Chapter 58 Pigs Eating Lychees I wish I could eat three hundred lychees a day. ...
The workday passed quickly.
In late spring in Chang'an, the eaves of Weiyang Palace cast long shadows in the setting sun. Nineteen-year-old Huo Qubing stood under the corridor outside Jiaofang Palace, his fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist. He had just returned from Songyang County, still carrying the scent of ripe wheat.
He wanted to report everything that had happened in Songyang County to Emperor Wu of Han.
"Champion Marquis!"
A clear, childlike voice broke the tranquility of the courtyard. Huo Qubing turned around and saw seven-year-old Crown Prince Liu Ju, lifting the hem of his apricot-yellow brocade robe, running out of the hall. His golden crown tilted to one side as he ran, and a few soft strands of hair playfully fell across his forehead, making his chubby little face even more adorable.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince." Huo Qubing knelt on one knee to bow, but his arm was tightly held by a pair of small hands.
"Cousin, get up!" Little Liu looked up, his dark eyes filled with curiosity. "Mother said you were invited by immortals to help you? Are all those immortals riding on auspicious seven-colored clouds?"
Huo Qubing's lips curled slightly. Although according to etiquette he should respectfully address this young crown prince as "Your Highness," Xiao Liu Ju always stubbornly called him "Cousin," and over time, he tacitly accepted this affectionate address when they were alone.
"Your Highness, I did indeed go to... a special place." He carefully chose his words, and couldn't help but smile as he recalled Magistrate Jiang, who had collapsed in the wheat pile after harvesting several acres of land that day.
Liu Ju immediately grabbed his sleeve and shook him: "Cousin, tell me quickly! Do immortals all wear colorful robes? Do they really only drink morning dew and eat lingzhi mushrooms?"
Drinking dew?
Magistrate Jiang doesn't drink dew; he drinks milk tea instead.
Huo Qubing was about to answer when he saw a palace maid behind Liu Ju cough nervously. He immediately understood that it was time for the Crown Prince's lessons.
"Your Highness, it's time to go listen to the Grand Tutor's lecture," an older palace maid gently reminded you.
Liu Ju's face immediately fell. He released Huo Qubing's sleeve, lowered his head, and muttered, "It's the Book of Documents again. I've memorized it all..."
Seeing the young prince's sullen expression, Huo Qubing had an idea.
Magistrate Jiang only said that the imperial aura had an effect, and that little Liu Ju should be fine. He squatted down to Liu Ju's eye level: "Your Highness, would you like to see what an immortal looks like?"
Xiao Liu nodded, a longing expression on his chubby face that made you want to pinch his cheeks.
He knew that his father longed to see the immortals.
His mother said he could not overstep his father's authority and that he had to... he had to prioritize his father in everything.
Thinking of this, Xiao Liu shook his head again, looked around, mouthed something to Huo Qubing, but didn't make a sound.
"Father wants to go."
This was a secret known throughout the Han Dynasty. The emperor of the Han Dynasty was fascinated by matters of ghosts and gods, so he naturally wanted to accept the invitation from a deity.
Huo Qubing was invited by immortals, and every day he ate instant noodles, braised chicken rice, and rice bowls. They had never even heard of these things. What was the difference between them and elixirs and magic medicines?
Liu Che rested for a while in the Jiaofang Palace. As soon as he woke up, he heard Wei Zifu's gentle voice: "Your Highness, Qu Bing has been waiting outside for a long time."
"Xuan."
The concept of ghosts and spirits had taken root in Liu Che's mind since childhood. Once he had the opportunity to come into contact with them, Liu Che would not give up until he achieved his goal.
In this respect, he is in line with his ancestor Liu Bang.
The announcement of Huo Qubing's entry into the palace rang out. Huo Qubing lowered his voice and said, "Tomorrow morning, I will wait for Your Highness at the palace gate."
Xiao Liu's eyes lit up, and he was about to cheer when Huo Qubing gestured for him to be quiet. The young prince immediately covered his mouth, looked around, and then leaned close to Huo Qubing's ear: "Cousin, is it really possible?"
"As long as Your Highness can sneak out quietly," Huo Qubing blinked, "wear the simplest clothes and don't wear any accessories that could reveal your identity."
Liu Ju nodded vigorously, his small face full of excitement. At this moment, the palace maid urged him on again, and he had no choice but to leave. But after taking a few steps, he turned back and made a gesture of agreement to Huo Qubing.
Huo Qubing watched the young prince's departing figure, the smile on his lips gradually fading. If it were discovered that he had taken the prince to Songyang County, he would be punished at best, and at worst... He shook his head, dismissing those thoughts.
It can't be any worse than the historical outcome.
Fortunately, he bought a lot of things, so His Majesty won't be angry because of them.
When Huo Qubing entered the Jiaofang Palace, the incense burner inside was emitting wisps of smoke. Liu Che was reclining lazily on the soft couch, but when he saw Huo Qubing enter, a hint of urgency flashed in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Huo Qubing bowed respectfully.
"No need for formalities." Liu Che straightened up. "I heard that you've had some extraordinary experience this time, my dear minister?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Huo Qubing noticed that Wei Zifu was sitting quietly to the side, embroidering a silk handkerchief, the silver needle at her fingertips shimmering in the candlelight. He hesitated before speaking, "Your Majesty, I have indeed encountered some...strange things."
"Tell me in detail." Liu Che's eyes lit up.
Huo Qubing recounted his experiences in Songyang County, including the arrival of the unparalleled strategist Zhuge Liang and Kui Shun, and the wheat seeds that yielded a thousand catties per mu.
When Huo Qubing mentioned the high-yield wheat varieties of Songyang County, Liu Che's previously languid movements suddenly stopped. The hall fell silent instantly, and even the sound of Wei Zifu embroidering could be clearly heard.
"My dear minister, you just asked... how much is the yield per mu?" Liu Che's voice suddenly became extremely soft, as if afraid of disturbing some fragile dream.
"Your Majesty, it is indeed a yield of a thousand catties per mu." Huo Qubing took out a brocade pouch from his bosom and poured out a few plump grains of wheat. "This wheat is drought-resistant and insect-resistant, and has a short growing season."
These are a few seeds he brought back from work today. There were probably too few to keep for propagation, and he didn't even notice them hanging on his body.
Liu Che abruptly stood up, his black dragon robe sweeping over the teacups on the table. He strode forward, grabbed a grain of wheat, and ground it repeatedly in his palm. The golden grains were larger than ordinary wheat, gleaming lustrous under the palace lanterns.
"Guards! Summon the Grand Minister of Agriculture immediately!" Liu Che suddenly shouted, his voice shaking the dust that fell from the rafters. Turning to Huo Qubing, his eyes were slightly red: "Qubing, do you know that the yield of fertile land in Guanzhong is no more than three shi per mu? And if there is a year of famine..."
Before he could finish speaking, the elderly Grand Minister of Agriculture staggered into the hall. Liu Che directly shoved a grain of wheat into his hand: "Inspect!"
The old minister trembled as he bit into a grain of wheat, his cloudy eyes suddenly widening: "Your Majesty! This wheat...this wheat..." Before he could finish speaking, tears streamed down his face. "This old minister is willing to swear on his life that it is indeed a divine seed!"
Liu Che suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, the sound shaking the palace tiles. As he laughed, a tear rolled down the emperor's cheek.
"Heaven bless the Han Dynasty!" He suddenly grabbed Huo Qubing's shoulder. "With this divine wheat, my people will never again resort to cannibalism! Qubing, this wheat seed..."
"I only saw these wheat seeds after I bought them with my wages. I'll have to wait until the next paycheck."
"However, I still have many things." Huo Qubing took out four exquisite items from his bosom: a sand table, a saddle, a solar-powered flashlight, and a lighter.
He bought all of these with his wages.
They were all related to war. He hadn't looked at the others; these were the most useful. Actually, he wanted to buy weapons, but he didn't have enough money.
"My dear minister, are these truly all celestial objects?" Liu Che's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.
Huo Qubing knelt on one knee and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, these four items were all obtained by me in Songyang County. Although they are not treasures from the celestial realm, they still possess wondrous qualities."
Liu Che couldn't wait to get up and stride over to the displayed artifacts. He first picked up the exquisite sand table, on which mountains and rivers were depicted using fine sand of different colors, as well as small wooden cities and camps.
"This is..."
"Your Majesty, this is called the 'Military Strategy Sand Table'." Huo Qubing stepped forward and lightly tapped a corner of the sand table with his finger. "This place can simulate the battle formation of thousands of troops. If we raise the valley here..." he said, adjusting a few sand dunes, "the enemy cavalry will find it difficult to deploy."
A glint of light flashed in Liu Che's eyes, and he immediately ordered someone to fetch the small flag representing the army. The emperor and his minister began to simulate the battle formation for the Hexi campaign on the sand table. The more Liu Che simulated, the more amazed he became: "Wonderful! With this aid, how much easier would it be for me to deploy my army?"
Setting down the sand table, Liu Che picked up the improved saddle. This saddle was higher and deeper than the ones commonly used by the Han army, and it was also equipped with metal stirrups on both sides.
"This saddle is strange; wouldn't it be uncomfortable to ride?"
Huo Qubing smiled slightly: "Please, Your Majesty, give it a try."
Liu Che immediately ordered his men to bring the imperial horse, and he personally mounted it to test ride. At first, he felt a little uncomfortable, but as soon as his feet touched the stirrups, he felt as steady as a mountain. He tried trotting a few steps and found that he could easily turn around and shoot arrows while on horseback.
"A divine artifact!" Liu Che exclaimed, his face beaming as he dismounted. "With this saddle, the fighting power of our Han cavalry can increase by thirty percent!"
As Huo Qubing spoke, he pulled out a lighter from his pocket and lit it with a "click." Liu Che was startled by the sudden flame and took a half-step back, then burst into laughter.
"Truly, God blesses the great man."
Liu Che took the lighter and examined it repeatedly. When he discovered that this "Immortal Fire Box" could control the size of the flame at will, he was overjoyed: "With this divine object, things are much more convenient!"
The last item was a solar-powered flashlight. Huo Qubing personally demonstrated its use: it immediately emitted a dazzling beam of light. Liu Che was so shocked that he stood up and took several steps back: "This...this could it be the technique of intercepting sunlight?"
"Your Majesty is wise," Huo Qubing explained, "This item is called a 'solar-powered flashlight,' and it can indeed store sunlight and release it in the dark."
Emperor Wu of Han was overjoyed and personally took a flashlight and shone it around the palace. When the beam of light swept across the caisson ceiling, the exquisite paintings appeared exceptionally magnificent under the strong light.
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" Liu Che was delighted with it. "With this, patrolling the military camps at night and reviewing memorials will be much more convenient."
He suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed intently on Huo Qubing: "My dear minister, where exactly is this Songyang County? I wish to personally visit the immortal!"
Huo Qubing's heart tightened, and he considered how to answer. "Your Majesty," he said, "the immortal said...that the Emperor's fortune is too strong, and a hasty meeting might cause offense..."
Upon hearing this, Liu Che was somewhat disappointed, but he also felt that it made sense.
After all, he was a once-in-a-millennium emperor, the emperor among emperors! Even immortals had to avoid his imperial aura!
He nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed, wasn't that how Qin Shi Huang sought immortality back then?" Then he became happy again, "It's alright, these magical artifacts are enough! Qu Bing has made such a great contribution, I will reward you handsomely!"
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing." Huo Qubing's wages were not only enough to buy these four things, but he also bought something particularly luxurious.
Even Magistrate Jiang wouldn't be willing to buy such a fine item.
A box of lychees.
The moment Huo Qubing lifted the lid of the box, a chill wafted out, revealing more than twenty bright red lychees, as red as agate, with tiny ice crystals still clinging to their shells, shimmering in the sunlight.
Liu Che's eyes narrowed: "This is... a lychee from Nanyue?"
"Indeed," Huo Qubing said, bowing his head. "But these lychees, chilled by divine magic, taste even better than ordinary ones."
Liu Che picked up a lychee, his fingertips touching the cool shell, and couldn't help but let out a soft "Eh." He had eaten lychees from the south for many years, but he had never seen one so fresh and juicy—the shell was neither wrinkled nor dry, as if it had just been picked from the branch.
With a little force, the glistening white flesh bursts out of the shell, and the juice, instead of becoming viscous from being chilled, trembles and sways on your fingertips like dewy cream.
He took a bite, and his pupils dilated suddenly.
The cool sweetness exploded on the tongue, even more tender than those eaten in previous years, with an unusually small pit. What's even more surprising is that the flesh had none of the musty, overripe taste often found in lychees, but instead possessed a refreshing coolness like mountain spring water.
"How strange!" Liu Che ate three lychees in a row before reluctantly stopping. "In the past, when lychees were transported to Chang'an, even with the fastest horses, they would inevitably carry some heat and stagnation. But these lychees are as freshly picked as if they were made, with even the icy air seeping into the very core of the fruit... Could it really be the work of a celestial being?"
Huo Qubing concealed the smile in his eyes: "Your Majesty is wise. These lychees were preserved using magical methods and are just as freshly picked as they were."
Liu Che clapped his hands in praise: "If this technique were applied to the tribute of lychees, my people would no longer have to exhaust their horses for fresh lychees!" Then he frowned, "But the journey to Nanyue is long..."
"If only I could eat lychees like these every day," Liu Che said, peeling open another one and looking at the jade-like flesh glistening in the candlelight. "I wish I could eat three hundred lychees a day."
The lychee, still glistening with fresh water droplets and radiating a cool breeze, was devoured in one bite, instantly dispelling all the pent-up frustration in my body.
Liu Che still wanted to eat...
Huo Qubing stood below, not responding. If he had known these lychees were so expensive, he wouldn't have bought them. Who could understand what 24 yuan/500g meant?
These few lychees are more expensive than his solar-powered flashlight. If he had known earlier, he would have preferred to buy more Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), so he could at least kill a few more Xiongnu on the battlefield.
Your Majesty has eaten and still wants more; then so be it.
Anyway, he's out of money.
The sweet aroma of lychees wafted through the palace. Liu Che squinted his eyes in satisfaction, oblivious to Huo Qubing's expression. People and delicious food always seem to leave no room for others.
He waved his hand, signaling Huo Qubing to step back.
As Huo Qubing stepped down, his eyes briefly met those of Wei Zifu, but only for a moment before they looked away.
Eating over twenty lychees at once made me feel a bit hot and bothered.
Liu Che flipped through the brochure in the system store. He wanted to see how much the lychees cost, because he wanted to eat them, he wanted to eat them every day!
High-yield wheat seeds are 8 yuan per jin (0.5 catties), and chilled lychees are 24 yuan per 500g.
The lychees he just ate could buy so many kilograms of high-yield wheat seeds?!
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Author's Note: Eating lychee-themed Liu Zhuzhu [Okay] - A royal luxury experience~
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