98 Bi Luo
◎Ma Qian: Hey, I got promoted.◎
As Huo Qubing thought, Sima Qian was lucky, and it was indeed easy for Huo Yan to help Sima Qian.
He even used just one plate of dessert.
It was early summer, and the Huo family's courtyard was lush and green. It was past the sweet cherry season, and the grapes were also too early to ripen. Only apricots, plums, and peaches hung huddled on the trees, emitting a sweet fragrance. Huo Yan loved growing these fruits, and every year he personally picked the fruit and sent them to his friends, a great way to maintain close relationships.
Huo Qubing had nothing to do, so Huo Yan asked him to pick apricots.
Marquis Huo Guanjun did not comment, but directly took the slingshot and shot at the tree branch, knocking down dozens of apricots with one shot. He was better at this than the Xiongnu archers in terms of eyesight and bow skills, so the apricots were very obedient under his bullets and fell into the basket prepared by Huo Yan.
Huo Guang, who came to help, was dumbfounded.
Huo Yan distributed the apricots to various mansions, and seeing his dazed look, he couldn't help but laugh.
"How do you think he managed to hit the target every time?"
The shadows of the trees were mottled in the summer, and a few spots of light were imprinted on Huo Qubing's face, melting away the coldness and grimness on half of his face. He handed a peach to Huo Yan and another to Huo Guang.
That peach was the biggest on the tree. The ones from the first few trees had been given to my uncle and mother, so there were only three left, which the three of them ate.
Huo Guang took it in a hurry, but didn't eat it, just looked at it eagerly. He didn't expect that he also had it.
Huo Yan didn't take it, and Huo Qubing didn't call him either, he just took it for him. Huo Yan distributed the things very quickly, and when he finished everything, it was only an incense stick. He stretched out his hand to Huo Qubing, and Huo Qubing gave him the peach.
The peach was nothing special. Huo Yanru had someone peel it as usual. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned to look at Huo Guang. "Guang'er, do you want some Bi Luo?"
Huo Guang didn't react. He just looked at Huo Yan's smiling face and nodded stupidly.
Huo Yan smiled.
"Then make more today, and bring some back to Juer."
Huo Guang nodded obediently, and then a plate of peaches sprinkled with fine sea salt was brought to Liu Ju by Huo Guang.
The prince moved out of the Pepper Room Palace after his enlightenment and lived in the Feixiang Palace. Bowang Garden was not built until he came of age, so now Liu Ju and several of his friends were waiting for their teacher to come in the Feixiang Palace.
The Feixiang Palace is located to the north of the Front Palace and to the west of the Pepper Room Palace. As the Crown Prince's residence, its interior decoration is extremely luxurious, embroidered with ornate patterns, decorated with vermilion and green, and brocade, pearls and jade.
Due to Huo Yan's dominance and Liu Ju's request, Gongsun Jingsheng ultimately didn't join the Prince's study-along group. The group now consisted of Zhang He, Huo Guang, and Wei Kang's twenty-five children. Originally, there were three of Gongsun Hong's grandchildren, but upon Gongsun Hong's death, they all returned to mourn, with no sign of returning. Liu Ju sighed. He wanted to follow his brother A Yan's suggestion and form a brotherhood for Liu Bei—the Twenty-Eight Constellations sounded so nice—but he was a generous person and quickly let go of his worries. Twenty-Five Warriors sounded nice, after all.
Liu Ju was studying in the west side hall. Huo Guang entered the hall with ease. Shi Ye, standing behind him, placed the snacks Huo Yan had brought on the table. Although they were for Liu Ju, Huo Yan had packed dozens of them, filling the wooden box halfway up the table. Huo Guang smiled and beckoned Liu Ju and the others to come and eat. "These are what my brother Zhong asked me to bring. I'll share them with everyone."
He spoke nicely and looked good. Even if there were some of his study companions who looked down on him, they couldn't say a word against him. At most, they would just say thank you with a sullen face when accepting the things.
The tea and snacks at the Huo Mansion were famous for their deliciousness in Chang'an. Huo Guang brought them personally, or Huo Yan specifically asked for them. Liu Ju had no suspicion at all, and did not let the eunuch taste them in advance. He just kept saying that it was rare that Brother A Yan still remembered him, then he took a look at the number of Bi Luo, took the top two for himself, and distributed them to everyone according to their closeness.
Everyone was full of praise.
Only Liu Ju didn't eat a single bite. He pinched one and put it in his sleeve, intending to eat it secretly during class to pass the time. Wei Kang followed suit, eating two and then begging him to give him one. Liu Ju gave him his, and Wei Kang followed suit by stuffing one into his sleeve. Huo Guang, a well-behaved child, couldn't understand why the two of them would openly refuse to eat and then eat in class, so he had no choice but to take the wooden box containing the Biluo and return it to Shi Ye.
Shi Ye took it silently, and like a spirit stone, he walked back slowly, probably to report to Huo Yan.
Huo Guang's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and for some reason, he felt a chill down his spine.
Today, for Confucianism class, Jiang Gong arrived quickly. His lectures were as leisurely as ever, with drawn-out intonations and soft voices, reminiscent of the chirping of summer cicadas. Liu Ju felt drowsy, his head nodding. To clear his head, he secretly took a bite of the Bi Luo from his sleeve. The scent of the sea instantly filled his nostrils, and he wanted to stick out his tongue, but Jiang Gong was staring at him fiercely, so he had to lift the book high to cover his face.
What is this!
He was like this, and Wei Kang, who was not listening at all, was also like this. The sweet and salty taste made Liu Ju, who was greedy and sneaky in class, suffer a lot with Wei Kang's tongue. Wei Kang couldn't swallow it, nor could he spit it out. For a moment, he could only swallow it hard, his face flushed.
Liu Ju was standing slightly in front of Huo Guang, so Huo Guang could easily see the Crown Prince grinning as he covered his face with a book on his unique throne. Huo Guang was just wondering about this when Jiang Gong called him on the back and whipped him. So he put aside his concern for the Crown Prince and just memorized the book.
The clear and fluent sound of reading was heard. It had been a long time since Mr. Jiang had taught such a smart and well-behaved student. He was extremely satisfied with him. He changed his usual serious attitude and praised him repeatedly.
Huo Guang was as embarrassed as ever, but Liu Ju was incredibly complacent. Normally, he would have uttered a few words, as if he were being praised. But today, Liu Ju didn't. Lord Jiang, suspicious, rose to check on the Crown Prince, then locked eyes with the grinning Crown Prince beneath the book.
The prince's eyes rolled around. He had something in his mouth and couldn't speak. He could only smile at Mr. Jiang with his eyes curved in a flattering manner.
Hehe, well, Mr. Jiang, let’s not talk about that anymore. Brother Yan said, don’t hit someone who smiles at you.
In an instant, Mr. Jiang seemed to have returned to the years when he taught Huo Yan, and turned around to get the ruler.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Liu Ju threw the book to the ground and took two steps at a time. He rarely closed his mouth after studying with Huo Yanjin, and left the side hall in a dejected and gloomy manner.
Wei Kang then stood up and jumped out like a fish, just like Huo Yan and Huo Qubing did in the past.
If he doesn't get out now, he's going to swallow that choking thing!
In a blink of an eye, only two seats were left at the front of the hall, and Huo Guang and his other companions were looking at each other in bewilderment.
Huo Guang lowered his head silently, as if he was the one who was ashamed.
Mr. Jiang, holding a ruler, blew his beard and glared at the cat who had already vomited and was lying at the door with only the two cat heads with swirls of hair showing. He was very angry.
"All you do every day is learn from that bastard Huo Yan!"
The entire Feixiang Palace was filled with the roar of Lord Jiang.
Huo Guang was unable to advance or retreat and could only stay where he was, as if he had become a stone sculpture.
Jiang Gong cursed furiously, his words repetitively repeating "bastard" and "brute" with great frequency. Liu Ju, ever since following Huo Yan's path, had devoted himself solely to torturing others. He rubbed his ears and, amidst the cursing, tried to return to his seat.
Lord Jiang ordered someone to close the palace door.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's side hall refused entry to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Although Wei Kang loves to eat, he is a down-to-earth child after all. He panicked when he was locked outside.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince squatted on the ground with his hands in his pockets for a long time, then went around to the next room and climbed out the window.
"A Guang!"
He leaned over and called out to Huo Guang in a low voice.
Huo Guang lowered his head lower and lower, his face as red as a ripe peach, but he still suppressed his shame and walked on his knees to the window where he was.
"Your Highness."
Just as Liu Ju was about to speak, a book flew straight towards him, with Jiang Gong's roar behind it.
"Huo Guang!"
Huo Guang felt a chill on his back, and he could no longer see the prince's head.
The teacher was teaching the prince a lesson, but when the prince ran away, he was furious and dismissed the class immediately. The prince himself was peeping through the window to see Jiang Gong, and when Jiang Gong threw a book at him, he was so frightened that he quickly retreated and hid outside the hall.
Huo Guang was still waiting under the window. Lord Jiang asked him to go out as well. He bowed obediently and went out.
As soon as he went out, he saw two young men sitting in a row outside the hall, all looking at Huo Guang.
A bright light flashed in Liu Ju's eyes, "A Guang!"
As he said that, he gave him a hug.
For a moment, Huo Guang felt that he was blind. He didn't want to meet this prince, but his prince was urging him to do so, calling him Ah Guang all the time. He had no choice but to step forward and tentatively persuade Lord Jiang.
"Sir," he carefully peeked through the crack in the door and saluted Jiang Gong as everyone looked at him as a brave man, "the apricots at home are ripe. Brother Zhong said he sent some to you."
As soon as he said that, Lord Jiang thought of his traitor and calmed down. If it was Huo Yan, he would not leave. He was very cunning and could make excuses. After all, the prince was not as bad as Huo Yan.
He thought of Huo Yan, and a sense of calmness suddenly came over him.
The door opened.
After this battle, Huo Guang became famous. Liu Jurong gave him the title of Zhuge Liang and took Wei Kang and Huo Guang to find Huo Yan.
Huo Guang was dragged away, thinking that he was really blind.
It was rare for the Huo Mansion to be so lively and noisy.
Huo Qubing lazily opened his eyelids and happened to meet Huo Yan, who was surrounded by people. Huo Yan said nonchalantly, "Isn't this the new salt Sima Qian made? It's as white as snow and very beautiful. I thought it would look good next to Bi Luo. I guess it got mixed up with Bi Luo."
Liu Ju was so angry that his face pouty like a piglet, and when Huo Yan rubbed him, he became even angrier.
"That's all you've got. Even Biro tastes bad! You're so extravagant!"
Wei Kang nodded in response.
Huo Yan accepted everything with a smile and asked someone to make new food for them.
Huo Qubing lay on the swing and looked at Liu Ju who was eating happily, and asked Huo Yan to push the swing. Huo Yan chuckled and covered his mouth. When he turned his head away, Huo Yan fed him a peach.
Huo Qubing closed his eyes lazily.
[Qubing turns a blind eye every day.]
[He is completely closed, seeing through things but never speaking them out.]
[I'm so unlucky, there are only two salty ones.]
[It’s not bad luck, it’s inevitable.]
[Yes, Ah Yan only mentioned Ju'er's name to let him distribute it. This is something for Ju'er. Ju'er's sharing of Biluo is a sign of his respect for the virtuous and humble. Now it's Biluo, and in the future it will be gold, silver, and official positions. Ju'er's willingness to share it shows that he is a person of high status who can share things.]
[Whether or not the person in power distributes things is the key to whether you follow him or not. A painted pie is not as satisfying as the real thing.]
[And Er would definitely save the top one for himself because he had to eat first. He wanted the best because he was the boss.]
[This is the essence of imperial studies.]
Those who work with me get the upper hand, while those who are not good get the lower hand. Gradually, those who get the upper hand lose their share of the profits and are automatically marginalized.
[Dividing things is a science in itself, especially when it comes to things like this.]
[Ah Yan is bad.]
[I think Ah Yan has learned it, dog head.]
[I support Huo Ayan as emperor! ]
[Juer: Huh? I fed you the cake.]
…
Liu Ju and Wei Kang are two easy kids to coax. They just need to go out and play for half a day.
Before leaving, Huo Yan was considerate enough to give each of them some ground salt.
Liu Ju admitted that his brother A Yan was his best brother.
This case finally arrived at Emperor Liu Che's desk. Although Lord Jiang was not the kind of person who would file a complaint, the Weiyang Palace was full of the emperor's eyes and ears. No matter how big or small the prince's matter was, it was naturally reported to him.
Eating Biluo in class was no big deal, and Liu Che would not go out of his way to scold Liu Ju for this. Liu Che liked this precious son whom he had only when he was 30 years old, but when he went to see Liu Ju, he opened his mouth and asked, "How does Biluo taste?", which could not hide his mischievous nature at all.
Liu Ju acted timidly and fiercely, covering his face with his hands.
Liu Che laughed heartily, full of joy at watching the fun.
Liu Ju was filled with anger, and suddenly thought of Huo Yanping's teachings. He suddenly became furious and took out a small piece of dessert from the wooden box on the desk, sprinkled some salt on it, and stuffed it into Liu Che's mouth, letting his father taste the suffering he had suffered.
Liu Che was smiling when his mouth was blocked and he was forced to swallow a small mouthful of salt, which made him grimace in disbelief.
Liu Ju turned the tables and laughed so happily.
From this moment on, he suddenly realized.
Brother Ayan is his best brother.
The prince's salt was confiscated, then Huo Yan was summoned by the emperor, and then Sima Qian was promoted to the prefect of Jiaodong.
The sudden increase from 600 shi to 2,000 shi was too much for Sima Qian, who had just sold scallops.
He got promoted?
This officialdom is nothing like what his father described.
There's absolutely no danger.
【Author’s words】
A Yan: Yes, yes, he was promoted.
From then on, Liu·Nizi·Ju was online.
Ru'er is the little prince taught by A Yan personally. If you have any problems, go to him.
Hehehe, I usually write a sequel in chapter 99, and it must be a sweet one. I wish everyone in this story a long and happy life.
So tell me what you want to see.
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