63 Lost in the Deep Lotus Blossoms
◎Huo Yan: Three years as the crown prince, five years as a role model.◎
In the spring of the first year of Yuanshuo, the emperor's eldest son was born.
Liu Che, who was nearly thirty years old and had just had a son, was overjoyed and ordered Dongfang Shuo and Mei Gao to write "Ode to the Birth of the Crown Prince" and "Ode to the Enthronement of the Crown Prince". Dongfang Shuo received the order, and the old man was used to being arrogant, and he took advantage of it to deceive Huo Yan's glory.
Huo Yan was so happy that he pretended to be ignorant and gave them to him even though he knew the truth. Once these two articles were published, it was like announcing to the world in advance that the newborn baby was the crown prince of the Han Dynasty. He took advantage of Huo Yan because Huo Yan knew the truth about this matter very well. He was so happy that he even gave Dongfang Shuo a bottle of so-called emperor's wine.
The emperor's royal wine is only presented to the emperor. If others want to taste it, they can only go to the black market or smuggle it. A jar costs five thousand gold and is still in short supply. The gimmick of "only the emperor can drink it" is too big. All high-ranking officials and wealthy people always want to taste it secretly to show their ability. As a source of smuggled wine, Huo Yan has plenty of it.
But in reality, this wine is just the lingering luster of a small, long-stored jar. The reason it's so expensive is simply because the drinker is no longer drinking wine, but power. The pleasure of being able to obtain the emperor's wine is naturally incomparable to ordinary wine.
Tea is a luxury for the upper class, and wine is a luxury for even higher class people. When these become standard necessities for a certain class, their prices naturally rise. Perhaps someone else's tea, wine, or cosmetics are better made than his, but if the upper class doesn't use them, the lower class will naturally ignore them.
As long as Huo Yan creates something big, money will flow from the pockets of the nobles into his pocket like water.
Business is nothing more than making money move.
Despite his unruly ways, Dongfang Shuo was widely acknowledged for his literary talent; otherwise, Emperor Wu of Han would not have singled him out to write a fu poem for Liu Ju. He composed a fu poem in the theater, drinking wine and adding ink, unadulterated effortlessly. Even among scholars, Sima Qian and Zhuo Wenjun were highly impressed by this poem, praising it profusely.
Now Dongfang Shuo is holding this fu in his hands.
Liu Che glanced at it and personally refilled Dongfang Shuo's glass of wine, praising him, "This article is not a waste of your precious money."
Dongfang Shuo, the old wine drinker, took the wine, sipped it, and savored it carefully. Then he opened his eyes, looking at Huo Yan standing beside him, as if drunk. Huo Yan noticed his gaze and raised his drooping eyelashes slightly, just enough to see his smiling face, his youthful face as beautiful as jade.
Dongfang Shuo closed his eyes again, pretending to be drunk, and said cunningly, "I have the blessing of the emperor and the prince. I have this good wine, which has enabled me to achieve success in one fell swoop!"
Liu Che was delighted to hear this and wanted to reward Dongfang Shuo.
But then he heard the old man Dongfang shamelessly say to Liu Che, "I can't afford to drink the emperor's wine. I, an old man, am so proud of myself for drinking so much!"
Liu Che also knew that the old drunkard had drunk too much. He waved Huo Yanjin over and asked with a smile, "Ayan, do you think we can reward this old man?"
Huo Yan bowed lightly and continued, "I will prepare a carriage and fetch wine for Lord Dongfang."
Liu Che laughed heartily. He tapped Huo Yan's nose and said mischievously, "Then I'll rely on Master Huo to get rid of this old fellow."
Huo Yan lowered his eyes slightly, looking shy, his eyes sparkling.
"Uncle, can I drive the carriage to send Master Dongfang off myself, and let Master Dongfang sit behind me?"
Liu Che waved his hand and let Huo Yan try without caring whether he could drive or not.
Huo Yan became excited and ran towards Dongfang Shuo, directing people to carry him outside.
Dongfang Shuo saw Huo Yan's eager look and suddenly wanted to die.
He was sitting in the car driven by Huo Yan, and he was not far from death.
At the gate of Weiyang Palace, Huo Yan smiled and pulled at the reins of his horse. Dongfang Shuo struggled to run, wailing, "Huo Ayan! You don't want to die! I still want it!"
Huo Yan ordered someone to tie him to the carriage railing and then whip the horse's butt.
Surprisingly, he drove very steadily.
Dongfang Shuo's dog stealthily lifted the curtain, poked its head out, and finally sat down next to him.
"You kid can actually drive?"
Huo Yan chuckled. His movements were skillful, unlike his usual appearance of being unburdened. He simply raised the reins in his hand and gave a soft shout. Two sturdy chestnut horses pulled the carriage steadily and slowly drove it into the main street of East City.
"I have been proficient in the Six Arts since I was young."
Dongfang Shuo smiled but said nothing. He took the reins and said, "You've had a smooth life, but you had a prince. Ah Yan, the flowers and wine of today are only the ointment of tomorrow. The more time passes, the more suffering you will suffer."
He was a shrewd and experienced man. He paused, then said to Huo Yan with a half-smile, "Have you seen the vast dust and mud? If you are not careful, you will perish in the dust. Sometimes I wish you knew nothing, could do nothing, and could just lie back and sleep soundly."
The eldest prince will eventually grow up. Will the Wei family still be your Majesty's subjects by then? Even if your Majesty believes it, there will always be people with ulterior motives.
He treated Huo Yan like his own child. Otherwise, why would someone with a non-stick personality like him create trouble for himself over something that hadn't even begun to happen? But that was all I had to say.
Is the Wei family the prince's maternal family or the emperor's in-laws?
"Your uncle is really good at raising children."
If you and your brother were just mediocre people, your future would be better.
But now, the emperor will not be afraid of the relationship between you and the eldest prince, unless the emperor is a saint.
The eldest prince will not always be a child.
The wheels rolled on the cobblestone road, making a "gurgling" sound, which blended with the noisy voices of people on the street.
The East Market was located northwest of Chang'an City, across Hengmen Street from the West Market. The market was surrounded by a wall with two gates on each side. Streets within the gates formed a "well" pattern, with a market tower in the center. Merchants gathered here, and shops lined the streets. A wide variety of goods were available, ranging from exquisite items like jade and jewelry from various regions to everyday necessities like fruits and vegetables.
It was midday, and Chang'an Avenue was bustling with activity, bustling with people. Silk thinner than a cicada's wing fluttered gently in the breeze, shops lined the streets, and the rich aroma of wine wafted from the theater.
The cries of street vendors rose one after another, and Chang'an was prosperous like a dream.
Huo Yan was in the bustling city. He grabbed the reins and sat cross-legged in front of the carriage. "Master Dongfang, although I can't control other people's thoughts, Huo Yan can control himself."
Who are they? They are nothing. I only choose myself.
Yes or No, this guy chose or.
Dongfang Shuo laughed, got off the car and asked someone to bring some wine.
He wanted to get drunk, just to see the boy's clear eyes at this moment, as if he had returned to his youth.
"Chang'an is great! There are floating lights!"
[Your Majesty, please forgive me for being blunt, but what are you talking about?]
[He doesn't know anything, isn't Yan just a little idiot?]
[Ayan, don't listen to him. Uncle spent so much money, and you just want to be the prime minister's baby!]
Huo Yan rolled his eyes and silently complained, "With your IQ, you're still drooling even after being cured."
[You rebellious son, get out of here!]
[Brother Yan, is that so? Ababa Ababa…]
…
Huo Yan himself did not take it seriously, but for some reason Lord Father Yan was so eager to see him that he sent invitations day and night. In order to see him, he even asked Wei Qing to make a special visit to him and talked to Huo Yan for half a year.
In this year, Wei Zifu became the owner of the Pepper Room because of Lord Father Yan's memorial.
I don’t know if it’s because Huo Yan has been with Zhufu Yan for too long, Zhufu Yan no longer likes to go out and act domineeringly, but he likes to nag Huo Yan more and more, from the Enfeoffment Order and Shuofang County to so-and-so who didn’t give him way today and was tripped by him.
It's rare to see someone this petty.
In the first and second years of Yuanshuo, he ran away under the nagging of Lord Father Yan Jiantian.
When the grass was green and the birds were singing, after Lord Father Yan finished writing the last stroke of the letter, he stared at Huo Yan, who was working on the small curved plow, as if he had rubbed silk from his eyes to wrap Huo Yan up and protect him from the wind and waves.
Huo Yan noticed his gaze, put down the small curved plow, straightened his back, looked back at Zhufu Yan from afar, and his bright almond-shaped eyes suddenly curved slightly.
"Old man, what are you looking at me for?"
At this moment, Lord Father Yan's ugly face had an indescribable look.
He crawled on his knees, took Huo Yan's hand, and patted it repeatedly, as if devoting all his tenderness to him. His words were filled with earnest instruction. Liu Che was a typical emperor who would abandon the donkey after it had served its purpose, outwardly kind but ruthless. Look, now that Liu Ju is born, my dear. When Liu Ju is older, even if the emperor is dying, you, a Huo, must keep your distance from the Wei family and avoid too much contact with Liu Ju.
If you don't make a decision when you should, you will suffer the consequences.
Huo Yan had only one thought in mind when he heard this. He asked, "Does my uncle know what you think of him?"
Zhufu Yan's beard trembled, and he realized that he had complained too much. He knocked Huo Yan on the head and said, "Listen carefully, kid!"
Huo Yan said innocently, pointing at his Wei family's signature almond-shaped eyes, "I don't look like someone who can be unrelated to the Wei family or Ju'er."
Wei and Huo are inseparable.
"Besides," he smiled, looking hopeful, "I feel that His Majesty treats me differently."
After saying this, he vomited, let alone Lord Father Yan.
Lord Father Yan obviously felt that he was sick again. After a moment of hesitation, he knocked hard again.
"No matter how much he loves you, don't try to anger the emperor." He looked secretive, "And never trust the emperor."
Huo Yan covered his head, picked up his memorial, and groaned, "Then you still believe that he can protect you from the wrath of the princes? Isn't that just a dream?"
Lord Father Yan snatched the letter and scolded, "Don't meddle in your father's affairs, little boy. Go back!"
Huo Yan closed his eyes slightly, his cheeks tense as he sneered, "You've been so smart your whole life, but you're trying to be like Chao Cuo. It's really heartbreaking to see you actively provoking others just to help your uncle reduce the number of tribes."
Zhufu Yan's anger suddenly boiled over, and he roared with his neck stiffened, "Get out! Who are you doing this for the Emperor?! Enfeoffment Order, do you know what it is?! It's the fruit of my life's work! If you die for it, I'll be the next Shang Yang!"
Lord Father Yan was not a minister of the emperor, he was just Lord Father Yan, and he died for the Enfeoffment Order.
Therefore, he must write a letter to Qi, using the fact that the King of Qi had committed adultery with his sister to shock and anger the King of Qi, and insist on the King of Qi's death, so that Qi can be recovered. There will be no more obstacles to his decree of enfeoffment, so what is his life worth?
Obviously, the person who understands Zhufu Yan the best should be Huo Yan!
The raging rage in Huo Yan's heart suddenly subsided, and in the blink of an eye, only a tiny bit of green smoke remained, and even the smoke was floating intermittently.
After a long time, he sighed, turned around, pressed Zhufu Yan's temples with both hands, and rubbed them methodically, with a gloomy face as if he had just had a quarrel.
"I'll just spread a rumor for you about this matter, just wait and see!"
Zhufu Yan tried to shake him off, but Huo Yan refused and held his head tightly. The two men started pulling on Zhufu Yan's head, but in the end, Zhufu Yan was no match for his youth and endless strength, so he had to put his head down and let him rub it.
"What's the point of living? I know that spreading a rumor can also kill the King of Qi. But how can it be the same?" Lord Father Yan disagreed, a strange look on his face. "In ancient times, Shang Yang was torn to pieces by chariots for his reforms. If I die now, and drag a few princes with me, wouldn't this way of dying be grand enough? It will not bring shame to the reputation of my reforms!"
Huo Yan knocked his head down directly, causing it to hit the table hard. Zhufu Yan was hit by his sudden movement and came into close contact with the table, with the flesh on his face piled up.
"I originally thought you were sacrificing yourself for your ideals, but I didn't expect you were tired of living and wanted to find a chance to die properly. Then come to me. I'll give you a death that will be spectacular."
Lord Father Yan was unsure of his strength. "Speak!"
Huo Yan laughed and dragged him to find Liu Che.
"Uncle, he doesn't want to live anymore! I want to help him. Release the horses from Shanglin Garden and let him be trampled to death!"
Lord Father Yan refused, "I want to be famous forever!"
Huo Yan smiled and called out to Sima Tan, the historian. "Uncle Sima, please record his death as it happened: a flurry of hooves, a mess of blood and flesh, skin torn and flesh ripped, tendons and bones broken, the horse galloping non-stop, and he died with a smile on his face! Oh, and you should also add, he was the greatest idiot of all time."
Sima Tan silently chanted the Living King of Hell in his heart, and said, "Historians should only record history, not add emotion to it."
Liu Che asked Huo Qubing to cover the ears of Liu Ju who was crawling in his arms.
Huo Yan said sympathetically, "Then I'll go find Brother Sima. I just happened to have promised to publish a book for him. And I'll add this paragraph to the script, too."
Lord Father Yan suddenly didn't want to die anymore.
He had no doubt that Huo Yan would make up something after his death.
What a fool of all time! He wouldn't want this even if you kill him.
Huo Qubing silently covered Liu Ju's ears tighter.
Then Huo Yan asked a fatal question, "Will you die tomorrow?"
Zhufu Yan was silent for a moment, then pulled Huo Yan away.
Huo Yan did not retreat. He asked, "If the horses are not enough to turn into meat paste, I will add another one."
There was silence in the Weiyang Palace.
Finally, Liu Che broke the silence and said, "Qubing, take Juer back to your aunt!"
Huo Yan refused to do it, and he was always unhappy.
"No, if I leave right after arriving, people won't think I'm brothers anymore."
Liu Che told Huo Yan to get out of the way and pick up the child, then he kicked Zhufu Yan twice, "I don't even bother with this bastard, why are you bothering him! If he begs Qu Bing to release my horse tomorrow, you have to pay for it!"
Zhufu Yan lowered his head silently, and then was hit by two legs on the left and right.
Liu Che narrowed his eyes as he looked at Sima Tan, who was stretching his legs. Sima Tan covered his face with his hands, "I am truly furious. My family has been historians for generations, and yet Qian'er follows Young Master Huo and writes unofficial history every day! What he writes is simply disgusting!"
Liu Che coughed and asked, "How wild is it?"
Huo Yan held Liu Ju and poked his head out, grinning. "Qin Wang Zheng was a giant black fox transformed, specializing in seducing men's souls. Before he died, he seduced the souls of Li Si and Fusu, which is why the two others who followed him were so brainless."
Everyone was silent again.
Huo Qubing's silence was even more deafening. Don't ask, the only thing he had read was The Little Earring's Gratitude Story written by his brother, and the Qin Emperor in that play was also a vixen.
I didn't expect a new edition to be released. Sima Qian must have been bewitched by the Qin Emperor. He believed whatever his brother said.
Liu Che rubbed his hands and asked, "Do you have enough money to publish a book? Give me one first."
Huo Yan gave him a look that showed he understood.
[Good boy, why is Ah Yan so against Brother Zheng?]
[Ayan pure hate warrior.]
[Big vixen, alluring, nothing wrong with that.]
[I had the pleasure of watching The Little Earring's Gratitude, and Ah Yan absolutely loved his little earring.]
[It is said that the prototype is his teacher.]
[Oh, so it is known that the little earring is repaying the Qin Emperor's kindness. The little earring is Teacher Ayan, which means Teacher Ayan and the Qin Emperor had an affair.]
[Oh my god, is unofficial history so wild?]
[I want one too.]
…
Lord Father Yan finally didn't want to die anymore, but he developed a dislike for horses and now rode a donkey whenever he went out.
Since spending Huo Yan's money, Chunyu Tiying has become increasingly enthusiastic about adopting orphans. She's said to have adopted five thousand now. Aside from some studying medicine, the rest work with waterwheel builders, helping them create waterwheels and farm tools. Chunyu Tiying has already traveled to the Southwestern Yi. Huo Yan sent a letter hoping she wouldn't die there, as that would be a burden for him to use her reputation.
Huo Yan had originally left the workers' children at the printing factory to study with the doctors, but they have now been assigned to the tea factory as managers and teachers. He also plans to build a few primary schools at the tea factory, first as a pilot project, and then move them to Chang'an to improve the literacy rate of the factory workers.
The second year of Yuanshuo, summer.
In the Queen's Pepper Room, a glass ice jar is placed in a prominent place in the hall. It is filled with crystal clear ice cubes, and a hint of cold air emanates from the jar. On the table in the hall are crystal clear ice cream and crispy and sweet pears rinsed with well water.
A circle of people sat or leaned in the room: the first of the imperial daughters, Princess Wei Chang; the third, Princess Zhuyi; the fourth, Princess Shiyi; and Wei Junru's son, Gongsun Jingsheng; Huo Yan; and Huo Qubing. A group of half-grown children sat together, chatting idly. It had to be done; Wei Qing was unavailable today, so the Empress summoned him for questioning, bringing Wei Shaoer and Wei Junru with him.
Huo Yan put his hands on his legs and chatted with the guard chief and others, while reaching out and putting the crawling Liu Ju into Huo Qubing's arms.
Huo Qubing didn't say anything, just closed his eyes quietly. Liu Ju didn't look like Liu Che's son, so he also didn't say anything quietly.
Amidst the bustle, the two of them seemed to be in meditation.
Huo Yanfeng stared at Liu Ju out of the corner of his eye, and finally determined that this baby was naturally quiet.
He paused, stopped talking, poked Huo Qubing, and whispered in his ear, "Give me the child."
Huo Qubing gestured for him to hold it himself.
Huo Yan hugged Liu Ju directly, squeezed his little hand gently, and asked with a smile, "Ju'er, do you still recognize your brother?"
Liu Ju pursed his lips shyly, called him "brother", and lowered his head to snuggle into Wei Chang's arms.
Huo Yan sighed a little.
This child is naturally quiet, lovingly cared for by his mother and sisters. His brother, a quiet one who does everything for him, makes him even more delicate. But this isn't a flaw; if used effectively, it can be a strength. A delicate prince under a powerful emperor isn't necessarily a bad thing. A quiet, unobtrusive nature isn't a problem; it's the skill that matters. Sometimes, being too similar can lead to problems.
However, being weak all the time is not a good thing. It is not a good thing.
On the other side, Wei Zifu was worried about this matter, so she summoned Wei Qing.
The prince is weak and frail, unlike his biological father.
Even though the prince is still young and the only prince in the palace, and with the rise of Wei Qing, Huo Qubing and Huo Yan, the position of crown prince is almost certain, but as a mother, Wei Zifu cannot help but think more deeply.
The emperor was unfeeling and had lost their former affection for her. He now doted on Lady Wang, and the birth of a second prince was only a matter of time. By then, the emperor would be looking at the emperor's affection for his mother and the support of his family; these were merely icing on the cake. The prince's own qualifications would be the key.
Queen Mother Wang was not fond of Wei Zifu, but she loved her only grandson very much. However, she would occasionally reveal in her words that Liu Ju's temperament was very different from that of the emperor.
The Queen Mother might have said it casually and forgotten it later, but Wei Zifu would be terrified. If the little prince was still so shy and introverted in two years, and with the birth of the new prince, she was afraid that her son's situation would be difficult.
When she said this, the Wei sisters all sighed.
Only Wei Qing said calmly, "It's okay, Ah Yan was like this before, just sharpen his sword."
Wei Zifu was overjoyed, so she asked him to go back and cut the sword and give it to Liu Ju personally. Liu Ju liked Wei Qing and would definitely practice sword skills when the time came.
While they were thinking about this, Huo Yan carried Liu Ju in his arms and took a group of children to Cangchi to pick lotus.
Weiyang Palace cleverly channeled flowing water, which meandered into the rippling Cang Pond. Along the pond, meticulously crafted gardens feature grotesque rocks and overlapping rockeries, each with its own unique shape and form, a truly breathtaking spectacle. Each step offers a new scene, each connected to the next, like a natural painting, a breathtaking spectacle.
As a royal retreat for leisure, entertainment, and sightseeing, the pond and gardens spanned a vast expanse, abundantly planted with peach and willow trees, flowers, and grasses. Each season offered a unique and captivating scene.
It's summer now, and looking up, lotus flowers are in full bloom, red like fire, pink like clouds, and white like snow. Some petals are fully opened, revealing tender yellow lotus pods; others are just showing their tips, about to bloom.
Dragonflies fly lightly among the flowers, touching the water and creating ripples.
Huo Yan put Liu Ju down, asked his servants to prepare a small boat, and then pulled Huo Qubing and others into the pond.
When they got down to the pond, the servants were worried and followed them in a small boat.
Huo Qubing sat at the bow, watching Huo Yan struggling to paddle, and slowly uttered two words, "Too weak."
When Huo Yan heard Huo Qubing's evaluation, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile of success, "Oh, you think I row too slowly, why don't you try it?"
As he spoke, his hands kept moving. He deliberately slapped the water with a paddle, splashing a large amount of water, and the water droplets fell on Huo Qubing with crackling sounds.
Huo Qubing frowned slightly, but a hint of mischief flashed in his eyes, "Then it's as you wish."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stood up nimbly, took the oar, and with a few seemingly casual strokes, the boat suddenly sped forward like an arrow, nimbly weaving through the dense lotus leaves, startling a flock of water birds into flight. The guard and the other children screamed with excitement, and even little Liu Ju joined in, his face filled with excitement and surprise.
After a while, the boat went deeper and deeper and finally rushed into the most densely populated area of lotus.
Huo Yan reached out to grab a blooming red lotus, but his body was a little unstable due to the swaying of the boat. He withdrew his hand angrily. He handed his sword to Huo Qubing and pointed at the lotus, saying, "Brother, this is mine."
Huo Qubing nodded.
Wei Shao also picked a flower and pointed to another one not far away and said, "Brother Qubing, I want one too!"
Huo Qubing also nodded.
He never refused requests from his younger siblings. He noted the lotus's location. The leaves were densely packed, like a veil of green. Some stood gracefully, others shyly half-hidden, their fragrance lingering. The young man stood at the bow, his sword unsheathed, a flash of cold light blinding the eyes.
He spun, his sword moving with his heart, the sharp force of his sword enveloping the wind. Every swing of his sword brought a rustling sound. Occasionally, the blade brushed against a lotus leaf, and where the leaf broke, fresh juice splashed out, splashing onto the sleeves and hems of his robes. The lotus swayed in the sword's shadow, its petals falling like pink and white snowflakes.
Huo Qubing twirled and moved with a swift, graceful movement, petals dancing around him. His movements sent ripples across the lake, startling the fish hiding beneath the lotus leaves and sending them scattering. Huo Yan took the opportunity to tap the water's surface, admiring the fish's panic.
Lotus leaves and blossoms gave way under his sword, and soon, Huo Qubing had cleared a space around him. Pausing his sword, Huo Qubing looked around and reached out to pick the lotus blossoms he had reserved. The blossoms had slender stems, and were nearly chopped off, so they were easily grasped with a simple snap. Carefully, Huo Qubing gathered the blossoms in his arms and distributed them to the children one by one.
The eyes of the children were almost shining like stars, especially Liu Ju, who had not seen much of the world and fell into Huo Yan's trap. He was determined to learn sword fighting and lotus fighting from his brother Qubing.
Later, Liu Ju finally grew up and learned sword from his long-cherished brother Qubing. Then he understood the meaning of his brother A Yan's words: Huo Qubing teaches people, and even dogs won't play with him.
Brother Qubing, it’s not like you just have to teach me once and I’ll learn it.
Brother Yan, could you please stop reading that book about three years as a prince and five years as a simulator? If you have some free time, why not go make some money?
【Author’s words】
According to my son, the martial ethics enlightenment is to pretend to be cool and act great.
Practicing sword skills to show off.
In the future, my son wants to study. A Yan said: "He will speak eloquently and do something big."
According to my son: Nian, work hard for a hundred days, I want to do it too.
This trick always works to fool children.
I originally wanted to write about a knife, but I was about to cough it up into a piece of trash, so I gave up writing it because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to catch my breath.
A Yan's series of books include "Three Years as Prince, Five Years as Simulation" and "Five Years as Emperor, Three Years as Simulation".
Small earrings: Xiuying.
Xiuying's name means little earrings.
Unofficial history may not be true, but it is definitely unofficial.
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