104 Chapter 104
◎Hunting.◎
Hunting was arranged for the next three days. His Majesty the Emperor, with a series of generals headed by Marquis Changping, took the lead and galloped into the hunting ground.
Liu Ju was handed over to Cao Xiang by his father, so they could not get in and could only wander around the periphery.
Cao Xiang was afraid the Crown Prince would be upset, so he tried to console him, saying, "This forest isn't fenced off, and Your Majesty once hunted a bear there. Your Majesty didn't allow Your Highness to go because he was worried about you."
In his previous life, Liu Ju had his own Bowang Garden in Shanglin Garden, and he had long been tired of hunting.
Liu Ju smiled and said, "Cousin Cao Xiang, I don't want to follow my father in." He looked at him and asked, "Do you want to go?"
Cao Xiang pursed his lips and said honestly, "I want to go." He gazed into the depths of the woods, his eyes filled with longing and envy. "My mother said that once I'm married and have children, and the general goes out again, she'll ask His Majesty to take me with him."
"Once I return from the expedition with the general, I will be able to go hunting with Your Majesty!"
After he finished speaking, he realized that he was too excited and felt a little embarrassed.
Liu Ju praised: "My cousin, you have great ambition!"
At the same time, he was still mentally pointing fingers. How come the Liu family emperors were so charming? It was obvious they were descended from Emperor Taizu!
Cao Xiang straightened his chest, a bit embarrassed, "I hope Your Highness doesn't laugh at my wild imagination."
"Well...it's actually a bit far-fetched." Liu Ju frowned.
Cao Xiang's heart skipped a beat: "Your Highness?"
Liu Ju said, "For example, if you wait until you marry my sister and have children before going to war, you seem to think that this can be accomplished in a year or two, right?"
Cao Xiang said weakly, "The Queen and my mother are already discussing the wedding date."
"Really?" Liu Ju acted like a vicious brother-in-law. "But I can suggest that you postpone the marriage for a year or two. My sister is still very young and not suitable for marriage."
Cao Xiang was struck by lightning, and he subconsciously said, "The princess is not young anymore!"
Liu Ju raised his eyebrows: "Cousin Cao Xiang, you said my sister is old?"
Cao Xiang: “…”
Cao Xiang was about to cry. The prince's eloquence had become increasingly fluent recently.
"Your Highness knows that this is not what I meant..." Cao Xiang wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Liu Ju suddenly sighed: "Cousin, you should take care of yourself."
Cao Xiang was stunned, not understanding what was going on. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am in good health..."
Although he didn't know why the prince suddenly changed the subject, wasn't the meaning of his words wrong? Furthermore, he had just mentioned the child. Could it be that the prince was suspecting him of something?
Cao Xiang looked at the prince's small body. He was only seven years old and still a child. He should not understand anything, right?
Even if the children in the palace are known to be precocious, they shouldn't understand this.
Cao Xiang was determined to believe that the prince was simply concerned about his own health and was not hinting at anything.
Liu Ju looked at him and thought that his uncle Cao Shou had a short life. Although Aunt Pingyang lived a long life, Cao Xiang obviously inherited more from his father. Aunt Pingyang had lost her husband and son, which was not easy for her.
Liu Ju sighed inwardly and said, "Well...but I still need to be more careful."
Cao Xiang: “…”
He began to doubt himself again. Was the prince really not hinting at anything?
Cao Xiang held his breath. The young man was too shy to speak to a child, so he could only encourage himself in his heart. No matter what the prince was thinking, he would have to use practical actions to prove to the prince that he was a good person!
When the hunting party returned, Liu Ju and Cao Xiang also caught a few small prey on the outskirts.
Liu Che had a great harvest. In addition to deer, leopards and wild boars, he also hunted the bear that Cao Xiang had just mentioned.
Liu Ju couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Although it was drowned out by the voices of the crowd, the Emperor saw his expression.
His son's admiration surpassed all the other people's flattery. Liu Che waved someone over and said with a smile: "Ju'er, come over tomorrow to eat bear paws!"
Liu Ju thanked him and, seeing the mess, asked, "Aunt, would you like to change your clothes and freshen up?"
"Hmm." Liu Che rubbed his wrist, "Come here too, tell me what prey you hunted."
"There was a rabbit..."
As the father and son of the royal family walked further and further away, the people who were left behind also dispersed. Huo Qubing approached Wei Qing and said softly, "Uncle, since I came to Ganquan Palace, I seem to be happier than when I was in Weiyang Palace."
Wei Qing smiled and said, "It's more relaxed here. The rules in Weiyang Palace are strict. My son is young and has just been crowned Crown Prince, so it's understandable that he might not be very comfortable here."
Huo Qubing added, "In front of Your Majesty, he seems even more approachable."
Wei Qing looked at him and gestured to keep quiet.
Huo Qubing shut up, and after a moment he said, "I only said this to my uncle: It's always a good thing that His Majesty and His Highness are of the same mind."
Wei Qing smiled and said, "With your Majesty's wisdom and wisdom, you and I don't have to worry about this."
Huo Qubing understood what his uncle meant and nodded: "Yes."
Between His Majesty the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were of course loyal to His Majesty first, both out of loyalty to the emperor and personal reasons. However, they were also the Crown Prince's in-laws, with no choice, and they also cared about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Therefore, for both Wei and Huo, the Emperor and the Crown Prince being of the same mind was the absolute best thing for both Wei and Huo.
Regardless of whether it is from the standpoint of the Crown Prince or Wei Huo, everyone else is an outsider in matters between the Emperor and the Crown Prince, and it is best not to get involved or interfere too much.
…
The next day, Liu Ju indeed ate delicious bear paws. Also at the table were Wei Qing, Huo Qubing and other generals. However, apart from the royal father and son, the only ones who could eat bear paws were the uncle and nephew Wei and Huo.
In addition, His Majesty the Emperor also gave His Royal Highness the Crown Prince an extra dish of venison. Deer has an extraordinary meaning, and it is not just a dish.
Although the prince was already the heir apparent, the military generals who rarely saw him couldn't help but steal glances at him again and again.
She looks like a general... No, she looks like the queen and also like Your Majesty. She can draw the bow and shoot arrows, so she shouldn't be weak. But her temperament doesn't seem to be like Your Majesty, she feels a bit more elegant.
——Obviously, the military generals have never witnessed Your Majesty composing poetry, so they have the illusion that Your Majesty is only capable of being bold and extroverted.
Liu Ju remained calm in the face of the gazes from twos and threes. Not only did he not eat less, he also asked his father for a few delicious dishes and had them sent back for his sisters to taste.
Liu Che praised the prince's friendship and mentioned the summer heat relief prescription he contributed in the Weiyang Palace.
The generals were very curious about the prescription for relieving summer heat, and relying on the general's good temper, they all looked at the general and asked him for help. After all, apart from Huo Qubing, he was the only one present who could ask the emperor.
Wei Qing watched the crowd making faces, finding them quite amusing. He then respectfully said to Liu Che, "Your Majesty, the heat is scorching right now, and many soldiers in the army will suffer from heatstroke. If the heat-relief prescription doesn't require any rare herbs, you could boil a pot of this to relieve the soldiers' suffering."
Liu Che had already looked at the prescriptions, which contained very common medicinal ingredients, and immediately replied, "I'll have someone bring them to you."
Wei Qing bowed and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Liu Che smiled and said, "I only replied with one word. The grace belongs to the prince."
Wei Qing was about to pay his respects to Liu Ju again, but was quickly stopped: "General, you are embarrassing me!"
"The soldiers fought bravely on the battlefield, serving the Han Dynasty and His Majesty with all their loyalty and sharing their worries. As a minister and a son, I can only sit in Chang'an. I can only do this little thing for them. I just hope that I can also share a little of His Majesty's worries."
Liu Che smiled and said, "The Crown Prince is very capable of sharing my worries."
Liu Ju turned and saluted his father: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Liu Che came down and took Liu Ju and Wei Qing's hands, smiling broadly, saying, "With wise ministers and capable generals by our side, why should we worry about the Han Dynasty's weakness?"
As early as when Wei Qing wanted to pay homage to Liu Ju, Huo Qubing and the other generals stood up. Now that they saw that His Majesty had left the main seat, they could not sit down anymore.
Liu Che waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please sit down. This is not the Weiyang Palace. There is no need to be so formal."
Liu Ju held Liu Che's arm and said with a smile, "Please sit down, old man."
Liu Che patted his head and said with a smile: "Ju'er, go and ask your uncle to sit down."
Liu Ju bowed and said, "Yes."
After answering, he walked to the other side, supported Wei Qing and said, "Uncle, please sit down."
Wei Qing was not terrified, he was just a little helpless. After thanking the emperor, he followed Liu Ju's force and sat back in his original position.
Before sitting down, Wei Qing whispered, "Ju'er, take a look and see if His Majesty is drunk."
Liu Ju couldn't help laughing and looked up at his father who was walking back slowly. He was not drunk, but he was really happy.
In recent years, His Majesty the Emperor has had few worries and is very happy most of the time.
There have been a lot of government affairs recently, and it is rare to have such a relaxing time. His father wants to do whatever he wants, and Liu Ju thought, just let him do it.
However, in order to prevent His Majesty from getting really drunk, Liu Ju secretly signaled his subordinates to add some water to His Majesty's wine.
As soon as he took the first sip of the wine diluted with water, Liu Che realized something was wrong. He looked at the palace maid who poured the wine. She lowered her slender white neck and did not dare to look up at the emperor.
Thinking that his subordinates were not so bold, Liu Che had an idea and looked at the prince below.
Liu Ju was holding a cup and drinking fruit drink. When he met his father's suspicious eyes, he blinked, then looked down at the plate in front of him with an extremely guilty look.
The first batch of porcelain has been made, and now they are using a complete set of white porcelain tableware.
Of course, apart from His Majesty the Emperor, no one dares to be so extravagant. After all, a complete set of white porcelain tableware is worth a fortune in Chang'an City nowadays. Even the ministers and nobles in the court do not have the financial resources to entertain so many people.
Liu Che snorted. He certainly knew that his son cared about him. He was not angry in his heart, but just felt very warm. However, this did not prevent His Majesty the Emperor from trying to scare the prince for fun.
It would be even more fun if the prince was guilty. How should I scare him later? His Majesty the Emperor drank the wine diluted with water from a white porcelain cup, thinking with great interest.
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