Not only was the gap of three years, six months, and three days filled, but so was Gu Yuanbai himself.
He swayed with the carriage’s movements, the jolts turning the soft interior into a floating sea. Xue Yuan leaned down again, “Your Majesty.”
Gu Yuanbai responded with a hum, and Xue Yuan softly called again, “Gu Lian, Yuanbai, Bai Bai…”
Bai Bai? What kind of name was that?
Gu Yuanbai, with difficulty, said, “Call me husband.”
Xue Yuan raised an eyebrow, stopped moving, gently lifted Gu Yuanbai’s head to make him look at their intertwined position, “Husband?”
Gu Yuanbai’s eyelashes trembled violently, and he closed his eyes.
“Yuanbai, open your eyes and look,” Xue Yuan whispered, his kisses landing on the emperor’s earlobe. “You’ve grown fairer than three years ago, while I’ve grown darker. Look at how obvious it is when we’re close.”
Heat rose to Gu Yuanbai’s face. His fingers tingled, not believing he could be outdone by an ancient man. He forced his eyes open for a moment but quickly turned his head in embarrassment, “Veins bulging, what’s there to look at?”
Amusement flickered in Xue Yuan’s eyes, and Gu Yuanbai, feigning impatience, said, “Are you a man or not? If you don’t want to move, then lie down and let me do it.”
Xue Yuan’s gaze deepened, and he began to move, showing the emperor exactly what kind of man he was.
***
On the journey to Liangzhe, Xue Yuan pampered the emperor into laziness. Gu Yuanbai only had to extend his hand to get dressed, open his mouth to be fed, with someone to coax him when he had no appetite and rub his stomach when he was full. However, Xue Yuan was worried that staying in the carriage all day would be bad for the emperor’s health, so he ensured they either rode or walked for a while each day.
Gu Yuanbai grew increasingly lazy, often skimping on the time for exercise, spending most of his energy on official duties. He reflected on himself, not on his lack of exercise, but on his inability to match Xue Yuan’s playful banter and intimate tricks. Although Gu Yuanbai had never dated in modern times, he knew quite a bit. Comparatively, he should be the one making Xue Yuan blush and his heart race.
One day, after much thought, he prepared to tease Xue Yuan with some suggestive words. But Xue Yuan suddenly pinched the soft flesh on his stomach. Gu Yuanbai froze, squeezed his stomach, and his expression changed instantly.
Xue Yuan, satisfied, said, “I’ve finally managed to fatten up His Majesty.” Although it wasn’t much, there was some flesh, and Xue Yuan felt immensely proud, more so than any other achievement.
Gu Yuanbai couldn’t accept it. He said nothing that day, but the next morning, he donned a spirited riding outfit and took the initiative to ride ahead. Xue Yuan, slightly behind, held the reins of his horse, riding shoulder to shoulder.
They spoke in low voices, their shoulders drawing closer, exuding an air of intimacy. Throughout the journey, Chu Wei grew increasingly silent, his occasional glances lingering on them before he lowered his eyes.
If Xue Yuan had taken advantage of the emperor’s ignorance of romance to harbor ill intentions, Chu Wei could have proudly intervened. Previously, with Xue Yuan away, he could deceive himself. But as the journey continued, he became increasingly aware.
Lord Xue had reached thirty, unmarried, and without concubines, alone, and now accompanied the emperor.
Chu Wei’s pride and self-respect prevented him from pretending to be oblivious and inserting himself between the emperor and Xue Yuan.
He hid his unwillingness and despair deep in his heart, not wanting others to see even a hint of it. His back was straight, unwilling to show any weakness or pity.
However, occasionally seeing the emperor’s smiling face… he couldn’t help but remember how the emperor used to smile gently at him. He recalled that night when he was tied up and brought into the palace, the heavy scent of dragon’s saliva, the splendid scene of the emperor’s slender fingers grasping the wrinkled yellow bed sheets, the emperor’s eyes shining as he spoke eloquently. Chu Wei had witnessed such a scene and could never forget it. So many times in his dreams, those smiling eyes appeared, accompanied by flowers and leaves emerging from the void.
Whenever he thought of these things, a sense of sadness that made him want to cry would well up.
Up ahead, Gu Yuanbai suddenly sensed something. He turned his head thoughtfully and saw Chu Wei looking away, his long hair blowing in the wind by his face, his jaw clenched, holding back and restraining himself.
But he hadn’t looked for long before Xue Yuan unintentionally turned his head, blocking his peripheral vision with his shoulder.
Soon after, Gu Yuanbai forgot about that moment.
The road they traveled was an official one. The Great Heng dynasty had repaired the existing official roads and made them more extensive and interconnected. Such roads facilitated their journey. Gu Yuanbai had personally inspected the condition of the roads multiple times and found that the roads remained intact even in scorching heat or rain, a testament to the effective supervision by the Ministry of Works, which deserved commendation.
Over the years, the roads within the Great Heng dynasty had been mostly completed. In recent years, the Ministry of Works had tirelessly gone to the newly annexed Xixia territories to build roads. The Xixia people, now citizens of the Great Heng dynasty, were thrilled by this. In Gansu, Ningxia, and parts of Shaanxi, children born recently already considered themselves Great Heng people. They spoke the Great Heng language in official schools, ate food grown on Great Heng land, and were registered in the Great Heng government’s household books. To them, the world only knew of the Great Heng dynasty.
As Xixia scholars began to enter the bureaucracy through the imperial examination, the Xixia people had long become compliant, never mentioning their old country.
The state’s ruler treated them equally, showing kindness to the people. Having tasted the prosperity of a flourishing era, no one wanted to fall into chaos again. The minor disturbances in Xixia had subsided over time, like a stone sinking into a pond, leaving no ripples after the initial splash.
Speaking of road construction, cement must be mentioned. Gu Yuanbai only knew that cement was made by calcining limestone and other materials at high temperatures. Limestone was now called bluestone, and clay was easily found, but he knew little more. He could only secretly hand the research over to specialists. Fortunately, there was no rush. Ancient methods of road and building construction sufficed. Cement was a bonus, not a necessity.
However, the Ministry of Works’ significant achievements in recent years had subtly made the court aware of the importance of scientific talent. Gu Yuanbai planned to gradually change people’s thinking over the next decade. If possible, he wanted to establish a “Gezhi” course in official schools, recruiting those interested in scientific research, including a women’s academy.
When he mentioned this to Xue Yuan, Xue Yuan was very interested. “So, those seemingly magical practitioners just know some unknown scientific methods?”
Gu Yuanbai nodded, “Exactly.”
“I’ve heard stories,” Xue Yuan said, “about walking barefoot on fire roads and licking hot iron with the tongue. If not for Your Majesty’s explanation, I wouldn’t have known there was a method to it. Your Majesty knows so much.”
“Your Majesty is truly impressive…” He leaned over to kiss him again.
***
The group passed through northern Fujian, and when they reached Wuyi Mountain, Gu Yuanbai specifically ordered a half-day rest. He instructed Tian Fusheng to give some silver to the local tea farmers and allowed the three thousand Donglingwei and the officials to either pick tea or hunt for meat under Qin Sheng’s lead.
The three thousand Donglingwei cheered loudly, leaving a portion to stay with the emperor while the rest tacitly charged into the forest to gather meat for lunch.
The officials, maintaining their decorum, each took a cloth bag to pick tea. Xue Yuan also carried a bamboo basket on his back and walked into the endless tea fields with the emperor.
“There are often hundreds of boats docked at the foot of Wuyi Mountain, all to transport the tea from here,” Gu Yuanbai said, plucking a green leaf. “This is the perfect season for tea leaves. Lin Zhicheng also took fifty boats full of tea; I wonder how much will be left.”
Xue Yuan was surprised, “Your Majesty isn’t worried it won’t sell?”
“How could good tea not sell?” Gu Yuanbai threw the tea leaf into Xue Yuan’s bamboo basket. “This is a major product. When you went on the Silk Road, didn’t tea sell well?”
Xue Yuan sighed, “It seems I’m the only one who can’t appreciate its exquisite taste.”
Gu Yuanbai glanced at him with a smile, then plucked another tea leaf and brought it to Xue Yuan’s lips. “Want to try?”
Obediently, Xue Yuan opened his mouth, his warm tongue brushing against the emperor’s fingertips. After swallowing the tea leaf, he smiled contentedly, “It tastes wonderful, as expected from Your Majesty.”
“…” Gu Yuanbai thought, still going on about this? Summer is almost over, and Xue Yuan is still acting like it’s spring. He wiped his fingers on Xue Yuan’s shoulder and laughed, “As long as Consort Xue likes it.”
Xue Yuan was stunned. Gu Yuanbai patted his cheek and continued picking tea, humming a tune. Xue Yuan, regaining his senses, silently laughed and quickly caught up, “Your Majesty, when can I take another step forward?”
“Where else do you want to go?”
“To be the Empress…”
Their voices gradually faded.
At noon, the Donglingwei showcased their archery skills, ensuring everyone had meat to eat. They even caught a young deer, the tenderest part of which went into Gu Yuanbai’s mouth. The leading general sought the emperor’s favor and was allowed to let the soldiers drink some alcohol. The soldiers were overjoyed, and the aroma of the alcohol spread around, attracting many civil officials who joined in, laughing and drinking with the soldiers.
After eating and drinking their fill, the soldiers extinguished the fire, cleaned up the leftovers, and marched on with renewed vigor towards the coastal military governor’s office in Fujian.
The closer they got to the coast, the more evident the changes in the food and clothing styles of the people became. Gu Yuanbai paid special attention to the issue of seafood allergies, but fortunately, no one, including himself, showed any allergic reactions.
In early September, the emperor’s entourage arrived at Fuzhou Prefecture in Fujian. The people of Fuzhou showed enthusiasm that was no less than that of any other place. After personally inspecting several provinces and counties, Gu Yuanbai discovered some corrupt practices within the local government.
Fujian was far from the capital, and the disadvantages of the distance, such as the saying “the mountains are high and the emperor is far away,” were apparent despite attempts to cover them up. Unable to tolerate these issues, Gu Yuanbai personally stayed in Fuzhou to swiftly address these problems. For a time, the officials in Fujian were on high alert. Gu Yuanbai sent a decree to the capital, requesting the Cabinet to dispatch a stern and unyielding official to govern the area.
His decisive actions quickly produced results. The local government began to implement policies effectively, but they needed more manpower to enforce the new regulations. Seeing that the officials from the capital had not yet arrived, Gu Yuanbai first used the young officials around him to test their abilities.
It wasn’t until mid-October that Gu Yuanbai decided to return. When he announced his departure, the Prefect of Fuzhou wiped away a cold sweat, finally relieved from the tense state he had been in.
Fortunately, this Prefect had been diligent and proper; otherwise, he would have faced dire consequences.
The return journey was delayed by half a month, so they had to hurry, as returning to the capital in winter would mean facing the dangers of frost and cold winds.
Most of the return journey was by water. Perhaps it was a stroke of good fortune, but the weather was consistently good, and the cold was hardly felt.
Finally, on a sunny day in December, Gu Yuanbai returned to the capital amidst the cheers of the people lining the streets.
The imperial entourage moved slowly, accompanied by horses, surrounded by people and soldiers guarding the emperor’s carriage. The streets were filled with people, and the atmosphere was lively.
In front of them was a clean, wide avenue, and behind them were neatly arranged houses on both sides of the road.
Everyone wore warm clothes, their faces rosy. Children ran among them, their eyes filled with reverence.
Gu Yuanbai looked up at the grand Great Heng Palace under the blazing sun. The tiles, bathed in light, reflected a golden, brilliant sheen.
“Xue Yuan,” Gu Yuanbai suddenly said softly, “I once heard two sayings that a very dignified country has always adhered to, and they are now my lifelong pursuit.”
Xue Yuan, riding beside the imperial carriage, asked, “What are they?”
Gu Yuanbai smiled, “No marriage alliances, no reparations, no cessions of land, and no tributes.”
His gaze swept over the people and the magnificent Great Heng Palace.
“The emperor guards the nation’s borders; the king dies for his country.”
For this, I and the future generations of Great Heng will strive.
