Chương 447: Sightseeing and Inspection

She whispered to Yin Ying beside her, "This is true peace and tranquility."

Yin Ying nodded and sighed, "Yes, it's better for the people to live well than anything else."

Children are especially popular.

Liu Chen was given a roasted corn by an older woman, and his face was covered in corn kernels.

Liu Ying was given a piece of sweet potato, and her little mouth was covered in yellow after eating it.

Liu Heng was even more enthusiastic, eating a corn cob in his left hand and a sweet potato in his right, thoroughly enjoying himself.

..................

More and more people gathered around, forming layers upon layers, completely surrounding Liu Ce.

They chattered about the changes in their families, mostly saying that life had gotten better day by day since Liu Ce arrived.

One person says the rice harvest is bountiful, another says the sweet potatoes are huge, one says they built a new house, and another says their child has started school.

They were all grinning from ear to ear, their wrinkles crinkling into smiles.

"Your Highness, my family used to go hungry, but now we eat white flour buns every day—we never even dared to dream of that!"

"Your Highness, since you came to Luoyang, our family has built a new house! It doesn't leak anymore!"

"Your Highness, my child is studying at the village school now and has learned many characters!"

"Your Highness, I got married this year! All thanks to you for allocating land to me!"

"We couldn't afford to pay taxes before, but now not only are taxes lower, we can even sell our surplus grain for money!"

"Children couldn't afford to go to school before, but now school in the village is free, so my son doesn't have to pay for his schooling anymore!"

"Before, we were too afraid to see a doctor when we were sick, but now there are hospitals, and poor people can see a doctor for free!"

"The streets used to be dangerous, and we were always worried when we went out. Now, people don't pick up lost items and we don't even need to lock our doors at night!"

Every word, every smile, is a simple expression of gratitude.

Liu Ce felt incredibly relieved upon hearing this.

This was the result he wanted: the people lived in peace and prosperity, no longer suffering from war or hunger.

Surrounded by people, Liu Ce felt a warm glow in his heart as he listened to these words.

He smiled and responded to each person, chatting with them about everyday life, asking how many people were in their families, whether their children were in school, and if they had any difficulties.

An elderly woman with white hair, trembling, squeezed to the front, took Liu Ce's hand, and burst into tears:

"Your Highness, I've lived for sixty years and experienced the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Dong Zhuo... I live in constant fear and can't sleep soundly."

Ever since you came to Luoyang, life has gotten better every day. I, your old wife, can finally get a good night's sleep!

You are a living Bodhisattva sent down by God to save us from suffering!

Liu Ce held the old lady's hand and said softly, "Grandma, please don't say that. I just did what I was supposed to do. Ensuring that the people have enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, and a good life is what I promised you, and I kept my word."

The old woman cried even harder, and the people around her also wiped away their tears.

A young man pushed his way to the front, his face flushed, and said:

"Your Highness, I got married this year! Before, we were poor and no one wanted to marry me, but now that things are better, a girl from the next village asked a matchmaker to propose!"

Everyone laughed.

Liu Ce laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder:

"Good! Marry a wife, live a good life, have many children, and add to the Han Dynasty's population!"

The young man scratched his head and chuckled.

Several children curiously gathered around, hiding behind the adults and peeking out to peek at Liu Ce.

Liu Ce squatted down and beckoned to them: "Come here, let me take a look."

A little girl with pigtails walked out timidly, clutching a roasted sweet potato in her hand.

Liu Ce asked with a smile, "How old are you?"

The little girl held up three fingers, then pulled two back, and finally held up four: "Four... four years old."

Liu Ce patted her head: "Is the sweet potato delicious?"

The little girl nodded vigorously and said, "It's delicious! Daddy said these seeds were given to us by His Highness!"

Liu Ce was both amused and exasperated: "Your Highness, Grandpa? Am I that old?"

Everyone laughed again.

Several children ran over and surrounded Liu Chen and Liu Ying, looking at these "little princes" with curiosity.

Liu Chen, chest puffed out, spoke earnestly to a little boy:

"My dad is amazing! He's fought in so many battles!"

The little boy asked, "Will you fight in wars when you grow up?"

Liu Chen thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, I want to be like my father in the future, making sure that all the people have enough to eat!"

......

Cai Yan, Zhang Ning, Ren Hongchang, Du Xiuniang, Zou Yu, Zhen Jiang, Zhen Tuo, Zhen Dao, Zhen Rong, Zhen Mi, Mi Zhen, Gan Mei, He Lian, Yin Ying, Feng Yu, and Cai Wan—sixteen ladies—stood behind, their eyes shining as they watched Liu Ce chat and laugh with the people.

Zhang Ning whispered to Cai Yan, "Sister, look at our husband. He's even happier when he talks to the common people than when he's in court."

Cai Yan smiled slightly and said, "When a husband has the people in his heart, the people will naturally love and respect him. That is what makes a wise ruler."

Zhen Jiang nodded and said, "Of course. He's done so much just for this day, hasn't he?"

Ren Hongchang said, "My husband truly cares about the people; he doesn't just talk the talk."

As He Lian watched Liu Ce's retreating figure, she recalled how, back in the Luoyang palace, the common people would flee at the mere sight of the emperor as if they had seen a ghost.

And now? The people are crowding around him, eager to give Liu Ce the best of everything.

This is the difference.

He Lian touched her belly and said softly, "This child in my belly is truly blessed to be born in peaceful times."

Cai Yan smiled and said, "We are all blessed."

He Lian gently placed her hand on her slightly protruding belly, a gentle smile on her lips.

This is what Liu Ce looked like when I first saw him in the Luoyang Imperial Palace several years ago. At that time, he was a young Marquis of Champion, full of vigor and ambition, yet low-key and reserved.

Who could have imagined that he would unify the world in just a few years?

Zhen Jiang tugged at Zhen Mi's sleeve and whispered, "Sister, look at our husband, doesn't he look more and more like an emperor?"

Zhen Mi blushed and nodded, saying, "My husband already had it."

As the women looked at Liu Ce, the same thought arose in their hearts: he was like a ray of light, a ray of light that came to save the Han Dynasty and bring it back to its former glory.

An old man, watching the lively scene, exclaimed, "Your Highness is truly blessed! So many wives, so many children—this is a gift from Heaven!"

Liu Ce smiled and said, "Grandpa, this isn't just a gift from God, it's also a gift from you all. Only when you cultivate the land well and live a good life can I be at ease. And only when I'm at ease can I have more children!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Liu Ce chatted with the people with a smile, asking them how many people were in their families, how much land they cultivated, and whether their children were in school.

The people eagerly answered, creating a lively atmosphere like that of Chinese New Year.