Chapter 4: Chapter 833: I Want to Take My Zhan'er to See This World

Mu Qingge came to Jueyan to accompany Rong Zhan, but she wasn't there without purpose.

On the second day, she still took Rong Zhan into the palace.

When entering the palace, they wore the clothes of palace servants, disguising themselves to get in.

They stayed inside for two days, and every time Rong Zhan was studying, she would discuss official business with Ji Ziyan.

After she had been in the palace for two days, the tug-of-war between Jueyan and Tianqi regarding the cities was finally settled.

On the day the agreement was reached, the ministers entered the palace to share the good news with Ji Ziyan.

The high-ranking and powerful ministers were either in their sixties or eighties; they had watched Jueyan transform from a prosperous, great nation into a tiny speck of land. Now that Jueyan had gained several cities, the old ministers were weeping with joy as they reported the news, speaking of how they had not failed their duties over the years and praising the young Emperor’s wisdom.

Amidst their tears, they looked up and saw a faint smile on the face of the elegant and refined young Emperor.

The smile was resolute.

The old ministers felt inspired; their backs straightened, and they couldn't help but wipe away their tears, offering congratulations one after another and loudly proclaiming his brilliance.

After the collective cheering, an old minister said, "Your Majesty, the entry point for the negotiations over these past two days was truly ingenious. The points of debate and rebuttal were exactly as you described, without a single discrepancy. That is how we were able to end this tug-of-war and force the Tianqi ministers into silence. In the end, the Emperor of Tianqi followed the terms of the alliance and returned the cities to our Jueyan."

"Indeed!"

Another old minister recalled the scene and felt a surge of pride in his heart. "That Your Majesty could conceive of such negotiation points is truly a blessing for our Jueyan! A prosperous era for Jueyan is in sight!"

"A prosperous Jueyan!"

"A prosperous Jueyan!"

The ministers cheered in unison.

The young Emperor curled his lips into a smile and said, "You have all worked hard, my ministers. Everyone, go back and get some rest. Regarding the administration of these cities, I will need you all to offer more of your wisdom."

"Yes!"

The ministers responded in unison, chatted about a few more issues, and then took their leave one after another.

Once the ministers had departed, only Ji Ziyan remained in the hall.

At this moment, a woman in palace attire emerged from the side.

Hearing the footsteps, Ji Ziyan turned his head and hurriedly called out, "Little Mother!"

"Mm."

Mu Qingge smiled gently. Looking at the young boy wearing the imperial robes and crown—his frame still so thin, yet he had to shoulder the weight of an empire—she couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. "Yan'er, take it slow."

"I know."

The young Emperor in his imperial robes and crown nodded obediently. "I know I still lack so much. If it weren't for you, Little Mother, personally drafting that negotiation proposal, I fear the result of this tug-of-war wouldn't have been Jueyan gaining cities, but the artillery fire of two nations."

He was known as a young genius, possessing remarkable talent and profound knowledge.

He had once been proud of this in his heart.

However, when a major event arrived, he realized that he was, after all, still just a boy.

He also finally realized deeply that there is always someone better, and there is always a heaven beyond our heaven.

The negotiation proposal Mu Qingge wrote was, as the old ministers said, so exquisite and flawless in every point of entry and rebuttal that it was impossible to argue against.

He was convinced and full of admiration.

Mu Qingge didn't respond, only patting his head.

Ji Ziyan, however, had much more to say. "Also, I actually know that the old ministers have always been worried about me. After this, they will be much more at ease, and I will be able to gain more of their submission, which will make governing the country much smoother in the future."

Therefore, Mu Qingge's help this time was not just about the cities; it also helped him establish his standing in the hearts of the empire's people.

"This is all I can help with, and all I should help with." Mu Qingge pulled him down to sit, speaking warmly: "After all, I am a person of Tianqi; I shouldn't overreach. The reason I helped this time is indeed because of the agreement signed in black and white back then. Only by keeping one's word can one be a person of integrity."

If an empire ignores its promises, how can its citizens be expected to value their own?

This time, it was Tianqi that was in the wrong.

She was merely correcting it.

"Mm."

Ji Ziyan nodded lightly.

"You are still young. You must read more books and go out to see the world more so that you can absorb things comprehensively. As a ruler, you cannot let a single leaf block your vision, do you understand?"

"I understand."

"Alright, you are a big boy now, so I won't lecture you too much." Mu Qingge returned to her gentle self, smiling as she stood up and pinched his cheek. "You will be very busy from now on, and it is quite stifling in this palace. It would be a disturbance for Zhan'er and me to stay, so I will take Zhan'er out of the palace to play for a few days."

Although she said this, Ji Ziyan understood very well that it was indeed not appropriate for Mu Qingge to remain in the palace any longer, or else word might leak out.

Her leaving the palace now was just right.

"Okay."

Ji Ziyan still felt reluctant. "Little Mother, you mustn't go back to Tianqi as soon as you leave the palace!"

"I won't be going back that soon, don't worry." The situation in Tianqi is complicated right now; she certainly wouldn't go back to look for trouble.

It would be better to take her son around to play; that is what it means to be carefree!

"Good. I will send people to follow you. If anything happens, you can tell them to report to me."

"Got it!"

Mu Qingge waved her hand. "You go back to your work; Zhan'er and I are leaving."

And so, Mu Qingge and Rong Zhan left the palace in secret.

After leaving the palace, Mu Qingge didn't return to her own residence, but instead took her son straight to the main street to shop.

The little Prince had always had things delivered to the manor by others for him to try or look at; this was his first time shopping like this.

Excited and curious, his little face was flushed, and his red, pouty lips were pressed together, though he couldn't help but smile faintly.

Mu Qingge taught her son: "Zhan'er, if you want to smile, then smile. You don't have to hold it in."

Rong Zhan didn't refute Mu Qingge's words, but he didn't laugh wantonly either, only asking: "Mother, why are we buying so many things?"

"Because I'm going to take Yan'er on a trip."

"A trip?"

"That's right. I'm going to take my Zhan'er to see the world, to see what this world looks like."

The little Prince blinked his eyelashes twice, tilting his little head to look at Mu Qingge.

Mu Qingge squatted down to look him in the eye. "Zhan'er, where have you been with your Father?"

"Many places."

The little Prince counted on his tender fingers for Mu Qingge to hear. "I've been to Qianmu Mountain, Longzhong Mountain, outside the pass, inside the pass... I've been to all the other three great empires."

Mu Qingge rested her chin on her hand, listening and nodding before asking: "Then, what impression do you have of these places?"

"Impression?"

The little Prince looked at her with eyes as pure as snow for a moment, then shook his head. "I was too young; I don't remember. Father said I had been to those places."

"Mm."

Mu Qingge nodded and said, "Zhan'er is a little older now, so Mother wants to take you around to see them."

After saying this, she asked again: "Have you seen the thousand-acre terraced fields with your own eyes?"

The little Prince shook his head. "There were descriptions in books."

"Have you ever seen the thousand-mile Yellow River?"

The little Prince shook his head.

"What about the boundless sea?"

The little Prince shook his head again.

"So," Mu Qingge touched her son's soft cheek, her tone very gentle, "to know what this world looks like, you have to see it for yourself to have the clearest picture. Don't you agree, Zhan'er?"