Chapter 321: Emperor Zhao Qian’s Thoughts
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Defu did not dare to reply.
Emperor Zhao Qian didn’t mind.
He tapped the fan handle in his hand. He was waiting for Heng Congshan to bring Heng Yi over.
“Master, why don’t you go and rest for a while? 1 will inform you once they have arrived.”
“Alright.”
Emperor Zhao Qian went to his room to rest.
Heng Yi returned from the military camp. When he saw Heng Congshan at the city gate, he slightly pursed his lips.
“Lord Heng.”
“Heng Yi.”
Heng Yi laughed first.
Heng Cong Mountain also laughed, “I didn’t expect you to laugh like that. You must’ve been living a very happy life.”
“I am very happy.” Heng Yi wasn’t modest.
He was very happy.
“Lord Heng, have you found a place to stay in Chenzhou? If you don’t have any, you are welcome to stay at my place.”
Heng Congshan laughed, “I didn’t come to Chenzhou alone this time. 1 have a noble who came with me. Follow me to pay respects to him.”
Heng Yi didn’t ask who it was.
“Where should we meet? I’ll go home first and tell my family.”
Heng Congshan told him the name of the inn.
“I know this inn. 1’11 be there soon.”
“See you then.”
Heng Yi quickly returned home and went to find Han Qiao.
When Han Qiao heard that Heng Congshan had come to Chenzhou City, she said, “Then invite him to stay at our house. We have a courtyard at home too. I’ll get someone to clean it up now.”
The newly built house was often cleaned, so it was convenient and quick to tidy up.
“I’ll ask him if he’s willing to come.”
Han Qiao and Heng Yi had the same thought.
It’s all up to fate. Don’t force it.
If he decided to stay, they would treat him as a distinguished guest. If he didn’t, it wouldn’t matter.
Heng Yi went out to the inn, and Han Qiao thought about the many unusual things that happened that day.
She wondered if there was someone with a higher position than Heng Congshan who had come to test her and Heng Yi.
Han Qiao couldn’t figure out who it could be.
When Heng Yi arrived at the inn, Emperor Zhao Qian had already woken up.
He was a little excited when he heard that Heng Yi was here.
When Heng Yi was brought to him, he sized the man up.
The man before him looked decent and had a hint of foolishness to his aura, but it was this foolishness that revealed his integrity and kindness.
He stood tall and strong, and the sword at his waist looked vicious.
With his strength, he looked like a fierce general.
Emperor Zhao Qian laughed.
“Come forward and let me take a good look at you.”
He liked Heng Yi a lot, and he admired him.
Just like how eiders would always be more tolerant when they saw their own children.
“Have a seat,” Emperor Zhao Qian said.
Someone immediately brought Heng Yi a stool.
He glanced at Heng Congshan before looking back at the stranger before him. Then after a moment of thought he asked, “Who are you?”
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Emperor Zhao Qian was stunned for a moment before he laughed. “Take a guess,”
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Heng Yi pursed his lips and said, “Your Majesty.”
Emperor Zhao Qian’s smile grew wider, “Congshan said that you are a simple-minded person. How is this simple-minded? You are clearly a smart one. To be able to guess my identity, you must have observation skills.”
“Sit down.”
Heng Yi hesitated for a moment before sitting down.
He placed his hands on his knees and his back tense as if he was preparing for battle.
He was not clear about the proper etiquette and rules of meeting the emperor.
Neither he nor Han Qiao had expected to see the Emperor so soon.
He had never thought that the Emperor would come to Chenzhou.
“Tell me, what do you think about the future?”
Heng Yi looked at Emperor Zhao Qian.
“Sister Ah-Qiao and I plan to stay in Chenzhou this year and practice martial arts well. Then we’ll go to the capital so I can take the martial arts examination.”
“Have you ever thought of going to the border to make contributions to your country?” Emperor Zhao Qian asked again.
“I can’t go now. I’m illiterate and inexperienced…”
Sometimes, Heng Yi wasn’t confident.
Emperor Zhao Qian observed Heng Yi, “If 1 give you great power, will you dare to accept it?”
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Heng Yi didn’t understand.
Emperor Zhao Qian continued, “For example, I will give you the right to recruit soldiers and horses at will. You can bring these soldiers to suppress the bandits. The money obtained will belong to you, and I will give you another sum…”
“I don’t want it, Your Highness,” Heng Yi refused.
“Why?” Emperor Zhao Qian was puzzled.
It was something that many people could only dream of.
Yet Heng Yi refused.
“Virtue doesn’t equal status. I’m not worthy yet, and 1 can’t do what you want me to do.”
Recruiting soldiers and buying horses, people might accuse him of forming a rebellion.
If his ambition grew, it might not be a good thing.
He did not want to fatten himself up and be slaughtered by the Emperor in the end.
He did not have any ambitions. He just wanted his family to live a better life and not be bullied or looked down upon by other people.
He supported his wife and children and wanted to protect them.
He didn’t want to court death and cause them to suffer.
Emperor Zhao Qian couldn’t help but laugh.
“Everyone craves supreme power, yet you’re pushing it away. But Heng Yi, have you ever thought about what kind of path you’ll take after you arrive at the capital? Would you be a military officer for the rest of your life? Or are you going to be a famous general who would be praised by thousands of generations?”
“I am not an emperor who cannot tolerate others. Since I have spoken, 1 don’t care how many people you recruit. As long as you can lead them and support them, you can bring them to battle and kill the enemy whenever you are deployed.”
“Do you know why I personally came to Chenzhou?”
“I want to see the person who wiped out the bandits of Chenzhou on his own in person.”
“Throughout my journey, 1 wondered what you look like. The moment I saw you, 1 felt a sense of familiarity, as if we had met before…”
“I thought that you would refuse, but I didn’t expect you to immediately and directly refuse me without considering my offer at all.”
No reluctance, no hesitation.
Heng Yi refused straightforwardly.
He wanted power, but he wasn’t greedy.
This was a show of good character.
“What does Emperor want me to do?” Heng Yi asked.
“Recover the lost land and bring back the princess. 1 will give you the greatest authority…”
Heng Yi looked at Emperor Zhao Qian and felt his mouth go dry.
“Can you get me a glass of water?”
He had been in the military camp for the entire afternoon and had not been able to drink a sip of water.
He must have gotten used to drinking a glass of hot water, and eating pastries with tea on the side whenever he returned from work.
Defu immediately went to pour some water and respectfully brought it to Heng Yi.
Heng Yi took the cup and drank it, then exhaled, “Alright, I’ll recruit soldiers in Chenzhou first, but I’ll train them. No one is allowed to interfere.”
Emperor Zhao Qian’s eyes lit up.
“What’s wrong? Are you not satisfied with the military?” Emperor Zhao Qian asked.
Heng Yi didn’t hide anything, “They can’t kill bandits, and they can’t fight on the battlefield either. 1 wanted to train them, but someone always tried to stop me. I have no choice.”
This was the way of the world. There will always be people who could not stand to see you doing well.
People who would want you to rot in the mud for the rest of your life.
Heng Yi was still thirsty, so he asked Defu to pour him another cup.
“Please pour me another cup.”
Defu immediately went to get more water.
He even thoughtfully brought the teapot over.
Heng Yi drank a few cups of water and finally got rid of his thirst.
Of course, it wasn’t just because he was thirsty. There were other reasons as well.
He looked at Emperor Zhao Qian and felt a sense of closeness to him.
It was as if they had once been friends and confidants who shared everything for a long time.
Of course, Heng Yi didn’t think it was true.
One was an emperor, and the other had unknown parents.. How could they know each other?