Chapter 61
Liu Ju lost all respect, throwing tantrums and begging desperately. But Emperor Che's heart was as hard as a rock, unable to budge. Finally, Emperor Che lost his patience and had him dragged away and thrown back to the Eastern Palace.
What could Liu Ju do? He could only continue copying the self-reflection book.
He was able to keep his composure on the first and second days, and he could barely manage on the third and fourth days. On the fifth and sixth days, he began to brainwash himself, thinking that his father must still be angry. If he behaved better and was more obedient, his father would surely forgive the punishment after his anger subsided.
Day 7…
Damn, does this "every day" mean there's no deadline at all? At least give him a deadline, give him something to look forward to. Do you really want him to copy until he's old?
Help! Who can handle this? He really believed the comments in the comments. If he had known better, he wouldn't have pretended to be unconscious. If he hadn't, he would have gotten beaten up at most, and it would have been over in a flash. Even if it was serious, he would have just been lying down for a few days. When will this end?
So when Huo Qubing came over, he saw Liu Ju copying while crying, muttering and cursing.
Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows: "Now you know that I had good intentions in the beginning? And you still blame me for cheating you. I came to visit you specially, but you actually closed the palace door and had me kicked out.
"Why don't you think about this? If I could save you, would I not save you? How come you didn't hear all of us pleading for mercy?" I said a lot of nice things, but His Majesty didn't even nod. His attitude was obvious, and he didn't want to let it go easily.
"You think your uncle doesn't know this? What do you think your uncle means by changing his approach? Oh, you deserve it. You don't know how to appreciate kindness."
Liu Ju paused, then looked up in confusion: "Are you saying that this idea was proposed by my uncle?"
Huo Qubing rolled his eyes, snorted and said nothing.
Liu Ju was shocked.
He thought the dog was his father, but it turned out to be his uncle? Did his cousin actually have the good guy card?
Liu Ju couldn't believe it. "You are making this up! My uncle didn't even have a chance to speak at that time, but you beat him to the punch. How could you have known he would say that? My uncle loves me dearly, he wouldn't be such a jerk."
"This isn't the first time my uncle has used this trick, how could I not know it! Back then..." Huo Qubing paused, stopping the conversation and saying, "Anyway, I've been with my uncle for over ten years, and you've only been around for a few. How could you possibly understand him as well as I do?"
Despite his quick reaction, Liu Ju still noticed something. He turned to look at Huo Qubing with a suspicious look on his face: "Have you ever been tortured like this by your uncle?"
Huo Qubing's face changed slightly: "How is it possible? Do you think I am you? So stupid. Ha!"
Liu Ju didn't believe it at all. He said "Oh" lightly, put down his pen, and walked out: "I'll ask my uncle and find out whether there is any."
Huo Qubing:!!!
I quickly reached out and pulled him back, gritting my teeth: "Indeed, I did, alright."
Liu Ju blinked and asked with a smile: "Besides this, what else is there?"
Huo Qubing: ...You will die if you are not curious.
Liu Ju raised his head cunningly. "You've always made fun of me, and now I've caught your chance. I have to make fun of you too. This dark history must be known."
He put down his pen again, turned around and went out: "I'd better go ask my uncle."
If I really let my uncle talk, he would definitely tell me everything. It would be better to tell it myself, at least I can reveal half of it and keep the other half secret.
Huo Qubing took a deep breath and said bitterly, "My uncle also beat me."
Liu Ju subconsciously glanced at his butt. Huo Qubing glared at him: "Stop imagining this, this is not the kind of beating I'm going to give you. It's not the same as you."
"I've been quite talented in horseback riding and archery since I was young. Although I'm young, my skills are quite advanced. I'm very proud of my skills and don't take others seriously. I'm always itching to pick a fight.
"No matter who they were, no matter who they were, if they crossed me, no one could escape. I beat almost everyone. Everyone was beaten by me. The most powerful time, I took on five people alone and broke the legs of two people.
"They couldn't handle the game, and the rules we'd agreed upon were broken in an instant. They went back to the elders at home and complained about me. My uncle dragged me to the training ground and said that since I loved fighting so much, I might as well fight him.
"I was only eleven or twelve at the time. How could I be his opponent?"
Liu Ju nodded: "So you lost."
"If I had just lost, it would have been fine. The key is that after I lost, my uncle told me to get up and fight again. I lost again, and fought again. I lost again, and fought again. He wouldn't let me stop at all.
"We fought for countless rounds. He didn't stop until I was completely lying on the ground, unable to move. He then ordered someone to send for a doctor."
Liu Ju tsked, "I see. Were you pressed to the ground and rubbed by your uncle, repeatedly, back and forth?"
Huo Qubing: ...
This metaphor uses vivid words.
Recalling the scene at that time, his expression was subtle. The miserable sight of his body covered in bruises that day was secondary. The most important thing was the frustration and humiliation of repeated defeats, which he still remembers vividly.
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows: "So you are so powerful now, is it because of the friction you had with your uncle when you were young?"
Huo Qubing's face instantly fell.
Damn, although this is indeed part of the reason, could you please not say it directly?
Liu Ju chuckled, "For a child like you who is so arrogant and troublesome, only your uncle can control you. No wonder you are fearless except your uncle, and you are completely obedient under his control."
Huo Qubing glared: "Who are you calling a troublemaker?"
"Whoever responds to me should do it." Liu Ju shrugged.
Huo Qubing: ...
After laughing a few times, Liu Ju looked at the copying task in front of him and rolled his eyes: "Since your uncle also asked you to copy the self-reflection book, how long did you copy it then?"
When this was mentioned, Huo Qubing's face fell again, and he squeezed out two words from between his teeth: "Half a year."
"How much?" Liu Ju was stunned.
Huo Qubing curled his lips and said, "You heard right, it's half a year."
Liu Ju: ...
He took a deep breath. "You... you're a troublemaker who'd be so obedient as to copy for half a year? You wouldn't throw a tantrum and quit, or think of another way? I don't believe it."
Huo Qubing chuckled, "You don't want to copy anymore, but you've got the idea, right? You don't need to test me. I'm telling you frankly, you'd better behave yourself and copy when you're told to. Otherwise, you'll definitely know what it means to regret it to the point of being utterly gutted."
Liu Ju: ???
"My uncle only let me copy for a month at first, so why do you think I ended up copying for six months? It was because I kept playing tricks and refused to obey. Guess what happened?"
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows: "Did your uncle beat you again?"
"It was much crueler than that. My uncle tolerated me two or three times, but in the end, he didn't hit or scold me. Instead, he ordered someone to copy my self-reflection letter onto silk. He even found a huge piece of silk and posted it in my room. He made me look at it day and night."
Liu Ju:!!!
"You didn't tear it off?"
Huo Qubing clenched his fist and said, "My uncle said that if I tear it up, he will have several copies made. One copy will be sent to every family I've ever caused trouble for or bullied. That's it! Do I dare?"
Liu Ju: ...
My uncle is so cruel. This move is literally strangling my cousin's lifeblood. If he gives it to me, I'll be socially dead, and I'll never be able to hold my head up again. I might as well hang it on my own wall, where only I can see it.
"Looking at it this way, your uncle at least gave you some face."
Huo Qubing's mouth twitched: "I'll give you this honor, do you want it?"
Liu Ju immediately shut up and stopped talking.
Huo Qubing chuckled, "Who wants to read this giant book of self-reflection every day? I don't ask for help easily, but that time I really had to beg. Only then did my uncle speak up and told me to continue copying. I could take it off when he was satisfied. It took me six months. Six months!"
Huo Qubing gritted his teeth and still feels upset when he talks about it.
Liu Ju understood this feeling too well. He opened his lips slightly and squeezed out a sentence after a long while: "Uncle is such a dog."
Looking at the brush and bamboo slips in front of him, Liu Ju shuddered and added, "Father is also a dog."
Huo Qubing bit his back teeth and said, "Who said it wasn't true?"
The two looked at each other, feeling like brothers in distress.
Huo Qubing patted Liu Ju on the shoulder and said, "Fortunately, I have finally made it through. You can take your time."
Liu Ju: ...I don’t want to take it slow.
I just hope... I just hope that my father will feel sorry for him and not be so mean to him.
Liu Che, who was accused of being a "dog", and Wei Qing were drinking together at this moment.
The two brothers were having troubles, but the king and his subjects were enjoying themselves and feeling happy.
Liu Che laughed heartily, "Zhongqing's method is still the best. If we simply beat them, the pain will only last a few days, and they will definitely forget it after that. Only this way can we make them remember it deeply."
Wei Qing smiled and replied, "Qubing has a capricious and unbridled personality. If he is not restrained, I fear he will cause even greater trouble in the future. However, beating and scolding are useless to him. I have no choice but to come up with this solution."
Liu Che sighed with emotion, "This method is brilliant. Normally, if he was beaten or forced to kneel, I would have to worry about whether it would harm his body. This way, I don't have to worry about that."
"Having him write a self-reflection paper, in particular, can help him hone his writing skills; copying also helps him practice his penmanship and calligraphy. It also helps him improve his academic performance."
It can be heard that he is very satisfied with this way of teaching.
After refilling the glass of wine, Liu Che asked again, "How long did you make Qubing copy when you were punished?"
"Half a year."
Liu Che paused, and the wine in the glass spilled out. The smile on his face froze, and he looked at Wei Qing with a look of surprise and horror.
Half a year, Zhongqing, how could you be so cruel?
Liu Che thought about it and put himself and Liu Ju in their shoes. He was afraid that Ju'er would cry to death if they said goodbye.
Facts have proven that Liu Ju truly loved his son and was not as cruel as Wei Qing. Of course, it was also because of the "previous experience" of Huo Qubing that Liu Ju completely stopped his desire to play tricks and instead copied the self-reflection book every day.
After a month of copying, Emperor Wu of Han finally showed mercy and let Liu Ju escape from the "sea of suffering".
At the same time, the production of wooden kites, hot air balloons and other military equipment was almost completed, and the new strategic plan had been preliminarily formulated, waiting to be flexibly adjusted after being deployed to the front line.
Everything was ready. In late February, the army was ready to march out. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were among them, and even Cao Xiang was expected to join the battle.
Liu Ju, as the crown prince, saw the emperor off and encouraged the troops. Looking at the vast army, he could hardly conceal his excitement, a touch of euphoria, but also a hint of worry.
Huo Qubing chuckled and joked, "Don't worry. We were able to win before without the equipment you made. Now with the help you provide, how can we lose? You look down on me and my uncle too much."
Liu Ju immediately retorted: "I don't look down on you."
"If you don't have any, then relax and wait for our good news. Instead of thinking about these things, why not think about what gifts you want? The Xiongnu have a lot of good things."
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows: "Anything is fine?"
"Of course, if you say so."
"I heard that King Xiutu has a golden man for offering sacrifices to the sky, which is used by the Xiutu tribe. If you ask for something, it will usually come true. The tribe attaches great importance to it and regards it as a good omen.
"I've also heard that King Hunxie's mount is a cross between a Dayuan Ferghana horse and a Xiongnu horse. It's incredibly majestic and is his prized possession. I want both. Can you give me one?"
Huo Qubing scoffed. How could he not understand Liu Ju's deeper meaning? He had no shortage of sacrificial offerings or fine horses. But both of these items held great significance for both King Xiutu and King Hunxie.
To seize these two is equivalent to seizing both parts.
"Okay! You wait in Chang'an, I'll get it for you."
Taking a character is as easy as taking something out of a bag, which shows his arrogance and confidence.
Wei Qing reluctantly stepped forward to remind him, "Your Highness, the time has come."
Liu Ju immediately abandoned his thoughts on chatting and laughing with Huo Qubing, nodded, and stood on the high seat, accepting the wine cup offered by Feng He: "I wish you all continued victory and immediate success. My father and I are waiting for good news in Chang'an. Upon your triumphant return, we will reward the three armies!"
He drank it all in one gulp, full of heroic spirit. I had never thought he was drinking real wine, but it was actually just water.
Wei Qing, Huo Qubing and others jumped on their horses and pulled the reins forward.
Liu Ju stood on the city wall, looking at the backs of the army until they shrank into dots and could no longer be seen. Suddenly, he felt a little empty in his heart.
After coming down from the city wall, Liu Ju did not rush back to the palace, but rode his horse slowly and leisurely.
It was spring planting season. Along the road, people could be seen busy in the fields. Children playedfully pedaled carts, men led oxen in front and behind, pushing curved plows, and women gathered around waterwheels, adding beans to the millstones. Everyone was beaming, and laughter filled the air from time to time.
Everyone marveled at the benefits of the agricultural tools, was grateful for the court's actions, and admired the prince's thoughts.
As the crown prince himself, Liu Ju would occasionally hear a few words like these, narrow his eyes, and smile brightly.
As they reached the road crossing, they encountered a simple carriage. This was a common sight, so Liu Ju hadn't paid much attention to it. But when he took a quick glance, he realized it was someone he knew.
"Zhao Guo?"
Zhao Guo was sitting on the shaft of a carriage, turning around to talk to the people in the carriage, his face full of joy. He heard the call, followed the voice and saw Liu Ju, hurriedly asked the driver to stop, and knelt down to salute.
Liu Ju waved his hand and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Your Highness, my wife is arriving in Beijing today. I've specially requested leave from the Ministry of Investigation to come out of the city to pick her up." Zhao Guo approached the carriage, reached out his hand, and led Wang Wanyi down, whispering, "This is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Wang Wanyi bowed and said, "Greetings, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Liu Ju was a little surprised.
It was simply that mid-spring was approaching, and the weather was warming. Wang Wanyi could wear whatever clothes she wanted, but she wore a hooded cloak, wrapped around her neck and then on top of her head. The hood tilted to one side, completely obscuring her neck and the left side of her face. It was truly strange.
Perhaps his gaze was too obvious; Zhao Guo and Wang Wanyi both noticed it and hesitated about whether to remove it. To meet the Crown Prince without showing his full appearance, to be secretive, would be disrespectful.
Zhao Guo stepped forward hesitantly. "Your Highness, I did not do this intentionally. I was injured in my youth and my appearance has been damaged. I am afraid that removing my cloak might frighten Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Liu Ju suddenly realized that he had no inclination to forcefully uncover someone's scars and pry into their privacy. He waved his hand to indicate that it was fine and jokingly said, "I remember when I asked you what you wanted from me, you said we needed to wait until your wife arrived in Beijing so we could discuss and decide. I thought you would bring her over soon, but I didn't expect it to take so long."
Zhao Guo bowed. "My wife is not in good health. It was freezing cold then, so it would be inconvenient for her to travel far. I sent a letter back home, asking my cousin to help buy a carriage, servants, food and clothing. I won't let her set off until the spring comes and the weather warms up."
Liu Ju nodded: "You are quite careful and thoughtful. I don't know what I want. Have you discussed it?"
Zhao Guo looked at Wang Wanyi, who seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Liu Ju was not annoyed. "I understand. You have only just arrived in the capital, so we certainly haven't had time to discuss this yet. I know that a short separation is better than a new marriage. You two can enjoy a few days of warmth and think about it slowly. There is no rush. Even if you can't think of it now, you can use it later."
Wang Wanyi breathed a sigh of relief and bowed with Zhao Guo: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Liu Ju waved his hand and turned to leave. Zhao Guo consciously made way.
The two parties walked along one after another, then parted ways at a fork in the road, heading in different directions.
It was just a minor incident, nothing serious. But Liu Ju suddenly stopped, looked in the direction where Zhao Guo had left, and frowned slightly.
Feng He was puzzled: "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
"I suddenly realized that the lady seemed familiar."
Liu Ju subconsciously glanced back, wanting to ask Sheng Gu about it. Suddenly, he realized that today's farewell to the army was a serious matter, and the guards were accompanying them. Sheng Gu and Yu Sui did not come with them, only Feng He was accompanying them.
He paused, then found it amusing. He had only seen half of her face, so how could he have such a feeling? Furthermore, Zhao Guo was from Jizhou, and his wife was also from Jizhou, and had never been to Beijing before. There was no way he had seen her.
Liu Ju shook his head and shrugged: "Maybe I made a mistake. Let's go."
The group continued back to the palace.
Elsewhere, Zhao Guo brought Wang Wanyi into the mansion and ordered the servants to pack their bags. He then helped Wang Wanyi into the house and sat her down. He poured her some tea and asked with concern, "Are you tired from the long journey? How have you been doing while I've been away?"
"I'm fine. I haven't had any symptoms. Don't worry, my dear. We walked slowly, stopping and starting along the way, so we weren't too tired."
Seeing that although she looked tired, her complexion was not very bad, Zhao Guo breathed a sigh of relief.
Wang Wanyi twirled the water cup in her hand, a thought stirring in her mind. She tentatively asked, "I met His Highness for the first time today. He seems young, yet possesses a considerable bearing. It's said that he's gentle and kind, but is that true?"
"Of course it's true. No, that's not right. I think the prince is even kinder than the rumors say. As long as you follow his rules and don't get into trouble, he'll be the easiest person to talk to in the world. I don't think there's a better prince in the world."
Wang Wanyi chuckled, "My dear, you speak as if you have met other princes before."
Zhao Guo paused, then shook his head and said, "I haven't seen it, but I just feel that no one is better than His Highness."
It seems that this prince is quite popular and my husband thinks highly of him.
Wang Wanyi hesitated for a moment, then asked, "I heard that Your Majesty has few children. Besides the Crown Prince, you only have a Second Prince. The Second Prince and the Crown Prince are not born from the same mother. He is the son of your favorite concubine, Madam Wang?"
"Yes. Why are you asking this?" Zhao Guo was a little surprised.
Wang Wanyi's expression flickered, and she pursed her lips slightly. "My dear, you are now in the Ministry of Investigation and are the Crown Prince's people. When I was young at home, my father taught me history. Throughout history, there have always been conflicts within the royal family. I am afraid that something might happen and affect my dear."
Zhao Guo chuckled, "You think too much. How can the Wang family compare to the Wei family? The Second Prince is only two years old now, how could he understand these things? Even if Madam Wang is a favorite concubine, she cannot surpass the Empress. Not to mention the Crown Prince, the General, and the Marquis of Guanjun."
Although he came from a farming family, his ancestors had produced two or three officials of varying status. His father had sent him to attend classes with learned uncles when he was young. So, even if his academic achievements weren't exceptional, he still understood some principles.
Not to mention the past few months of working at the Gewusi, everyone came and went, and often had small talk, which inevitably touched upon this aspect. As a result, Zhao Guo had a good understanding of the current situation in the court.
He continued, "I see that the Crown Prince and the Second Prince have a pretty good relationship."
Wang Wanyi paused, her eyes rolling, "My dear, have you seen them get along?"
Zhao Guo shook his head. "How could I have seen that? It's just that there were quite a few interesting entries in the craftsmanship competition. The Crown Prince has a lot of these things, so they're not very rare. I picked out two or three to keep and packed up the rest. A small portion was given to the Fourth Princess, and the majority was given to the Second Prince."
If their relationship wasn't good, how could they have gotten him, especially since he had been given the lion's share? Although the Second Prince was younger and preferred these things, it also showed that the brothers were harmonious.
This made Wang Wanyi's heart sink, and she stammered, "Then are there any conflicts between the Queen and Madam Wang?"
“I’ve never heard of it.”
Wang Wanyi frowned, feeling a little unsure.
Zhao Guo became suspicious: "Wanyi, you're not the type to ask such questions without reason. Are you hiding something from me?"
Wang Wanyi's expression changed, and she suddenly became nervous: "I...I..."
Zhao Guo held her hand. "I'm not asking, I don't mean to blame you. Don't be afraid, no matter what happens, I will always help you. I just want to know what's wrong with you."
Wang Wanyi turned her head away, somewhat afraid to meet Zhao Guo's genuinely concerned eyes: "My dear, I didn't mean to hide this from you. But... I... Can you give me some time to think about it?"
Seeing her trembling all over and coughing and wheezing again, Zhao Guo didn't dare to ask any more questions. He kept saying, "Okay, I promise you. Don't get excited."
Wang Wanyi felt even more ashamed at his behavior.
Fearing that she might feel bad, Zhao Guo quickly changed the subject: "Let's not talk about this. You've been traveling so long, why don't you take a good rest?"
"The Gewu Division was busy with farm implements for a while, but now there's not much work, so we'll have one day off every five days. You should rest for a few days, and I'll take you for a walk on my next day off. Chang'an is much more interesting than Jizhou, and there's even a Glazed Street, which is quite unique.
"I've been here for a few months now, and I've always heard people talking about it, but I haven't been there yet. How about we go together when the time comes?"
Wang Wanyi had no choice but to nod and say yes.
A few days later, Zhao Guo took her to stroll around Liuli Street. Because he had a scar on his face, he still wrapped his cloak around his neck and half of his face to avoid scaring others and being pointed at.
After more than half a year of construction, Glass Street has begun to take shape. It's bustling with glass-related shops, restaurants, and bars.
Whether it is the bright windows, the beautiful terrace flower shops, the wonderful mirror maze, or even the glass statues standing on both sides of the street that can be seen every few steps, they are all vivid and lifelike; it is overwhelming.
Wang Wanyi stood there, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open, barely closing the entire time. Surprises could be heard everywhere around her. People were almost speechless, unsure how to express their shock.
After strolling around slowly, Wang Wanyi couldn't help but sigh: "Liuli Street is indeed well-deserved of its reputation."
Zhao Guo nodded heavily. "Who says it's not? I've heard of the wonderful reputation of Liuli Street for a long time, and I had some expectations in my mind, but who knew I'd underestimated it. Your Highness the Crown Prince... Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly a god."
After saying this, he saw that Wang Wanyi looked a little tired, so he quickly found a bench on the street and wiped it with his sleeve for Wang Wanyi to sit down: "You take a rest first. Go and see how many people are in line at the restaurant in front. Take a sign and we can go in and eat when it's our turn.
"The restaurants here are doing a booming business, and you have to wait for a table. Actually, this waiting system was suggested by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Look at the flow of people, the restaurants are packed. The streets are full of people. But the security is very good. There are always patrols, so even the most vicious criminals wouldn't dare to cause trouble again.
"So don't worry, just sit and wait for me. If you encounter any problems, you can ask the patrol for help."
Wang Wanyi smiled and agreed. After Zhao Guo left, she was bored and watched the crowd quietly. As she watched, she suddenly froze, her blood boiling, and her whole body trembled.
Is that in front...Wang Dalang?
Wang Wanyi pursed her lips, clenched her fists, her eyes were bloodshot, and she wished she could just go up and strangle the other person to death. She used all her strength to barely suppress this impulse.
Perhaps it was because his gaze was too scorching, but Wang Dalang seemed to sense something and turned to look at him.
Wang Wanyi was startled and quickly turned away. Zhao Guo happened to return: "Let's go. We're almost there. Hey, what's wrong with you? Your hands are so cold?"
Wang Wanyi forced an ugly smile and whispered, "Nothing, let's go. Hurry up, don't linger. I'm hungry."
Zhao Guo's suspicion deepened. He opened his mouth but said nothing. He took her hand and rushed to the restaurant.
On the opposite side, Wang Dalang was terrified and was about to rush over, but was blocked by the crowd because there were too many tourists. When he passed the crowd and reached the bench, the figure was nowhere to be seen.
Wang Dalang's heart was beating like a drum and his face turned pale and blue.
Is that Wanyi? No, how could that be? Wanyi was clearly dead, six years ago.
The dead cannot be resurrected. He must have seen it wrong. But...
Wang Dalang tried to convince himself, but failed. Even after so many years, even if it was just a quick glance, he couldn't help but feel uneasy and suspicious.
Wang Dalang looked around with stern eyes and made up his mind.
He has to look for it and check it out.
If it is not, it would be the best; if it is, we must not allow this disaster to continue.
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