Chapter 620: The King

The King could only climb onto his Gold Root Carriage, which appeared before the people with a flashing golden light.

This time they didn't bother with any elaborate ceremony; only the Owl Cavalry surrounded the King's imperial carriage in the center.

Iron hooves trod the streets of Ever Peace, and the people lining the roads all knelt in worship.

The King sat bolt‑upright, as proper as a straight young poplar—if you overlook the ever‑fatter Golden Haired Xuan straddling the carriage's pole, the sun‑blocking shadow of the circling Cloud‑rolling Eagle, and the fact that he's no different from any other past emperor.

Oh, no, wait—there's also the divine beast White Marsh that the carriage can't hold, trailing behind.

After the people of Ever Peace had seen the Azure Dragon fly over East City, they once again felt honored to witness the King's Great Auspicious Beast, and those who peeked knelt even more devoutly.

May Heaven bless Great Jin; may the gods look favorably upon it.

The procession passed East City; the following entourages, after paying respects to the imperial carriage, immediately mounted and kept up. The lead imperial carriage had gone far out of the city, while the officials' convoys still wound through the city.

Many people came to see them off, but the only one who truly felt reluctant and also wanted to go was the Grand Treasurer.

He hurriedly prepared the grain and fodder, busy to the point of scorched head and forehead, but that didn't matter—yet the King ordered him to stay and oversee this autumn's tax collection! The sky's falling.

Taking Luo Water Pass as the boundary, he needn't worry about the northern territories; he only manages the other commanderies still under the court's jurisdiction—whatever you call it, it's a hot potato.

This time the revenue gathered is pitifully low—so low that even Ever Peace's Imperial Guard couldn't be kept—who knows whether the Emperor will dig up the mineral‑rights matter and pile on the charges? After all, this sharp‑headed fellow is a professional.

The Grand Treasurer gazed at the endless procession, envy showing in his eyes. He also wanted to go into exile… no, to serve the imperial carriage.

But as soon as the King left the Ten Li Pavilion outside the city, he immediately jumped down from the carriage and had already changed into riding gear.

"Send this bumpy, leaky carriage back to the palace." Once out of the city, the ceremonial façade could be dropped.

For the rest of the journey, his private carriage is preferable—this one is jolting and slow, good only for show!

The King mounted the White Dragon, taking Wei Shen and the guards, and they started off at a gallop without stopping. Ah, Ever Peace City could suffocate a child!

Zhao Bao had earlier given the Lesser Treasury a tip-off, and sure enough the Gold Root Carriage turned back; as it passed each minister's carriage they had to be questioned in detail, and when the Lesser Treasury heard the King's verdict that the imperial carriage was bumpy and leaky, his face turned green.

No sooner had he left Ever Peace than the King found that familiar feeling—the joyful days of freely riding in You Province seemed to return in an instant.

"Back then, when I was enfeoffed in You Province, how heavy my heart was—now it's just as light." The King chatted with Wei Shen while writing, his mind in two places.

"This is unbelievable! Even writing can't wipe away this joy… So, did you bawl your way all the way to You Province as a kid?"

King: ……

"Nonsense! But a real man doesn't actually shed tears～"

Wei Shen put on a disbelieving face: "My dad said you used to cry a lot as a kid～"

The King thought, "Well, back then I wasn't very happy, I felt miserable, You Province was poor and dangerous, and the old man played favorites without limit, not caring whether I lived or died. But one always fears comparison—once we left Ever Peace we ran into a refugee tide, and that year there was also a great flood; along the road to Ever Peace lay corpses starved or sick to death. As a feudal prince about to be enfeoffed on the border, I instantly felt less miserable. My father gave me ten thousand taels as severance, plus three thousand personal guards; I could eat my fill and have attendants—I was already quite fortunate, just not as fortunate as his two beloved sons."

Wei Shen sighed with regret, his eyes full of pity. How old was the King back then? At that age he still knew nothing, a pure innocent simpleton, and the King had already gone off to his fief alone.

His attitude was obvious, and the King saw it. This guy blinked, flashing a sly little expression—Xie Tu must already be preparing to flee, while Wei Shen was still sighing foolishly.

"Cousin, do you still feel sorry for what I went through as a kid?"

"A bit."

"Sympathy that's just lip service is worthless. Cousin, if you really feel sorry, come help me write two pages～"

The King didn't want to use Wei Shen either—the cousin's handwriting is no better than his—but Xie Yuan is too crafty; as soon as he rests he sends Xie Tu away, cutting off the King's chance to cheat, resulting in the King's consumption downgrade, and he's already set his sights on the cousin.

Wei Shen: ……

"Our handwriting isn't the same either—do you really think Xie Yuan wouldn't notice?"

"No problem, I'm using a relatively thin new paper—just trace over what I've written～"

Wei Shen: ……withdraw a bit of pity.