88 Chapter 88
◎See you next time.◎
The three of them talked until the sun set. The guards came in and reminded Fusu that if he didn't go back, the city gate would be closed. Only then did he say goodbye reluctantly. However, before leaving, he made another appointment with the two of them to come again tomorrow.
Zhang Liang asked, "Do you have any other plans for tomorrow? I'm free anyway, so why not walk with you? What do you think, sir?"
Han Fei said, "Okay, Your Highness, where are you going tomorrow?"
Fusu then told them about his itinerary. As he was afraid that it would be inconvenient for the two of them, and Zhang Liang had a family, Fusu did not invite them to stay in the city, but only said that he would send someone to pick them up the next day.
Compared to Fusu's joy at seeing his old friend, Meng Hua's cheerful face immediately turned into a sad one when he learned that he would meet Han Fei the next day.
Wang Li teased, "This is terrible! It's been a long time since you last read Mr. Han's article. Meng Hua, hurry up and review your lessons. Watch out for him punishing you tomorrow!"
"I... I'm no longer Mr. Han's student. He can't punish me." Meng Hua looked at Fusu with a bitter face. "Your Highness, I'm not considered a student anymore, okay?"
Fusu shrugged and said, "I am still your student, don't you think I am?"
Meng Hua: “…”
"I want to go back to Xianyang..." Meng Hua was about to cry.
Fusu was puzzled. "Why did the master punish you back then? He didn't even spank you. Why are you so afraid of him?"
Fusu recalled carefully that although Han Fei was a strict teacher back then, he never physically punished Meng Hua. Logically speaking, it should not have left any psychological trauma on him.
Meng Hua said, "Mr. Han's eyes are so scary. When he looks at me, I feel like a useless idiot."
Fusu could only pat his shoulder sympathetically. He really didn't know that Han Fei had such a great influence on Meng Hua back then, otherwise he would not have thought it was just a harmless little joke.
Fusu advised: "Mr. Han is very different now than before. He loves to laugh and speaks more gently. He is not scary at all. You will know when you meet him tomorrow."
Meng Hua shuddered. "Your Highness, are you talking about Mr. Han? You wouldn't recognize the wrong person, after all, it's been so many years since we last met!"
"...Then, come with me tomorrow to see if I have recognized the wrong person?" Fusu asked in a negotiating tone.
Meng Hua hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Since Your Highness is going, I will go too. It was Your Highness who saved me many times back then. In front of Your Highness, I am not too afraid of Mr. Han."
Fusu didn't expect this to happen. He smiled gently and said, "Thank you for your trust. I will protect you tomorrow."
Wang Li also came over and patted Meng Hua on the shoulder, saying with a smile, "And I'm here too. If Mr. Ming'er really tests you, I'll help you with a few questions."
Meng Hua looked at Wang Li with emotion: "Are you still reading Mr. Han's articles?"
Wang Li: “…”
Fusu held his forehead and smiled, "Forget it, just rely on me."
Two pairs of eyes looked at Fusu at the same time.
Fusu said calmly, "I have been reading Mr. Han's articles. Although he has been traveling these years, when he has insights, he will write them down and send them to me in Xianyang."
Before he finished speaking, the admiration in his two pairs of eyes was already overflowing to the ground.
…
The next day, Fusu and his two companions met with Zhang Liang and Han Fei at the agreed place. After they exchanged greetings, they mounted their horses and headed for their destination.
Now that everywhere was paved with cement, there was no need to worry about the problem of dust flying when riding. Also, because no one was riding fast, Han Fei was able to take the time to test Meng Hua and Wang Li.
Meng Hua was nervous at first, but after two or three sentences, he knew that His Highness was not comforting him last night. Mr. Han's temper had really improved a lot. Now he not only guides people patiently, but also explains things patiently.
He really is a different person, Meng Hua sighed secretly.
After returning home in the evening, Meng Hua learned from Fusu that although Han Fei had no shortage of gold and silver in the years since he left Xianyang, he wanted to satisfy his desire to be a teacher again because he had taught Fusu before, so he taught many children.
Children often don't understand what you are saying to them, so you can only coax and trick them into learning. Gradually, Han Fei's temper was tempered into the gentle one it is today.
Meng Hua could only lament that he was born at the wrong time.
In the following days, not only would Zhang Liang and Han Fei accompany Fusu when he went out, they would also come to visit him when he did not have to go out. During these days, he could say everything that he had not been able to say in letters in the past.
Fusu suggested, "Why don't you compile these into a book? I'll have it engraved, printed, and placed in the library of the academy so that all readers in the world can benefit from it."
Nowadays, libraries across the country have more and more books, and Ying Zheng has also updated the policy. In addition to students in the academy, local qualified scholars can go in to read and copy books. However, this qualification must pass an examination and be determined by the government, and then a certificate will be issued to them. When they want to read a book, they have to take their identity documents to register at the library before they can enter.
Han Fei and Zhang Liang could naturally go to the library to read books, but the certificates they obtained were not obtained through examinations, but were given to them by Fusu along with the letter.
Hearing Fusu's words, Han Fei was quite tempted. After all, his ideal in the past many years was to serve the king. Although he no longer had the intention of becoming an official, if his ideas could influence more people, it would be considered as fulfilling his old wish.
Zhang Liang reacted indifferently to this. He had never cared about official titles. As for his attachment to Han, it was because his ancestors and father had served as prime ministers of Han for five generations.
Fusu said, "I am only proposing an idea. Sir and Zifang can think about it slowly. If you have a successful book in the future, just send it to me. I will be waiting for you at any time."
Han Fei said, "I've just been sorting out my manuscript lately, and I think... it'd be best to finish it as soon as possible. Since Your Highness has said so, I will definitely give it to Your Highness first."
This sentence seemed to have some ominous meaning. Fusu agreed with his mouth, but his eyes were always on Zhang Liang.
While Han Fei was not paying attention, Zhang Liang pointed to his temples and motioned Fusu to look.
The six or seven years were a time for Fusu to grow up slowly, but for Han Fei, it was a time for him to grow old gradually.
Han Fei was getting older, so he was worried that he would not be able to complete his writings in his lifetime.
Aging is something that cannot be stopped even with all human strength. The only thing Fusu could do was to secretly tell Zhang Liang that Xianyang was already printing many new medical books, and he would give a set to Han Fei when the time came.
Zhang Liang said, "Sir, if you don't plan to leave, I'd like to stay here with you and make some arrangements later."
Fusu said, "Okay. I will inform the county lieutenant and prefect here, and give you a written order from me. If you have anything to say, just tell them."
Zhang Liang said solemnly, "Thank you very much."
There is always a time to say goodbye after meeting each other. After staying here for a month and a half, Fusu had to leave.
"If I don't rush to Kuaiji County and can't return to Xianyang before the New Year, my father will probably punish me." Fusu joked.
Zhang Liang also laughed and said, "Your Majesty has always been soft-hearted towards you. If you really wait a little longer, you can just act coquettishly and get away with it."
Fusu shook his shoulders and said, "I'm already an adult, and if I act like a spoiled child I might shock him."
Han Fei shook his head and smiled, "Enough of the joking. It's getting late, Your Highness. You should go back. You have to travel tomorrow."
"Your Highness will leave tomorrow, so I won't be seeing you off."
Fusu bowed and said, "I'm leaving now. Take care, sir."
Han Fei stayed at home. Only Zhang Liang escorted Fusu to the intersection. Fusu looked at the nearby farmland and suddenly smiled. "Last time in Xianyang, it was also a place like this. I said I wanted to bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world."
"Unfortunately, I haven't done it today." Fusu sighed softly.
Zhang Liang looked into the distance and said quietly, "But I know you can definitely achieve it."
Fusu said: "I will definitely not let you down."
Zhang Liang bowed and said, "Your Highness, please take your time."
"Goodbye." Fusu returned the greeting and stepped on the stirrup to mount his horse. "See you next time, Zifang."
Zhang Liang smiled and said, "See you next time."
…
When they set out again for Kuaiji County, Fusu and his party sped up and did not stop along the way. Instead, they only quickly checked the necessary places and then continued on their way.
The south is hot and humid during midsummer, and everyone is not used to it.
Meng Hua filled a bowl with ice and held it in his arms, saying bitterly, "I thought summer in Xianyang was hot enough, but it turns out I don't know what heat is."
"It's not the same heat on these two sides." Fusu was writing a letter, and he didn't stop talking. "Have you had the summer heat soup?"
Meng Hua's face turned even more bitter: "I drank it, it was too bitter."
Wang Li came in with the documents and happened to hear this. He said, "This is hard. If you are asked to lead troops here in the future, how will you handle it?"
"Your Highness." Wang Li bowed and placed the document on Fusu's desk. "It was sent urgently from Xianyang."
"I'm just saying..." Meng Hua stuffed the ice cubes into Wang Li's hand. "It's scorching hot outside. My clothes are all soaked. You need some ice too."
Wang Li couldn't help but shudder as the temperature alternated between hot and cold: "This is too cold."
Fusu opened the letter and reminded them: "Don't hold on to the ice all the time... This is a letter from father!"
Fusu had only received two letters from Ying Zheng during the past six months since he left the house. Now he received another one. Isn't it a great surprise?
Wang Li, Meng Hua, and others waited until Fusu finished reading the letter. Seeing that he was smiling, they asked cheerfully, "Your Highness, what did the king say?"
"Hmm..." Fusu pondered for a moment, "It's nothing serious. It's just that they urged me to go back quickly, otherwise I won't be able to watch the stars."
"Ah?" Meng Hua was puzzled. "The stars are hanging in the sky. Why doesn't Your Majesty allow it?"
Fusu smiled and said, "Even if the stars are right before my eyes, if my father forbids me to look at them, I will naturally obey."
"Oh!" Meng Hua thought it made sense. "Then let's hurry!"
Wang Li sensed the unspoken meaning in Fusu's words, but he knew better than to ask, so he simply followed Meng Hua's lead and said with a smile, "Things over here have concluded. Your Highness, do you think we should set off early?"
Fusu said: "Then let's do it one day earlier."
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