156 Chapter 156
◎Road construction and happy events.◎
His Majesty the Emperor certainly wanted the path the Crown Prince mentioned, but he believed that this did not conflict with the selection of a Crown Princess.
"Auntie, I haven't even finished one, and you're asking me to deal with another?" Liu Ju objected. "No, Auntie, I don't have that much energy. I don't want it!"
Liu Che couldn't help laughing and said, "Why are you trying to please them? They clearly promised you that. Wouldn't it be better to have more people to serve you and please you?"
Liu Ju argued confidently, "Aunt, you've already said you're trying to please me. But then you have to be present to try to please me. Wouldn't that be a waste of my time?"
Liu Che said, "Nonsense! Is there no one in my harem? With so many people, have I neglected the affairs of state?"
"Auntie was a sage and wise ruler. Those who covet women are like Jie and Zhou. You certainly haven't neglected state affairs for anything," Liu Ju said. "But that's too extreme. Auntie, besides Yao and Shun, are there only Jie and Zhou?"
Liu Che waved his hand and said, "I won't argue with you about this. Just tell me, when will you be able to choose a Crown Princess?"
Liu Ju thought for a moment and said, "I can't really say, Aung. Just like this time, I don't know when I'll find someone who I feel is worthy of being my Crown Princess."
Liu Che sighed: "Then we have to wait and see."
Liu Ju stroked his father's back and said softly, "Aunt, spring will come. Winter is not that long."
Liu Che laughed and said, "You still know how to comfort me. Forget it, at least there is someone who can let me hold my grandson soon."
His Majesty the Emperor has really been worn out by his Crown Prince.
Liu Ju couldn't help but feel ashamed of his father, but his stubbornness these days, in addition to his insistence on himself and his feelings for Qing Yue, was also due to his father's unlimited doting on him.
It seemed that no matter how willful he was, his father would obey his wishes, and this way Liu Ju would become more and more impatient and demand more.
"Aunt." Liu Ju leaned on his father, "Why do you love me so much?"
Liu Che rubbed his head and said, "You are my son. I really dislike you, but I can't help but love you."
Liu Ju smiled and said, "I love Aong the most, too."
…
Qin bricks and Han tiles were not in short supply during the Han Dynasty, but no one had ever seen cement.
The cement road was first built in the Weiyang Palace. The nobles and officials would walk on the smooth road, stopping from time to time to stare at it curiously, and some would even bend down and knock on the road surface.
The issue of paving cement roads across the country is still under discussion. After all, this is a huge project and all the details must be negotiated before construction can begin.
With such a large project, corruption is bound to occur, which is unavoidable. His Majesty the Emperor took the opportunity to teach the Prince that there are some things that one must turn a blind eye to.
Liu Ju nodded and said, "Don't worry, old man. I understand. Just like the land encroachment case Zhang Tang investigated earlier, we can't take back all the land occupied by the powerful and wealthy. We are just warning them and letting them know when to stop."
Liu Che smiled and said, "You handled that matter well. Zhang Tang is free now, so you can let him keep an eye on the road construction."
Liu Ju laughed: "Aunt is trying to scare people again."
"Even though I'm scaring them, they still dare to commit evil and violate the law. If no one disciplines them, I really don't know what they can do." Liu Che said.
Liu Ju advised, "Don't be angry about these people, Grandfather. After all, with you as your deterrent, they won't dare to act recklessly."
Liu Che said, "Of course I know, I'm just complaining to you."
Liu Ju poured a cup of tea for his father and said with a smile, "Then, Uncle, just tell me. Don't keep it in your heart, otherwise you will get sick."
Liu Che nodded at him and said with a smile: "You also know that I am old, so don't always make me angry, otherwise I will be sick and all these government affairs will be handed over to you."
"Grandpa is in his prime, but he always says that he is old. It is obvious that he says these things on purpose to make me angry." Liu Ju snorted.
Liu Che chuckled, "How dare you blame me, little bastard?"
Liu Ju smiled fearlessly and said, "Why should I be afraid? Uncle, you should reflect on yourself. You have spoiled me."
Liu Che was at a loss for words. "Alright, I'll reflect on this." He thought for a moment, then said with a stern face, "You little brat, you dare to disrespect the emperor. I'll punish you now. When we go hunting in Shanglin Garden during the autumn hunt, I'll eat the bear paws you hunted with your own hands."
"Okay!" Liu Ju nodded happily. "But, Aung, you have to send someone to drive the bear over in advance. Also, I need my cousin to help me."
Liu Che laughed and said, "Why don't you just let your cousin hunt for you? It will save you a lot of effort."
"Aung, you are too blunt. We should pretend that I hunted it myself." Liu Ju said with a smile.
Liu Che knocked him on the head: "I will punish you, and you still dare to cheat!"
The father and son were chatting and laughing here, but someone from Pingyang Marquis's Mansion came to see him outside the Xuanshi Hall. Liu Che called the person in and found out that Cao Zong was ill. The princess and Pingyang Marquis asked the emperor to send a skilled physician to treat the illness.
Cao Zong was only seven years old this year and was not yet past the age where he was prone to premature death. Being sick at this time was indeed not a good sign. Upon hearing this, Liu Che immediately ordered all the palace doctors to go to the Pingyang Marquis' Mansion.
Liu Ju said: "Aunt, I'm going too..."
"Why are you going?" Liu Che held the man down. "You can't treat illnesses, and going will only cause trouble. Just stay here and wait for news."
Liu Ju knew it was not an easy matter for him to argue with his father, so he nodded and sat down. "Han'er has always been in good health. This illness is probably not serious."
"Hmm." Liu Che looked at the prince's expression and saw that he was still anxious. After thinking for a moment, he took the memorial and said, "There is something here. Ju'er, come and take a look."
Just as His Majesty the Emperor had expected, the Crown Prince's mind was soon occupied with important matters.
Someone soon came to the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion, but it was not just a servant, but Princess Pingyang herself who came to the palace to meet the emperor.
Liu Che asked her to sit down and said, "Look at your expression, Han'er is fine."
Princess Pingyang said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for sending the physician. Han'er only caught a cold, but the fever has subsided. She will be fully recovered after taking a few more doses of medicine."
Liu Ju said, "That's good. My sister and cousin Cao Xiang came to the palace to seek medical treatment. I thought Han'er was suffering from some serious illness."
"Han'er has rarely been sick in her life. Your sister and your cousin are first-time parents, so naturally they're overwhelmed with concern," Princess Pingyang said. "Thank you, Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, for your concern. I see how reckless these two children are, and how they're so preoccupied with their children, that's why I came here to apologize to Your Majesty on their behalf."
Liu Che waved his hand and said, "We are family, there is no need to do this."
Liu Ju also said, "It's good that Han'er is alright."
Princess Pingyang saw the memorial still spread out on the table and said, "Your Majesty and the Crown Prince are busy. I won't disturb them."
Liu Che ordered his men to see her off. After Princess Pingyang left, Liu Ju patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief: "I was so scared."
Liu Che patted him on the back and said with a smile, "You are young and have never experienced this. Children will get sick if they are blown by the wind. It's not a serious matter."
Liu Ju nodded, still feeling a lingering fear. The third year of Yuanding was the year Cao Xiang died, and he was afraid that Cao Zong would ward off this disaster for his father.
It sounds cruel, but in terms of closeness, between Cao Xiang and Cao Zong, Liu Ju would definitely choose his own nephew.
Liu Che took the opportunity to say, "If you work harder and become an old man soon, you won't make such a fuss all the time."
Liu Ju smiled helplessly and said, "Ah Weng, you really know what it means to take advantage of every opportunity."
Liu Che raised his eyebrows and smiled: "Whose fault is this? It's because you didn't satisfy me earlier."
"Aunt, if you like children so much, you should have someone give birth to one for you." Liu Ju suddenly said, "It seems like I haven't had any brothers or sisters for a long time. Aunt, don't you reflect on yourself?"
Liu Che: “…”
"Is this what you should say?" His Majesty the Emperor's eyes widened. "You little bastard, do you even know who I am?"
Liu Ju said innocently, "You are my grandfather, grandfather, I didn't mean anything else... Oh! Please don't hit me!"
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince fled in panic, with His Majesty the Emperor chasing him closely.
"Don't run!"
"You can't hit me!"
"Don't even think about it! Stop and let me beat you up!"
"don't want!"
A chase between a royal father and his son took place in the Xuanshi Hall, until Liu Ju bumped into a young eunuch.
"Ouch!" Liu Ju asked, covering his head, "Are you okay?"
Although the eunuch was used to serving the Emperor and usually held himself in high esteem, the crime of offending the Crown Prince still made him tremble with fear. He did not care about what he had to report, but immediately knelt down and kowtowed to apologize: "This slave deserves death."
Liu Ju put his hand down and said with a smile: "It's not that serious..."
Before he could finish his words, the Emperor had already caught up with him. He carefully examined the prince's forehead and found that it was just a little red, but there was no serious injury.
"I have an ointment..." Liu Che ordered, "Go and get it."
Someone immediately took the order to go find him. Liu Ju didn't have time to stop him before he reached out his hand: "Aunt, it's okay. I don't feel any pain anymore."
Liu Che glanced at the eunuch kneeling on the ground and asked calmly, "Why are you so panicked?"
The eunuch stumbled, "Your Majesty, it was Madam Li... Madam Li who summoned the physician. She... she is pregnant."
Wow.
Liu Ju looked at his father and was glared at.
"I just said it casually, Aung, who knew it would come true." Liu Ju whispered, "Congratulations, Aung!" He suddenly spoke loudly again.
His Majesty the Emperor couldn't help but laugh. He poked the prince on the forehead and said, "You little bastard."
Liu Ju also smiled and said, "Aunt, go see Madam Li. This is such a happy occasion! I'll take care of the remaining small matters here, and you can come back and see them."
Liu Che glanced at the eunuch who was still kneeling on the ground and nodded, saying, "The Crown Prince said it was a great joyous occasion, so I won't punish you today. But don't be so reckless in the future."
The eunuch hurriedly kowtowed to thank the emperor for his grace and the prince for his gratitude.
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