Chapter 49
—What the Wei Commander said is excellent. Eyi… judging by her words, she does have ideals and ambitions. After all, she's also a figure in history who supported her half-brother's rise to power and rebellion.
— The question of whether they were brothers from the same mother is questionable. Liu Dan and Liu Xu certainly had the same mother, but not necessarily E Yi. E Yi's birth mother is unknown. I suspect it was Li Ji. But even if they were both Li Ji, they weren't necessarily the same Li Ji. There are many people with the surname Li.
+1. I also think the claim of having the same mother should be questioned. After all, after Liu Ju's death, the ambitions of Liu Dan and his ilk were practically exposed, and Emperor Wu even reprimanded them. If they had the same mother, would the officials have chosen Eyi to bring her into the palace to raise Emperor Zhao Liu Fuling? Wouldn't that be a clear-cut choice?
——Indeed. Even if some of the court officials had ulterior motives, they couldn't have been so united. Especially since Huo Guang was the most important minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor. Even when Huo Guang abused his power in the later years, he always sided with Emperor Zhao. Furthermore, Zhu Zhu had just passed away at that time, and his influence was still there.
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows.
Combined with the bits of information mentioned before in the barrage, this means that he is gone, his father has passed away, the young emperor Liu Fuling ascends the throne, and Eyi enters the palace as an elder sister to raise the young emperor, becoming like the empress dowager?
He took a deep breath. What about the eldest sister? What about the third sister? Even if the fourth sister was simple-minded and not very smart, she could still raise the young master. Why would he abandon them and choose the second sister?
Could it be...
A thought flashed through his mind. These sisters were all his sisters, all from the same mother. According to the comments, the witchcraft case had caused a huge uproar, with rivers of blood flowing. If he committed suicide, could his sisters, who were so closely connected and deeply implicated, have a good outcome?
Thinking of this, Liu Ju's heart skipped a beat. He looked up at his sister who was walking in front of him, and pursed his lips.
—There's no point in saying this. This is a parallel universe, similar to the history we know, but not identical. We can't generalize. Eyi's current situation seems to be still in the embryonic and exploratory stages of ambition. It's fair to say she hasn't found her true direction, hasn't figured out what she truly wants. So, why not correct her and guide her?
I agree. If you're ready for rebellion, why not do something else? Maybe because I'm a girl, I always hope that every woman can have a good outcome. She's a little off the track now, but she hasn't made a serious mistake yet, so there's still hope. Why is it that a man who makes a mistake and turns back is worthless? But a woman who strays even slightly is doomed. So I hope she can listen to the Chief of Guard's words and find a way to change her path.
In fact, her deviation is understandable. The environment and education she lived in were completely different from those of the Wei Chang. Her early years were heavily influenced by her biological mother, and later, upon realizing her problems and coming to terms with them, she needed to reshape her perspective. During this difficult and crucial period, with no one to help or guide her, she was left to explore on her own, inevitably limiting her vision and means.
Her vision and character were somewhat lacking. But objectively speaking, there was at least one thing she found true. That was that, like Wei Chang, Liu Ling, and Qi Yuanniang, she wasn't constrained by her female identity, living by the world's standards. They were all trying to break through this barrier and live their own lives to the fullest.
Liu Ju: ...As a woman, breaking barriers?
Is being a woman a dilemma?
He looked up at his elder sister in front of him again, and suddenly thought of Qi Yuanniang. When he accepted Qi Yuanniang as his disciple, many people were surprised, not because of her talent, but because they were surprised that a woman had such talent and received such honor.
Liu Ju had never thought about this before, but now that he thought about it carefully, it seemed to be true. Every aspect of his life implied this: men and women were different.
As mentioned in the barrage before, it is a pity that Qi Yuanniang was not born in their era.
A quick aside: During the Western Han Dynasty, women's thinking wasn't as constrained as it was during the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The constraints and rules placed on women were also relatively relaxed. This led to a greater tendency for women to develop awareness and rise above mediocrity.
That's true, but no matter how "relaxed" it may be, it's still relative. Essentially, men are still superior to women. For women to succeed, to accomplish something earth-shattering and make their mark in history, it's infinitely more difficult than it is for men.
Liu Ju was stunned. He thought the gender gap was already huge today, so how could this still be considered relatively "relaxed"? What would the so-called strict future look like? The Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties... meaning the Han Dynasty had vanished long ago, and dynasties had come and gone at a rapid clip.
Liu Ju felt a little disappointed, but it was understandable. He suppressed his emotion and stepped forward to hold the guard's hand.
Fortunately, his sister was born in the Han Dynasty. If she wanted something, he would give it to her. If she wanted to do something, he would help her. He didn't care about men or women, as long as she was happy. His sister was destined to have everything she wanted.
Liu Ju pursed his lips and just made up his mind when the barrage started moving again.
—Am I the only one wondering who Eyi likes? According to Wei Chang's description, she's dazzling. Forgive my limited knowledge, but I can only think of one person.
——I only think of one person.
——There is no doubt that we are thinking of the same person.
Liu Ju: ???
Yes, how could he have forgotten this? He was curious too.
Liu Ju took two steps forward and walked side by side with the guard. "Eldest sister, who does second sister like?"
The guard smiled mischievously and said jokingly, "Guess?"
Liu Ju: ...Elder sister, you can’t play like this.
He snorted, thinking of the conversation between Wei Chang and E Yi, and the words in the barrage, and hesitated, "Is it my cousin?"
The captain nodded.
Liu Ju opened his eyes wide in disbelief: "I'm with my cousin almost every day, how could I not know!"
"There are still many things you don't know." The captain of the guard sneered and subconsciously glanced at Zhu Yi. Seeing that his expression was normal, he poked Liu Ju and said no more.
Liu Ju: ???
What are you two talking about?
But it was obvious that neither of them wanted to continue this topic, so Zhu Yi asked, "Eldest sister, what should we do now?"
The guard paused, looking back at Eyi's residence, which was now quite far away and only a vague outline remained. He asked, "What do you think? Guangzhong was arrested yesterday, and the news about her was also heard yesterday.
"You should have recalled those details and noticed the clues by then. A day has passed. Why didn't you explain it to Father?"
"Because this is just my guess. Although I feel it's 80/90% correct, I can't be completely certain. If I tell it, my father will harbor a grudge, and her life will be very difficult." Zhu Yi pondered for a moment and continued, "I want to clarify and get a definite answer first, then see what my brother thinks."
Liu Ju: ...see what he means?
The guard immediately asked, "Tell me, brother, what do you think?"
Liu Ju knew that this view would directly affect E Yi's later life, and he suddenly felt enormous pressure.
He thought for a moment and said, "If possible, I don't really want my second sister to suffer."
The guard raised an eyebrow: "You don't blame her for almost hurting you by mistake?"
"Ah?" Liu Ju was stunned for a moment, then he recalled what E Yi had said about him, and finally realized what the guard asked. He shook his head and replied, "I don't blame her.
"If she knew I went to a certain place every day and that she was leading things there, even if she wasn't targeting me, she'd completely disregard my life and death and hadn't considered whether it would implicate me. Naturally, I'd be angry."
"But she wasn't. Before she acted, she must have considered countless possibilities. We had very little interaction with Guangzhong Prince Chong'er. Even if we occasionally went horseback riding together in the spring, it wasn't often. And we didn't run in the same place.
"If Guangzhong were clever, he would have attacked after leaving Shanglin Garden, thus avoiding encountering me. Even if he were foolish and couldn't wait a few days and attacked directly in Shanglin Garden, he would have chosen a deserted area. I always enjoy the hustle and bustle, so why would I go to a deserted place?
"Besides, I'm usually surrounded by guards. Even if Guang Zhongxuan were in the crowd, how could he hurt me? Therefore, none of the scenarios she imagined, the many 'accidents' she had planned, would likely harm me.
"What happened that day was purely coincidental. If she's responsible, then I'm also responsible. It was me who refused to allow the guards to follow, and it was me who insisted on going to the top of the mountain."
Liu Ju shrugged, looking quite open-minded. But he also understood that the key to his magnanimity was that he was safe and sound. If something were to happen to him, he might think differently.
But there are no ifs in the world. So he can keep his current thoughts, not care about it, and not vent his anger.
The guard nodded in understanding and asked, "What about fairness and justice? When Baishan was wronged, you strongly advocated for fairness and justice. Why don't you advocate for it now?"
Liu Ju thought for a moment and said, "The fairness and justice of laws and regulations are not for individuals, but for the family, the country, the world, and society as a whole."
The captain of the guard was stunned. What did this mean?
"Eldest sister, do you think that if this happened among the common people, Second sister is a commoner, and the people involved are all commoners, with no nobles or royals, would Second sister be punished?"
The guard general reviewed the laws of the Han Dynasty in his mind and said, "No."
"Yes. No." Liu Ju nodded, "Because although Second Sister mentioned Drunken Horse Grass, she never asked Guangzhong to use it; and when she mentioned marriage, she only informed him, without any explicit or implicit inducement.
"She simply understood human nature, knew it clearly, and effectively exploited it. If it were someone else, these few words would just be a few words, and nothing would happen.
"So her actions can be suspected and speculated, but they cannot be used as evidence to convict her.
"Strict punishment should be based on irrefutable evidence. If anyone can be convicted based on their words, this precedent will be set, and there will be many false accusations and wrongful convictions in the future.
"So, from a broader perspective, not convicting someone is, in a sense, 'justice.' I'm the crown prince, and I shouldn't just stand from the victim's perspective. I should consider things more deeply and broadly."
The captain of the guard asked casually, with a joking tone, but unexpectedly he said something like this, which was really surprising.
"Of course, this doesn't mean Second Sister is innocent, nor does it mean she can't be punished unless she's guilty. It's just that Father..."
Liu Ju's expression changed as he thought about the comments about his father in the barrage. Although many of them made him furious, there was one comment he agreed with.
"The Emperor, Father, seems to be someone who loves her dearly and hates her dearly. He didn't like my second sister to begin with, and Guangzhong's confession has only made him dislike her even more. If he knew the truth, he would probably..."
Liu Ju pursed his lips and sighed softly, "The consequences of the emperor's dislike and rejection are too severe. My second sister was wrong, but I don't think she deserves this." Perhaps because we are siblings after all, I can't help but feel soft-hearted and want to give her a chance.
"We are not strangers, we are her family. Are we going to abandon this loved one and push her into an irretrievable situation just because of one mistake? As family members, shouldn't we first try to correct her and help her change her ways?
"Whether it's persuasion and guidance, beatings and scoldings, or teaching a lesson, you can punish and punish, but you shouldn't just throw her away and abandon her. As for the sins she committed, we can shoulder them together with her and make amends.
"That's what blood relatives do. If we've tried to correct and teach her, and she still refuses to change, then it won't be too late to kill her for the greater good."
These words made Wei Chang and Zhu Yi fall into deep thought at the same time.
The commander of the guard was filled with mixed emotions. He deeply felt the differences between Liu Ju and himself in certain aspects. He patted Liu Ju on the head and said, "E Yi is right. You are a good brother."
It is true for them and for Eyi as well.
It is a blessing for them and also for Eyi.
"Of course I am. But..." Liu Ju raised his eyebrows and blinked, "Even though we are all relatives, there are differences in severity. Now it's just because my second sister is targeting Prince Guangzhong Cong'er. If she was targeting you, I wouldn't give her a chance. Not even a single chance."
He could easily forgive himself for almost being accidentally injured, but he refused to give up when it came to them.
The guard suddenly realized that they had some similarities. His heart warmed, and a smile flickered in his eyes. His expression showed a bit of consideration. He turned his head and looked at the Eyi Palace again, and continued: "Since you don't blame her and are willing to protect her, then we will help her."
He lowered his head and asked Liu Ju, "Do you dare to repeat what you said to our father?"
Liu Ju: ...Ah?
********
Inside the hall.
Eyi still sat in his seat, motionless.
In the side hall separated by a wall, Li Ji stared at the door leading to the inner room in a daze.
The sudden arrival of the guards and their companions, with their inappropriate timing and demeanor, and their dismissal of all those around them, made Li Ji extremely uneasy. Therefore, E Yi asked her to leave, but she was hesitant to leave, so she quietly withdrew and stayed in the side hall with her maid.
She heard the questioning of the guard, and also heard E Yi's grievance and unwillingness. She never knew that her daughter had so many things hidden in her heart.
Li Ji looked dazed, her eyes dull.
The maid was a little worried and tried to comfort her, "Master, don't be sad. The princess didn't blame you for what she said."
"I know, but I'd rather she blame me, rather than push all her dissatisfaction onto me. At least..." Li Ji's throat choked with sobs, "At least this way she'll feel better, and won't have to endure it alone, suppress it alone. I...
"It is true that I have wronged her. If she were reborn in the womb of the Queen, or the Lady Wang, there would be people to plan for her. Why would she need to take such a risk?"
Li Ji tilted her head slightly and tears rolled down her face.
Even though she is no longer young, she is still a beauty, especially her natural fragility which adds a touch of beauty.
"My master is also extremely beautiful, no less beautiful than the Queen and Madam Wang, so why wouldn't she be willing to..."
The maid couldn't help but sigh, but halfway through her words, she felt that she shouldn't interfere with her master, so she shut up.
Li Ji lowered her head. "Back then, His Majesty favored me along with another sister. She lived next door to me and was even more favored by His Majesty than I was. She was incredibly popular back then. But within three months, she fell into the water and died."
Li Ji still remembers how she looked when she died, with a hideous face and eyes open.
She shuddered unconsciously. Others didn't know, but she knew that the older sister was afraid of water and never went near it.
This wasn't a slip, it was murder. Yet, the matter was left unresolved, and a life was lost. To this day, she still doesn't know who did it.
She was a coward by nature, and the more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. Especially since she was already pregnant with a dragon seed, and no one in the harem had given birth to a dragon heir except for Wei Zifu, who gave birth to a daughter. She immediately became a thorn in everyone's side, and everyone looked at her as if they wanted to eat her alive.
She didn't dare show up at all. She was so cautious that she didn't even dare to go out. She didn't dare to see His Majesty and didn't dare to do anything.
She endured the bullying and insults from others, and swallowed the insults without hesitation. Relying on this cowardice and incompetence, she was able to give birth to Eyi safely and cautiously, and she suddenly felt that she had found a way to survive.
Because she was tolerant enough, others felt that she was not a threat, looked down on her, and would not attack her.
She lived peacefully in this cannibalistic place and raised Eyi.
"I thought I was doing this for her own good. I really thought I was doing this for her own good. I didn't ask for anything but her best, for her to be safe and healthy. Why did this happen? Why did things turn out like this? Why!"
Li Ji burst into tears and her body became unstable.
The maid supported her and said, "My lady, the princess knows your feelings for her. But...it's just that the princess wants something different."
Li Ji's lips moved, not knowing how to speak.
She suddenly recalled the past.
Once, Eyi was learning to make dim sum, and she succeeded on her first try. She was so overjoyed that she said she wanted to send some to her father, the emperor, to taste. However, she heard that another lady had already sent some food, and fearing that she would find out and think she was deliberately competing with her, she ordered her not to do so.
Later, E Yi learned horseback riding with great care and effort. After a long period of practice, he finally became proficient in it. He also said that he would ride for his father to see when he returned to Shanglin Garden and give him a surprise. When she heard that the guard chief also had this idea, she was afraid that E Yi would take away the guard chief's glory, so she again refused.
Earlier, when Eyi was still young, she was also outgoing and bright. When others mocked and bullied her, she always wanted to fight back, but she kept them in check, stopped them, and consoled them time and time again.
Later, Eyi changed. He became less ostentatious and became what she wished, gentle, quiet and law-abiding.
Li Ji used to be pleased, but now she knows that this is not the case.
Eyi...her Eyi...
"Yes, she is different. She is different from me. It was me who didn't know how to teach her. It was me who ruined her. If it weren't for me, she might not have reached this point today."
Li Ji covered her chest with her hands, her heart aching. Thinking of the current situation, she became more and more confused and anxious.
"If Eyi could have argued before that she was ignorant and unintentional, what about now? Princess Wei Chang and the others already know that she had planned this. What is she going to do?"
Li Ji was trembling all over and was about to fall.
The maid supported her and said, "Master, don't overthink it. The princess is your majesty's biological daughter after all. What she did can only be considered suspicious. Without evidence, your majesty will not punish the princess for the sake of a king."
"Only the Supreme Court needs evidence to make a ruling, not His Majesty. It all depends on whether he believes it or not. Besides, this isn't just a case of Wang Chong's ears. I'm afraid..." Li Ji shook her head. "The marriage was decided by His Majesty. What will His Majesty think of E Yi's actions?"
The maid was stunned, then suddenly understood, and her heartbeat suddenly stopped for a moment.
If Your Majesty doesn't think deeply about this, then that's fine. But if you think more about it, won't you feel that Eyi is dissatisfied with your decision and is challenging your authority? Whether you think deeply about this or not, whether you think about it in this way or not, all depends on the emperor's thoughts.
Li Ji's face was filled with sorrow. "Your Majesty is unlikely to punish me openly. But if His Majesty harbors a grudge and becomes displeased, how can she be okay?"
"Whether inside or outside the palace, everyone acts according to His Majesty's attitude. If she is disliked by the emperor, even if she is still a princess on the surface, her title will be gone in reality. Then she...what will she do?"
Li Ji subconsciously stood up and wanted to go into the inner room to hug E Yi, but she suddenly remembered her current state and stopped at the door: "No, I can't go in like this, E Yi will be worried."
The maid didn't know what to do, so she could only suggest, "Why don't you go back and rest first?"
"Yes, I am going back. I need to go back and think about what to do."
Li Ji tried to hold back her tears and turned away. She clenched her hands into fists, using the pain of her nails digging into her flesh to force herself to calm down.
Don't panic, don't panic. Don't panic when things go wrong.
Eyi was her daughter, her life. She had already been very sorry for Eyi over the past decade, and she couldn't just panic and make mistakes at this critical moment.
She had to find a way, she had to save Eyi.
She always has to do something for her daughter.
*******
Imperial Palace.
Liu Che's face was gloomy. "Since Eyi is under house arrest and you can't come, how can I let you come?"
Li Ji knelt down, her heart tightening, and she subconsciously retorted, "No. Your Majesty, I came to Eyi without her knowledge. It was not her idea, I came here on my own."
Liu Ju's expression was indifferent. "I told you I know what she said that day. Let her go back. What are you doing here?"
Li Ji was very nervous and her hands were shaking.
She had already made up her mind to take all the blame on herself and get Eyi out of the situation, but facing such a serious emperor, she was very nervous and was so overwhelmed by Liu Che's majesty that she was unable to speak.
But she knew she couldn't do nothing.
It was Eyi who said these words, but what if Eyi was deceived by her and was instructed by her?
To the emperor, Eyi was his daughter after all. He would rather it be himself than Eyi.
Li Ji gritted her teeth and mustered her courage to speak: "I have come here to make it clear to Your Majesty. Everything E Yi said to Your Majesty that day is true. It is I...I..."
Just as he was about to say this, the eunuch outside said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and the two princesses of Weichang and Zhuyi request an audience."
Liu Che's attention was immediately diverted, and he hurriedly asked someone to come in.
Liu Ju was skipping in front, holding a tray with a few popsicles on it.
"Father!"
The coldness on Liu Che's face melted away instantly, and a smile appeared on his face: "What did the chef do again?"
"Popsicles. Mix milk and fruit juice, pour into molds, and freeze them in the ice cellar for two days. They have the frankincense of milk and the sweetness of fruit juice, and they're especially icy and refreshing. They're especially refreshing in the summer."
Liu Che glanced at the popsicle that was still being cooled by ice and was about to melt, and glared at him: "That's all you're after. You want to stay cool again, huh?"
Liu Ju groaned, "No, I didn't. I just made it and gave it to Father without even tasting it."
Liu Che chuckled.
Liu Ju handed him one, then turned around as if he had just noticed Li Ji's presence and blinked: "Li Ji is here too, would you like some?"
Li Ji was so frightened by their arrival that she was almost out of her mind. She was afraid that they were here to expose E Yi, so she didn't dare to respond. She subconsciously shook her head and said, "No, that's not necessary."
Liu Ju did not force it: "Did Li Ji come to talk to father about my second sister?"
Without waiting for Li Ji's reply, he turned to Liu Che and asked, "Father, I heard that Zhang Tang has already investigated the whole matter. This was all Guangzhong's evil intentions, and there is no hidden agenda. So, can we release my second sister from her house arrest?"
"You want to speak up for her?"
Liu Ju did not shy away from the question and nodded directly.
Liu Che scoffed, "There's indeed no hidden agenda, but that doesn't mean she's innocent. Zi'er, I don't believe that since you can spot Caiqin's abnormality, you won't notice the strangeness in Eyi's words."
"I know. But even if Second Sister was indeed involved, Guangzhong is still the primary culprit. Second Sister's words were merely statements. She described the uses of the Drunken Horse Grass and her marriage to Wang Chong'er without any inducement. Zhang Tang interrogated Guangzhong and verified the people present that day, and they can all confirm this."
Indeed, Liu Che did not deny it, but he did not respond to Liu Ju's words. He looked at him quietly, without saying a word, and his attitude was unclear.
"So, regardless of what happened to Second Sister, Guangzhong's crimes are truly heinous." Disgust crossed Liu Ju's face as he spoke. "Now that he's failed, he's trying everything to escape, even going so far as to implicate Second Sister. But what if his plan had succeeded? Would he have happily sent Xiuchengjun to ask Father for a marriage?"
After saying this, he grabbed Liu Che's arm and said indignantly, "Father, do you know that Guangzhong had his eyes on Third Sister before and was very attentive to her?"
Liu Ju gnashed his teeth, and Liu Che's face instantly fell. He looked at Zhu Yi and asked, "Has he ever been close to you?"
Zhu Yi nodded: "Yes."
Liu Che frowned: "Why didn't you mention it?"
Zhu Yi chuckled, "It's not a big deal, so why would it bother my father? I'll just ignore him. He doesn't dare to do anything to me, so why should I worry about it?"
There's a difference between not caring and whether or not it happened. Liu Che's expression was grim.
Liu Ju continued, "It's not just Guangzhong, Wang Chong'er is no less. Not to mention the third sister, if Wang Chong'er hadn't known that the eldest sister had a tacit understanding with cousin Cao Xiang, he would probably have wanted to test the eldest sister. They are all toads, but they all want to eat swan flesh. They look ugly, but they have beautiful thoughts. Ha."
Liu Che looked at the chief guards of various towns.
Zhu Yi nodded. The guard sighed softly, "The Wang family holds the Queen Mother's last wish, but they only have one chance to fulfill it. Naturally, they must seize it firmly and maximize their benefits."
How can we maximize the benefits? Not only was E Yi's birth mother of low status, she was also not favored. How could she compare to the empress's legitimate daughter?
Among the empress's legitimate children, there were distinctions of high and low. Whether it was fiefdoms or the emperor's favor, Wei Chang was unique. If the Wang family could marry Wei Chang, they could return to the peak of their glory during the empress dowager's lifetime, perhaps even surpassing it.
But although Wang Jia was "careless", he had not yet gone crazy, so he only dared to think about it and carefully made a few attempts. When he noticed the actions of Cao Xiang and Pingyang, he knew that he could not compete with them, so he withdrew immediately.
Even so, they had considered it, and it infuriated Liu Che, his face dark as water. He also despised Wang Chong'er. But for the Queen Mother's last wish, he didn't mind giving up Eyi. But that didn't mean he was willing to give up all the other towns and the Chief of Guards.
The Wang family and Wang Chong'er are so brave!
However, he rolled his eyes, restrained his anger, looked at Liu Ju, and said sarcastically: "For Eyi, you are really thoughtful."
Liu Ju knew exactly what he meant and immediately straightened his back. "I admit that I wanted to help my second sister, but regardless of whether it's Guangzhong or Wang Chong'er, every word I said is absolutely true. If your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can check it out. You can check it out at your leisure."
He swore it with all his heart, and all he had to do was point his finger to heaven and swear.
The chief guards of the various towns also said, "I dare not deceive my father. This is indeed true."
Liu Che scoffed. Of course he knew it was true. Regardless of whether these children dared to deceive their emperor and father, the fact that such lies would be easily exposed was beyond comprehension. These three were not stupid people, so how could they do such a foolish thing?
But they hadn't mentioned it before, and now that they were bringing it up, they were really using it to speak up for E Yi. However, it was clear that the three of them had laid their thoughts out in the open, not trying to hide it from him.
So although Liu Che made a sarcastic remark, he was not angry.
He sighed softly, "Ju'er, do you still remember when Crazy Horse almost hit you?"
"I remember. Father, this was an accident. My second sister had no intention of harming me. If I had indeed suffered any harm as a result, I would naturally blame her, be angry with her, and even attack her. It wouldn't be excessive."
"But I'm safe and sound. Even if my second sister set this up, it wasn't targeting me. Even so, I still blame her, get angry at her, and even attack her. What about my other brothers and sisters?"
Other siblings? How does this relate to other siblings?
Liu Che was stunned, and Wei Chang Zhuyi was also a little confused.
Liu Ju continued, "My father is in his prime. Although I have few brothers and sisters now, it doesn't mean I will have fewer in the future. If I were to be this kind of person, vindictive, how would my brothers and sisters get along with me in the future?"
"Would they be trembling with fear, fearing that they might accidentally do something that had nothing to do with me, but because of my sudden intrusion, it might have affected me, even if I was not injured?
"But how could they have anticipated this, or how could they have avoided it, that I had suddenly barged in on something that had nothing to do with me? What would their attitude toward me be then? They would respect me, fear me, but never show me any affection or love.
"Father, do you really want me to be like this? Is this really what you want to see?"
Liu Ju raised his eyes and looked directly at Liu Che: "Can someone with this kind of temper be the crown prince of a country? I am like this even to my own relatives, resenting and brooding over the slightest unfulfilled entanglement. I have no mercy. What about the court officials and the people? Am I not even worse to them? Is a crown prince like this a blessing for the Han Dynasty?"
Liu Che sat up straight, shocked by these words.
He had only seen that E Yi almost hurt Liu Ju, and Liu Ju actually spoke up for E Yi, and thought that this child was a little too kind. Now he knew that Liu Ju was right.
It would be fine if he was just an ordinary prince, but he was not. He was the crown prince. A crown prince should have the bearing and demeanor of a crown prince.
The Crown Prince is narrow-minded, which is detrimental to the country. As for his family, except for his compatriots, the other princes and princesses in the palace will probably have a good end.
Liu Che's heart trembled. He was blinded by a single leaf, and could not see as clearly as a child.
Wei Zhang Zhuyi was even more surprised, his heartbeat stopped for a moment, and the two looked at each other, both with their lips tightly pursed and pupils shrank.
Previously, Liu was said to not blame E Yi, and they did not think much of it, just thinking that Adi was always kind and good to the maids, not to mention his sisters. But they did not know that he had thought so much in private.
Imagine if my younger brother resented and resented E Yi today, and even punished him. Even if my father only cared about my younger brother and looked down on E Yi, so he didn't care, what would happen in the future?
What would he think if he ran into Liu Hong, or someone else the emperor cared about, instead of E Yi? Would he bring up today's incident and think that my brother was cruel?
The guards and the other guards turned pale and looked at Liu Che. Seeing the amazement and joy that Liu Che couldn't hide on his face, they slowly relaxed.
Liu Ju said seriously: "Father, I am not such a person, and I can never be such a person."
Liu Che nodded, and couldn't help but reach out and pull him to his side, stroking his head lovingly: "I was mistaken, you are right."
Liu Ju raised the corner of his mouth: "Then father, can you promise not to make things too difficult for my second sister?"
Liu Che paused slightly:?
You're bringing this up again.
"Father, I know she's not without fault. But she is still my sister, my family."
Liu Ju spoke again and took the opportunity to repeat what he had said to his sisters before about relatives making mistakes.
Make a mistake once, abandon, teach, and correct...
These words penetrated into Liu Che's ears. Although he did not completely agree with them, he once again felt the precious qualities of Liu Ju.
"Father, I'm not asking you to let Second Sister off completely and not punish her. She should be punished if she makes a mistake. If she doesn't, how will she learn her lesson and understand her mistakes? Will she dare to do it again in the future?"
"What I'm asking is that Your Majesty, Father, be a little more patient with your loved ones. If she changes after being punished and chastised, let's put this matter behind us and not hold a grudge against her, okay?"
In fact, he also wanted to say that Eyi was also his father's daughter, but his father had not fulfilled his fatherly duties. The commentary said that when children make mistakes, incompetent parents are also to blame. In some cases, the parents' faults even account for the majority. He felt that his father was the "majority."
This happened in Eyi, but didn't the emperor have this incident? Not only did it happen, but it was also very serious.
But these words could not be said. Especially, even if the emperor did wrong to E Yi, he had not wronged him. He had always been the one favored by the emperor.
If one were to say that the emperor's love for his children was ten out of ten, he alone received six of them. His eldest sister, third sister, fourth sister, and Liu Hong shared four of them, and Eyi received none at all.
So even if others could criticize his father, he alone couldn't. He didn't have the qualifications. He couldn't be called an ungrateful person.
So Liu Ju wisely chose to say only what he could say. As long as it did not affect his own interests, he would help Eyi. He thought of it as a different way of fulfilling his responsibilities to his father.
"Father!"
Liu Ju pulled Liu Che's arm, blinking his eyes with pleading eyes.
Liu Che chuckled: "I promise you."
Liu Ju jumped up to protect him: "Father is the best, long live father."
Liu Che couldn't help laughing. Thinking of his words today, his heart was deeply touched.
Having such a prince is his fortune, the fortune of the Han Dynasty, and the fortune of all the princes and princesses in the palace.
If other people do not have second thoughts, his descendants can avoid the situation of brothers fighting each other in the future. With brothers working together, the Han Dynasty can prosper.
Li Ji, who was ignored nearby:……!!!
What…what kind of development is this? Solved…solved. Is this resolved? Is this resolved?
After she and Liu Ju and the others had said goodbye and left, Li Ji was still in a daze, as if she were in a dream.
When they were a little further away from Liu Che's palace, the guard took two steps forward and approached her, saying, "If we hadn't arrived in time today, would Li Ji have taken the blame?"
“I…I…”
Li Ji was at a loss when her thoughts were revealed, not knowing how to respond.
The guard also knew her temper and spoke directly to the point: "Let's not talk about whether the emperor will believe you. Let's talk about Eyi. If you are really convicted because of her and punished by the emperor, how will she cope? She will probably spend the rest of her life in self-blame and guilt. Can you bear to see her like this?"
Li Ji's body swayed. This was something she had not considered.
The guard captain sighed and smiled, saying, "Fortunately, we arrived in time, and everything is fine now. Go back. We know you're coming, and Eyi will know too. She's incredibly anxious right now, so don't let her worry about you."
Li Ji said repeatedly: "Yes, I...I will go back now."
Liu Ju looked at the chief guard, then at Li Ji's back as she hurried away, with a suspicious look on his face.
Why do I feel like something is not right with my eldest sister?
Is it his illusion?
*******
Residence in Eyi.
When Li Ji returned, E Yi was already running out in a panic, not even paying attention to the so-called house arrest order. When he saw Li Ji, he rushed forward and hugged her, "Mother, Mother!"
"Don't be afraid, Eyi. Mother is fine. Mother is doing well."
E Yi cried, "Mother, don't be silly. I did it, how can I let you take the blame? I... I will go and confess to my father right now. I will plead guilty."
As she was about to leave, Li Ji quickly grabbed her and said, "Don't worry, mother is fine. Mother didn't say anything. Mother didn't have time to say anything. The princess and the prince arrived halfway."
Eyi was stunned.
Li Ji explained the whole story, and E Yi was even more stunned: "It was... it was my eldest sister, my third sister, and the prince who helped me? My relatives... the prince actually helped me like this. I... I almost hurt him. I..."
Eyi stammered, feeling mixed emotions.
She had lived for over a decade, and many times, even when things weren't her fault, they would eventually become her fault. Those who caused trouble would mock her and laugh at her. Her mother would cry and ask her why she was so stubborn, and then tell her not to offend others.
All she could do was endure it, and all she got was grievances.
This was the first time she knew that her mother, who was so cowardly, could muster up the courage to take the initiative to meet her father for her, even at the risk of her life.
And her sisters and the prince, who she thought had ordinary relationships with her, were actually willing to forgive her, understand her, and help her.
Eyi's nose felt sore and his eyes turned red.
Li Ji was very happy: "Eyi, although mother is not very smart, she can see that His Majesty has listened to the prince's words and agreed on the spot. So even if there is any punishment, nothing will happen to you after the punishment."
What they feared was never punishment, but the emperor's lifelong disgust.
As long as the emperor does not despise them, punishment is fine. Every child who makes a mistake has been punished by their parents.
"Eyi, today is all thanks to the princess and the prince. We must remember this kindness. Even if we don't have the chance to repay them in the future, we must not be ungrateful."
"I know, Mother, I know."
Eyi lowered his head, feeling even more ashamed, and began to cry.
When Li Ji was sent back, Liu Che's order to lift the house arrest came, and then the maid beside the chief guard arrived.
The maid stepped forward to greet him, holding out two bamboo scrolls. "Second Princess, these were collected by my princess and the crown prince, and I've specially sent them to you. My princess said it's entirely up to you to decide whether to use them or not, and how to use them."
After saying this, he bowed and took his leave.
E Yi slowly opened the bamboo slips with suspicion, and was stunned on the spot.
What the eldest sister and the prince did was not just to plead for her. They even...even gave her such an important gift.
Eyi's cheeks flushed with shame and he felt even more guilty.
Eyi finally understood what the Chief of Guard meant when he said that there were other ways besides killing Wang Chong'er; he also understood what her so-called conspiracy meant.
What she was doing was a conspiracy, while the plan proposed by the Chief of Guards was an open one. A conspiracy could only proceed in the dark; an open one could proceed in the light of day. Even if it left traces, others would know about it, but they would not be able to say a word about it.
She had always known her elder sister was superior, but she also knew there was a gap between them. For the past two or three years, she had envied her elder sister, looked up to her, and constantly tried to catch up. But now she realized that even though she had barely caught up in things like horse racing and hunting, there were still some things where they were still far behind.
She is far inferior to her elder sister.
Knowing that she had a secret jealousy in her heart, and knowing that the prince was almost injured by mistake because of her, the eldest sister did not get angry or annoyed and did not pursue the matter. Instead, she extended a helping hand and helped her to this point. How could she feel?
In contrast, when she repeatedly questioned her elder sister that day, she swore that she just didn't want to marry Wang Chong'er. Her words were indeed so shallow and even so ridiculous.
How could she compare to her elder sister? Mother was right. She couldn't compare, she really couldn't.
E Yi was filled with shame, her eyes welled up, and tears rolled down her cheeks. After a moment, she raised her hand to wipe away the tears and cheered herself up again.
The eldest sister brought the third sister, the prince, here not to accuse her of anything but to enlighten her. How could she wallow in self-blame and betray her elder sister's painstaking efforts when her elder sister had already come this far?
E Yi flipped through the bamboo slips, carefully examining and pondering them, pondering every word the Guard Commander had said that day.
Since her elder sister said that it was up to her to use it or not, and how to use it, she couldn't take it lightly and had to think it over carefully.
If the eldest sister says it is not needed, there must be a reason why it is not needed; if she says how to use it, there must be more than one way to use it.
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