ASTRP -Chapter 218 This Is Not a Good Emperor

“I heard the people living near the borders of Western Qing aren’t doing very well, so we came to offer His Majesty a few suggestions.”

“Oh? What suggestions?”

Feng Jingge spoke up, “Does Your Majesty know why Princess Liyue delayed returning for so long?”

“That’s because she didn’t only stay in Jing Nation. She also visited the border regions.”

“She wanted to understand the thoughts of the common people, so she stayed longer.”

“Is that so?”

The emperor clearly didn’t believe it, but he still turned to Xi Liyue.

“Yue’er, then tell Us—did you notice anything?”

Xi Liyue had absolutely no idea about any of this.

She could only make something up on the spot like answering blindly on an exam.

“The border regions… the living conditions of the people are still rather poor. That only strengthened my thoughts even more.”

The emperor rested his head on one hand.

“What thoughts?”

Xi Liyue looked at Feng Jingge. Feng Jingge silently mouthed one word to her.

“Fight.”

Xi Liyue immediately said it aloud.

“Fight?”

At that moment, Xiao Jinghan spoke.

“Your Majesty, the reason Western Qing’s borders are impoverished is because those smaller nations are merely vassal states of Western Qing.”

“But they are only vassal states.”

“If Your Majesty eliminated the boundaries between nations, then naturally there would no longer be discrimination toward the surrounding people.”

“And Jing Nation is also willing to vigorously develop trade relations.”

“However, under the current circumstances, those smaller states feel there is little value in developing commerce, so they do not truly respect Western Qing as a great nation.”

“But if Jing Nation were involved, they would likely restrain themselves somewhat.”

A smile clearly appeared on the emperor’s face.

Feng Jingge thought to herself that Xiao Jinghan really had guessed correctly.

This emperor liked war.

And emperors who liked war generally weren’t good emperors.

Either this emperor simply enjoyed killing—

—or for him, war was merely a way to satisfy some twisted amusement.

If one wages war without caring for the people, then there is definitely something wrong.

Xi Liyue had never been to the borderlands, and neither had Feng Jingge.

But on the journey here, Xiao Jinghan had told her about it.

He said that in villages near Western Qing’s borders, stories from the emperor’s military campaigns still circulated.

But none of them were good.

Most stories described the emperor as cruel and tyrannical, often treating border civilians as if they belonged to enemy nations.

Meaning, he slaughtered them.

In truth, though the people were difficult to distinguish from enemies, there were still ways to tell them apart.

The emperor had once stationed troops there, and the fact that he still did such things meant he likely did it purely to satisfy himself.

“As expected of Jing Nation’s Regent Prince. You carry yourself just like We do—quite imposing.”

Like you?

Ha, as if!

You’re nowhere near as good as my prince!

Feng Jingge mocked the emperor inwardly.

The emperor suddenly turned toward Prince Yu.

“This must be Jing Nation’s Prince Yu.”

“We heard that Yue’er stayed at Prince Yu’s residence the entire time she was in Jing Nation?”

“Yue’er must have caused Prince Yu quite a bit of trouble.”

Just like Feng Jingge, Prince Yu disliked this emperor at first sight.

So his tone wasn’t particularly polite.

“Yue’er is already my person. How could she be trouble?”

The emperor’s expression immediately darkened. Xiao Jinghan shot Prince Yu a glance.

Prince Yu understood what he meant and pressed his lips together.

“Your Majesty, what I mean is—I like Yue’er.”

“In my heart, Yue’er is one of my own.”

“I came today specifically to seek Your Majesty’s permission to marry Yue’er to me.”

Although Western Qing was larger than Martial Star Nation, compared to Jing Nation, it was still smaller.

So if Xi Liyue married Prince Yu, it would actually be beneficial.

Sure enough, the emperor’s expression eased noticeably.

But soon after, he added:

“We can consider this matter.”

“However, your killing intent is rather heavy.”

“And Yue’er is still young, while you… are not exactly young anymore.”

“…”

Was that calling him old?

He was only five years older than Xi Liyue!

Meanwhile, Feng Jingge rolled her eyes internally.

What was this?

This was wanting the benefits while still pretending to be virtuous.

The emperor was clearly pleased, yet still insisted on putting on a show.

Just so others would think him benevolent.

Prince Yu immediately wanted to retort, but remembering that the plan had to follow his imperial uncle’s method, he could only force himself to say:

“Your Majesty is right.”

“But I guarantee I will treat Yue’er well.”

Xi Liyue suddenly spoke.

“Prince, perhaps I should discuss this matter with Father Emperor first.”

Prince Yu instinctively wanted to glare at her, but he held it back and said nothing.

The emperor suddenly inhaled deeply and kicked over one of the attendants beside him.

“You’re pounding too hard.”

He spoke lightly, but the attendant immediately fell to his knees.

“Please spare me, Your Majesty.”

Xi Liyue pursed her lips.

“Father Emperor, your daughter also has another request.”

“Speak.”

“As far as your daughter knows, General Dingkang’s son, Lan Chunxing, is overly quiet in temperament… He doesn’t really suit your daughter.”

“Yes, Lan Chunxing’s temperament is indeed rather reserved.”

Xi Liyue had deliberately phrased it this way.

She wanted the emperor to make his own judgment.

After all, Lan Chunxing was the son of Dingkang General from Jinyu Nation. The emperor probably wouldn’t want to offend the general directly.

“Father Emperor, isn’t Second Sister Weiwei turning sixteen soon?”

The moment she said that, the emperor understood what she meant.

In the end, all this talk was just because she wanted to marry Prince Yu.

Still, having Yue’er marry Prince Yu was better than marrying Lan Chunxing.

After all, Jinyu Nation was merely a small country.

While Jing Nation was a great power.

Thinking this, he instructed Eunuch Hai beside him to bring over Mu Weiran’s birth details.

Soon, Eunuch Hai delivered them.

After reading them, the emperor nodded.

“Since Yue’er doesn’t wish to marry General Dingkang’s son, then let her marry him instead.”

“It just so happens that her wet nurse has gone off to a temple. Let her interact with some normal men for once instead of constantly causing trouble for Us.”

Xi Liyue secretly glanced at the emperor.

His temples had already turned gray.

The feeling he gave off now was different from before she had left.

Even while speaking, he breathed heavily, and the exhaustion between his brows was impossible to conceal.

“Father Emperor, in a few days it will be Imperial Uncle’s memorial day.”

“Your daughter wishes to personally help prepare it and lighten Father Emperor’s burden.”

Xi Liyue wanted to use this opportunity to move around the palace more freely.

She intended to investigate who exactly had kidnapped her back then.

The emperor seemed unwilling to hear about Xi Qing Rendé, Xi Liyue’s imperial uncle.

He merely said, “Granted. You are thoughtful,” then instructed Xi Liyue to arrange accommodations for Xiao Jinghan and the others herself.

After all, they had come because of her, so it was only natural for her to look after them.

Once they left the palace hall, Feng Jingge turned back to glance at the emperor’s sleeping quarters.

For some reason, she strongly felt—

this emperor was not a good ruler.

“Miss Liyue—oh no, I should say Princess Liyue.”

“I heard there’s a rule in your palace that once your father turns sixty, he must move into the Palace of Longevity?”

Xi Liyue nodded.

But she would never allow him the chance to live there.

“Princess Consort, you can just call me Yue’er.”

Feng Jingge smiled.

“Alright.”

Xi Liyue tugged lightly on Prince Yu’s hand, noticing he had barely spoken.

“Prince, why did you come here?”

Prince Yu snorted.

“Wasn’t it all because of you?”

Xiao Jinghan smacked him on the head.

“Watch how you speak!”

“…”