Chapter 38, Chapter 5: The Millet Floats
The noblewoman of the Cui family of Qinghe, though she served her parents-in-law with respect, was not an ordinary, submissive woman confined to her home.
She could tolerate Liu Kun's usual indulgence in sensual pleasures and his excessive favoritism towards Xu Run, but seeing their only son so badly injured, even a clay figure would still have some temper. Cui Shi was both sad and angry, and lay on the ground refusing to get up.
At this moment, Liu Kun obediently knelt on the ground, while Liu Fan sat high above him, occasionally striking him with his cane.
"Xu Gongdao and Linghu Sheng want to persuade my son to become emperor. What's the point of keeping such a rebellious person around?" Liu Kun continued to argue.
Liu Fan was so angry he was panting. "Without verifying the facts, he just listened to one side and believed it. I think Mao Tou did a good job killing him this time. This Xu Run was despicable and spent his days spreading rumors and flattering the emperor. He deserved to die!"
“Anu is not that kind of person!” Liu Kun retorted stubbornly.
Liu Fan felt a sharp pain in his chest. "A mere musician who just arrived here has somehow overshadowed more than a decade of father-son affection! That's Mao Tou, the one who followed you through thick and thin, overcoming all obstacles! He was outside the prison when he was six or seven, fulfilling his filial duty, and now you're over forty, yet all you do is annoy me!"
After comforting Cui, Guo came out from the inner room and said in a deep voice, "You are incapable of managing great undertakings and controlling heroes. You only eliminate those who are stronger than you. How can you accomplish anything great? If this continues, one day you will surely bring disaster upon yourself and implicate me."
Liu Kun said in a hoarse voice, "But is he without fault for arbitrarily beating and killing officials recruited by the imperial court?"
Guo laughed angrily, "Linghu Sheng was also a general appointed by the imperial court. Didn't you just kill him without a second thought? Xu Run's life is a life, but Linghu Sheng's life isn't?"
His parents' earnest advice sounded harsh to Liu Kun, leaving him breathless and unable to catch his breath. Finally, he said in a trembling voice, "Since Anu joined the government, he has been straightforward and honest, not good at flattery, which has offended many people. But he has been devoted to Jinyang and to me. However, Linghu Sheng and his gang are jealous and resentful, and have repeatedly spoken ill of me to me. Since I became the governor of Bingzhou, I have not had a single day of peace. If anyone is even slightly dissatisfied, they desperately try to persuade me, and I can hardly breathe. Only Anu treats me like a living person..."
They were arguing loudly in the outer room, when Liu Jun slowly opened his eyes, his eyes filled with confusion and frustration.
He killed Xu Run because he thought that Xu Run had no real power base and only had a place in Bingzhou because of Liu Kun's favor. He believed that if such a villain stayed by Liu Kun's side, he would disturb the hearts of the soldiers and civilians in Bingzhou, causing scholars to leave and the people to scatter. Only by getting rid of him as soon as possible could he stabilize the people's hearts.
He never imagined that Liu Kun would trust him so much that he would beat his own son for him, and after his death, he would be grieving as if he had lost his parents.
Not to mention those arrogant scholars like Zhuge Quan, even soldiers like Linghu Sheng who risked their lives for their country felt quite disheartened and were unwilling to stay here any longer.
Bingzhou is relatively stable anyway, and there's nothing I can do if I stay here. It's better to leave temporarily and seek opportunities in Guanzhong, Bashu, or Longxi.
They also temporarily avoided meeting Liu Kun, lest the two lose their temper and destroy the already precarious father-son relationship.
Liu Jun turned over, feeling pain all over his body. He cursed Liu Kun a thousand times in his heart, then calmed his mind and slowly fell asleep.
After he regained consciousness, Liu Dan, Liu Yong, Yin Xiaocheng and others came to visit him, and Zhuge Quan and Liu Chou also sent letters to comfort him.
Although he defied his father and killed the magistrate of Jinyang, the people of Bingzhou not only did not complain about Xu Run's arrogance, extravagance, tyranny, and cruelty, but also applauded and felt indignant for the heir who had been beaten.
Relatedly, Liu Kun was already controversial for his favoritism and protection of Xu Run, and this unfair handling of the matter further alienated him from the public.
Three or four days had passed since he was able to sit up, and coincidentally, Liu Dan and Liu Yi arrived at the same time.
Liu Jun ordered Lu Jing to fetch some food, and the three men surnamed Liu sat on the ground, which could barely be considered a small banquet.
"Has anyone asked to come?" Liu Jun asked casually after filling his stomach a little.
Liu Dan didn't know how to answer, but Liu Yi was honest. "When my uncle took action that day, apart from his personal guards and family generals, everyone else was dismissed, and very few people witnessed it. However, the news spread too quickly, and with the change of the magistrate of Jinyang, most people in Bingzhou City now know about it."
Liu Jun smiled and said, "Don't worry about my expression. It's only natural for a son to be beaten by his father. It's a very common thing. There's nothing to make a fuss about."
Liu Yi continued, "Not many soldiers left, but quite a few strategists and advisors did."
Liu Jun frowned, thinking to himself that ordinary soldiers don't have that many tricks up their sleeves, while strategists are full of cunning and intrigue. They probably already think that Liu Kun is not a wise ruler, so it would be better to find a way to cross the river to the south as soon as possible.
It's not entirely their fault. If we put ourselves in their shoes, we probably would have resigned long ago when a villain like Xu Run became the magistrate of Jinyang.
"Where are Zhuge Liang and Liu Gong?" It's quite normal for ordinary staff to come and go, but Liu Jun couldn't help but care about the fate of such renowned figures.
Liu Yi shook his head, "Lord Zhuge doesn't know, but it seems that Chief Clerk Liu is already planning to leave."
Although his father and Liu Kun were both among the Twenty-Four Friends and both loved the Hu Jia (a type of reed pipe), Liu Chou and Liu Kun had no relationship. Bingzhou was far more impoverished than he had imagined. Liu Jun was already surprised that he could endure until now before leaving.
Therefore, Liu Jun simply nodded upon hearing this, "Be sure to tell me before you leave. Since I invited him to Bingzhou, I should also see him off."
"I wonder what the young master plans to do next to break this deadlock?" Liu Dan had been holding back for a long time, but finally couldn't help but ask.
It's obvious to anyone with eyes to see that Liu Kun and his son are at odds, and it's hard to guarantee that Liu Jun won't attract more suspicion, which could ruin the important affairs of Bingzhou.
Liu Jun was wiping the Flying View Sword, his slender fingers slowly tracing the blade, the cold light of the blade leaving a frosty mark on his increasingly handsome face. "Break the deadlock? The decision-making power of Bingzhou has never been in my hands. Now my honor, disgrace, life and death are all in your hands."
Liu Dan was quite flustered. The reason was simple: the day before, when he went to Liu Kun's residence, Liu Kun asked him about Liu Jun, saying, "How is the Crown Prince being cared for?"
From "Father" and "Young Master" to "Lord" and "Heir Apparent," whether the father and son in Bingzhou acted out of momentary spite or harbored resentment over time, perhaps only they themselves know the truth.
“If I am forced to leave Jinyang by my father’s orders,” Liu Jun poured tea for the two of them, “you gentlemen must be careful and not follow in my footsteps.”
Liu Dan laughed and said, "I'm determined to follow in their footsteps."
Having said that, he bowed and said, "I swear to follow the Crown Prince to the death!"
Over the past year, the two had gone through numerous battles, large and small, together, and had become sworn brothers. However, Liu Jun never expected that his father and grandfather would choose him instead.
Liu Jun quickly bowed in return, then helped him up, saying, "We are brothers with the same surname, what's this talk of following or not following? Between brothers, we should naturally work together with one heart!"
"You two seem to get along quite well. I'm a brother with the same surname as you," Liu Yi said sourly.
Liu Jun laughed and said, "You and I are sworn brothers, so you should follow me. When you have mastered the Five Classics, I will take you under my wing!"
"No," Liu Yi waved his hand repeatedly, "then... take care, brother!"
He pretended to be funny, which amused Liu Jun. So he put his arm around the other two, and the three of them laughed together.
Why not abandon the filth and embrace the strong? Why not change this course? Let us ride swift steeds and gallop forth, let us lead the way!
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