Chapter 78: Captain Dragonfly of the Han Dynasty

A carriage pulled by two horses slowly drove on the palace road of Weiyang Palace, and the high-hanging moon brought a sense of loneliness, covering the earth.

Inside the carriage, there was a burst of light laughter.

Liu Ling covered her mouth and giggled, tilting her head and leaning on her sister Liu Yue's shoulder: "Sister, the scene where Liu Li lost her tooth just now was really too funny. So many court officials saw it, it was really embarrassing, hahahaha."

Because of Liu Ling's words, Liu Yue also chuckled, but soon she restrained her smile, because she thought of the "Father" who was so nervous about Liu Li in the hall just now.

She had clearly warned herself that since Father no longer cared about her, she shouldn't care about Father either. But seeing Father so worried about Liu Li in the hall today, she felt very uncomfortable.

Liu Yue inexplicably remembered when she lost her teeth. Her teeth fell out in the middle of the night, and she didn't dare to tell her parents about it at all, just secretly hid the teeth she lost.

For a long time afterward, she didn't dare to smile or speak in front of Father, for fear of being seen by Father with her ugly toothless appearance, and thus being hated by Father.

But just now in the hall, Liu Li clearly made a fool of herself in front of so many people, and Father not only didn't dislike her, but looked very happy.

When facing Liu Li, Father didn't seem to be the Emperor, but just a child's father. Liu Yue pursed her lips lightly, she was so jealous of Liu Li, who could get Father's love so unscrupulously.

Clearly, this fatherly love once belonged to her.

"But sister..." Liu Ling's voice became lighter, and she said: "I suddenly feel that Liu Li doesn't seem to be that annoying anymore. Didn't she save you at the banquet today? Otherwise, sister, you would have accidentally eaten the poisonous potato."

Liu Yue turned to look at her sister: "A Ling, you are actually speaking for her?"

Liu Ling blinked her eyes: "It's not speaking for her, it's just that I feel she... she is also quite good. Didn't she send us very warm down jackets last time?"

Liu Ling said and patted her chest. She was still wearing this down jacket and couldn't bear to take it off. It was too warm.

"The down jacket was issued to the entire Weiyang Palace by Father's order, not sent by her." Liu Yue said unconvinced: "And if she hadn't put that potato on the table, how would I have almost eaten a poisonous potato?"

Listening to her sister's argument, Liu Ling was speechless for a while.

Liu Yue was afraid that her sister would be deceived by Liu Li, so she held her sister's hand and emphasized: "In short, we are sisters. You can't speak for her just because Liu Li gave you a little benefit. Have you forgotten that she took away other people's New Year's money in the hall just now?"

Reminded by Liu Yue, Liu Ling suddenly remembered: "That's right, how could she do this?"

Liu Li, who was hated by Liu Ling again, was holding the tooth she lost, not knowing what to do. In fact, her teeth started to loosen some time ago, but Liu Li didn't pay much attention to it at that time.

Who knew that it would suddenly fall out under the eyes of everyone tonight, and it was in front of all the ministers. It was really embarrassing to the grandmother's house.

Sitting in the carriage back to Jiaofang Hall, Liu Li had a small face, looking a bit bitter and deep. She played with the tooth she lost with her fingertips, and suddenly thought of what the system once said: 【Thousands of years later, your name will also appear in history books.】

So if this is true, how will history books write about this dark history of hers?

—"Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of the Relatives of the Emperor", the Emperor's eldest legitimate Princess Li, at the age of childhood, laughed until her teeth fell out at the New Year's Eve banquet.

Thinking that history books would write about her like this, Liu Li shivered for no reason. Is it too late for her to assassinate Sima Qian or other historians now?

Thinking of "Records of the Grand Historian" and Sima Qian, Liu Li's thinking spread far away again. In the fifth year of Yuanguang, Sima Qian should still be a teenager of sixteen or seventeen, and he had not yet inherited his father's wish to write "Records of the Grand Historian".

However, Sima Qian's father, Sima Tan, was already serving as the Grand Historian, specifically responsible for observing astronomical phenomena, managing the calendar,

and other things. It's just that Sima Tan seemed to have returned to his hometown for something and had not returned yet. So Liu Li had not seen this famous historical figure.

Sima Tan's fame in history certainly could not be compared with his son Sima Qian. Liu Li felt that her main target should be Sima Qian.

Perhaps she could help Sima Qian avoid the suffering of castration in the future, so that he could praise her a few more times when writing "Records of the Grand Historian".

The carriage stopped slowly, and the driver put down the small stool on the carriage for the Emperor, Empress, and Princess to get off.

A Jiao reminded her daughter: "A Li, Jiaofang Hall has arrived."

Liu Li came back to her senses, but accidentally dropped the tooth she was holding, and didn't know which corner of the carriage it rolled into.

"Oh." Liu Li whispered, lowered her head and wanted to find her tooth.

It was already late, and there was no light in the carriage. Even if Liu Li lay on the carriage board, she couldn't see the fallen tooth. She was inexplicably unhappy, and her stubbornness came up, and she insisted on finding this tooth.

Liu Che saw Liu Li almost lying on the carriage board, ignoring the demeanor of a princess, and said: "It's just a tooth, if it's gone, it's gone."

"No, this is the first tooth I lost, I want to keep it well." Liu Li said with a leaky mouth at this time.

A Jiao asked people to take a brighter lamp and lowered her head, intending to find the tooth with Liu Li.

The palace maids quickly sent an oil lamp. Liu Che took the oil lamp and joined the team of finding teeth. Finally, in a corner of the carriage, he found the tooth Liu Li lost.

"Found it." Liu Che said, reaching out to pick up the little tooth.

A Jiao breathed a sigh of relief when she heard this, and the three of them got off the carriage together. Liu Li jumped up and took her little tooth from Liu Che's hand.

Liu Che was puzzled: "Where do you plan to keep this tooth?"

Liu Li shrugged her nose and shook her head: "I don't know either."

A Jiao smiled and said: "I remember when I lost my teeth when I was a child, my mother once said that if the upper teeth fell out, they should be kept under the bed. If the lower teeth fell out, they should be thrown on the roof, so that the new teeth would grow beautifully and quickly."

"Eh? So this statement already existed in the Western Han Dynasty?" Liu Li felt incredible. She didn't expect that a small superstitious behavior about teeth could be passed down for more than two thousand years.

A Jiao nodded: "So, after A Li returns to her room, just throw your little tooth under the bed. After your lower teeth fall out later, we will throw them on the roof."

Liu Li grinned: "Okay." Then she quickly closed her mouth to prevent her front teeth from leaking.

Liu Che listened to their conversation, but felt something was wrong: "Wait." He looked at Liu Li with a puzzled face: "You just said Western Han? Why add a 'Western' word before the title of my Han Dynasty?"

"Eh?"

Liu Li couldn't help but complain in her heart, why can Liu Che always notice these details that ordinary people can't find? Damn it!

Liu Che always felt that Liu Li's sentence just now sounded strange, but for a moment he couldn't taste where it was strange, and only picked out a "Western Han".

"You heard it wrong, Mother." Liu Li said seriously: "If you don't believe me, ask Father, and Fuqu and the Great Changqiu."

A Jiao naturally helped her daughter, she nodded: "Empress, A Li just said 'rare', not 'Western Han'."

Liu Che: "??"

Fuqu and the Great Changqiu looked at each other, and both nodded: "What the Emperor said is right."

Liu Che: "..."

Liu Li hurriedly changed the subject: "Then I will go back to my room first, good night, Father and Mother." She said she planned to slip back to her room first, but after running two steps, she turned back to them and said: "By the way, I forgot to say, Happy New Year, Father and Mother."

A Jiao responded with a faint smile: "Happy New Year."

Liu Che complained: "You just spoil her, this girl is getting bolder and bolder."

"I'm willing."

Since it was New Year's Eve, after Liu Che and A Jiao washed up and went to bed, the two could not avoid some intimacy.

Ever since the two had experienced it once before, when they slept in the same bed at night, it was inevitable that there would be times when they couldn't help themselves. In terms of bed affairs, it was always Liu Che who took the initiative to seduce A Jiao.

And A Jiao, she was a bit of a person who got the benefit and sold well. She said she didn't want it, but sometimes her body and heart actually enjoyed Liu Che's service quite a bit.

Both of them were exceptionally familiar with each other's sensitive points, so when they were together, it was as if they fit into their souls. This was a pleasure they couldn't feel when they hadn't swapped before.

Only when it was extremely pleasant would Liu Che have the thought that if they didn't swap back in the future, it would be fine.

After the New Year, the Emperor and Empress went to Xuanshi Hall to handle government affairs as usual.

Liu Li, while waiting for her teeth to grow out quickly, received a sales report on down jackets sold to various feudal kingdoms from Sang Hongyang.

Under Liu Li's guidance, Sang Hongyang not only skillfully mastered the use of the abacus but also learned Arabic numerals.

When Liu Li was looking at the sales report, Sang Hongyang began to praise the convenience of the Arabic numerals invented by Liu Li.

The feudal kingdoms still existing in the Han Dynasty were basically all surnamed Liu. However, the fact that the feudal kings surnamed Liu would also rebel during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han gave Liu Che great vigilance.

The feudal kings who still existed, whether they were Liu Che's brothers or uncles, were all his eyesores.

The down jackets sold better in the colder northern regions, such as the Chu State, Yan State, and other feudal kingdoms. There were also several coastal feudal kingdoms, such as the Jiaodong State.

Although the sales of other feudal kingdoms could not compare with these places, the transaction volume was also very large. After all, it was a fresh thing, and whether it was the powerful or the feudal lords, they were ultimately quite curious.

And this was the new popular clothing in Chang'an, so everyone certainly had to give the Emperor face.

So the down jackets produced by the Shanglin Park clothing factory were sold out during the period before and after the New Year, and even appeared in short supply.

After deducting some raw material and transportation costs, the net profit reached tens of thousands of Zhu coins.

Liu Li didn't have much concept of the currency in the Western Han Dynasty. Looking at the profit figures marked by weight on the account book, and looking at Sang Hongyang's smiling appearance, she guessed that this time she might have made a lot of money.

"Princess, the sales of down jackets this time are actually better than the sales of potatoes last time, and the profit is even more." Sang Hongyang clicked the abacus: "Not only did we earn back the cost of making clothes for the soldiers before, but we also made a lot of profit."

"Then remember to give the palace maids who make clothes in Shanglin Park more monthly salary. It is not easy for them to make clothes." Liu Li mentioned.

Sang Hongyang responded: "The Princess has a loving heart, and those weavers will definitely remember it."

"Where are these foreign trade cities and official trade cities? Why are the sales actually similar to the feudal kingdoms?" Liu Li asked humbly.

"These two cities are border cities established for the Xiongnu and Nanyue. The Xiongnu often come here to buy things like rice, wine, and cloth. As soon as the down jackets came out, they were almost bought out by the Xiongnu and Nanyue people."

Liu Li nodded: "So that's it."

As if thinking of something, Liu Li asked again: "By the way, last time I only asked you to make down jackets for the soldiers guarding Chang'an, did you send down jackets to the soldiers guarding the border?"

If such clothes for keeping out the cold could be sold to the Xiongnu, but the Han Dynasty's own city-guarding soldiers didn't have them, it would be chilling.

Sang Hongyang smiled: "Princess, don't worry, all clothes are naturally for the people of the Han Dynasty to wear first."

"That's good."

Sang Hongyang sighed lightly: "I didn't expect the Princess to be so young, but to think so much for the people and soldiers."

Liu Li said naturally: "I am a princess of the Han Dynasty, so I naturally have to think for the people of the Han Dynasty."

On the side of Xuanshi Hall, after the Emperor handled the government affairs, Su Wen hurried in to report: "Your Majesty, the King of Hejian is coming to court and will arrive at Sanyong Palace in a few days."

A Jiao was a bit surprised when she heard this: "When can he arrive?"

"Probably tomorrow." Su Wen was also not sure.

A Jiao turned to look at Liu Che on the side and said with a smile: "When he comes, he must be offering you books again." Afterward, she whispered: "I haven't seen Cousin Liu De for a long time. Since he is coming to Chang'an this time, I want to host him well."

Originally, Liu Che was also a little happy, but hearing A Jiao's words, he suddenly felt a bit dissatisfied: "Is your relationship with him that good?"

"Naturally, it is good." A Jiao did not hear Liu Che's dissatisfaction. Her mind couldn't help but think of things in her youth, and she lowered her eyes: "Cousin Liu De is the best brother to me besides Cousin Rong."

Liu Che was unconvinced: "At that time, it was clearly me who treated you the best."

A Jiao looked at him when she heard this, with a bit of sarcasm in her eyes: "You were not as big as A Li now at that time, and you only knew how to follow Cousin Rong's butt and call him brother."

Liu Che: "..."

Su Wen listened to the discussion between the Emperor and Empress and only felt that the childhood sweetheart relationship was really good. He smiled silently, turned and left the hall, leaving space for the Emperor and Empress to argue slowly.

A Jiao was organizing the bamboo slips at hand while slowly saying: "Liu Che, actually I once thought, if the person I married back then was not you, would my ending be different."

When she was locked in Changmen Palace in her previous life, she thought about this question more than once. Uncle Emperor Jing had so many sons, if she married any one of them, it might be better than marrying Liu Che.

And at that time, her mother once said to her: "My Jiao'er, you must remember, it is not that you want to marry the Crown Prince. It is that whoever you marry will be the Crown Prince."

"Who did you want to marry?" Liu Che's voice suddenly turned cold, with a bit of sarcasm: "Look at Uncle Emperor's sons, which of my brothers is better than me?"

A Jiao fell into silence after hearing this. Afterward, she raised her eyebrows: "Is Cousin Liu De not as good as you? The reputation of the King of Hejian is well-known not only in the Hejian Kingdom but also in the entire Han Dynasty."

Liu Che's smile became colder: "Then do you think he dared to marry you back then?"

A Jiao: "..."

Seeming to be angered by Liu Che, A Jiao threw the bamboo slips in her hand at him: "Yes, only you are reckless, talking nonsense about a golden house, it's really ridiculous."

Liu Che: "I..."

A Jiao didn't want to pay attention to him anymore, stood up, flicked her sleeves and left, leaving him looking inexplicable. Why was she still angry? Clearly, the person who should be angry was himself, right?

After returning to Jiaofang Hall, Liu Li clearly felt A Jiao's anger, and she hurriedly ran over to ask her what was wrong.

A Jiao took a deep breath and didn't want her daughter to know the reason for her anger and increase the joke. She reached out and touched her daughter's head: "It's nothing, just thinking of some things from the past."

Things from the past? Liu Li just wanted to comfort her, but heard A Jiao say again: "The King of Hejian is coming to Chang'an to offer books tomorrow, does A Li want to go and see him?"

King of Hejian, Liu De? Liu Li heard this and nodded: "Okay."

Liu De was still a little famous in history. Those ancient classics were able to be passed down, and Liu De contributed a lot. In the Han Culture Festival of later generations, people often organized to go to the Xianwang Memorial Park to pay homage to him.

A Jiao smiled: "If Cousin sees A Li, he will definitely be happy."

Liu Li blinked her eyes: "He hasn't seen me, how can he be happy when he sees me?"

"Because you are A Li." A Jiao's anger dissipated, and she said: "He has always been fond of ancient studies and likes Confucian classics. A Li is a great Confucian called by Doctor Dong, so I think Cousin will inevitably have a debate with you after seeing you."

Liu Li's expression froze slightly. Why do these Confucian scholars like to debate with others?

Liu Li pointed to her teeth that hadn't grown fully: "Does Mother think, how can I debate with others like this?"

A Jiao burst into laughter when she saw this.

Because of the quarrel in Xuanshi Hall during the day, A Jiao didn't want to pay attention to him when she saw Liu Che again. Liu Che also felt uncomfortable because A Jiao said that if she married someone else, so neither of them spoke to each other first.

Such a state was a bit like when they were newlyweds, quarreling with each other. It was bitter for Liu Li, who was caught in the middle. She was very curious about what these two people were arguing about.

Liu Che was very good at finding a sense of identity. He decided to let his daughter preside over justice, so he took Liu Li and told her about what happened in Xuanshi Hall: "A Li, you say, what is worse about me than others? To make her say such things to me!"

As the saying goes, it is difficult for an honest official to cut off housework. After listening, Liu Li also felt a headache. However, upholding the principle of fairness, Liu Li sat cross-legged between the two and said: "As the Captain Dragonfly of the Han Dynasty, based on the principle of fairness and justice, let's analyze it specifically and we will know."

Liu Li said and grabbed a handful of peanuts from the fruit plate on the side, "In terms of literary attainments, Father, you are indeed not as good as the King of Hejian." She took out one and put it on the bed: "The King of Hejian gets one point."

Liu Che: "?"

Liu Li said: "In terms of political talent, the King of Hejian and others are not as good as Father, so Father gets one point." Saying that, she divided a peanut for Liu Che.

"In terms of appearance." Liu Li said, looking up at A Jiao, and then nodded with satisfaction: "Father looks heroic and handsome."

"But I haven't seen other princes, so I can't compare. And such subjective evaluation of appearance should be decided by Mother." Liu Li handed the peanut to A Jiao: "Mother, do you think Father is better looking or the King of Hejian is better looking?"

Liu Che was full of confidence: "Naturally, it's me."

"I think the King of Hejian is more beautiful."

Liu Che: "??"

Liu Li: "The King of Hejian gets another point."

"In terms of loyalty to feelings..." Liu Li said, looking at Liu Che with disgust, and then took the peanut she just gave him back from his hand, and said: "Father, you have to deduct a lot of points for this item."

Liu Che: "???"

"In summary, Father has negative points, and the King of Hejian wins."

Originally, A Jiao wanted to continue to argue with Liu Che seriously, but now listening to Liu Li's judgment, she felt funny for no reason and couldn't help laughing.

Liu Che: "Heh." Are this mother and daughter making fun of him?

The next day, A Jiao prepared to take Liu Li to Sanyong Palace to see Liu De. Liu Che followed with a strange tone: "Since Cousin Liu De once had such a good relationship with me, then I must also go to see this cousin."

Liu Li leaned close to Liu Che and asked in a low voice: "Father, are you... jealous?"

"Why should I be jealous?" Liu Che didn't understand. What does this have to do with jealousy?

Liu Li raised her eyebrows, her phoenix eyes filled with playfulness: "It's just that in your heart now, is it sour as soon as you think of Mother meeting the King of Hejian?"

Liu Che frowned and thought about it, it was indeed a little bit. Especially when A Jiao praised the King of Hejian without concealment in front of him, this feeling was even stronger.

Liu Li said: "This feeling is called jealousy."

Liu Che was silent, indicating that he didn't understand these messy things.

Sanyong Palace is in the south of Chang'an City, and there are three palaces: Ming Tang, Biyong, and Lingtai, so it is called Sanyong Palace. Ming Tang is a place for sacrificing to the Three Emperors and Five Emperors and the gods, and it is also the highest-level ritual building in the Han Dynasty.

Biyong is the ditch outside Ming Tang, symbolizing the perfection of the Emperor's way.

Lingtai is the place where the Grand Historian observes astronomical phenomena.

In a sense, the significance of Sanyong Palace is significant. Every time the King of Hejian offers books here to the Emperor Wu of Han, it shows how much Emperor Wu of Han valued the King of Hejian's book offering at the beginning.

Sitting in the carriage to Sanyong Palace, Liu Li was also closing her eyes and recalling the history of the King of Hejian, and suddenly, as if thinking of something, she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Liu Che.

Good guy!

Historical records state that when the King of Hejian, Liu De, offered books to Emperor Wu of Han in the fifth year of Yuanguang, he was suspected by Emperor Wu of Han. Not long after, about four months later, the King of Hejian died of illness at home.

In other words, after this book offering, the King of Hejian will die?!

Historical records state that when the King of Hejian, Liu De, presented books to the Han Emperor in the fifth year of Yuanguang, he aroused the Emperor's suspicion. Shortly thereafter, about four months later, the King of Hejian died of illness at home.

In other words, after this presentation of books, the King of Hejian will die?!