Chapter 86
"Didn't you do this on purpose to lure the snake out of its hole and observe the attitudes of all parties? Why are you not confident now?" Liu Che just found it funny.
Liu Ju pursed his lips. This was indeed intentional, a desire to gauge the attitudes of all parties. These attitudes might not necessarily be negative. It was impossible for all of these countries, whether in South Vietnam or the Western Regions, to be hostile to the Han Dynasty and intent on causing trouble.
Some were simply curious, some were looking to form an alliance, and some were just trying to find out the truth...
There are many such reasons, but there must be some who cannot bear to see the Han Dynasty become bigger and stronger.
He wanted to take this opportunity to lure out the snakes from their holes and conduct a round of screening to catch the problematic ones, but he didn't expect that there would be so many "responders", which was a bit beyond his expectations.
Although it was not a letter from the country, Liu Che said in a timely manner that "the letter from the country will take some time", which means that this was not something that the countries were still discussing, but something that had been confirmed and the letter from the country had been sent.
Seeing Liu Ju's puzzled expression, Liu Che chuckled, "Do you think there are too many people coming to pay their respects?"
Liu Ju nodded.
“Why do you think it’s too much?”
"The fireworks rain is truly beautiful and stunning, a true miracle, sparking curiosity and a desire to explore in many people. It's also worth noting that we've been importing glass bamboo paper and other items into the Western Regions over the years."
Liu Ju pointed at the countries listed on the paper. "Let alone these ten or so, I wouldn't be surprised if all thirty-six countries in the Western Regions wanted to come. However, most of these countries have small territories, small populations, weak national strength, and are neighbors of the Xiongnu."
"They appear to have sovereignty, but in reality they are under the control of the Xiongnu. Coming to the Han Dynasty to pay tribute is bound to cause dissatisfaction among the Xiongnu. If the Xiongnu are dissatisfied, they may take action. They are not afraid..."
Having said this, Liu Ju suddenly stopped, like a broken machine, his voice stuck.
Liu Che smiled and did not urge him, waiting quietly for him to think on his own.
After a while, Liu Ju took a deep breath and asked, "Did they send an envoy to the Han Dynasty with the Xiongnu's tacit approval? Perhaps some of them were even instructed by the Xiongnu?"
Liu Che's eyes showed affirmation and appreciation, and he gestured for him to continue.
"The Xiongnu cannot possibly send an envoy. No matter what their intentions, this would be seen as a sign of submission and a low position. The Xiongnu Chanyu would not tolerate such an act that would place the Xiongnu under the Han Dynasty. But while the Xiongnu cannot do this, the Western Regions can. Especially since the law does not punish the masses."
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes. "I misjudged you. I originally thought only the powerful Western Region states with decent national strength would come. Actually, it's the exact opposite."
"Even the most powerful nations in the Western Regions, such as Wusun, dare not confront the Xiongnu head-on. If the Xiongnu wanted to overthrow one or two of them, it would be easy, if not straightforward.
"But what if we have to deal with seven or eight? Or even more than ten or twenty?"
Liu Ju ran his finger over the country names on the paper: "Although the power of one country is weak, the combined strength of all countries is strong. If all the countries in the Western Regions come, can the Xiongnu be completely destroyed?
"I suspect the Xiongnu will try to create trouble during the mission, but they won't do anything too dramatic. This will both show their dissatisfaction and make us think they're forced to give in because there are so many nations on the mission.
"Only in this way can this diplomatic mission to various countries be carried out smoothly and reasonably. Only in this way, with more countries to send envoys to, will it be easier for the Xiongnu to hide among them and fish in troubled waters."
Liu Che nodded, his face full of satisfaction: "Then do you think we should agree?"
The diplomatic missions between countries are political and diplomatic activities between countries. It doesn't mean that you can come whenever you want. You have to get approval from this side.
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows: "Of course, could it be that our Han people are afraid of them?"
Liu Che smiled and immediately decided: "Okay, then I'll leave this matter to you."
Liu Ju:……!!!
"I?"
Liu Che calmly asked, "What's the problem?"
"I...I'm only ten years old."
"It's eleven."
Liu Ju gritted his teeth and said, "Ten and a half years old."
Liu Che was speechless: "Eleven and a half years old in lunar age."
Liu Ju's expression froze. What was the point of winning an extra year? What was the difference between ten and eleven? They were both the same age. How could such a big task as the diplomatic mission be entrusted to a child?
"Father, I am still young and have not yet participated in government affairs."
The key point is that this kind of thing is not something a child who has not yet served as a director should be involved in.
Liu Che disagreed and said with disdain: "A small country in the Western Regions is worthy of the adult crown prince of the Han Dynasty to come forward?"
Liu Ju: ...I understand.
He is the crown prince, a man of high status. If he were an adult and already in charge of government, the reception would be too high a standard for him to attend. It would be more appropriate for him to be young and not in charge of government.
Receiving the delegation is secondary, training and cultivating him is the primary goal.
Liu Ju hesitated, not really wanting to do it: "I'm very busy now."
Liu Che glanced at him and said, "Not now. It will take another half month for the letters from various countries to reach the capital, and it will also take time for our replies to fall into the hands of the monarchs of various countries.
"It's just over a month until the Lunar New Year. Traveling long distances is inconvenient in winter. Even if you want to go on a diplomatic mission, you'll have to wait until spring. The earliest the delegation can arrive in Beijing is in late spring or early summer. There's still half a year left, so there's still time. Just make some arrangements and free up that time."
Liu Ju: ...with a subtle expression.
Is this really not his illusion?
I always feel that my father already knew how he would react, and was waiting for him with a strategy and rhetoric in advance.
Liu Che added: "I won't let you be responsible alone. You will be the leader, and the Grand Herald will assist you."
Liu Ju opened his mouth and was about to speak when he heard Liu Che say, "Zhuyi can also help you. She has learned the Western Regions' writing and language well over the years, which will come in handy."
The word "Zhu Yi" successfully made Liu Ju shut his mouth and swallow back the words he had not yet spoken.
With me here, wouldn't it be easier for my third sister to realize her ambitions? Wouldn't it also be more convenient for her to let everyone in the Honglu Temple see her advantages and lay the foundation for her to take over the Honglu Temple in the future?
Liu Ju thought about it and nodded in agreement.
After leaving Xuanshi Hall and returning to the East Palace, Feng He reminded him before he even entered, "The Grand Chamberlain has arrived and is waiting in the side hall."
"What are you doing here, Grand Chamberlain? What are your wishes, Mother?"
Liu Ju asked as he went to the side hall. As he reached the door, he found that Huo Guang and Wei Buyi were also there, talking to the Grand Chamberlain.
Seeing Liu Ju, the three of them fell silent and bowed.
Liu Ju smiled and declined the formalities, then asked the Grand Chamberlain why he had come.
The Grand Chamberlain said, "This isn't about the Queen, it's about the Second Prince."
Second Prince? Second Brother?
Liu Ju was suspicious.
The Grand Chamberlain continued, "A maidservant in the Second Prince's courtyard came to report to the Empress, saying that the Second Prince has been feeling rather uneasy lately. She's seen him twice being nice to the maids, but once they left, he went off in his room, lost his temper, and even smashed a few cups."
Liu Ju frowned, not thinking there was anything wrong with it. Instead, he looked worried. "He's been in a bad mood since he was diagnosed with a heart disease, but he's a gentle person and doesn't want to take his anger out on others, so he can only vent it behind closed doors. But this isn't a solution. I'll take him out tomorrow to relax and comfort him."
After these words were spoken, Huo Guangwei looked at each other without hesitation, then lowered his eyes.
The Grand Chamberlain continued, "This maidservant happened to hear the Second Prince talking to himself in the room. She thought he was talking to someone else, but she saw with her own eyes that the servants had been driven out by the Second Prince, so he should be the only one in the room.
"So I became suspicious, worried that maybe there was a thief in the palace, and that he might harm the Second Prince. I quietly moved closer and looked through the crack in the window. I found that there was indeed no one inside the room. It was the Second Prince who was speaking to the air, as if he were talking to a person."
Talking to the air, as if talking to a person...
Liu Ju was stunned. No, what ghost story are you telling? Is Liu Hong possessed by evil spirits?
No. We should abandon superstition and embrace science. Could it be that Liu Hong was possessed by an evil spirit, so he had health problems, not only heart problems but also auditory and visual hallucinations?
"The Second Prince's voice was weak, and I couldn't hear it clearly. I only vaguely heard words like 'system' and 'damage', but I didn't understand what they meant. Especially since the Second Prince's behavior was truly strange. I didn't know what to do, so I came to report this to the Queen."
System?
Liu Ju's pupils trembled and he stood there in a daze, as if his brain had crashed.
The Grand Chamberlain continued, "The Queen said that the Crown Prince has grown up and that some matters can be left to His Royal Highness to decide and handle on his own. Therefore, she asked me to report this to His Royal Highness and let him know."
After saying this, he glanced at Huo Guangwei without hesitation, then bowed and took his leave.
When the Grand Chamberlain left, Liu Ju was still in a daze and unable to come to his senses.
How did Liu Hong know about the system, or does Liu Hong also have a system?
That's right. Liu Ju suddenly thought of something. When did he get the system?
It was an accident when he was five years old! But the victims of that accident were not only him, but also Madam Wang and Liu Hong in Madam Wang's belly.
If he could take this opportunity to have a "fortunate encounter", why couldn't Liu Hong?
Thinking about how Liu Hong was also far more intelligent than his peers, Liu Ju finally understood.
But problems followed one after another.
He was forbidden from revealing any information about the system, not even a single word about the comments. Why wasn't Liu Hong affected by this? Even if it was just his own words.
Because talking to yourself is not safe. Look, the maid heard it.
Could it be that Liu Hong’s system is different from his and does not have his “restrictions”?
But if there were no restrictions, why didn't Liu Hong tell them?
Liu Ju fell into deep thought.
Noticing that his expression was not right, Huo Guang asked tentatively: "Your Highness, do you know what the system is? Your Highness... Your Highness!"
After calling him several times, Liu Ju didn't respond. Huo Guang's face suddenly changed. Just when he was worried that something had happened to Liu Ju, Liu Ju suddenly stood up from his seat and walked out.
Huo Guangwei was startled and quickly stopped him: "Where are you going, Your Highness?"
"Go see my second brother and ask him in person. Keeping a secret is like carrying a heavy burden; it's very tiring. And this matter is obviously troubling him, otherwise he wouldn't be sulking, muttering to himself, and cursing.
"I'll go ask him, and he'll tell me. Maybe it will feel better if I have someone to talk to."
Huo Guang's heart trembled, his face was complicated and difficult to describe. After a long while, he managed to say: "Your Highness, the reason why a secret is called a secret is precisely because most of the time it cannot be made known to others.
"Moreover, secrets are usually related to self-interest. Not everyone feels that it is a burden that needs to be shared. Some people prefer to keep it in the dark and hide it in their hearts."
Liu Ju paused. It seemed reasonable; he was indeed judging others by his own standards. Liu Hong's situation and ideas might not necessarily align with his own.
He was afraid and panicked at first, and wanted to talk to someone and share his worries with him, but Liu Hong might not be the one.
In particular, his first reaction was that Liu Hong felt that this matter was too bizarre and he dared not speak of it out loud, fearing that others would not believe him, and even more afraid of being regarded as a monster.
Huo Guang's action reminded him.
He didn't know Liu Hong had a system, but his "abnormality" was so obvious that Liu Hong must have thought of it. Since he was a "predecessor", if he couldn't tell others, could he not tell him either?
Yet, during these years, when the brothers had spent considerable time alone together, Liu Hong never mentioned a single word to him. This clearly showed that Liu Hong did not want others to know about this. This "others" even included him and his father.
Thinking of this, Liu Ju felt a little complicated.
Intellectually, he understood that even between father and son and brothers, they didn't have to be completely transparent and it was normal to have secrets. But emotionally, he couldn't help but feel a little sad.
Huo Guang hesitated again and again, then reminded him, "Your Highness once said that we must be on guard against others."
"Being on guard against others? Are you on guard against your second brother?" Liu Ju raised his eyebrows, and his gaze gradually focused on Huo Guang.
Huo Guang took a deep breath. No matter how close he was to Liu Ju, they were only study companions, and at most, he had a bit of the "love the house and love the dog" favor he inherited from Huo Qubing. However, Liu Hong and Liu Ju were brothers.
It is a big taboo for officials to alienate their relatives by alienating them.
But there are some words he cannot help but say; there are some things he cannot help but remind.
"Your Highness, it's always a good idea to keep something in reserve. If Your Highness rashly goes to ask the Second Prince now, it would be inappropriate. I hope Your Highness will reconsider."
Liu Ju didn't answer. His mind was no longer on Liu Hong. He stared intently at Huo Guang, then at Wei Buyi, his gaze lingering between the two. After a moment, he said, "You are hiding something from me."
Not a question, but an affirmation.
He was just stunned by the word "system", but now he has come to his senses and found many clues.
For example, why did the Grand Chamberlain say he could make the decision? As the head of the harem and Liu Hong's legal mother, if Liu Hong showed any signs of abnormality, it should have been the Queen Mother who handled the situation, or reported it to the Emperor. Why did the Queen Mother do nothing and instead leave it to him?
Moreover, the look in the eyes of the Grand Chamberlain, who looked at Huo Guangwei without any doubt before he left, clearly showed that this matter was related to the two of them.
Liu Ju frowned. "Even if the maid in my second brother's courtyard had something to report, she should have reported it to Madam Yu first, rather than directly reporting it to the Queen Mother. The maid must have done this because she is the Queen Mother's servant, and the Queen Mother has privately instructed her.
"Madam Yu has been quite obedient and sensible in recent years, and has been very respectful to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother has delegated much of the power regarding Lanlin Palace matters. If there were no other reason, the Queen Mother would not have suddenly paid attention to my second brother."
There was no mention of Huo Guangwei Bu Yi in his words, but the implication was that every word pointed to the two of them.
Huo Guangwei and Buyi both froze at the same time, knowing that they could not hide it anymore. The Queen had almost made it clear that Liu Hong was a heretic, and there was no need to hide it anymore. They both knelt down and told each other all their concerns.
Wei Buyi lowered his head and said, "I told my aunt about this. Please keep an eye on the Second Prince."
Huo Guang also said, "It's not just the palace. I sent someone to sneak into the Second Prince's manor. Although it's in the outer courtyard, it can't enter the inner courtyard. But the person who sneaked in is quite knowledgeable and eloquent. He gets along well with the servants in the inner courtyard and can get some information from them.
"Although I don't know that the Second Prince talks to himself when he is alone, and I don't know what he talks to himself, but the Second Prince is indeed a bit moody, and he has also thrown dishes on the farm."
Everything indicates that something is wrong with Liu Hong, and the root of the problem may lie in the "system".
Huo Guang looked at Liu Ju and asked again, "Your Highness, do you know what the system means?"
Liu Ju opened his mouth and closed it again, shaking his head helplessly.
He knew, but couldn't say it.
Huo Guang frowned, somewhat disappointed, and said, "Your Highness, it's probably inappropriate for the Second Prince to reveal that we know this. We need to first investigate what the system is and what the so-called damage means."
Damaged?
Liu Ju paused, vaguely remembering, yes. When the Grand Chamberlain mentioned the system, he also mentioned damage.
In his nightmare, the system flashed by, said it was damaged, and then disappeared. Now Liu Hong's system is also damaged. Is this such a coincidence?
Is it that the appearance of the system in the Han Dynasty carries huge risks and is difficult to maintain intact, or... what they have is actually a system, but because of the damage, both are incomplete?
As soon as this thought came to his mind, Liu Ju's heart began to beat fast, and he was frightened by his own guess.
"No way."
He murmured softly, looking through the window towards Lanlin Palace.
It can’t really be a system.
If so, his system would be as dead as dead, completely silent, and with huge restrictions, unable to leak a single word. Yet, Liu Hong could... um, communicate with the system?
Does this mean that Liu Hong’s system authority is higher than mine?
He has higher authority than him and knows that another part of the system is in his hands, but he keeps it secret and doesn't say a word. What does Liu Hong want to do?
Liu Ju frowned, his expression gradually darkened, and the light in his eyes flickered.
After pondering for a long time, Liu Ju was puzzled. He sighed and turned back. He paused and asked curiously, "Why are you still here? Why are you kneeling?"
A look of surprise, no falsehood at all.
Huo Guang & Wei Buyi: ...Your Highness, you didn't let us leave, and you didn't let us get up.
Did you forget about us just now?
Liu Ju was extremely embarrassed. He touched his nose awkwardly and stepped forward to help the two of them. "Hurry up and get up. You're thinking about me too. I'm not angry."
Finally, he put on a stern face and said, "But this is just this once, it won't happen again."
Huo Guangwei responded without hesitation.
Wei Buyi asked hesitantly, "What about the Second Prince..."
"Let's do as you say. Let's see for now. Keep an eye on the palace and the farm. If there's any other news or unusual movements, let me know immediately. Be cautious and careful. Don't rush. We have plenty of time to waste. The most important thing is not to alert the enemy."
This meant that he believed what they said, especially the words "stirring up trouble", which showed that he was somewhat wary of Liu Hong. Huo Guangwei breathed a sigh of relief and nodded his head, "Yes."
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