Chapter 821 - Emperor

Li Huowang looked at the little boy with innocent, wide eyes in Gao Zhijian’s arms. Picking up his chopsticks, Li Huowang dipped them into the vegetable broth before guiding them toward the boy’s mouth.

The old eunuch nearby was about to step forward and stop him, but a single glance from Gao Zhijian made him retreat.

The chubby little prince licked the vegetable broth, only to find it tasted spicy. He immediately scrunched up his face like a steamed bun and began crying loudly.

Both men exchanged smiles, and the atmosphere returned to what it once was.

“How are things in the village?” Gao Zhijian handed the crying child to the eunuch beside him and asked Li Huowang.

“Not bad. With the silver you sent, how bad could it get?” Li Huowang said as he picked up a piece of camel hump with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.

“I heard that Sun Baolu brought his family from Qing Qiu to our village?” Gao Zhijian asked before picking up a steamed bun, dipping it in the braised pork sauce, and chewing on it.

Li Huowang shook his head. “He didn’t. The grass in Qing Qiu had turned yellow and he was worried he wouldn’t survive there, so he thought about it.

“Later on, the grass turned green again, so he stayed in Qing Qiu with his people to continue herding sheep. I reckon they wouldn’t come to Cowheart Village unless absolutely necessary. The people from Qing Qiu might not be used to a farming lifestyle.”

Gao Zhijian nodded and raised his tiger-head wine cup. The eunuch quickly poured him some wine. “Senior Li, let’s drink.”

Li Huowang shook his head. “I don’t drink—I get drunk easily. Besides, it doesn’t taste good.”

Gao Zhijian laughed and leisurely downed the wine. He closed his eyes as he set the cup on the table. “Wine isn’t about the taste. Sometimes, when your heart is troubled and your mind is jumbled, a pot of wine can calm your heart and mind, allowing you to get a good night’s sleep.”

“You’re troubled? Isn’t the Dharma Sect gone? What’s there to worry about?” Li Huowang asked as he drank the milky yellow croaker soup. After rushing all the way here, he was very hungry and decided to eat his fill before he slept.

“Ah, of course. A good emperor has troubles, but a bad one doesn’t worry about them.”

Gao Zhijian raised his cup again and drank, his face slightly flushed. “Senior Li, now that everything has settled down, what do you plan to do next?”

“What else can I do? I’m a Daoist, aren’t I?” Li Huowang said, patting his red Daoist robes. “Of course, a Daoist cultivates immortality. Who knows, one day I might really ascend to heaven and become an Immortal.”

Gao Zhijian laughed heartily. “Hahaha, Senior Li, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve forgotten you were a Daoist priest.”

“What? Do you think I’m a fake Daoist priest?” Li Huowang also laughed.

“Real, you’re definitely real.” Gao Zhijian turned to the old eunuch. “Bring a Daoist register for Senior Li. My Senior Li must be a true Daoist priest.”

Li Huowang smiled faintly. Pouring himself some wine, he gently clinked his bowl with Gao Zhijian's cup before raising his head and drinking it.

Gao Zhijian’s smile widened as he grabbed the wine jug from the eunuch and personally poured wine for Li Huowang.

With the delicious food and fine wine, their harmony deepened, reminiscent of their journey to the Great Liang back when they had left the Zephyr Temple.

After eating and drinking heartily, Li Huowang began to feel drowsy. He had ways to avoid getting drunk but chose not to use them.

“Alright, that’s enough for today,” Li Huowang said as he put his arm around Gao Zhijian’s shoulder.

Li Huowang yawned. “Do you have a place to sleep? I’m exhausted.”

“Of course.” Gao Zhijian turned to the eunuchs. “Take Senior Li to the sleeping quarters.”

Li Huowang staggered as he turned around. Two eunuchs supported him on his way to his room.

Just as they were about to reach the door, Li Huowang suddenly remembered something and turned back. “This drinking almost made me forget the important matter.”

He tapped his head. “What was it again...? Oh, right! The people in the Great Qi have no food. Don’t forget to allocate grain for disaster relief.”

As Li Huowang reached the main hall door, Gao Zhijian called out from behind him, “Senior Li, while I can promise you many things, I’m afraid I can’t promise you this.”

“Hmm?” Li Huowang almost thought he had misheard. He turned around and saw Gao Zhijian with three heads overlapping each other. “What did you just say?”

“I said I can’t do it. I can’t provide disaster relief for the Great Qi.”

“Oh, you mean you can’t go to the Great Qi? No problem, just prepare the supplies, and I’ll take them.”

“Senior Li, I’m the Emperor of the Great Liang. Why should I waste the hard-earned grain of my people on disaster relief for the Great Qi?”

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Li Huowang pushed away the eunuch supporting him, and the eunuch staggered. “What do you mean? The Great Qi has nothing now. They’re starving and eating grass!”

He had thought this was a trivial matter, but it was quite the opposite.

“What does it matter to me if they eat grass? They don’t pay taxes or provide labor for the Great Liang.”

“Many people died in the Great Qi! It won’t take much grain to feed those who are alive!”

“Great Qi is twice the size of Great Liang. There are still many people alive,” Gao Zhijian replied resolutely.

Li Huowang now saw this completely different side of Gao Zhijian. He sighed softly and softened his tone.

“I know that. We don’t need to help everyone. Just make sure they don’t starve to death. We can send them some seeds to get them through this tough time.”

“No! The Great Liang is still recovering. Every grain of food is valuable and cannot be wasted.”

“Gao Zhijian!” Li Huowang jumped onto the table and towered over him. His hand instinctively gripped his sword hilt.

In an instant, Li Huowang was surrounded. “Stand down!”

Gao Zhijian looked up directly at Li Huowang without flinching. Li Huowang gradually released his grip on the sword.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Li Huowang said, forcing a smile as he patted Gao Zhijian on the shoulder. “You’re right. You’re a good emperor for the Great Liang, not for the Great Qi.”

“If you don’t help, then I will. I’m now the emperor of Great Qi. I’ll take care of them!”

Li Huowang took the crown from Gao Zhijian’s head and placed it on his own head. Without another word, he sliced open a rift with his spine sword and jumped through it.