Chapter 2
An hour and a half ago.
Fresh water was brought into the Weiyang Palace through an open channel to create the Cang Pond. Gardens and elevated platforms were built around the pond, where pink peach blossoms, green willows, and lush flowers and plants flourished, creating a different scene in each season. Furthermore, there were jagged rocks and overlapping rockeries, creating a spectacular scene at every step. These areas are collectively known as the Pond Garden.
As a place for royal leisure, entertainment, sightseeing and recreation, the pond and garden covers a vast area. Not to mention Liu Ju and Mrs. Wang playing and taking a walk there, even if all the mistresses in the harem came, it would be no problem for them not to meet each other.
So Liu Ju stood at the scene, his face filled with questions. He turned to his right. Although he couldn't remember the incident, he remembered playing there with the maids. It wasn't too far from here, but it still took about half an hour to walk.
Half a quarter of an hour was a certain distance away, not close, and definitely not in the hiding place they had agreed upon, nor was it around here. So why was he here?
Shi Yi disagreed: "You have already played with the maids three times, and you have hidden in all the places you can. What's the point of hiding again?
"You've done this before, hiding outside the agreed-upon area, catching everyone by surprise and watching them frantically search for you. Besides, there are plenty of hiding places in the rockery, and you can keep changing where to hide."
"How could we be outside the range? At most... at most we're nearby. Besides, no one said we couldn't change hiding places." Liu Ju protested, but even though he feigned some authority, a hint of guilt lingered in his words. After all, he had indeed done these things.
Shi Yi snorted, "You just love to play tricks. I won't play with you anymore." He turned around and ordered the maid Cai Qin, "You are not allowed to play with him either."
Caiqin: ...
Liu Ju rolled his eyes: "Whether you want to play or not, who cares!"
How could he be without playmates?
Empress Wei's three daughters, Wei Chang, now fifteen, and Zhu Yi, twelve, were significantly younger than the five-year-old Liu Ju, and so they all loved, protected, and doted on their younger brother. Shi Yi, however, was only seven years old, a close age. The two had grown up together, and playing and bickering were commonplace.
Seeing the two men about to fight again, the guard chief quickly stepped forward to separate them and gently tapped Liu Ju's forehead: "You've learned your lesson this time. Don't do it again. No matter where you hide, you must have someone with you."
This one sentence put an end to the impending lawsuit between the siblings. Liu Ju responded sullenly and walked around a few more times, his mind still blank. His face wrinkled and he sighed repeatedly.
The guard chief laughed. "Never mind. The truth will eventually come out. Go back. You've been out for a while. Although it's late spring and the wind is gentle, it can't blow forever."
Liu Ju lowered his head and did not move, looking dejected.
The chief guard squatted down and said, "It's just rumors. We don't believe them, and neither does the emperor."
Liu Ju shook his head: "I'm not afraid that my father won't believe me, I'm afraid that my father won't believe my mother."
The guard chief paused, but then he heard Liu Ju continue, "And the people who served me before. The eunuchs and maids in Feixiang Palace have been replaced. Even if you didn't tell me, I can guess where they went.
"If I could recall what happened that day, I could solve the case quickly. They would suffer less, and my mother wouldn't have to suffer because of me."
Kind and filial.
The guard smiled and touched his head: "My mother has been immersed in the harem for more than ten years. Such a small matter will not be difficult for her. You don't have to worry.
"As for those who served you before, they were derelict in their duty by following you and causing you to get hurt. It's a blessing for them that you still think of them like this."
A blessing? If he hadn't run around and caused such a disaster, how could they have suffered this unexpected disaster? Who would want such a blessing?
Liu Ju pursed his lips, thinking that there was something he could do, something he should do. His little brain raced, and finally he came up with a solution. Since searching for his memory had failed, what about Fubao?
Thinking of this, he immediately asked someone to get a piece of barbecue and hung it on one end of a bamboo pole, full of confidence: "Fubao loves barbecue the most. Every time I take out barbecue, he will appear first no matter where he is."
So he carried a bamboo pole and asked people to fan the barbecue as he walked, under the pretext of making the smell spread further.
Others use bait to fish, but he grills and fishes for dogs.
The guard captain didn't agree with this idea, but he still walked with him around the pond and garden, past the rockery, through the shrubbery, through the flower garden... until his feet were tired, but he still found nothing.
Oh, that's not right. The dog was indeed caught, three times, but it wasn't Fubao, but a hunting dog that Zhang Tang had assigned to the search team to track the fish.
After the newly replaced barbecue was eaten by the hunting dogs again, Liu Ju fell silent, and the searchers also fell silent.
Shi Yi clapped his hands: "The method doesn't work, it fails. Give up. What you can think of, others can think of too. If this could catch Fu Bao, we would have caught it long ago. Don't change the meat, it will just end up in the stomachs of two hounds. Go back. I'm tired."
After saying that, he turned and walked away, but unexpectedly, he twisted his ankle and was about to fall. Fortunately, Caiqin was close by and caught him. The guard breathed a sigh of relief: "Walk carefully, watch the road, you can fall even on flat ground."
Shi Yi pouted and glanced at Liu Ju: "It's because I've been walking with him for too long, my legs are weak and I have no strength left. And here, there's a bulge here for some unknown reason."
Shi Yi looked at the grass beneath her feet that had caused her to trip, and kicked it in anger. With a thud, the grass on top was kicked away, revealing the freshly turned earth underneath. The hounds, having finished their meal, seemed to have discovered something and swarmed over, howling and starting to dig.
Shiyi:!!!
Everyone:!!!
********
When Liu Che rushed over, Fubao's body had already been dug out. His body was covered in blood and dirt, making him look dirty. He no longer looked like the "snow-white ball" he used to be.
Liu Ju squatted aside, feeling downcast, tears welling up in his eyes. Guards General Zhu Yi accompanied him, and even Shi Yi, who usually loved to argue with him, didn't say anything unkind. He quietly held his hand, offering silent comfort.
"Ju'er!"
Seeing Liu Che, Liu Ju stood up and ran over, throwing himself into his arms: "Father, Fubao is dead."
"I know."
Liu Che glanced at Fubao. Fubao's death was like a signal, confirming their guess that this was by no means an accident.
Retracting his gaze, Liu Che collected his thoughts and picked up Liu Ju, his expression softening a bit. "If you like, I'll have the kennel pick out another one for you, a better one, prettier and more well-behaved than Fubao."
Liu Ju hung his head and shook his head. It was different. No matter how pretty or well-behaved she was, she was no longer Fubao.
He opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing. He understood that Fubao was a friend to him, but not to his father. Perhaps in his father's eyes, Fubao deserved to die for hurting someone, no matter the reason.
Thinking of this, Liu Juyan sighed and his mood became even more depressed.
Liu Che reached out and touched the bandage on his forehead: "Does it still hurt? Why don't you rest in the house and come out to get some fresh air?"
"It doesn't hurt. The doctor said the weather is nice and warm, so I can go out and get some sunshine. I've been staying in the house for three days!"
He didn't look like he had just rested for three days, but rather like he had been locked up for three days.
Liu Che laughed, winked at Zhang Tang, and handed the affairs of the place to him. He then carried Liu Ju, took Shi Yi, and left with the chief guards and other people.
Having just recovered from a serious illness and having walked a long way after tossing and turning for half a day, the young Liu Ju chatted with Liu Che at first, but soon he could no longer hold on and fell asleep on Liu Che's shoulder.
Liu Che asked his three daughters to go back and carried Liu Ju all the way to Feixiang Palace, where Wei Zifu was already waiting by his side.
After settling Liu Ju down, Wei Zifu had tea served. Liu Che took it and asked about Liu Ju's situation. Wei Zifu answered her questions one by one, then knelt on the ground and said, "I have something to report to Your Majesty. Today, I sent someone to reprimand Concubine An and ordered her to reflect on her mistakes."
Liu Che paused and looked up at her: "The harem is under your jurisdiction. It is natural for you to deal with the concubines if they make mistakes."
"Yes. If the mistake committed by Sister An was common, I would not have bothered Your Majesty with it, but Sister An..." Wei Zifu took a deep breath and told him everything that Lady An had said, which was exactly the same as what Zhang Tang had found out, without hiding anything.
Liu Che turned the cup in his hand without saying a word, his expression calm and unremarkable.
Wei Zifu continued, "It's true that Fubao obeys orders. Besides Ru'er, I spend the most time with him and can command him. Ru'er is young and doesn't have any bad intentions. It's more reasonable to say that I deliberately guided him."
Indeed. Especially since Liu Ju was the only prince in the palace before this, it would be in his best interest if things remained this way. Liu Ju was still young and perhaps didn't quite understand the deeper meaning of this, but Wei Zifu did.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to report. Your sister has been pregnant for nine months now, and for these nine months, I have been in charge of the harem, making all the arrangements. If I really had such intentions, couldn't I have found a suitable opportunity in nine months? Why did I have to wait until the end before taking action?"
"Furthermore, why must I resort to Fubao and involve Juer in this for no reason? How can I be sure that Juer won't be harmed?"
She did not mention past tenderness, nor did she express her deep love and loyalty to the emperor, nor did she flaunt her own virtue. Instead, she analyzed the situation logically and got to the point. She had a hundred ways to act, but she would never involve Liu Ju.
It must be said that this convinced Liu Che more than any words. Seeing Wei Zifu trembling uncontrollably, knowing that she was thinking about Liu Ju's previous coma, Liu Che stepped forward and helped her up: "Of course I believe you."
Wei Zifu expressed her gratitude.
Liu Che's eyes moved: "Concubine An also mentioned Wang Shi, what do you think?"
Wei Zifu shook her head. "Sister Wang was in labor because of Ru'er. If Your Majesty dislikes Ru'er because of this, your Second Prince will be able to take the throne. From this point of view, your sister Wang does have a motive. But if Your Majesty asks me, I don't think your sister Wang would."
Liu Che raised his eyebrows: "Oh?"
"Please put yourself in my shoes. I don't want my daughter to be in danger, and I don't want her to be implicated. But will my sister be willing to sacrifice the baby in her womb? I can't guarantee that my daughter will be safe and sound in this matter, so how can my sister guarantee that she can do so?
"There are always loopholes in the world, and no one dares to claim to be completely safe. Compared to defeating me and Ju'er, the royal heir in your belly is your sister's greatest reliance.
"As for the doubts Sister An raised, I have three daughters and one son, and I understand childbirth better than anyone. Childbirth has always been dangerous for women. Even those who haven't fallen will encounter various difficult births, let alone Sister Wang?
"Therefore, it is inappropriate to infer that her fall was not so serious simply because she was supported by a maid. Furthermore, it was not a single physician who examined the princess that day."
Liu Che nodded slightly.
Wei Zifu carefully observed his expression and sighed, "Sister An is mistaken. If her words were to spread, it would likely cause rumors and speculation within the palace, leading to chaos. I have admonished her and confined her to her quarters as a warning, hoping she will come to her senses."
"Thinking of something else?" Liu Che's lips curled up, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "I'm afraid it's not necessarily true."
Wei Zifu paused, confused: "Your Majesty?"
Liu Che didn't explain, but patted her hand and said, "You've worked hard these past few days. I'll need you to take care of Er'er. I'll take care of Lady An's affairs."
After saying that, he left. Wei Zifu respectfully saw him out and returned to the room. She sat down beside the bed and said, "Get up. Stop pretending."
Liu Ju slowly opened one eye, then the other.
Wei Zifu scolded softly, "When did you develop the habit of eavesdropping?"
"I wasn't eavesdropping. I just happened to be awake and heard you and Father talking, so I didn't want to disturb you."
Liu Ju was helpless. Could he be blamed for this? He didn't want to. His father and mother's voices weren't loud, but the buzzing sound in his head was annoying, making it impossible for him to sleep.
Liu Ju took Wei Zifu's arm and asked, "Did Mother deliberately confine Concubine An alone, leaving her for Father to deal with?"
"Lady An?" Wei Zifu chuckled. "Her words weren't entirely without purpose. Many people share her sentiments, but no one dares to speak out. I have to thank her for giving me this opportunity to defend myself."
Otherwise, if she had mentioned it herself, I'm afraid Liu Che would have thought more about it.
Liu Ju tilted his head and asked, "How did Mother know that Father would definitely punish Concubine An?"
Wei Zifu looked at Liu Ju and didn't treat him lightly just because he was young. In her opinion, Liu Ju was a prince and needed more careful education. His horizons couldn't be limited to the harem, but he needed to understand the methods used by the harem.
"Because the timing is wrong. You and Madam Wang were in trouble together, and just as you were out of danger, rumors started spreading in the palace that you were plotting to murder her and she was framing you, stirring up the already turbulent situation. This is something your father does not want to see.
"Furthermore, if Madam Wang and I both have certain things we must not do, then what is Lady An's intention in stirring up rumors at this moment? Is she simply raising suspicions to attack Madam Wang or me, or does she have some other agenda?"
Liu Ju was puzzled: "Do you have another plan?"
Wei Zifu smiled and said, "First you had an accident, then rumors started spreading. Isn't it like when one plan fails, you come up with another?"
Liu Ju was surprised and opened his mouth wide: "The Queen Mother means Concubine An..."
Wei Zifu shook her head. "Concubine An is clueless, so the chances of her doing this are slim. But the emperor values his offspring. If this matter only involved Madam Wang and me, it would be fine, but it has to involve you and the Second Prince as well."
"Your father will not let any possibility slip by. Lady An will definitely fall into Zhang Tang's hands. If she is truly suspicious, Zhang Tang will dig out the truth; if she is just stupid and jumped the gun..."
Wei Zifu paused for a moment, then continued, "If you've been in Zhang Tang's hands, you'll have suffered at least some damage. She dared to make a venomous allegation against you and throw dirty water at you; this should be considered a lesson for her."
This was a huge lesson. Liu Ju took a deep breath, as did many others in the comment section.
— Zhang Tang, that famous cruel official. This was more than just a skin off. Wei Zifu was ruthless in handing people over to him.
—— Her conversation with Emperor Wu of Han was both logically coherent and self-vindicating, and she avenged herself by pushing Concubine An into the trap without getting her hands dirty at all! Wei Zifu is amazing!
What else could it be? Wei Zifu's secure reign over the empress for over thirty years might have been due to the gifted talents of Wei and Huo, but was it possible she didn't have some skills of her own? If the screenwriter had portrayed her as a dodder, I'd be pissed.
So, here's the question. As it stands, Wei Zifu wasn't the mastermind behind this accident. Lady Wang is also unlikely. If Concubine An wasn't the mastermind either, then who else was in Emperor Wu of Han's harem during this period? Or was the screenwriter planning to create a separate character like Concubine An?
"You're too narrow-minded. It can only be the harem, not the previous dynasty? Liu Che had few children. If Liu Ju hadn't survived, Lady Wang would have died, and Liu Che would have been sonless!"
——Shit, the emperor has no sons, so he can only zizizi... You mean zizizi..., so zizizi...
As always, snowflakes flickered and the barrage disappeared.
Liu Ju: ...
What the hell are you talking about at this moment? You are the one doing the work! What is it? So what? You have the ability to appear and disappear mysteriously, and you have the ability to speak in full!
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