After chatting for a long time at Old Deng's place, asking many questions and discussing trivial matters, Chu Chen finally left with Li Xinyue before mealtime.
"Chu Chen, you seem to have a good impression of that kid Awei?" Li Xinyue asked curiously on the way back.
"It's not that I have a good impression, I just feel that kid has a sharp mind and shouldn't have his personality buried. So I gave him that token. If he has the intention and courage, it might be a good way out?" Chu Chen recalled the kid, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
A simple order, a promise from a captain of the Five Cities Patrol, was Chu Chen's casual act. Perhaps in the future, Old Deng's family might produce a Captain Awei? Thinking of Awei, Chu Chen remembered a meme from his past life.
"I am your captain Awei! Open the door quickly!" Thinking this, Chu Chen's smile deepened.
"What's wrong? You seem very happy?" Li Xinyue became even more curious.
"Of course. This trip at least lets me know that everything I did before was not in vain. Although I haven't fully benefited the common people, I have still helped them." Chu Chen's expression turned serious, and he replied earnestly.
"That's true. This is indeed something to be happy about. I never imagined that the capital where my mother was from would have such poor people." Recalling the tragic past that Old Deng had mentioned, Li Xinyue felt fortunate. If Chu Chen hadn't appeared, this country would probably have seen uprisings everywhere within a few years, leading to its downfall. Fortunately, such a future did not happen.
"Because of you!" Li Xinyue whispered softly.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing! It's still early, and since you've decided to skip work, why don't you accompany me for the whole day! I want to eat at Tianxiang Pavilion for lunch!"
"Alright, let's go then!"
People in love always feel time flies. It seemed like they had only done one or two things, but it was already sunset before they knew it. Outside the imperial city, Li Xinyue leaned on Chu Chen's shoulder reluctantly, her arms wrapped around his waist. "Time passes so quickly. There are still so many places we haven't been."
"Yes, but if there's a chance next time, I'll accompany you again," Chu Chen promised with emotion.
"You are now the Prime Minister, second only to the Emperor, so busy. How can you have so much free time?" Li Xinyue said wistfully.
"Hmm~ That's indeed true." Chu Chen felt a headache and sighed. "In times of national crisis, there are inevitably many matters. But if things improve under my governance, then it won't be so busy in the future."
"How long will that take?"
"At least three years, at most five years. After that, it won't be like now, with constant vigilance day and night." Chu Chen thought for a moment and gave a rough expectation.
"Then I'll wait, waiting for the day we can be together forever." Li Xinyue looked up at Chu Chen with anticipation. Her beautiful face, eyes shining like stars, and slightly parted lips. Such temptation, how could Chu Chen resist? He lowered his head and kissed her, only separating after a long time.
"It's getting late, I'll go back first!" Li Xinyue, blushing, waved without looking up and ran towards the imperial city.
"Watch your step, don't fall!" Chu Chen called out with a smile, waving in response. Watching Li Xinyue leave, Chu Chen also returned to the Prime Minister's mansion.
"Hoo, such days are truly divine, but there are always people who don't want to see such beauty and always want to stir up trouble!" Back in his room, before Chu Chen could savor his holiday, he saw that the Dark Department had been waiting for a long time, and he sighed.
"What is it?"
"My Lord, the Second and Third Princesses, whom you ordered to be monitored, have met with a large number of dignitaries and noble families in their fiefdoms."
"Understood. Continue monitoring."
"Yes!" Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Chu Chen sighed. "My two princesses, if possible, I don't want to be your enemy. But you are stubbornly determined to walk this path. Why must you?"
After the autumn harvest, when Chu Chen quietly implemented the collectivization of imperial farms and manors, the Second Princess Mengdie and the Third Princess Yunting, one day after another, requested enfeoffment from the Empress. With the Empress's consent, they went to their respective fiefdoms. This almost meant that the two princesses had given up their legal inheritance rights, implicitly announcing that they would not peacefully contend for the throne. As for their consorts, the Empress was also searching for them. If nothing unexpected happened, the results would likely be known after spring next year. Unfortunately, "nothing unexpected" often implies that something unexpected will happen.
"I wonder if these two princesses saw the crisis within and outside the country and used the excuse of enfeoffment to seek refuge in their fiefdoms, or if they had other ideas, wanting to replicate the Empress's ascension process and seize the throne through military force?"
"But no matter what, their departure to their fiefdoms has given the noble families an opportunity. I hope they will not truly walk down a path of no return, as in the life simulation." Chu Chen pondered for a long time before shifting his thoughts elsewhere.
"No matter what, whether they are princesses or the Empress, or noble families, in the end, as long as my fist is hard enough, I can suppress them all!" Thinking of this, Chu Chen recalled his days as the lowest-ranking eunuch in the palace, where his life was precarious. He clenched his fist and vowed, "Those days of not being able to control my own destiny will not happen again!"
With that thought, Chu Chen opened the system's exchange store.
[Ding! Ten Thousand Light Infantry Summoning Cards, total price two thousand points, do you wish to redeem?]
"Redeem!"
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining ten thousand Light Infantry Summoning Cards. Two thousand points have been deducted. Remaining points: 32500.]
"Now I have a total of ten thousand Militia Summoning Cards, fifteen thousand Light Infantry Summoning Cards, and two Thousand Light Cavalry Summoning Cards. It's time to use them!" A cold glint flashed in Chu Chen's eyes. He got up and left the room, using the Feather Ascension Technique to fly into the air.
He arrived at the small hillside outside Shuangyue City again. A thousand锦衣卫 (Imperial Guards) were already waiting there. Chu Chen glanced around from the air, ensuring there was no one else besides the锦衣卫, then landed and used all the cards. Ten thousand militia, fifteen thousand light infantry, and six thousand light cavalry were all summoned by Chu Chen. After a brief meeting and instructions, he watched them being sent away and arranged by the锦衣卫.
Having dealt with all this, Chu Chen muttered to himself, "Ten thousand militia, five thousand light infantry, and six thousand light cavalry, stationed in a small valley a hundred miles away, with the outer farms as cover, they should not be easily discovered. As for the remaining ten thousand light infantry, I'll discuss it with the Empress another day. Under the guise of protecting the Royal Chamber of Commerce, I will arrange these people openly and keep them under my control!"