51 Ma Qianqian
◎Liu Che: This girl is blind.◎
At the end of his sight, he saw Liu Che leading his horse with a smile on his face.
A group of little devils swallowed their saliva and tried to hide behind Huo Qubing. Huo Yan wasn't afraid of Liu Che, but he found it amusing and imitated his brother, hiding behind him. Even though he was hiding, he kept saying, "Hey, uncle, you're out here to bask in the moonlight too!"
Huo Qubing silently glanced at the cowards and his younger brothers who were blinking their eyes and crying for food, and decisively sealed their mouths with candy. Huo Yan didn't like sweet food, but he couldn't bear to spit it out since it was given by Huo Qubing, so he had to chew it with a cold face and puffed up his cheeks.
After Huo Qubing had resolved the biggest obstacle to his dealings with Liu Che, he calmly pulled Lei Bei off his horse, revealing his face. He then slowly bowed to Liu Che, his voice unwavering, "Uncle, there are some things I won't need your help with. I'm happy to do them for you."
Sometimes, some people are just awesome.
Huo Yan lay behind Huo Qubing and looked at Liu Che with a genuine smile.
Liu Che smiled softly, a laugh that seemed both bewildered and yet also knowing. His gaze fell on Huo Yan, who was peeking behind him. He tutted, his expression a bit like, "I knew it was you who caused this." "Qubing, I know your temper. You've always been incredibly calm. And now, let me tell you, is your younger brother asking you to play along again?"
Even when drunk, he is still like this.
Huo Yan rolled his eyes at him and continued to lie on his brother's shoulder.
Huo Qubing patted his head and he changed to the other side.
"Hehe, I guessed wrong~"
Liu Che had been trying to have a child recently, and he was feeling rather down. So, he had a few drinks and a stroll around Shanglin Garden. On his way back, tipsy, he'd been hoping to relax, but unexpectedly, he saw these annoying people again. His gaze swept over the people behind Huo Qubing, finally landing on Sima Qian, whose hair was half disheveled. For a moment, the corners of his lips curled up, a feeling that his son was quite charming, that he was embracing a beautiful girl right in front of her father, and that he lived up to his father's reputation.
This bunch of rebellious sons! It’s really Xiao Zhen’s fault, he has good vision and charm.
"You guys are quite good at it, yes, this girl is good. She's also good-looking. But why is there only one? You kid, I tell you, if you like someone, go for the one who gets sick. The others, with their bad tempers, will piss you off to death!"
Sima Qian's filter for Liu Che was completely shattered. The emperor he admired said that he was a girl, which was fine, after all, he had always been well-behaved. But how could His Majesty say that A Yan was a bastard? A Yan was the most understanding person.
Huo Yan tilted his head and saw him pursing his lips stubbornly. He thought he felt Liu Che was humiliating him, so he immediately said, "Ignore the drunkard, he's just like that."
Please be less critical of him when you are writing your book. After all, he was scolded so harshly that he had to complain to my aunt, uncle and brother.
Sima Qian's face turned red, and he said that A Yan treated him very well and that Your Majesty was too much. As he thought about it, he used all his literary strength to glare at Liu Che fiercely.
Liu Che didn't notice him at all. He was obviously drunk. Half drunk and half awake, he looked at his baby Qubing and sighed.
"Sick child, come to your uncle's place. This girl is blind and likes Ah Yan. Ah Yan protects her. They are bad. Come to your uncle's place. Let's have a drink together tonight."
Sima Qian's face turned pale with anger.
Huo Qubing remained silent. Huo Yan was about to yell at him, telling him to wake up. What was he doing wrong? It was obviously you I was protecting, idiot! But Huo Qubing stuffed a piece of candy in his mouth, shutting it up.
Huo Yan grumbled and groaned, and finally, under Huo Qubing's action like patting a dog, he angrily shook his sleeves, turned his back to Liu Che, and came face to face with the city wall.
Don't talk. I don't talk, hum!
Huo Qubing didn't say much. He just trotted to Liu Che, leaned close to Liu Che's ear, pointed at the half-dead Lei Bei, and repeated everything.
"This thief is in cahoots with Liu Ling. When we heard the news, we immediately wanted to report it, but we were worried that he would escape. In the end, we really wanted to relieve Your Majesty's worries, so we immediately decided to capture the thief. Now that the thief has been apprehended, it is truly because of Your Majesty's protection. Please forgive our impatience."
As soon as these words were spoken, the people behind him frowned and responded.
Liu Che remained silent. His mind was a bit confused, and he felt something was amiss, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Since he couldn't think of anything, he decided to use violence to arrest and lock them all up, and wait until he regained consciousness before making a decision.
He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers guarding the gate to detain the children.
Huo Qubing reacted quickly. Before the soldiers could take action, he grabbed Huo Yan and ran away. The remaining few people also screamed and ran at full speed.
For a moment, the two sides were in a stalemate. Liu Che suddenly smiled and commanded, "Why capture Ah Yan, who can poison people? Capture Qu Bing!"
Huo Qubing was speechless and just glared at Liu Che fiercely. This glare made Liu Che laugh, and he personally went out to guide people to capture Huo Qubing.
Huo Yan, who was sprinkling medicine powder, couldn't help but look at Huo Qubing. Finally, because he was distracted, he was the first to be caught and was carried to Liu Che's side.
He wasn't panicking, a faint smile on his face. His clothes were a little disheveled, the corners of his clothes blown askew by the wind while he was running. The powder was still on his hands. He looked up at Liu Che, his eyes showing no fear, nor any trace of remorse. He was grinning, as if waiting for Liu Che's next move.
"Uncle, come, hold one."
I'll poison you to death.
Liu Che walked around Huo Yan, and even though he felt a little dizzy, he did not forget to kick this bastard in the butt.
"I've been wanting to beat you up for a long time, you little bastard. All you do every day is mess around with your brother!"
Huo Yan silently glanced at Huo Qubing struggling in the crowd. He knew it was clearly his brother's idea. He had even tried to persuade him, but in the end, he just stiffened his neck and snorted, "Kill me or chop me up, it's all up to you!"
Liu Che was so angry that he laughed. He ordered his men to drag his rebellious son away, waving his sleeves and scolding, "Get away. I'm tired of seeing you!"
Huo Yan tutted and was carried to Liu Che's left. Turning his head, he saw Sima Qian who had just been captured. Sima Qian was also being carried, his black hair loose, half of his profile looking even more gentle in the black hair. He smiled at him reassuringly, "It's okay, Ah Yan."
Before Huo Yan could speak, Liu Che stepped forward and asked softly, "Young lady, I'm telling you, you're from the Ma family. Your name is Qianqian, right?"
Sima Qian's smiling face froze for a long time before he replied dryly, "Your Majesty, may you be well and safe. My surname is Sima, and my name is Qian. I will not vent my anger on you, and I will not repeat my mistakes."
Sima Qian's clear stupidity suddenly made Huo Yan unable to bear to look at it. Liu Che was about to faint, but he didn't vent his anger on others and didn't repeat his mistakes. He could hardly tell the difference between humans and dogs.
Sure enough, Liu Che nodded, "Well, Ma Qianqian, this name is quite good, and she has some knowledge. This young lady is not bad. You like my rebellious son."
He was grinning from ear to ear, and was about to give the jade pendant to his "future daughter-in-law".
"Although this kid doesn't look good, he can hurt people."
Huo Yan choked when he heard this and grinned, but was kicked by Liu Che again.
"This is a good family's daughter, Huo Ayan, you are getting more and more daring. You are taking people out in the middle of the night. You are ignorant!"
Huo Yan was kicked again and rolled his eyes at him.
"I don't bother with drunkards."
Liu Che was about to continue scolding him when Su Wu and Cao Xiang were also dragged over.
Su Wu and Cao Xiang were familiar faces. They had been in cahoots with Huo Qubing and Huo Yan since childhood. They were the same breed. Just now, they were smiling ingratiatingly and crying vigorously. Even if they were turned into ashes, Liu Che would recognize them. However, he was too lazy to pay any attention to them. He just kicked them each and had them dragged away.
Su Wu was being carried, but he still asked people to squeeze him closer to Huo Yan.
"Brother, how long do you think Brother Qubing can hold on?"
Huo Yan's eyes lit up and he became interested. Even though his hands were tied behind his back, it didn't stop him from doing things.
"I'll bet on when my brother will be captured. Ten gold coins. I bet my brother can hold out for half an incense stick."
Cao Xiang, even though he was being held, did not forget to join in the fun and continued, "I'll give twenty gold coins and one incense stick."
Su Wu bit his cloth bag, preparing to bite the candy from the bag with his face. Even with his face buried in it, he still echoed his brother Huo Yan, "Five candies, one incense stick."
Huo Yan looked at Sima Qian expectantly across Liu Che, "Brother Sima, do you want to bet?"
Sima Qian blushed, "Ayan, can I give you the paper you gave me?"
Huo Yan smiled and winked at Sima Qian, "Of course, Brother Sima is very generous."
Sima Qian blushed again. A Yan is so cute.
Huo Yan was exuding charm here, and was happy when he was kicked by Liu Che again. Some people were watching the child, and some were looking in the mirror. Liu Che now had a headache when he saw Ma Qianqian blushing at Huo Yan.
Huo Yan felt extremely aggrieved. What had happened to him? He was just playing a game and making some money, and then he was kicked again.
"If you have a leg cramp, go rub your back under that big tree in Chang'an, don't mess with me. You get all kinds of problems when you get older."
Liu Che narrowed his eyes and smiled sinisterly, "The rules have been eaten by the dog."
When the people around heard what Liu Che said, they thought he was angry. They were so scared that they dared not make a sound or even breathe.
Huo Yan, however, still looked unconvinced. He rubbed the spot where he was kicked and muttered softly, "Your Majesty is too unreasonable. I clearly care about you. If you are sick, you must seek treatment. It is not right to hide your illness and avoid medical treatment."
Liu Che's mind was unclear. He only heard the words of concern. Although he did not answer, his smile deepened.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Sima Qian swallowed his saliva and mustered up the courage to say to Liu Che, "Your Majesty, Ah Yan was just joking and meant no harm. Your Majesty, please be magnanimous and don't bother with him."
Liu Che glanced at Sima Qian and stared at him carefully for a long time, until Sima Qian blushed again. Suddenly, he smiled and said to Huo Yan, "Ayan, the old man thinks Qianqian is a good daughter. It's a pity to marry her to a piece of shit like you. Good daughters are hard to find. I, the old man, will make the decision. You can decide on her."
Cao Xiang and Su Wu immediately looked at Qianqian who was about to be engaged, and the corners of their mouths twitched involuntarily. Now if she let her hair down, she would be a girl. His Majesty must be very drunk.
Sima Qian wished he could bury himself in the ground because he had violated his ancestors' teachings, was disloyal, and suddenly he wanted to kill the king.
Huo Yan wanted to bang his head on the ground. He was almost driven to collapse by the drunkard.
"My dear old man, my dear old man, that's Sima Qian, the son of Sima Tan, the historian! Please, let me give you a shot to clear the smell of alcohol! There's nothing wrong between him and me, please don't tarnish my reputation!"
Liu Che didn't understand what Huo Yan said at all. He sat on the ground, his fine clothes drooping. He looked around and thought the two were a perfect match. He kept muttering to himself, "Ah Yan, be nice to this young lady. I didn't expect you to get married so soon. I'm so happy."
He was still a little touched after he said that and wiped his eyes.
"Why do I always see you as a child? I'm probably drunk. But it's still good. Ah Yan, live a good life and live a life without worries."
Huo Yan suddenly felt dazed and his heart ached.
The word "uncle" got stuck in his throat and he finally swallowed it.
Because Liu Che sat beside him with a worried look on his face, and asked him, "Ayan, you are wanted by someone, why hasn't my son Qubing gotten married yet? I want to have a grandson."
Huo Yan was speechless. Damn, how many plates of peanuts did you eat today to get so drunk?
[Zhuzhu really cares about Bingbing.]
[Zhuzhu: So sad, why doesn't anyone want my son Qubing? They have no taste.]
[Your Majesty, I want this, I want this, please grant us a marriage!]
[The love rival draws his sword!]
[Pig: Yan'er, you have good taste. The person you chose is good-looking.]
[Your behavior reminds me of a joke: Your Majesty, children are meant to make friends, not boyfriends!]
[Ma Qian: Ah Yan, I am your pig daddy's approved son-in-law, haha. What a hell of a joke.]
[After Ma Qian gets fucked, will Zhuzhu hesitate when he thinks of Ah Yan?]
[What a great strategy!]
[Qubing: My sister-in-law? Qianqian, oh my god.]
[Ayan: If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll kill you all.]
[It's obvious that Ah Yan is ruthless. He was ruthless to Ma Qianqian.]
[He has feelings for Qubing! Brother, he's the best!]
[Ayan: I’ll stab you to death in a moment.]
…
Huo Yan's face darkened and his eyes were threatening, and the barrage of comments gradually died down.
On Huo Qubing's side, he was still fighting fiercely with the guards. He was as agile as a cheetah. Every time the guards thought they were about to catch him, he cleverly avoided them.
But there were indeed too many people. Half an incense stick later, Huo Qubing was also carried over. Because the risk factor was too high, four people surrounded him and held him tightly. It was amazing that a child could have such great energy. He won the attention of everyone present with his strength.
Huo Qubing didn't say much, just stayed there quietly without struggling.
Huo Yan made a ten to him, indicating that they would split the money equally.
He stared at his hands quietly, smiled softly, and winked at Huo Yan.
He could have persisted a little longer, but it would be awkward for him to refuse to earn ten gold coins for nothing.
Cao Xiang still couldn't figure out his brothers' tricks, so he didn't need to stay here anymore. He cursed, "Huo Ayan, you let your brother cheat on you!"
Huo Yan retorted confidently, "You didn't say you couldn't cheat, and with so many people watching, how could I cheat? Don't talk nonsense, show me the evidence!"
Cao Xiang was so angry at the dog's behavior that he started to struggle and stretched out his foot to kick Huo Yan. Huo Yan was not willing to show weakness and kicked back.
The two of them were separated by Su Wu and Sima Qian, and even if they stretched their legs straight, they could not reach each other. In the end, they could only kick around and curse each other, calling each other "bastards". Liu Che's forehead veins popped when he heard it.
Liu Che was very annoyed, so he had Lei Bei dragged into the Tingwei Prison and then silenced the two guys.
"Except Qianqian, drag all of them away and take them to the palace to pound rice!"
"Ah! I won't go!"
Cao Xiang made a sharp explosion.
Huo Yan let out a cry, a few strands of hair falling across his furious face. His eyes were filled with astonishment, staring wide-eyed at Liu Che, who was being dragged along, and Sima Qian, who was beside him, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Damn it, I'll say it again, he has nothing to do with me! He's Sima Qian!"
He shouted as he was dragged.
"Your Majesty, please be more careful!"
Sima Qian also hurriedly saluted, "Your Majesty."
As soon as he opened his mouth, he was stopped by Liu Che. The emperor waved his hand, his face understanding, "I know that young couples cannot be separated for a moment. Go ahead."
Sima Qian's hands were clenched until they bled, and he finally suppressed the evil thought of regicide and raised his legs to follow.
Huo Yan was about to cry, "Stay away from me, Brother Sima, or Lao Deng might have already chosen names for both of our children."
Sima Qian immediately rolled and crawled to Huo Qubing's side.
Liu Che's eyes lit up and he gave Huo Qubing a look that showed he was a teachable child.
Huo Qubing, who was being held on the other side, had been quiet and had his eyes closed. However, upon hearing Huo Yan's words, his eyes widened. "Who, Ah Yan, what's your child's name?"
He was also carefree and asked the child's name.
Huo Yan wanted to die, he whimpered, and finally forced himself to tell the whole story.
Huo Qubing also suddenly wanted to cover his face and said silently, "If my uncle remembers it, the palace will be in trouble this time."
Everyone looked at each other and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
He went out hunting and ended up in jail.
The Ye Ting Prison was located in the palace's Ye Ting. Compared with other prisons in Chang'an, it was recorded more in history books, which was actually due to its own nature.
Later generations often claim that the Ye Ting only held palace maids, concubines, and other women, but this is inaccurate. It also held eunuchs and relatives of the emperor who had affairs with palace women. For example, Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Bingyi, was imprisoned as a young child due to implicated Liu Ju, and the prison was the Ye Ting. Anyone involved in inappropriate palace affairs or posing a threat to palace order or the emperor's authority could be imprisoned in the Ye Ting prison.
This was the private prison within the palace that belonged only to the emperor. The crimes committed by those here were often related to the secrets of the palace, which were crimes that "the emperor could not be imprisoned and the world could not know about." The famous Baoshi Prison in later generations was part of the Ye Ting Prison, so its internal environment can be imagined.
The cells of the Ye Ting Prison were mostly constructed from heavy stone or brick. The walls were thick and rough, covered in moss. Narrow passages connected the cells, dimly lit only by a few weak oil lamps. An oppressive atmosphere permeated the air. The floor was made of cold stone slabs, sometimes uneven and potholed, and the slightest mistake could easily result in a knock of the front teeth.
They were captured at night, and the prisoners cried and wailed. Occasionally, the heavy footsteps of the jailers were heard, accompanied by the rattling of chains dragging on the prisoners' shackles, which made their hair stand on end.
Except for Huo Qubing, who looked calm, everyone else couldn't help swallowing.
"Well, His Majesty was just pounding rice, and he didn't have anyone beat us."
After a long while, Su Wu hid behind Huo Yan and spoke to the prison warden in front of him with a serious face.
The Ye Ting Prison had a magistrate and a clerk. The clerk was the chief official, directly reporting to the emperor. He was responsible for the transfer and execution of prisoners. Tonight, when the prisoners suddenly arrived, he hurried over, but he didn't expect them to be a few young masters.
There was not a single person in this group that a small warden like him could afford to offend.
His Majesty did not say what crime these people had committed, and why they had to be sent to prison, which made him feel troubled for a moment.
"Yes, yes, gentlemen are precious, how can we fight them?"
The warden thought for a moment and decided that the rice pounding shouldn't be done here; it should be done in Yongxiang. He thought the emperor might have made a mistake, so he decided to let these people go first. However, Huo Qubing shook his head and said, "No need."
Huo Yan also shook his head and bowed lightly, "Your Majesty has ordered us to go to prison to pound rice. We will stay here for one night and then go to the rice pounding place in the morning."
After he said this, the warden had no choice but to find a slightly better cell for these wealthy young men. Although that cell was cleaner than the others, it was still damp in the corners in late spring and there were many insects and mosquitoes.
Cao Xiang frowned in disdain, but seeing that Huo Qubing looked normal and Huo Yan and the others didn't mind at all, he stood at the door for a moment, sighed, and followed them in.
The prison was dimly lit. Huo Qubing groped around, searching for a relatively dry corner. Feeling around, he found a crack in the wall that seemed to let in a breeze, so he moved his straw mat there, hoping to reduce the dampness. Huo Yan and the others placed scraps of cattail grass and other things on the ground and sat down.
The warden stood at the door for a while. Seeing them like this, he didn't know what to say. He gave a few instructions to the jailer, asking him to watch carefully and make sure nothing went wrong.
The jailer responded submissively, his eyes occasionally glancing at these young men. In this Ye Ting prison, there were very few people as young as him.
The cell fell silent for a moment, the only sounds being the footsteps of the jailer outside, and the occasional sobbing of prisoners from other cells. Huo Qubing folded his arms over his chest, eyes closed, resting. Huo Yan, on the other hand, was mentally plotting how to escape the next day.
"Why don't you just go out and get yourself into trouble?"
As soon as he sat down, Cao Xiang held up his chin and picked up an inch-sized insect, complaining softly.
Huo Yan was sprinkling insect repellent powder around them. Hearing this, he clicked his tongue, his disgust evident in his expression.
Su Wu was also extremely disgusted. "My lord, His Majesty's words are as clear as gold. If I run away today, who will bear His Majesty's wrath tomorrow?"
Sima Qian also nodded, and said with some annoyance, "We have indeed committed a serious crime by entering the city during curfew. Why not retreat now and wait for His Majesty's decision tomorrow? We can still get away with it."
Cao Xiang snorted. He was not a fool. He understood this little thing. But what if His Majesty got drunk and lost consciousness? They would be in jail forever.
Su Wu was also in a dilemma, but Sima Qian smiled and told him Huo Yan's idea.
"Your Majesty will know tomorrow. Ah Yan insisted that we go to Yongxiang to pound rice, and the warden is undecided. He will report to Your Majesty and ask for his opinion. At the very least, we can make some noise along the way to remind Your Majesty of us. So be patient, we can get out."
Huo Yan paused as he was spreading the medicine, glanced at Sima Qian, and then sprinkled the medicine around Huo Qubing in large quantities.
After a while, Huo Qubing opened his eyes and whispered, "Ayan, you are afraid of the cold, come here."
Huo Yan moved closer to him and showed the others how to weave rabbits out of straw. They were so bored that they could only look around and catch a few bugs in the dark to play with each other.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the corner. Huo Qubing was the first to be alert. He looked in the direction of the sound with his eyes as fast as lightning. He saw a gray mouse scurrying quickly along the corner of the wall, its small figure appearing and disappearing in the dim light.
Huo Yan followed his gaze and spotted the mouse. He instantly became interested and picked up a large insect, waving it lightly at the mouse as if to provoke it. The mouse, startled, ran even faster, scurrying around the cell.
The others were also captivated by this sudden scene. They used their feet to shoo the rat away, trying to drive it into a corner. The rat was extremely cunning, dodging left and right, weaving freely around everyone's feet. Cao Xiang, confident of his agility, seized the opportunity and pounced on the rat, but missed and almost fell to the ground, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
A smile played on Huo Qubing's face. He stood quietly by, observing the mouse's movements. The mouse, perhaps panicking, had suddenly dodged into the worn straw mat. Huo Yan wasn't about to let it go easily. He carefully parted the mat, keeping a close eye on it, fearing it might suddenly escape. Just as he was about to touch the mouse, it darted out again with a whoosh.
The crowd began a new round of pursuit and interception. They ran around in the small cell, like playing Cuju. The jailer heard the noise and rushed over. Seeing their appearance, he was stunned at first, but then he couldn't help laughing.
Finally, Huo Qubing grabbed the mouse by the tail. Huo Yan took it from Huo Qubing's hand and raised his tail triumphantly. The mouse struggled in his hand but could not break free.
Everyone looked at the captured mouse with smug expressions on their faces, and laughed with their hands on their hips.
"Hey, Brother Rat, hello!"
After all, they were young and carefree, so they played for a while and then huddled together and fell into a good sleep.
The next morning, Liu Che, who had been crazy all night, went crazy because the parents of his son who was imprisoned for being drunk the day before came.
Princess Pingyang, who had not slept all night, knelt outside the palace with Su Jian and Sima Tan. Her appearance, which was similar to that of Liu Che, was full of hidden anger.
"Brother, what did that brat Cao Xiang do to deserve being thrown into jail overnight? Just tell me, or I'll give him a beating!"
As soon as Princess Pingyang came in, she spoke immediately.
Liu Che was a little embarrassed for once, but he finally said seriously, "Sister, please don't say anything more. He has learned his lesson now. Go and take it."
Princess Pingyang looked at him for a moment, then smiled knowingly. All the members of the Liu family were good-looking, and Princess Pingyang was even more outstanding. Her smile was bright and generous.
"Cold wine is bad for your health. I'll have a banquet later and my brother will come. I'll have those guys warm up your wine."
Liu Che covered his aching temple and said dissatisfiedly, "No, take them away quickly. I'm afraid they will poison me to death."
Princess Pingyang left with the other two fathers with a smile and went to the Ye Ting Prison to pick up the children.
Huo Yan was woken up and sat next to Huo Qubing, calmly watching Cao Xiang and the others being taken away one by one, and waved goodbye with a normal expression.
After everyone had left, he pulled Huo Qubing's hand and looked outside, but he didn't see Wei Qing and was completely dejected.
"It's over. With my uncle's stubborn attitude, it's impossible for us to rush out. My uncle won't come. My uncle doesn't want us anymore."
Huo Qubing did not comment, but patted his back lightly as a comfort. However, his occasional glances at the corridor outside revealed the fact that he was uneasy.
It’s a pity that they are so eager for their uncle to come and rescue them, and they are so kind-hearted.
The child did not come back all night yesterday. When the doorman came to report it, he did not panic. He went back and had a good sleep.
It's okay, with the fighting power of his two nephews, there will be no danger. The horses are gone, it's okay, no one dares to steal Qubing and Ayan's. Not only was he generous, he also comforted the servants at home, saying that the children were not here now, probably going out to play somewhere and would be back after playing.
He went to court as if nothing had happened. Along the way, he didn't notice that Su Jian and Sima Tan were hesitant to speak, and he greeted them as usual.
He was acting the same as usual, and Liu Che became anxious.
Why hasn't Zhongqing come to plead for mercy? If he doesn't come to plead for mercy, how can he release the two children? A'yan is okay, but can his son Qubing pound rice?
As it turned out, he was completely wrong.
Although they had made a mistake, everyone knew how favored the Huo twins were, so the Eternal Lane Commander did not dare to send them to the place of punishment where they had really committed a crime and used a special-shaped pestle. He just wanted them to follow the ordinary palace maids and grab two handfuls of rice.
Huo Qubing was even better than anyone else at pounding rice, while Huo Yan stood before the pounding machine, his hands tightly gripping the heavy pestle handle, his feet pushing hard against the ground, trying to use the power of his legs to move his arms. He finally managed to lift the pestle a little, and when he began to pound it down, the effect was less than satisfactory. He watched the grain splash from his pounding, his brow furrowed, a hint of death in his eyes.
After a long time, he pounded the rice with his pestle, sending another heap of grain flying. He looked around. Although none of the prisoners in the room paid any attention to him, even the clerk in charge of supervising the pounding of rice turned his head away, he still felt as if everyone was laughing at him. He lowered his head, pursed his lips, and squatted on the ground, gathering the scattered rice bit by bit in his hands and placing it back into the stone mortar.
He was a little tired of pounding rice. He was just trying to get out of trouble. Now he was in Yongxiang, where the guards were not strict, so he could run away.
"Brother."
He tugged at Huo Qubing's sleeve and called him softly, wanting to ask his brother to go out with him, but he didn't know how to say it.
He was in a very sorry state now, his face was all red, his hair was stained with rice husks, he was small, huddled in a corner, his eyes were gray.
Huo Qubing put down his pestle and said nothing. He just took his hand, put his hand on the pole, and taught him step by step.
"It's just that the direction of the force is wrong, Ah Yan, I will teach you."
Huo Qubing grasped Huo Yan's hand and lifted the pestle steadily, his movements smooth and powerful. Huo Yan felt the warmth from Huo Qubing's palm, a warmth that seemed to possess a magical power, gradually calming his flustered heart. His hand followed Huo Qubing's movements, his eyes fixed on his movements. Suddenly, he chuckled softly, his eyes lighting up again.
"Brother, the fulcrum of this pestle isn't positioned properly, so it takes a lot of manpower to lift it when pounding rice. It's simply not suitable for a young son and daughter like me. Furthermore, the fit between the pestle and the mortar isn't precise enough, which easily causes the grain to splash and uneven pounding. So I'm going to modify it to make it easier for me to use."
It’s not that I can’t do it, it’s that there’s something wrong with the tool I use to scoop the
Huo Qubing understood the hidden meaning and smiled. He picked the rice husks from Huo Yan's hair and said lightly, "Then go ahead and do it. No one will supervise us anyway. If we don't do this kind of thing, the officials over there will be happier."
Huo Yan was speechless. His brother really told him the truth and made him sound like a loser. Although he was a loser, saying that really hurt his fragile heart.
So he puffed up his cheeks and immediately wanted to give his brother a scientific shock.
He redesigned the position of the fulcrum, moving it the appropriate distance toward one end of the pestle through precise calculations and numerous experiments. He also innovatively added a simple booster device. Using the principle of a rope and pulley, he tied a rope to one end of the lever, which looped around a movable pulley fixed to a beam. He then attached a stone to the other end of the rope. As the operator pressed down to pound the rice, the weight naturally fell due to gravity, increasing the downward force of the pestle.
He even designed the bottom of the pestle to be slightly concave and carved some fine lines on the surface of the pestle. This would increase the friction between the pestle and the grains, making the grains more stable during the pounding process.
It's really troublesome. He is even made to do carpentry work here in Yongxiang.
But because of his good popularity and status, the clerks didn't want to make things difficult for him, and sometimes even had to help him find tools and watch him tinker with them.
Huo Yan was busy and happy here, his eyes sparkling with excitement, as if immersed in the little world of his own creation. As he adjusted the newly designed device, he muttered to himself and discussed with the barrage of comments.
Huo Qubing continued to pound rice, but he tilted his head and smiled occasionally.
[Brother, brother, you are so lucky, you little bastard.]
[Hahaha, Bingbing really loves me.]
[That look again, looking at him like his son.]
…
[This is still tiring, you can get a footrest.]
[Yes, the rope in this power assist device tends to get tangled during use, so a guide fixed pulley is needed.]
[Baby, this kind of incomplete tool cannot be mass-produced.]
[But the current situation is still okay.]
[Bao, we need to make it into a water well device.]
…
Huo Yan tried his device twice and felt it was okay, so he added a guide device to it. He then immediately asked Huo Qubing to try this more labor-saving one, while he went out to find materials to make a new foot-operated one. After saying that, he rushed out like a little lion with messy hair.
Huo Qubing remained silent. Facing the clerk's curious gaze, he held the pestle and struck the ground with each blow. With less force, the force of the pestle was greater. The grain was pounded quickly and well, and almost no grain splashed out.
The clerk's eyes widened.
Huo Qubing was very calm. He was holding a pestle and rarely felt the urge to show off. He showed off his brother to the clerk as if he were showing off his son.
"These are very simple for Ah Yan. You've heard of the waterwheel, right? It's the device that can transport water from a low place to a high place. And the horseshoe, they were all invented by my youngest brother. Ah Yan is the reincarnation of Lu Ban."
He was very proud that he had known his younger brother earlier than others, and that his younger brother was as intelligent and innocent as he was.
The clerk suddenly said, "My younger brother is more talented than you. Aren't you jealous, Lord Huo?"
Huo Qubing was stunned for a moment, then looked at him as if he were a fool and replied, "He is my younger brother."
How do you know he is better than me? Ah Yan and I have our own strengths. He is good, and I am good too.
I know I'm good, and he's good too. He can teach me what he's good at for free, and I'm willing to teach him what I know, too. It's because we're both strong that we can play together and never get separated.
The petty official kept silent, and Huo Qubing no longer had the desire to show off.
So when Wei Qing and Liu Che came over, they saw Huo Qubing sitting next to a strange stone mortar, quietly listening to Huo Yan muttering his ideas.
"Brother, look, the changes in the positions of these fulcrums, according to the principle of leverage, FL = FL, when L increases, under the same force F, F can generate a greater force, which makes pounding rice much easier."
Huo Yan, who was dressed in a mess, stepped on the pedal and exerted light force, and the lever drove the rice pestle up and down. He was very relaxed, doing the work of two people without any effort. He could even point to his fixed fulcrum and talk to Huo Qubing with a smile on his face.
He not only told Huo Qubing, he also promoted it to the palace maids beside him, "Sisters, it doesn't cost much. Don't worry, just give me the money and I will install it for you tomorrow. If you have any inconvenience with the tools in the palace in the future, come to me and I will fix it for you."
Huo Qubing nodded beside him and said, "Ayan has found a good fulcrum."
The palace maids naturally agreed. While the clerk was not paying attention, they took off their hairpins or took out the money they had on them and secretly stuffed it into Huo Yan's small waist bag.
Huo Yan walked back and forth, head held high and chest puffed out, waiting for someone to stuff money into his hands.
Wei Qing's eyes were full of heartache. Liu Che twitched his forehead, and suddenly felt that it was a mistake to hastily summon Wei Qing to rescue him after leaving the court.
Look how well these two guys are doing. Especially that shameless Huo among the girls.
When he mentioned girls, he thought of Ma Qianqian and his face turned dark.
Sima Tan is really something. He gave birth to a fair-skinned and handsome son. In the dark, it was blind. Of course, you can't blame him for making a mistake.
Liu Che calmed himself down, coughed, and swaggered in. He took Huo Qubing by the hand and had the dirty Huo Yan dragged away.
Huo Yan tutted, knowing he was being disdained but not angry. He was so used to being dragged that he naturally raised his hand to be held up. He grinned playfully and turned to shout at the palace maids, "I'm not leaving. Don't worry, I'll finish it today or tomorrow."
Liu Che simply carried him away with one hand.
He didn't struggle and took out a packet of Chinese medicine powder. "Uncle, are you sober? Does your headache hurt? Take this, a simple Chinese medicine powder. Mix it with hot water and drink two cups, and you'll feel better."
Liu Che took it and his facial expression softened.
Wei Qing also rubbed his head and said with relief, "Ayan has grown up."
Huo Qubing gathered his sleeves and looked at Liu Che who was hooked into a black carp, and suddenly laughed.
Why are you all so stupid? Is it easy to get Ah Yan’s things?
This was indeed the case. When they both came out of the shower, Liu Che had already rinsed the medicine. Huo Yan didn't even wipe his hair. He took a quick step, spread his hands towards him, and said with a smile, "Once the product is on sale, no credit will be accepted. Uncle, please pay. You can also give it to others if you don't want to pay."
Liu Che's face turned completely dark, and the word "rebellious son" seemed to deafen Huo Yan's ears.
Huo Yan touched his numbed ears, then placed his hand on Liu Che's, showing him his hand pierced by the splinter, and complained, "Uncle, my brother and I also need to pay for our medical expenses."
Liu Che turned his face away and didn't want to look at him, so he asked Huo Qubing, who was wiping his hair, to come over. Liu Che spread out Huo Qubing's hand, feeling very distressed.
"Qubing is a good boy. He even caught the thunder blanket. Does it hurt? Uncle was drunk yesterday and didn't mean to punish Qubing."
Huo Qubing shook his head, "It doesn't hurt, uncle."
Liu Che embraced him and applied medicine to him. Huo Yan disliked the medicine and took out a small bottle and handed it to him. Liu Che sprinkled the powder on Huo Qubing's hand and blew on it as he did when they were children. Huo Qubing's face remained calm, but his ears were red.
He is not a child anymore. His aunt and uncle are always like this.
His ears turned red. Huo Yan snorted, stretched out his claws, and ran towards Wei Qing, "Uncle, blow on it."
Wei Qing blew on him silently, then touched his head with a smile.
"Ah Yan, be good."
【Author’s words】
There will be a special episode in the evening.
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