Realistic governance games for both male and female audiences

Chapter 15 Wait a minute, don't tell the Empress Dowager!

"Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"

Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, was horrified to see Emperor Xiao Qingkuang preparing to drive his carriage; his voice even trembled slightly.

"No! No! Absolutely not! Your Majesty! Please have the eunuchs bring the carriage. How could I trouble Your Majesty to do this yourself..."

As Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, spoke, he made to jump down from the dragon carriage.

In the eyes of Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, it was utterly improper for the emperor to drive for his subjects.

If word got out that the emperor was personally driving for his ministers… Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, couldn’t even imagine the expressions on the faces of the entire court!

But would Xiao Qingkuang give him that chance?

With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Qingkuang gently pulled the reins, and the imperial horse slowly began to move.

At the same time, Xiao Qingkuang said in a deep voice, "Xiao Suyue! Do you dare disobey my orders? If you dare to act rashly again, I will punish you for disobeying my decree!"

Xiao Suyue froze, and had no choice but to sit back in the carriage, watching helplessly as the bright yellow figure, who had already mounted his horse, rode away.

To be honest, Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, never imagined that one day his elder brother, the emperor, would take the reins with his hands—hands that should have been used to review memorials and direct the affairs of the country—and personally drive the carriage for his younger brother!

Meanwhile, the eunuchs around them were already terrified.

At this moment, they knelt on the ground, not daring to lift their heads!

After all, the scene before them was something they had never seen before!

As for Xiao Suyue, who was sitting in the car at this moment, looking at the back of the person in front of the car who was willing to lower his status, he felt his eyes burning and the ice in his heart was completely shattered at this moment!

"drive!"

Xiao Qingkuang gave a soft shout, and the imperial horse, with steady steps, carried Prince Su slowly toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Sunlight streamed onto the dragon carriage, casting long, bright yellow shadows, as if to bind the hearts of the two brothers tightly together...

……

……

In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the rain fell like fine threads, creating a hazy atmosphere between heaven and earth.

Earlier, when Emperor Xiao Qingkuang was driving the chariot for his younger brother, Prince Su Xiao Suyue, it was already raining.

However, even so, Xiao Qingkuang still showed no intention of changing drivers, and insisted on driving the carriage to its destination—not far from the Hall of Supreme Harmony—before stopping!

Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, who had just stepped down from his carriage, soon found his princely robe damp from the drizzle.

"You've been away from home for so long, and I've always kept you, my younger brother, in my heart."

During their journey, Xiao Qingkuang, the emperor's elder brother, broke the silence first.

He turned his head, looking at his younger brother with a kind expression, a rare tenderness in his eyes: "Although there are many princes with the surname Xiao, to me, you are different! After all, only you and I are siblings born of the same mother!"

The patter of rain couldn't mask the deliberate intimacy conveyed in these words.

"In the past, I may not have been considerate of you in every way, but..." Xiao Qingkuang paused slightly, then sighed softly, seemingly with a hint of helplessness, "You know the situation in the court. And to be honest, managing this household... is really not easy for me!"

Upon hearing this, Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, felt a slight stirring in his heart.

He turned to look at his brother beside him, and saw that his brother's face, which should have been aloof and inscrutable, now showed signs of weariness and honesty.

Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, immediately stopped and bowed respectfully, his tone earnest and sincere:

"Your Majesty, I understand!"

"Your Majesty, I myself govern the Western Frontier and know firsthand how difficult it is to govern a region. Your Majesty, however, rules the entire realm and manages countless affairs daily, making your task even more challenging than mine!"

…………

After a slight pause, Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, seemed to remember something, and suddenly knelt on one knee, performing a grand salute.

"Your Majesty, I was truly humbled and honored to have driven for me!" Xiao Suyue's voice trembled slightly, whether from excitement or some other emotion, it was unclear. "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

Before Xiao Qingkuang could answer, he raised his head, his eyes filled with concern and anxiety, and advised:

"Your Majesty is a ruler of ten thousand chariots, the supreme sovereign; how could you personally ride a four-horse chariot at breakneck speed?"

"If this gets out, wouldn't it shock the whole world?"

"What if the horse breaks out and the carriage crashes? What will become of us then?"

"Even if Your Majesty does not cherish yourself, you should at least think of the late Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and even the people of the land!"

…………

At this moment, Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, earnestly advised Emperor Xiao Qingkuang, his tone filled with worry.

To be honest, the scene of His Majesty driving the carriage for Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, was truly exhilarating, but the lingering fear... was also genuine!

If the emperor drives his younger brother's carriage and something happens, the younger brother will definitely be in deep trouble. Even if nothing happens, he will inevitably be attacked by the upright officials and civil ministers in the court afterwards!

In short, having His Majesty drive for him is, no matter how you look at it, a matter that does more harm than good!

but……

"The emperor driving for me...it's so great!"

Although he had only been out of the carriage for a short time, Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, was already beginning to miss the feeling of his emperor brother driving for him!

……

……

"Arise! Arise! Arise!"

Looking at Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, who was still kneeling on the ground with a look of admonition on his face, Xiao Qingkuang quickly stepped forward, bent down, and helped his younger brother up with both hands.

At this moment, Xiao Qingkuang's act of helping him up was very natural, and he even had a hearty smile on his face, as if the person who had just been driving in the rain was not him at all.

"We're all brothers, no need for such formalities," Xiao Qingkuang said, helping Xiao Suyue up and patting the rain off his shoulder. To Xiao Suyue's surprise, he winked slyly. "Don't tell the Empress Dowager about me driving the carriage today!"

Upon hearing his elder brother's words, Xiao Suyue was slightly taken aback.

Immediately, scenes from his childhood flashed through his mind.

When he was a child, after he and his older brother got into trouble, his brother would always remind him not to tell the Empress Dowager.

Now that his elder brother is the emperor, his words still carry a touch of childlike playfulness.

The slight sense of alienation that Xiao Suyue felt due to power dissipated considerably in an instant.

Looking at the man before him who was both a king and an elder brother, a relieved smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

Prince Su, Xiao Suyue, smiled reassuredly at his elder brother, the emperor, and nodded solemnly, just as he had in childhood: "Your subject understands, Your subject will not speak!"

The rain was still falling, but the two brothers walking side by side appeared exceptionally harmonious in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, as if the nation itself was warmed by this deep brotherly affection...