Chapter 628: Confucius said

After the people of Chang'an had had enough of admiring the night view of the Purple Forbidden Palace, they were sent to the Guesthouse, and only then did they realize that the Guesthouse in the Northern Border was no worse than the one in Chang'an—in fact, being newer, it secretly had the advantage.

By now everyone was numb. Now that you're emperor, having a Guesthouse is no problem, but before you weren't a prince? Building such a big Guesthouse? It's easy to see why the Taihe Emperor does nothing but stare fixedly at the Northern Border...

Having experienced every sort of lodging along the way, everyone was still satisfied with the Guesthouse, but they felt something was amiss—because the Guesthouse steward kept saying the reception was lacking and the conditions crude; still, residing in the Eastern City residence is more comfortable.

Upon inquiry, Eastern City has many new residences, and the Xie and Lu clans have already settled there.

"Your Majesty, you must like Youzhou— that palace like an immortal abode, the Purple Forbidden Palace, you must have seen it. Perhaps you'll come back every year! It's not that I, the lower official, am unwilling to entertain you gentlemen; it's just that staying in one's own residence is more comfortable for frequent visits. With so many officials, hoping for the Emperor to grant residences is unlikely; those new residences in Eastern City aren't the court's; our Emperor has saved on military expenses, so you all had better plan early! Otherwise you'll miss out on good spots for grand residences."

"... Who said he saved? If not for just having passed by the Purple Forbidden Palace gate earlier, they would have believed it!"

Besides, what horror story is this?!

So you have to make a long, arduous trip like this every year?!

The elderly officials' legs began to tremble; everyone looked toward the Minister of Rites and the Minister of the Clan. The Chancellor being absent, those two also counted as senior. The Minister of the Clan stroked his neatly trimmed beautiful beard, saying he wouldn't believe it unless it was a hint from above.

How could a mere Guesthouse steward openly speculate about the Emperor's future moves?

The old lady often stayed silent, the Grand Clan Chief seemed deep in thought, and everyone was about to have the two state their positions again when they heard the Grand Clan Chief ask, "I don't know how to buy the house in the eastern city?"

The King returned home and defaulted to resting two days off work. When Zhao Ba asked him the reason, this guy naturally came up with a bunch of excuses: "... For example, I came back too late, the journey was exhausting. For example, I came back too late, tomorrow I have many people to see, and I still have to have a meal with my sister and aunt, and then there's Ah Heng, cousin sister, and so on..." After saying that, he even pushed a bunch of bears hugging his leg.

"This one is also hard to get rid of~"

Zhao Ba worried, feeling times are different now; after all, the Emperor has ascended the throne, and he doesn't know if the court officials will accept this excuse.

"That Wusun envoy has already entered the city, urgently requesting to see Your Majesty; should Your Majesty see him?"

The King waved his hand: "I'm busy! I don't even have time for court, let alone see them?!". Now it's obvious the Wusun have something to ask; the King isn't in a hurry, he's quite looking forward to it.

The next day he brought the whole family, left bear right mythical beast, and ate a reunion meal. These two guys can't be shaken off short-term; two princesses, aunt, plus the Wei clan's older male and female cousins gathered lively. During the meal he and Wei Shen guessed at the reason the Wusun returned; they both agreed it wasn't a good thing nor a bad thing. The King's mood shouldn't be too good—before the New Year even arrives, it's all good things!

After the banquet, as he left he also took Wei Heng along; everyone only thought they could play together because their ages were close. Actually, in front of the King this clever person, Wei Heng plus Weini and Xiao Jin bound together still aren't enough to match him.

The King brought Wei Heng to the Lantai Hall, initiating the grand scheme of sweet talk.

"Your older cousin isn't in Youzhou; left alone, aren't you bored~?"

Wei Heng nodded eagerly, "Your Majesty, I'll also follow you to Chang'an next year!". He still thinks playing with the King is fun; there are many interesting things to do in his leisurely studies. Without the King, he falls into the hands of his two sisters, which is miserable.

"No rush; the capital will eventually move to Youzhou. After the New Year, aside from going south to suppress rebellions, I'll be in Youzhou all the time—why would you still go to Chang'an!"

Wei Heng still didn't think this was a big deal; Wei Shen came in and heard only the tail end, which was all substantive content.

"Hehe, I just said it! Once your words spread, I can already picture those old guys jumping up and down."

The King didn't care: "What qualifications do they have to jump up and down? What are their objections? If they're capable, let them move the Purple Forbidden Palace and the construction of Youzhou City to Chang'an; otherwise, downgrading consumption, the King won't have it! Not living in the fine new palace, but living in a three-hundred-year-old dangerous house. Having painstakingly climbed to the Emperor's throne, his life is no better than that of a prince."

"Wei Shen laughed loudly: 'You're just afraid your father's coffin lid won't move!'"

Even Wei Heng followed with a foolish laugh; the King squeezed Wei Shen out to get to the point: "When we're not around, does Fifth Sister have any good friends to play with?"

Wei Heng seriously recalled: "Ningguo Elder Sister often goes out with the older sister; other friends I haven't seen..."

Wei Shen again squeezed the King out: "When you ask like that, when can we get substantive info? Come, Old Three, Second Brother asks you: Does Ningguo often go out? How often? Who does she go out with to play? Does she have any especially good playmates among which young ladies or gentlemen?"

Wei Heng looked back and forth at his two brothers, he realized: "You're just pumping me for information?"

"Wei Shen arrogantly: 'Just knowing is fine; honestly speaking, Second Brother will take you out to ride horses.'"

Wei Heng hurriedly shook his head, "What does horseback riding mean?! I want to set up a stall with the Emperor's older cousin!"

"Wei Shen was speechless: 'What's wrong with you two, everything's a problem?!'". The King felt pleased; Wei Anding truly inherits his true teachings.

The King came back and found his sister had grown another notch taller, and was being pulled aside by his aunt to chatter for half a day; finally he put the matter of first selecting a brother-in-law on the agenda. He knew asking the Fifth Princess wouldn't yield anything, so he turned his attention to Wei Heng.

"Ningguo Elder Sister actually doesn't go out much; usually it's the older sister entering the mansion to look for her. When she does go out, she mostly goes to Zhuque Avenue; when Chief Steward Zhu was in Youzhou, she often went out to find him, supposedly learning to manage a shop, and never brought me along. After Chief Steward Zhu left Youzhou, Ningguo Elder Sister only went to the Xie clan's banquet, also bringing the older sister; they and the young ladies of the Xie Manor still get along fairly well." Wei Heng spoke like a little adult, laying out the two sisters' whereabouts cleanly.

The King and Wei Shen exchanged a glance, sent Little Ah Heng off to go change clothes.

"Xie Clan~"

"Xie Tu~"

"Confucius said: 'Irrigation water does not flow to others' fields.' Older cousin, you say should we promote this? Tomorrow I'll ask Xie Yuan."

"Wei Shen had gone off track: 'If Xie Tu becomes your brother-in-law, do you still have the face to let him write your homework? Wouldn't Ningguo find out right away?'"

"……"

The King pondered a moment, then sighed: "With pearls and jade before me, I temporarily can't look at anything else. The military also lacks outstanding young talents; among the top examination ranks, only a few are pleasing; the Yang family's that one is also a cousin no good; Zhou Huang is still a brat; however you look, Xie Tu is best. Older cousin, what do you think? …Hey! What are you thinking about?"

"No, that previous line, did Confucius actually say that?"

"……"