Chapter 65 The Silly Boys of the Liu Family
Liu Chang didn't know what had happened to Madam Qi.
Both Liu Bang and Empress Lu kept secret the events of that day. Even the people in the palace had no idea what had happened. They only knew that Concubine Qi was no longer favored and had moved out of her original residence, where Ruyi was the only one living now.
My father hasn't held a banquet for a long time. It is said that my father has not been in good health recently, and he has summoned seven or eight new imperial doctors from all over the place.
However, judging from the fact that my father called Madam Cao and Madam Shi in to serve him, there probably isn't any big problem.
Liu Bang did not hold a banquet, but Empress Lu did. It was not really a banquet, it was just a separate meal for her fourth brother and his biological mother to have dinner together. Of course Liu Chang would not miss it. He had been preparing for the evening banquet since morning and had been hungry all day.
Therefore, as soon as the banquet started, Prince Chang began to eat voraciously. He had a huge appetite. Liu Heng paid his respects to Empress Lu, but Liu Chang ignored Mrs. Bo and just buried his head in cooking. Empress Lu twitched her face and cleared her throat.
Liu Chang raised his head abruptly. He was still quite alert to his mother's warning. With his mouth full of food, he said with a vague and silly smile: "Put... reduce... thin... um... um... "
Madam Bo chuckled, "He will definitely be a strong and sturdy boy in the future... Among the princes, apart from the crown prince, the young master is the most sincere..."
Empress Lü shook her head and said, "This stubborn boy is incapable of accomplishing anything."
Madam Bo asked the palace maid to bring a gift, but it was not for Empress Lu, but for Liu Chang. It was a new shirt, all red with white cloud and dragon patterns, and white beasts embroidered on the front and back. Liu Chang couldn't take his eyes off it at first sight.
"I had nothing to do, so I made clothes for all the princes. This is the long one... Come, try it on and see if it fits you."
"Hahaha! Okay!"
Liu Chang stretched out his hand to take the clothes, and put them on in a hurry.
“Ahem…”
Empress Lu cleared her throat again. Liu Chang was startled, then slowly took off his clothes, handed them back, and said hesitantly, "I dare not accept such a great gift..."
"This was originally prepared for you, so please don't be polite."
"okay!!"
This time, Liu Chang put it on directly and buttoned it up. He smiled silly and showed his new shirt left and right.
"It fits nicely."
Liu Chang continued to giggle, and Empress Lu finally couldn't help it, "Why don't you thank me now!"
"Oh, thank you Mrs. Bo!"
"You're welcome, sir."
Next, it was the adults' turn to chat. Empress Lu and Madam Bo did not talk about state affairs. They only talked about extremely boring things, such as clothes, matching, decorations and so on. Liu Chang was only concerned with eating meat, and Liu Heng sat next to him, also silent.
After chatting for a whole night, Mrs. Bo was finally ready to leave with Liu Heng. Liu Chang and Empress Lu went to see them off. After they left, Liu Chang hurriedly pestered Empress Lu.
"Mother...Look, my shirt is really nice."
"Um."
"Alas, I just don't have new skirt..."
"Just make do with what you have."
"How can that be possible? Since you are wearing new clothes, then the top, skirt, shoes, laces, crown, and hairpins should all be new. Only then will they look good... Mother~~"
"You are not trying to entertain people with your beauty. Why don't you improve your abilities as a man and indulge in beautiful clothes?!"
Empress Lu scolded Liu Chang severely, and Liu Chang lowered his head in grievance.
…
"Hahaha, how about it, does it look good?"
"This top, this skirt!"
Liu Chang walked around the Tianlu Pavilion for a few times, dusted off his clothes, and deliberately lifted up his skirt to show off his new shoes, with a proud look on his face. He looked at Ruyi proudly, waiting for her to speak. In the past, every time he wore a brand new set of clothes to show off, Ruyi would mock him: Are you getting married today?
But this time, Liu Ruyi ignored him.
He sat in his seat in a daze, his face pale, his eyes red and swollen, staring blankly ahead, as if he had suddenly become a lot shorter.
Liu Chang showed off for a moment, then sat down next to Ruyi helplessly, turning his head to look at him from time to time.
"As one wishes?"
"As one wishes?"
"elder brother?"
"Your Majesty?"
Liu Chang reached out his hand and poked Ruyi's face again . Ruyi then reacted and turned to look at him.
"Will you practice swordplay with me today?"
"How about going out to play for a while? Come with me to the banquet?"
"Going horseback riding?"
"Eldest brother... don't disturb your third brother... go sit over there."
The person who spoke was Liu Heng. Liu Chang was somewhat helpless, muttering something, and left. Liu Heng sat next to Ruyi, "Third brother, Gai Gong once said: People are born with misfortunes and blessings. Some things seem to be misfortunes now, but they may not turn into blessings in the future... The changes of yin and yang, the things involved, we cannot see through at present..."
"Mencius also said that if Heaven wants to bestow an important mission upon a person, it must first make his heart suffer, his muscles and bones tired, and his body suffer from hunger..."
"Um."
Liu Ruyi was finally no longer indifferent. He nodded and forced a smile.
After class, Liu Ruyi was about to get up and leave, but Liu Hui and Liu You teamed up to stop him again. Liu Hui's smile was a little bitter, and he said gently: "Third brother, I have been alone since I was young. Even if I want to see my biological mother, I have nowhere to go. I heard that my second brother is alone in the palace. If you feel... lonely, you can come to us... There is no one there... Only a few old palace maids..."
Liu Ruyi naturally agreed to them.
After walking for a long time, he heard someone calling him from behind, "Ruyi!!"
Ruyi stopped, turned around, and looked at Liu Chang in front of her helplessly.
"You don't look very energetic today."
Liu Ruyi looked at him quietly without replying.
Liu Chang untied his own belt hesitantly, looked at his new belt, hesitated for a long time, gritted his teeth, stepped forward, untied his brother's belt, and tied his own belt around Ruyi's waist. His belt was a little short, and he needed to use a lot of force to tie it. Liu Chang tied the belt, then looked at Ruyi again and nodded, "This is much more energetic!"
"you……"
Liu Ruyi looked at him in surprise, then smiled and touched his head.
"I appreciate your kindness, but you should carry it yourself, it's too short..."
Just as he was about to untie him, Liu Chang scolded him, "Don't touch my head! Also, don't accept my courtesy! Otherwise, I will make you build a palace for you in the future! And I will cook you alive!"
"Haha, are you going to build a palace or cook?"
"Um... repair the palace first, and then cook it after it's done?"
"I don't care! Just take it!"
Liu Chang said nothing more, tied Ruyi's lace, turned around and ran away.
When Liu Ruyi returned to the palace alone, the eunuchs all lowered their heads. The original palace maids were gone. These eunuchs were new. Ruyi was older and could not be alone with the palace maids. He was about to take off his clothes when he heard someone calling out, "Third brother..."
He slowly raised his head and saw Crown Prince Liu Ying walking out from the inner room. Liu Ying looked a little at a loss and didn't even dare to look his younger brother in the eye. He was very uneasy and had a complicated expression. Even so, he still walked to Liu Ruyi's side.
"Third brother...I..."
"elder brother……"
As soon as Liu Ruyi opened his mouth, tears began to flow. He stretched out his hand, held his forehead, and tears continued to fall.
"I'm sorry..."
As Liu Ying spoke, he hugged the brother in front of him into his arms.
"elder brother!"
Liu Ruyi burst into tears in his eldest brother's arms, and the two brothers hugged each other tightly.
"Brother, I don't blame you... I just miss my mother very much... I know she is not very smart... but I still miss her very much..."
"I know I know."
Liu Ying patted Ruyi's back gently.
"I promise, she won't suffer..."
…
Inside the Pepper Room, Liu Chang lowered his head while Empress Lu held a small wooden stick in her hand and gently clapped her hands.
"Tell me, where are your laces? I just changed them today... where did they go?"
"I...I switched with someone else!"
"With whom?"
"Follow...Follow Zhou Shengzhi!"
"You didn't leave the palace today?"
"I……"
"Do you want to tell the truth or do you want to be spanked?"
Liu Chang simply closed his eyes and said, "Go ahead and hit me!"
"Take the lace I gave you and give it to Ruyi... Is there really such an unfilial son in the world?" Empress Lu asked coldly.
Liu Chang was stunned, and hurriedly shouted: "No... Mother, I know you hate Madam Qi, and I hate her too, but Ruyi... He is very pitiful... I don't know how painful he is, but, if... If one day you leave me alone and I can't find you, I will definitely not be able to bear it..."
The wooden stick that Empress Lu raised was slow to fall. After hesitating for a long time, she finally put it away.
