Besides that, the most important thing was that he thought the young masters of noble families in the capital must all be handsome enough.
Chapter 86
The next day, Wei Yutang had just finished court when he heard from his servants that the Crown Prince had come to see him the night before and that he had ordered someone to bring the Crown Prince over now.
She read the memorials while waiting for him to come over.
Last night, Xiaxia wrote down all her thoughts in a memorial and submitted it to her father.
They had to choose from the sons of officials in the capital, firstly for convenience, and secondly because they had a certain social status, so they didn't have to worry about offending people when doing certain things.
After reading it, Wei Yutang thought Xia Xia's idea was excellent, and immediately handed the matter over to Xia Xia to handle.
Xia Xia's eyes widened when he heard the news. The reason he submitted the memorial to his father was that he hoped his father could help him.
Unexpectedly, after going around in circles, this matter has ended up back on my head.
"Father, you..."
"I need to be with your father, I don't have time for these things."
When Xiaxia heard this, she didn't know how to answer for a moment. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence: "I also want to stay with my father."
“Your father told me that he must wait until you come of age before he can abdicate. Before that, you have to do these things yourself if you want to. I am just waiting for you to come of age so that I can take your father to Jiangnan.”
When Wei Yutang said this, he was exceptionally confident and didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said.
"Father, is it alright for you to just tell me like this?"
Xia Xia couldn't help but ask a question, and Wei Yutang smiled.
"What's wrong with it? Do you want to hear some high-sounding words? It's not that it's impossible."
"No need, I will go and prepare for this matter right away."
Since the news spread that the imperial court was preparing to establish a new department, many elders in the capital began to order their children to start working hard.
Although the news came from the Crown Prince, given the current situation in the court, what the Crown Prince said was no different from what His Majesty said.
Anyone with eyes can see that His Majesty's trust in the Crown Prince is extraordinary.
Even if the Crown Prince were sitting on the dragon throne, His Majesty would only think that he was tired.
Chu Qing was studying something else at the time. Since he had a lot of advanced knowledge in his mind that did not belong to this dynasty, it would be a pity not to make use of it.
So he tried every means to come up with many ideas, hoping that His Majesty could not only pay attention to state affairs, but also focus his attention on maritime trade.
Just then, Chu Qing heard about the Crown Prince's plan to do something, and she thought this operating model was good.
If some truly capable individuals can be selected from among them, this department could become the sharpest weapon in the emperor's hand.
When Xiaxia was selecting those people, she did not restrict them by gender. Nowadays, it is a normal thing for girls to go to school.
It was his father who brought this up in the first place, and as his father's child, he naturally wouldn't hold him back.
When the daughters of General Zhenguo heard the news that this department was about to be established, they were definitely the most excited people in the entire capital.
They learned martial arts from their fathers since they were young, and their dream was to ride on horseback to fight enemies and protect their country.
Unfortunately, their parents were unwilling to let them leave the capital. They were afraid that the mountains and roads were too high and the roads too long, that they would be harmed, that things would not go well on the battlefield, and that they would lose their daughters.
The department that the Crown Prince plans to establish is located in the capital, and it is not usually too far away.
Moreover, if possible, getting into this department would definitely be a source of great honor for one's family.
Upon hearing the news, the daughters of the general's mansion immediately went to their father, and the old general, unable to resist their coaxing, agreed.
By the time the general's wife found out, the matter was already settled. She scolded her husband a few times and angrily went back to her room.
On the day the crown prince was selecting people, he made sure his father accompanied him.
Most of the scions of prominent families in the capital have come today, even those whose martial arts skills are not particularly good want to come and try their hand at it.
In the first round, His Highness sat in the teahouse brewing tea for his father, bustling around with exceptional attentiveness.
No matter how glorious the Crown Prince may appear to outsiders, having gained the Emperor's trust and favor, in front of his father he is nothing more than an obedient son.
After Chu Qing waited for him to sit down, he picked up the cup of tea Chu Qing had brewed, tasted it, and asked:
"Among the people who came today, is there anyone you have taken a liking to?"
Before we even started, Xia Xia must have already received their information. Chu Qing had only glanced at it briefly and wasn't really sure who they were.
"Father, I like those guys from the General's Mansion."
Perhaps because of the sacrifices General Zhenguo made for them, of the ten brothers of the same generation, only he survived, while the rest died on the frontier battlefield.
Although General Zhenguo is alive and well, he has lost a leg, and His Highness admires him for that alone.
He was willing to believe that children raised in such a family environment would definitely not be bad.
Chu Qing had never formally met General Zhenguo before, but she had heard about his family from others and admired them greatly.
"If they're not bad, then we can consider giving them a second chance."
There has always been a strange rumor in the capital that General Zhenguo's bloodline is about to end here because he committed too many atrocities when he was young, so Heaven will only allow him to have daughters in this life.
Chu Qing frowned when he thought of this rumor. Firstly, he didn't think that General Zhenguo would be punished for the bloodshed he had committed to protect so many people.
Secondly, the second daughter of General Zhenguo has now taken the stage, kicking the previously smug young master of a prominent family off the stage.
Such an outstanding daughter, she is in no way inferior to others.
The Crown Prince nodded approvingly upon seeing this; the department he wanted most desired had such talent.
The Crown Prince only came to visit occasionally, but those who stayed on the last day not only saw the Crown Prince, but also the Empress and His Majesty.
Wei Yutang hadn't originally planned to come, but Chu Qing insisted on accompanying Xia Xia, and he didn't want to stay in the palace alone, so he had no choice but to come along.
The daughters of General Zhenguo's mansion were all the last ones to stay, giving a resounding slap in the face to those who had doubted them.
General Zhenguo also came today. He sat there, listening to the compliments from others. Although his face didn't show much expression, his pride was obvious at a glance.
His Majesty has only one son, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince has been raised to be so outstanding that he is the undisputed heir to the throne.
In this situation, following the crown prince is equivalent to following the future emperor.
Especially since it's a newly established department, His Majesty and the Crown Prince will both invest more energy in it; its future is truly limitless.
If it weren't for this, it wouldn't have attracted the attention of almost all the noble families in the capital, and even some纨绔 (playboys) dreamed of getting in.
As the weather gradually gets warmer, Chu Qing can't stand the heat and has already started using an ice basin by her side.
Wei Yutang was holding a fan in his hand, fanning him gently.
"Do you think it's good?"
After hearing his father's words, Xia Xia looked over. He was so focused on choosing what he liked that he didn't have time to ask his father's opinion.
If Father likes it, even if we don't join that department, staying by Father's side to serve him would be good.
"The men in the General's Mansion are all quite good."
Chu Qing gave a faint reply, her eyes lowered as she stared at the tea foam floating on the teacup.
Yesterday, he only mentioned that one of these people was not bad, and Wei Yutang gave him a beating, interrogating him at night whether he disliked him because he was now too old and could not compare to these young and handsome people.
Chu Qing was no longer as unguarded as she had been at the beginning, and even suspected that Wei Yutang might be using this opportunity as an excuse to continue his recklessness tonight.
Finally, the Crown Prince selected a total of twenty-six people for the first batch. These twenty-six were all outstanding individuals, impeccable in both martial arts and strategy.
Wei Yutang generously delegated authority, entrusting all matters to Xia Xia.
During the sweltering summer, he took Chu Qing to the imperial palace to escape the heat, while the crown prince was left in the capital to handle state affairs, ostensibly to train him.
Xia Xia wasn't really willing to believe his father's words about training him, but he knew all too well how much his father hated the heat. Even though he knew his father was lying, he could only continue to follow the lie without any other option.
It wasn't until autumn that Wei Yutang returned with Chu Qing. The day after they returned to the palace, they heard that some princes from small countries wanted to come and visit, and offer some tribute.
Because of their national strength, many small countries became their vassal states, paying tribute on a specific day each year.
This time, they had stayed at the palace for too long, which is why they heard the report shortly after returning.
The task of receiving the envoys from those vassal states was also entrusted to the Crown Prince. It was Xia Xia's first time handling such a matter, and she was so busy that she barely had time to breathe.
On the first day the envoy arrived in the capital, Xiaxia learned that one of the envoys was also the Crown Prince. Because they were of similar age, they inevitably exchanged a few more words.
The envoy, whom Xia Xia personally received, came from the grasslands. This prince was dressed in an exceptionally flamboyant bright red outfit. Despite his young age, he exuded a youthful spirit, was unrestrained and flamboyant, and had exquisitely handsome features.
"Are you the Crown Prince?"
"Yes, that's me."
After Xia Xia finished speaking, she stepped aside. Just as a minister beside her was about to introduce the pre-arranged palace to the others, the prince from the grasslands spoke up again:
You are so beautiful.
Chapter 87
Upon hearing this, Wei Xia took a step back. He didn't think it was a compliment at all, and the guard beside him frowned at the words.
"How dare you speak to His Highness like that!"
Realizing he had spoken out of turn, the young prince on the grassland covered his mouth with his hand and stared at Wei Xia with an innocent-looking blink.
Wei Xia himself was unhappy with the praise, but since his father had entrusted him with such an important task, he absolutely couldn't mess it up. With a gentle smile on his lips, he put on a refined and elegant demeanor and said:
"It's alright."
Chu Qing also heard the news here. He found it a little funny that Xia Xia was actually praised for her beauty. Just as he mentioned it to His Majesty, Xia Xia returned from outside.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Um."
Chu Qing carefully observed Xia Xia's expression, and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that he hadn't heard her. She then exchanged a glance with Wei Yutang.
"But you're tired, go back and rest."
After returning to the palace, Xiaxia subconsciously wanted to greet her father first. However, after hearing what her father said, she realized that she was indeed a little tired. After briefly explaining what had happened that day, she returned to her own palace.