Speaking of it, Cai Jue has also lived in Zhoumufu for more than a month, but he hasn't really seen Liu Xin a few times, and said even less. Although she was only a child, she was also very shy. Hearing Cai Yan pushed everything to her, a baby face was already flushed.
Ma Yun caught a glimpse of the kite in Cai Jue's hand and became excited. She took Cai Jue's hand and said, "Go, I will teach you to fly the kite."
As she walked towards the middle of the grass, she greeted: "Rui'er and Yu'er, all come to see Niang flying kites!"
As the kite rose higher and higher, the children’s laughter spread farther and farther, and the sadness in Ma Yun's heart seemed to disappear gradually...
In Luoyang Palace, Liu Hong was lying on the low couch, Zhao Zhong picked up a piece of spice from the sandalwood box, held it in both hands, and handed it up respectfully. Liu Hong took it casually, put it under his nose and sniffed, a burst of rich aroma refreshing. With the corner of his eye, he glanced at Jushou, who was standing under the stairs with his hands, and said lightly: "Liu Xin said in the memorial that this incense is a tribute intercepted by Zhang Zi. Since it is a tribute, why haven’t I seen it before? Ever? However, this incense is really good. It is hundreds of times better than the Yinxi incense from the Western Regions."
This time Jushou did not need to come to Beijing for tax escort.
Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty "deposed a hundred schools and respected Confucianism", Confucianism has completely occupied a dominant position in the culture of the Han Dynasty, and the judging who is good at strategy is no exception. He also received traditional Confucian education from an early age.
Following Liu Xin's early days, Jushou was not very optimistic about this young man. The real change in his thoughts began when Liu Xin let him take charge of the Phantom Spy. Since it is a secret spy, most of the things done are very secretive, and many secrets that outsiders cannot understand. Many secrets have to be reported to Ju Xie first. From these secrets, we can see that in the past in Ju Xie's eyes, some of the public officials and doctors who did not satisfy the benevolence, justice and morality, were behind the male thieves and female prostitutes. In contrast, Liu Xin's aggressive determination, truth-seeking and pragmatic style, and fruitful changes have all convinced Jushou.
Therefore, Jushou took the initiative to invite Ying to come to Luoyang, and must try to make the emperor completely dispel his doubts about Liu Xin.
Jushou didn't know that Liu Xin had already moved to fight for world hegemony. Hearing Liu Hong's question, he quickly said: "Back to the emperor, the lower officials also felt that this spice is a tribute, and some lack of evidence. But Master Zhou Mu said. Now, Zhang Zi hid this spice in a very secure place. It can be seen that it is extremely precious. Such a precious good thing is only worthy of the emperor's possession, and naturally it should be a tribute."
With a smile on Liu Hong's face, he said: "Good things are only worthy of the emperor. Well said, this kid Liu Xin is a bit interesting."
Zhao Zhong was responsible for the collection of tax debts in Jingzhou this time, but Zhao Zhong didn’t get any benefits. He hated Liu Xin even more, so he put on a flattering look and said, “Good things are only worthy of the emperor’s possession. Although Liu Xin’s remarks are right, he kills ministers without evidence, and is even more daring to sell officials privately. It is already unforgivable."
Zhang Rang was also on the sidelines at this time. He knew the true meaning of the phrase "take people's money and help them eliminate disasters", so he cleared his throat and said: "This is something Mr. Zhao said. But, the emperor, do you remember that when Liu Xin paid the tax the year before, he said that Jiangxia and other four counties refused to listen to his orders, so they owed part of the tax to the court. So when the slave and maid wanted to come, Liu Xin did so. It must have been compelling. And the emperor once said that if there is really a dissatisfaction, Liu Xin can act cheaply. For this, the servant gave him an edict."
Liu Hong asked with a puzzled face: "Oh, did I say it? Why don't I remember."
The expression on Zhang Rang's face remained unchanged, and he said, "The emperor, you know everything every day. Naturally, these little things don't take care of you. But the slaves and maidservants can engrave everything you have said in your heart!"
Zhao Zhong naturally refused to let go of this chance of flattering, and repeatedly echoed: "Yes, the servants and servants dare not forget the words of the emperor for a moment!"
Jushou could hear from Zhang Rang's words that the edict he gave to Liu Xin was indeed a fake, and it did not go through the hands of the emperor. Fortunately, he did not rely on this edict.
However, Liu Hong was excited when he heard it, and turned to Ju Shuo, "Tell me, what's going on this time?"
Jushou hurriedly said respectfully: "Returning to the emperor, as Master Zhang said, Master Zhou Mu had to make this decision as a last resort. Master Zhou Mu knew that the court had to clear the Yellow Turban rebellion in recent years, and it would cost the people all over the world. There are many taxes that need to be paid from various places urgently. He is not only a family member of the Han clan, but cannot share the worries of the emperor, he often sits and sleeps because of this. Later, he obtained a decree called by Mr. Zhao to pay within a time limit, so he had to use force to recover It has been found out that these prefects not only refused to pay taxes, but also had many illegal activities. Take Lingling Prefect Zhang Zi as an example, he tried to murder Master Zhou Mu over and over again and robbed those who were transported from Guiyang to the imperial court several times. Taxation is indeed more than deadly! Please also the emperor to observe it!"
Zhao Zhong hurriedly said: "The emperor, don't listen to his rhetoric. Even if the prefects are all damned, Liu Xin can't sell officials without authorization."
Liu Hong's favorite things in his life are nothing more than two things, one is money, and the other is women. Liu Xin's memorial made it clear that he sold three prefecture positions, and the money he earned was not retained, and all was released to Luoyang. And the strange spice that I am holding in my hand is exactly what women love most. Thinking of this, Liu Hong said disapprovingly: "Mother, since Liu Xin has already sent the money, it can’t be counted as Selling officials without authorization, but an official who really helps me sell!"
Seeing the opportunity, Zhang Rang quickly said: "The emperor Shengming!"
Zhao Zhong also wanted to put some eyedrops on Liu Xin. Liu Hong already said with a serious face: "Jingzhou Mu Liu Xin's loyalty to me is beyond doubt. No one will be allowed to slander me in the future, or I will never forgive him! Father, I remember Liu Xin. I have mentioned that I want to find a piece of land in the capital to build a house. How is this going?"
In fact, Zhang Rang had already found this land a long time ago, but he had already taken it as his own. Hearing Liu Hong suddenly asked about it, he rolled his eyes and said, "Going back to the emperor, this land has nothing to do with it. There is nothing difficult. It's just that the servants are a little worried. If Liu Xin has a house in Luoyang, he won't put all his thoughts on Jingzhou, and it will inevitably be poor at that time, so I think it's better to delay him first.
Liu Hong no longer has any doubts about Liu Xin anymore. He picked up the spices and sniffed, and said to Jushou: "Go back and tell Liu Xin, so that he should not always think about returning to the capital and staying in Jingzhou for a few years. I will not treat him badly. Get out!"
Jushou left the hall and finally took a sigh of relief. This trip to the capital was finally fulfilling his mission.
When Liu Hong saw Jushou go out, he smiled and said to Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong: "Father and Mother, are you ready?"
Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong smirked and said, "It's already a good time to return to the emperor."
It turned out that in addition to letting the palace ladies only wear open pants, Liu Hong now has a new hobby, which is to watch the palace ladies bathe. His hobby is not to see which palace lady bathes, but to watch a group of palace ladies bathe. At that time, there weren't any particularly big baths. If you wanted to see a group of women bathe, I'm afraid he was the emperor who could do it.
Liu Hongduan sat on the couch, and Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong accompanied him. Around them, thirty-six large wooden barrels circled around. These wooden barrels are different from ordinary bath barrels. They are not high. People stand in them just to knees, but they are very wide. Three or four people sitting in them at the same time will not feel very crowded. Now in every wooden barrel there are two or three court ladies who have taken off smoothly. The light mist in the room, the white and creamy ** in the wooden barrel one after another, the silver ling-like laughter is endless, and the sound of water is even more soothing. People want to go wrong.
When the ladies of the palace were bathing, Liu Hong always asked people to add the rhinoceros incense to the water, and then pour the water after bathing into the ditch outside the palace wall. The fragrance often wafted more than ten miles away in that ditch. Since then it has been called Liuxiangqu. Today the ladies of the palace bathed with this unknown spice presented by Liu Xin. Liu Xin didn't know the true origin of these spices, so he didn't dare to say the name and efficacy of the spices, and people like Liu Hong and Zhang Rang had no way of knowing. However, the spice was originally very rich, and under the action of the hot water, it was mixed with a woman's breath, and it penetrated into Liu Hong's nostrils, making his mind rippling.
Liu Hong has been indulging in love all the year round, his body is not as good as the day, and his interest is also coming and going faster. Liu Hong asked the ladies of the court to wear open pants to make it easier when he was interested, and later, he had to watch the ladies of the court bath in order to get interested.
To his surprise, today, looking at the rippling scenery in front of him and smelling the intoxicating fragrance, a certain part of Liu Hong's body had an unprecedented strong reaction. He couldn't wait to shake off his dragon robe and lay down in one step. Into the big wooden barrel closest to him. After a while, bloody groans and gasping sounds echoed in this spacious and tall palace...
After a full hour, Liu Hongcai leaned contentedly against the side of the wooden barrel. Not only him, but the two palace ladies in the barrel were also very weak. After resting for a while, Liu Hongcai dried his body and changed his clothes under Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong's waiters.
Zhang Rang said flatly, "The emperor was really mighty just now!"
Zhao Zhong's face was more like a smile, and he said: "The emperor's grandeur is really better than when he was a teenager!"
Liu Hong breathed out a sigh of relief very comfortably, and said, "Yeah, it's been a long time since I've had such a happy life. I didn't expect the strange fragrance sent by Liu Xin to have such a magical effect. I will reward him heavily!"
Liu Hong is not stupid. He is very clear about what his body is. He can have today's performance, except for benefiting from this unknown spice. He really can't find any other reason to explain it. In fact, even Liu Xin didn't know that this spice had the effect of "Viagra", because he was already too powerful and didn't need any external force at all.
Zhao Zhong heard that Liu Hong said that he still had to reward Liu Xin, and he was uneasy, and said quickly: "The emperor, Liu Xin is now a husband of Jingzhou and a Hou of Xiangyang. His status is already very high, and he has no reward."
Liu Hong pondered for a long while, and suddenly said: "Then make him king!"