xymnovel Chapter 104 Smiling
Chapter 104 Smiling
Chapter 104 Smiling (Ninth Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets)
Liu Chen and Liu Zan arrived relatively late.
After the carriage stopped, the two immediately got out. Han Ji's second son, Han Li, who was guarding the gate, rushed forward to greet the two princes when he saw them arrive.
"I was unaware of the arrival of the Prince of Xinping and the Prince of Beidi. I have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me," Han Li said hastily, bowing deeply.
He was twenty-eight years old this year, handsome in appearance, tall and slender, slightly thin, and dressed in magnificent attire. He and his elder brother Han Tai were both renowned for their talent and were famous scholars in Shu County. However, perhaps because of Han Ji's teachings, or perhaps because he felt that the world was dark, he did not take up an official post and remained a commoner.
With his fourth brother around, Liu Chen took his brother's position as the leader.
"No need for formalities. How is the teacher?" Liu Zan stepped forward to help Han Li up, asking with a solemn expression.
"He was talking to me this morning when he suddenly fainted and hasn't shown any signs of waking up yet," Han Li said, his eyes red as he wiped them with his sleeve.
"I see." Liu Zan and Liu Chen exchanged a heavy glance, their hearts heavy. If Han Ji didn't wake up, then they wouldn't get to see him one last time.
The two were deeply saddened, but there was nothing they could do.
Han Li led Liu Chen and Liu Zan into the residence and arranged for them to share a room with the Crown Prince and other princes.
Because Han Ji had many disciples and relatives during his lifetime, many guests rushed to his side upon learning of his serious illness.
They should not share a room with the princes and the crown prince.
Therefore, the princes and crown princes were each given a separate room.
Liu Chen and his six brothers had nothing to say. They simply nodded. Liu Chen and Liu Zan went to their seats and knelt down to wait.
The same is true for others.
The crown prince was deeply grieved and sorrowful, his eyes red, and he sobbed softly.
The kings looked somber, though the King of Anding and the King of Xihe were secretly pleased.
Han Ji was a renowned scholar in Shu and quite influential among the elite. Although he had also taught various princes, his primary position was Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, serving as the Crown Prince's teacher.
Although Han Ji later resigned from his official post, his influence remained. He maintained a very close political relationship with the Crown Prince.
Han Ji's death is detrimental to the Crown Prince, but beneficial to them.
The brothers Liu Chen and Liu Zan were very clear about their brothers' positions and thoughts, but they remained indifferent and watched from the sidelines.
Liu Chen sat for an hour.
Han Ji showed no signs of waking up.
Upon receiving the news, the emperor dispatched a court official with imperial credentials to offer his condolences.
The brothers Han Tai and Han Li went out to greet the angels, and the guests watched, feeling quite honored.
He was a high-ranking official in the court during his lifetime, and the emperor sent people to comfort him before his death. He may also receive posthumous honors.
Life is like this, so there's nothing to regret.
The angel had just left when Han Ji woke up.
"How is it? Is it all better?" Liu Zan asked Han Tai before he could.
Han Tai shook his head, his expression heavy, and said, "Reporting to the Prince of Xinping, the imperial physician said that my father..." He couldn't continue, tears streaming down his face.
Liu Zan and Liu Chen felt a chill in their hearts. Han Tai cried for a while, then composed himself and led the Crown Prince and the other princes to see Han Ji.
in the bedroom.
Han Ji sat leaning against the bed, looking quite well. The maids around him, however, wore expressions of sorrow. This was a final burst of energy before death.
"Teacher!" Crown Prince Liu Xuan burst into tears, cried out in anguish, and rushed forward.
When Han Ji saw the Crown Prince and the other princes enter, he dared not sit down and struggled to get up, but was stopped.
Seeing Liu Xuan crying so bitterly, a look of relief appeared on his face. He glanced at the princes, his gaze lingering on Liu Chen for a moment.
He then spoke with the crown prince and the other princes for a while.
Although he didn't say it explicitly, these were his last words before parting ways.
Liu Xuan wept uncontrollably, while Liu Chen and the others wore somber expressions.
Han Ji spoke for a long time, then suddenly stopped and said to the Crown Prince and the princes, "This old minister has said everything he wanted to say."
The crown prince and the other princes nodded, understanding that this was a signal to see the guests out. The father and son surely had more to say.
Crown Prince Liu led the princes away from Han Ji's bedroom.
Liu Chen sighed and looked back one last time. Before dawn, it was all gone.
Suddenly, Han Tai came running out and tugged at Liu Chen's sleeve. Liu Chen stopped in surprise and turned to look at Han Tai.
Han Tai nodded and bowed to the Crown Prince and the princes to express his apology.
The crown prince and other princes glanced at him, and Liu Zan frowned.
Although Liu Chen found it strange, he nodded and followed Han Tai back into the bedroom.
The crown prince and the other princes exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts, and returned to their original rooms.
Liu Chen re-entered Han Ji's bedroom, knelt before the bed, and asked, "What teachings does Master have for me?"
Han Ji looked up and nodded to Han Tai. Han Tai immediately called to the maids in the room, and together they turned around and walked out, closing the door behind them.
Liu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Your Majesty, this old minister is going to die today," Han Ji said.
Liu Chen instinctively wanted to offer comfort, but the words stuck in his throat, and he remained silent.
Han Ji said, "Therefore, this old minister will not leak the secret." He paused, then his face showed a complex expression—expectation, worry, and...
With a heavy heart, he asked, "Your Majesty, did you kill He Sui for the sake of the country?"
Liu Chen raised his head and looked at Han Ji.
Han Ji smiled and said, "Although I am old, I am not senile. Moreover, what the people in the outer court may not know, I do. Your Majesty is upright and studious by nature. I find it hard to believe that Your Majesty's personality would suddenly change so drastically because of falling from your horse. Therefore, I have always paid close attention to Your Majesty and can see the truth more clearly than others."
Liu Chen hadn't expected that Han Ji had always been paying attention to him—no, to the upright and studious Prince of the North.
Indeed, only the dead can keep secrets.
Han Ji is dying now. Liu Chen thought for a moment, then nodded slightly without answering.
The small gesture was enough to satisfy Han Ji.
He's happy.
I knew it all along; among the emperor's sons, Prince Chen was the only true talent. Indeed!
Han Ji was very pleased that Liu Chen had not gone astray; on the contrary, he had killed a great scourge for the country.
As for what happens next...
After thinking for a moment, Han Ji said to Liu Chen, "Your Majesty, this old minister is about to die. But this old minister is also still alive."
"It is said that no one knows a son better than his father. I know my two sons well. It wouldn't be difficult for them to become officials with a salary of a thousand bushels of grain in the capital or prefects in other provinces. I'll leave them to Your Majesty."
After a pause, Han Ji asked again, "Your Majesty, do you know the way to govern the world?"
"Please enlighten me, teacher." Liu Chen finally spoke to this kind and sincere elder.
"It's about the administration. Once the world goes bad, it's hard to restore order. Liu Zhang was weak and incompetent, so the prime minister restored order. Now that the emperor is weak and incompetent, only the king can restore order. If there are many good people, there will be few bad people. If there are many bad people, good people will be ostracized and persecuted."
"My two sons are quite capable; please make good use of them, Your Majesty."
At this point, Han Ji took a breath, paused, and then said to Liu Chen, "Your Majesty, there is a box beside my bed containing a copy of the Book of Han, specifically the Annals of Emperor Wen and the Annals of Emperor Xuan, which I personally transcribed."
"Among the emperors of my great Han Dynasty, none have surpassed these two in their ability to govern the country. Take this back and read it carefully."
"This old minister never expected this outcome, but I feel it's truly wonderful. Your Majesty, I entrust the empire of Zhaolie to you." At this point, Han Ji wept bitterly, almost fainting.
Liu Chen quickly stepped forward and sat down beside the couch, patting Han Ji's back to help him catch his breath. After he had caught his breath, Han Ji said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has one last matter to discuss."
"Please speak, teacher," Liu Chen said solemnly.
"Please treat the Crown Prince well," Han Ji said.
"Okay," Liu Chen replied.
Han Ji was somewhat surprised, carefully observed Liu Chen's expression, and then smiled with satisfaction. He nodded and let Liu Chen leave.
Liu Chen stood up, bowed to Han Ji, then bent down, picked up the box beside him, and turned to leave.
"Alas! Our Han dynasty still has a destiny." Han Ji laughed, his spirits high and his demeanor full of vigor.
He trusted Liu Chen; the boy had been strong-willed since childhood.
He was patient and waited for an opportunity to kill He Sui.
He also knew that Liu Chen had accumulated a lot of gold, silver, grain, and able-bodied men over the years.
As long as Liu Chen steps forward, this country will not perish.