Luo Ling's carriage left Zhao City, then entered the Grasslands through Youyan. On this visit to the Grasslands, he naturally could not expend his clan's reserves as he had last time. The Han Dynasty did not deserve such sacrifices from the Luo Clan. The Luo Clan had never done that even for their own Zhou State, much less a mere Han Dynasty.
Chang'an.
Ever since the army marched beyond the frontier, Changle Palace within the Imperial City had remained very quiet. Everyone knew the emperor was waiting for news from the Grasslands.
Amid this atmosphere, Luo Jing returned to Chang'an, then went to the Imperial Palace together with Jia Yi.
Liu Che tried his best to remain calm, but both men could still see the anxiety filling the young emperor's face beneath that facade.
After they paid their respects, Luo Jing immediately said, "Your Majesty, some days ago, I went to Zhao City to see my uncle, Grand Lord Duke Zhao. By now, Grand Lord Duke Zhao should already have set out for the Grasslands."
Liu Che froze at those words, then visibly relaxed somewhat. Such was Luo Ling's awe-inspiring hold over the world. He was a deity of the present age, possessed of boundless might. As long as he acted, everyone would feel reassured.
Liu Che fell silent for a moment. The Liu Che of the original world had possessed many flaws of character, but this world was different. Even Xiang Yu's brutality could be corrected, so how could someone like Liu Che remain exactly as he had been?
He was Emperor Xiaowen's second son by his primary wife, the empress's own flesh and blood. His path to the Imperial Throne had not been rough. He did not have so many overbearing maternal relatives monopolizing government affairs, and he