118 I only have this one younger brother!
◎Huo Qubing: How could I not love him?◎
Since the establishment of the state-run salt and iron factories and the construction of various factories, the Chuxia Wharf in Jiaodong County has been the busiest place on the Bohai Bay in early summer.
The sea breeze, brimming with warmth and a strong, salty aroma, swept past the countless moored boats, ruffling the rough hem of the boatmen's linen shirts. A wooden pier jutted into the blue waters, its deck polished to a gleaming shine by countless straw sandals and clogs. The air was filled with the tangy aroma of fresh fish, the salty tang of dried kelp, the pure saltiness of coarse salt, the odor of tung oil wafting from the boats, and the sour, salty taste of sweat, all mingling with the dialect of Jiaodong. Goods flowed incessantly amidst the chorus of calls in diverse accents. Freshly hauled fish from the deep sea bounced and gleamed silver in bamboo baskets. Bundles of dark green kelp, mounds of snow-white salt bags, and piles of wood, pottery jars, and cloth... everything was efficiently loaded and unloaded, moving along, amidst the resounding war chants of the porters. Carriages and horses plied the streets, their wooden wheels leaving deep and shallow tracks in the compacted mud. ox cart.
Merchant ships and fishing boats of all sizes are lined up one after another, with masts like a forest. The loud calls of the porters, the shouts of the captains, the creaking of carriages and horses, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore all declare the abundance of this place and the busy business.
However, today, this usual bustle was broken.
An exceptionally tall and magnificent ship, resembling a floating palace, sat firmly anchored at the prime berth. Following closely behind were a dozen uniformly constructed, heavily guarded warships, their sides lined with spears. Like a herd of giant beasts swarming the water, they firmly controlled the entrance to the dock, keeping any merchant ships attempting to dock at bay.
The blocked merchant ship owners leaned against the side of the ship anxiously and looked out. When they saw the flag with the word "Pingyang" painted on it with gold patterns on a black background on the main mast of the tower ship, all their complaints were instantly choked in their throats.
"The emblem of the Marquis of Pingyang's Mansion!" A weathered old captain gasped and whispered to the helmsman, "What a grand gesture! I can't afford to offend you, I can't afford to offend you..."
As he explained, he spat in frustration, cursed under his breath a few words like "the arrogance of the Marquis' Mansion" and "delaying my business", and then reluctantly ordered the boat to drop anchor outside the city and continue waiting.
The magnificent ship lowered its massive gangplank. First to file down were two teams of guards clad in fine black leather armor, wielding long halberds and ring-handled swords. With swift, coordinated movements, they instantly drove away the civilians and laborers, clearing a solemn space at the dock. They lined up on guard, scanning the surroundings.
Afterwards, surrounded by a crowd of people like the moon surrounded by stars, Liu Che, dressed in casual clothes, placed one hand lightly on the strong forearm of General Wei Qing beside him, and slowly stepped onto the land of Jiaodong.
The early summer sun was already a little scorching. Liu Che squinted his eyes slightly. The ceremonial guards around him had already blocked the light.
Only then did he turn his gaze to the scene before him, which was several times more prosperous than his memory. He glanced around and finally stopped at the queue of merchant ships that were blocked outside by their own fleet and were waiting anxiously. His handsome brows were frowned in displeasure and his thin lips were tightly pursed.
"Sima Qian, the governor of Jiaodong, didn't even know I arrived today?"
His voice was low, filled with fatigue after the long boat ride and a hint of displeasure at being neglected. The dissatisfaction in his tone made Feng, the eunuch standing beside him, feel a tightness in his heart.
Xiao Huolang, what kind of Jiaodong prime minister did you pick?
Fortunately, Wei Qing, who was standing on the other side of the emperor, keenly sensed the ominous sign.
He leaned slightly to the side, his posture calm, and his voice lowered with a soothing tone.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Thanks to the reforms of Lord Sang and Ayan, Jiaodong's salt industry has become the most profitable in the country, surpassing all other counties. The daily throughput at this port is crucial to the livelihoods of the people. If it were to be delayed for even a single day, the entire world would be starved of salt. The Minister of Jiaodong must be overwhelmed with his duties and unable to attend to any further matters. Your Majesty must be more lenient with these minor omissions in etiquette."
He glanced at the bare-chested laborers on the dock, their muscles as wiry as iron, their movements as swift as an army marching in formation, shouting in unison. He chuckled and added, "Your Majesty, please see how orderly and vibrant this place is, a far cry from its former state of decay. This demonstrates effective governance. In my opinion, Sima Qian deserves a reward."
Liu Che heard this and snorted, "It all depends on Ah Yan."
Despite these words, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He was not a foolish king. The scene before him, which was far more prosperous and orderly than any other inspection he had ever seen, truly shocked him. The noise was bustling but not chaotic at all.
However, most of the brand new fishing boats had a striking "Huo" emblem painted on them, which was particularly conspicuous in the sun.
"Ayan's boats... are quite a few." Liu Che's eyes swept over the sails with the "Huo" character on them, and the corners of his mouth curled up in an ambiguous arc. His fingertips unconsciously stroked the jade belt hook at his waist. "No wonder the dividends given to me every year are all pulled by carts. They are so heavy that even the storekeepers in the Weiyang Palace complain about the pain in their backs from carrying them."
"Your Majesty, that's not Ah Yan's boat." Wei Qing thought Liu Che was just complaining, and a rare smile of ease appeared on his handsome face. A glint flickered in his almond-shaped eyes, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "When it comes to making money and accumulating profits, turning stone into gold, I think you are indeed not as clever as Ah Yan."
"Oh?" Liu Che raised his sword-like eyebrows and turned his gaze to Wei Qing without a trace of offense. "What do you mean, Zhongqing? Could it be that my vehicles and ships are no match for that kid's means? Did he evade taxes?"
Wei Qing chuckled and shook his head, explaining to his nephew, "Your Majesty's imposition of a tax on vehicles and vessels was originally intended to enrich the treasury and curb the powerful. However, once this tax was introduced, coupled with the frequent appearance of pirates and road thieves along the way, many honest merchants became intimidated by long-distance trade and hesitated, thus harming the flow of goods. Seeing this, Ah Yan devised a solution that would satisfy both parties." He paused, noticing Liu Che's attentive listening, and continued, "He rented out his own Huo's business, using the name Qubing, to merchants for an annual fee."
No one dared to seize the boat guarded by the Champion Marquis.
Liu Che couldn't help but touch his chin, "Fortunately, Ah Yan was born in our family. If he was born in the Xiongnu..."
The Huns would probably be quite difficult to defeat.
Wei Qing nodded in agreement. He pointed to the merchant ships flying flags with the Chinese character "Huo" on them. "And it's not just the flags. As long as the merchant ships pay an additional fee for road protection, Ayan will dispatch elite guards to escort their goods along the way, ensuring their safety all the way to Jiaodong. Once this flag is issued, rogues, intimidated by Qubing's reputation and the strength of his guards, will dare not tamper with them. As a result, trade routes will open up, and goods from all over will converge in Jiaodong. Ayan will reap the benefits, and the merchants will also enjoy peace. This is a win-win situation, and Jiaodong's vehicle and ship tax revenue will also increase significantly."
There was a gleam in Liu Che's eyes, he grasped the key point in an instant, and his tone was scrutinizing.
"There are so many merchant ships with his brand docked at this pier. Where does Ah Yan get so many elite soldiers and generals to command? He is guilty of secretly raising his own troops."
The emperor instinctively became suspicious.
Wei Qing's smile deepened, but he didn't answer directly. He only said implicitly, "Your Majesty is so wise, with a sharp eye and a keen insight. The boatmen's chants here are so harmonious and their movements are so agile. How could they achieve this without military training?"
Liu Che was incredibly alert. He glanced once again at the burly boatmen on the dock, their command unified, their steps steady, their gestures faintly revealing a military aura of killing intent. He snorted coldly and said, understandingly, "Are they the retired veterans of Qubing's army?"
Although it is a question, the tone is affirmative.
Wei Qing nodded slightly, his almond-shaped eyes curved, and he agreed.
A trace of anger at being deceived suddenly appeared on Liu Che's face, but facing the general whom he trusted and knew best, this anger seemed a bit helpless and... a little sour at being kept in the dark.
"That Qubing keeps crying poor to me every other day, demanding pensions for disabled veterans! His words are earnest, tears streaming down his face! Doesn't he have his younger brother, who can turn stone into gold, to make things right for him? These two brothers, one playing the good cop, the other the bad cop, are really making me run around in circles!"
The emperor gritted his teeth, the jealousy in his tone almost overflowing.
Wei Qing observed this, smiling inwardly, but maintaining a serious expression, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to interpret this. Qubing's campaign was for compensation for the elderly and weak soldiers who were injured, disabled, and unable to work in the workshops and fields. This is the duty of the court, and it is also a manifestation of Your Majesty's benevolence, demonstrating the great grace of Heaven. And what Ayan is doing is to find a way for those women and children who have lost their young and strong men and are struggling to make a living, so that they can earn food and clothing through their labor, live with dignity, and avoid becoming refugees and bandits. The two are not mutually exclusive. Throughout this journey, I feel that the world has been at war for too long, and it is time to rest and recuperate."
"In the past, Your Majesty and I both wanted to defeat the Xiongnu. It was our mission to drive them out while we lived. But now, the Xiongnu are too weak to fight, and recuperation has become Your Majesty's burden. It is not appropriate to leave it all to the Crown Prince."
Let’s do more and leave it all to the prince.
His tone was sincere, with the meaning of defending his nephews, and with the sensitivity of a Grand Marshal and General, he looked at Liu Che with an open gaze.
A trace of awkwardness flashed across Liu Che's face, "You still blame me!"
Wei Qing shook his head. "Your Majesty, your words are nonsense. As your uncle, shouldn't I explain my aspirations to Your Majesty?"
Liu Che snorted, but finally said to the good-tempered Wei Qing, "What about the general's ambition?"
Wei Qing also smiled, and just like the young Jianzhang Supervisor back then, he said to his Majesty, "Your Majesty's ambition is my ambition."
Old friends remain the same.
Even the most ruthless king would be touched, let alone Liu Che whose emotions were so strong.
He placed the most trust and reliance on Wei Qing, and also placed the deepest and most complex emotions in him.
Wei Qing devoted all his talents and loyalty to him, giving him the most generous and purest rewards.
Without Liu Che's extraordinary promotion from among the slaves, Wei Qing might have spent his entire life as a horse slave in the Marquis of Pingyang's mansion.
Without Wei Qing's sudden appearance and protection, Liu Che's grand ambitions would have been difficult to achieve.
Wei Qing was present throughout the hegemony he envisioned.
Liu Che couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile.
The sun of the Han Dynasty always becomes gentle and warm next to this blue bird.
Wei Qing stroked his fur, as if sharing an anecdote. "Ayan and those merchants are planning to form a caravan and travel overseas. He says there's a place called Penglai overseas that specializes in elixirs. Qubing says he's recovered and wants to capture an immortal for Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live long and long."
Liu Che stared at Wei Qing for a moment. That familiar, sincere, and gentle gaze always managed to smooth out the wrinkles in his heart. In reality, the source of his dissatisfaction stemmed from the fact that his adopted child didn't consider him his first priority.
But after all, the two children still missed him.
In the end, he just snorted heavily, flicked his sleeves and said, "Humph! You are so eloquent! You uncles and nephews are of the same mind!"
Having said that, the tight jawline has relaxed a little.
"General, I accept your advice."
The slight unpleasantness between the emperor and his ministers vanished, and the atmosphere became harmonious again. Liu Che patted Wei Qing's hand, earning a faint smile from the general.
The emperor's procession was a mighty procession, with dark banners fluttering, guards in gleaming armor, and golden axes gleaming in the sun. It stretched for a full two miles. The road from the wharf to the county magistrate's office was jammed with traffic, a scene of immense splendor.
In front of the county magistrate's office
News of Liu Che's approach arrived at the prefectural magistrate's office, accompanied by a group of guards. As soon as they dismounted, a chilling atmosphere permeated the air, overwhelming the warmth of early summer. Armor clung to a dull, oppressive reverberation, and the clerks and assistants bustling about the office were overwhelmed by the sudden aura, as if under a spell. They halted their work, held their breath, and lowered their heads, not daring to utter a single breath. Even the chirping of the cicadas in the courtyard's locust trees seemed to have hushed their voices.
Sima Qian, surrounded by several key officials including Du Zhou and Wei Bu, practically stumbled out of the duty room. He had indeed received a brief imperial report the day before, delivered by express horse, stating that the emperor intended to tour the east, with Jiaodong as his destination, and had ordered him to prepare to receive him.
He did not dare to delay and summoned his trusted officials to discuss the matter overnight and made some preparations.
For example, he made two new black flags for the prefectural governor's office, carefully cleaned the courtyard, prepared a relatively clean hall, and served good tea to the guests. Du Zhou had suggested that he gather all officials in the prefecture with a salary of 200 dan or more to line up for the reception, but Sima Qian flatly refused.
"What a joke!" He was so anxious that sweat broke out on his forehead and he waved his hands repeatedly. "Jiaodong's salt administration, fisheries, kelp factories, county schools, seawall repairs—which one of these can't be done without people? All the officials have been standing here for half a day to welcome the emperor, delaying important matters. The salt ships missed the tide, and the fish spoiled. If His Majesty blames us, who can bear the consequences? Who has the time to arrange all this every day? His Majesty said he was only on an incognito tour of the east, so he probably doesn't like extravagance. Let's keep things simple!"
However, at this moment, when he saw the endless imperial procession in front of the government office, the tiger guards with spears in a strict row, and the black dragon flag that symbolized the supreme imperial power, and compared it with his own "thin ceremony" with only a few officials, two new flags, and even no decent drum and music band, Sima Qian felt a black screen in front of his eyes, and cold sweat soaked the hemp cloth of his inner shirt, sticking to his back and making him feel cold.
Oh my god, is this incognito?
He glanced at Du Zhou beside him. Du Zhou lowered his eyelids, but his mouth was pursed into a cold line and he shook his head at him.
Wei Buze frowned and shook his head.
They both have the same idea.
Wait to die!
Sima Qian's legs went weak.
Feng, the eunuch in charge of guiding the procession, was already as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, beads of sweat trickling down his temples. He hurried along, repeatedly reminding Sima Qian of the proper etiquette for the procession and the welcoming ceremony. However, this former prefect, a former Grand Historian, was preoccupied with government affairs and lacked any direct understanding of the formalities, let alone the majesty of the imperial family.
Looking at the ceremonial procession, Eunuch Feng had no choice but to bite the bullet and signal Sima Qian with his eyes to hurry forward, while he himself lagged behind half a step, ready to remedy the situation at any time.
Sima Qian took a deep breath, suppressed the heart that was about to jump out of his throat, and rushed to the dock with several officials behind him who were also pale and the hems of their official robes were trembling slightly.
Liu Che had already become impatient and did not say anything when he saw him approaching.
Sima Qian knelt down suddenly, and Du Zhou did not try to stop him. As soon as he knelt, everyone followed suit.
Sima Qian's voice trembled uncontrollably, and was particularly clear in the silence: "Your Majesty, Sima Qian, the governor of Jiaodong, leads the officials of the government office to welcome Your Majesty and the General! May Your Majesty live forever! May the General live forever!"
The ministers came to the court to meet the general.
Liu Che was quite satisfied with his worship of Wei Qing, as it did not lose his dignity in Chang'an.
Eunuch Feng, who was standing nearby, took the opportunity to quickly ask Sima Qian, "Where are His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the three Princesses? Have arrangements been made to welcome them?"
When Sima Qian heard this, his mind went blank. He looked up at Eunuch Feng in confusion and blurted out.
"The...Crown Prince? Princess? Not...not here with me? I don't know if Your Highnesses are..."
Liu Che raised his eyebrows, as if he was furious.
His completely unprepared appearance made Eunuch Feng's eyes go dark, and he almost fainted. He wailed in his heart: "Marquis Huo, oh Marquis Huo, this county magistrate you recommended is really... so honest that it's outrageous! He hasn't even found out such a big thing as the Crown Prince and Princess accompanying him!"
Eunuch Feng had no choice but to cast his anxious gaze at Du Zhou and Wei Bu behind Sima Qian.
Du Zhou remained silent, his head bowed. It was clear he didn't know. Wei Bu, observing this, stepped forward and, similarly in a low voice, replied, "Reporting to the angel, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Young Master Huo Guang are currently studying calligraphy and scriptures with the doctor at the county academy. As for the three princesses..." He paused, "They are at my house."
Wei Qing was relieved, "Is Brother Bu here okay?"
Wei Bu nodded.
Feng Nei Shi's heart finally settled down a little. As long as he knew where the person was, it was better than losing him. He quickly winked at Sima Qian, signaling him to quickly respond and smooth things over.
Sima Qian was about to collapse, and it seemed that His Majesty was going to kill him.
Liu Che's handsome, yet now frosty, face swept over Sima Qian and the shabby, almost shabby, welcoming ceremony behind him. The fatigue of the long journey, the impatience of waiting, and the unhappiness of seeing his own fleet blocking merchant ships at the docks, all instantly turned into a raging rage at this display completely unbecoming of an emperor.
Sima Qian! What a talent!
"Where are the processions?" Liu Che's voice was low, yet filled with the pressure of impending disaster. "Is this how you, the Governor of Jiaodong, welcome me? In your eyes, I'm not even as good as an ordinary marquis."
The emperor was furious.
Sima Qian felt a chill rushing from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. His legs softened and he fell heavily to his knees on the cold bluestone slabs with a "thump". His forehead hit the ground with a "bang" and his voice was filled with despair.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, calm down! I... I will die! I heard that Your Majesty is touring the East, and I dare not fail to prepare! However... However, Jiaodong has just been settled, and there is much to be done. Although the treasury has been enriched by Marquis Huo's new policies, all the money and grain has been used for the people's livelihood workshops, the county school, the seawall, the reinforcement of the dike, and the purchase of new ships. I humbly believe that Your Majesty is wise and compassionate, and does not indulge in extravagance. Therefore, I will only prepare a simple ceremony and a hasty cleaning to show my respect. I dare not waste public funds and fail to fulfill the important responsibility Your Majesty has entrusted to govern the county and ensure the people's safety..."
He was incoherent, the cold sweat on his forehead mixed with the dust on the ground, and he looked in a mess.
Behind him, the officials had already been terrified and fell to their knees, shaking like leaves in the wind. The two brand-new yet solitary black county flags behind him fluttered feebly in the wind, further accentuating the scene's bleakness. Compared to the ceremonies in Chang'an and other counties welcoming the emperor, where banners covered the sky and drums and music filled the air, it seemed even more shabby.
A cold snort rang out from the upper echelons, and Liu Che's gaze pierced Sima Qian. "What a dare you not waste public funds! Grand Historian, as the governor of Jiaodong County, you don't even care about the dignity of the royal family? Or do you no longer see the difference between the emperor and his subjects?!"
The official recommended by Huo Yan had the same temper as him.
The emperor's wrath was as overwhelming as a mountain, and the air around him seemed to freeze.
Sima Qian's face turned pale, cold sweat instantly soaked his shirt, and he fell to his knees with a thud: "I am terrified! I absolutely dare not! I just... just..."
He was not good at making excuses, and now he was even more speechless. Although Ayan's reforms had achieved obvious results, he wanted to use the money saved for people's livelihood. Besides, didn't he say he would go incognito?
Sima Qian fell to the ground, his body shaking violently, his face as pale as paper, his lips moving, but he could no longer utter a word. Only boundless fear and grievance remained in his heart: Ah Yan, Ah Yan, you have to pay me gold again.
Wei Bu closed his eyes peacefully in the back.
His Majesty was angry, and Du Zhou didn't want to struggle.
Anyway, for the sake of the prince, His Majesty will not kill them. Moreover, the prince prefers Sima Qian's approach. His Majesty is over forty and it is unknown how many years he can live, but his prince is only in his twenties.
At this suffocating moment of stalemate, Wei Qing's clear and gentle voice rang out, "Your Majesty," he bowed slightly, his eyes sweeping over the kneeling, trembling Sima Qian with a touch of fondness. "Although Prime Minister Sima may have lapses in etiquette, his sincere desire to govern the county is evident from the prosperous docks, the orderly streets, and the peaceful demeanor of the people that I have traveled with, Your Majesty. This atmosphere is in no way comparable to the dilapidated Jiaodong of yesteryear. This is a truly remarkable achievement, not achieved overnight."
He changed the subject and looked at Sima Qian, who nodded as if he had been pardoned. His tone was both encouraging and reminding, "Prime Minister Sima, Your Majesty is asking about this. As you can see at the dock, the vast, sea-facing salt pans are so large that the salt is as white as snow, saving countless firewood and manpower. This initiative, which benefits both the country and the people, is not easy to implement. You have truly worked hard."
Upon hearing Wei Qing's words, Sima Qian jerked his head up like a drowning man grasping for driftwood. A glint of hope suddenly shone in his eyes, his eyes alight with a sense of hopelessness. He disregarded propriety and, almost instinctively and eagerly, continued Wei Qing's words, his voice brimming with emotion. "General, please understand! Your Majesty, please understand! This… this is not the work of me alone! It is entirely thanks to the assistance of Marquis Tai'an, and even more so to the concerted efforts of the officials and common people of Jiaodong, who worked tirelessly day and night. Only then… only then has Jiaodong become what it is today! I… I was only fulfilling my duty, and I dare not take credit for it! The salt field system was indeed invented by Marquis Tai'an and the craftsmen, and we were merely following orders to implement it…"
His tone was sincere, full of admiration for Huo Yan and gratitude to his colleagues and the people. The sincerity that came from the bottom of his heart was particularly prominent in the solemn atmosphere at this moment, and even seemed a little "silly" at that time.
Wei Qing looked at Sima Qian's face, young and frightened, yet still bearing the scholarly air and stubbornness typical of a historian, and his heart softened. He had seen this child many times with Ah Yan, who had described him as a pure man, absorbed in bamboo slips, ignorant of worldly affairs, yet with a heart for the people. Seeing him today, he felt just as he did.
He didn't care about the size of the ceremony. He was even happy that his child's friends were sincere, and he was also happy that the child was sincere as an official.
He turned to Liu Che, whose expression remained stern, and said gently, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Sima is sincere and his heart is admirable. Although his actions have been flawed, his aspirations are sympathetic. After all the travel, why don't you first move to the main hall of the government office and allow Prime Minister Sima to report in detail on the salt affairs and people's livelihood before making any decisions? Your Majesty can rest for a while."
He gave both sides a way out.
Liu Che's gaze lingered on Sima Qian's frightened face for a moment, then swept across Wei Qing's gentle and peaceful face with an implicit request, and the anger in his chest was forcibly suppressed.
His gaze passed over the low walls of the government office and cast towards the huge square shoals on the distant coastline, which flashed a dazzling white light under the scorching sun.
"Is that the salt pan you mentioned in your report?"
Liu Che's voice was still cold, but the topic had turned to practical matters.
Sima Qian nodded rapidly, as if he had been granted amnesty. His voice trembled with the trembling of someone who had just survived a disaster. "Your Majesty, it is indeed true! Bringing seawater into the fields, where it can be exposed to the sun and wind, saves us the painstaking effort of chopping wood and boiling salt. The resulting salt is whiter and purer, and production has doubled! This is the fruit of the hard work of the Marquis of Tai'an and the craftsmen!"
Liu Che stared at the vast expanse of white salt pans steaming with heat at the end of his field of vision. Thinking of Huo Yan, Sima Qian's face now overlapped with Huo Yan's. The young man's pale face was still before him. He was silent for a moment. Finally, he nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, and snorted, "Hmm," "Lead the way, and report in detail inside."
After saying this, he got on the carriage.
Jiaodong County School
In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere at the docks, the Jiaodong County School was brimming with life. Liu Ju and Huo Guang were studying the physics lessons Huo Yan had laid out with the other children. Across the wall, the chief guards, the governors of Zhuyi, and Yang Shi were teaching the girls how to read.
Yang Shi has changed from his previous weak nature and become the most active.
The clear sound of reading came from a spacious hall with a wooden sign that read "Female Workers' Elementary School". It penetrated the slightly drunken air of early summer and seemed particularly clear and melodious.
Inside the hall, dozens of women of varying ages wore the same indigo-colored coarse cloth dresses—their standard uniforms issued by the Huo's workshop. The dye used was local indigo, a cheap but elegant material. They sat upright on rough straw mats, before a simple wooden table and rough paper or chalk-coated writing boards. Many had thick, calloused knuckles, their grip on the pen clumsy and strained. At the podium, a "female teacher," dressed in plain linen and with her hair tied up with a thorny hairpin, her back as straight as a pine tree, led them through a recitation of the "Jijiupian" (Jijiupian) line by line.
"I quickly made a unique and distinctive urn, listing the names of various objects. I separated them into sections and did not mix them up. I used them sparingly and sincerely to my heart's content..."
This lady was none other than Yang Shi. Her fair face flushed slightly with earnestness, and her clear eyes shone with a radiance never before seen in the imperial palaces of Chang'an. It was pure devotion. Her voice was clear and melodious, her articulation distinct, and with a natural rhythm, she guided the women below. Sunlight filtered through the silk-covered window lattices, casting a soft halo on her focused profile.
"Thank you, Mr. Ayan."
The female worker looked at the girl who was correcting her pen grip and thanked her with a blushing face.
Yang Shi, whose real name is Liu Yan.
"Everyone, remember," Liu Yan read it again before putting down the bamboo slips. Her eyes swept over the faces below, some young, some seasoned, all equally filled with a thirst for knowledge. Her tone was serious beyond her years, even a little excited. "Learning to read and understand isn't just for the extra two cents at the end of the month! It's for yourselves! You need to be able to read the work orders, calculate your wages, understand the contracts, and stop being cheated! It's for the future, so that your daughters and granddaughters can sit here and study with dignity!"
She became more and more excited as she spoke, her voice rising slightly, "In the future, there will be better days, and there will be a better emperor," who will allow you to read and practice calligraphy.
I will try my best...
There seemed to be flames burning in her eyes, as if she wanted to pour out all the pent-up resentment and hopes in her heart. Princess Liu Mei of Zhuyi, who was sitting next to her, was terrified when she heard this, her face slightly changed. She quickly tugged at her sleeve from the table and whispered a quick warning.
"Sister! Be careful with your words! Walls have ears!"
Liu Yan suddenly snapped out of her excitement, realizing that what she had just said bordered on slandering the Emperor. She simply pursed her lips, forced a smile at her sister, and whispered, "We're in Chang'an now. There are no annoying bugs around. I can say whatever I want."
She said, "I can do whatever I want!"
This was Jiaodong, far away from the towering palaces of Chang'an, and far away from the omnipresent, suffocating eyes and ears of the embroidered emissaries. She could no longer conceal the strong character that had been passed down from the Wei family.
Zhuyi sighed softly.
"Yes, if I can't say whatever I want here, then going back to Chang'an is even more impossible."
Outside the window, large pieces of kelp drying in the sun fluttered gently in the wind, like dark green waves.
Most of the female workers in the hall are still immersed in the novelty brought by literacy and their longing for the future.
Everyone says that Chang'an is a good place, but I am shocked to find that it is not my hometown.
Under the strict guard of guards, Liu Che's carriage slowly drove along the bluestone path within the government office, heading towards the main hall. On both sides of the road, armored soldiers with halberds had already separated the officials and servants who had rushed to the government office upon hearing the news, and they knelt on the ground. According to strict etiquette, civilians and low-ranking officials were not allowed to look directly at the emperor.
Wei Qing considerately lifted the brocade curtain on one side of the carriage, allowing Liu Che to observe Jiaodong County more clearly.
A vibrant energy, distinct from Chang'an and even other prefectures, washed over me through the car window. While the roads of Jiaodong weren't as grand and spacious as the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an, they were remarkably neat, paved with bluestone, with not a single weed growing in the cracks. The houses lining the road were mostly low-slung brick and wood structures, their roofs covered with thick thatch. From the chimneys of some of the buildings, used as warehouses or official residences, wafted the faint scent of ink and the warm aroma of corn porridge.
The kneeling civilians were mostly dressed in the washed-out uniforms of slaves or coarse shorts. Their faces, too, bore the ochre-red marks of the sea breeze and scorching sun. Yet, upon closer inspection, they showed no signs of fatigue. Many, though thin, appeared to be in good spirits. Beside them lay baskets of bamboo slips awaiting processing or brooms for sweeping the courtyard. Even in their kneeling positions, a sense of activity, distinct from the deadness, was palpable. In a fleeting glance, Liu Che seemed to catch a fleeting look on a few downcast faces, a look that was not entirely of fear, but rather of curiosity.
Liu Che did not miss any details.
His gaze swept past the crouching figures, and was finally drawn to the sound of clear and orderly recitation. The source of the sound was the courtyard just across the wall from the government office, with a wooden sign that read "Jiaodong County School."
The door to elementary school is open. On each side is a sentence pasted with red paper.
On the left is the line "Seek learning, seek wisdom, seek two literary skills, and enter this gate."
On the right is "If you are greedy for more, greedy for more, greedy for fame and fortune, please turn back."
This couplet is so vulgar.
The well-known literary man Mr. Liu Che was dismissive of Sima Qian.
This person is less talented.
But Wei Qing thought it was very good and straightforward. He said it was better than what A Yan and His Majesty wrote.
General Wei himself was a late learner and was not good at making couplets, but thanks to his Majesty who liked making couplets of poetry and prose, he became quite good at it.
He naturally prefers this kind of thing that has no hidden meaning.
"Did you write this couplet?"
He asked Sima Qian, who was walking on the ground beside him, and Sima Qian was delighted when he saw it. "Ayan asked Mr. Furong Zhan to write this. General, it's the Furong Zhan from Han Youth. His articles are really good!"
Du Zhou, who knew the truth, walked by silently.
Wei Qing was silent.
That person with a very vicious mouth, the one Dong Zhongshu threatened to come and curse at if he knew his identity, is familiar with my Ah Yan.
Wei Qing read quite a bit of the publications his nephew had personally brought him. He found the scientific knowledge and gossip fresh and new. Because the Imperial Academy was broke, and Dong Zhongshu had no idea how he'd managed to get his hands on the literature, even Confucian scholars sometimes wrote articles in them.
Naturally, he occasionally saw Dong Zhongshu and Furongzhan bickering with each other.
To be honest, it’s no wonder that Dong Zhongshu threatened her every day. If Furongzhan was his child, he would also get angry and his little mouth would be as poisonous as if it were smeared with poison.
Wei Qing took a deep breath. Qubing was so bored that he went all over the mountain to fight bandits, chasing them like monkeys swinging on vines. A Yan's friends were quite diverse.
These days are really promising.
General Wei silently doubted his own education and he always reflected on it.
When Liu Che saw him, he burst into laughter. "When you were young, didn't you also ride horses with me all over the mountains? And weren't you also friends with Guo Jie?"
"Your Majesty, Guo Jie is not a wealthy man." Liu Che imitated Wei Qing's tone at the time, "He is not a wealthy man, how can he invite the general!"
How dare you talk like that to a kid? How dare you say that to a serious person like yourself?
If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beams will be crooked.
Wei Qing said, "This is loyalty! It has nothing to do with money."
But before Wei Qing could finish his words, Liu Che reached for the car window as if he had seen a ghost.
Dozens of women, dressed in uniform indigo workwear, sat at attention, following the recitation of a woman in plain clothes and a thorny hairpin in front of them. The woman stood tall and straight, her every move exuding an innate elegance and composure. Though only visible from behind, she possessed a grace not found in ordinary village women.
"Zhongqing, that person..." Liu Che's eyes suddenly locked onto the female teacher. His pupils shrank slightly. With disbelief and astonishment, he turned to Wei Qing beside him and said in a low voice, "Is it Yan'er?"
Wei Qing followed his gaze and after seeing the figure clearly, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes: "It seems so."
Liu Che's face instantly turned gloomy, like the sky before a storm, and the mood that had just been slightly relieved by the salt fields disappeared.
"They came to Jiaodong just to do this. She's my daughter! The jewel of the Han Dynasty! What is she doing? Showing up in public, mixing with common women, teaching them how to read? How disrespectful! She can't live in the magnificent mansions of the Weiyang Palace, nor enjoy the luxurious clothes and delicacies of the Pepper Rooms. Instead, she insists on staying here... This is unbecoming of the royal family! How dare Sima Qian and A Yan indulge the princess like this!"
A wave of offended anger and the shame of being the father of an emperor, whose dignity was damaged, rushed to his head. He could neither understand nor accept it.
Seeing this, Wei Qing calmly lowered the curtain of the carriage, isolating the "indecent" scene from outside, and at the same time isolating Liu Che's surging anger.
He turned his head and looked at Tianzi, whose chest was slightly rising and falling, and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Your Majesty, it doesn't necessarily have to be Yan'er." His words were gentle, but like a basin of calm spring water, he tried to quench the anger in Liu Che's heart. "Besides, isn't it good for the child to be happy? Your Majesty, you just arrived, don't scare the children."
Liu Che's chest heaved violently a few times, and finally he could only squeeze out a sentence from between his teeth, with deep disappointment, confusion and a complex emotion of being "betrayed", his eyes fixed on the lowered curtain, as if he wanted to penetrate it.
"What happened to them in Chang'an City?"
This question was more of a question to himself than to Wei Qing.
Chang'an is good, but the people are bad.
The summer in Chang'an was so dull and boring that even the leaves of the most drought-resistant locust trees at the base of the palace walls had wilted and curled up.
The sky and the earth are like a huge cage, and even running horses cannot outrun freedom.
Only the noisy chirping of cicadas filled the air, one sound getting louder than the other, striking at the souls trapped in the city.
Huo Yan sat alone in a private room on the second floor of the theater. This attic room offered a superb view, overlooking the bustling streets of Chang'an's East Market. Outside, the sounds of the city throbbed: the cries of peddlers, the rumble of wheels on the loess pavement, and the faint shouts of distant brawls. In the past, at this time of year, the most popular figures, riding horses and singing, as they whizzed by, were Huo Qubing and the young man in fine clothes and riding a vigorous horse behind him.
Huo Qubing would stop here every time he came and said, "Ayan, let's go!"
The young man closed one eye and smiled, he was lovable and endearing.
Now, those figures have been swept away by time.
Until he suddenly heard the familiar sound of horse hooves hitting stones from afar, and he subconsciously leaned over to look. He only saw the blurry but nimble silhouettes of several young men riding their horses around the corner, disappearing in the flying dust and dazzling sunlight.
The group of teenagers who used to love riding horses and singing songs have been replaced by a new group of teenagers.
He rode a fine horse, wore a golden fur coat, and chased the wind.
Shi Ye knelt beside him and whispered something.
He laughed.
The warm wind of early summer swept across the window lattice, lifting a few petals scattered on the table - those were the fallen petals from the pomegranate trees in the courtyard outside the window. The bloody red petals fell on the dark floor, as dazzling as solidified blood beads.
"It's just a matter of time."
Huo Yan averted his gaze, his tone calm and composed, as if discussing a trivial matter unrelated to him. Following his long-standing habit, he pushed the small jade dish of candied peaches in front of him to his side.
“It is not beautiful to pass away when everything is flourishing.”
Shi Ye knelt respectfully on the mat beside him, leaning slightly forward like a loyal shadow. He took the dish, but had no intention of tasting it. His gaze followed Huo Yan's gaze and fell on the bright red spots.
"Master," he lowered his voice, a hint of barely perceptible worry in it, "then should I sweep the flowers? You've been looking increasingly languid lately. Today, you've either been lost in thought, gazing at flowers and trees, or teasing the birds under the eaves. You've been completely ignoring your health. Madam Chunyu has returned to Chang'an today. Would you like to visit her?"
Chunyu Tiying now travels extensively throughout the Han Dynasty, establishing government-funded and privately-run clinics in major prefectures and states, promoting affordable medical care. She leads her disciples through the countryside, providing medical consultations and dispensing medicine, shouldering the burden of the people's suffering. She travels extensively, a busy life year-round, but this year, for unknown reasons, she suddenly returns to Chang'an.
Huo Yan nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the bustling street outside the window, but his mind was already wandering far away. "Let her know the day after tomorrow."
He planned to enforce basic hygiene regulations in the countryside, such as "keeping wells clean of filth" and "separating humans and animals." Relying solely on the "Han Qingnian" newspaper, his official newspaper, to drum up support, he had little success. He planned to appoint "medical officers" in each county next year, specializing in reporting epidemics, quarantine and control, and distributing basic medication. This required the use of Chunyu Tiying's prestige and connections in the medical community.
At present, the imperial court was vigorously implementing the "Report on the Silk Road," and the state-run salt and iron industry was operating with vigour. The treasury was overflowing, and money was snowballing. However, Huo Yan was concerned with how to build a truly healthy, self-sustaining economic system within the empire, ensuring a continuous flow of wealth. This grand plan had just begun to form with Sang Hongyang. Sang Hongyang, a master of finance, now had vast sums of money at his disposal, and his courage had grown, his ideas becoming more and more radical and bold.
They came up with all kinds of schemes, such as murder, arson, and robbing the people.
Even more cruel than him.
"Oh, right," Huo Yan's thoughts turned, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the smooth table. "This year, the princes and kings are coming to the court to pay homage as per custom. It just so happens that among the confiscated property, there are quite a few flashy treasures piled up in the warehouse. Rather than letting them gather dust, it would be better to..."
A smile curled up his lips. "Your Majesty, please hold a competition for the palace's treasures. The highest bidder wins. This will make the best use of the treasures and fill the treasury. Ask Uncle Dan if we have any unsellable junk at home."
Shi Ye: ..., you know that you sell our junk to those people at high prices every year.
Huo Yan sighed and said it was a pity that there were no Huns anymore, and continued to be a melancholy beauty.
[Sang Hongyang: I’m rich now, I’m flying high, I dare to think and do!]
[Hawthorne CP money-making team! The GDP of the Han Dynasty depends on you!]
[You and Sang Hongyang are always busy with money.]
[I wish you two were the printing press of the Han Dynasty.]
…
Huo Yan's thoughts raced, while Shi Ye nibbled on a preserved peach. He then picked up the lacquer-handled cup on Huo Yan's desk, hoping to soothe the greasy food with some tea. Unexpectedly, the tea was incredibly bitter. After one sip, his face wrinkled, and he smacked his lips in bitterness.
He cautiously tried to change the cup and glanced at Huo Yan's face. Huo Yan didn't look at him. He just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard a voice that seemed to be laughing.
"If you dare to give me what you've drunk, I'll take your skin off."
The voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable authority. "Drink it."
Shi Ye didn't dare disobey, and with a bitter face, he treated the cup of bitter tea as if it were a medicinal soup, swallowing it with difficulty in small sips. Huo Yan then chuckled softly, picked up a plain bamboo folding fan at hand, and patted Shi Ye's head lightly.
"You've been sitting on the Chang'an County Magistrate's seat for quite some time now." Huo Yan's tone was relaxed, as if he were discussing the weather. "It's time to change places and get some experience."
He smiled at Shi Ye's instantly frozen face and added, "Shuofang County is quite good. Shi Chang is still working as a clerk under me, so he's a good companion for you. What do you think?"
That smile clearly said: Don't like it? You can always go somewhere else.
Shi Ye was stunned, and his hand holding the teacup was shaking slightly.
He doesn't quite understand, and he's doing fine in Chang'an.
He has a wife, a son, a father, a mother, and a master. Why does his master always want him to leave?
He said lightly, "Will this make you feel lighter in the future?"
If you think you would be better off if I left, then I would definitely leave.
Huo Yan paused imperceptibly upon hearing this, and the smile on his face faded. Then he slowly opened his eyes. They were so beautiful, their brilliance flowing, as if the faintest sunlight was crushed in them.
He touched Shi Ye's head.
"Chang'an is too small. Don't be trapped here, Shiye. There are much bigger places in the world."
Say it to Shi Ye, and also to myself.
These words instantly brought Shi Ye back to the cold winter that changed his life. At that time, he was still a slave who was not much better than an animal.
That cold winter, the young man in a brocade hat and sable fur bought their family for a few strings of money.
That year again, the young man killed the original leader with thundering means.
Another year, on the same bright early summer day, he was led by his father to the young master. The sun was shining brightly, casting a dazzling golden hue on his figure. He panicked and tried to kneel and kowtow, but was held back. He stood there, a candy in his palm. He looked up foolishly, and for the first time, he saw his benefactor clearly. He was even more handsome than the immortals in the paintings!
It was the first time he had seen such a beautiful person, who looked like an immortal from heaven.
Then the immortal touched his head with a look of disgust, and said to his father, "You are not a fool, are you?" Then he waved his hand and said, "Never mind, it's ugly in a cute way."
Stay, stay with me.
Thus, his life, which was even worse than that of a dog, was given human dignity.
He rose from a slave to the magistrate of Chang'an County, and his journey was smoother than that of ordinary people.
The officials of Chang'an County sometimes disliked him and laughed at him behind his back, always saying that he was a slave and a dog raised by Marquis Huo.
But what's wrong with being a dog!
His master treated him the best.
It’s just that his lord seems to no longer like Chang’an.
Chang'an is too small.
His lord had seen the grasslands and governed the rivers, and Chang'an was too small.
What’s even more terrifying is that he vaguely feels that the “home” that his master cherishes may soon cease to exist.
Shi Ye suddenly lowered his head, unable to hold back his scalding tears any longer. They fell heavily onto his dark collar, leaving dark stains. "You... shouldn't have shouldered everything."
You are still so young.
He choked and his voice broke.
Huo Yan looked out the window at the street scene distorted by the heat wave and sighed softly, feeling endlessly tired.
"You should go."
Whenever he closed his eyes, the tragic scene of Huo Qubing being carried back to the mansion covered in blood and dying that night would appear in his mind. The suppressed pain and overwhelming anger were like a poisonous snake biting his heart, and he could no longer suppress his murderous intent.
Maybe I was wrong? But since things have come to this, what does it matter if I was wrong?
Shi Ye said nothing more. He silently and solemnly placed the cup and saucer in his hands on the table. Then he stepped back and, facing Huo Yan's seated figure, he kowtowed deeply and meticulously. One, two, three. His forehead touched the cold floor with a dull sound. He was completing the three kowtows that his master had stopped him from making when they first met.
Huo Yan still supported his forehead with his hand. He thought that he would probably see it less often in the future.
As Shi Ye stepped out, he opened his lips and finally held all his worries in his mouth.
It's a pity that the tongue that is good at making wit is not good at being tender.
As silence descended, Huo Yan's gaze fixed emptyly on the window. From dawn to dusk, he sat there, like a frozen statue, quietly awaiting the inevitable questioning and scorching wrath.
bring it on!
Shao Weng is dead.
No, to be more precise, the young man "ascended to heaven", and his remains turned into an immortal golden body shining with golden light!
An outright fake alchemist, after his death, became an "immortal" certified by the imperial court, and became the best golden signboard for swindlers.
The people sent by Huo Qubing to follow reported: they were too late.
Huo Qubing stood in front of the window of the office, looking at the lush pomegranate tree in the courtyard, and his heart was filled with peace and tranquility.
Ah Yan's actions were always well-organized, with a series of back-up plans, leaving no room for flaws. Once Shao Weng passed away, all clues pointing to Huo Yan were completely cut off, leaving no evidence.
To outsiders, Huo Qubing's previous doubts and investigations were probably just his imagination.
He was even an accomplice in the murder of Li Cai.
Huo Qubing even smiled slightly at his brother's caution and meticulousness.
It was obvious that Ayan was killing the king.
This idea is extremely rebellious.
This behavior deserves death.
But at this moment, what surged in Huo Qubing's heart was a surging warmth.
He toyed with the cold golden elixir in his hand. Did Ah Yan carelessly leave it behind? Or did he leave it behind on purpose? His men had found a golden elixir.
Is it true? Is it false?
In the evening, the heat subsided slightly.
The Chunyu Medical Clinic, located in the west of the city, is filled with the rich, bitter aroma of herbs. Rows of tall medicine cabinets emit a unique blend of wood and hay, while copper pestles, mortars, and various medicine jars are neatly arranged.
Chunyu Tiying had a rare moment of leisure and was concentrating on examining the golden elixir that Huo Qubing had brought.
The golden elixir shone with a strange luster under the lamp, emitting a faint fragrance of plants. She was over sixty years old, her hair was like frost, and there was a scar on her forehead, but her eyes were still as clear and bright as a girl's.
Huo Qubing stood opposite her, a tall figure like a silent mountain, making the already dimly lit clinic seem even more cramped. He pursed his lips and said nothing.
But it was tacitly accepted that he was a man of few words, and Chunyu Tiying didn't care.
She was even more interested in the pill. Using a small silver knife, she meticulously scraped off a small amount of powder, placed it in a pure, white jade mortar, and ground it finely with a jade pestle. Then, she pinched a tiny amount of powder onto the tip of her tongue, savoring it with her eyes closed. She then plunged it into clear water to observe its solubility and color changes. Then, she placed it on a small red peat stove, burning it with silver chopsticks, carefully observing the rising smoke and the shape of the residue.
Finally, she took out some powder, put it to her nose and took a deep sniff, and even took out a few specific spices from the medicine cabinet to compare the smell.
Time slipped away amid the rustling of the jade pestle and the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire. Huo Qubing remained motionless, like a stone statue.
Finally, Chunyu Tiying stopped all her movements. She raised her head and looked at Huo Qubing, with a hint of admiration between doctors and a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"To cure diseases," she said in a calm voice, "this pill itself is non-toxic."
She even smiled, with the confidence of a doctor, "Looking at the recipe, the main ingredients are top-grade cinnabar and mica, supplemented with Ganoderma lucidum, Polygonatum sibiricum and other vital energy-boosting ingredients, and a trace amount of gold foil to balance the medicinal properties. The preparation technique is refined and methodical, and it's not something that an average person could create. For ordinary people, it does have the effect of refreshing the mind and strengthening the bones in the short term, and it's especially beneficial for those with yang deficiency, physical weakness, and mental fatigue. It's truly wonderful!"
She paused in her ecstasy at finding a kindred spirit, looked at Huo Qubing's tense profile, and gently advised, "But you have a serious old injury and a strong constitution. It's really not suitable for you to take such strong tonics every day. I guess... it must have been given to you by someone else?"
Her tone was full of understanding and a hint of teasing, "Even if your younger brother had the courage of heaven, he would never dare to give you something like this to eat."
Huo Qubing's tense heartstrings seemed to be gently loosened by an invisible hand when he heard the word "non-toxic". An indescribable sense of relief instantly washed over him. He almost breathed a sigh of relief.
He was overthinking it. His brother was just a middleman selling elixirs, and the young master probably didn't give him any money.
However, Chunyu Tiying changed the subject, her expression suddenly becoming extremely solemn, "But..."
She picked up the golden pill again and held it up to the light with a gentle look in her eyes. "This pill is mixed with an extremely secret herb, a tiny amount but crucial. It originated from the witch rituals of the Chu land in the past, and it's called the Poison Claw."
Huo Qubing's heart suddenly sank, and the heart that had just calmed down was instantly raised to his throat again, "Poison claws?"
"Poison Claw herb itself is non-toxic and even has a slight effect of clearing the mind and invigorating the spirit." Chunyu Tiying's voice was calm, but every word was as firm as a hammer. "It's called Poison Claw because the people of Chu loved burning a special kind of pepper and orchid incense in the past. This incense is mainly composed of top-grade orchid grass, supplemented with dozens of precious spices such as borneol, frankincense, and agarwood. It is prepared using secret methods. Its fragrance is rich and mellow, unparalleled in the world, and is favored by the princes and nobles of Chu, and even the royal family. However—"
"This peerless fragrance and the poison claws are naturally incompatible! If the two energies coexist in the same room for a long time and invade the body, there will be no abnormalities at first, and you will only feel okay. But as time goes by..."
Chunyu Tiying took a deep breath, her eyes filled with complete confidence in herself.
"...This counteracting energy, like invisible ants, silently erodes the heart meridians, causing a gradual sense of fatigue and drowsiness, an inexplicable decline of energy, and ultimately... the heart meridians become exhausted, a sudden heart attack occurs, and death occurs suddenly! The outward symptoms are identical to acute heart pain or a sudden influx of pathogenic wind. Even the most advanced doctors would find it extremely difficult to detect the root cause and could only blame it on fate!"
Dead silence.
Outside the clinic, the chirping of summer cicadas seemed to be infinitely amplified, sharp and piercing, hitting the eardrums madly.
Huo Qubing sat there, his breathing seemingly frozen. His handsome face was expressionless, but his hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from exertion.
It's not poison. It's something more sinister, more subtle, and more deadly... the fragrance and the medicine counteract each other!
Ah Yan...
It's really worthy of being called A Yan.
What a calculation! What a trick! He has delved into human nature, the emperor's preferences, and pharmacology to the extreme!
It can be said that he is worthy of being his younger brother.
Huo Qubing bowed deeply to Chunyu Tiying, his movements stiff but precise. He picked up the now-hot gold pill on the table and clenched it tightly in his palm.
He didn't look at Chunyu Tiying again, nor did he say another word. He turned around abruptly and rushed out of the clinic with big strides, causing a gust of wind to blow up the door curtain.
Chunyu Tiying sighed, "The child must have been plotted against."
Hey, I helped Ayan’s dear brother, he will definitely give me more money this year.
That’s right, Chunyu Tiying returned to Chang’an simply for money.
Dusk is falling and the lights are coming on.
Lights gradually lit up in the myriad homes of Chang'an. Huo Qubing mounted his horse, reined in the reins, and stood in the middle of the long street, his steed pawing nervously. His gaze, like cold stars, scanned the bustling imperial capital, and for the first time, he felt a sense of unprecedented bewilderment.
What should we do next?
Should he immediately ride into the palace and present this shocking conspiracy that could overturn the world and exterminate all nine generations of his family, along with this deadly golden pill, and his own brother who was so audacious as to commit such a heinous crime, to his aunt to await her punishment?
Or... destroy this only evidence with your own hands, deceive the emperor, and hide the truth for your brother?
Finally, the Champion Marquis gritted his teeth, tightly grasped the golden pill, and put it in his arms. He suddenly squeezed the horse's belly, and the horse galloped towards the Huo Mansion like an arrow!
His uncle wasn't dead yet, so he went to persuade his younger brother to put his uncle in a sack and beat him, but he shouldn't poison him, as it was scary.
However, the Huo family's housekeeper reported in panic: The master is not in the house.
Huo Qubing's heart instantly rose to his throat, and an ominous chill crept up his spine. He immediately turned his horse and rushed towards the Grand Minister of Agriculture's Mansion.
Sang Hongyang looked puzzled: Ayan took a leave today, you asked him to come back soon, and left a lot of things to his adoptive father, and his adoptive father is bald.
Veins throbbed in Huo Qubing's forehead, and a rare panic seized him. He went to Su Jian's residence again.
Su Wu spread his hands to indicate that he didn't know.
Although I just had a meal with Brother Ayan a few days ago and talked about the mission of leading a caravan to the sea to attack Penglai, it was a few days ago.
Cao Xiang was not at home at all.
He rode his horse towards Lord Jiang's mansion again, but found nothing.
There was no sign of Huo Yan in Zhufu Yan's residence either!
…
Huo Qubing was like an angry trapped beast, riding his horse frantically searching the streets and alleys of Chang'an City. His anxiety almost burned through his sanity.
Didn't you just poison your uncle? He didn't kill him! He wasn't caught either, so why did you run away from home?
Ah Yan, don't jump into the river.
Huo Qubing suddenly wondered why he was checking that thing!
Finally, he reined in his horse and stopped in front of the Chang'an County government office, and sternly ordered, "Bring Shi Ye to me! Immediately!"
When Shi Ye was practically dragged in by two fierce and ferocious personal guards of the Marquis of Guanjun, Huo Qubing asked immediately, his voice hoarse and low, filled with a storm, "Where's Ah Yan?!"
The Champion Marquis didn't say any unnecessary words, but his body, which was as taut as a bowstring, and the cold murderous aura emanating from his eyes and surroundings, caused the temperature in the entire hall to drop sharply.
Shi Ye lowered his head and remained silent.
The lord did not tell him to reveal his whereabouts to the prince.
Huo Qubing suddenly leaned forward, and the bloody murderous aura of having experienced many battles pressed down on him like a substance, causing Shi Ye to tremble slightly uncontrollably.
"explain!"
This word exploded like thunder.
Shi Ye gritted his teeth and shook his head stubbornly.
Huo Qubing stared at him, his eyes filled with deep pain and anxiety that threatened to overflow. He practically growled, "Shi Ye! I only have this one brother! How could I not love him? How could I not protect him? Tell me where he is! If he makes a mistake right now, and something happens to him, you and I will regret it for the rest of our lives!"
Shi Ye looked at the genuine concern and fear that an elder brother had for his younger brother in Huo Qubing's eyes. His tightly pursed lips finally trembled and relaxed as he spoke in a low, hoarse voice, "...Theatre, today...is closed."
In the theater, Huo Qubing suddenly felt that he would become oblivious to his anxiety.
Inside the theater, the sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras filled the air. Li Yannian's newly composed "Beauty Song" was accompanied by the contemporary master Zhuo Wenjun on the qin, Dongfang Shuo on the zhu, and Sima Xiangru on the xun.
Dancing gracefully on the stage was none other than Li Yannian's stunningly beautiful younger sister, her sleeves fluttering, her waist slender, her movements agile and graceful.
“There is a beautiful woman in the north, peerless and independent.
One glance can conquer a city, and another glance can conquer a country.
Would you rather not know that she is the most beautiful woman in the world?
It’s hard to find a beautiful woman again! "
Huo Yan leaned against the elegant seat by the window on the second floor, drinking by himself.
The floating light, contained in the exquisite jade vase, reflected the bright lights within the building. He listened to the music, his eyes somewhat hazy, a faint, drunken smile lingering on the corners of his lips.
"Li Yannian," he said, his voice slightly drunken and lazy, raising the jade cup in his hand, "very good, very good, this song can relieve my worries."
[Madam Li has appeared! Her reputation as a stunning beauty is well-deserved!]
[Li Guangli: My sister dances, and I'll be made a marquis!]
[Another foreign relative in reserve…]
[With such beauty and dancing skills, it’s no wonder Liu Che couldn’t forget her.]
[Is his family far inferior to Wei Huo's? But the emperor still likes him!]
[But Madam Li was also quite pitiful, she died young.]
Upon hearing this, Li Yannian's eyes lit up with ecstasy. He immediately took a few steps forward and bowed deeply to the ground. "It is truly a great blessing for me to be appreciated by you, my Lord!"
Huo Yan laughed heartily, and seemed even more drunk. He put down the jade cup, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Li Yannian with a nonchalant sense of oppression: "You want to go up,"
He casually pointed his finger upwards, "Above me."
"Hmm?" Li Yannian's body stiffened, and he broke out in a cold sweat. He lowered his head even lower, almost touching the floor. "Your Excellency, please embarrass me! I would never dare to have such a delusion!"
Li Xiaomei on the stage was so shocked that she stopped dancing and knelt on the ground in panic.
Her beautiful face was filled with fear and confusion, which made her even more charming. The music of the string instruments suddenly stopped.
Huo Yan's eyes swept across Li Xiaomei's young and lively face. In a trance, he seemed to see his aunt Wei Zifu, who was always graceful and elegant but also always helpless in the deep palace of Weiyang Palace.
Died young!
Chang'an City is small, and Weiyang Palace is even smaller!
He spoke slowly, a barely perceptible sigh in his voice, "If such a lively and beautiful girl were trapped in a palace, her whole life, with only those red walls in her eyes and only palace rules and regulations in her ears...Brother Li, can you really bear it?"
He turned his gaze towards Li Yannian with gentle compassion. "She is only fourteen or fifteen years old. Her life has just begun. She has such a long life ahead of her. She is not an object to be sold at a price. Why do you want to decide her fate so early? With your talent and the money you earn, it is enough for you to be rich for a lifetime, and it is also enough to ensure that she will have no worries for the rest of her life."
He paused, looking at the glimmer that suddenly ignited in Li Xiaomei's eyes, "Perhaps, you should ask her what she feels."
A smile appeared on the corner of his lips. The young man on the top seemed to have absorbed all the splendor. "Perhaps, she doesn't want to accompany that high and mighty person whose thoughts are hard to predict."
Li Xiaomei couldn't help but raise her head, her clear eyes filled with shock and hope.
Yes, she had long known that her brother wanted to send her to the palace and present her to the supreme emperor.
She is very scared!
She had heard from her brother about the fate of Empress Chen and the emperor's ambiguous estrangement from Empress Wei. She was afraid of the bottomless palace and of becoming a plaything in the hands of the emperor that could be abandoned at any time.
She loved dancing, she only knew how to dance! She knew that her brother treated her like a carefully trained bird, just to win the emperor's smile.
But she didn't want to! She wanted to dance to her heart's content under the gaze of the crowd. She wanted to conquer everyone's heart with her dancing. She wanted to hear genuine applause, not flattery! She didn't want to be a caged bird in anyone's clutches!
She looked at the handsome young man standing by the window, his eyes hazy with drunkenness but seemingly seeing through everything, her gaze burning with silent pleading: Can you help me? Please.
Huo Yan seemed to see his aunt through Li Xiaomei.
The aunt in the deep palace was wearing gorgeous clothes and had just come out of confinement, but she was called out by the Queen Mother to accompany her.
It was as if I saw countless girls, unable to control myself.
He didn't answer directly, but simply untied a small gilded token from his waist and gently tossed it in Li Xiaomei's direction. The token landed on the wooden floor in front of her with a crisp sound.
"You dance very well." Huo Yan's voice was clear and powerful. "With this token, I allow you to perform on stage here in the future. If you dance well, you will receive a generous reward, enough to support yourself."
He chuckled lightly, his expression carefree and uninhibited, and casually took off a priceless white jade belt hook from his clothes and threw it to Li Yannian, who was still kneeling on the ground. "Brother Li is a man of great talent. The new songs you composed are unprecedented and I love them very much. This is just a token of my appreciation."
Li Yannian's expression instantly turned extremely complicated and ugly. Huo Yan's words were like a huge rock dropped into a calm lake, completely stirring up his sister's resigned heart!
But Huo Yan smiled, his tone almost bewitching, "Isn't it more comfortable to cling to me than to those in the deep palace? I will protect her, and no one will dare to bully her. As long as her dancing skills improve, her future will be guaranteed. Isn't that a hundred times better than being a caged bird, living at the mercy of others?"
Cling to this powerful official!
Li Yannian's eyes struggled violently, and he was obviously moved by the other possibility described by Huo Yan.
However, Huo Yan seemed to see through his thoughts. He raised his hand slightly, stopping the words he was about to say, with a somewhat distant smile.
"Stop! Be careful what you say!"
Li Yannian's words were blocked, and he could only glare at Huo Yan helplessly and with a hint of resentment. Huo Yan looked back at him calmly, his eyes much clearer. "Brother Li, why do you have to be like this? I know you love your sister deeply and want to ensure her a life of prosperity and stability. But will the path you have chosen, the person who leads to her, truly pity and cherish her as sincerely as you do?"
He glanced at Li Xiaomei. "Look at her. She's vibrant and lively, filled with boundless courage and strength, as pure and beautiful as the morning dew. Her dance is the greatest beauty of heaven and earth. She should be blooming in the vast universe, not trapped in a golden cage, a mere bird for people to admire and entertain."
Li Yannian fell silent. The struggle on his face intensified, and finally turned into a long sigh. He lowered his head dejectedly, "...Let me think about it again."
Huo Yan smiled with satisfaction, picked up the wine jug, and walked towards the higher viewing terrace with slightly unsteady steps.
"Take your time to think about it. This is your sister's business, I will not interfere."
The voice disappeared around the corner of the stairs along with the figure.
Li Xiaomei looked at the direction where Huo Yan disappeared and was stunned for a moment.
Suddenly, as if making up her mind, she abruptly stood up and, on the empty stage, facing the moonlight streaming in from the window, began to twirl alone. Her sleeves flowed like clouds, her figure slender like a willow, and her dance steps became increasingly unrestrained and free, with a passionate feeling of breaking free from constraints.
She knew the hardships of life, and she understood her brother's feelings. However, she didn't understand why this powerful young prince's eyes always held a lingering loneliness and sadness, why, when he smiled, his eyes tinged with red. He possessed everything that ordinary people could never achieve, yet he seemed... sad.
Later, this woman, who became a renowned dancer in Dahan, never fully grasped the profound meaning in Huo Yan's eyes that night. But she always remembered his words. She bravely chose her own path, blossoming on the stage. Just as he had said, she possessed courage, and her life should flourish passionately in the world that belonged to her.
Huo Yan sat alone on the edge of the terrace, his back against the vermilion railing, facing the lights of thousands of homes in Chang'an City, drinking one cup after another.
Downstairs, the sound of stringed instruments rose again, and a new opera excerpt began. The gongs and drums roared, and the singing was soaring, interpreting the joys and sorrows of others.
The night wind was cool, blowing through his slightly permed temples and scattered strands of hair.
At this moment, the heavy door of the theater made a slight "creaking" sound and was pushed open from the outside.
The night wind blew in, blowing the gauze curtains hanging on the first floor and dispersing some of the noisy music.
Huo Yan seemed to have sensed something, so he went downstairs and stood on the second floor, looking down with drunken eyes.
At the intersection of the dim lights and the stage's shadows, he saw a face. A face bare, without a single shred of makeup. It carried a look he knew all too well, now filled with anger.
He was on a high building, he was on the noisy stage, and their eyes suddenly met through the noisy voices and blurry light and shadow.
Then, Huo Yan clearly heard the voice that penetrated all the noise and exploded in his ears like thunder, carrying with it an extremely suppressed anger.
"Huo Yan! Get down here!"
The Grand Marshal and General of the Cavalry issued a final ultimatum.
【Author’s words】
Qubing: I found my brother. I'm so happy. He got drunk late at night and didn't come home. He really wants to be beaten.
A Yan: I did it on purpose. I just wanted my brother to know that I wanted to kill Liu Che. Do you think I was the only one who wanted him dead?
Qubing: I knew it.
A Yan: Okay, I got it, let’s split up!
Qubing: You keep saying such conscienceless things.
Qubing must be locked up first and then taken away overnight.
Isn't my uncle still alive?
My brother poisoned me, and I will cure him!
A Yan is not familiar with Li Cai at all.
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