What Liu Fang didn't expect was that the person who came was the eunuch of Qiuhua Palace, the eunuch beside his mother, Concubine Xian, who was ordered to take him back to the palace. He said that he missed his son. This was not the style of Concubine Xian.
When we returned to Ziwei City, it was already late and the twilight was getting darker. In front of the palace, we saw Yantuo, the eunuch of the palace, sternly lecturing a chamberlain. Liu Fang suddenly realized that it seemed that the emperor's father had visited his mother and summoned him back, which was probably Emperor Liu's intention.
"What did this person do to make Yan Zhongguan so angry?" Looking at Yan Tuo, who was a bit bossy, Liu Fang curled his lips and stepped forward to ask.
After hearing the question, Yantuo turned around and saw Liu Fang. He immediately changed his face, came up to greet him respectfully, bowed his hands and explained, "I'm here to see His Highness Zhao Gong! The official is hosting a banquet here. This servant is lazy and slow. You were so mean-spirited that you spilled the soup and had to be scolded!"
Liu Fang nodded and did not express any opinion on the matter. He just felt that the eunuch in front of him who was respectful to him seemed to be a bit showy.
Of course, as one of the two eunuchs with the highest rank and the most favored eunuchs in the Han Palace, and the head of the eunuchs in the palace, Yantuo also has the confidence and capital, plus the background of his old residence in Jinyang , which adds more qualifications.
After so many years, Yantuo has become the head of the chamberlain that even the Imperial City Secretary Zhang Dejun is quite afraid of. However, no one is perfect, and since he is an eunuch, in addition to serving Emperor Liu wholeheartedly, he also has some arrogance. In the history of the dynasty for thousands of years, eunuchs who are famous for their "virtue" are more precious than rare ones.
"Where are my parents?" Liu Fang seemed to be asking nonsense.
Yantuo replied: "The official is talking to the wise concubine!"
In response, Liu Fang went straight inside without waiting for his announcement. This was not the Chui Gong Hall, and there were no such big restrictions on Liu Fang. In the hall, a banquet table was almost set, and the food and wine were still steaming hot. It was time to wait for the food to be served.
At the table, in addition to Emperor Liu and Lady Zhe, there were three brothers Liu Yun, Liu Ai, and Liu Xiao who were also summoned to see them. Emperor Liu has also made a new rule. After the prince reaches the age of eight, he must live separately from his mother and live together in Longyuan Pavilion in the inner court.
Of the four sons born to Lady Zhe, the youngest eleventh son, Liu Xiao, is now almost ten years old. Liu Fang went inside to pay homage and came back in a hurry. He didn't even change into his military uniform, but he was even more heroic. The masculine and resolute temperament Liu Fang carried was also the favorite of Emperor Liu.
Because it was a family banquet, the atmosphere seemed very harmonious. Emperor Liu was also holding a girl in his arms. She was his sixth princess and the daughter of his wife. Her name was Liu Lei and she was born in the fourteenth year of Qianyou.
"Get up! Take your seats, we'll wait for the banquet to start!" After looking at Liu Fang, he realized that during his time in the army, his temperament had become more condensed, and the smile at the corner of Emperor Liu's mouth became softer.
"Yes!" Liu Fang was not polite.
Lady Zhe sat next to Emperor Liu, who was nearly forty years old. She was also middle-aged, not as heroic as before, but more dignified. Emperor Liu now also prefers graceful and beautiful women, but he only likes their bodies. He is emotionally invested in the favor of Concubine Gao and Zhe, second only to Queen Da Fu.
This kind of situation where only the six members of their family had a meal was relatively rare, and the scene was a little more warm. Lady Zhe couldn't be more satisfied with this. She just mentioned it, and Emperor Liu immediately sent someone to recall Liu Fang and have a meal with the family.
Regarding the education of her children, Lady Zhe has the most open-minded attitude. She is not as strict as Concubine Gao, nor as serious as Da Fu. She has always been relatively relaxed, but she attaches great importance to character and morality. Therefore, her children, even if they are lively like Liu Fang and Liu Yun, they always have a sense of righteousness.
When Liu Fang returned to the palace, the fifth child, Liu Yun, was most excited, as if he had found someone to complain to. Nowadays, the four princes each have their own responsibilities, and he is the eldest in the palace.
Liu Yun is almost seventeen years old, and he also wants to go solo. However, he does not receive special care like his brothers. Instead, he feels like he is being controlled everywhere.
Liu Fang could understand some of Liu Yun's psychology. After all, he had similar feelings at the beginning, so he only gave him a sympathetic look and showed his helplessness.
In comparison, Liu Fang cares more about his eleventh brother Liu Xiao. After all, he has been much weaker since he was a child and his health has never been good. As the eldest brother of his compatriot, he has always cared about him.
However, precisely because of his health, Liu Xiao has always been introverted and doesn't talk much. Therefore, when Liu Fang started to care about his body, Liu Xiao's thin face showed a hint of discomfort and even uneasiness, and he responded to the sound of mosquitoes, expressing his gratitude.
Looking at Liu Xiao's shy behavior, which he always does in front of his brothers, one can imagine how cowardly he is when facing others. Emperor Liu had to teach him a lesson, but he finally restrained himself, sighing silently in his heart, with a little pity in his eyes.
Among the lower-ranked princes, the eleventh son was the most sympathetic to Emperor Liu. He was so pitiful to sick children. As for the eighth prince Liu Ai, apart from his appearance, there was nothing extraordinary about him, and he was almost unknown among the other princes. In this atmosphere, he said a few words, but his light was still obscured by his two brothers.
The family had a dinner happily, and Emperor Liu naturally stayed with Concubine Xian that night. However, Emperor Liu left Liu Fang alone, apparently having other things to say.
"You should get used to being in the army!" Emperor Liu asked casually as the father and son sat opposite each other drinking tea, looking at his son who was getting stronger and stronger.
"Very good! It's just boring!" Liu Fang replied honestly.
"Want to fight?" Emperor Liu smiled lightly.
Liu Fang blurted out: "Why join the army if not to fight?"
"If you join the army just to fight, then you will always be just a general and never a commander!" Emperor Liu immediately refuted.
Liu Fang was slightly stunned. Of course, his thinking had limitations. Seeing this, Emperor Liu softened his tone and said, "Have you ever thought about my intention of asking you to join the Forbidden Army as a mere captain?"
Liu Fang tentatively replied: "Is it so that I can share the same clothes and eat with the soldiers and understand the situation of the grassroots officers and soldiers?"
Emperor Liu just nodded slightly, then showed a smile, with a trace of reminiscence on his face, and said with emotion: "You are luckier than me. Back then, I was entrusted by your grandfather to be the military envoy of Longqi, and it took a lot of effort to lead the army in the camp. With little thought, I managed to subdue those arrogant and powerful generals..."
"I have heard about your deeds. When you were sixteen years old, you took charge of the army. You made bold moves and made great efforts. In just half a year, you transformed the Longqi Army into a powerful army in Hedong. Naturally, I cannot compare with you. , it’s just a small team of people, and it’s not easy to integrate into it.” Liu Fang patted the dragon’s fart slightly.
Hearing this, Emperor Liu chuckled: "We are father and son, so we can be more honest. The stories spread by the Xuanwei Division cannot be fully believed, nor can they be taken entirely. What I did back then, now that I think about it, I think it was too reckless, and many Things were not done properly. If your grandfather had not been determined to train the Longqi Army and supported him from behind, I would have been expelled by the dissatisfied soldiers..."
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Liu Fang couldn't believe it: "With your wisdom and prowess, is there anyone who dares to disobey the rebels?"
"I was not a god back then. I was just a kid from the Prince of Taiyuan. Who could really take it seriously?" Emperor Liu said with a relaxed face: "Arrogant soldiers are hard to control and warriors rule the country. What was the state of the army at that time? I'm afraid it's not You can understand it. If you have time, you can ask Sun Li what his attitude and views were towards me as a military envoy. He has the most say..."
After a long word, Emperor Liu regained his seriousness and said directly to Liu Fang: "You have almost finished your stay in Long Jiejun. You can come back!"
"You want to transfer me?" Liu Fang seemed a little unhappy.
"Do you have a question?" Emperor Liu asked.
Liu Fang said: "Now, Fang has become one with the soldiers of our unit, and the officers and soldiers are one, so he left like this, feeling unwilling to do so."
After hearing this, Emperor Liu couldn't help but lectured: "Dignified prince, Duke Zhao, do you think that I really just asked you to be a squad leader?"
Liu Fang was a little unconvinced: "Even if I have to be promoted, I would rather earn fame right away!"
"Then you have to start as a pawn!" Emperor Liu said immediately: "No, even if there is only one soldier in the Imperial Army, you can't be selected casually!"
"Even if I start as a pawn, I can still be selected!" Liu Fang said.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu was not annoyed. Instead, he admired his enthusiasm, but gave him a look that said he was too young. Liu Fang felt a little uncomfortable and his momentum weakened.
"You won't be able to improve much if you become a squad leader again!" Emperor Liu said.
Liu Fang fell into serious thinking. After a long time, he handed over his hands and said: "Then please arrange a position that can continue to train me. Even if I go to guard the border, it doesn't matter!"
"I'm willing to let you go guard the border, but is your mother willing to do it?" Emperor Liu's eyes flashed towards the bed.
"Okay!" Emperor Liu waved his hand and said forcefully: "I am planning to patrol the north again this year. You have two things to do next. First, go to Longqi Army and take up the post of Du Yuhou. I have already I said hello to Liu Guangyi, you follow him and learn how to be a commander of an army; secondly, you are not young anymore, and you are ready to get married!"
