144 Chapter 144

◎Be crowned king.◎

Liu Ju's words did have some effect. At the beginning of the new year, when the Emperor appointed the Prince's Tutor Zhuang Qingzhai as Prime Minister, Zhang Tang did not react at all.

For one thing, he was busy investigating cases of illegal land encroachment in various places and did not have much spare energy.

Secondly, Zhang Tang believed that the emperor was using the prince to warn him, and that it was not yet time for him to covet the positions of the Three Dukes.

Although he didn't know when the right time would come, fortunately, His Majesty still valued him, so Zhang Tang did not become discouraged. In addition, the recent good reputation of the Supreme Court made him even more motivated.

The position of Prime Minister will one day come to Zhang Tang.

First, there was the intention to divide the princes into different categories, and then the Crown Prince's tutor was appointed as Prime Minister. Obviously, His Majesty the Emperor was paving the way for the Crown Prince. So, what was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's reaction to this?

Liu Ju did not have much energy to think about these things. In addition to the various things he was busy with, he had a more important thing to do, which was to keep a close eye on Huo Qubing.

After all, this was the sixth year of Yuanshou.

Huo Qubing was puzzled by the prince's sudden and urgent attitude. The general of cavalry really didn't understand what had happened to the prince all of a sudden.

The last time the prince acted so abnormally was during the Mobei War two years ago. After he and his uncle returned, the Han Dynasty's neighbors were all at peace, and there shouldn't be another war to fight in the short term. Marquis Guanjun couldn't figure out why the prince was acting up at this moment.

Huo Qubing didn't intend to speculate. He put down his pen and said bluntly, "If your Highness has something to say, please tell me. If not, please don't come here so often. I have something to do recently and I need to keep my distance from your Highness."

Liu Ju was looking at the summary of the land occupation rectification case submitted by Zhang Tang over the past month. He looked up and said, "I know that my cousin is writing a petition to confer the title of king on three princes. Everyone knows that this is my father-in-law's intention. I can't just come to you and be accused of forcing His Majesty to confer the title of king, right?"

The Marquis of Guanjun endured it again and again, but finally decided not to endure it any longer: "Your Highness, please leave. I need some quiet time."

Liu Ju was surprised and said, "I actually have a day when I am disliked by others, cousin. I clearly didn't say much."

"I don't want to hear a word you say." Huo Qubing said frankly.

"Alright." Liu Ju stood up and packed his things. "Cousin, I'll have the doctor take your pulse later."

The Champion Marquis, who now sees his personal physician once every two days on average, said: "..."

"Okay." Huo Qubing said with a suppressed voice. In order to avoid hearing the prince's shocking words again, he endured it.

Although he had deep resentment towards the prince, Huo Qubing still safely sent the prince back to the Xuanshi Hall, paid his respects to the emperor, and filed a complaint against the prince.

"Hmm?" After hearing what Marquis Guanjun said, Liu Che looked at the Crown Prince. "Zi'er, you've been busy pestering your cousin lately. I thought it was the invasion of land that kept you so busy."

Liu Ju said, "Aunt, I just changed my job, but I still did everything I was supposed to do."

Liu Che asked, "Why did you insist on going to your cousin? And why did you ask the physician to see him? The Marquis of Guanjun is so young, does he look ill?"

Huo Qubing echoed, "I also said so, but Your Highness would not listen to me..."

"Cousin..." Liu Ju looked at him dimly, "I'll come find you tomorrow."

Huo Qubing: "..."

He looked at His Majesty the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, you must make the decision for me."

Liu Che laughed heartily: "My Marquis of Guanjun can scare off the Xiongnu, but he can't deal with my Crown Prince?"

Liu Ju raised his eyebrows and smiled, "I'm not my cousin's enemy, so naturally he can't do anything."

Huo Qubing found himself isolated and helpless.

The Emperor laughed until he had enough and then said, "Well, Ju'er, your cousin has some important things to do these days, so don't go out with him for the time being."

Liu Che did not have any suspicions. Liu Ju had loved to stick to Huo Qubing since he was a child. Now that he was busy with government affairs, it did not prevent him from visiting his cousin. Liu Che was very pleased. After all, the prince could not be estranged from the Marquis of Guanjun.

However, now is the time when Huo Qubing is requesting the establishment of three kings. Even though everyone knows that Huo Qubing is the prince's relative, the prince still has to avoid suspicion.

Liu Ju did not insist, but nodded obediently: "Okay, cousin, I won't bother you anymore."

Huo Qubing felt relieved and said conscientiously, "Your Highness didn't bother me at all."

The prince's behavior was indeed abnormal, which made Huo Qubing feel uneasy and he had to think about it.

Liu Ju smiled brightly and said, "Thank you, cousin. Since I'm so kind, you can't refuse my doctor's pulse check every day."

The prince has always understood what it means to be aggressive, and Huo Qubing looked at the emperor silently.

Liu Che was just about to bring up the excuse that Marquis Guanjun was young when he suddenly remembered that he also had to have his pulse checked by the imperial physician every day. Hearing that the empress and the general were also arranged by the prince, and his sisters and nephews were not spared either, the emperor suddenly realized that this was the prince's concern for the people he valued.

Liu Che thought that the prince was probably scared by his illness last year.

So, the Emperor naturally spoke up for the Crown Prince: "As for the illness, it won't take much time to have the attendant physician take a look. I do this every day, as does your uncle. It's always the Crown Prince's wish, and others haven't gotten it yet."

Liu Ju nodded: "That's right!"

Huo Qubing really didn't want it, but the Emperor and the Crown Prince, the father and son of the royal family, had obviously reached a consensus, and his objection was futile.

Huo Qubing could only bow and say, "As you wish."

…

Before Huo Qubing asked for the title of three kings, news came from the Huns that the remains of some of the princesses who were married off to foreign countries had been found and were on the way back to Chang'an City.

Since Emperor Taizu, all the women who were sent to marry into the Xiongnu clan were distant relatives from the imperial family's side branches. Now, most of the descendants of their fathers and brothers were not very successful, so Liu Ju did not specifically send people to look for them.

Liu Ju had made plans early on. He chose a place on the Wei River where the imperial tomb was built as a cemetery and reburied the princesses who were married off to foreign countries there.

This proposal was initially opposed by all court officials, but Liu Ju believed that their contributions to the Han Dynasty were no less than those of the soldiers who died on the battlefield, and they deserved this courtesy.

Moreover, Liu Ju did not intend to use a very rich burial object, considering that he had fought for compensation for the Han Dynasty for many years, and after many rounds of wrangling and obtaining the approval of His Majesty the Emperor, the matter was finally settled.

Liu Che was very willing to show his magnanimity and kindness. After the trade routes became wider and he received compensation from the Huns, his treasury was very rich. These burial objects, plus the cost of sending people to guard the mausoleum and to offer sacrifices during festivals, would not cost anything at all. After thinking about it, he agreed.

After this matter was completed, Lady Wang in Weiyang Palace became seriously ill.

In order to comfort the seriously ill Lady Wang, Liu Che promised her that he would give Liu Min a good fiefdom, but before the emperor could issue an edict, Lady Wang passed away suddenly.

Lady Wang had been favored for many years, and her death made Emperor Liu Che sad for a long time.

However, no matter how sad he was, when Liu Min proposed to mourn his mother in Chang'an for a year, the emperor flatly refused and urged him to go to the fiefdom as soon as possible.

Liu Ju knew that his father did not want to set this precedent, and also wanted to avoid others from thinking too much and causing more trouble, which would be too cruel for Liu Min, a half-grown child. However, he was in no position to comfort others, considering that the emperor did this for him, the prince.

When the three of them left Chang'an, Liu Ju went to see them off. Although they were brothers from the same father, they had few opportunities to meet and were not very familiar with each other. Apart from some polite words, they could not say anything else.

The three princes who had just been crowned kings were not happy. Being still young, they could not hide their emotions very well. They looked at Liu Ju with unconcealable envy and perhaps a little resentment in their eyes.

Liu Ju didn't know how to deal with this situation, because judging from the circumstances of his previous life, except for the three who died early, the brothers who lived long did not have a good ending. In short, it can be said that none of them could be said to have had a good life.

From this perspective, we are all in the same boat.

As for this life, whether it is the princes and the prince, or the emperor, they are destined not to be friendly with each other.

Brothers from the Heavenly Family have always been like this.

Liu Ju sighed silently twice, unable to think of anything to say, and could only advise them to take good care of their health.

The three men thanked the prince, got on the carriage, and left Chang'an City. When they came back later, they would be princes who came to pay homage, and their stay in Chang'an City would be limited.

Liu Chen was not sad, because he really had no feelings for his brothers in both his lives, whether they were the older ones or the two younger ones at the back.

After leaving the palace, Liu Ju first went to the princess's mansion to see his two elder sisters, then went to the Marquis of Guanjun's mansion to see Huo Shan, and finally bought a bunch of glowing stones in the market to go back and appease his father.

His Majesty the Emperor had a night-shining pearl, but he had never seen a stone that could glow, so he thought it was very rare, so he ordered people to place it on the rockery in the garden. From a distance, it looked like stars had fallen from the mountain.

"Interesting." Liu Che stood in the pavilion, looking at the rockery from a distance, and said to Liu Ju, "Where did you find this? Ju'er, I'll send people to look for more. If they fall on the tree, it will be as bright as day at night."

Liu Ju smiled and replied, "It was a merchant from out of town. I don't know where he found it, but he thought it was something special and bought it for you to see as something new and interesting."

"That's all right." Liu Che said with a casual smile, "Of course there is one, and we can find it."

His Majesty the Emperor is determined not to allow himself to suffer any injustice. If he wants something, he must get it. There is no way to persuade him.

Liu Ju said, "Auntie, why don't we go out of the palace tomorrow to take a look? It's been a while since we left the palace, so it's a good opportunity for you to relax."

Although the Weiyang Palace was large, it was hard to stay there for too long. Liu Che nodded and said, "I will meet the foreign envoys tomorrow and leave the day after tomorrow."

Although the Marquis of Bowang had not yet returned to the capital, the number of foreign envoys coming to Chang'an continued to increase, so they were able to know the results of Zhang Qian's journey.