Chapter 70
The next day.
Huo Qubing brought Huo Guang and Huo Shan into the palace to report the situation to Liu Che and Wei Zifu. Not long after, Huo Guang came out of the palace holding Huo Shan, and Huo Qubing was left behind.
Liu Ju walked forward leisurely and said, "Let's go."
"Leave?" Huo Guang was puzzled, staring at the palace door with a worried look on his face.
"My father and mother are very kind to my cousin. Don't worry, they will agree."
Huo Guang lowered his head and said, "I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about you, brother... We're the ones who've caused you trouble."
"Are you worried that my cousin will be scolded by my father? That's completely unnecessary. All my life, I've only seen my uncle scold my cousin, but I've never seen my father scold him. When my uncle scolded my cousin, my father always protected him and tried to excuse him."
Huo Guang was stunned. These words, spoken lightly, gave him a deeper understanding of Huo Qubing's status in the imperial family. He had heard in Pingyang County that the emperor treated him with leniency and generosity. Now it seemed that this leniency and generosity went far beyond his imagination.
Liu Ju smiled and said, "Let's go. I promised you, cousin, that today is your first time in the palace, and I will take care of you. When the emperor talks to you, it's not just a simple chat; he'll even give you a banquet. It won't be that quick."
He pointed at the sun overhead. "It's so hot, standing here waiting, how foolish! Even if you don't care about yourself, you should at least care about Shan'er. Shan'er must be hungry, she needs to eat something. The Eastern Palace is a bit far, let's go to the Princess Palace to find Fourth Sister. It's closer. I've already sent the order."
Huo Guang glanced at Huo Xian in his arms and finally nodded: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Liu Ju waved his hand. "No need to call yourself a commoner. My cousin and I have always been relatives, not rulers and subjects. Just follow my cousin's lead."
Huo Guang was stunned, and suddenly realized that Liu Ju had never called himself "Gu" when facing Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, but only "I".
Yesterday, he had called him "Gu", but today he had changed it to "I". Huo Guang glanced at Huo Xian, then looked towards the palace gate, knowing that this must be due to his brother's attitude and the fact that Huo Xian was going to be adopted.
Following Liu Ju to the princess's palace, just as he said, the maids had already prepared cow's and goat's milk in advance.
Seeing Huo Xian sucking bit by bit with a satisfied expression, Huo Guang felt relieved.
Liu Ju asked people to bring various kinds of food and snacks, and Shi Yi, the chatterbox, was chattering beside them. The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed. Huo Guang's tense nerves slowly relaxed, and soon he relaxed, replying incoherently and occasionally laughing.
Thinking of the comments in the comments, Liu Ju rolled his eyes and asked Huo Guang, "You have read books at home. What did you learn and how far did you go?"
"I have. I just finished studying Gongyang and was studying Guliang before going to Beijing."
"That's about the same as my progress. I haven't finished today's homework yet, and there are some things I don't quite understand. The tutor has circled tomorrow's lesson and asked me to review it. There are some things I don't understand, so why don't we work together? If you know the answer, you can explain it to me."
Huo Guang was somewhat surprised: "I am a humble person... I have little knowledge, how can I explain it to Your Highness?"
After saying "common people," he changed it to "I." It seemed he had taken his words to heart and wasn't one to stick to rules and etiquette. Liu Ju was delighted. "Even if we don't talk about explanations, we can still discuss them. The Grand Tutor said that classics and history books shouldn't be memorized by rote. If you can debate with others, you can improve yourself."
After saying this, Liu Ju hurriedly asked someone to bring him his books and homework.
Shi Yi was dumbfounded. "You're not! We were chatting happily, and you brought up schoolwork? Who likes being asked about schoolwork in the middle of a small talk? Are you really here to ruin the atmosphere?"
He then pulled Huo Guang: "Ignore him. Let's continue our conversation."
Liu Ju rolled his eyes. "Just because you don't like studying doesn't mean everyone doesn't like studying. Huo Guang, don't you agree?"
“Who would love to study?”
Shi Yi curled his lips, not believing it at all. They both looked at Huo Guang at the same time, waiting for his opinion.
Huo Guang: ...should he say he loves me or not? When gods fight, mortals suffer.
Liu Ju took Huo Guang's silence as his agreement. Coincidentally, the maid brought over some books and homework, and she pulled Huo Guang to sit at the desk to start discussing and studying.
Although Huo Guang was a little confused, he quickly got into the state.
Liu Ju originally just wanted to test him with today's homework, but unexpectedly, he answered very fluently and clearly.
Liu Ju's thoughts turned, and he asked about the previous few days' homework. The two of them talked about "Guliang" (Guliang Scriptures), "Gongyang Scriptures", and then "The Analects of Confucius". Finally, they talked about homework, court affairs, and what they saw and heard.
When Huo Qubing came over, Liu Ju was already holding Huo Guang's hand, his eyes shining and his face full of excitement, as if he wanted to become sworn brothers with Huo Qubing.
After Huo Guang left, Liu Ju still couldn't help but sigh.
What a talent! He was indeed a man who would become a powerful official in the future. He had already shown the first signs of this when he was a child.
Liu Che looked at his big, twinkling eyes and chuckled, "Do you like him very much?"
Liu Ju nodded. "He's amazing. No matter what I ask, he always has an answer, and his words are meaningful. Some of his insights are quite unique and coincide with mine. Especially when I occasionally share some novel ideas and opinions, he is able to accept and understand them quickly."
Liu Che was stunned. He had also tested Huo Guang in the palace today. This boy was indeed good, but he did not expect that his son would give him such a high evaluation.
"He also wrote a copy of my homework today." Liu Ju pulled him to the table and pointed to the bamboo slips on the left, saying, "This is what he wrote."
Liu Ju was the crown prince, known for his intelligence and quick thinking. His teaching was different from that of ordinary children. Children aged seven or eight were typically taught only book knowledge and interpretations. But for Liu Ju, the Grand Tutor would let him formulate his own arguments based on what he had learned that day.
Liu Che picked up the bamboo slips, his eyes slightly surprised: "The handwriting is good, and the writing is also good."
After a pause, he continued, "No wonder Dao Qubing brought him back to Chang'an."
Huo Qubing had a cold affection for the Huo family and Huo Zhongru, with no resentment or disgust, nor admiration or affection. After all, he had no shortage of love, and even the so-called "fatherly love" was given mostly by Wei Qing and a smaller portion by Liu Che, so he had no interest in Huo Zhongru's.
Therefore, if Huo Guang did not have the talent to be cultivated, even if the Huo family had such an incident, they would have handled it in a different way and would not have brought Huo Guang back.
Huo Qubing treated Huo Guang just as Liu Che treated him back then, admiring and cherishing his talent.
Liu Ju pursed his lips, his tone filled with admiration, emotion, a hint of bitterness, and a sense of unwillingness to admit defeat: "He writes better than me."
Liu Che looked at the bamboo slips on the right again. If the left one was written by Huo Guang, then the right one must be written by Liu Ju.
He laughed. "No, Father thinks each has his own merits. Besides, you are three years younger than him, and he has three more years of experience and experience than you. So it seems that you are still better."
Liu Ju was immediately delighted when he heard this and asked excitedly, "Father, can I invite him to the palace to play more often?"
"You like him so much?"
Liu Ju lowered his eyes. "It's so rare to find someone who's my age, who can keep up with my thinking, and who understands my ideas. Before, only Buyi could barely do it. Others can play with me, but... it's always different."
There is naturally a difference between ordinary playmates and close friends.
There is one thing I haven’t said yet.
This is talent. Talent must be seized. The comments said that those in power must learn to cultivate their own team. He needs his own prince to command.
As for the possibility that the barrage secretly revealed that Huo Guang would threaten the imperial power and surpass the emperor in the future, Liu Ju did not care.
At least this is a testament to Huo Guang's extraordinary ability, isn't it?
In the history known by Danmu, no matter if the monarch is young, or has been on the throne for a short time and has a shallow foundation, it is always because the monarch is weak that the powerful ministers become strong.
If the monarch is strong, how can the power of ministers rival that of the emperor?
Just like his father, which minister would dare!
So does he need to start being wary of this now?
Oh, is he some incompetent and useless person who can't even control a minister? Then he should just give up his position as crown prince and abdicate.
Liu Che's expression flickered. He looked at Liu Ju and suddenly realized that he had overlooked something. He beckoned Liu Ju to sit next to him and asked softly, "Do you want him to come to the palace occasionally or often? Do you want him to just play with you, or just study and have fun with you?"
Liu Ju was stunned, his eyes rolling around as he understood the hidden meaning in his words: "Father, you mean... a study companion?"
"You are already over seven years old and have been studying for a few years. It is time to choose a study partner for you. I also had a study partner when I was young."
Liu Ju smiled and said, "I know that Sang Hongyang, Zhang Qian, and the late Han Yan were all my father's study companions."
"Yes, then do you know what companion reading means?"
Liu Ju was stunned.
Liu Che smiled and explained, "A study companion is someone who studies with you when you are young and encourages you to make progress; someone who plays with you and grows up with you. When you grow up, they will be your capable generals who will work alongside you and plan for you. After you ascend the throne, they will be your loyal ministers."
A loyal and trusted minister.
Liu Ju took a deep breath.
"Zi'er, if you were an ordinary prince, your study partner would only need to be of good character, and I would choose one for you directly. But you are not. Moreover, I know you have always had your own opinions. I will have to spend every day with you and become your confidant in the future. I am sure that you don't want me to make the decision directly."
Liu Ju shook his head: "Father loves me. Whatever Father chooses must be the best. How could I be so ignorant and let Father down?"
"Father knows that you will understand my painstaking efforts and accept them calmly. But you may not be completely happy. The best may not be what you like most." Liu Che touched his head, "I want to give you the best, and I also want to give you my favorite.
"My son, your study partner is someone who is not only of similar age so we can play together, but also has a personality that suits your taste. Furthermore, he or she must be able to keep up with your progress in both civil and military studies, and be able to understand your thinking and ideas.
"Only in this way will you be happy, and only then can you make good use of them in the future, achieving a good relationship between ruler and subject. Therefore, I give you the right to choose. Do you want to make your own choice?"
Liu Ju pursed his lips, his nose felt sore, and he threw himself into Liu Che's arms: "Father really loves me."
She was just a study partner, yet she thought so much about him and took every aspect into consideration.
How could such a father not trust him in the future, allowing the witchcraft incident to happen and forcing him to commit suicide?
Liu Ju clenched his fists, raised his eyes and replied: "Okay. I'll choose."
Liu Che smiled silently, and the next day he ordered a group of young men from the court and relatives of the emperor to enter the palace, ostensibly to accompany the crown prince in play. Everyone had a rough idea of what the real purpose was, and they all privately reminded their own children to "motivate themselves."
Then Liu Ju discovered that a group of little kids, who were either the same age as him or not much older than him, were trying their best to please him and vying with each other to show off, and many of them were obviously trying too hard.
But there are exceptions, such as Wei Buyi, who wants to show off but doesn't want to show off at the same time, and is very awkward.
After all, the two knew each other well. Liu Ju noticed something was wrong after just one day and pulled him aside to ask, "What's wrong with you? Don't you want to be my study partner?"
"I...I don't know."
Liu Ju was speechless. How could he not know this?
Wei Buyi hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
An idea flashed through Liu Ju's mind: "Is it because of my uncle?"
Wei Buyi lowered his head. "Father said that the relationship between the Wei family and His Highness is already close enough, and whether I am a study partner or not will not affect it. The Wei family is also already prosperous enough, and there is no need for me to be a study partner to increase the situation. And...
"Father also said that His Highness treats us well and only talks about family affection in private. His Highness is kind, but we must remember that in addition to being family, we are also the monarch and his subjects. There are certain rules that cannot be broken and etiquette cannot be abolished."
Liu Ju looked up at the sky. This was indeed what his uncle would say.
He looked at Wei Buyi and said, "Do you want to be my study partner? Let's not talk about your uncle, just talk about yourself."
Wei Buyi nodded: "I thought so."
"That's all right. Don't worry about what your uncle said. He didn't directly tell you not to do it, did he?"
Wei Buzhi paused, it seemed that this was indeed the case. Although his father had said these words to him, he had not explicitly stopped him.
"Ah." Liu Ju sighed, "My uncle is good in every way, except that he is too cautious and too well-behaved."
He patted Wei Buyi's shoulder like a little adult and said, "Uncle is brave and good at fighting. We can learn from him, but we shouldn't learn everything. We should also discard the dross and take the essence of the teachings of our elders. We should have our own judgment and not blindly obey.
"Although the relationship between the ruler and his subjects is important, it doesn't have to be that way at all times. Although I'm the crown prince, I'm also your cousin. Don't follow your uncle in this regard; learn from your cousin Qubing. Young people should have the temperament and sense of loyalty of young people. Your uncle is old, and he's different from us. What suits him may not suit you."
Wei Buyi raised his eyes: "Is that so?"
"Of course. And if you follow what my uncle said, and follow the rules, the king and his subjects come before the father and his son. Then you should listen to me first, then him."
Liu Ju patted Wei Buyi's shoulder generously and said, "Let's go. If you want to be the leader, then be it. If you don't want to be the leader, then don't be. Just do what you want. Why be so embarrassed? You can think about it slowly. There's no rush. Let's go have fun."
As they turned around, they both stopped at the same time.
The person being talked about, Wei Qing, was right behind him, and Liu Che was standing next to him.
Wei Buyi was completely stunned.
Liu Ju: ...digging his toes into the ground awkwardly.
Liu Che raised his eyebrows: "Discard the dross and retain the essence?"
Liu Ju coughed lightly and answered cleverly, "Father's teachings are naturally the essence!"
Liu Che's eyes were full of cunning: "Do you think I'm old too?"
"No, my father is in his prime!"
Liu Che pointed at Wei Qing with a smile and said: "But you said your uncle is old. Your uncle is younger than me."
Liu Ju: ...Father, please stop talking. Can you please let me go?
He answered stiffly, "Um... Uncle... I... I didn't mean to say you were old. You're not old, but in some ways... well... you understand, right?"
Liu Ju touched his nose, gave an awkward smile, and quickly changed the subject: "Well, it's time for the Cuju game we agreed to play with the others. Father, uncle, let's go first."
He escaped in time, but still did not forget to take Wei Buzhi with him out of loyalty.
Behind him, Liu Che's hearty laughter was heard, and Liu Ju's face instantly fell.
Ahhhh, getting caught is so annoying.
Damn!
This episode did not cause any disturbance, and it was over. Liu Ju and Wei Qing's relationship remained the same, and Wei Buyi seemed to have come to his senses, interacting with Liu Ju more naturally and more intimately. Liu Ju was quite pleased.
There was no limit on the number of candidates who could be the crown prince's study companions, but Liu Ju ultimately chose only two: Huo Guang and Wei Buyi. At the same time, Huo Xian was officially registered under the name of Huo Qubing, becoming Huo Qubing's son.
Many people in the capital who were unaware of the situation simply assumed that the child was Huo Qubing's biological son, and there was much discussion, especially speculation about the child's mother. However, Huo Qubing didn't care at all and had no intention of explaining.
In the palace, with the appointment of his tutor, Liu Ju had someone to accompany him in his daily martial arts and literary studies. They competed with each other, which made him feel better and the atmosphere more cheerful.
The comments seemed even happier than him.
——Well done, you chose Huo Guang as your study partner and directly pulled him into your camp. Even if Wei Qing is old and gone, you only need to keep Huo Ge alive, and you can still have Huo Ge and Huo Guang in one hand, which is awesome.
The two brothers of the Huo family were truly formidable. One a scholar, the other a warrior. They now possessed the two strongest support forces in both military and political affairs. Add to that the equally formidable Wei Qing, and this configuration was simply too luxurious to be envied, envied, or even hated.
—Haha, indeed. Liu Ju's backing is too strong. Not to mention the prince, I doubt even Liu Che would dare confront him head-on. Furthermore, in this time and space, Ju's own achievements are already remarkable. If Liu Che really wants to get swine fever in his old age, he'll have to consider whether he can afford it.
Let alone this time and space, even in the history we know, Liu Ju didn't have so many inventions, and his ability to manage government affairs as regent was not bad. When Wei Qing was alive, who would dare to jump up and down? Only after Wei Qing's death did evil spirits dare to emerge.
—Alas. I make a daily wish for Wei Huo to live long. I also hope my son will properly train Wei Buyi and Huo Xian. Everyone dies, sooner or later. So even if Wei Huo survives a few more years, there will always be a successor. Historically, after Wei Huo's death, the Western Han Dynasty experienced a period of rapid development, a truly regrettable loss of military leadership.
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes and became confused again.
Huo Xian is still young, so his talent is unknown, so let's not talk about it. As for my uncle's cousins, Wei Deng is also young, so it's hard to tell for now. Cousin Wei Kang's ability is average, not particularly outstanding, but not too bad either.
The remaining one, Wei Buzhi, who is ranked in the middle, is performing very well now. At least Liu Ju thinks that he has a good chance of taking over from his uncle. He may not be able to be on par with his uncle, but he can at least inherit seven points.
Why isn’t it in the comments?
What happened to Bu Yi? Did he suffer the fate of Zhong Yong, his character corrupted, and he died early? Or is his situation different from the history of the Danmu spacetime?
Regardless of which one, Liu Ju felt it was necessary to focus on cultivating this point.
So the next day, he discussed with Huo Qubing and decided to give Wei Buyi an extra two quarters of an hour of martial arts lessons in addition to the daily curriculum, asking him to use the postures that his uncle had trained him in. He also ordered his personal guards such as Yan Sui and Cang Hai to be on call to teach him the moves.
Wei Buyi: ...What should I do if I suddenly regret being this study partner? Is it too late to quit now?
Liu Ju: It's too late. You've already boarded my pirate ship and you still want to retreat? You're dreaming!
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