Two years later, Zhao Ze successfully calmed the Southwest and returned in triumph. Xiang Han personally waited to receive them outside the city gate.

With a suit of s.h.i.+ny armour, Zhao Ze led his horse to near the city gates unhurriedly. After two years of not seeing each other, his demeanor had gained firmness compared to before and he had also become much tanner but he was still as das.h.i.+ng as ever.

Pa.s.sing through the city gates, he suddenly turned his head up and looked towards the familiar figure who had grown. A smile broke out on his face but his gaze was complicated.

Xiang Han stood atop the wall and coincidentally, he looked down. When their gazes collided, his heart inexplicably jumped.

Xiang Han was stunned, but then he thought, this is the route of a capable ruler. When seeing a beloved subject return triumphant, it's normal to be excited.

It did not take long for him to go down and receive Zhao Ze's kneel. Then, dragging him over to join the Emperor's chariot, the two returned to the palace.

The ministers who saw this scene could not help but be shocked.

Minister Zhao had stabilised the Southwest, earning great credit and he wielded the Army in his command. He could easily arouse the Emperor's suspicions and likely having considered this matter, Minister Zhao had completely given up this power half a month ago, choosing to retire back home.

But the Emperor's actions from earlier could be considered to have given Minister Zhao a lot of face. They just didn't know...if he was in for a beating or an execution.

The remaining retinues quietly discussed among themselves, yet did not know that in the carriage, it was Zhao Ze who was gripping the Little Emperor's hands instead. His burning gaze stared straight through the other person, wis.h.i.+ng he could pull the latter into his arms.

After leaving Chang' An, the most unbearable thing was being unable to see the Little Emperor. The people in the North were much more open and over the years, he has had many brothers and gradually understood his feelings for the Little Emperor. At this moment, staring at the person who had been on his mind for countless days and nights, how could he not be excited?

The hand being gripped was in pain, causing Xiang Han to struggle for awhile but failing to break free. He only felt that Zhao Ze's palm was growing hotter and could not hold back his surprise as he asked, “Minister Zhao?”

Hearing the familiar call, Zhao Ze finally regained his senses. His gripped grew even tighter but his voice was filled with immense gentleness, “Here.”

Xiang Han s.h.i.+vered and carefully lifted his dragon claws, awkwardly saying, “Minister Zhao, Zhen's hands are about to break.”

In a split second, Zhao Ze seemed to have been electrocuted and he abruptly released his hand. His eyes flashed with pain as he finally remembered his own ident.i.ty and the difference between a Monarch and his retinue.[1]

From the moment he realised his feelings for the Little Emperor, the matter of their ident.i.ties had been like a pair of shackles, forbidding  him from even thinking of overstepping the boundaries. The words he said to the Little Emperor before was now like a big slap to his face, full of mockery.

He taught the Little Emperor to not be gay, to not favor those glib-tongued servants. But in the end, he had fallen for the Little Emperor.

The warmth in Zhao Ze's eyes abruptly cooled and he calmed down, even seamlessly putting a distance between himself and the Little Emperor.

Xiang Han was filled with doubts but he did not think too much.

After returning to the palace, Xiang Han first bestowed rewards upon the victorious army and then announced that he would be organising a feast for them all.

Under the tutelage of Teacher Zhao, Xiang Han was now familiar with matters of the court. According to the intel from w.a.n.g Jun, he had used the excuse of his defeat to arrange for most of the leaders in the Northwest Army under Prince Liang to be changed. In addition, Teacher Zhao had handed over his authority in a timely manner, allowing Xiang Han to wield immense power.

Within this time period, the {Dictionary} was also completed. Teacher Zhao spared no effort to announce that it was the product of His Majesty's care for scholars and two years ago, he had also successfully improved the irrigation system with the system's help, bringing immense benefits to farmers.

Therefore, no matter if they were scholars or civilians, they both supported Xiang Han. Prince Liang had been hiding in the dark and biding his time in the two years. Not only was he unable to lead Xiang Han onto the path of an incapable ruler, he even had to watch helplessly as his fame grew far and wide.

The feast only began at night and thus, Zhao Ze used the spare time he had before that to return to home. He quickly learnt of many things Xiang Han had done in the last two years.

After hearing the report from his confidant, he was filled with sorrow and disappointment. His Little Emperor had grown up, he no longer needed him at every turn.

The only thing comforting was that the Little Emperor had yet to select a suitable wife during this period of time and there had yet to be a male concubine by his side.

At night, he returned to the banquet and after seeing so many charming dancers, he harshly downed a cup of wine, thinking bitterly, why has the Emperor not kept anyone by his side all these years? Was there no one that he liked, or is he still pining after Luo Bai?

Xiang Han saw Zhao Ze staring at the dancing women and silently pursed his lips, secretly spitting in his heart, he was only gone for two and a half years and now looking at women can even make his eyes go wide. How uncultured.

He too, downed a cup of wine gloomily. Lifting his head, he saw the other person still watching and could not help grinding his teeth. He never thought that the Zhao Ze of this world would be such a philander. Thankfully, he had chosen to walk this path of an Emperor and his minister.

However, something that deserved celebration somehow made Xiang Han's heart restless instead.

He must have drunk too much and secretly wondered if he had somehow mixed up his heart and his stomach.

Thinking of this, he drank a few more cups until his stomach felt like it was burning. Then, he narrowed his eyes in Zhao Ze's direction.

Coincidentally, Zhao Ze had also turned to look at him and the two people were stunned. Xiang Han was the first one to move, his voice filled with a hint of intoxication, “Minister Zhao, c-come with me. Zhen is curious about…some matters in the Southwest. Tell Zhen about it.”

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Two years later, Zhao Ze successfully calmed the Southwest and returned in triumph. Xiang Han personally waited to receive them outside the city gate.

With a suit of s.h.i.+ny armour, Zhao Ze led his horse to near the city gates unhurriedly. After two years of not seeing each other, his demeanor had gained firmness compared to before and he had also become much tanner but he was still as das.h.i.+ng as ever.

Pa.s.sing through the city gates, he suddenly turned his head up and looked towards the familiar figure who had grown. A smile broke out on his face but his gaze was complicated.

Xiang Han stood atop the wall and coincidentally, he looked down. When their gazes collided, his heart inexplicably jumped.

Xiang Han was stunned, but then he thought, this is the route of a capable ruler. When seeing a beloved subject return triumphant, it's normal to be excited.

It did not take long for him to go down and receive Zhao Ze's kneel. Then, dragging him over to join the Emperor's chariot, the two returned to the palace.

The ministers who saw this scene could not help but be shocked.

Minister Zhao had stabilised the Southwest, earning great credit and he wielded the Army in his command. He could easily arouse the Emperor's suspicions and likely having considered this matter, Minister Zhao had completely given up this power half a month ago, choosing to retire back home.

But the Emperor's actions from earlier could be considered to have given Minister Zhao a lot of face. They just didn't know...if he was in for a beating or an execution.

The remaining retinues quietly discussed among themselves, yet did not know that in the carriage, it was Zhao Ze who was gripping the Little Emperor's hands instead. His burning gaze stared straight through the other person, wis.h.i.+ng he could pull the latter into his arms.

After leaving Chang' An, the most unbearable thing was being unable to see the Little Emperor. The people in the North were much more open and over the years, he has had many brothers and gradually understood his feelings for the Little Emperor. At this moment, staring at the person who had been on his mind for countless days and nights, how could he not be excited?

The hand being gripped was in pain, causing Xiang Han to struggle for awhile but failing to break free. He only felt that Zhao Ze's palm was growing hotter and could not hold back his surprise as he asked, “Minister Zhao?”

Hearing the familiar call, Zhao Ze finally regained his senses. His gripped grew even tighter but his voice was filled with immense gentleness, “Here.”

Xiang Han s.h.i.+vered and carefully lifted his dragon claws, awkwardly saying, “Minister Zhao, Zhen's hands are about to break.”

In a split second, Zhao Ze seemed to have been electrocuted and he abruptly released his hand. His eyes flashed with pain as he finally remembered his own ident.i.ty and the difference between a Monarch and his retinue.[1]

From the moment he realised his feelings for the Little Emperor, the matter of their ident.i.ties had been like a pair of shackles, forbidding  him from even thinking of overstepping the boundaries. The words he said to the Little Emperor before was now like a big slap to his face, full of mockery.

He taught the Little Emperor to not be gay, to not favor those glib-tongued servants. But in the end, he had fallen for the Little Emperor.

The warmth in Zhao Ze's eyes abruptly cooled and he calmed down, even seamlessly putting a distance between himself and the Little Emperor.

Xiang Han was filled with doubts but he did not think too much.

After returning to the palace, Xiang Han first bestowed rewards upon the victorious army and then announced that he would be organising a feast for them all.

Under the tutelage of Teacher Zhao, Xiang Han was now familiar with matters of the court. According to the intel from w.a.n.g Jun, he had used the excuse of his defeat to arrange for most of the leaders in the Northwest Army under Prince Liang to be changed. In addition, Teacher Zhao had handed over his authority in a timely manner, allowing Xiang Han to wield immense power.

Within this time period, the {Dictionary} was also completed. Teacher Zhao spared no effort to announce that it was the product of His Majesty's care for scholars and two years ago, he had also successfully improved the irrigation system with the system's help, bringing immense benefits to farmers.

Therefore, no matter if they were scholars or civilians, they both supported Xiang Han. Prince Liang had been hiding in the dark and biding his time in the two years. Not only was he unable to lead Xiang Han onto the path of an incapable ruler, he even had to watch helplessly as his fame grew far and wide.

The feast only began at night and thus, Zhao Ze used the spare time he had before that to return to home. He quickly learnt of many things Xiang Han had done in the last two years.

After hearing the report from his confidant, he was filled with sorrow and disappointment. His Little Emperor had grown up, he no longer needed him at every turn.

The only thing comforting was that the Little Emperor had yet to select a suitable wife during this period of time and there had yet to be a male concubine by his side.

At night, he returned to the banquet and after seeing so many charming dancers, he harshly downed a cup of wine, thinking bitterly, why has the Emperor not kept anyone by his side all these years? Was there no one that he liked, or is he still pining after Luo Bai?

Xiang Han saw Zhao Ze staring at the dancing women and silently pursed his lips, secretly spitting in his heart, he was only gone for two and a half years and now looking at women can even make his eyes go wide. How uncultured.

He too, downed a cup of wine gloomily. Lifting his head, he saw the other person still watching and could not help grinding his teeth. He never thought that the Zhao Ze of this world would be such a philander. Thankfully, he had chosen to walk this path of an Emperor and his minister.

However, something that deserved celebration somehow made Xiang Han's heart restless instead.

He must have drunk too much and secretly wondered if he had somehow mixed up his heart and his stomach.

Thinking of this, he drank a few more cups until his stomach felt like it was burning. Then, he narrowed his eyes in Zhao Ze's direction.

Coincidentally, Zhao Ze had also turned to look at him and the two people were stunned. Xiang Han was the first one to move, his voice filled with a hint of intoxication, “Minister Zhao, c-come with me. Zhen is curious about…some matters in the Southwest. Tell Zhen about it.”

Chapter 38.2: