The convoy traveled on the road for twenty days and finally arrived in Shangjing, Toyochao.
"Wow~" Although Qu Xiaofeng had been reminded by Xiang Nan, she was still shocked when she actually saw Shang Jing.
I didn’t expect Shangjing to be so prosperous. There are so many pedestrians, so many shops, so many carriages and horses, it is really much more prosperous than Yanzhi City.
Yanzhi City in Xizhou has a maximum of 100,000 people. By comparison, Shangjing has a population of over one million. It’s really amazing to raise your sleeves and sweat like rain.
"How about it? It's very prosperous, right?" Xiang Nan said with a smile.
Qu Xiaofeng nodded, "Then can I go out to play?"
"I'm afraid it's a bit troublesome. The royal family has strict rules. Neither the prince nor the princess can leave the palace at will, let alone the princess." Xiang Nan explained.
"Ah?! Why is this like this?" Qu Xiaofeng felt helpless upon hearing this.
She didn't have these rules in Xizhou. Although she is the ninth princess of Xizhou, she can often go out to play in the palace and even compete with her people. How can she have so many troubles.
"But don't worry, I will help you." Xiang Nan smiled.
"Really?!" Qu Xiaofeng's eyes lit up again.
"Really." Xiang Nan nodded, "We are good friends."
"Thank you." Qu Xiaofeng suddenly became happy.
…
After returning to Beijing, Xiang Nan first went to see Emperor Li Zuo.
"In this campaign against Dan Chi, you have made many military exploits, which makes me quite satisfied." Li Zuo praised.
"Thanks to the Second Emperor Brother for strategizing this time, the Governor Gao Xian and the General Pei Zhao fought bravely. I only did my meager efforts." Xiang Nan said modestly.
"From now on, you must do your best to serve the country." Li Zuo nodded.
"Yes, father, I will do my best," Xiang Nan said immediately.
"Well, your Prince Yi's Mansion is already under construction and will be completed soon. At that time, you can open your teeth and build a mansion." Li Zuo said again.
"The child would rather stay in the palace and always be with his father, mother and queen to fulfill his filial piety." Xiang Nan added.
Li Hao nodded, "Okay, let's go see your mother. She has been worried about you since you have been out for so long."
"Yes, father." Xiang Nan bowed and then withdrew.
…
"The child pays homage to the queen." Xiang Nan came to the queen's palace again.
"My son, please get up quickly and let me take a look." Zhang Meiniang immediately helped him up, and then couldn't help but blushing, "Oh, I have lost a lot of weight."
"Thank you, Mother, for your concern." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "The child is not thin, he is getting stronger."
Zhang Meiniang nodded, "Yin'er, you have made great achievements in the Western Region this time. Mother is very happy for you."
"I have to thank my cousin Gao Xian for his help. Otherwise, I would not be able to make such a big contribution as a mere commander." Xiang Nan said modestly.
In fact, he did not get Gao Xian's glory this time in the Western Region. He found King Danchi's tent by himself, and he relied on Pei Zhao's troops to capture the king's tent. Gao Xian didn't do anything to help him from beginning to end, and he almost became a pig teammate.
But Gao Xian is Zhang Meiniang's cousin after all, and Xiang Nan doesn't want to speak ill of him in front of her.
Zhang Meiniang smiled and nodded, "That's what I can do myself."
"It's a pity that the Holy One only conferred the title of King Yi on you. You really shouldn't have done so." She said angrily, "Prince Rong and Prince Yun didn't do anything in the capital, yet they were also conferred the title of king. It's really unfair."
"Mother, thunder, rain, and dew are all gifts from heaven. I am satisfied that my child can be granted the title of King Yi." Upon hearing this, Xiang Nan said with a smile.
"Oh, my son is still sensible." Zhang Meiniang nodded.
"By the way, Queen Mother, I have brought you some good things from the Western Region." Xiang Nan said and clapped his hands, and the chamberlain came in holding three treasure boxes.
Xiang Nan immediately opened them one by one.
The first treasure box contained a pair of emerald necklaces. Each emerald is as big as a peanut, and the largest one hanging underneath is as big as a dove egg and is extremely valuable.
The second treasure box contained a pair of cat's eye rings. Under the light, the cat's eye gemstones shone brightly and were crystal clear. They could indeed be called rare treasures.
The last treasure box contained a fur made of snow fox skin. The whole body was as white as snow and as bright as silver, with not even a stray hair on it.
Even though Zhang Meiniang was a queen and was rich all over the world, she smiled with joy when she saw these three gifts.
It was not because these gifts were expensive, but mainly because they were all given by Xiang Nan, and they were carefully prepared at first glance, which made her naturally satisfied.
"My son is really thoughtful." Zhang Meiniang said with a smile.
…
Xiang Nan then went to see the Empress Dowager and gave her Aunt Mingyuan's letter.
"Okay, Mingyuan said it's a good thing she's feeling better." After reading the letter, the Empress Dowager smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Aunt Mingyuan's auspicious nature brings blessings." Xiang Nan nodded and smiled, "By the way, great-grandma, I bought some requiem incense from the Western Region to help with sleep."
"Okay, my great-grandson is interested." The Empress Dowager nodded.
It seems that Li Chengye and Li Min also returned to Shangjing from the Western Region early and visited her in the palace. But the gift given was just a piece of gold, silver and jewelry, and there was no intention at all.
Xiang Nan is still thoughtful and knows that she has trouble sleeping, so he always helps her collect some prescriptions to help her sleep.
As the saying goes, raising a child does not require wealth and silver; it only requires seeing the scenery and falling in love. In fact, as the Empress Dowager, any gold, silver, or jewelery was of no use to her, and was far less comfortable than a peaceful sleep.
"Grandma, you can live a long life, which is what we all hope for." Xiang Nan said with a smile.
"What a great-grandson, you really know how to talk." The Empress Dowager nodded and smiled.
…
After paying a visit to the Empress Dowager, Xiang Nan paid a visit to Prime Minister Gao in the evening.
"Uncle, I am in the Western Region this time. Thanks to the help of my uncle Gao Xian, I can make great contributions to the court." He smiled and said to Gao Ming.
"Well, Xian'er also wrote back, praising His Highness King Yi for his intelligence, ability and courage." Gao Ming nodded and smiled.
"I don't dare, my cousin is so complimentary." Xiang Nan smiled, and then said, "By the way, uncle, I brought you a gift from the Western Region."
With that said, he opened the treasure box and saw a gilt-bronze Buddha statue inside. He had kind eyebrows and kind eyes, and a solemn appearance. He held a medicine vessel in his left hand and formed the seal of the three realms in his right hand. He was none other than the Medicine Master Buddha.
"I specially obtained a Medicine Buddha statue for my uncle from the Thousand Buddhas Temple in the West. It was consecrated by an eminent monk in the West. I hope to bless my uncle with good health and a long life." Xiang Nan explained.
"Well, thank you, Your Highness." Gao Ming took a look and nodded with satisfaction.
To him, any golden Buddha, silver Buddha, or jade Buddha is not uncommon. The key is Xiang Nan's filial piety towards him.
When Xiang Nan returned from the Western Region, he still wanted to ask for a Medicine Buddha statue for him. This kind of intention alone was very rare. Of course he is happy.
"Uncle, you're welcome." Xiang Nan smiled, and then asked for advice, "By the way, uncle, this time my father named me King Yi, what do you think it means?"
"Your Highness, there is no need to worry. Thunder, rain, and dew are all a gift from God." Gao Gao Ming said with a wave of his hand, "Don't you think the rafters at the top will die first? It's not a bad thing to be slow."
"When my uncle said this, I felt confident." Upon hearing this, Xiang Nan nodded.
(End of chapter)
