Chapter 40
After returning from the flower banquet, Liu Ju still felt unsatisfied. The princess's mansion was quite large, and there was plenty to do, but he'd spent most of his time flitting around guarding against Cao Xiang, and had barely participated in any of the activities, leaving him feeling rather unsatisfied.
I didn't think much of it then, but now I think about it and feel like I've been wronged. It's all Cao Xiang's fault. I pulled out my little notebook and made a note of Cao Xiang's actions. Even after writing it down, I still feel wronged.
Damn, no. How could he waste such a beautiful spring day? If the flower banquet wasn't enjoyable, he'd find one that was.
Where's the best place for a spring outing? Shanglinyuan!
So he called his friends and invited a bunch of playful young men and women from the capital, and off they went! Polo, cuju, horse racing, hunting, everything.
The most important thing is, don't bring Cao Xiang, don't bring Cao Xiang, don't bring Cao Xiang! Important things should be said three times.
Cao Xiang could easily sneak into other places with his identity. Shanglin Garden was the imperial garden, with guards at every entrance and exit. Unless authorized by imperial decree, who dared to trespass?
Hehehehe.
Liu Ju felt that he was really smart. He had solved the travel problem perfectly. He no longer had to keep an eye on Cao Xiang and could have fun. He set off happily.
After arriving at Shanglin Garden, Liu Ju organized a polo game and ran a lap of horses accompanied by Huo Qubing. He felt much more relaxed and returned to the palace in the garden leisurely, humming a song.
Huo Qubing glanced at him, amused yet speechless: "Are you so happy that Cao Xiang didn't come?"
Liu Ju snorted and said nothing.
Huo Qubing laughed: "Your Majesty and Auntie have both agreed. Wei Chang will eventually marry. If you are reluctant, you can propose to His Majesty to postpone the marriage for two years, but you can't stop him forever."
Liu Ju also understood this truth, and it was because of this that he felt even more depressed.
When my elder sister gets married, she will leave the palace. If she returns, it will only be to pay her respects and perhaps stay for a short time occasionally, but it will definitely be different from before. My elder sister and my cousin will have their own children, and by then he will no longer be the most important and beloved person to my elder sister.
It was as if something that had always belonged to him was being taken away by others, and most of it was taken away, leaving him with only a little. Liu Ju didn't want to do that, he wanted to keep it all to himself.
He knew that his thoughts were wrong, but he couldn't help but think about it, but he had no choice because his sister was willing.
If my elder sister didn't want to, even if it would make my father angry, he would still mess things up. At worst, he would not be the crown prince, nor would he be a prince.
But my sister is willing to marry my cousin.
Liu Ju's eyes were dim and listless. He couldn't blame his elder sister, he could only blame the man who had snatched his elder sister away from him.
"Even if it means stopping him for a while, I'm happy. He can't come today anyway. No, not just today, but tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Shanglinyuan has its own palace and rooms, and all the necessary supplies are available. I might as well stay a few more days. Humph, I'll keep him anxious to death."
Huo Qubing was at a loss whether to laugh or cry at the childish words and tone.
Liu Ju, his head held high, rode forward. He had barely taken two steps when he saw two horses galloping side by side, leisurely strolling across the grass. A man and a woman were riding on them, chatting and laughing, looking quite cheerful. They were none other than Wei Chang and Cao Xiang!
Liu Ju: ...
Huo Qubing glanced at him, his eyes full of mockery.
Liu Ju rode forward angrily, his eyes glaring unkindly: "How did you get here?"
His face was so dark it was a little scary. Cao Xiang was apprehensive and stuttered as he spoke, "Your Majesty...Your Majesty allowed...allowed me to come."
Liu Ju's expression became even uglier.
—Hahaha, I'm almost dying of laughter. Liu Ju had just said that not even five minutes before he got slapped in the face. So don't be so sure. You can't just casually set a flag. In TV dramas, whoever sets a flag almost always falls. Zhu Ju, be more careful. You've traveled through time, how come you don't understand this iron rule?
Liu Ju probably didn't miss this iron rule, but he probably didn't expect that despite all his precautions, his father would still be pulling his leg behind his back. Tsk tsk tsk, it's true that no matter how much you try to guard against a "traitor in the family," it's hard to guard against it.
——Quick, take out your notebook and write down Liu Xiaozhu’s name.
Liu Ju gritted his teeth. "Record it?" Of course I have to. Father will record it, and Cao Xiang will have to record it as well. Humph.
Liu Ju glared at Cao Xiang and was about to scold him for being treacherous and following his father's path. Just as he opened his mouth, he heard a familiar voice: "Eldest sister, younger brother."
Turning back, he saw Zhuyi and Eyi riding together. Eyi was in front, Zhuyi behind. Zhuyi held the reins, his arms around Eyi, protecting her as if he was afraid she would fall.
Liu Ju was just wondering why his second sister, who was a good rider, needed the help of his third sister when he saw a man holding the horse's reins. A man!
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
——Zizi, is this a vent of anger? Can't stand men anymore?
Is the man leading the horse Guangzhong, the son of Lord Xiucheng? Historically, he wasn't considered a gentleman. During the Empress Dowager's lifetime, he was unbridled and overbearing. Zhuyi likely had nothing to do with him, but this situation seems to have a reason.
— Does it matter whether they're related or not? Who asked him to show up at this time? Zizi was in a bad mood. Let alone a man, even a male dog would be gouged out by him if it ran into him.
——No, no, with the look in his eyes, he deserves more than just two eyes gouged out. He must be sterilized.
Liu Ju: ...Haha, I not only gouge out the male dogs, I also gouge out you.
After glaring at the barrage, Liu Ju and the guards drove their horses over. They had already reached the palace. Zhu Yi dismounted first, then turned around and carefully helped E Yi dismount.
When Eyi landed on his feet, it was obvious that something was wrong with him. He was unsteady, so Guangzhong reached out to help him. His hands touched Eyi's body, but Eyi immediately moved away after he stood firm and leaned against Zhuyi's side.
The guard asked with concern: "What's wrong?"
Zhu Yi replied, "My second sister and I were tired from horseback riding and were resting by the stream when a rabbit suddenly jumped out of the woods. We were caught off guard and my second sister sprained her ankle in fright."
Liu Ju hurriedly asked, "Is Third Sister okay?"
"I'm fine."
Liu Ju breathed a sigh of relief, then asked E Yi: "Is the sprain serious?"
E Yi shook his head: "It's okay, it should be just a simple sprain. It hurts a little now, but it will be fine in a few days."
"We need to ask the imperial physician to take a look at it." Guangzhong said apologetically, "This is my fault. The rabbit was my prey, and it jumped around because I was chasing it, causing the princess to get hurt."
E Yi shook his head: "You can't say that. Shanglin Garden is a hunting ground. Young Master Zhong was just hunting normally. The little beast was facing a life-threatening situation and was in a panic, so he just happened to jump beside me.
"Rabbits are gentle and shouldn't be like that. I didn't see clearly and thought it was something else. I got startled and lost my balance and fell off the rock."
Her voice was soft, like a yellow oriole singing out of a valley, her head slightly lowered, her eyes floating like water.
Guangzhong didn't know how to describe it, he just felt his heart beating violently again. If it were a comment, it would have given a precise expression: the most touching thing was the gentleness of that lowered head, like a water lotus, shying away from the cool breeze.
Guangzhong took a deep breath, his face showing even more apology. He looked at Eyi, then subconsciously glanced at Zhuyi: "That was also my fault. I frightened the two princesses. The princess didn't blame me, which shows her generosity. But I can't pretend it never happened. I..."
Before he could finish his words, Liu Ju impatiently waved his hand: "You talk too much. Is this the time to say this? Can you distinguish between the important and the unimportant? My second sister is injured in the foot and can't stand like this. The royal doctor has already taken care of it in this time."
After saying this, he sneered, beckoned the guards over, and sent for the accompanying medical officer. He also ordered the eunuch to fetch a rattan sedan chair to take E Yi to the inner chamber. He turned and glanced at Guang Zhong: "This is none of your business. Go wherever it's cool."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Guangzhong: ...
********
Inner room.
Just as E Yi had judged, the attending physician said that it was not a serious matter and that he could just apply some medicine and rest for a few days and he would be fine.
After receiving this answer, Wei Chang and others felt relieved. They asked the maid to take good care of E Yi and let him rest more, then said goodbye and left.
Eyi took a nap and when he got up, he saw a maid coming in with two boxes, saying that they were apology gifts sent by Guangzhong. He wanted to meet her in person to say hello, but when he learned that she was taking a nap, he left.
Eyi nodded and opened the boxes. One box contained a jade hairpin, the other a jade bracelet. It wasn't much, but the jade was of the highest quality and the workmanship exquisite, making it a truly extraordinary find. Its immense value was evident at a glance.
E Yi looked at the two boxes, his eyes moving: "Are they all for me? Do you have any with my third sister?"
The maid replied, "Yes. Young Master Zhong went to the Third Princess first and presented her with the jade pendant. The Third Princess refused it, saying that she wasn't frightened, but rather that the Princess was truly injured. She asked him to apologize to the Princess, and she didn't need to accept it."
E Yi had anticipated this and wasn't particularly surprised. After all, the two boxes clearly revealed their contents.
A hint of sneer crossed her mind. Despicable men were like that, unable to completely let go of their delusions even after making a decision. But since they were just delusions, they weren't a big deal. E Yi wasn't worried that it would affect her plans.
She closed the box and said calmly, "Put it away."
The maid obeyed, looking troubled, hesitant to speak. From time to time, she glanced at E Yi, her mind full of doubts.
She was really confused by her master's recent behavior. She had served E Yi since she was young, and knew that although E Yi appeared gentle and quiet, and seemed to have inherited some of his mother's timidity, this was not the case.
Eyi has always been controlled by his biological mother, but he is a very opinionated person, and sometimes he is a bit stubborn and obstinate.
For example, if she wanted to learn horse riding and archery, she would continue even if she fell countless times, her hands were covered with blisters, and her inner thighs were covered with wounds, and she would not give up until she achieved her goal.
She was adept at riding and archery, and had hunted pheasants and foxes before, so how could she be frightened and fall over by a rabbit? She could have explained it by saying she saw it wrongly, but the maid's intuition was different.
Let's talk about that flower banquet. Others might not know, but she knew full well that Eyi had deliberately walked to the peach tree to catch Guangzhong's eye. Even her outfit that day was carefully planned. She knew how she looked her best.
The same thing happened with two polo matches.
It didn't really matter what Guangzhong was thinking. Eyi was a princess, and if she didn't want to interact with her, there were many ways to avoid her. Guangzhong, however bold, wouldn't dare act rashly. But she didn't shy away, and she moved forward.
E Yi chuckled: "Why are you acting like that? Just say what you want to say."
The maid pursed her lips, hesitated for a long time, and finally decided to remind her: "Princess, Mr. Zhong is not a good man."
I won't mention how much trouble the Queen Mother caused when she was alive. But with the Queen Mother around, she helped suppress it all.
After the Empress Dowager passed away, Guangzhong lost his strong backing. Although he restrained himself, he was still a cockfighting and running errand boy, and was not serious at all. He even had two romantic affairs with beautiful young ladies.
How can such a person be called a good man?
E Yi's expression was indifferent: "I know."
She had always known this, and she knew even more that it was such a despicable person who wanted her and only regarded her as a second-best alternative.
The maid was puzzled. If she knew this, why did she still do this?
E Yi smiled bitterly. "You said Guang Zhong wasn't a good man, but what about Wang Chong'er? Is he a good man?"
The maid was stunned.
Wang Chong'er and Guangzhong are of the same quality, neither is as good as the other.
E Yi closed his eyes. "The Empress Dowager's last wish was never made public. If Father doesn't want it to happen, it's not impossible to just pretend it doesn't exist. But do you think Father will break his promise to the Empress Dowager for me?"
The maid was speechless.
"You know it won't happen. If it were the eldest sister and the third sister, they would cry, beg, and act like a spoiled child. Father might agree. At worst, he could compensate the Tian and Wang families from other sources. But I can't do that." E Yi's smile became even more bitter. "In the eyes of father, I'm not that important. I'm not worth his worry."
There was a tone of helplessness, pain and unwillingness.
"Don't I want to marry a good man? Don't I want to find a reliable husband to spend my life with like my elder sister?"
The image of a man as graceful as a bright moon and a pine tree flashed through E Yi's mind. He took a deep breath and unconsciously clenched his fists. "But I can't. With the Queen Mother's dying request for this marriage, I don't even have the qualifications to go to him and express my feelings."
"If I don't want to marry the wrong person, if I want to give myself a chance, I have to find another way."
In front of him? Who?
The maid looked bewildered. The princess had a crush on someone? Who was it? And what did this have to do with Guangzhong's interest? Could Guangzhong have a solution?
Even if the other party has it, going to Wang Chong'er and luring Guang Zhong in is like escaping from the tiger's lair and entering the wolf's den. What kind of method is this?
E Yi smiled. She didn't explain, nor did she intend to. Before things were done, some things were better left to herself. There was no need to disclose them and increase the risk. So she simply instructed, "Don't tell your mother about this, or she'll worry."
This showed that she was unwilling to continue the conversation. The maid moved her lips and sighed, "Yes."
********
Cao Xiang's appearance instantly dampened Liu Ju's spirits, bringing his planned several-day itinerary to a screeching halt. Liu Ju angrily ordered his men to return to the palace. Cao Xiang couldn't stay in the palace forever.
But even so, Liu Ju did not let his guard down and decided to follow Wei Chang. Wherever Wei Chang went, he went. Except for studying and sleeping in the East Palace, he spent the rest of his time in Wei Chang's palace. No one could persuade him.
After a few days, Cao Xiang was nowhere to be seen. Liu Ju was puzzled and sent people to inquire about him. He then learned that Cao Xiang had found this insignificant military advisor from nowhere.
The dog-headed military advisor said he had just learned about this and was already extremely angry. His presence would only become more annoying. He would definitely be annoyed and even more furious. It would be better to keep quiet for a while and wait for him to calm down and calm down before discussing other matters.
In response to this, Liu Ju said: Haha.
Are you an eyesore? Then, if you can, just stay out of my sight forever! A real man should have the courage, decisiveness, and determination to "walk towards the tiger mountain even though he knows there's a tiger there." Hiding when faced with difficulties is such a coward, how can you be considered a man at all?
How can such a person protect my sister in the future? What's the point of coming here!
Pooh!
Liu Ju cursed and swore. Feng He asked, "Your Highness, didn't you want him to come? Now that he's not coming, shouldn't Your Highness be happy? Why are you even angrier?"
Liu Ju put his hands on his hips and said confidently, "I don't want him to come, but he can't really not come! How can he show that he values my sister if he doesn't come?"
Fenghe: ...Okay.
Liu Ju thought about it and suddenly remembered something: "The pigs that were slaughtered and the chickens raised in the dark room have been there for about half a year now, right?"
"Yes. His Highness has instructed the servants in the livestock department to record the growth of the pigs and chickens and report quarterly. Calculating the time, it's almost time for the next report."
Liu Ju's eyes rolled around, not knowing what he was thinking. He got up and went to the livestock farm. Seeing that the condition of the pigs and chickens was far beyond his expectations, he felt refreshed and started to work immediately.
Xuanshi Palace.
Liu Ju looked at Liu Che eagerly: "Father, please try it."
Liu Che was confused. He looked left and right, and no matter how he looked at it, he felt that today's lunch was just ordinary pork and chicken. He didn't understand why his son was so excited. Was there something special about it?
Out of curiosity, Liu Che took a bite of the chicken and frowned slightly. Although the meat was tender, it was a bit loose, not as firm and refreshing as before. Although the cooking was good, it was only mediocre and not surprising. He was a little disappointed.
Liu Che chewed the pork carefully, his brows slowly relaxing. Unlike the chicken, this pork was more tender and delicate than before, and there was almost no fishy smell.
Liu Che was surprised: "Is this your newly invented cooking method?"
Liu Ju smiled and shook his head: "No, there is no special treatment, just the usual method. The key is the ingredients."
Ingredients?
Liu Che paused, then suddenly realized something and was even more shocked. "Is it the pig you slaughtered and the chicken you raised in the dark room? It's only been a few months, and you can already eat them?"
"The chicken is already big enough to be slaughtered. The pig is a little small. I want you to feel the effect firsthand, so I'll have someone kill one and cook it for you. You must come and see it yourself."
Look, of course you should look.
Liu Che immediately sent someone to invite the Minister of Agriculture, the five secretaries, and the Animal Husbandry Secretary, and they all went to the livestock department together.
You don’t know until you see it. Once you see it, everyone is stunned.
Liu Ju guided them while explaining, "The pen on the left holds the castrated pigs, and the pen on the right holds the uncastrated ones. The same goes for the chickens. This batch is already quite large, so I had the servants move them out and put another batch in."
Liu Che's pupils shrank slightly. These chickens were more than impressive in size; they were even larger than the ones next door, raised the year after the traditional method. And the pigs, while not as large as the chickens, were also a third fatter. Reliving the previous taste, it was even more delicious.
The chief agricultural officer was dumbfounded, and the livestock historian was even more incredulous: "May I ask, Your Highness, are these chickens and pigs really only raised for six months? Have they been raised since birth?"
Liu Ju shook his head.
The surprise in the eyes of the animal husbandry historian faded. He said, "How could this head be half a year old?" Then he heard Liu Ju say, "It was raised from birth, but it was raised for more than five months, less than half a year."
History of Animal Husbandry:!!!
His mouth opened wide. "This...this speed...I've been in charge of animal husbandry for over a decade, and I've never seen anything grow this fast. Did they...did they eat some magic elixir?"
Elixir? Liu Ju curled his lips, beckoned the person in charge to come forward, and handed over the bamboo slips containing the records.
"I have them observe it daily, weigh it every ten days, and record everything. It has their growth and the food they've been fed over the past six months. You can see for yourself."
Liu Che took the bamboo slips, flipped through them, and handed them to the Great Lunar Calendar, and then to the Prime Minister and the Animal Husbandry Historian.
After the bamboo slips passed around among everyone, their expressions became serious.
This registration is extremely detailed. Not only does it include the growth changes of each pig and chicken every ten days, but it also specifies how many meals a day they were fed, what they were fed, and how much they were fed.
What was even more shocking was that the food was all normal, no different from what they had been fed before. Especially...
Several people looked at the contrasting left and right enclosures.
The food was the same, the frequency was the same, and the amount was about the same. The difference between castration and being locked up in a dark room was so huge!
Liu Che's eyes were deep.
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the State were filled with excitement, and the Minister of Animal Husbandry was so excited that his face was shaking. Their gazes towards Liu Ju became increasingly heated.
What kind of divine prince was this! He could make a compass, horse harness, a telescope, and now he even knew how to raise livestock. How much more did the prince know that they didn't know?
Surprise, surprise, such a surprise.
The Minister of Agriculture said, "Your Majesty, since this method is so effective, you should teach it to the people and spread it among the people."
Liu Che nodded and said that it should indeed be granted to the people, and the sooner the better.
Liu Ju's eyes rolled around as he rubbed against Liu Che's side and asked, "Then who does your Majesty intend to hand this matter over to?"
Minister of Agriculture & Minister of the Court & Minister of Animal Husbandry: ...
The treasury's money and the world's agricultural reserves all belong to the Minister of Agriculture. And we're right here, who else should we give it to? Your Highness, what do you mean by that? So if you don't intend to give it to us, why did you ask us to come here? Just let us watch?
The animal husbandry historian knelt down before Liu Ju with a plop and said, "I am willing to take on this responsibility and ask His Royal Highness to teach me how to castrate and feed people in a dark room!"
Liu Ju: ...You're using so much force, don't your knees hurt? Even the sound of me hurts.
The animal husbandry historian clearly didn't feel any pain, but was worried that Liu Ju wouldn't want to. He spoke anxiously, "Your Highness, don't think raising pigs and chickens is a trivial matter. Speeding up their growth isn't a big deal. You must know that the survival of the people of this world depends on agriculture and livestock."
"If all the people knew this, they could be raised and mass-produced. The Han Dynasty has many nobles and wealthy people, and they enjoy fine food and exquisite cooking. There's a huge demand for this, whether for personal use or to sell, as it's essential for survival. This is equivalent to giving them another way to make a living besides their current livelihood."
Liu Ju nodded: "I know. But the dark room is easy to set up, but pig slaughtering requires skills, not everyone can do it."
"I am willing to learn and endure hardships. No matter how difficult it is, as long as I study hard and work hard, I will eventually succeed. Even if I can't, there are butchers with skilled knife skills under the livestock room. Let them give it a try."
Liu Ju added, "It's not enough to just castrate the pigs or use the darkroom. Cleaning and arranging the darkroom in the pigpen is also essential."
The livestock historian straightened his chest and said, "Your Highness, just list them clearly. I will memorize them word for word and recite them by heart."
Liu Ju: ...There’s no need to recite it backwards.
Liu Ju felt that he was endless and would agree to anything in order to obtain this feeding technology. He had no choice but to make his words clearer: "You are the historian of animal husbandry, so it is reasonable to hand this matter over to you.
"But I think that since this is a matter of great importance, and your position is too low, should we send someone of higher status to accompany you? It would also be more convenient for him to arrange the overall plan."
History of Animal Husbandry:???
Grand Farmer & Grand Secretary: ???
Just teaching the people how to butcher pigs and raise chickens—does a high-ranking position really need to be held? As for overall planning, the Animal Husbandry Historian handles the chores, and above him, there's naturally a Ling Cheng. If you feel Ling Cheng isn't enough, then the Minister of Agriculture will do. The Minister of Agriculture is one of the Nine Ministers.
Liu Ju curled his lips, feeling that this group of people really didn't understand him at all and had no tacit understanding with him at all.
Do you know how to read people's faces? How can you be so rude?
Liu Che knew his son's personality. Although he didn't understand what he was up to, he had already sensed that something was wrong with him and asked, "Who do you think is suitable?"
"Why not give it to Cousin Cao Xiang?"
When someone took up the conversation, Liu Ju immediately responded, fearing that if he was a step late, the pole would be lost.
Liu Che: ...
Minister of Agriculture & Minister of the Court & Minister of Animal Husbandry: ...
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes and smiled like a fox. "The history of animal husbandry also says that this matter is extremely important and concerns the people's livelihood. If implemented properly, it will benefit the people greatly. It will also revolutionize the livestock breeding of our great Han Dynasty. Its significance is far-reaching and immeasurable."
"So this matter can't be handled casually. We must send someone who is cautious, careful, and appropriate. I think my cousin is very good. Although he is young, he is rare in maturity and stability. He has both means and talents. He is worthy of this great task!"
Everyone: ...
Your Highness, are you serious? Cao Xiang inherited the title of Marquis of Pingyang and is Princess Pingyang's only son. Judging by your majesty's attitude, he will be given special training, but he's likely to join the army. Although he didn't participate in the battle last year, he's likely to be on the battlefield next time.
You're asking him to take charge of animal husbandry. Isn't that the wrong direction?
Even if you are close to him and want to give him credit, this is not the way to do it.
Oh, that's not right. If His Royal Highness was just trying to earn credit for Cao Xiang, His Royal Highness has so many good things, why not save them for other things? Why must he keep them? This is unusual, there must be something fishy going on.
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Animal Husbandry looked at each other, and their thoughts turned.
Liu Ju said with a smile: "My cousin is still young. It never hurts for young people to exercise more."
The corners of Liu Che's mouth twitched. Haha, you make a lot of sense. Do you think I believe it or not?
Liu Ju stepped forward and took his arm, blinking his eyes: "Father, just say it, okay!"
When Liu Che met those innocent big eyes, his heart seemed to be struck, and he really couldn't bear to refuse.
Never mind, Cao Xiang is Cao Xiang. Anyway, as long as it's not me, everything is fine. What's the harm in fulfilling this little whim of the brat?
The Minister of Agriculture and others: ...Your Majesty, where are your principles!
Cao Xiang: ...Thank you!
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