Four, Gifts

Pity the young cowherd emperor, who, terrified, could do nothing but cry day and night. In the blink of an eye, as the New Year approached, Liu Gong could not bear to see his brother as a puppet. He urged Liu Penzi to hand over the imperial seal and abdicate in favor of others. However, he was forcibly stopped by Fan Chong and others. Liu Gong's individuality increasingly drew the hatred of the Red Eyebrow Army

A gray dove was perched on the eaves outside the window, cooing softly, its small eyes occasionally scanning the surroundings with vigilance. I grabbed a handful of wheat that I had prepared in advance from the windowsill, and softly whistled. Only then did it slowly fly down from the eaves and land in my hand to peck at the food. I scattered the wheat on the ground to lure it into the room, and then casually closed the window.

I have a great admiration for Liu Gong; it is a pity that he is the elder brother of Emperor Jian. Otherwise, if he were to be employed by me, he would undoubtedly be a capable and virtuous individual. After the news of the Chimei New Year's court meeting spread, Liu Gong's name became widely known. I did not expect that not only I, but even Liu Xiu spoke highly of him. The conversation turned to the time of Liu Xuan's death, when Liu Gong, out of righteousness, secretly retrieved his body. Upon learning this, Liu Xiu immediately fulfilled his promise from that day, posthumously enfeoffing Liu Xuan as the King of Huaiyang, and ordered Deng Yu, who was stationed outside Chang'an, to collect the body and give it a grand burial at Baling.

Amber remains perplexed, with a face full of confusion

"Returning a gift?" I smiled slightly, "You may choose any item from this palace to send, but you must remember one thing: there is no need for comparison. Do not select something valuable; just pick the least valuable item."

The final mention in the silk manuscript indicates that while Deng Yu was settling the suffering populace in Chang'an, he also seemed to be searching for someone. As for whom he was looking for, Yin Shi did not specify, and I can only sigh in sorrow.

Noble person, what is chewing gum

After reading the silk scroll brought by Feinu, I stood dazed by the window for a long time, until my legs became numb. It was only when the clamor of Feinu's chatter startled me that I regained my senses

Between him and me, there is a lack of the previous sense of dependence that was akin to life and death, and a subtle barrier lies between us. I do not mention it, he does not speak of it, yet it remains very real and cannot possibly vanish without a trace.

This is a carrier pigeon, referred to as "Flying Slave" by Yin Shi. After being trained outside the palace, it was brought into the palace by Yin Xing and kept for some time. Once it became familiar with the route from the Western Palace to the outside of the palace, it became an important tool for me to privately convey messages with Yin Shi

They gradually transitioned from being filled with hope to feeling anxious, deeply concerned that this tender-hearted sovereign might, like two years ago during "Marry me," become ensnared in a world of tenderness, unable to extricate himself

The Han Palace housed three thousand individuals... This is by no means an exaggeration. Having witnessed the numerous concubines and palace maids in the Chang Le Palace, who were taken in by Liu Xuan yet have starved to death due to famine, I have become utterly disillusioned with the imperial harem. I sincerely hope that Liu Xiu does not succumb to the same unrestrained personal desires. Whether as a husband or a friend, in public or private matters, I do not wish to see countless songbirds in the southern palace.

I smiled coldly, picked up a piece from the box and brought it close to my nose. A strong fragrant aroma pierced my nostrils. I tossed it back into the box with a flick of my hand: "It's a good thing, keep it."

Guo Shengtong was born into a wealthy family, and her mother, Guo Zhu, was a daughter of the royal family. This habit of high-end consumption and grandeur is innate. While Zhao Ji still needs to cultivate her royal demeanor through later efforts, Guo Shengtong has already become accustomed to it. Therefore, in terms of knowledge and experience, Zhao Ji is not as good as Guo Shengtong, and someone like me, who comes from a rural background, has even less to compare. Although the Yin family is quite wealthy in Xinye, they can only be considered local tycoons. When they encounter the Guo siblings, who possess royal blood and have grown up in a wealthy household, it is like a minor sorcerer meeting a major sorcerer, with the differences immediately apparent. Thus, in terms of knowledge and experience, Zhao Ji is not as good as Guo Shengtong, and someone like me, who comes from a rural background, has even less to compare. Although the Yin family is quite wealthy in Xinye, they can only be considered local tycoons. When they encounter the Guo siblings, who possess royal blood and have grown up in a wealthy household, it is like a minor sorcerer meeting a major sorcerer, with the differences immediately apparent.

"Used for rinsing the mouth and cleaning the teeth, it can eliminate bad breath." This fruit is known as clove in modern times, and cloves are divided into male and female, with the female clove being known as chicken tongue fragrance. Chicken tongue fragrance is rare among the common people and is considered a high-end luxury product, generally reserved for the use of the upper echelons of society. Its effect is similar to that of the chewing gum favored by modern individuals

The granaries of Chang'an City have run dry, and the Red Eyebrow generals have plundered all the gold and silver treasures, setting fire to the palaces and residences. The common people have fled, and the once-prosperous Chang'an City has already turned into ruins. After completely looting Chang'an, the Red Eyebrow bandits, a group claiming to have an army of one million, have abandoned the city and are now fleeing westward along the Qinling Mountains, leaving every city they pass through stripped bare.

My indifference towards him began on the very first day I returned to Luoyang and entered the Nangu Palace. Perhaps many people, including Liu Huang, Liu Boji, and even those ministers and officials who held great expectations for me, could not understand why I remained so obstinate. In their view, even if not as a sovereign, merely as a man of stature, Liu Xiu's carefulness and meticulous care for me, almost to the point of lowering himself to please and accommodate me, seemed excessively soft and weak.

Between the two of us, a year and a half has passed, and we can no longer share the hardships with the same warm and dependent emotions as before. Regarding his matters, how he fought hard in Hebei, how he earned his current status, how he married and had children, how he made friends from all directions... he did not describe these to me in detail, just as I remain silent about how I stirred up the brutal bloodshed in Chang'an, ultimately causing upheaval in the Three Auxiliaries.

In the past, if someone had suddenly thrown me such a shriveled object, I would have only recognized it as a piece of tree bark or a fruit pit, unable to name it or understand its use. However, having spent over a year in the Chang Le Palace, I became acquainted with the ways of the court. Lady Zhao, the wife of Zhao Ji from the Chang Qiu Hall, came from an official family and was greatly favored by Liu Xuan after entering the palace. She indulged in all the luxuries the palace had to offer. Zhao Ji was quite the connoisseur of enjoyment; in modern terms, she was a typical petite bourgeois. She was well-versed in skincare, beauty, incense, singing, dancing, and games, and there was no trendy novelty that she did not master. Although I did not have a particular interest in these things, living with her for a long time, I was inevitably influenced by my surroundings and could hardly claim ignorance.

"Chicken tongue fragrance"

Amber was perplexed: "Why? Doesn't this only make Guo Guiren look down on us even more?"

As for Liu Xuan, I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself. Even though Liu Xiu frequently mentions some of his past matters in my presence, I always keep my lips tightly sealed and say nothing. Having been trapped in Chang'an for nearly a year, I am constrained by Liu Xuan. The killing of Shentu Jian, the loss of the Green Forest Army, the reliance on Qianghua to interpret prophecies, and the delivery of the red talisman—these matters, when taken together, I dare say that even if he is not clear on the details, he can grasp the general situation.

Guo Shengtong did not take up residence in Changqiu Palace; her title, like mine, is that of a noble consort. Liu Xiu seems to be striving to maintain an equal balance between the two of us, neither favoring one over the other. The rank of a noble consort is not as lowly as I initially imagined. Liu Xiu claims to be the Son of Heaven of the Han dynasty, and in the eyes of the common people, although he has inherited the name of the former Han and continues the Han lineage, in reality, it is entirely different. Without delving into the slight differences in the political system and official positions, one can see that the structure of the imperial harem has been completely overthrown and transformed beyond recognition.

Not long after Amber left, a sudden strange sound came from outside the window. I leaped up from the couch and rushed to the window. As I pushed open the window, a blast of cold air hit me, and I couldn't help but sneeze, startling a flurry of wings outside the window.

"These are merely herbs and mountain fruits; do we not have any in our palace that we need her to send them over?" Amber, feeling somewhat unsettled, spoke with a tone that, while not overtly angry, still carried a hint of bitterness.

In the first year of Jianwu, in the twelfth month of the first year of Jianshi, the Red Eyebrow Army, having seized the Imperial Seal from Liu Xuan, held a grand banquet in Chang'an. Before the wine was even served, the ministers began to quarrel over merits, escalating to the point of drawing swords and engaging in mutual combat. The situation spiraled out of control, with some generals even climbing over the palace walls to break into the palace, smashing the gates, and seizing food and drink, while fighting amongst themselves. Hearing the news, the Chief of the Guards, Zhuge Chi, led troops into the palace and managed to kill several hundred people in a row before barely suppressing the rebellion

Although the Red Eyebrows established the empire under Emperor Jian, they ultimately remained composed of lower-class farmers, lacking both vision and effective governance strategies. Some of their actions and practices were even inferior to those of the Green Forest Army. After the Green Forest Army proclaimed Liu Xuan as emperor, they at least maintained a semblance of a state structure. However, after the Red Eyebrows made a cowherd their emperor, they completely disregarded the young emperor. Liu Benzi's cunning and abilities were far inferior to those of Liu Xuan, making it impossible for him to suppress the heavily bandit-influenced generals.

"Look at you, it's just some chicken tongue flavor; what would happen if you saw bubble gum?"

I truly feel pity for Liu Penzi and also sorrow for Liu Gong

Inside the warm chamber, a silver incense burner is currently burning fragrant herbs, and a faint aroma subtly permeates every corner. The air outside is extremely cold, and the palace door is slightly ajar. Through the half-open door, one can vaguely see Amber engaged in a detailed conversation with someone outside. This girl usually possesses great composure; she walks without stirring up dust and speaks in a soft, measured tone, never raising her voice. However, today she seems somewhat out of character, engrossed in conversation with the person outside, to the point of forgetting herself and leaving the door unlatched.

"If she looks down on me, so be it. Who cares if she thinks highly of me? Does she really think that in this palace, I have to compete with her for her approval in everything I do?" Amber was taken aback. Seeing her still in a state of confusion, I couldn't help but sigh, "You will understand in the future. Just go about your business for now."

Since ancient times, emperors and empresses have been countless. For instance, the Han dynasty had three thousand women in the palace, and the emperors of the Western Han dynasty were all eager to expand their harem, wishing to gather all the beautiful women of the world to display their imperial power. This was something that even Liu Xuan, who rose to power from humble beginnings, could not escape. Regardless of his origins, once he ascended to the supreme position of the realm, he would uncontrollably, whether willingly or passively, accept numerous women, filling the imperial harem.

No one will truly understand what kind of humiliation and burden he endured when he said "Marry me" back then. The Liu Xiu who was infatuated with tenderness and indulged in the pleasures of women was not his true nature; rather, I was merely a refuge for him in his despair

With a glance, I couldn't help but chuckle: "According to the regulations of the Former Han Dynasty, an official of the rank of Shizhong could bring this item to court to present to the emperor. This item is quite precious, how could it be poisonous? However, it does have a somewhat spicy taste, and you will know it as soon as you try it"

Perhaps the reason he did not completely dishearten me lies here: at least he did not imitate his ancestors, and even dared to transform the ornate into the simple, decisively reducing the fourteen ranks of imperial consorts passed down from his forefathers to five ranks—below the Empress, there are only the noble consorts with golden seals and purple ribbons, both enjoying titles and privileges, yet their stipends amount to merely several dozen measures of millet. Below these two ranks, there are separate categories for beauties, palace maids, and采女, with no titles or privileges, merely serving to provide sustenance and ensure basic needs.

No

Amber was puzzled: "So... is this something to eat? How should it be taken?"

"Yes," Amber replied, and then asked, "What should I use to return the favor?"

I am left speechless, a thread of untraceable melancholy enveloping my heart, perhaps I will never again taste the flavor of chewing gum in this lifetime: "Please go to the palace of Lady Guo and express my gratitude for her gift on my behalf."

Is this thing... not poisonous, right?" Amber murmured softly

I glanced sideways and saw her holding a lacquered wooden box, measuring about one foot square. The lid of the box was open, revealing a large handful of objects resembling dried tree bark, oval in shape, each no longer than two to three centimeters. They were brown in color, thoroughly cleaned and dried, and carefully arranged inside the box, stacked in an exceptionally neat manner.

The Red Eyebrows have fled to the two commanderies of Anding and Beidi, while Deng Yu has seized the opportunity to lead troops into Chang'an, garrisoning at Kunming Pool. Since my departure from Chang'an, it has only been a little over a month, yet everything has changed beyond recognition.

I lazily lay on the couch, holding a roll of bamboo slips in my hand, carefully glancing at it. After a moment, Hu Po walked in with a puzzled expression on her face. Upon seeing me, she handed over the item in her hand: "Noble one, this was just sent by Guo Guiren. I thought it was a piece of ginseng and politely said that the Western Palace does not lack this item, but that person laughed at my lack of knowledge, and from the tone, it seemed to be quite a rare item."

Indeed, the workings of creation are both pitiable and laughable

Amber was alarmed: "How dare this servant lightly taste this chicken tongue fragrance?" Upon hearing that this item was a privilege enjoyed by high-ranking officials, she quickly and cautiously put the box away.

Regardless of how he changes his rank, a noble is still a noble; a noble is a concubine, not a wife. My current situation is strikingly similar to that of Han Ji back then, with no difference at all. Indeed, the cycle of cause and effect is evident; Han Ji met a tragic end, and her past curses and angry words directed at me have now come true within the same palace.