Chapter 906: Li Yuzhu & Mu Yuanxiu Extra Story (15): The Rustic Villager Is Actually the Emperor of a Foreign Land

Li Boxuan feared she would get angry, so he comforted her, "Daughter, the Emperor did not mean it that way. He is merely curious. He is a dignified Prince of Beiyang and the only son of the Emperor of Beiyang. If not because of the trouble caused by the Beiyang Empress Dowager, would he have continued to remain a Prince Consort in Zhao Country, willingly being mocked as a mountain villager? It doesn’t make sense."

Li Xing’an also said, "Yes, third sister, father and I think the same way. I am just curious too. Why refuse to be an Emperor and instead become a rural lad—becoming our live-in son-in-law, being mocked by the Beijing people? It’s foolish behavior, but he doesn’t seem foolish."

Li Yuzhu looked stern and said, "Not wanting to be an Emperor and instead running off to be a mountain villager. Our family also has such a person. Third brother, don’t forget, our eldest brother left the Crown Prince position to become a farmer in the village!"

Li Xing’an was momentarily speechless and remembered the eldest brother.

He awkwardly chuckled, "Yes, yes, indeed, our family also has one."

"Indeed. There are plenty who don’t want to be Emperor, not just Yuanxiu. Being Emperor is exhausting; some naturally prefer not to labor too hard. You can’t force it; everyone has their own aspirations." Li Yuzhu added more words of wisdom.

Li Boxuan nodded, indicating his understanding.

True, what the third daughter said was right. If there wasn’t really anyone capable of being a good Emperor, would he be sitting on the throne?

What if the courtiers found someone even less competent, wouldn’t their family be bullied again?

To prevent bullying of his sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, he gave up the carefree lifestyle of a scholar and took on the burdensome role of Emperor, exhausting himself every day.

To steal some leisure, he even had to spar wit with the Imperial Envoy.

He wanted to gorge himself, but was watched by the steward of the Internal Affairs Bureau, warning that overindulgence harms the body.

Ha!

In Zhen An Prefecture, he ate whatever he pleased without harm!

Being Emperor is worse than death; no wonder the eldest son ran away.

"Yes, yes, everyone has their aspirations. Yuzhu is right." Li Boxuan agreed.

The Wei Family said, "Stop guessing around, wait until the Beiyang diplomatic marriage team arrives, then ask the Beiyang envoys about Yuanxiu’s situation."

. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

As Guoguo predicted, twenty days later, Beiyang’s envoy team arrived in the Capital.

It was already autumn by then.

When they were thirty miles from the Capital, they sent someone ahead to deliver the national letter in the city.

Alongside were subordinates sent by Baili Huang, the deputy of Liangzhou.

Li Boxuan appointed the Minister of the Ministry of Rites to receive the national letter and arranged for Li Xing’an to lead the Assistant Minister of Rites thirty miles away to welcome the Beiyang diplomatic marriage team.

The Beiyang envoys followed the Ministry of Rites officials and the deputy from Liangzhou into the palace for an audience with Li Boxuan.

Li Boxuan received the national letter.

Seeing the familiar handwriting on the letter, Li Boxuan felt a mix of emotions.

It was Mu Yuanxiu’s handwriting.

Half of the letter was written in Beiyang language, half in Zhao Country script.

He truly is of Beiyang!

Li Boxuan accepted the letter and asked the Beiyang envoy, "Your Emperor, he previously lived in our Zhao Country, are you aware?"

The envoy courteously returned the greeting with a smile, "Yes, His Majesty the Emperor, he is also your son-in-law."

"A son-in-law who entered your family," Li Boxuan emphasized.

The envoy smiled and said, "Our Emperor especially sent us to invite your esteemed Third Princess and her two children to Beiyang."

In his heart, the envoy thought, isn’t the young master of Baili’s family in Liangzhou delivering the letter? Isn’t the Emperor already aware? What are you asking for?

He, the Emperor of Beiyang, married your daughter, the Emperor of Zhao Country, and took good care of her, didn’t he? Why are you asking in such a sinister tone?

Li Boxuan maintained a stern demeanor, thinking to himself, of course, old man knows Mu Yuanxiu is his son-in-law, his two grandsons are still staying in the palace. He meant to ask, aren’t the Beiyang people curious why the Beiyang Emperor willingly became Zhao Country’s live-in son-in-law?

Forget it, probably can’t get the answer from this low-ranking official delivering the letter; better to ask higher officials later.

The next morning, several envoys of Beiyang entered the Capital of Zhao Country.

The Crown Prince Li Xingsheng, accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Rites, several advisors from the Eastern Palace, and eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Bureau, welcomed them outside the city gates.

Many townsfolk also gathered at the city gates to watch the spectacle.

"Strange, isn’t the Third Princess married? How come the Beiyang Emperor takes interest? What happened to the Third Prince Consort?"

"The Third Prince Consort went to the Northern Land and didn’t return. Missing, perhaps? So the Third Princess is getting remarried?"

"The Third Princess is kind-hearted; even Heaven couldn’t bear to see her situation, allowing her to remarry a foreign Emperor."

"What nonsense! The Beiyang Emperor is the Third Prince Consort! The diplomatic marriage is just the official term. In truth, it’s simply a man arranging for his wife and children to return home; it’s that simple."

As soon as this person spoke, the surrounding people all looked at him, "Ah, how do you know this?"

Lou Chengye thought to himself, how do I know? He is Mu Yuanxiu’s brother-in-law; who else should know if not him?

"I am the Second Prince Consort; how do you think I know?" Lou Chengye flicked his sleeves, making a face at the person.

A few people were frightened and immediately bowed to him, "Oh, it’s the Second Prince Consort, we meant no offense to the Third Princess, please show mercy."

"Wait here like good men for the envoys. Don’t disgrace Zhao Country, lest Beiyang people laugh at us! Correct that, lest your son-in-law’s family laughs at us, the bride’s family!" Lou Chengye scolded them coldly.

A few individuals exchanged bewildered looks, the bride’s family? Aren’t you also a son-in-law?

How did you become the bride’s family?

A small servant came over, saying to Lou Chengye, "Second Prince Consort, the Second Princess is looking for you, asking you to hurry to the Crown Prince."

"On my way." Lou Chengye mounted his horse and headed outside the city.

Once the master and servant departed, someone pointed to a few individuals, "The Second Prince Consort is definitely the bride’s family; he is a live-in son-in-law!"

The crowd watching the spectacle understood, so that’s how it is.

The Third Prince Consort was the Martial Champion, went to Beiyang to become Emperor; does that make the Second Prince Consort, as second place, the Martial Champion instead?

People complimented, stating the princesses choose their husbands well; not a Martial Champion, but a Scholar.

Not long ago, Pei Shenyan, the husband of the First Princess Li Yuwen, on a whim, took exam papers to work on, stealthily slipped them among the exam papers for Li Boxuan to grade.

Li Boxuan immediately favored that paper.

It was later revealed that it was Pei Shenyan’s work.

Li Boxuan regretted, saying he couldn’t crown Pei Shenyan as the Champion Scholar.