Chapter 36

Liu Ju was waiting with great interest, but he didn't expect that he would have to wait for two or three months.

Of course, Liu Ju wasn't idle during this time either. With Emperor Liu Che's approval, horse harnesses were fully deployed to the cavalry, and nearly every member of the imperial family and dignitaries in the capital was equipped with one.

Liu Ju's jackpot suddenly lost its appeal, but the events he organized still attracted a lot of attention.

Playing polo, Cuju, hunting, horse racing...

There were endless activities and Liu Ju had a lot of fun. Even though he couldn't participate in some of them, he was very happy just to watch.

In this joyful atmosphere, time flies by like a fleeting horse. Spring arrives, and the weather gradually warms up.

In early February, Liu Ju was born.

Children always love celebrating their birthdays because it's a day they receive many blessings and gifts. Even if they make some slightly unreasonable requests, the elders will happily agree and tolerate their childish whims.

Liu Ju was so excited that he took a long time to fall asleep the night before. He was in a deep sleep when Feng He pulled him out of the warm bed.

Liu Ju frowned and snorted, forcing his eyes open a crack. "What time is it?"

It seemed like someone was answering beside him, but Liu Ju sat up, his mind was not awake at all, and he didn't hear anything. He just snorted twice in displeasure, and his eyelids couldn't hold up anymore, so they closed again.

Feng He was helpless and suggested, "The time is almost up, and we can't miss it. How about I help Your Highness wash up? If Your Highness is really tired, you can just close your eyes and take a nap for a while, okay?"

Liu Ju's mind was in a mess, and he didn't understand what these words meant. He nodded subconsciously, and his little head was shaking from side to side.

Feng He had no choice but to hold up his head and called Yu Sui and Sheng Gu to come forward to help. The three of them helped Liu Ju change his clothes, wash his face, and put his hair into a bun.

Liu Ju dozed off the whole time, letting them play with him. When he regained consciousness and could barely open his eyes, he was already on the emperor's sedan chair. When he looked up, he met Liu Che's gaze.

Liu Che smiled and said, "Awake? You woke up just in time. You're already at the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Taimiao?

Only then did Liu Ju realize that the imperial sedan chair was heading east of the palace gate, and that the Imperial Ancestral Temple was directly in front of it. Furthermore, the sky was just beginning to turn pale, and it was dark, but the path leading to the Imperial Ancestral Temple was ablaze with lights, and civil and military officials, dressed in court robes, were waiting nearby. There was even a raised platform in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The scene was grand and solemn.

Looking down at what he was wearing, he saw that it was not his usual attire either. It was black and red, with complicated layers.

Liu Ju's face was full of confusion, and he vaguely remembered that Fenghe had told him before that he couldn't miss the time.

Taimiao, time.

He was familiar with this situation. Wasn't it the same every year during the sacrifice?

Liu Ju sat up straight instantly, his expression growing serious. He understood that the most important affairs of state lay in sacrifice and warfare. While other matters could be neglected, sacrifices were paramount, and neglecting them was unacceptable.

But then he became confused again.

What day is today?

His birthday, what else? Nothing. What else? Absolutely nothing.

Liu Ju thought about it three times, absolutely certain that it wasn't happening. After all, birthdays happened every year, and it hadn't happened like this before. So there was only one possibility. Occasions like this, aside from specific annual sacrificial ceremonies, only happened during major events.

event?

Natural disaster, man-made disaster, or something else?

While Liu Ju was still pondering, the imperial sedan chair had already reached the Taimiao Temple. The carriage stopped, and a eunuch immediately brought a low stool. Liu Che got off the stool, and Liu Ju followed closely behind.

The two men entered the Taimiao, and the Taichang Doctor came forward to lead them.

The Taizhu sang in unison, and at his prompting, Liu Ju knelt and saluted, then knelt and saluted again. After a series of procedures were completed, he just stood up, and was then led up to the platform by Liu Che's hand, where he knelt and saluted again, continuing the series of procedures.

Liu Ju was full of doubts.

This was different from the sacrifices he had attended before, completely different. Was there something wrong?

He wanted to ask, but the current situation was clearly not the right time to ask. So no matter how confused he was, he could only suppress it, put away all his temper, and do as he was told.

Finally the process is coming to an end.

The Grand Master took a piece of silk from the attendant and unfolded it, and a sonorous and loud voice echoed in the hall.

"At first, Emperor Gaozu braved the wind and rain, toiled and worried, and wielded the yellow axe and white flag for six years before the world finally united. The Wen and Jing emperors worked tirelessly, and now the great achievements have been made. The emperor has collected rumors from the people and examined the orthodox tradition. This is a great event for a king.

“…

"Since the rise of the Han Dynasty, there have been several philosophers like him, whose names have been passed down to the world..."

After a long speech praising the emperor's achievements, Doctor Taichang pursed his lips and got to the point.

"The importance of the heir apparent strengthens the ancestral lineage. A virtuous and virtuous person brings prosperity to all nations. The eldest son of the Emperor, Ju, is intelligent and wise, of excellent character, tolerant and compassionate. He is hereby appointed Crown Prince. The relevant authorities will complete the formalities and appoint him in due course. This is hereby announced to Heaven and Earth, and presented to the ancestral temple."

As soon as the words fell, all the officials bowed and shouted in unison: "Congratulations to your majesty, congratulations to the crown prince. Long live your majesty, and long live the crown prince!"

Liu Ju:!!!

Confused, very confused, extremely confused.

He had thought of countless "big events" that required sacrifices to the Taimiao, but he had never imagined it would be this one; he had also long known from the barrage that he would one day become the prince, but he had never imagined it would be today.

"Crown Prince? Your Highness, please accept my order and express your gratitude."

The Doctor of Taichang beside him gave Liu Ju a gentle reminder, which barely brought him back to his senses, but his expression was still blank and he didn't know how to react.

Liu Che laughed, took the silk from him, and stuffed it into Liu Ju's arms. He helped him up from the ground, touched his head and said lovingly, "Why, is this such a big surprise that you're so happy you've gone silly?"

Liu Ju: ...surprise? This is the surprise you've been waiting for for over two months? You made me wake up so early, I barely slept, and this is the result!

Liu Ju took a deep breath. He felt that he was not very happy. Firstly, he was not very interested in the position of crown prince. Secondly...

Liu Ju raised his eyes and looked at the barrage.

——Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter. He's so happy he's silly. Liu Che really doesn't have any ACD in his mind, he's lying with his eyes open. Look at your son, does he look happy? He's obviously silly with fear. After all, this is the Crown Prince.

Being a crown prince in ancient times was truly a high-risk job. How many of those who were prematurely appointed crown princes in history achieved a happy ending? Furthermore, Liu Che was a long-lived emperor, outliving even Kangxi. Just imagine the future, and I wonder if it would be suffocating.

Even though the princes were now under the jurisdiction of the central government, they still held considerable power. If I were a time traveler, wouldn't it be nice to rely on favors to secure a nice fiefdom and live a carefree life as a local tyrant? Why tremble in fear, treading on thin ice, beside a ferocious tiger?

—The above person is overthinking things. Liu Ju had already created the compass, Kongming lantern, and horse harness. If he could restrain himself and stop there, becoming a "Zhongyong" whose talent ran out, perhaps it would be possible. If he could not resist and invent a few more infrastructures, his achievements would be too great and the people would be too eager for him. Even if he was not the crown prince, I bet the emperor would not be afraid of him and would grant him a fiefdom?

If that's the case, it's better to become the crown prince. Use your status as the crown prince to quickly accumulate capital and cultivate a team. As long as he has outstanding achievements, a strong reputation, and the trust of his subjects, and then protects Huo from death, whether history repeats itself or another situation arises, he will have the capital to counterattack, seize the opportunity, kill people indiscriminately, and replace Liu Che.

To replace the father...

Liu Ju's heart skipped a beat and he even missed a breath.

He pondered the comments carefully. He truly had a wealth of information in his head, and he certainly couldn't afford to hold onto so much that would benefit the nation and its people, and would make the Han Dynasty prosper and invincible, yet for various reasons, he hesitated and refused to use it.

so……

Liu Ju took a deep breath and tightened the imperial edict in his hand.

He had to be the crown prince, and there were things he had to do. But the time was still long before he could take over, so who said he couldn't find another way?

Liu Ju raised his head and said solemnly, "Thank you, father. I will follow your teachings and work diligently to care for the people, cherish the long-lasting rule, and serve the people with all my heart."

"good!"

Liu Che narrowed his eyes and his face was full of smiles.

The imperial edict was issued and the sacrifices were completed. Father and son returned to the palace in the imperial carriage. Liu Che still had some state affairs to attend to, so he summoned the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Minister of the Imperial Household to the Xuanshi Hall, while Liu Ju went straight to the Pepper Room.

Wei Zifu and the three princesses were there, and Liu Ju immediately asked for the gift.

The four of them all smiled and had someone bring out their gifts one by one: a set of Luban locks that were well-made and intricately crafted; a six-in-one ring jade pendant that could be disassembled and played with; a huge silk bird kite; and an exquisite Liubo chess set.

None of them were unusual, but they were all Liu Ju's favorites.

Liu Ju was overjoyed and turned to ask Wei Qing and Huo Qubing who had followed him.

Wei Qing smiled and took out a bow. "I heard that Your Majesty has begun arranging archery lessons for Your Highness, so I have made a bow for Your Highness."

As soon as Liu Ju took it, he found the touch was unusual.

Because he wanted to learn archery, he recently learned a little about bow and arrow making. A bow is made of wood, horn, sinew, glue, silk, and lacquer.

The bow in his hand is made of Tuo wood, which is not only tough and strong, but also corrosion-resistant and durable; the horns used are from strong cows slaughtered in autumn, with a thick texture; the tendon ends are large and moist; the glue is high-quality fish glue, which can make the bow body tightly combined and will not separate the force.

But to select these things, they need to be hammered repeatedly. The so-called handmade ones show Wei Qing's dedication.

Liu Ju raised his head and said crisply, "Thank you, uncle. I like it very much."

Huo Qubing asked again: "What about you?"

Huo Qubing laughed: "How can you be so shameless as to ask for gifts one by one?"

Liu Ju disagreed: "I gave you a birthday present, but you didn't give me one. You're left empty-handed. Aren't you ashamed?"

Huo Qubing: ...

He curled his lips, knowing that this kid's words had become more and more vicious recently, and he was afraid that he could not win an argument with him, so he stopped the topic wisely and took out the gift box he had prepared.

Inside the box was a dagger. Its surface was plain, without a single ornamentation. When it was pulled out, it was still plain, and even slightly black.

Liu Ju was a little disappointed. "My uncle made me a bow himself, and you sent me away with an ordinary dagger? You can't have made it yourself, right? Are you also a blacksmith?"

Huo Qubing rolled his eyes and said nothing. He plucked out a strand of hair and threw it into the air. The hair fell and touched the dagger, and it was instantly cut in two.

Liu Ju opened his eyes wide, and Huo Qubing snorted, "If you despise it so much, just give it back to me."

Liu Ju immediately stuffed the dagger into the wooden box and held it in his arms: "How can you take back what you gave to someone else? If you don't want to give it to me, then don't give it to me. If you give it to me, then it's mine."

Everyone couldn't help laughing.

Afterwards, concubines and beauties from various palaces came to pay their respects and present congratulatory gifts. They were to celebrate Liu Ju's birthday and his appointment as crown prince, so the gifts were much more substantial than in previous years.

After everyone left, Liu Ju looked at the rows of things displayed. They were so varied and dazzling that he became more and more delighted.

In fact, he has been living a life of luxury since he was born, and he has never lacked any rare items. But the meaning is different, so how can he not be happy about the birthday gift?

After returning from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the pent-up anger he'd felt dissipated completely. Liu Ju clutched his chest and sighed, "So, being a crown prince does have its advantages. Ah, I feel like my wounded heart has been healed instantly."

Liu Che, who happened to be walking to the door from Xuanshi Hall, said:

Is there a benefit? Injury?

Was this referring to the position of Crown Prince? Did he hear it wrong?

Just as he was wondering, he heard Huo Qubing's doubtful voice: "The Crown Prince is the heir to the throne of a country, do you still think he is not good enough?"

Liu Che paused, subconsciously took two steps back, and acted like a palace maid or eunuch going inside to report.

inside the house.

"I can't say it's bad, it's just... well..."

Liu Ju shook his head in confusion, stammering and looking hesitant.

To be honest, his thoughts were a little confused and his mood was a little complicated. He couldn't fully understand his attitude towards the position of Crown Prince, and how he should look at it. He couldn't even express the reasons. After thinking for a while, he could only say:

"I'm just a little disappointed. Father promised me a surprise. I've been looking forward to it every day for over two months, but... well... I think the surprise I expected isn't quite what Father expected."

Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows: "So what kind of surprise do you think it will be?"

Liu Ju tilted his head and thought about it. He couldn't figure out what the surprise he was expecting would be like, but he was sure of one thing: "It's not like this."

Liu Che: ...???

He walked in: "Don't you like this surprise?"

Everyone was stunned and saluted. Wei Zifu quickly explained, "Your Majesty, my son is still young and doesn't understand your good intentions. I will talk to him properly. He..."

As soon as he started, he was interrupted by Liu Che who raised his hand. Liu Che looked at Liu Ju, waiting for his answer.

Liu Ju hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth: "It's not that I dislike it. It's just that I had high expectations, but the result was a little disappointing. I... I know that my father put a lot of thought into preparing this surprise for me.

"Normally, appointing a crown prince is just a matter of issuing an imperial edict to the world. But my father specially performed the ritual of offering sacrifices to heaven and reporting to the temple for me, and even ordered Sima Xiangru to write the document, which shows how much he values ​​me. I... I shouldn't have thought that way."

He understood the truth, but he just couldn't help feeling lost.

Thinking of this, Liu Ju pursed his lips, and suddenly felt a little guilty and even a little confused.

Liu Che beckoned him to his side and asked, "In Juer's eyes, what does the prince represent?"

Liu Ju thought for a moment and said, "The Crown Prince must shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting the ancestral temple and the country. He must constantly reflect on himself, take the Han Dynasty as his own responsibility, and work for the well-being of the people. I must work very hard to be worthy of it."

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Che instantly understood the crux of the matter and chuckled, "What you said is true, but there is more to it than that. As you know, the Crown Prince has an office under his command that can recruit talented people and train his own officials. For example, Baishan, Yansui, Canghai, and Chaonan. If you wish, you can bring them under your command and give them corresponding official positions."

Liu Ju was stunned.

Liu Che continued, "The Crown Prince can also issue a decree, which can be spread not only in the capital but also throughout the country. For example, as you mentioned earlier, you issued a decree to recruit outstanding craftsmen."

Liu Ju was even more stunned.

Eh, so when he proposed it, his father said wait, there's no rush. Did he want to wait until he becomes the crown prince, and then issue this order in the name of the crown prince?

If the emperor issued an edict, even though he had proposed it and had some credit, it was only one credit. But if he had issued the edict, all those recruited would be his followers.

Liu Ju understood the difference, and because of this, his eyes widened in surprise.

Liu Che smiled and handed him another imperial edict: "The edict to appoint the crown prince is a surprise from the emperor. This is another birthday gift I prepared for you."

Liu Ju took it and took a look. It was clearly written on it: Changle Palace is now designated as the Crown Prince's Palace. The Shaofu is also ordered to build Bowang Garden for the Crown Prince, which will serve as a place outside the Crown Prince's Palace to receive scholars, communicate with guests, and satisfy their interests.

Everyone present was shocked.

Forget about the Crown Prince's Palace. But recruit talented people and make guests...

Liu Ju is only six or seven years old. Isn't this a bit too early?

Wei Zifu took a deep breath, her lips moving as she hesitated to speak. The imperial decree had already been issued, and Liu Che's decision was not hers to make. However, this "birthday ceremony" was excessively grand, and coupled with the previous sacrifice to heaven and temple to establish the crown prince, although she was happy, she was also a little worried.

Liu Che waved his hands and didn't care.

Liu Ju accepted it happily without pretense, then raised his eyes and asked, "Father just summoned the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of the Imperial Household, and others to the Xuanshi Hall to discuss this matter?"

Liu Che nodded.

"Father, you are so good to me."

Liu Ju reached out and hugged him, feeling even more guilty. This was because of the loss just now, and even more because he blamed himself for being affected by the barrage.

His father always thinks of him and goes to such lengths for him, so how could they end up like the ending described in the comments?

No. Definitely not.

Liu Ju clenched his fists and instantly became full of confidence.

Liu Che patted his head and asked, "Are you happy now?"

Liu Ju lowered his head in embarrassment. Seeing his kind attitude and doting eyes, he began to press his case further: "Where does your Majesty plan to build my Bowang Garden? How big will it be?"

Liu Che: ???

"Father, could you please build me a racecourse in Bowang Garden, similar to the one at Shanglin Garden? It doesn't have to be huge, just enough for my use. It would be great for horse racing, archery, hunting, polo, and yes, even cuju."

"Although it's for my official work, since it's built, can't it also be used for some entertainment? Horse racing and hunting are of course good, and playing polo and cuju can also strengthen the body. It's not just for fun."

Liu Che: ...

Wei Zifu gently pulled him, shook her head in disapproval and reminded him: "Ju'er!"

Liu Ju had no choice but to shut up, but he kept looking around with his little eyes, gently twisting his fingers, staring longingly, like a poor puppy.

Liu Che couldn't help laughing: "If you have any ideas, just raise them with the Minister of the Imperial Household. As long as they are not too extreme, I will follow your lead."

Liu Ju's eyes suddenly lit up: "Thank you, Father! Long live the Emperor! I love you the most!"

He leaped up and gave Liu Che another bear hug. Liu Che was almost knocked down by his momentum. Before he could recover, Liu Ju had already slipped down and raised his hands excitedly: "I also prepared gifts for my father, the emperor, and my mother."

Liu Che and Wei Zifu were both stunned: "A gift for us?"

Liu Ju nodded. "A child's birthday is also a mother's day of suffering. My mother carried me for ten months, going through untold hardships to give birth to me. My father was also nervous for ten months, carefully caring for me, waiting anxiously outside the delivery room until dawn. Only then did he welcome my birth."

This was quite true. Liu Che had been childless for over a decade on the throne, and when Wei Zifu became pregnant with their fourth child, several doctors at the Imperial Medical Bureau diagnosed it as highly likely to be a boy. Liu Che was both delighted and apprehensive, making numerous arrangements, wishing he could protect every hair of Wei Zifu's head to prevent any accidents.

This child was born amid his endless anticipation, filled with his earnest wishes and desires at the time.

Fortunately, God has a vision and this is indeed a boy, a smart, wise, caring and considerate child to his parents.

Liu Che looked at Liu Ju with an increasingly loving gaze.

Facing his scorching gaze, Liu Ju felt guilty for a moment. You know, he originally only thought that the child's birthday was the mother's suffering day. As for the father? That was because he considered that his father was the emperor and could not fall behind others, so he reluctantly added it.

Ahem…

Liu Ju cleared his throat and continued with a smile, "So my father and mother prepared a birthday gift for me, and I should also prepare a thank you gift for you. Thank you for bringing me into this world."

Hug Liu Che and then hug Wei Zifu.

The soft body and the sweet voice made Wei Zifu's heart melt, and the smile on Liu Che's face became more genuine.

Liu Ju clapped his hands, and the maid brought up two trays, each containing four objects of strange shapes that he had never seen before.

Everyone looked puzzled: "What is this?"

Liu Che picked up one of them, which had a short handle with a round wooden frame on top and a crystal clear lens inside the frame.

"Liuli?"

Liu Ju shook his head: "It's not glass, it's resin."

Liu Che became even more confused.

Liu Juyan asked, "Father, do you remember when I first made the compass, I used slices of amber, polished it, and used it as a cover for the magnetic needle?"

Liu Che naturally remembered it.

Liu Ju continued: "Many trees, such as pine and peach trees, secrete resin. This resin drips down and is buried underground. Over a long period of time, it precipitates and petrifies, becoming amber.

"Existing trees secrete resins that haven't been petrified by time. They're softer than amber, solidify when cold, and melt when hot. Examples include peach gum and rosin.

"You just need to choose the right resin and you can melt it into any shape you want. Just like the amber we used before, it can be sliced, ground and polished."

Liu Che understood immediately. Huo Qubing picked up another one in amazement and looked at it: "It is transparent and clear, without any impurities. It looks like glass, but it is more transparent than glass."

Liu Ju looked up and said, "That's because our current glassmaking process is so poor, the texture is impure, and it's prone to bubbles. Especially colorless glass, which is even less pure and harder than colored glass."

"If we can make colorless glass that's as clear as water, then we can use it to make lenses. Resin lenses and glass lenses each have their own advantages."

"Lens?" Huo Qubing knocked on the mirror. "It's a strange shape, not an ordinary decoration. Any other explanation?"

Liu Ju had a scroll of bamboo slips brought over: "Father, you and your uncle and cousin should hold a mirror up to the words on it and try it out."

The three of them looked at each other, did as they were told, and were all stunned: "Why... why is the text so much bigger?"

The three men moved the magnifying glass away, put it back on, moved it away, and put it back on again.

After two or three times, it was finally confirmed that the text on the bamboo slips was still the same text, and it was all because of the lens.

Seeing that they were having so much fun, Shi Yi clamored that he wanted to try it too, so he passed the magnifying glass around among everyone, and everyone was amazed.

Shi Yi even grabbed Liu Ju and yelled, "How amazing! How did you do that?"

Liu Ju pointed at the magnifying glass and said, "Touch the lens. Is it thick in the middle and thin around the edges, like a convex lens? This is called a convex lens. It has a converging effect and can magnify objects."

Shi Yi felt the touch in his hand and was very surprised: "Really?"

He picked up a pair of glasses with earrings on one side. "This one too. Thick in the middle and thin around the edges."

Then he pointed at the words on the bamboo slips: "It can be magnified, too. Just like that one."

Shi Yi frowned: "A single lens is larger and more convenient to use, but these two lenses are not that easy to use."

Liu Ju rolled his eyes, took it and put it on his nose. "That's a handheld magnifier, and these are glasses. The principle is the same, but the difference is significant. This is how glasses are used. One on the left and one on the right, fitting the distance between your eyes, attach the earpieces, and hang them on your nose and ears, like this. You don't have to hold it in your hands, and it's much more convenient to see."

Shi Yi tried it and took it off instantly: "I feel dizzy."

Liu Ju sneered, "Of course. This is for people who are getting older and have blurry eyesight. You're not blurry-eyed, so of course you'll feel dizzy wearing it."

Blurred eyesight?

Liu Che and Wei Zifu receiving the gift: ...

Liu Ju reacted and coughed lightly, saying, "My father and mother are in their prime, so naturally their eyesight won't be dim. I'm giving it to you as a reward."

"Although everyone's vision is different and the required lens thickness is also different, for regular prescriptions, there will always be someone who can use it. And this."

Holding up another pair of glasses, he said, "It's the exact opposite of the previous pair. It's thin in the middle and thick around the edges. It's a concave lens, so it has a diverging effect. Convex lenses can see far away, so they're suitable for those with blurred vision. Concave lenses, on the other hand, can see close up, so they're suitable for young people who've overused their eyes through long periods of reading, calligraphy, or weaving and embroidery, and have damaged their eyes."

With the previous experience of Shiyi as a lesson, Liu Che did not wear it in front of his eyes. Instead, he closed one eye and opened the other, and tested it from a distance, and found that it was indeed the case.

Liu Che was confused: ...So he is the type who overuses his eyes?

Liu Ju blinked and raised his eyebrows proudly: "That's not all. I'll show you a magic trick."

I got up and walked outside. It was noon and the sun was shining brightly.

Liu Ju asked Fenghe to take the hay and sawdust that he had prepared earlier, pile them on the ground, and use a magnifying glass to face the sunlight, allowing the light to pass through the lens and gather into a point. After a while, the hay and sawdust began to smoke and combust.

Everyone was stunned.

Liu Ju proudly shook the magnifying glass in his hand. "This is what's called convergence. It focuses vision, and also focuses light. All the sunlight is concentrated into a small point, and the temperature is also concentrated, which can produce smoke and fire.

"Isn't it very useful? It's small and convenient, and can be carried with you. Whether you're playing outdoors or marching and fighting, as long as there is sunlight, you can use it to make fire."

Liu Che, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing inhaled at the same time.

Liu Ju had already set the magnifying glass aside and picked up the last "long tube": "There is one last thing left, and this is the most important one. It's called a telescope."

"Telescopic?"

Liu Che murmured. If a magnifying glass can magnify, then a telescope can also...

As soon as the thought came to mind, Liu Ju said: "Convex lenses converge, and concave lenses diverge. Combining the two, we can see far away."

He held up the telescope and demonstrated manually while explaining verbally.

Liu Che picked up another one and did the same. When he saw it, his heart trembled: "That is... that is Cangchi Jiantai!"

Seeing Cangchi and Jiantai was nothing special. Cangchi was located in front of the southern part of the Jiaofang Palace, and Jiantai was so high that one could see far into the distance. However, normally, one could only see a blurry image with the naked eye. However, with a telescope, one could clearly see the pillars of the platform, and even vaguely make out the carvings on them.

Seeing his expression, Wei Qing immediately understood what he meant. He took the item from Liu Ju and examined it before handing it to Huo Qubing. The emperor, his ministers, and their two companions all changed color, their expressions solemn.

Liu Ju continued, and every word he spoke reached his ears.

"This is a small telescope, and it's only a preliminary one. Currently, it can only observe distances about ten times greater than human vision. I'll have Baishan continue researching and refining it, aiming to increase it to twenty or thirty times."

Twenty times, thirty times! Liu Che and the other two's pupils trembled.

Liu Ju narrowed his eyes and said, "With this, I can see polo and Cuju matches more clearly from now on. In the past, I could only see the overall picture, but now I can also see the details of each individual's performance."

Liu Che, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing's hearts sank. "...What did you say? Say it again? You made this thing just to watch the game more clearly? Are you serious?"

Liu Ju coughed twice and touched his nose: "Of course, it is more efficient and convenient for military scouts to spy on the enemy."

Three people: ...Haha, you know that!

Liu Che's hands were shaking, and he almost dropped the telescope. He was half happy, half angry.

He frowned and asked, "When were these things made?"

"It's been a few days, I've been waiting to give it to Father and Mother today."

Several days...

Liu Che gritted his teeth and said, "You are really patient!"

Liu Ju curled his lips and disagreed.

You kept this surprise a secret for over two months, without letting me know. It's only been a few days since I've been here. Who of us has the nerve to hold our breath? How dare you criticize me?

Liu Che snorted lightly, took down both telescopes and handed them to Wu Changshi, glanced at Liu Ju coldly, called Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, and left in a hurry.

Liu Ju looked up at the sky in silence. He had been smiling like a loving father just a moment ago, but how could he be so angry when I gave him a gift?

Are all of you emperors so moody?

Oh, it's true that the heart of an emperor is as deep as the sea. The comments are not deceiving me!

Barrage: ...Do you want to listen to what you're saying? Have you forgotten how you used to nag us about all that nonsense? The Emperor is moody, and you, the Crown Prince, are no better. Birds of a feather, so fickle!