II. Purification Ritual

In fact, I held the garland, raised my smiling face, and softly said: "I really like it, I have always liked it."

Liu Xiu did not run very fast, and after just a few steps, he deliberately let me catch up. Then, I supported Liu Heng and rode him onto Liu Xiu's neck. Liu Xiu reached out to hold his son's two legs, while I supported his son's back from behind. Liu Heng grinned widely, one hand raised high with a grass dragonfly, and the other hand tightly grasping the hair crown on his father's head.

"Do not move while seated." He did not allow me to rise, waving his hand to dismiss the group of attendants to a distance of ten zhang.

He is kind-hearted, yet that does not equate to being naive; at this critical juncture, the matters he contemplates daily are likely even more taxing than before

Oh... Liu Xiu exclaimed softly, quickly taking Liu Heng's small hand and gently saying, "No, this cannot be pulled."

Liu Heng glared at the two of us with indignation, ceasing his cries. Liu Xiu and I exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding what had happened. After a long while, Liu Xiu reached out, pretending to choke my neck, gently shaking it.

I was pointing and commenting from the side, randomly guessing before the straw weaving took shape: "What is this? A locust?"

After Zhu Hu returned to the capital, Liu Xiu bestowed upon him one stone of white honey, reminiscing about the time they spent together in the Chang'an Taixue, where they made honey-based medicine. The following day, Zhu Hu submitted the seal of the Grand General.

I have always been foolish and impulsive in my actions, and you are not unaware of this. If you have not lived longer than I have, how can you possibly control me from doing foolish things? I threaten with my capriciousness, although I understand that such threats are indeed quite unreasonable

"Father, again! Again... Father, again..." From the time Liu Heng began to speak, he could only call out "Father" and could not say "Emperor Father". No matter how hard he was taught, it was of no use. Liu Xiu did not deliberately insist that his son change his words, and over time, he became accustomed to it.

No wonder Liu Xiu feels a sense of nostalgia; indeed, too many old friends and companions from his past have departed. Life is unpredictable. In recent years, Liu Xiu has been preoccupied with political affairs, often unable to sleep at night. In his youth, he relied on his good health, fighting fiercely on the battlefield, but now, as he ages, his physical condition has deteriorated significantly. The Imperial Physician has also explained some health preservation methods to him, but I understand that Liu Xiu can no longer calm his mind, no matter what.

He pouted unhappily, tugging at the dragonfly in his hand: "I want a hug, not to eat."

A vibration in my chest, after a while, his arm wrapped around my waist, tightly constricting: "Foolish child, I am nine years older than you..."

Seeing him throw a tantrum and tear the dragonfly toy, I scolded him lightly, but was immediately stopped by Liu Xiu: "It's just a small toy, let him tear it if he wants, it's not worth getting angry with a child; it was originally made for him to play with."

I waved the dragonfly in front of him, and sure enough, he quieted down, puffed out his cheeks, clapped his hands, and laughed, saying: "Insect! Insect! Insect flies—flies, flies..."

He nodded in agreement, and from the grass clump outside the mat, he selected a type of broad-leaved tough grass and intricately wove it into a small item

I came to my senses and couldn't help but burst into laughter, giving Liu Heng a kiss on the cheek: "My dear child, don't cry, look at what Daddy has prepared for you to play with."

Daughter—daughter—come and play too

Liu Heng's big eyes sparkled brightly, and suddenly he broke into a grin. Liu Xiu's expression changed, and he turned to leave. I chased after Liu Heng, who was giggling with a clear, crisp laughter, excitedly waving his hands and feet.

I do not care; I want you to live well and leave me as many children as possible. No matter how much they resemble you, they will never be you. I choked up, thinking of those departed friends, feeling an inexplicable sorrow in my heart. Therefore, you must not neglect your own well-being; you are my... Taking care of yourself is truly taking care of me...

I placed the garland on my head, casting aside the melancholy in my heart, and said with a smile: "What skilled hands! Make a few more trinkets for the children to play with."

He chuckled as he ate, and I pounced onto his back without relent. The two of us were in the midst of a lively commotion when suddenly, a chorus of cries erupted behind us

I maintained a stiff smile, yet my heart felt both sour and bitter, unable to articulate the sensation. I held his face in my hands, gazing at him with longing: "Xiuer, promise me one thing."

Hmm. He smiled faintly, turned to glance at Liu Heng, pondered for a moment, and said softly, "It took two years of effort, and I feel it has been slower than expected"

"Tsk." I rolled my eyes, and with a sudden thought, I said to Liu Heng: "Heng'er! Father is bullying Mother, will you help Mother fight him?"

Xiu'er, don't you think you are more suited to be a businessman

After Wang Liang's death last year, the angina pectoris that had not recurred for many years unexpectedly reappeared. I reminisced about the past and could not help but feel melancholic. Liu Xiu then summoned Chen Jun, Zang Gong, Zhu Hu, and others back to the capital under the pretext of "paying court to the morning audience".

Indeed, Liu Heng immediately began to scream loudly, her small hands clapping incessantly against her father's arm

Liu Xiu and I turned back nervously, only to see Liu Heng behind us, tears in his eyes, looking at the two of us entangled together, screaming and continuously bouncing as he twisted his chubby body.

"Heng'er!" I called out softly, quickly embracing him, "What happened?"

The Luo River flows gently, and Liu Jingguang, barefoot, is playing in the water by the riverbank with Liu Yang, Liu Cang, and Hongfu.

The arm ring around the waist is tighter, he is my show, how could he not understand my meaning

Liu Heng sweetly smiled at him, suddenly letting go of the torn dragonfly, extending her small, chubby arm resembling a lotus root segment, and grabbing the beard under Liu Xiu's chin.

The river water flows gently, and I catch a whiff of a fresh and familiar fragrance at the tip of my nose, which makes me unable to help but chuckle.

What are you thinking? The umbrella shields the sun, and I look up to see him under the canopy, his smile tinged with an unmistakable weariness.

I smiled slightly, removing the willow ring from my head. He extended his hand towards me, holding a bouquet of wild daisies. I smiled gently, feeling warmth in my heart, as he knelt in front of me, carefully placing each daisy into the gaps of the willow vines.

I scoffed: "Indulging him too much is not good for a child."

"It has already been quite fast, yet you still educate Yang'er by saying that haste makes waste. Why is it that when it comes to yourself, you become restless and impatient?" I patiently explained, "Your health is important; do not overexert yourself. These few years are not critical; we have plenty of time ahead. Do not forget, your life is in my hands."

Ah! I exclaimed softly, hurriedly reaching into my bosom, only to end up wrinkling my own collar.

After running back and forth several times, I was concerned that continuing to make a fuss would lead to unnecessary trouble, so I spoke up to appropriately intervene. Liu Xiu stopped in his tracks, panting heavily, and lifted Liu Heng down from his shoulder, laughing as he said, "You've gained quite a bit of weight."

He suddenly got up and left; I saw him walk to a willow tree and directly strip the willow branches.

"It looks good," he replied with a smile, his gaze gentle as water

What are you laughing at

Do I look good wearing this

In the thirteenth year of the Jianwu era, the meritorious officials were granted additional territories, and Wang Liang was also included in the list, being conferred the title of Marquis of Fucheng. However, just a year later, he passed away while in office

Liu Xiu carried Liu Heng and began to run along the banks of the Luo River, their laughter echoing all the way, attracting countless astonished gazes

He was taken aback and slowly retracted his smile: "I indeed owe you a matter, but it is still too early for that. Please wait a little longer..."

He sat down next to me, and because there were court officials nearby, I stood up to avoid the seat as per etiquette, but unexpectedly, he grabbed my arm and held me back

"It's nothing, the boy who speaks late is clever"

Glancing back, I caught sight of his intentionally meaningful smile, and I couldn't help but feel anger: "You did that on purpose."

"Good boy." I squatted down to coax him, "Let's play a little later. Heng'er, do you want something to eat? Are you hungry?"

The heart suddenly experiences a throbbing pain

No more! Liu Xiu said with a smile as he set him down on the ground, "Father is getting old and cannot carry Heng'er anymore"

He turned his head to look at me, and I gazed straight at him. The two of us understood each other's feelings, and couldn't help but smile knowingly.

I laughed so hard that I fell to the side, holding my breath and saying: "Don't! Little thing, if you're going to pull, then just pull, it's not worth getting angry with a child... Go ahead and pull, darling, pull with all your might, hahaha..."

Liu Xiu was rendered speechless by my question, touched his nose, and chuckled awkwardly: "Well... Heng'er resembles me, and will be smarter than them in the future"

He eagerly snatched the grasshopper, and as I rubbed the top of his head, I sighed, "This child still speaks unclearly to this day"

I came to my senses, smiled faintly, and waved my hand at them

"Not that one." I moved closer to him, nestling into his broad embrace, absorbing the unique scent that belonged solely to him. I hooked my finger with his, making a promise, and although I tried my best to remain calm, my voice still choked as I said, "You must promise me to live longer than I do."

Ten years ago, when Wang Liang served as the Governor of Henan in place of Ouyang She, he observed that the Luo River waterway was silted and inconvenient for the operation of cargo boats. Therefore, he constructed a channel to divert water into the city of Luoyang. However, after the channel was completed, the water did not flow in. The failure to divert water led to Wang Liang being impeached in the seventh year of the Jianwu era. At that time, Liu Xiu, considering his past contributions, appointed him as the Prefect of Jinan.

I remained still, quietly sitting in place. After a while, as I was lost in thought with my head lowered, I suddenly felt a coolness on my forehead. Liu Xiu, with a gentle smile, placed a willow ring on my head, bending down to look at me. A warm breeze brushed across his face, and I couldn't help but reach out my hand to touch his cheek, caressing it gently.

Is that so? I am somewhat skeptical, but Yang Er and Cang Er started speaking quite early. Could it be that Yang Er and the others are not smart enough?

He began to laugh, his laughter resonating in his chest, and under the sunlight, the silver gleam reflected from his temples.

The waters of the Luo River still flow endlessly, yet the old friends of yesteryear have all departed one by one

Father, come and play again... I want a hug... come again...

A stone of white honey exchanged for a general's seal of authority

The annual Shangsi Festival coincided with a reunion of old friends, and Liu Xiu was in high spirits, leading the entire court of civil and military officials, as well as nobles, to perform the purification ritual by the Luo River. This late spring purification event created an unprecedented sensation, with the nobility of the capital almost emptying their households to attend. By the banks of the Luo River, red canopies were set up in a network, reflecting the brilliance of the fields against the clouds; this grand feast was truly no less splendid than the one two years ago when the power to wage war was relinquished.

Hmm? He squinted his eyes

Liu Xiu did not respond, and in just a few moments, he had crafted a grass dragonfly. With a flick of his wrist, the grass dragonfly darted into my collar.

In the past two years, Wu Han has submitted numerous memorials; how many times have you refuted them?

"Look at you, child, how did you manage to tear the dragonfly's wings?"

"The future is long..." He repeated my words, and his gaze towards Xiao Liu Heng became increasingly gentle

He took a breath, and after a moment, he hoarsely assured, "I promise you."

Do not do anything foolish

Liu Xiu smiled gently, slowly crouching down, and caressing Liu Heng's little face: "He is still so young." As he spoke, his gaze gradually became distant, "In fact, I want to give them more ... ... "