The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 307 The Prime Minister! The Prime Minister! The Prime Minister!

Li Yi slowly put away Liu Bei's handwritten letter, his heart filled with turmoil.

At this moment, he finally understood why Liu Bei had strictly ordered Zhang Fei to personally hand over this letter to him.

You absolutely must not delegate this task to anyone else.

As a father, a husband, a ruler, or even a man.

Especially a man like Liu Bei would not show his vulnerable side in front of others.

Only in front of Li Yi, in this letter, did Liu Bei reveal his vulnerable side to his son, Ziyu.

He must have been suffering immensely inside.

The writing style of this handwritten letter was also unlike Liu Bei's usual style.

When Liu Bei wrote letters to Li Yi, although he often mentioned their past relationship, he mostly discussed work as a monarch.

This time was different from the past. Liu Bei put aside his identity as the King of Qi and his airs as a monarch.

I simply spoke with Li Yi as an old friend and brother, sharing my innermost thoughts.

He had nothing to hide from Li Yi and poured out everything he wanted to say.

Li Yi lightly tapped Liu Bei's handwritten note with his knuckles; the ink on the silk, bearing the four characters "如鱼得水" (like a fish in water), was still as bright as ever.

Spring rain taps on the eaves outside the window, striking down winter snow, just like the night rain in Xuzhou back then.

“Lord Xuande…” he sighed, startling the candlelight on the desk.

Yuan Ying, holding a round fan, covered her lips as she approached and asked softly:
"...What does my husband think?"

call.

Li Yi let out a long sigh, placed the book on the table, and replied, "One should ask the child about his true nature."

Having lived in ancient times for over a decade, Li Yi's thinking had already been somewhat influenced by it.

Even so, compared to the local natives, his thinking was still considered enlightened.

At least when it comes to choosing a father, he feels that the initiative should be given to the child.

If the child is unwilling, then it's not just the child who will suffer.

And my father...

So he turned around, squatted down, and looked Liu Shan in the eye:
"Would the young master be willing to acknowledge me as his father?"

A Dou was still young; the seven-year-old child was clutching his belt and stammering, unsure how to answer.

Zhang Fei whispered a reminder from behind:

"Adou, have you forgotten what your third uncle told you last night?"

Liu Shan raised his eyes and said slowly:

"Ah...A Dou...I...I'm willing..."

"What does the Queen mean?"

Li Yi turned his gaze to Yuan Ying.

Yuan Ying gently stroked the jade pendant at her waist—the very token given to her by Li Yi years ago.

This jade was originally a pair, but Li Yi divided it in half and gave one half to each of his sisters.

With this jade pendant, no one would dare to disturb them.

"If it weren't for my brother-in-law, my sister Ying and I would have perished in the chaos of war long ago."

"A Dou..."

She suddenly choked up and looked at the child.

"This child has rarely seen his father's face since childhood, yet now he is receiving instruction from a peerless genius..."

"Woo..."

Before she could finish speaking, tears had already soaked half of her handkerchief.

Upon seeing this, Li Yi suddenly drew his sword.

To everyone's surprise, he cut off the sleeves of his robe.

Holding a broken piece of silk, Li Yi slowly walked to Liu Shan and asked in a deep voice:
"I'll ask you one more time—are you willing?"

Yuan Ying quickly pushed her young son's back, and Liu Shan finally prostrated himself and kowtowed:
"Your subject wishes to pay homage to the Prime Minister!"

Just then, a clap of thunder struck, casting an unpredictable shadow on Li Yi's face.

He slowly squatted down, wrapped the piece of blue satin around Liu Chan's waist, and said earnestly:
"In ancient times, there was the saying 'severing ties by cutting off one's robe,' but today, I, Benxiang, am 'tying robes together to form a bond of kinship.'"

"This garment was bestowed upon you by the Emperor, and now it is tied to your body."

“I hope you remember that this belt is tied around your body, just as your father’s teachings should always be in your heart.”

"Even the most expensive brocade robes need to be tied with a belt to show their majesty."

Li Yi paused at this point.

He tightened the knot of the blue satin and said in a deep voice:

“If I ever stray from the right path in the future, and I untie this belt, that will be the day our bond is severed.”

These words were spoken with great weight, and even Zhang Fei's heart skipped a beat when he heard them.

Although Liu Shan could not fully comprehend things, he already possessed his own mind at this age.

Perhaps in his eyes, this was just the adults "teaching" him to do something.

But his intuition told him that this matter was very important and would affect his entire life.

Li Yi leaned down and stared intently, his tone becoming more forceful:
"Now that you acknowledge the Prime Minister as your father, do you know the rules?"

The child nodded hesitantly, hesitated for a moment, then straightened his back:
"Your subject... Your subject understands...!"

"good!"

Li Yi suddenly raised his voice, "In that case, you must never skip school and play around again."

"Otherwise, even without your father, my ruler will not be blind."

After saying that, he pointed outside the door, where Li Zhi and Li Ping were playing in the courtyard.

"If you don't believe me, go ask these two boys."

"Do you still have your hands from when you skipped school to play around?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shan swallowed hard and repeatedly said he would never dare to do it again.

Seeing this, Yuan Ying suddenly stepped forward and gently pushed Liu Shan towards Li Yi:
"Sir, please discipline the child as you see fit. If the child does anything wrong, he should be punished accordingly."

As the saying goes, even the best advice from close relatives can be seen as bad.

It is human nature to accept the advice of outsiders, even if it is harsh.

it means,
Some people, even though you know your family members are doing it for your own good, you still find them annoying.

However, if the same behavior were performed by an outsider, they would feel that the person was showing concern for you.

Yuan Ying is a typical example of this.

If Liu Bei disciplined his child strictly, Yuan Ying would feel that he, as a father, did not care about his son.

If it were Li Yi who disciplined her strictly, she would feel that it was out of concern for A Dou.

This is called the safe island effect.

The next day.

At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), twelve armored warriors had already lined up in front of the steps.

Each carried ceremonial weapons such as golden axes, jade axes, and red bows.

Liu Shan (A Dou) formally began to acknowledge Li Yi as his father and regent.

Yuan Ying personally styled Liu Shan's hair into a horn-shaped bun, wrapping it with five-colored silk threads, and whispered:
"Adou, good boy."

"Your father is a man of high standing, the crown of all scholars in the world."

"Since you have acknowledged him as your father, you should treat him as your own father when you see him, and you must not be disrespectful."

He paused slightly, then added, "From now on, you should diligently follow your father's instructions and study your lessons. You must not be as playful and carefree as before."

Yuan Ying felt as if she were sending her son off to "marry off," and she wanted to say everything she had ever wanted to say in her life.

Soon, Li Yi sat upright on the table.

Liu Shan, barefoot, stepped onto the plain mat and approached.

Yuan Ying held a copper basin and performed the handwashing ritual.

Then the offering of gifts was performed.

Liu Shan carefully selected some of his valuable possessions as the heir apparent.

Of course, most of them were selected by his mother, Yuan Ying, last night.

Li Yi glanced at the gifts and only took one as a token of respect.

The rest were ordered to be taken back by Yuan Ying, which is the meaning of "taking the thin and accepting the thick".

Then comes the ordination ceremony.

Liu Shan knelt on the ground and respectfully bowed to Li Yi:

"Please instruct me, Your Excellency!"

Li Yi held a ruler and lightly tapped Liu Shan's left shoulder to warn him against arrogance.

He then lightly tapped his right shoulder to warn him against laziness.

Finally, gently tap the center of their forehead to symbolize the aversion to ignorance.

This is the Three Precepts Ritual.

After all the ceremonies were completed, Li Yi officially became Liu Shan's regent.

Having adopted Liu Shan as his godson, Li Yi sat upright before the table and summoned Liu Shan to his side.

“…Adou, the first thing I want to teach you now is responsibility.”

"What is responsibility?" A Dou asked.

"Responsibility is something that will accompany you throughout your life, and I do not wish to impose it upon you."

"However, you must understand that since you were born, this responsibility has been on your shoulders."

"This is what your father and I must teach you."

After speaking, Li Yi ordered someone to bring paper and pen, and instructed A Dou to write.

“Now, you should write a letter to apologize to your father.”

Seeing the child's bewildered expression, he stroked the child's head and sighed:

“Foolish child, have you not heard the saying, ‘A loving father’s love for his son is not for reward’?”

"A father's love for his son goes beyond mere paternal affection."

“Your father is the ruler of all people, not just your father.”

"Despite his busy schedule, he still thinks about your studies; his heart is truly admirable."

After he finished speaking, Li Yi took out a bronze mirror, reflected it on Liu Shan, and asked:

Who is this person?

Liu Shan timidly replied:

"It is...it is your son?"

"wrong!"

Li Yi placed the mirror on the table with a resounding clang:

"This is the future King of Qi!"

“The vast territory of my Great Qi will one day rest on your shoulders.”

"The millions of people of the Great Qi are also your people."

"If your virtue is not worthy of your position, how will you succeed to the throne in the future?"

At this point, Li Yi's tone became unusually serious, as if he took this matter very seriously.

Several of the "young ladies" were also present, including Zhen Mi.

Looking at Li Yi's expression, she was surprised to find a trace of... a trace of fear in Li Yi's eyes.
Zhen Mi covered her lips, unable to believe her eyes.

The once spirited and shrewd Mr. Tian Shu was now discussing whether A Dou could inherit the great unification.

A hint of fear crept into his heart?
Li Yi continued speaking.

He held a ceremonial sword in his hand and made a clanging sound.

"Your father's strictness in teaching is truly for the sake of the ancestral temple."

"We are bound by blood ties and entrusted with the fate of the nation; how can we not be cautious?"

"If one's virtue does not match their position—"

At this point, Jianfeng suddenly pointed out the window, "Then the disaster will arise from within, even more so than a million-strong Wei army!"

Seeing the young emperor's bewilderment, Li Yi sighed again and bent down to explain:

"Foreign invaders can be defended with trenches and moats, but internal threats are truly difficult to prevent."

"It is like a fortified city; if it is destroyed, even children can fall into it."

"It is not that your father, the prime minister, is exaggerating and deceiving people."

"I regard the rats of the world as mere weeds."

"Even if there are a million foreign invaders, they can be wiped out in the blink of an eye. They are nothing to fear."

"However, I am not afraid of external enemies, but I am worried about internal troubles."

"A Dou, do you understand what your father means?"

Li Yi asked earnestly.

Liu Shan bowed in astonishment and said:

"Your subject will certainly work diligently and live up to your teachings, Father Prime Minister."

Upon seeing this, Li Yi frowned deeply and simply sighed.

“The education of a heir is not something that can be achieved simply by setting one’s mind on it.”

"We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate."

This caused quite a stir among the people inside the hall.

Everyone who had ever interacted with Li Yi could hardly believe their ears.

They never imagined that they would hear Prime Minister Li utter the words "Leave it to fate" in their lifetime.

Li Yi meant that he would do his best.

Let's all work together to try and make Adou a qualified second-generation entrepreneur.

Li Yi was intelligent his whole life, but in this one matter, he was unable to make a judgment about the future.

We can only take it one step at a time.

Because no one can predict a child's future trajectory.

Birth, aging, illness, death, and changes in mindset—all these have an impact.

However, given Liu Shan's status, Li Yi had no choice but to work hard.

Because if he fails, then the Qi kingdom he and Liu Bei jointly established will be lost.

It is highly likely that we will be plunged into a catastrophe.

It's not that we can't survive this catastrophe, but it will definitely be much more difficult to deal with than Cao Cao.

Just as Li Yi said.

External enemies are never scary; what's scary is infighting among our own people!

If people are united, no matter how many enemies come, they will be defeated.

However, once internal strife begins, the organization will disintegrate on its own without external intervention.

This is what Li Yi fears.

Even someone as shrewd as him couldn't avoid such a thing.

Throughout history, no dynasty has ever perfectly avoided this point.

After explaining the principles, Li Yi urged Liu Shan to start writing a letter to apologize to his father.

Then he turned to comfort Yuan Ying.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my overstepping my bounds."

"But I wonder if Your Majesty understands what I just said?"

Yuan Ying looked up, her eyes still wet with tears:
"It's not that I don't know that a great man should have the world in his heart, but A Dou is still my own flesh and blood."

Li Yi then took the bronze mirror from the table and placed it in front of him.

"Please look at this, Your Majesty."

Yuan Ying's haggard face was reflected in the mirror, and Li Yi lightly touched it with his finger:
"This is no ordinary woman; she is the Queen Mother of the State of Qi."

He then showed him the gold seal and earnestly said:

"This seal is no ordinary ornament; it is entrusted to the people."

"The Queen and Xuande are like the sun and the moon shining side by side."

"The king governs the court and the queen is the mother of the six palaces."

"If we abandon public justice for personal feelings, what will the government and the people rely on? What will the masses look up to?"

Yuan Ying's delicate hands trembled slightly, and she didn't know what to say for a moment.

Li Yi winked at Yuan Ying, who understood and came out carrying an ancient book.

She came to her sister and said softly:
"Sister, look here."

Yuan Ying pointed to the ancient books.

"In the past, Lady Wei advised Duke Huan of Qi to stop hunting, and Lady Fan stopped King Zhuang of Chu from taking a woman from Zheng. Neither of them let personal feelings harm the affairs of the state."

"Now that my elder sister is the Queen and the mother of the nation, she should set a good example for the world."

"If, in the future, due to excessive pampering, the Crown Prince neglects his studies, the historian's pen will be like a knife..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yuan Ying covered her face and wept.

"I know I'm guilty!"

Li Yi and Yuan Ying exchanged a glance.

Yuan Ying pouted playfully, revealing a smug smile.

Li Yi glared at her, then sighed again:
"I dare not speak of any crime."

"I only wish that the Queen would remember the love between Xuande and you when the city of Shouchun fell."

"Have you not heard Su Ziqing say, 'We become husband and wife in our youth, our love and trust will never waver'?" Seeing Yuan Ying's stunned expression, he continued:

Even if husband and wife have disagreements, they should work together to raise the crown prince and secure the country, so as not to betray the bond of sharing joys and sorrows.

"I only hope that the Queen will consider this carefully."

Yuan Ying nodded repeatedly, though it was unclear whether she had taken it all in.

It's possible that she would still pounce on him again if she encountered this situation again next time.

But Li Yi believed that before rushing forward, she would at least be careful with her words and actions and would not be as reckless as she was this time.

Suddenly, the sound of a night watchman's drum was heard outside the window. Li Yi took out a silk handkerchief and handed it to Yuan Ying.

Yuan Ying stepped forward and wiped away her sister's tears.

"Tomorrow I will write a letter to Lord Xuande, and I am willing to act as the one to resolve the ice."

"However, A Dou's studies—"

Li Yi was also worried that Yuan Ying, as the mother, would interfere in his education of A Dou.

So we gave her a heads-up beforehand.

Yuan Ying suddenly sat up straight and said:

“I shall personally supervise his studies every day.”

"good!"

Li Yi was pleased and had a maid help Yuan Ying return to her room to rest.

He then returned to his inner chamber and remarked to the ladies with emotion:

"In matters concerning the nation and its people, it is ultimately necessary for both internal and external forces to work together."

"Do you now understand why I asked you to read 'The Art of War'?"

"Can anyone find the corresponding passage?"

Surprisingly, it was Mi Zhen who opened it first and found the "Nine Grounds Chapter" of military strategy.

But not entirely sure, so I asked:

"I wonder if this is what my husband meant to say—"

"A skilled strategist can command troops as if they were one person, unless absolutely necessary."

This means that commanders need to unite the entire army through management and education.

This creates a powerful overall force.

What he emphasized was that a group needs leaders to strengthen management and education of its members.

It was also specifically emphasized that this solidarity was not voluntary.

Rather, it was forced by objective circumstances that everyone was under certain conditions.

We need to unite and face the challenges together.

"Exactly, exactly!"

Li Yi was overjoyed. He had read the military treatise no less than eight hundred times, and had already memorized it thoroughly and could recite it backwards.

"Unexpectedly, it was Madam who memorized it first."

Li Yi held Mi Zhen's fair hand, his wife of many years.

She was a very traditional and classical woman, and Li Yi didn't actually have much in common with her.

But she has one good quality: she is very obedient.

Li Yi asked her to memorize "The Art of War," and she actually did so obediently.

But there was one person who was simply not fond of studying.

That is the daughter of the Skeleton King.

"Ying'er, what's wrong? Don't you take my words to heart?"

Li Yi asked in a deep voice with a stern face.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ying pursed her lips:

"I despise all these classical Chinese phrases..."

"Besides, I have a husband with such extraordinary talent."

Yuan Ying suddenly stepped forward and took Li Yi's arm, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling.

"Even if I've read all the books in the world, how could I possibly be smarter than you?"

As she spoke, she tied the purse she had embroidered two days ago around her husband's waist, and said sweetly:

"It would be better to embroider a few more sachets to help my husband stay alert and clear-headed."

Zhen Mi covered her mouth and chuckled, but saw Li Yi frowning, looking somewhat helpless with this girl.

Just as he was about to speak, Yuan Ying interrupted him, saying:
“Sister Mi, please be the judge. But what my husband said himself when he was lecturing on Zhuangzi—”

She suddenly put on a serious face, mimicking Li Yi's expression, and said in a very convincing manner:
"—'The skillful labor and the wise worry,' I am doing this to fulfill my husband's wishes!"

Li Yi shook his head and sighed:

"Enough, enough, I'm being too attached to appearances."

Looking outside again, he asked:
"Has A Dou's letter not been written yet?"

"It will be dinner time soon."

Li Yi was very strict with himself; he studied when it was time to study and ate and rested when it was time to eat and rest.

The balance between work and rest should never be reversed.

Previously, Li Zhi had missed dinner because he was too busy playing.

If he missed his meal, Li Yi would forbid his servants from feeding him.

Late at night, Li Zhi became so hungry that he started making a huge fuss.

Feeling sorry for her child, Yuan Ying got up to cook noodles for him, and Mi Zhen also brought him pastries.

A servant promptly reported this to Li Yi, who immediately stepped in to stop it.

Not only did they order all the cooked food to be thrown away.

Mi Zhen and Yuan Ying were also punished.

The order was strict: no one was to give Li Zhi any food until breakfast time the following day.

Yuan Ying threw a tantrum for several days because of this.

But from then on, Li Zhi never dared to miss mealtimes again.

I have basically developed the habit of eating on time.

"Perhaps it's because Liu Shan (A Dou) can't write."

Zhen Mi revealed the secret in a single sentence.

Everyone was enlightened.

Yes, how could A Dou, a seven-year-old child, who couldn't even recognize all the characters, write an apology letter?

"Alright, I'll go and come back."

Li Yi turned and walked out of the inner room.

Mi Zhen hurriedly called out from behind:

"Husband, dinner will be served soon, so don't be too late."

Without Li Yi's presence, no one dared to touch their chopsticks.

Therefore, whether Li Yi eats or not is related to whether everyone in the Prime Minister's residence can eat on time.

"Adou, is the letter finished?"

Li Yi walked out with his hands behind his back and asked in a gentle voice.

"...Father, I...I don't know how to write the character '愚' (foolish)."

Li Yi didn't answer, but squatted down and glanced at the letter.

His brows gradually furrowed into a deep frown.

Putting aside the flow of the writing, the font alone is simply a mess of scribbles!
"Adou, starting tomorrow, you will begin by practicing calligraphy."

Li Yi said seriously, "People say that seeing the handwriting is like seeing the person."

"The characters may not be beautiful, but they must not be improper."

"Your father has beautiful handwriting; you should surpass him."

"Your father still has some bamboo and silk scrolls here. You might as well imitate your father's handwriting."

After saying this, Li Yi turned around and stood behind Liu Shan.

Hold his hand and teach him to write.

He also wrote a letter of apology on his behalf.

While writing, I explained to him why he should speak in that way.

He patiently explained to A Dou the meaning of each word and how it should be used in everyday writing.

After the letter of apology was written, Li Yi immediately sent it back to Xiapi overnight.

When Liu Bei received the letter, he was reviewing memorials to the throne.

The servant delivered the letter, and Liu Bei replied with only a faint sentence.

"—Understood, put the letter down."

After the servants left, Liu Bei hurriedly unfolded the letter to read it.

The book states briefly:

Your subject, Chan, bows deeply and pays respects to Your Majesty, my father:

"Your subject is foolish and dull, and does not understand the profound meaning of your teachings, Father. I have repeatedly skipped my studies, causing you worry and trouble."

"Now, thanks to the Prime Minister's instruction, I realize that even though Father is busy with countless affairs of state, he still cares about my studies, truly hoping that I will become talented enough to succeed to the throne."

“Your subject is young and ignorant, and does not understand your father’s good intentions. Instead, he harbors resentment, which is a great act of filial impiety.”

“My father is the ruler of all the people of Qi, and he bears the heavy responsibility of governing the country. I should study diligently and cultivate myself to share his burdens.”

"But because of his playfulness and laziness, he disappointed his father."

"Thinking of this, I am filled with shame."

"Now that the Prime Minister has disciplined me strictly, I have come to realize the importance of learning and the greatness of responsibility."

"From now on, I will study diligently and live up to my father's expectations."

"I humbly beg Your Majesty to forgive my mistakes. I will certainly repent and correct my past errors to comfort Your Majesty."

Your son, Chan, bows again in fear and trepidation.

"Spring month of the fourteenth year of Jian'an".

After reading the letter, Liu Bei guessed that it was written by Li Yi, although the handwriting was different and the structure of the text was deliberately changed.

But based on Liu Bei's understanding of Li Yi, he still managed to guess it.

I couldn't help but sigh, "Ziyu is so thoughtful."

Even knowing the truth, Liu Bei was still deeply moved.

He was pleased to see his young son become sensible, so he wrote back, offering earnest advice.

The letter, sent back to Hebei, briefly stated:
"To my son, A Dou—"

"Seeing your handwriting, though the ink is still immature."

“However, his words reveal his remorse, which greatly comforts me.”

“You lost your mother at a young age and grew up amidst the chaos of war.”

"My father fought on all fronts and was worried about the affairs of the country. I was unable to be by his side day and night, which is the greatest regret of my life."

"I entrust you with Mr. Ziyu's teachings today not out of harsh demands, but because I truly hope that you can carry on this great cause and live up to the aspirations of our predecessors."

“Mr. Ziyu is a man of unparalleled talent and virtue; you should treat him as your father.”

"Follow the instructions carefully and practice both literary and martial arts diligently."

"If he achieves great things in the future, he will not have failed his father and his father's painstaking efforts."

"As the year draws to a close and the weather grows cold, I hope you take good care of yourself."

“Father, this is a letter written by Xuande.”

……

(It is said that this is Liu Bei's family letter, one of the best-preserved authentic works of Liu Bei in later generations.)

(Pei Songzhi, a later scholar, commented on this:)

“Even in the imperial family, though they hold power, the affection between father and son is no different from that between commoners.”

"Heroes of chaotic times often gain power on horseback, and thus show even greater tenderness towards their young children."

"Knowing full well that the letter was written by Yi Gong on his behalf, he still responded, not only to save face for his father, but also to take the opportunity to express the feelings between father and son."

"The emperor's mind is here, and so is the natural instinct for family."

"This is what distinguishes Zhaowu from emperors throughout history."
……

For the next period of time, Liu Shan stayed at the Prime Minister's residence in Hebei, studying with Li Zhi and Li Ping.

The learning environment has a huge impact on a child's mindset.

Previously in Xiapi, Liu Shan had relatively little contact with children, such as Zhang Bao, and they did not need to learn anything from the royal family.

However, Li Yi was very strict with his family, and he made his children study ancient classics from a young age.

Being with them provided A Dou with a great learning environment.

When your classmates are all studying diligently, it's hard for you not to study diligently yourself.

After observing for half a month, Li Yi discovered that Liu Shan's talent in learning was indeed far inferior to that of Li Zhi and Li Ping.

Both children were capable of applying what they learned to other situations, and Liu Shan was not considered stupid.

But compared to her own two biological children, she seemed a bit slow-witted.

Learning this skill really requires talent.

If you don't have enough talent, you can only make up for it with hard work and diligence.

But A Dou...

It's already quite good that he's seriously learned everything he's supposed to learn.

Even someone as intelligent as Li Yi was at a loss as to get him to learn on his own initiative.

However, Li Yi also emphasized a balance between work and rest in his teaching, rather than simply making the children bury themselves in their studies.

Play hard when it's time to play, and rest well when you're tired.

After you've rested well, then you can study.

On this day, Liu Shan finished his studies.

He and Li Zhi, accompanied by several servants, went on an incognito trip.

The two of them rode on small donkeys and slipped out of the garden gate.

On the occasion of the Shangsi Festival, the city of Ye was deserted, with streets bustling with activity.

Li Zhi pointed to the Jade Terrace, where a large crowd had gathered.

A hint of arrogance flickered between his brows as he spoke:
“In the past, this place was a stable. My father ordered the Zhang River to be diverted to make a pond, which is why it is so prosperous today.”

Liu Shan said calmly:
"I am in Xiapi, and I have not seen the city of Ye fall."

Li Zhi hurriedly said:

"Xiapi also owes much to my father's construction efforts!"

The two children argued and then went into a tavern to sit down.

A servant hurriedly came over and bowed before Li Zhi, saying:

"...Young master, you...you can't drink alcohol!"

Li Zhi's expression changed drastically, and he said:
"If you, sir, can drink it, why can't I?"

Am I not a man?

"My mother also drinks often, so why can't I drink?"

"Well, you're still young!"

"nonsense!"

Li Zhi spat at him and handed a bowl full of wine to Liu Shan.