Liu Que said, "Little Kunmi said he had to go back a while ago for something. Coincidentally, the people sent by the emperor were also leaving for the northern border, so he simply brought people to escort them. It seems you missed them. What a pity."
Liu Tan: ...
Brother, although you say you are sorry, the expression on your face doesn't show any regret at all.
He couldn't help but glance back. Liu Ju was already beside him. He reached out and turned his brother's head back, saying, "Don't look. He's been gone for five or six days. You can't see him."
Five or six days, Liu Tan quickly ordered: "Send someone to chase, we can still catch up."
Liu Ju asked, "They are going back to Wusun, why are you sending people after them?"
Liu Tan was instantly stuck. He had almost subconsciously thought that Lu Xuan was looking for him, so he had asked someone to bring Lu Xuan back. Now that Liu Ju said this... it seemed that it was indeed inappropriate.
Liu Tan paused, then turned to Miao Rui and said, "Go get that box."
Miao Rui immediately went to get the silver box containing the earrings. The silver box was inlaid with beautiful watermelon tourmaline. Oh, yes, this tourmaline doesn’t have a name yet.
The winter sun was shining brightly, and both the polished silver and the tourmaline on the box reflected a beautiful and dazzling light.
Liu Ju watched with some curiosity from the side, and when he saw the tourmaline, he couldn't help but widen his eyes with curiosity.
Liu Tan looked at the silver box and said, "Send someone to catch up with Little Kunmi and give this to him, saying it's a New Year's gift. I wish him a happy New Year in advance."
Liu Ju, standing aside, twitched his lips and said, "It's still more than a month away from the New Year's Day. What's more... it's just the New Year's Day over there in Wusun."
Liu Tan said frankly: "That's because we sent the gift in advance, otherwise it would be too late."
Liu Ju glanced at him and said, "You seem to care about him and even prepared a gift for him."
Liu Tan felt something was wrong when he heard it. After tasting it carefully, he even tasted a bit of sourness. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I have prepared many gifts for you."
Liu Ju was satisfied now, but he still said: "You came back on your own, and you brought so many things with you. If it weren't for these, you would have reached Chang'an long ago."
Liu Tan: Your Highness, please put away that smile on your face.
Well, it can be confirmed that Liu Ju is indeed Liu Che’s son. He has the same problem of saying one thing and thinking another.
The two brothers walked while chatting and laughing, but before entering the city, Liu Tan thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, why don't we talk in the car?"
Liu Ju was stunned for a moment, then remembered the grand occasion when Liu Tan came back last time. When he thought of his brother's miserable appearance with sachets and handkerchiefs all over his body, Liu Ju couldn't help laughing.
However, he still agreed to Liu Tan's proposal. Although he thought his brother looked cute, he had also seen in a letter written by Liu Tan that people from Shuofang even threw dried meat. The people of Chang'an were much richer than those from Shuofang, and New Year's Day was coming soon. Everyone was buying New Year's goods. What if someone threw something heavy in his hand directly at him and Liu Tan got hurt?
But even in the car, Liu Tan could not escape the attack of the handkerchief sachet. After all, there was only one prince who would be coming back recently, and everyone knew who it was just by looking at the car frame.
Liu Tan sat in the carriage, listening to the sound of the sachet hitting the wall of the carriage in fear, and was very worried about his horse.
Liu Ju sat aside and looked at Liu Tan with his eyes wide open, like a frightened little animal. He couldn't help but reach out and rub the front half of Liu Tan's head. At the same time, he felt a little regretful. If it weren't for the hair crown, the feel would definitely be better.
Fortunately, although the people watched, they did not hinder the progress of the convoy, or they did not dare to hinder the progress of the convoy. After a while, they entered the imperial city.
When they arrived at the palace gate, Liu Tan got out of the car and looked at the familiar scenery, and couldn't help but curl his eyes.
Although he had wanted to escape from here and go to his fiefdom to "act tyrannically", it must be said that Liu Tan's mood at this moment was really like a wanderer returning home for the New Year.
Liu Ju asked, "Your mansion is already prepared. Please come with me to see the emperor and have them put the things in your mansion first."
Liu Tan was surprised: "Mansion? I have a mansion?"
Which prince would have a mansion in Chang'an? You have to know that once you become a vassal, you basically cannot return to Chang'an except in special circumstances. Even if you return to Chang'an, you have to live in an inn.
Liu Tan had already prepared to live in the inn. Even though Chen Ajiao was still in the palace, he already had a fiefdom after all and was considered an adult. He could no longer stay in the harem. Who would have thought that he actually had a mansion?
Liu Ju's eyes lit up with surprise when he saw him, and he couldn't help but smile: "Well, my father ordered me to choose a place. It may not be as big as your palace, but it's not too small either. You should like it."
It is extremely difficult to build a building comparable to the royal palace in Chang'an. After all, land is very expensive here and there is not much space. Even this space was vacated by Liu Ju after he relocated many families.
Liu Tan was completely stunned when he heard this: "Where is the royal palace? It hasn't been built yet."
His journey to build the royal palace... was truly filled with hardships. I guess no other prince had a harder time building a palace than him.
But if I have to say, it’s a mixture of pain and happiness.
After hearing this, Liu Ju thought of Liu Tan's deeds and couldn't help laughing: "Well, since you are back now, why not stay in the palace until it is repaired before leaving."
Liu Tan did not agree. Who knew how long it would take to build the palace? He also had to go back to preside over the summer examination.
So he ordered people to keep the gift for Liu Che, oh, and the gift for Liu Ju.
Liu Tan turned to look at Liu Chuan and said, "I'll send your things directly to the Prince's Palace. You can play with them when you go back. There are some jewelry that you can give away as gifts."
Liu Ju was a little surprised after hearing this, but he quickly realized that this was probably telling him that he could give him to Wei Zifu. He couldn't help but feel softer in his heart, and felt that it was fortunate that his father took this younger brother back, otherwise where could he find such a caring younger brother?
When walking, Liu Tan subconsciously lagged behind Liu Ju by half a step, but was pulled up by Liu Ju, who then pulled his wrist and walked forward.
Liu Tan couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Um...would it be too conspicuous for me to have a residence in Chang'an? Does anyone have any objections?"
"Watch your step," Liu Ju warned casually, "so what if they object? We're not asking them to pay. Father paid from his private treasury, so what does it have to do with them?"
Liu Tan was a little surprised: "Did the emperor pay for it?"
Liu Ju corrected himself: "The mansion was paid for by my father, and the decoration inside was paid for by the queen..." He said a little embarrassedly: "I don't have much money, but I have prepared a gift for you..."
As Liu Chuan spoke, he felt sad. He felt that the gift he prepared might not be as good as the one Liu Tan gave him.
Liu Tan wanted to decline, but after thinking about it, he realized that a brother's gift to his younger brother is mainly out of consideration, so he smiled and said, "Well, I will like whatever Your Highness gives me."
Liu Ju felt even more relieved, as they had already arrived at the Weiyang Palace.
Bu Fan came out to greet them personally, his face wrinkled with smiles. He quickly bowed and said, "This old servant greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the King of the Northern Territory."
Liu Ju asked, "Is the emperor free now?"
Bu Fan replied, "Your Majesty, having heard that His Royal Highness the King of the Northern Territory has returned today, has already freed up his time."
Liu Tan smiled, raised his hand and took out a golden pill, saying, "Thank you for your hard work."
Bu Fan took it easily and smiled even more happily. The servants in the palace liked to see the King of the North because he was extremely generous. The other princes were not short of money, but they were not as generous as this one.
When the King of the North was enfeoffed, everyone felt sorry for him, but after this encounter, the rewards were worth a year's worth.
Liu Tan took off his sword and followed Liu Ju into the Weiyang Palace.
Liu Che was pretending to read official documents at this time. He knew it when Liu talked about going outside. He couldn't help but move his ears when he heard him talking to Bu Fan.
However, he waited until Liu Tan came in and paid his respects before looking at Liu Tan directly.
"Get up." Liu Che tried to sound dignified, but when Liu Tan stood up, he blurted out, "Why are you losing weight again?"
Liu Tan was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Liu Che and then at Liu Ju: "Ah? Lost... lost weight?"
He didn't feel it. He had been eating and sleeping well these days. He even felt that he had gained weight. After all, his abdominal muscles had become one piece and were much softer.
Liu Ju observed carefully and said, "One thing is that their eyes have become bigger."
Liu Tan: ???
What is the basis for you to judge whether someone is fat or thin?
Liu Che coughed lightly and said, "I have long told you that the place is poor and backward, but you refused to believe me. What's going on now?"
Liu Tan's tone suggested he would be kept if he complained, so he quickly said, "Barrenness is relative. It's certainly not suitable for growing crops there, but there are mines."
Liu Tan couldn't help but say with great pride, "Father may not know yet, but before I came here, iron and cinnabar mines were discovered."
Liu Che: ?????
For a moment, Liu Che was a little confused, because Shuofang had always been abandoned.
It only becomes more important when the Huns come. On ordinary days, no one pays much attention to Shuofang, let alone Shuofang, Bingzhou and Liangzhou are the same.
Is it really that rich there?
But that doesn't make sense. Although I don't care much about it, it is the territory of the Han Dynasty after all, and there is no shortage of county magistrates. How come no one has discovered it?
Liu Che frowned. Liu Tan had been expecting praise or even surprise from Liu Che, but when he saw his expression, he couldn't help but feel nervous. His father's expression after hearing about the new mine didn't seem right. Shouldn't he be happy? What was going on?
Liu Che looked up at Liu Tan and asked, "Did you find that the county governors there are all derelict in their duties during your time there?"
The more he thought about it, the more likely it was. Otherwise, how could his son have just killed a county magistrate there? How could he not know Liu Tan's temper? Those who had forced his son to kill someone, every one of them, should be dealt with!
Liu Tan: ...
His father's focus seemed to be off.
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