In Shangdu’s Luo Mansion, the plaque bearing the name “Luo Mansion” had been removed, but the locals still habitually referred to this mansion as Luo Mansion.
As soon as Long Xuan entered Luo Mansion, he noticed a pile of sand and stones in the front courtyard. He remarked to Luo Zhiqiu, who had come to welcome him, “Just earlier today, Mingyuan mentioned that Lord Luo was planning to renovate his courtyard. I didn’t expect the work to start so soon.”
Luo Zhiqiu glanced at Xie Yu, who was standing beside him, and remarked, “Mingyuan talks too much. There’s no need to bother Your Majesty with such trivial matters.”
“No matter,” Long Xuan waved his hand. “I inquired about Lord Luo’s recent situation, and Mingyuan mentioned it to me. Lord Luo, don’t blame your disciple for this.”
“Your Majesty, please enter the main hall,” Luo Zhiqiu said, no longer blaming Xie Yu, and invited Long Xuan to sit in the main hall.
This wasn’t Long Xuan’s first visit to this mansion, so he didn’t need anyone to lead the way. Leading the procession, he walked in front as if he were the master of the mansion, entering the main hall of Luo Mansion.
After Long Xuan sat down in the main seat, he looked around. There were no major changes here, just fewer tables and chairs.
After Long Xuan sat down, Luo Zhiqiu and Xie Yu were about to pay their respects to him.
“No need for formalities,” Long Xuan quickly raised his hand. “This is a private gathering, so you don’t need to be so formal.”
A servant of Luo Mansion brought in tea.
Long Xuan, maintaining Luo Zhiqiu’s dignity, lifted the tea and took a sip, then said to Luo Zhiqiu and Xie Yu, “Please, have a seat.”
After thanking Long Xuan, Luo Zhiqiu and Xie Yu sat down on the left and right sides.
“I wonder why your Majesty is here tonight?” Luo Zhiqiu asked Long Xuan.
Long Xuan replied, “Lord Luo is no longer interested in political affairs and seems to be enjoying a leisurely life.”
“I’m old and weary, unable to inquire even if I want to,” Luo Zhiqiu said.
“I still hope that Luo Xiang can help me for some more time,” Long Xuan said. “The current affairs of the court are something Mingyuan is aware of. It seems I can never finish all the tasks.”
Xie Yu hurriedly said, “Your Majesty has been working hard. I implore Your Majesty to take good care of the dragon body.”
“I want to attack Southern Zhao,” Long Xuan said with a smile. “Only by defeating Southern Zhao can I join forces with Eastern Shang and divide the country of Northern Yan between us.”
Luo Zhiqiu couldn’t quite understand Long Xuan’s persistence and said, “Your Majesty, the Battle of Tian Shui Yuan has just ended not long ago. Since Your Majesty ascended to the throne, you have been constantly engaged in warfare. This year, there has been a significant increase in taxes. In my humble opinion, it would be better for our Great Zhou to focus on self-improvement.”
“In that case, according to Lord Luo, how long should Great Zhou focus on self-improvement?” Long Xuan asked Luo Zhiqiu.
“Well,” Luo Zhiqiu said, “I’ve been away from the court for a long time, so I really can’t say.”
“Then, is Lord Luo dissatisfied with the increasing taxes this year?” Long Xuan asked.
Luo Zhiqiu replied, “The south is wealthy, so there’s nothing wrong with Your Majesty increasing taxes. However, in the southeast, after the rebellion of the barbarians, the local vitality has not yet recovered. If Your Majesty imposes more taxes there, I’m afraid it will lead to unrest.”
“When my father was alive, wasn’t he good enough to the barbarians in the southeast?” Long Xuan said. “What was the result? They still rebelled. I don’t have my father’s kindness. If those people can’t make it there, they should leave the southeast. If they still think the Imperial Court hasn’t shed enough blood there, then let them rebel.”
“Your Majesty!” Luo Zhiqiu tried to advise.
“Lord Luo,” Long Xuan waved his hand at Luo Zhiqiu, “My patience is limited. I have already ordered Yuxuan that anyone in the southeast who harbors discontent towards the Imperial Court, regardless of their ethnicity, will be executed without mercy.”
“Isn’t this just provoking rebellion among the people?” Luo Zhiqiu exclaimed.
“I’m not afraid of their rebellion. The slave laborers in Tian Shui Yuan are dying very quickly. I am just worried about finding more convicted laborers. Lord Luo has stopped inquiring about worldy affairs, and his heart has grown softer,” Long Xuan remarked indifferently.
At this point, Xie Yu shook his head at Luo Zhiqiu. He had advised Long Xuan before. In the southeast of Great Zhou, there were many ethnic groups. After the rebellion of the southeastern barbarians, it would be best for the court to adopt a policy of reconciliation and treat them kindly. However, Xie Yu now understood that Long Xuan was someone who inherently believed in authoritarianism. To seize the imperial throne, this man had put away all the edges and corners of his body. Now that he had the country in his hands, he would no longer aggrieve himself.
Seeing Xie Yu shake his head, Luo Zhiqiu swallowed his anger for a while. But after thinking about it, he couldn’t help but ask Long Xuan, “May I ask Your Majesty, why are you so eager to divide the country of Northern Yan with Eastern Shang?”
“I want to expand the territory for our Great Zhou,” Long Xuan said. “Isn’t that a good thing? Doesn’t Lord Luo want to see the imperial flag of the Long clan of Great Zhou flying on the He Fang City Tower?”
“I just feel that there is no need to engage in warfare with Northern Yan at the moment,” Luo Zhiqiu said. Great Zhou’s own territory had never been peaceful. There were still various political malpractices in the court that need to be resolved. Luo Zhiqiu couldn’t see why they needed to fight to the death with Northern Yan.
“One is for the prosperity of Great Zhou,” Long Xuan said, “and secondly, it’s also for Luo Wei.”
“For Luo Wei?” Luo Zhiqiu exclaimed in surprise.
“Luo Wei died in Northern Yan. Doesn’t Lord Luo hate Northern Yan?” Long Xuan asked Luo Zhiqiu, staring at him intently.
Luo Zhiqiu quickly suppressed the polite smile on his face and said, “The death of Prince Jin naturally saddens me.”
“I’m asking you, don’t you hate Sima Qingsha?” Long Xuan asked.
Luo Zhiqiu replied, “It was Mo Huan Sang who harmed Prince Jin’s life. I hate Mo Huan Sang, but I bear no grudge against Emperor Sima Qingsha.”
Meeting Luo Zhiqiu’s calm gaze, Long Xuan lifted the tea cup and took a sip. Not hate Sima Qingsha? Long Xuan sneered coldly. That was quite a righteous statement. “I’ve visited the Senior Chancellor’s Mansion before. I wonder which courtyard Lord Luo ordered to be renovated today?” Long Xuan changed the topic, asking Luo Zhiqiu casually.
“It’s the courtyard where Prince Jin used to live,” Luo Zhiqiu replied.
After hearing Luo Zhiqiu’s words, Long Xuan’s tea cup tilted in his hand.
“Your Majesty, be careful,” Xie Yu, seeing Long Xuan spill the tea, quickly stood up and warned him.
“Your Majesty?” Luo Zhiqiu also stood up.
“It’s nothing,” Long Xuan smiled, placing the tea cup back on the nearby table. “I just didn’t hold it properly for a moment. The tea isn’t so hot, so you don’t need to worry.”
Luo Zhiqiu said, “I’ll have someone bring more tea.”
“No need,” Long Xuan stood up at this moment. “Since Lord Luo mentioned Prince Jin, I suddenly want to go and see the courtyard where Prince Jin used to live. Would Lord Luo mind?”
Luo Zhiqiu hesitated, “Construction just started there today. It’s messy.”
“I just want to take a look,” Long Xuan insisted. “Lord Luo, don’t worry about me blaming you for the messiness of the place.”
“In that case, I’ll take Your Majesty there,” Luo Zhiqiu had no choice but to agree.
In Long Xuan’s memory, there was a courtyard in the Minister’s Mansion where Luo Wei used to reside, with a pond and many flowers and trees, making it an extremely elegant place. However, when he entered the courtyard, he found two servants sawing down the tung tree in the courtyard. “Stop!” Long Xuan shouted without even thinking upon seeing this scene.
Boundless Dao 
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