NOVGO.NET Chapter 1768 - 1767: Going on a Tour
Chapter 1768: Chapter 1767: Going on a Tour
After accomplishing this goal, Yang Wenxiao made a personal trip to Anping Village to relocate the graves of Gu Yu and Liuli to the Capital City.
As he aged, Yang Wenxiao no longer harbored resentment toward Gu Yu. The past had faded like the wind, and those events were from seventy or eighty years ago. He chose instead to remember the good qualities of Gu Yu and Liuli.
In these recent years, even though Yang Wenxiao’s body had been nourished by the Spiritual Spring water from Qiao Xiaomai, he continued to age day by day. The Divine Liquid alone could not withstand the ravages of time.
Yang Wenxiao understood his own physical condition better than anyone else. He decided to take one last trip through Daqi while he still could.
Now that the bluestone roads were fully repaired, the ride was much smoother, and with the canal built, one could travel seamlessly from the Capital City to the East Sea, crossing a majority of Daqi. Traveling by water was now even more stable.
Yang Wenxiao planned to set out on a royal tour, and many people became busy with preparations. Emperor Yongan would accompany him, while Yang Hao stayed behind to manage state affairs, and Yang Ye and Bei Lingsu remained in the Capital City as well.
Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang brought Gu Zhen and Gu Xin along for the trip, while Bei Yun, in his capacity as a physician, joined the entourage.
A royal tour first required the planning of travel routes. Along the way, local officials had to prepare to greet the procession, and temporary palaces had to be built to accommodate guests. Addressing all these logistical needs was an immense undertaking. From the moment Yang Wenxiao decided to embark on the tour to the actual departure from the Capital City, it took a full six months.
In the sunny spring of March, a procession stretching dozens of miles set off along the bluestone roads. This journey would last two years. Knowing this would be his final tour in life, Yang Wenxiao cherished the scenery and memories of each place he visited, savoring the local customs and culture. He even commissioned artists to paint the magnificent landscapes of Mount Jiang.
Bei Yun was one of these artists. As the influence of the aristocratic families waned, the value of his rather mediocre paintings had dropped, but it was better than nothing. He’d never intended to rely on his artwork to support himself; with Bei Lingsu’s backing, he had unrestricted access to the resources of both the Bei family and the Prince Wei Residence. Painting was merely a recreational activity for him.
Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang, following Yang Ye’s instructions, had been keeping an eye out over these past few years for a suitable match for Bei Yun. Even though Bei Yun maintained a youthful complexion, his actual age was approaching fifty. If a caring partner wasn’t found soon, he truly risked a lifetime of solitude.
Back in the Capital City, there hadn’t been many fresh faces, but now, as they toured Daqi, the pair treated every stop as if they were selecting a consort, asking local officials if there were any suitable young women.
Although Bei Yun’s age was advanced, his face still resembled someone in their early twenties. Coupled with his abilities, and most importantly, his consumption of the Divine Liquid, he had another fifty years of vitality ahead, making it reasonable to seek out a younger bride.
Of course, younger women might lack the maturity to be empathetic companions. Worse still, if they encountered someone stubborn like Qiao Xiaomai, it would be truly disastrous. So, they didn’t impose strict age requirements—whatever pleased Bei Yun would suffice.
Bei Yun was fully aware of the couple’s matchmaking efforts. Every time he’d mockingly laugh as he scrutinized and nitpicked the portraits brought to him.
In truth, it wasn’t entirely his fault. Having known both Bei Lingsu and Qiao Xiaomai, ordinary girls failed to capture his interest.
According to Bei Yun, his ideal match would be a prodigy from an aristocratic family hidden overseas, someone with a background similar to Bei Lingsu’s. He welcomed such a bride wholeheartedly.
As soon as he shared this thought, it triggered ridicule from Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang.
“Why would a prodigy from an aristocratic family fall for an old man nearly fifty years old?”
Bei Yun, feeling unfairly judged, immediately retorted that his psychological age was, in fact, still in his teens. He accused Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang of blatant age discrimination.