Chapter 11 Sharing the Same Misfortune

Upon hearing Sima Ye's words, Liu Jun took a proper look at him. Then, seeing Sima Zhong's loving expression, he thought to himself that Sima Ye was handsome, eloquent, and had a gentle temperament. No wonder he could win the favor of elders from all walks of life.

After eating the Yizhi Zongzi with Sima Zhong, a eunuch came to summon them, saying that the King of Donghai had invited them to a banquet.

Liu Kun originally intended to send Liu Jun and Liu Zun back together, but Liu Zun wanted to go to the army instead, leaving Liu Jun in a dilemma.

"Why don't we let the young master stay?" Sima Zhong seemed to genuinely like children, and eagerly suggested that the young man stay. "I happen to have some chess pieces and a belt hook here, so let him and Mu Nu play here for a while."

It turns out that Sima Ye's childhood name was Mu Nu, perhaps because the King of Wu liked to eat citrus fruits?

While Liu Jun was still lost in thought, he heard Sima Ye whisper in his ear, "His Majesty has suffered a lot lately and has few people to talk to. If you have nothing to do, Your Highness, why don't you stay and keep him company?"

Although he didn't want to waste his time here, looking at the haggard but still innocent Sima Zhong, and catching the mockery on the faces of the palace maids and eunuchs around him, Liu Jun inexplicably thought of himself in his previous life, who had no say in anything and suffered all kinds of bullying.

"Trendy hairstyle?"

Coming to his senses, Liu Jun saw Liu Kun looking at him questioningly, and nodded and smiled, "It is my honor to serve Your Majesty."

"Very well, then you can wait for me here." Liu Kun was somewhat surprised, thinking that he wanted to go back to study, but since it wouldn't hurt to be on good terms with the Emperor and the Prince of Qin, he let him go.

After these powerful figures had gone far away, Sima Zhong seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "Why don't we play hide-and-seek?"

Liu Jun agreed with a wry smile, but his interest was waning. The so-called "hiding the hook" was nothing more than hiding a belt hook in someone's hand, leaving people to guess who had it.

I used to find this game rather boring back in the palace; whether you could guess correctly depended entirely on whether the guesser and the person hiding the hook knew each other, and whether the guesser was good at reading people. Now, the opponents are a fool and a child, which really makes it hard to stay interested.

In ancient times, there was the story of someone accompanying the crown prince to study; nowadays, there is the story of someone accompanying the emperor to hide a hook.

He then summoned several eunuchs, and Sima Zhong took off his jade hook again.

Liu Jun thought he had it in the bag, but after only a few matches, he realized the situation was not good. Sima Ye seemed to have divine help in both guessing and hiding, and he managed to defeat Liu Jun.

He was a man who refused to accept his fate, so he became more courageous with each setback. In the blink of an eye, the group had played more than ten rounds, but none of them had won once.

"Mu Nu, you'd better lose a round quickly, or what if he gets angry and leaves?" Seeing that Sima Zhong looked unwell, he quietly tugged at Sima Ye's sleeve.

Liu Jun was certainly not that petty. He focused his attention on Sima Ye, who was not staring intently at everyone's hands, but rather scrutinizing each person's expression. It was quite rare to see someone so young yet so adept at reading people's expressions.

After playing for a while, Sima Zhong got tired and went to rest, leaving him and Sima Ye looking at each other.

Since they were in the palace, Sima Ye, as a member of the imperial clan, naturally had to act as host. He then sent someone to inquire about the situation of Liu Kun and the others, and hesitated before saying, "The Imperial Uncle and the others are discussing important military and state affairs, and I'm afraid they will be discussing them until night. If Your Highness doesn't mind, how about I escort you on your way?"

Liu Kun and Liu Zun left no carriages or horses, so Liu Jun had no other choice. He respectfully smiled and said, "To be able to ride with Your Highness is a blessing that many people cannot have. Thank you, Your Highness."

The chaos of the Eight Princes under the Sima clan has led to the current state of turmoil. The foundation that our ancestors painstakingly seized from the Cao family has been completely squandered by these unworthy descendants.

The number of households in Chang'an City has been reduced by almost half, and those who remain are mostly the elderly, women, and children, creating a desolate scene.

As a prince, Sima Ye's carriage was quite magnificent. Although it was a common light carriage, the golden chariot was both tall and wide, much more spacious than that of ordinary people. The canopy on top was made of bronze and painted with intricate patterns, making it exceptionally luxurious. It cost far more than the oxcarts of ordinary noble families.

But precisely because the car was so tall, it offered a clear view of the outside world.

Sima Ye sat high in his carriage, his expression growing increasingly melancholy.

Liu Jun was not one to meddle in other people's business, and he still harbored resentment towards the Sima family, so he pretended not to see it and simply followed the gaze of the man without showing any emotion—an old woman walking alone with difficulty, a woman sitting on the threshold in a daze holding a dead baby, a boy with a crippled hand still scavenging, and a young prostitute who was already soliciting customers in her prime...

"Guanzhong is my fiefdom, and Chang'an is the former capital of the mighty Han Dynasty, as well as my administrative center. But now it has become like this..." Sima Ye lowered his eyes, his thick and long eyelashes like two black feather fans, just enough to cover the vulnerability in his eyes.

Liu Jun watched coldly, vaguely feeling that in this chaotic world, being too thoughtful, soft-hearted, and possessing unrealistic kindness did not seem to indicate a life of good fortune and longevity.

Sima Ye looked away and smiled. "That woman just now looked somewhat like my mother, so I couldn't help but take a few more glances. I hope you won't laugh at me."

"Is Your Highness referring to the Princess Consort of Wu or the Dowager Princess of Qin?" Liu Jun asked curiously.

Sima Ye said sadly, "She is my birth mother, the Princess Consort of Wu. It's a pity that now I can no longer call her 'Mother,' and it's extremely difficult to see her again."

Liu Jun suddenly remembered his birth mother from his previous life. When she was alive, she was abused by Cao Lin and suffered a fate worse than death. After she died, even though her son became the emperor, he was not only unable to obtain the posthumous honors she deserved, but he was also deposed from his rightful imperial throne.

A thousand years later, history records the truth, leaving only the four characters "Gao Guixiang Gong".

Cao Mao led a mediocre life. He died a violent death in the street despite his imperial status. He had no real power in life and no dignity in death. He could neither bring glory to his ancestors nor bestow titles upon his children and wives.

What makes it superior, and what makes it valuable?

Thinking back to his past life, and putting himself in Sima Ye's shoes, he realized that at such a young age he had to leave his parents and become the adopted son of his uncles, and from then on he had to make a living under his aunt's care.

Widowed at a young age, she was left alone in a large royal palace. How would the Dowager Princess of Qin view this nephew who had usurped her place?

Perhaps out of a shared sense of sympathy, Liu Jun slowly said, "It is understandable that Your Highness cherishes your mother, but the recruitment is a major national event. It would be better to broaden the channels of communication and gather opinions from all sides."

Sima Ye seemed to be deep in thought. "Does Your Highness have anyone you would recommend?"

Liu Jun was taken aback. "I am but an ignorant fool. How dare I recommend worthy men for the court?"

Sima Ye said sincerely, "Your Highness is renowned for your intelligence and filial piety. My father often says that Your Highness possesses wisdom far surpassing that of ordinary people. Although I have met Your Highness by chance, I feel an inexplicable sense of closeness. Perhaps this is what the ancients meant by 'meeting someone at first sight and becoming old friends'. I trust Your Highness, and I hope Your Highness will trust me as well."

This means that he will give great importance to the person he introduces.

Recalling the situation in his previous life where he was promised high office and great wealth but no one paid attention, Liu Jun smiled as if possessed, "I will accept."