Chapter 79
As soon as Liu Hong left, Liu Ju in the room winked at Yan Sui, and Yan Sui nodded in understanding.
Now that the people in the Eastern Palace have been tempered, they not only have a high level of tacit understanding with Liu Ju, but are also very efficient in their work. The next day, Yan Sui delivered the investigation results and the transcribed case files to Liu Ju's desk.
"As the Second Prince said, the bully has been brought to justice. He came from a noble family, and his crime wasn't punishable by death. However, the Second Prince intervened, and while he was unable to expiate his guilt with gold, he was fined and had his money confiscated, and he suffered some physical pain."
Liu Ju understood the meaning of his deliberate remarks.
Being born into a noble family, she was not someone that someone of Zhao Gouyi's level could casually approach, let alone obey her orders and be dominated by her, especially since the other party had actually paid a price.
Which noble family would be so servile to a commoner woman, giving her some money would be fine, but he would be willing to lose face and be beaten in public to help her achieve her "road to fame"?
Therefore, it is impossible that this matter was planned by Zhao Gouyi.
Yan Sui pointed to another document and said, "This document records all the harassment incidents, big and small, that Zhao Gouyi encountered over the past two years. There were as many as fifteen or sixteen of them.
"More than ten people were involved, including merchants from other places who came to Beijing for business, as well as the descendants of powerful people who came to Beijing for sightseeing.
"These are just passing through. They're concerned that Chang'an isn't their territory, and they don't have the advantages of timing, location, and people. They're afraid the incident will escalate, offending the nobles in the capital, or getting into trouble with the authorities, so they don't dare act rashly. The Zhao father and daughter are easy to deal with. It's not a big deal."
"But some of them are from the capital, and their words and actions are much more explicit. Initially, the Zhao family used the excuse that the teahouse was under government supervision to dissuade them. Later, when that tactic didn't work, they used the momentum of one noble to repel another, and then used that to repel another."
Liu Ju looked at the investigation report and tapped his fingers on the table: "This method cannot last long."
"Yes. So, although the Zhao family father and daughter had long harbored the desire to attach themselves to the emperor, they were also somewhat nervous, and therefore initially acted hesitantly and in a small way. Only recently have they become more determined, and have been seeking out more 'noble men'."
Liu Ju pointed at the three characters "Zhao Gouyi" on the paper and asked, "Is your family background clean?"
"Innocent. The household registration is true and the whereabouts can be traced. My ancestors have always been common farmers. No one has committed crimes, nor have they been high-ranking officials."
Liu Ju handed the information back and said, "Then forget it."
"No matter?" Yan Sui paused.
"My background is clean, and what I said yesterday was true. Why should I care about her?"
Yan Sui hesitated and said, "While what she said is true, she is not the one who orchestrated the bully, but it is also possible that she is using this to take advantage of the situation."
"So what?" Liu Ju chuckled. "The bully is out of her control. She can't predict when he will come to bully her, let alone when her second brother will show up.
"On that day, only a handful of people knew of my father and I's whereabouts incognito. She couldn't possibly have known. So, whether it was a deliberate plot last time or a counter-attack this time, they were targeting whoever they could catch, not deliberately targeting my royal family.
"That's all you need to know. What else do you think I want you to investigate?"
The natural thing was to investigate whether this woman was coming for the royal family. If so, a thorough investigation was necessary. If not, there was no need to worry too much.
Liu Ju waved his hand. "He's just a clinging geek. It doesn't matter if he has some little thoughts. You and I know it, and so does my second brother. If he wants to stay, then let him stay. He's over five years old now, and he can handle this little matter on his own."
Yan Sui's expression was subtle: "Already... over five years old?"
Look at the tone, five years old is not a very old age!
Liu Ju was puzzled. "How could it be otherwise? When I was five or six, I was already able to handle many things on my own. Didn't you come to my side around then? Since you came, all matters have been left to my will, and the Emperor has never interfered."
Yan Sui: ...Okay, okay.
When Yan Sui came out of the hall, he ran into Huo Guang and Wei Buzhi.
After exchanging greetings, Huo Guang went straight to the point and asked, "Have you come up with any results from the investigation into Zhao Gouyi that His Highness asked you to do?"
"yes."
Yan Sui handed over the investigation report. Huo Guang flipped through it and asked, "What does Your Highness say?"
Yan Sui repeated Liu Ju's meaning.
Huo Guang did not comment on Liu Ju's decision, but simply asked, "The Second Prince said he wanted to find a manor to house Zhao Gouyi. Where is that manor?"
"West of Maoling."
Huo Guang paused, his eyes flickering slightly: "We just decided yesterday, and Zhuangzi has already made his choice so quickly?"
"His Highness is a prince. He only needs to give an order and the money will be in place. It's just a farm, so it will be quick."
Huo Guang said nothing more and handed the report back: "Thank you, I understand."
Yan Sui withdrew. Wei Buyi looked at Huo Guang suspiciously. Compared to Yan Sui, he had spent more time with Huo Guang and knew him better, so he immediately understood the hidden meaning in his words.
"Do you suspect that the Second Prince had prepared this farm long ago?"
Huo Guang didn't say yes or no, but frowned and said, "You are right. Some people in this world are as stupid as pigs, some are as cunning as foxes, and some are as smart as child prodigies."
"I've thought about it carefully. If the Crown Prince is precocious and intelligent, then the Second Prince is naturally as well. This doesn't explain the problem. But since he is precocious, we can't judge him and everything he does as an ordinary child.
"He's good at both literature and martial arts, loves playing cuju and polo, and enjoys going out of the palace for fun. Now he's talking about buying a farm and farming. Doesn't that sound familiar?"
Wei Buyi immediately understood: "You mean he is trying to get closer to His Highness? He does whatever His Highness likes?"
After a pause, Wei Buyi continued, "He said that he regards Your Highness as a role model, and that he wants to emulate Your Highness in every way. This seems reasonable."
"That's certainly plausible, but it doesn't mean he doesn't have other motives. If he simply wants to impress His Majesty that he's similar to Your Highness, to win the favor of both His Majesty and Your Highness, to elevate his own status, to make his life better in the palace, and to enrich his fiefdom in the future, then that's fine.
"But most ordinary children will compete for their parents' affection. Does he really not have any complaints about His Majesty's favoritism towards His Highness?
"Especially since they are both intelligent people, why can Your Highness receive the exclusive favor of His Majesty, but he can't? Why does he have to pull Your Highness's banner to gain His Majesty's favor and attention?
"A normal child would feel resentful, but he never showed it."
Huo Guang looked towards the gate of the East Palace and said, "I have no doubt that there may be someone in this world who is as precocious as Your Highness, and I also believe that there is someone who has the same broad mind and generosity as Your Highness.
"But what do you think the odds are of someone having both a certain level of precocity and a certain level of magnanimity? Your Highness's intelligence is rare in the world; your Highness's magnanimity is also rare in the world.
"Your Highness is unique, one and only. Do you think there will be another one in this world?"
Liu Hong's current behavior seems to be making himself the second "Liu Ju".
Wei Buyi was shocked.
Huo Guang lowered his eyes and said, "I don't believe there will ever be another prince in this world. If there can't be, then his words and actions must be intentional. Intentionality must have a reason. What is that reason? Is it simply because he admires the virtuous and wants to emulate them, or is there another ulterior motive?"
"Your Majesty is very pleased with the current situation of brotherly love and respect. His Highness also has much to do. He has the people in his heart and the country in his sight. Therefore, there is no need to bother him with such undetermined matters for now. We can deal with them later.
"I'm not sure if it's just my own petty thoughts."
Wei Buyi understood: "I know what you mean. What are you going to do? Send someone to infiltrate his manor?"
Huo Guang's silence signified his agreement.
Wei Buyi frowned: "If he really has other intentions, with his precocious wisdom, the Zhuangzi will not let unknown outsiders in casually. Even if they enter, they cannot enter the inner village and can only stay on the periphery.
"Besides, he is a prince. We should not act too drastically, let alone too openly. We represent His Highness, and every word and action could implicate His Highness. We must not act rashly."
Huo Guang nodded. "I understand. I will be careful. Caution comes first, followed by gathering information and observing the situation."
Wei Buyi thought about it and walked away.
Huo Guang stopped him and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Zhuangzi, you take care of it. I'll handle the palace."
Huo Guang paused. Wei Buyi curled his lips. "Zhuangzi is the Second Prince's territory. He has the final say on who's allowed in and who's not. If he's too strict, it'll be difficult for us to act. But it's different in the palace."
"The Empress is the head of the harem, with the power to oversee personnel arrangements in all palaces. His personal attendants are already set, so it's not advisable to change them hastily. However, you can select a few young maids and eunuchs to serve in his courtyard. If there's truly something wrong with him, there will always be some clues.
"And there's Li Ji. Li Ji is good friends with Madam Yu, and her residence is right next to Lanlin Palace. She's my aunt's person, so if my aunt tells her, she'll help keep an eye on things."
Wei Buyi chuckled: "So I went to see my aunt."
Huo Guang let go. Wei Buyi returned a short while later, carrying a food box in one hand. He handed one of the boxes to Huo Guang, saying, "This is for you."
"So soon?"
"How much time can it take for a few words?"
"What did the Queen say?"
"My aunt said she knew."
Huo Guang had little contact with the Empress, but he knew something about her personality and methods. He nodded without saying anything more, pointing to the food box and asking, "What is this?"
"My aunt has ordered cakes and desserts made with cow's and goat's milk. One for you and one for me. Let's go, it's time to leave the palace."
********
Two flowers bloom, each showing its own beauty.
While Huo Guangwei and Bu Zhi were busy with their own things, Liu Ju was also busy. He went to Mount Li.
Mount Li is not far from Chang'an, and a round trip in one day is possible, leaving ample time. Not only is the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor located here, but there is also the Tangquan Palace.
But Liu Ju did not go to these two places. Instead, he chose an inconspicuous peak in the Lishan Mountain Range, entered a cave, walked dozens of steps, passed three checkpoints, and arrived at the Tongtian Canyon, where the view suddenly opened up.
There are workshops and houses in the canyon, where alchemists and apprentices are busy.
Li Shaoweng stepped forward to greet him: "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Liu Ju waved his hand and asked him to stand up: "You sent a message saying that you have made something?"
"yes."
"Take me to see it."
"Yes, Your Highness, please come this way."
Li Shaoweng led the way, his body bent. The alchemists along the way saluted one by one, heads bowed, respectful. Liu Ju didn't say a word, didn't move an inch, and didn't even dare to glance. There was no trace of the high-spirited demeanor he had in the past when he had been favored by the emperor.
This story begins two years ago.
After the poisoning incident, Emperor Wu of Han beheaded the alchemist who presented the elixir. Although Liu Ju's various popular science teachings failed to completely change Emperor Wu of Han's superstitious thinking, they did plant a thorn in his heart.
Liu Che ordered a thorough investigation of all alchemists in the capital.
Goodness me, it's fine if you don't investigate, but once you do, you'll be shocked. Most alchemists are involved in some kind of deception and fraud; there are very few who are completely innocent. Their so-called "magic powers" are nothing more than tricks and sleight of hand.
Liu Che was so deceived that he broke down and almost started a massacre. In the end, it was Liu Ju who stopped him and prevented a bloodbath.
Afterwards, Liu Ju classified these alchemists into different categories. Those who had used deception to harm others were all executed as a warning to others. Those who used deception but had never harmed anyone were temporarily spared.
If there are any among them who are good at alchemy, especially those who have blown up a furnace before or know how to do it, they can stay here. This place is specially set aside for them to stay and study the method of "blowing up a furnace".
Having personally felt the emperor's wrath and witnessed their "colleagues" being beheaded, these people were terrified and behaved very well. Now they were extremely nice to Liu Ju.
On the one hand, they were afraid of the life and death of imperial power; on the other hand, they were grateful to Liu Ju for saving them.
Liu Ju didn't care about their past, as long as these people were useful to him.
However, it took two years and progress was slow.
Before I knew it, I arrived at the square.
Li Shaoweng took out a bamboo tube with a fuse attached to its top. He placed the tube on the ground and lit the fuse with a tinder. With a whoosh, a beam of light from the tube shot up into the sky, then scattering in all directions.
Liu Ju's eyebrows twitched slightly: "Firecrackers?"
"Firecrackers? Firecrackers... Explosive bamboo, what a great name." Li Shaoweng slapped his thigh, excitedly introducing the kind with a lighted string. "There's also a kind with a pulled string. You don't need a tinder to light it, just pull out the string."
Liu Ju nodded: "You sent me a message, and this is what you made after two years?"
Li Shaoweng was stunned. He thought that this thing could surprise Liu Ju, but Liu Ju looked so calm, and there was a hint of disappointment in his words?
Li Shaoweng's originally cheerful smile instantly faded. "Your Highness... Your Highness, don't underestimate this thing. At least we have mastered how to make saltpeter gunpowder and how to detonate it. It's just that the power is a little weak.
"But we've put some thought into it. It's daytime now, and the sunlight is so bright that it can't be seen. If Your Highness is free, you can wait here until nightfall. When it's lit at night, the beams of light will spread out into the sky, just like..."
Liu Ju continued, "It's like sparks flying everywhere. It's very beautiful."
Li Shaoweng opened his mouth and asked, "Your Highness knows?"
"Don't forget what your ability to create this thing depends on, and who gave you the information."
Li Shaoweng suddenly understood.
Liu Ju set off two firecrackers and patted Li Shaoweng. "Although it's quite different from what I had in mind, it's still progress. Don't worry. What I want is difficult to achieve, and there's so little information available."
"It's already good that you were able to develop firecrackers based on the few words I gave you. Keep up the good work and don't give up. As for firecrackers, I really like them. I'll give them to everyone in the workshop!
Li Shaoweng thanked him repeatedly.
After leaving the workshop, Liu Ju took a carriage back to the palace from Mount Li.
But just as he arrived at the palace gate, he saw an attendant coming hurriedly. Liu Ju recognized the attendant as someone from the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion.
Liu Ju frowned, stepped out of the carriage, and stood on the shaft, calling out to him, "Why are you here? What's the matter?"
The attendant knelt down, smiling broadly, and said, "Your Highness, it's the princess. She's given birth. Someone was sent to the palace to deliver the message before the onset of labor. The queen came in person, and she also brought the female doctor Yi Shuo with her.
"Your Majesty came to see me for a while because he had state affairs to attend to. He felt it was inconvenient to stay all the time, so he returned to the palace. However, he ordered several doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau to be on standby at the mansion, and he sent people to inquire about the situation several times.
"Now that the young master has been born safely, the Lord has sent me to the palace to announce the news so that Your Majesty can rest assured."
Liu Ju was stunned: "My sister gave birth to a nephew?"
"yes."
"How come she gave birth so quickly?"
"Not fast. We started in the morning and it's already evening."
That was when he started going out. Liu Ju secretly regretted why he had chosen today to go to Mount Li instead of earlier or later.
Damn!
Liu Ju waved his hand and let him into the palace. He grabbed the guard's horse, turned around, abandoned the carriage, and rode straight to the Pingyang Marquis' Mansion.
There was a joyous atmosphere in the marquis's mansion. In the hall, Wei Zifu, Pingyang, Wei Qing, as well as Huo Qubing, Huo Guang, Wei Buyi and Huo Shan were all there, staring at the baby in the cradle with great admiration.
The barrage of comments quickly filled the screen.
—This must be Cao Zong. Look at all these people, their connections are incredible. The most powerful connections in history. Hahahaha.
——Cao Zong was born, Cao Xiang completed his mission, and was he about to die? In history, he did not seem to be a few years later than Huo Qubing.
——Yes. He died three years after Huo Qubing. But Juzi is still here. Trust Juzi.
Liu Ju was shocked all over. He looked at Huo Qubing, then at Cao Xiang, and his heart tightened.
Why do all the cousins around him die earlier than the last? It's so terrible!
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the trembling in his heart and ran over. Huo Guangwei unconsciously made way for him so that he could easily see the baby.
The baby was so soft and tender, sucking his lips from time to time while sleeping, so cute. Liu Ju's heart was about to melt, but the child was important, and his sister was more important.
Liu Ju asked, "Where's my sister? Can I go see her?"
Wei Zifu replied, "Your sister is fine. She's a martial artist and she kept active during her pregnancy. The birth went smoothly, but she's a little exhausted. She's asleep now. Don't disturb her. Let her get some sleep."
Hearing this, Liu Ju felt relieved.
Huo Qubing jokingly said, "Don't you think we are all concerned about the children and not the guard? Who do you think we are? Even if it is inconvenient for us to visit the guard, my aunt and the princess can. They just came out of their room."
Liu Ju touched his nose and smiled awkwardly.
For a moment, seeing everyone gathered around the child, he felt a misunderstanding and was unhappy. But the thought was fleeting and he immediately dismissed it. Because the Queen Mother was there. The Queen Mother could not value her grandson more than her daughter.
Huo Qubing chuckled, "Didn't you say you'd be there in person when Wei Chang gave birth? Why haven't I seen you all day?"
"I...I didn't know my sister was giving birth today, and no one informed you."
Huo Qubing rolled his eyes: "You are not in Chang'an, how can I notify you?"
Liu Ju sighed, feeling very regretful. "Who knew it would be so unfortunate. Next time, next time for sure."
Huo Qubing sneered, "This one has just been born, and you're already thinking about next time. You might as well think about what gift to give him when he's one month old. He's your first nephew after all, shouldn't you treat him with some care?"
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows: "Of course I care. Just wait, what I give him is absolutely unique in the world."
"Only one?"
Everyone looked over sideways.
Liu Ju patted his chest and said, "Of course."
After he finished speaking, he rolled his eyes, gave up the plan of immediately presenting the firecrackers to his father, and made up his mind.
He returned to the East Palace and wrote and drew some pictures, then had them sent to Mount Li urgently, with instructions: "Tell Li Shaoweng to do his best to complete it."
He wanted to give his little nephew a fireworks rain that had never been seen or heard of in history.
Absolutely unique, the first of its kind in the world!
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