Chapter 35
Liu Ju's silence and "playing dirty" made Liu Che even more certain of the truth, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this was the case.
He didn't know how to describe his feelings at the moment. He sat side by side with Liu Ju, father and son leaning on each other, and his hand in Liu Ju's was trembling.
He was excited. That was a god. Just ask the many monarchs throughout history: who has ever been able to gain the attention of a god, and who has ever received his help?
Yet, he couldn't help but worry. Was the price Liu Ju paid severe? Could the headaches be relieved, could they be cured? The memory loss didn't seem a big deal now, but what about the future? Would it persist? Would other issues arise later?
Even more regretful. Why wasn't I the one who journeyed to the fairyland and encountered this golden opportunity? How wonderful it would have been if I had been. Who in the world doesn't want to meet the gods, who doesn't want to experience the fairyland?
Then he felt relieved. Fortunately, it wasn't him. This way, he wouldn't have to endure the headaches, nor worry about missing memories. Liu Ju was young, his memories brief and unimportant. He was different. The missing part was uncontrollable, and he couldn't afford the risk.
More importantly, the opportunity to reach the fairyland is to encounter a great disaster, and only when you are on the verge of death can your soul leave your body. This situation is extremely dangerous and life-threatening.
He still remembers vividly the scene when Liu Ju had several high fever convulsions and was barely breathing, and the attending doctors were busy and exhausted, not daring to slack off for even a moment.
Frankly speaking, he didn't want to go through that himself. Who knew if he could pull through like Ju'er?
just in case……
As the thought occurred to him, Liu Che's heart skipped a beat. He could actually feel so fortunate, grateful that he enjoyed the benefits without having to pay a price. But the one who had to pay the price was Ju'er. This was the treasure he had only obtained when he was nearly thirty years old, the Ju'er he had loved and doted on.
Feelings of self-blame and guilt arose spontaneously, and Liu Che subconsciously hugged Liu Ju even tighter.
With such a complex and conflicting feeling, Liu Che's favor for Liu Ju increased dramatically over the next few days. Not only did he reward Liu Ju with many things, he also often pulled Liu Ju aside to talk. He would either go to Feixiang Palace himself or summon Liu Ju to his side. The father and son ate and lived together, and they were very affectionate.
For several days, the court and the harem all looked at each other with awe and discussed the matter.
Greenhouse Palace.
This was the winter residence of the emperor, a sheltered pavilion. When Liu Ju woke up, Liu Che was no longer around. He wasn't surprised, as this had been happening every day for the past few days.
After washing up with the help of the maid, Liu Ju ran out of the house and reached the front hall. Before he entered, he heard laughter coming from inside, mixed with the sound of a baby calling "Father" in a baby's milky voice.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw Mrs. Wang holding Liu Hong. Liu Hong opened and closed his mouth, calling "Father" and "Father" again and again. There was no slurring of words like a baby who was just learning to speak, and his pronunciation was clear and loud. Liu Che was very happy and kept teasing her. Liu Hong also cooperated very well and giggled.
Liu Ju ran over in surprise: "My brother knows how to call me father?"
As soon as he appeared, Liu Hong seemed a little scared of seeing a stranger. His giggles stopped abruptly and he turned around and threw himself into Liu Che's arms.
Liu Che smiled and pinched his little face: "Today is the first time I heard him call me. This child is smart and speaks early."
Mrs. Wang pursed her lips and said, "Hong'er is already nine months old. It's almost time, but it's not too early."
Though modest on the outside, she was actually beaming with joy, her tone tinged with delight and pride. Most children start talking around a year old, so nine months was certainly early. Her private instruction was well worth the effort.
"I called him out of the blue this morning, and he kept barking and clamoring to go outside.
"I thought he wanted to go out and play, but I walked around with him twice and couldn't coax him into submission. It wasn't until I tentatively suggested going to find my father that he finally calmed down. It shows the bond between father and son. Hong'er is thinking about Your Majesty. He was so eager to tell Your Majesty as soon as he learned to speak."
The meaning of these words was unclear, but they were clearly meant to flatter. But Liu Che didn't mind; instead, he found them quite appealing. Especially after the words had finished, Liu Hong added, "Father," with a faint "yayah," as if echoing Lady Wang's words. Liu Che's laughter grew even more hearty.
Liu Ju came closer and teased him enthusiastically: "Call me brother, call me brother! Brother——"
He opened his mouth wide and tried to poke Liu Hong's cheek, but before his fingers even touched Liu Hong, his facial features wrinkled and he started to cry.
Liu Ju: ...Is he so scary?
Liu Ju looked up in confusion, his eyes full of suspicion: "Brother, do you dislike me?"
He pouted and looked unhappy. He had been a younger brother most of the time and it was rare for him to be an older brother. How could he be so unwelcome?
Mrs. Wang's heart skipped a beat, then she smiled. "Your Highness, you're just talking like a child. You two are brothers, how could Hong'er not like you?"
"Hong'er is just too young and a little shy. Your Highness, please play with Hong'er more often in the future so that you can get to know each other better. Hong'er will definitely like you as a brother."
Liu Ju nodded, thinking she made sense. He was so smart and cute, how could anyone not like him? He had just said that casually, not taking it to heart at all. Now he was happy again: "Okay, I'll go play with A-di more often in the future."
Suddenly he frowned: "But my brother is too young to play with me. Alas."
Madam Wang smiled and said, "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. Children grow up quickly. In two years, Hong'er will be able to run around after you."
Liu Ju said on the spot: "Then I will wait for him for two years!"
After all, he is so young, and it is really impossible to play with him. How boring.
But then he thought of something else and said with a smile, "I still have a lot of little gadgets made by Baishan. I'll make some for A-di later. He's sure to like it."
Then he came close to Liu Hong and said, "Grow up quickly, brother. When you grow up, I will take you to race horses and play polo."
Seeing that he was still a child, but could coax people in a baby voice, Liu Che couldn't help laughing.
It is really wonderful that brothers are friendly and respectful to each other and live in harmony.
Mrs. Wang did not stay too long. After Liu Ju came in, she sat for a while and then tactfully found an excuse to leave.
After leaving the greenhouse hall, Mrs. Wang's smile faded, and her brows were furrowed along the way, with a look of deep thought on her face.
Liu Hong nestled in her arms, moaning and rubbing her cheek from time to time. Only then did Mrs. Wang smile again, looking at Liu Hong with a gentle glimmer in her eyes.
When they returned to the Magnolia Pavilion, Xue Qing asked in confusion: "What happened to Madam just now? Is it because of the Grand Prince..."
Before he could finish his words, Mrs. Wang raised her hand to interrupt him and called for someone to take Liu Hong away to play. After seeing Liu Hong leave, she said, "Let's avoid talking about these things with Hong'er in the future."
Xue Qing was stunned, then suddenly understood and hesitated: "Madam, are you overthinking it? It's normal for children to be shy. The Second Prince and the First Prince have little contact, so naturally they are not close enough."
Mrs. Wang sighed softly, "It's indeed commonplace, nothing to worry about, but it's always right to be cautious. Especially since Hong'er is now over nine months old and can already understand what people say, so it's inevitable that he will be influenced by us."
"Look at how he treats Your Majesty. Father and son don't interact much, but I talk to him about Your Majesty every day and teach him what to do. Whenever he sees Your Majesty, he smiles brightly. He's so cute and lively, and Your Majesty is naturally happy.
"To His Highness. We have never taught him how to respond privately, and he often speaks inappropriately. How can Hong'er get close to him?
"Luckily, we discovered it early. Hong'er is still young, and even if he was affected a little, he still doesn't fully understand our thoughts. We just need to pay more attention to him from now on."
Mrs. Wang's expression flickered.
She did have some thoughts in mind, but she didn't want to pass them on to her child too soon. At least not now, and she couldn't.
Madam Wang pondered, "In the future, when you have time, find opportunities to bring Hong'er to His Majesty's presence more often and coax him into playing with her. We must not allow any rift between the two brothers to develop. This would be detrimental to Hong'er, and His Majesty would particularly dislike seeing it."
Xueqing bowed in agreement.
Just as the master and servant finished their conversation, someone outside announced, "The royal envoy has arrived."
Mrs. Wang immediately stood up to greet him, happily led him into the house, and ordered Xueqing to guard outside.
Before she could ask, Wang Dalang spoke first: "Sister, did you just come back from His Majesty's visit?"
"yes."
After receiving a positive answer, Wang Dalang's tone became a little more anxious, and his speech sped up a little: "Your Majesty's attitude towards Your Highness has been particularly different these past two days. Can you see anything?"
Yes. Lady Wang's trip to Greenhouse Palace wasn't just to bring Liu Hong to Emperor Liu Che to show his presence and win his favor, but also to secretly test him. She already knew the outcome.
She had always known how to read people's expressions, especially after serving the emperor for several years, she was the best at reading Liu Che's expressions. Therefore, even if Liu Che didn't say anything, this morning was enough for her to understand the situation.
Especially before she entered, Liu Che must have been writing, and there was still a little ink left on the edge of his little finger.
When she entered, Liu Che happened to be placing a piece of silk into a box and putting it away. He did the whole thing himself, his expression serious and earnest. The imperial seal he had just used was placed next to the table.
Ordinary imperial edicts were usually written on bamboo slips and were usually drafted by ministers. The emperor would only need to review and affix his seal. What kind of things required the emperor's personal handwriting, and were so solemn?
Mrs. Wang guessed the result after just one glance.
But she did not answer her brother's question immediately, but her expression said it all.
“It’s really like that.”
Wang Dalang's body trembled, and his face showed disappointment, but Mrs. Wang remained calm and seemed very composed.
The Wei family was prosperous, the Queen's position was secure, and His Majesty's love for the Grand Prince was obvious to all. This result was a natural outcome. She wasn't so conceited as to think that giving birth to Hong'er would change things.
Since it was expected, it was not a surprise and the emotional fluctuations were small.
She didn't want to dwell on this topic, so she asked instead, "How's the investigation going on with the thing I asked my brother to investigate last time?"
Unexpectedly, her reaction was so calm that Wang Dalang was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses and replied, "Li Yannian is originally from Jizhou. He has three siblings. Li Yannian is the eldest, and he has a younger brother and a younger sister.
"Fifteen years ago, a flood struck Jizhou, and Li Yannian's mother and sister were swept away, their whereabouts unknown. After the disaster, the Li family searched for them for a while, but with no news, they assumed they were dead. After all, that year saw so many casualties and displaced people.
"Because of this disaster, the Li family suffered heavy losses and became destitute. His father had no choice but to pack up his bags and take his children to Bingzhou to live with relatives, where they settled down.
"Li Yannian has loved music since childhood and possesses a remarkable talent. His father felt he had the potential to be a successful artist, and he meticulously nurtured him. Li Yannian lived up to his expectations and surpassed his father.
"Five years ago, Li's father moved the family to Chang'an, hoping to give Li Yannian a better future. Li Yannian was also very hardworking, and soon he made a name for himself in Anling.
"However, due to his youthful impetuosity, he was provoked by words and broke the law, and was later castrated and sent to the palace. However, he was a man of scheming, and with some money from his family, he quickly climbed up the social ladder to become the current Minister of Music.
"Last year, Your Majesty first established the Music Bureau, ordering the Taiyue Office to manage classical music and the Music Bureau to manage popular music. He also ordered the Minister of Music to select suitable musicians and dancers from the palace and the public. Li Yannian took this opportunity to join the Music Bureau.
"Later, because of his good looks and the uniqueness of his music, he soon gained the approval of His Majesty and was promoted from a low-level musician to a music supervisor."
Mrs. Wang listened quietly, without commenting on Li Yannian's past. She only asked, "Where is Li Xiaomei?"
"Anling has long been known as the Land of Women's Songs and Dances, home to numerous singing and dancing houses and numerous musicians and entertainers. Li Yannian once assisted there, and after joining the Music Bureau, he would occasionally return to visit, seeking inspiration for his compositions.
"Three months ago, he went to his usual dance hall again and saw a new dancer. He noticed that she was wearing his family's jade pendant around her waist. The jade pendant wasn't worth much, but it was specially made by my father years ago. Each of the three siblings got one."
Madam Wang scoffed, "Just based on a jade pendant, he believed this was his sister who had been missing for fifteen years?"
"No, there's also a scar behind the ear. That scar was caused when Li Yannian accidentally knocked his sister down when he was a child. I remember it vividly."
"The scar behind the ear..." Madam Wang paused, muttering softly, then asked, "How has Li Xiaomei been living these past fifteen years?"
"Li Xiaomei said that she was indeed from Jizhou and was rescued by her adoptive mother during the flood. But she was very young at the time and fell seriously ill after being rescued, so she has long forgotten her family.
"Her adoptive mother was once a famous dancer in Anling. Later, she was bought as a concubine, but because her mistress was jealous, she was disfigured and kicked out. After that, she made a living by doing odd jobs.
"She was well treated by her adoptive mother, who taught her singing and dancing since she was young. Six months ago, she passed away, leaving behind a letter entrusting her to a sister who used to live in Beijing. Those sisters were from the singing and dancing troupe."
Mrs. Wang's expression flickered: "It's all interconnected and logical."
Wang Dalang frowned. "I sent people to Jizhou to investigate. The investigators said there was indeed such a dancer who adopted a child fifteen years ago.
"She cherished the child very much and kept her in the house to teach her. She seldom went out. Those who saw her said that the girl was a rare beauty.
"Everyone in the neighborhood knew that she was a rare commodity and was going to give this 'daughter' to someone higher up, so she had been protecting her daughter from being abused by others.
"She had been ill for two or three years. Her daughter took care of her until her death. She saw her off before she came to Anlingyi with a letter."
Mrs. Wang listened quietly, without commenting. It seemed that Li Xiaomei's background was impeccable, with every bit of evidence available. But the absence of any issues was the biggest problem.
Mrs. Wang's eyes flickered, and the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously. Without asking any more questions, she simply said, "Thank you for your hard work, brother."
Wang Dalang hesitated to speak, and after enduring for a long time, he finally said: "She is just a dancer. If you are worried, I will help you get rid of her."
Mrs. Wang knew exactly what kind of solution this was. She smiled and shook her head, "No, brother, this time is different. Don't do it. I have other plans."
Wang Dalang was puzzled: "Any other plans? What do you want to do, sister?"
"You'll know it in a while, brother." Mrs. Wang said as she played with the cup in her hand and smiled sweetly.
Wang Dalang opened and closed his mouth, hesitating for a long moment before finally sighing, "You've had your own ideas since you were young. Father always said you were the smartest of us siblings. Whatever your plans are, just keep them in mind. If you need any help from home, just let me know."
Mrs. Wang responded softly, the smile in her eyes deepening.
********
Xuanshi Palace.
Liu Ju and Liu Che had a meal together and then came here. Just like the previous few days, Liu Che handled government affairs while Liu Ju stayed beside him to read and practice calligraphy.
In less than half an hour, three waves of officials arrived, all asking for horse harnesses, and urged the Shaofu to make progress in making the harnesses.
Liu Che was completely overwhelmed by the annoyance, but Liu Ju was still watching from the side, gloating over the misfortune. Liu Che bent his finger and tapped him on the forehead: "How dare you laugh? Who is responsible for this?"
Liu Ju rubbed his forehead and pouted, "It's not me anyway. It's my fault that the emperor allowed me to eat all the food. He made a lot but refused to share it with me."
Liu Che raised his eyebrows: "Do you dare to say this again?"
Liu Ju pursed his lips and shut up tactfully.
Liu Che's mouth twitched slightly, and he almost burst out laughing. He thought he was so brave that he dared to make up stories about him, but he turned out to be such a coward!
At this time, a eunuch came in and reported: "The Marquis of Bowang wishes to see you."
When Zhang Qian came in, Liu Ju was surprised: "Is Marquis Bowang also here to ask the emperor for horse gear?"
It's not surprising that he behaved this way. Although there have been many people asking for horse harnesses in recent days, most of them are military generals fighting on the battlefield, or royal relatives and dignitaries who have nothing to do and love to have fun.
These two were particularly fond of horse harnesses. Even if the others also wanted them, they were far from going to the extent of going to the palace to ask the emperor for them.
"I am not here to ask for horse harness."
Liu Ju was just wondering when Zhang Qian knelt and offered, "I beg Your Majesty to grant me another mission to the Western Regions."
Send it to the Western Regions again?
Liu Ju blinked, and Liu Che sat up straight: "Why do you suddenly have such an idea?"
"This isn't sudden. It's a knot in my heart. Your Majesty placed high hopes on me during my last mission to the Western Regions. However, I was trapped by the Xiongnu for ten years. Even though I finally escaped and made it to the Western Regions, I failed to fulfill the mission Your Majesty entrusted me with. I have failed to live up to your expectations. I wish to go again."
Liu Che said nothing and looked at Liu Ju.
Liu Ju was full of questions:...Why are you looking at him? What does it have to do with him?
Seeing that he didn't understand, Liu Che could only take the initiative to ask: "What do you think?"
Liu Ju paused for a moment, tilting his head in thought. "Marquis Bowang, what you said is not true. The last time you were sent on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, it was because my father wanted you to go to Dayuezhi and form an alliance with them to fight against the Xiongnu."
"Unfortunately, times have changed. By then, the Yuezhi had already fallen apart and had long since lost the ambition to fight the Xiongnu. This is not your fault.
“Although you failed to complete this mission, you made friends with Wusun and Dayuan, established friendly relations with the countries in the Western Regions, and brought back many rare and special products from the Western Regions. This contribution is extraordinary, no less than that of the generals who fought on horseback for the Han Dynasty, defended their country, and achieved great military success.
"So, not only have you lived up to my father's high expectations, you have actually exceeded them. You are a great contributor to the Han Dynasty."
Zhang Qian was stunned. He had never expected that the little girl who had once loved to pester him about strange stories from the Western Regions would give him such high praise. He felt a surge of emotion in his heart. "Your Highness, this compliment is excessive. I am truly unworthy of it."
"Ashamed, ashamed, I'm just telling the truth."
Zhang Qian said, "If so, I should go to the Western Regions again to promote the prestige of the Han Dynasty and continue my unfinished journey. I will live up to your highness's praise."
Liu Ju frowned and looked at Liu Che, who smiled with encouragement in his eyes.
Liu Ju: ...I am speechless. Is it up to him to decide whether to go to the Western Regions again?
Liu Che smiled and said, "Do you think you should go?"
"As Marquis Bowang said, a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions can enhance the prestige of the Han Dynasty and deepen its influence on the countries of the Western Regions. In addition, it can also open up trade relations between us and the countries of the Western Regions and promote cultural exchanges.
"More importantly, it allows us to gain greater understanding of the current situation in the Western Regions, broaden our horizons, and understand geography. Just because the Great Yuezhi can't be used doesn't mean that all the countries in the Western Regions can't be used.
"The more we understand the Western Region, the better we can control it when needed, so that we can form alliances and use it for our own benefit. So, in terms of whether it's appropriate or not, it's definitely appropriate."
Alliances and alliances...
This was the strategy that Su Qin used to persuade the six states to unite and resist Qin.
Liu Ju used it here, the situation is different, but the principle is the same.
Liu Che's heart trembled slightly, but he also keenly perceived another meaning in Liu Ju's words: "Is it just from the perspective of whether it is appropriate or not? What if it is not from this perspective?"
"Realistically speaking, now is not a good time to attack the Western Regions again," Liu Ju sighed. "The Hexi region is still in the hands of the Xiongnu, and it's a must-pass place for the Western Regions. If we want to attack the Western Regions again, we must first conquer it."
This statement hit the nail on the head. During Zhang Qian's first diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, he was captured by the Xiongnu in Hexi and held captive for ten years.
Thinking of the past, Zhang Qian's heart sank.
Liu Che's expression grew serious, his eyes glistening with joy. This had been his plan. Prepare for battle, find the right moment, first seize Hexi, then the Western Regions. Unexpectedly, despite Ju'er's youth, he shared his vision.
“That’s one of them.”
Liu Che raised his eyebrows: "One?"
Liu Ju nodded and looked at Zhang Qian: "Marquis Bowang wants to send another envoy to the Xiongnu. Have you considered how to go there?"
"As before, send guards to accompany me. I will arrange for guides. Last time, I had the help of Tang Yifu. This time, I know the Western Regions better and have learned some of the language, so I can find more guides."
"Furthermore, the horse harnesses Your Highness has made will help us lessen our fatigue on the journey; the compass will help us determine our direction; and the Kongming lanterns can serve as a means of summoning help when needed."
Liu Ju sighed, "Let's put aside the first question. Even if Hexi is in our hands, does Marquis Bowang think that's enough?"
Zhang Qian was stunned.
Liu Ju continued, "Marquis Bowang forgot the most crucial point. You must at least bring someone who is good at drawing maps."
Draw a map.
Liu Che's heart trembled again.
Liu Ju continued, "Although you knew a lot about the Western Regions during your last mission, could you describe their topography in detail? No. Besides, words are ultimately imprecise, and others might not fully understand them.
"If we want to have sufficient control over the Western Regions in the future, understanding the terrain is our top priority. And finding someone skilled in map drawing is not easy, is it?"
The last sentence was naturally directed at Liu Che. Liu Che nodded. It was not just hard to get, it was extremely rare.
Liu Ju shrugged. That's why he said one. If there are many talented people, two or three are necessary.
Liu Che looked at Zhang Qian and asked, "Does Marquis Bowang understand?"
Zhang Qian lowered his head and said, "I was not thoughtful enough and acted rashly."
Liu Che waved him off and looked at Liu Ju with a smile: "You know quite a lot?"
Liu Ju snorted, "Of course. My uncle and cousin discussed the issue of Hexi and the importance of maps when marching and fighting. I remember it all."
Liu Che's eyes narrowed.
Liu Ju's eyes rolled, and he thought of something, his expression leaping with joy: "Father, why don't you issue an imperial decree to recruit such talents from all over the country, and by the way, you can also recruit people with outstanding craftsmanship."
"By the way?" Liu Che narrowed his eyes. "That's probably your main purpose. The person who draws the map is just a by-product."
Liu Ju looked away and waved his hand confidently, "Oh, what's the big deal? They're all important. Father, why bother with these trivial details?"
Liu Che: ...Hehe.
"Why do you still need to recruit craftsmen? Baishan is not enough for you?"
Liu Ju frowned: "It's enough at this stage, but I'm afraid it won't be enough in the future."
Later? Liu Che paused.
Liu Ju answered frankly, "My memory is not clear now, and many things are incomplete. I will definitely remember more in the future, and I will need more talents. I have to prepare early."
Memories? Was it something you saw in Wonderland? Of course it was.
Liu Che's expression flickered for a moment: "Gongshujia still has a few young masters, don't you want to use them?"
"It's not that I don't want to. I just think that people from the Gongshu family can be used, but not for everything. Although Baishan's last name isn't Gongshu, he's also a disciple of Gongshu."
Liu Che thought: "Why?"
“No one company can dominate the market.”
Six words reveal the key.
Liu Ju frowned. "If one company dominates and all the skills are controlled by one company, it will become a monopoly. If that happens, Gongshu's power will be too great, and I'm afraid it will expand and give rise to other ideas."
"Who wouldn't want to be the best? But at that point, would they still be willing to see others rise up?
"So, folk artisans either become apprentices to Gongshu, or their skills are suppressed, leaving them with no hope of making a breakthrough. There are no other options.
"Over time, there will be a gap in skills, and all technology will be controlled by Gongshu. And those who were not originally Gongshu's disciples will also become Gongshu's disciples.
"Furthermore, once the royal family gets used to using Gongshu's children for everything, they'll become dependent on them over time. With these two factors combined, wouldn't the Gongshu family have the capital and confidence to negotiate with the royal family?"
Liu Ju's eyes sharpened. "Whether to employ people, how to employ them, and who to employ, are always decided by the royal family. So, we can use the Gongshu family, but we can't use them all. We have to find some rivals for them."
"Competition is necessary in any field. Vicious competition will undermine the rules, but healthy competition can make people progress. This also urges them to always remember to strive for progress and not slack off, so as to preserve their status and better serve our royal family."
He was talking to himself, completely unaware that the smile in Liu Che's eyes was expanding like ripples.
Liu Ju raised his little face and vowed: "Once I get the talent, I will definitely be able to create more surprises for my father."
"Oh, really?" Liu Che narrowed his eyes and began to think carefully. "You are right. I will have people start looking for someone who is good at making maps. As for the craftsmen, there is no rush. You can wait a little longer."
Liu Ju: ...Don't be so hypocritical. Your business is the most important, and mine should be put aside, right? You're the emperor, so great! I can endure it!
Liu Che was unaware of Liu Ju's thoughts. His eyes swirled as a thought gradually arose in his mind: "Ju'er has already given my father many surprises. Why don't I give you one too? Once you receive this surprise, it will be much easier for you to do what you want. How about taking action then?"
"Surprise?" Liu Ju frowned and hesitated, "Is it going to be the same as last time with the personal guards?"
Liu Che: ...What's with that expression on your face? Why are you still disgusted with me?
Don't blame Liu Ju. It was really a surprise given by Liu Che. He was only surprised, not happy.
Liu Che sighed: "No, I promise you will like this surprise."
Liu Ju still hesitated: "Really?"
"real."
Liu Ju rolled his eyes, thought for a moment, and finally decided to trust his father once again: "Okay, then give it to me."
"I can't give it to you now." Liu Che touched his little head, and raised the corner of his mouth. "Wait a minute, such a surprise must be given on a good day."
Pick a good day?
Liu Ju blinked. What kind of surprise required an auspicious day?
He was actually looking forward to it. What should he do?
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