outside there are at least two hundred thousand troops; if the Great King goes astray……

Xie Yuan shuddered…… all the people under heaven would suffer!

Should he be standing by to watch?

The Great King saw Xie Yuan shake the fox fur but not cover himself with it; in the past he would enthusiastically help others drape the fur over their legs, saying, 'No need to be polite, from now on you are family. In my heart, you will be just like a Grand Tutor.'

Xie Yuan understood the Great King's meaning, thinking that Xu Zhi had exhausted himself over this matter, going to the academy to probe him, persuade him, countless times.

He sighed; it seemed… not good.