Chapter 87
On the official road, a carriage was moving slowly.
Inside the carriage, the curtains were half-rolled up. Liu Hong leaned against the wall and yawned lazily. He had been thinking all night and hadn't slept well. He felt sleepy when he woke up this morning.
Even so, he kept his eyes open, looking through the window at the various people outside, with a strange expression on his face, sometimes excited, sometimes uninterested; sometimes his eyes lit up, sometimes frowned in disappointment.
The maid didn't notice anything unusual about him, only noticing his lack of energy. She advised, "If your Highness is tired, why not take a nap? Zhuangzi is still some distance from here. I'll call you when we get there. You've been ill for a while and are just recovering. His Majesty and the Crown Prince have both instructed you to rest more."
Liu Hong's eyes flickered for a moment, and he waved his hand to refuse: "It's okay, I'm in good health now. I even rode a horse yesterday."
This was the truth. His heart disease had left him weak for several days, but after recovering, he was as good as ever, even riding and shooting unaffected. This was a little different from the heart disease he had known.
As far as he knew, most modern heart problems seemed to prevent strenuous exercise. Some people would have trouble even running, let alone riding or shooting. But his "heart disease" was quite mysterious.
Perhaps it was because only 10% of his health had been deducted, a percentage that wouldn't affect his daily activities, so he could still practice riding, archery, and martial arts. It was just a trap.
Liu Hong subconsciously touched his chest where his heart was. He could never forget the pain, weakness, and suffocation he felt during the attack, as if he was about to die. This was too much, and he had to be on guard against another attack at any time.
Fortunately, fortune and misfortune go hand in hand. He thus earned Liu Che's sympathy. With his deliberate attempts at coquettishness, Liu Che relaxed the restrictions on his access to the palace. While still not as great as Liu Ju, he finally gained some freedom.
The maid glanced outside the carriage, her face puzzled. "What are you looking at, Your Highness? There's nothing to see outside."
Liu Hong did not answer. What he was looking at was not the scenery, but the people.
The information provided by the system was short and concise, but the language was concise and insightful, without a single word of nonsense. Within just one page, several important pieces of information were mentioned, along with the inferences drawn from them.
For example, if someone is going to Beijing, he is expected to arrive at a certain road today.
What's thoughtful is that there are a few one-inch photos at the bottom. One of them is of a person mentioned in the content.
Liu Hong breathed a sigh of relief. This was probably the first time since he had the system that he felt a sense of relief that "it's finally useful." Otherwise, with the system in its current state, he would have been nearly pissed off.
Suddenly, he paused, his gaze fixed. A figure in front of him appeared disheveled and wary, pacing quickly but constantly scanning his surroundings, especially behind him, as if on guard against something.
Liu Hong raised the corners of his lips, lowered the curtains, turned around and walked out of the carriage, and sat side by side with the driver: "It's quite interesting to see you driving the carriage. How do you drive? Teach me."
The driver was extremely surprised and waved his hands repeatedly: "This... this is not possible. Your Majesty... how can your master do such a thing?"
"What kind of work is this? It's not like I want to do this specifically. I just thought it looked fun and wanted to try it."
As he spoke, Liu Hong grabbed half of the reins and snatched the whip from the driver.
The driver was at a loss. The maid smiled and said, "Listen to the master. If the master is interested, there's nothing wrong with having some fun."
The driver said no more and started teaching seriously.
"Master, that hand is higher, yes, and this side is lighter. Like this."
With some experience in horseback riding, Liu Hong quickly picked up the technique and soon became quite proficient in riding. He laughed and said, "It's not difficult at all. It's quite fun."
"Ah, Master, be careful, Master, go slower, don't bump into..."
Before he could finish his words, a car accident occurred. The person who was hit was the one he had seen earlier, looking "disgraced and wary."
The coachman and the maid were startled, and Liu Hong seemed to be confused by this sudden change.
The accompanying guards rushed forward to check: "It's a young man, he's fainted."
Liu Hong had gotten into trouble and was feeling rather uneasy: "I...I didn't mean to do that."
The guard said, "It's unlikely that the master was knocked unconscious. The blow wasn't severe enough to cause this. This man already had injuries."
hurt?
The whole audience was stunned when he heard this. Liu Hong sighed, "It's all because of me. We're not far from the manor. Let's get him in the car and go to the manor first."
Then he called out the maid and said, "Go find a doctor."
After some arrangements were made, everyone agreed and did as instructed.
They arrived at the village in a flash, and the doctor arrived quickly. Liu Hong waited in the flower hall outside the house, awaiting the results of the examination.
Soon, the doctor came out and replied, "The patient doesn't have major injuries from the car crash, but rather a lot of external injuries, likely caused by a sword or other sharp blade. However, they're all superficial and not serious. He's in his prime and in good health, so it shouldn't be a major problem."
"The fainting is more likely due to days of intense stress, lack of rest, and the strain of injuries. The car crash triggered the fainting. Now I'm half-dazed and half-asleep. There's no danger to my life. I'll prescribe a prescription. It will be fine after two days."
"The most important thing is to get enough rest and change the dressings frequently for external injuries."
After saying this, he hesitated for a moment and added, "I heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has made alcohol that is very effective in cleaning wounds and preventing them from getting worse. However, it is currently only available in the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Military Medical Department, and has never been distributed to the public. It would be great if you could get some, young master."
The doctor didn't know Liu Hong's identity, but he was well-dressed and surrounded by guards. The owner of this manor was unknown, but everyone in the area had heard of him. It was said he was of high birth and had connections to the palace.
If it were someone else, the doctor would definitely not say this, but in view of all the rumors, he added a few words.
Liu Hong nodded, asked the doctor to prescribe a prescription, and ordered his servant to go get the medicine. He then turned and instructed the guards, "Go to the Imperial Physician's Office and ask them for some alcohol. Tell them I need it."
The maid frowned: "He is just a commoner, why should Your Highness bother with so much?"
Alcohol is currently in short supply, but no matter how precious it is, the Imperial Medical Bureau will not give it to the Second Prince even if he wants it. It's unnecessary to go out of your way to ask for such an insignificant person.
"After all, I was the one who hit him. I caused the trouble, so I must take full responsibility."
"The doctor also said it wasn't because of Your Highness..."
Before she could finish her words, Liu Hong looked over and the maid shut up instantly.
Liu Hongyan said, "Let's just leave it at that. No need to say any more. The guards will go get some alcohol, and you stay here to look after him. I'm tired, so I'll go to the inner courtyard to rest. When he wakes up, send someone to report to me."
The maid was puzzled. She was a high-ranking maid in the palace, a trusted confidant of the Second Prince. Who was this man, worthy of her personal care? Especially with the Prince's attitude, wasn't he being too nice to this man? Even if she bumped into him, it wouldn't be necessary.
He was extremely suspicious, but as a loyal servant, he still adhered to the principles of a servant, took his master's orders as orders, and responded accordingly.
Liu Hong had his meal in the inner courtyard, took a short walk, and then took a nap. When he got up to change his clothes, he realized that the young man had been awake for a while.
Liu Hong walked quickly to the front yard. Before he entered, he heard the maid talking to the man. During the conversation, she kept talking about his various arrangements for the man, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly.
Liu Hong naturally understood the temperament of the person who was by his side, so he thought it was right to let the maid stay. The maid was his mouthpiece for many things that he was not comfortable saying.
The man also knew some medical skills. How could he not see that the medicine he had just taken was made of good medicine, and the medicine used to apply to the wound was also of top quality, not to mention the so-called "alcohol".
Although he came from another place and did not know what alcohol was, the maid explained that the prince had just invented it a while ago, and now the medical officers were just making the first batch according to the recipe, and only the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Military Medical Department had it.
The man felt a little grateful and thought about the identity of the owner of Zhuangzi.
It was at this moment that Liu Hong entered. The maid stood up and saluted, and the man bowed and said, "Thank you, young master, for saving my life."
"It's not like I saved your life. Your life was not in danger to begin with, and it was indeed me who hit you with my carriage. I was the one who did it first."
"Young Master, you are too kind. I am a doctor and I know why he fainted. It has nothing to do with you."
"It's not a big deal, but it's definitely related." Liu Hong smiled and waved his hand, "Let's not talk about that. How are you feeling? Are you feeling any discomfort?"
"Thank you for your concern, young master. I am fine now."
"That's good." Liu Hong nodded and asked curiously, "From your accent, you don't come from Beijing. You must be from another place. Why are there injuries on your body? Were they caused by a sharp weapon?
"And when I had you put on the carriage, there seemed to be someone sneaking around in the distance. The guards went to check and said it seemed like they were following you, but when they saw they were spotted, they immediately ran away."
The man paused.
Liu Hong propped his chin up with one hand, his face full of childish innocence: "I don't think you're a bad person, but are the people following you bad people? Did they cause your injury?
"Why are they following you? Did you offend someone, or did you run into bandits? That's not right. There aren't any bandits with such courage near the capital."
A series of questions made the man's hands tighten unconsciously.
Liu Hong remained innocent. "Don't be afraid. No matter what happens to you, you are now in the important capital, under the feet of the emperor. No one dares to act rashly. If you have any difficulties, tell me. Although I am young, I still have a say in the capital."
"If you encounter a bad guy, I can have someone escort you to the authorities. We can report the crime and seek justice for you. If you have offended someone, I can also mediate on your behalf, unless it's a serious matter.
"Consider it my compensation for bumping into you."
The man listened quietly, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
This young man was able to obtain alcohol from the Imperial Medical Bureau, so his status must be extraordinary. He even mentioned the guards in his words just now...
If it is a bodyguard, most noble families have them. But guards are only for the royal family.
It seems that the only one in the royal family who is of the same age as him is His Majesty's son.
Your Highness?
The man's heartbeat quickened, unsure. Really? Wanna take a gamble?
Without much hesitation, the man made a quick decision. He bet. Even if he wasn't the Second Prince, he must be of high status and closely connected to the royal family. He couldn't lose.
The next moment, the man lifted his robe and knelt. "I do have something I would like to ask you, young master. If you can send someone to escort me to the government office, why not send someone to escort me to the Supreme Court?"
"Chief Justice? Are you looking for Zhang Tang?" Liu Hong tilted his head.
The man took a deep breath. "Yes. I wish to appeal for justice, but my grievances are beyond the reach of ordinary authorities. My name is Jiang Qi, and I wish to sue Prince Liu Dan of Zhao!"
Jiang Qi.
Liu Hong secretly raised the corners of his lips. Although he was already 99% certain thanks to the system's information, the 1% that was hanging in his heart finally settled when he heard the other party introduce himself.
That's who he's looking for, that's right.
********
Jiang Qi's complaint caused a huge wave in the court, and the news was immediately transmitted to the Eastern Palace.
"What did you say? He accused the Crown Prince of Zhao of wantonly toying with women, being licentious and devoid of conscience, and even...even not sparing his own daughter and sisters?"
Liu Ju's jaw dropped in shock. He subconsciously scratched his ears and looked at Huo Guang and Wei Buyi: "Is there something wrong with my ears?"
Huo Guang nodded: "Your Highness, we heard the same thing."
Wei Buyi also nodded: "So don't doubt your ears. It's impossible for the three of us to have ears that are wrong at the same time."
Liu Ju looked again at Yan Sui who came to report.
Yan Sui was very helpless, but he could also understand. Not only did His Highness not dare to believe it, he didn't dare either.
"Your Highness, these words were spoken by Jiang Qi himself to Zhang Tingwei. Because the matter was so serious, the charges so grave, and so... so shocking, the court officials proposed that Jiang Qi come to the palace to make his report. In the court hall, Jiang Qi continued to speak with such conviction, his words unwavering, and without changing a single word."
Liu Ju: ...What kind of massive human tragedy is this? Doubtful Life JPG.
"Jiang Qi also said that his sister was one of the women who married the Crown Prince of Zhao and was toyed with by him, even dying because of it. He discovered the Crown Prince of Zhao's secret. The Crown Prince of Zhao was afraid that he would expose the secret, so he sent people to arrest him.
"After he narrowly escaped, the Crown Prince of Zhao murdered his father and brother out of anger. He rushed to the capital alone to file a complaint, but was pursued by the Crown Prince all the way.
"If it weren't for the precedent of the Huainan Crown Prince, the Zhao Crown Prince wouldn't have dared to act so drastically. He was also quite clever, and upon entering the capital, he met the Second Prince, who helped him and reported it to the Emperor. I'm afraid he would have died long ago."
It sounded like Jiang Qi was in a terrible situation. However, with the Crown Prince Zhao's crimes at the forefront, these things no longer caused any ripples in the public's hearts.
Liu Ju's expression was quite complicated. Suddenly, he felt that it was no wonder that the comments on the forums were always complaining about his Liu family. What kind of people had come out of his Liu family?
The previous Prince of Huainan, Liu Qian, was so petty that he constantly harassed Lei Bei because he lost a sword fight, targeting him four times and then killing him. He already felt humiliated. Unexpectedly, there was someone even more formidable. It completely destroyed his worldview.
The Liu family's reputation has been ruined by these unfilial descendants!
Damn. How could his Liu family give birth to such a beast!
You are so capable, why don’t you go to heaven!
Liu Ju's face turned red and white.
Wei Buyi looked dazed: "Could this... be true?"
Huo Guang frowned, "He dared to say this in front of Your Majesty and all the civil and military officials in the imperial court, and he even described the actions of the Crown Prince of Zhao in great detail. This shouldn't be nonsense.
"Furthermore, this matter involves a prince from a vassal state, so it must be thoroughly investigated. If what he said is false, it will be exposed immediately. It will only bring disaster upon himself and no benefit at all."
So logically speaking, it is 99% true.
Liu Ju also thought so, and the barrage that appeared at the right time also confirmed his idea.
As far as I know, this is indeed what the historical records say. It falls into the category of "I was stunned," "my whole family was shocked," and "my worldview was completely destroyed."
—I don't understand. After all, he's a prince of a feudal lord, he has all the beauties he wants. You play with women, just ordinary people, at most it'll just get you a bad reputation, nothing will happen. But you... you... I'm embarrassed to say it, how can you have the nerve to do this! Where's human nature? Just ask where's human nature. Even rabbits don't eat grass near their burrows, how can you do this!
——Am I the only one who thinks the name Jiang Qi sounds familiar?
Are you serious? I thought my history was bad enough, but there's someone worse. That's Jiang Chong. Jiang Chong, the infamous figure in the Witchcraft and Poisoning Incident.
+1. Jiang Chong's original name was Jiang Qi. He changed his name after being pursued by the Crown Prince of Zhao and entering the capital. He was encountered by Liu Hong while entering the capital, and likely didn't have time to change his name, and probably doesn't need to do so now.
Jiang Qi is equal to Jiang Chong?
Liu Ju's eyes widened as he asked Yan Sui again, "The man who reported Zhao's crown prince Liu Dan is called Jiang Qi?"
"Yes, Your Highness, this man's name is Jiang Qi."
Jiang Qi, Jiang Chong...
Liu Ju's expression changed constantly: "How did he run into my second brother?"
"The Second Prince was feeling unhappy about his heart disease and felt suffocated in the palace, so he asked His Majesty to go to the manor for a few days to relax. His Majesty agreed. On the way to the manor, the Second Prince suddenly had the urge to learn how to drive from the driver, but he strayed off the track and bumped into Jiang Qi."
"What a sudden inspiration." Liu Ju murmured softly.
Huo Guang keenly sensed something unusual and asked, "Your Highness, do you suspect he deliberately bumped into Jiang Qide?"
Liu Ju pursed his lips and did not answer.
Huo Guang frowned. "Why did the Second Prince do this on purpose? Was it just to help Jiang Qi file a complaint? That's out of the question. And how did he know Jiang Qi's whereabouts?"
Liu Ju smiled bitterly. Liu Hong naturally couldn't know, but what about the system?
He had seen the system's capabilities before. The system allowed him to see the comments and gain a lot of knowledge, so why couldn't it also let Liu Hong know something?
Maybe the system on Liu Hong's side has different functions from his side, so he can't do it, but Liu Hong can?
Or... does Liu Hong also have a barrage?
Otherwise, how would he know Zhao Gouyi and Jiang Qi?
If there was only one Zhao Gouyi, Liu Ju would not think too deeply about it and would just think it was a coincidence. But what if Jiang Qi was also included?
One coincidence, two coincidences, isn't that too many coincidences?
Especially since the identities of these two people are unusual.
It would have been fine if Liu Hong had a system and kept it secret from him. It didn't matter to Zhao Gouyi either. After his death, if Emperor Wu of Han wanted to appoint a successor, it would have been someone else if not Liu Fuling. But Jiang Qi was different.
Liu Hong won over Zhao Gouyi and then Jiang Qi. What was his intention?
Liu Ju's heart tightened, his lips trembled, and a chill suddenly spread throughout his limbs.
Although he didn't treat Liu Hong as well as his older sisters, he still genuinely treated him like a brother. He felt confident that he had treated him well over the years and had done nothing wrong. He had always been friendly and amicable with him, even seeming to admire and be close to him as a brother.
Now he suddenly realized that all this was just an appearance. Liu Hong not only didn't trust him, but seemed to harbor hostility towards him. Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why he took the initiative to get to know Jiang Qi and win him over.
"Jiang Qi, Jiang Qi..."
Liu Ju murmured subconsciously.
Huo Guang was puzzled: "Your Highness, is there something wrong with Jiang Qi?"
Liu Ju smiled bitterly: "It's Schrödinger's problem."
Huo Guang and Wei Buyi looked at each other, both confused: What do you mean?
"It means there might be a problem, or there might not be."
The time and space are different, and many things are different. Plus, it’s hard to say whether there is a problem with his butterfly wings.
Liu Ju's eyes flashed: "But my second brother probably does have some problems."
Huo Guangwei's expression suddenly changed: "What did your Highness find?"
Liu Ju couldn't answer, so he could only say, "Keep an eye on him!"
A little worried again, he reminded again: "Be cautious, just keep an eye on it, don't make any rash moves, and don't be too aggressive in your surveillance and investigation, don't cross the line."
The tone was very serious.
Huo Guangwei agreed without hesitation, but his heart was filled with doubts. The Second Prince was intelligent, and it was right for him to be cautious, but there was no need to be so serious.
Little did they know that the person Liu Ju was cautious about was not Liu Hong, but the system.
Just because Liu Hong couldn't do many things didn't mean the system couldn't do them. He knew nothing about Liu Hong's system and had no idea of its specific functions, so how could he not be cautious?
"If he has other intentions, not targeting me, and doesn't want to harm me, then I can just assume it's my fault and I'll personally apologize to him. If he truly has evil intentions, then he will definitely act. I'm waiting for him to act."
Liu Ju turned his head and looked towards the direction of Lanlin Palace, a cold light flashed in his eyes.
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