Chapter 60
Xuanzheng Hall.
In the main hall, Liu Che and his courtiers were busily discussing the development of wooden kites and hot air balloons, as well as possible surprise attack plans based on them. They were excited, thrilled, and eager to try.
In the side room, Liu Ju knelt alone, his body swaying slightly from having been there for a while. His hands unconsciously rubbed his knees, and a muffled groan of pain occasionally escaped his throat. He looked pitiful, helpless, and aggrieved.
The two sides form a sharp contrast.
Especially since the main hall was only separated from the side room by a wall, the joyful and lively discussions of the crowd could be heard clearly. Liu Ju felt more and more aggrieved, and the pain in his heart was like a fountain, constantly surging up.
How could there be such a father in the world?
He worked tirelessly on infrastructure construction, scientific research, and armaments, striving to take advantage of the enemy in this war by surprise, and seize some land west of the Yellow River with the best tactics and the lowest cost.
Finally, a magical tool with great use was made. All the ministers were very happy, but he had a gloomy face. Not only did he not praise him, commend him or reward him, but he even punished him?
What kind of operation is this? Is there any justice in the world? Where is justice in the world?
Liu Ju felt a surge of suffocation, like a mouthful of blood stuck in his throat, unable to spit it out or swallow it down. The more he thought about it, the more suffocated he felt, and the more he thought about it, the sadder he felt. His nose felt sore, and his eyes moistened.
At this time, the discussion in the main hall was coming to an end.
Huo Qubing turned his head. From his angle, he could just see this scene through the crack of the door, which had never been closed tightly. His eyebrows raised slightly, and he glanced at Liu Che's expression. He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the wooden kite and hot air balloon are truly amazing tools for surprise attacks. If used properly, they could determine the outcome of a battle. This is a well-deserved great achievement."
"Although both the wooden kite and the hot air balloon were made by Baishan, they were both the Crown Prince's idea. It was the Crown Prince who suggested that since the Kongming lantern could soar into the sky, could it be made into a large, manned balloon?
"The prince also mentioned a rumor that Master Lu Ban once made a giant wooden bird that could hover in the air. He suggested that Baishan combine the silk bird with the small wooden birds that children often make to play with, and research and replicate it.
"During the development process, the Crown Prince provided strong support, donating money and effort, and providing everything needed. This is how the wooden kite and hot air balloon came into being.
"So if this merit is rated out of ten, Baishan would get three or four, and the prince six or seven."
Huo Qubing glanced towards the side hall just across the door and said, "Your Majesty, considering the Crown Prince's great contribution, why not forgive him this time?"
In the side hall, Liu Ju couldn't hold back his tears after hearing these words.
Woohoo, my cousin still cares about me. My cousin is so nice.
The courtiers in the main hall also began to stir. Normally, they had no right to intervene when the emperor lectured his son. But since Marquis Guanjun had taken the lead, wouldn't it be unwise of them to not express their opinions?
What's more, who is the prince? He is the one who created many "magic weapons" and is the hope of their Han Dynasty.
So they stepped forward one by one.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The prince is still young. Children can never resist novelty. Seeing that hot air balloons are fun, it is normal for them to want to ride one."
"Yes, yes, yes. Not to mention Your Highness, even I, an old minister, would like to give it a try. After all, something that can take people up to the sky and rise and fall freely has never existed before. This is a rare opportunity, who wouldn't want it?"
"That's right. Furthermore, the Crown Prince's actions weren't simply out of curiosity or playfulness; they were also intended to test the functionality of the hot air balloon. This is serious business."
…
Everyone gave their suggestions and Liu Ju was deeply moved.
See, people still have a conscience. It's no wonder he made harnesses, glasses, and all sorts of other things for these people. While his ultimate goal was to strengthen the Han Dynasty, it also benefited his subjects, and these people were among those who benefited.
As the saying goes, one should be grateful for what one has received, and these ministers still have this awareness.
Oh, my father is unreasonable and has no conscience.
The "heartless" Liu Che had a heart as hard as steel. No matter what people said, he just refused to give in. His face was as dead as water and he didn't say a word.
The ministers were stunned. What's going on, Your Majesty? The stairs are ready for you, are you really not going to take them down?
Everyone looked at each other, bewildered, unable to figure out what Liu Che was thinking.
Finally, Wei Qing stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has been kneeling for so long. Even if it means punishment, it's almost enough. Kneeling for a long time is bad for your legs and may cause a serious illness."
Liu Che froze. A chronic illness? These four words made his heartbeat slow down a beat, and his expression turned serious.
Wei Qing added at the right moment, "If Your Majesty feels that if you just brush it off lightly, Your Highness will not remember the lesson. Why not try a different approach?"
Liu Ju nodded as he listened.
Right, right, right. There are thousands of ways to educate a child. If you have something to say, can't you just talk it out nicely? I'm not someone who won't listen. Why do you have to punish me? Are you trying to show off your authority as a king and a father?
Uncle is really smart. Uncle, if you can speak, please speak more. You must make father realize his "mistake".
However, just as Wei Qing was about to continue speaking, Huo Qubing interrupted him: "Your Majesty, kneeling as punishment may damage your knees and is harmful to your health. It is not appropriate. But a beating is fine."
"If Your Majesty feels that the punishment at Shanglin Garden was ineffective, causing him to forget the pain after the wound has healed, then it must be because the wound was not severe enough.
"Areas like the buttocks are fleshy, so you don't have to be too cautious. Even if you use a little force, as long as you're not too cautious, the most you'll get is a bruise on the skin, but no major injuries. Afterwards, you can just lie in bed for a few days and it won't cause any permanent problems.
"Your Majesty, do you think this method is feasible?"
After he finished speaking, the whole audience fell silent.
Wei Qing looked at Huo Qubing with a slightly raised eyebrow. Liu Che was confused, and his ministers were even more confused.
Liu Ju was completely stunned and suspected that there was something wrong with his ears.
Cousin, are you my cousin? I thought you were speaking for me, pleading for me. So this is how you plead?
— Holy shit, that’s impossible. The ministers and Wei Qing desperately tried to rescue Liu Ju, but Huo Qubing thought Liu Ju wasn’t sinking deep enough in the water, and when he saw he was about to be pulled out, he immediately threw a big rock to push him down even deeper?
"At most, his skin will be torn and bruised? Blasted and bruised, what else do you want? Just lie there for a few more days? Listen to this word. Others are afraid that Liu Ju will be beaten to death, but he is afraid that Liu Ju won't be beaten to death. Is my idol such a jerk? Even if you are my idol, you can't treat my little bastard like this. I'll just give you the name Liu Xiaogou. You can be called Huo Xiaogou from now on."
Huo Qubing did it on purpose, didn't he? He definitely did it on purpose. Judging from the tone and voice, it wasn't intentional. I washed my hair standing upside down. It's so pitiful for my son to have such a cousin. Hug him, don't cry.
Liu Ju: ...No, I really want to cry. Woo woo woo.
main hall.
Huo Qubing continued, "Your Majesty, if slapping someone with your hands hurts and is ineffective, and bamboo slips are inconvenient, why don't I find you a ruler?"
Liu Che & his ministers: ???
Liu Ju:……!!!
Gnashing teethjpg.
You want me dead? Just say it. How did I offend you that you want to hurt me like this? I don't care about this cousin anymore. I don't want to talk to you anymore!
——Huo Qubing... I... have nothing to say. Even if you were my idol, I couldn't look you in the eye.
——Oh my god, what should Piglet do now? Now that things have come to this, I can’t get out of this situation without giving Juzi a beating.
—No. Ever since I learned that Juzi might be a real person, and that what we saw might be his real life, I've been raising him online every day. This is my child. I was already heartbroken when he got beaten last time. Woo woo woo.
Last time...
Seeing these two words, Liu Ju subconsciously tightened his hips, and remembering the previous beating, his legs trembled uncontrollably. Thinking of the words "skin torn and flesh exposed", his whole body trembled even more violently.
—The kid's face turned pale with fear. So pitiful. Everyone, please help me figure out how to break this situation. How can I save my kid's butt from suffering?
——It’s very simple. Just pretend to be sick. If the kid falls ill, will Liu Che still be able to kill him?
—Sick? Why are you sick now?
—Are you stupid? You can't get sick, but you can faint. I've been immersed in palace fighting dramas for over a decade, and tactical fainting is a must-have skill in harem intrigue. Almost every drama has it. Hey, kid, don't be stupid and just resist. Fainting quickly is called strategy, nothing to be ashamed of. It's important to save your butt.
——Yes, I’m about to faint. If I don’t faint soon, Liu Che’s punishment will come. Hurry up.
Liu Ju gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and fell to the ground with a thud.
The maid waiting in the inner chamber was startled and hurried to the main hall to report: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has fainted."
Liu Che & Everyone:!!!
Barrage: ...really...really dizzy?
********
Prince's Palace.
Liu Che was furious: "What do you mean the Crown Prince is fine? If the Crown Prince is fine, why would he faint?"
The attending doctors all shrank their necks and dared not speak.
Bang, Liu Che threw the cups and plates beside him away: "You are speechless! I ask you a question, what is going on?"
The Imperial Physician had no choice but to step forward and say, "Your Majesty, we have examined you thoroughly. The Crown Prince only has a knee injury, but it's not serious. He will be fine after a few days of rest."
Only?
Liu Che sneered, "If that were the case, why would Ji'er still not wake up? Even if...even if I knelt for a long time today, it shouldn't be that serious..."
At this point, Liu Che's voice trembled. He was afraid, afraid that it was really him who had caused Liu Ju's misfortune. But he was not a father who didn't know his limits. Even if he wanted to punish him severely, he would always keep an eye on the time. How could this be... How could this be?
"Even if it's really because of this, you should wake up now."
I fainted after kneeling for too long. Will I be unconscious for so long?
Liu Che's heart was in suspense, he didn't know the reason and was extremely panicked.
The Imperial Physician glanced at him, his mind turning, and he hesitated several times before finally saying, "Your Majesty, His Highness's condition is indeed somewhat strange. It doesn't seem to be caused by the kneeling punishment. I'm afraid there are other reasons, and the kneeling punishment is just an inducement.
"However, we have not discovered any other medical condition that could cause your Highness to faint. We are uneducated and we ask your Majesty to forgive us."
Other reasons? Inducements?
Liu Che froze, forgetting even to breathe. Could it be...could it be because of a chance encounter?
Ever since that accident where his soul left his body and traveled to the fairyland, he's been suffering from occasional headaches. If there's any other reason, it's probably this.
Yes. Definitely.
This was a journey to the fairyland, and the mortal soul could not withstand the damage caused by the power of the fairyland. It was related to the fairyland and the soul, which was beyond the scope of ordinary medical skills, so no matter how hard the attendant physician examined it, he could not find the cause.
Liu Che felt he had found the truth, but he became even angrier: "You're a bunch of quacks, what use do I have to you! Get out, all of you! If you can't find the answer, try your best to find a solution. If you're not proficient in medicine, read more medical books. Get out!"
The attending doctors knelt down and took their leave as if they had been pardoned.
Once they were out of the hall and far away, the youngest attendant physician approached the Chief Physician and quietly asked, "It seems to me that the Crown Prince is not truly fainting, but rather faking it. He hasn't woken up yet, and I'm afraid it's not a fainting spell, but... he's fallen asleep."
The Imperial Physician glared at him and said, "Do you think you're the only one who feels this way?"
The young doctor was stunned. He looked at the other doctors walking in front of him, then at the imperial physician. "Since everyone understands, why didn't you tell us just now? If you had, His Majesty wouldn't think we were so mediocre."
The Imperial Physician rolled his eyes and said, "Can you guarantee that the Crown Prince is pretending?"
The young doctor was speechless. He could guarantee it was 80% to 90%, but who could be sure of it being 100%?
The Imperial Physician sighed softly, "How can we speak of something we are not absolutely certain of? And do you think that by speaking out, we can escape the reputation of mediocrity and avoid the wrath of His Majesty? How naive!"
"Since you know the Crown Prince is faking it, why don't you consider why he's faking it? It's naturally to avoid punishment. This action is a 'mistake upon mistake.' If Your Majesty knew the truth, he would be even more angry and the punishment would be even more severe."
"The Crown Prince has been severely punished and is unhappy. What will happen? Will he vent his anger on us who exposed him?
"Your Majesty is furious right now and strikes too hard. What will happen if he later feels sorry and regrets it? He will certainly not be willing to blame the Crown Prince, nor will he blame himself. Will he blame us for being too talkative and making him even more angry?"
The attending physician stood there in shock, speechless.
Every word and every sentence was an angle he had never thought of, but they were all very likely to happen.
The imperial physician patted his shoulder and said, "So, as an official, you must know how to protect yourself. Remember, matters between the royal family and their sons should be resolved between them. It's not for outsiders like us, the ministers, to interfere."
The young doctor nodded in confusion, but hesitated a bit: "Then if we know the truth but...does it count as deceiving the king?"
The imperial physician was speechless. "When did I ever deceive the emperor? Did I ever tell you that the Crown Prince's current condition wasn't caused by the kneeling punishment, but rather something else? The kneeling punishment was merely the trigger, and did I even point out that it wasn't due to the Crown Prince's health?"
Attendant doctor:? ? ?
So you were hinting at something veiled in that statement? Even I couldn't hear the allusion, so how could you be sure Your Majesty could?
The Imperial Physician raised an eyebrow and said, "If Your Majesty can think of this, then it is Your Majesty's own discovery. No matter how angry you are, it has nothing to do with us.
"If Your Majesty doesn't expect this, don't blame us. After all, we've already told you the truth. As for not directly saying the Crown Prince is in disguise, we were just guessing based on the circumstances and weren't sure. How could we possibly say that?"
Physician: ...I can’t refute that.
He glanced back at the palace gate, which was already some distance away, and recalled Liu Che's expression when he came out. He murmured, "I feel that Your Majesty does seem to have thought of something, but it's likely that his thoughts are in the wrong direction."
The imperial physician shrugged: "What does it have to do with us?"
Physician: ...Well, it's really unrelated.
Inside the hall.
Liu Ju was lying on the bed and was indeed asleep.
Originally, he was pretending, but he had gotten up too early today and rushed all the way to inspect the designated location to prepare the hot air balloon. On the way back in the carriage, Liu Che's face was as black as water. He was so frightened that he dared not move, and was terrified.
Back in the palace, I was punished to kneel again. My whole body was aching, and my legs were sore and numb. I was mentally and physically tortured, and I was so exhausted that I couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep.
Beside the bed, Wei Zifu looked at Liu Ju with a complex expression, worried and slightly suspicious. Seeing Liu Che approaching, she hurriedly stood up and saluted. Liu Che waved his hand and asked, "How is Ju'er?"
"The doctor said he's fine. He's probably just tired. A good night's sleep will be all he needs."
Perhaps? Liu Che frowned at this uncertain wording, remaining noncommittal. He sighed, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have punished him like this. Zhongqing is right. There are more than one way to teach a lesson. Why choose one that might harm him physically?"
Wei Zifu paused, glanced at him, and said, "Zi'er did act rashly this time. Your Majesty is worried about him, so how can you blame Your Majesty?
"My son is usually in good health. I'm afraid he's just tired today. The doctor has examined him and he's fine. Your Majesty, please don't worry too much."
Liu Che opened his mouth and said nothing for a long time.
Wei Zifu did not know about the "adventure", nor did she know that many of Ji'er's wonderful ideas came from the "adventure", and that he had to pay a "price" to recall and organize them.
Therefore, Wei Zifu believed the doctor, believed that the doctor's statement was "fine", and felt that her son was "in good health" on a daily basis.
But Liu Che, who knew the "truth", could not do it. Of course, he did not intend to announce the "truth" to the public.
Such matters are so mysterious that revealing them to others would likely lead to numerous incidents. Envy, admiration, jealousy, and greed—all sorts of demons would surely emerge one after another, causing unnecessary trouble for Juer and putting him in danger.
So this is a secret, a secret that only he and Juer know.
Liu Che frowned and waved his hand, saying, "Go back."
Wei Zifu was stunned and said hesitantly, "Your Majesty has worked hard all day. Why don't you go back and rest? I will stay here."
"Just go back." Liu Che shook his head, "I won't feel at ease if I don't keep an eye on him."
Wei Zifu wanted to say something, but seeing that Liu Che looked a little impatient, she wisely shut up and bowed to take her leave.
After she left, Liu Che called Wu Changshi over and asked, "Last time, I asked you to find a master of medicine among the people. Did you find one?"
"There are one or two whose medical skills are quite good. They have been arranged to work in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Among those who came to see the doctor today, they are no better than the original doctors of the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Liu Che was not surprised by this and said firmly: "Look again!"
After thinking for a moment, he added, "We can't just search in Xinglin. We should also gather all the alchemists with outstanding abilities and powerful techniques."
Wu Changshi was stunned for a moment, then bowed his head and accepted the order: "Yes."
Liu Che's eyes flickered.
If the "root cause" of the illness left by the soul's departure from the body, damaged in the fairyland, is beyond the reach of ordinary doctors, then what about the alchemists? Could there be someone in the world with supernatural powers, someone who knows the subtle techniques and can cure this disease?
Just try it, you have to try it.
Nothing can happen to his daughter, absolutely not.
Liu Che took a deep breath, sat beside Liu Ju's bed, and looked at his sleeping face quietly, feeling distressed and worried.
Liu Ju knew nothing about this. Perhaps he was really tired, his body was extremely fatigued, so he slept very well and had no dreams all night long.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw a face so close to him. Liu Ju was startled, suddenly awake, and all sleepiness was gone. He sat up reflexively, taking in the other person's face. Yesterday's memories came back, and fear surged in his heart, his whole body tensed. "Father...Father?"
"Awake? Are you still feeling uncomfortable?"
"I...I...my legs hurt." Liu Ju stuttered, a little confused about what was going on.
Liu Che extended his hand, and Liu Ju reflexively shuddered. However, the beating he had imagined did not come. Instead, Liu Che stroked his head with a gentle expression, "Besides your legs, how about your head? Does it hurt?"
He sighed again, "It's my father's fault. He knew you were weak and had a disease, but he still punished you to kneel for so long."
Is he weak? Is he ill?
Liu Ju looked confused, but suddenly he understood.
He was just wondering if he had leaked the information and how to cover it up, but it turned out that his father had already thought of an excuse for him?
Liu Ju blinked and nodded decisively: "It hurts. It hurts all over."
Liu Che felt increasingly regretful. "You just made all sorts of farm tools at the craftsmanship competition a while ago, and now you're making wooden kites and hot air balloons. That must have taken a lot of effort. You told me before that I shouldn't overexert myself or overuse my brain, otherwise I'll get a headache. Don't do that again."
In fact, Liu Che understood that if it was really good for Liu Ju, the best way was to let Liu Ju stop thinking about it, stop recalling it, and stop touching anything about the "fairyland".
But with so many things in front of him, such as telescopes, horse harnesses, and hot air balloons, it was hard for him to imagine how many earth-shaking "artifacts" would follow, and how much earth-shaking changes they would bring to the Han Dynasty.
The temptation is so great, how can he give up?
So, he shamefully ignored the "best option" and chose the next best option: "You've been tired lately, so take a break first. You have things to do, and you need to take care of your health. Take your time, don't rush, and don't overexert yourself."
Liu Ju nodded obediently.
Suddenly there was a gurgling sound, and Liu Ju covered his stomach, his face flushed with shame.
Liu Che paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly. He ordered someone to bring him food and sent Feng He in to help him wash up. He was worried about his leg injury, though not serious. So he washed and ate by his bed.
The father and son had a meal. Seeing that Liu Ju looked in good spirits, Liu Che felt relieved and said, "Your condition is special now, so I will let you rest for two days. I will punish you when you are better."
Punishment?
Liu Ju opened his eyes wide in disbelief: "Father, the emperor is no longer angry, why is he punishing me?"
"Who said I'm not angry anymore?"
Liu Che scoffed. One thing at a time. He needed to take care of his health, and he needed to pay attention to underlying illnesses and avoid them as much as possible. But he still had to teach him the lesson. Otherwise, he feared Liu Ju would bring about his own death before his underlying illnesses became serious enough.
Liu Che glared at me. "What did you promise me last time when you didn't bring your guards? Who promised me that you wouldn't do it again? It's only been a few months. Do you still remember what you said?"
Liu Ju lowered his head, aggrieved: "I remember. I brought the guards. Zang Hai was with me on the hot air balloon."
Liu Che took a deep breath. Was that what he meant? Did he remember the last time he was forbidden to leave his guards behind?
"Why bring guards? For your safety. But if something happens to the hot air balloon and it falls from the sky, what use will the guards be?"
Liu Ju pursed his lips and said, "It won't fall. Baishan has tried many times and landed safely every time. That's why I went up."
"Can you guarantee that there won't be any mistakes?"
Liu Ju couldn't promise, and pouted, "You can't say that. You can choke to death while drinking water, and you can choke to death while eating. Horseback riding and archery are also dangerous. I haven't heard you forbid it, but instead you ask me to work hard. If I slack off, you won't be happy."
Liu Che: ...
What a naughty kid! Is this even comparable? Is it even comparable?
"Horseback riding and archery are for strengthening the body and increasing one's strength, so it's the same thing. You could say horseback riding and archery are essential, but hot air ballooning is completely unnecessary for someone of your status."
Liu Che's expression gradually grew stern. Liu Ju lowered his eyes in indignation, not daring to directly retort, but he couldn't help but mutter, "Why do you think what you think is necessary, and what I think is unnecessary? How overbearing."
Although the murmur was small, Liu Che was too close to hear it and finally couldn't help but raised his hand to slap.
Liu Ju's heart trembled, and he subconsciously stepped back, but his head hit the bed frame. He gasped, his eyes moistened, and tears fell. Liu Ju held his head and said aggrievedly: "Wow, it hurts, it hurts so much."
Liu Che's palm stopped in mid-air, and for a moment he didn't know whether to be angry or laugh. After a long while, he finally put his palm down and snorted coldly; "Serves you right."
While cursing, he still moved over honestly to check the back of Liu Ju's head. There was no redness, bruises or swelling, so it was okay.
Liu Che was relieved and chuckled, "I'll allow you to rest for a few days and reflect on yourself. When you feel better, write a letter of reflection to me."
Liu Ju: Hmm?
Just make him write a self-reflection? No more kneeling punishment or beatings?
In this case, seems to be okay?
So I happily agreed.
However, Liu Ju was proven to be too naive. Three days later, when he handed the self-reflection letter to Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Wu of Han glanced at it and threw it back: "It's just a few words, it's obvious that you didn't put your heart into it. Rewrite it."
In the second chapter, he said again: "The word count and length are achieved, but the content is bland and superficial, which shows that the understanding of the error is not profound enough. Rewrite it."
The third and fourth chapters were still the same.
After going back and forth several times, Liu Che always found faults. It was not until the sixth chapter that Liu Che reluctantly agreed. Just when Liu Ju thought he had finally passed, he heard Liu Che say again: "This one is okay. Just copy it ten times a day."
Liu Ju:!!!
What did you say? Say it again. How can you speak such cold words with your warm lips? Are you human? Are you human? Are you human?
Liu Ju's pupils widened, his mouth gaping in disbelief. Not only was he being asked to rewrite his work over and over again, but he was also being asked to copy it. Ten times! Every day!
Liu Ju shuddered all over, then reacted. He immediately knelt down and hugged Liu Che's thighs, wailing, "Father, please forgive me. I don't want to copy this. If you are really angry, you might as well beat me up.
"Just as my cousin Qubing said, there's a lot of flesh on your buttocks, so even if you hit harder, it won't hurt your bones. It doesn't matter if the skin is torn or the flesh is broken. The bamboo slips weren't suitable last time, so a ruler will do, a branch will do, or even a stick will do.
"Look at which one is suitable, and I'll find it for you myself, okay? Father, please give me a beating, just give me a beating, please. I really beg you! Wuuwuwu."
Liu Che: ...
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