A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 215 Tianxing
"In the winter of the third year of Yuanshou, in the tenth month, the Crown Prince relieved Emperor Gao of his worries about Pingcheng. During the reign of Empress Gao, the Xiongnu chieftain wrote a letter of denunciation. He fought two wars in Dai and Hexi, establishing merit for ten thousand generations. On the day of the New Year, a grand ceremony was held. Grand Marshal and General Wei Qing was promoted to 'Lord of Qin,' and Grand Marshal and General Huo Qubing was promoted to 'Lord of Wan,' jointly leading the military and political affairs..."

The Grand Historian Sima Tan always felt there was something lacking, and when he looked around in bewilderment, he finally understood why.

"Marquis of Guannei?"

Upon hearing the call, Sima Xiangru's vanity was greatly satisfied. As Huo Qubing's military advisor, he simply followed along and was granted the title of Marquis within the Pass.

Although Sima Xiangru was very reluctant to mention his childhood nickname "my son," the Marquis of Champion did indeed take him for a spin and obtain the nineteenth rank in the twenty-rank nobility system of the Han Dynasty.

The Sima family has been honored because of him; let's see who dares to say he can't handle tough situations.

"What business do you have with me?"

Sima Tan's throat tightened. He was very dissatisfied with Sima Xiangru's head tilted to the sky, his disdain for people, and his snorting. He also gained a deeper understanding of the Champion Marquis's ability to win even while leading a dog. He gritted his teeth and said, "Write a great poem?"

"Do not write!"

Sima Xiangru refused decisively, looking down at him with a condescending gaze, and said indifferently, "I won't write anymore. I've spent my whole life with a brush, having to think of subtle and veiled ways to deal with even the most sordid affairs of the esteemed. Now I don't even have the title of Marquis of Guannei. What's the point of living?"

Sima Tan, who was about to start writing, was stunned by what he heard. The ink on his pen left a mark. Was he being subtly insulted?

They must have been subtly implying something!

Sima Tan's hand, gripping the brush, turned white. Looking up, he saw Sima Xiangru smiling and saying, "Old friend, don't get so excited."

"Am I excited?"

"Indeed, you are a learned scholar who 'studied astronomy under Tang Du, learned the Book of Changes from Yang He, and studied Daoist philosophy under Huang Zi.' With such a broad mind, how could you envy others?"

Seeing Sima Tan's face growing redder and redder, Sima Xiangru smiled and said, "Look at you, so anxious. A historian must have a calm mind and not be swayed by personal feelings in order to have the true character of a historian. Otherwise, wouldn't you just become the son of your 'novelist'?"

In the sweltering heat, wisps of smoke rose from Sima Tan's head, revealing his flushed old face and somewhat aged appearance.

For a historian, the greatest humiliation is being called a novelist; an even greater humiliation is being told that your son is a novelist, and you can't even retaliate, because what they say is true.

Unbeknownst to them, sharp blades pierced through, leaving holes all over Sima Tan's body and soul.

Xu Zhuang, the Grand Historian, whose family had a long tradition of historical writing, had studied under Sima Tan. Seeing his teacher insulted, he immediately spoke up: "Lord Lun, my senior brother is not among the historians..."

When the master and his disciple came to fight the tiger, Sima Xiangru was not afraid at all and directly quoted out of context: "That's right, your senior brother is a novelist."

Even Xu Zhuang couldn't hold back anymore. His senior brother was a novelist, but what was his teacher, and what was he?
Sima Qian is Sima Qian; how can he be confused with his master and disciples?

"Lord Lun, I respect your great talent, you shouldn't..."

"What don't you want?"

Sima Xiangru leaned forward, getting closer to the master and disciple, and asked, "You hit me? You hit me?"

During the imperial celebrations, if Sima Tan and Xu Zhuang dare to lay a hand on meritorious officials, he will make sure they suffer the consequences.

"Sima Xiangru?"

Huo Qubing's voice rang out, and Sima Xiangru immediately straightened up and loudly replied, "Here!"

"Climb the tower to paint the grand ceremony picture."

"Yes!"

Sima Xiangru trotted up to the gate tower of Xi'an city. This posture made Xu Zhuang say, "Master and disciple, look at Lunhou, he looks like a dog."

"What do you mean 'seems like'? It is him!"

Sima Tan felt like he was about to catch fire. Since Sima Xiangru was so unrighteous, then he shouldn't blame him for being unethical. "Xiao Zhuang, put down your pen!"

"Hmm?" "Wenjun is beautiful, with eyebrows like distant mountains, a face like a lotus blossom, and skin as smooth as jade. She was widowed at seventeen and is known for her flirtatious and frivolous nature. Thus, she was attracted to Changqing's talent and overstepped her bounds. When Changqing returned to Chengdu, Sima stole money from the Zhuo family!"

Xu Zhuang wrote with flowing brush.

During a prosperous era, Sima Tan, feeling that heroes of the world were as numerous as carp crossing a river, added a "Biographies of Heroes" to the existing biographies of emperors, princes, and marquises, and co-authored the book with his disciple Xu Zhuang.

Sima Xiangru first entered history for his literary talent, and now he lives up to his reputation for meritorious service, making him one of the outstanding talents of his time.

However, regarding Sima Tan's failure to woo Zhuo Wenjun before this, it is difficult to determine whether he robbed her of her beauty first and then her money, or vice versa.

Now he was certain that Sima Xiangru had first set his sights on the wealth of the Zhuo family behind Zhuo Wenjun, and that he had robbed her of both money and virtue, thus committing a double robbery. He was of low character and despicable.

As he finished writing, Xu Zhuang posed a thought-provoking question: "Master, was Zhuo Wenjun truly a beauty of unparalleled grace?"

Does this woman, with eyebrows like spring mountains, a face like a lotus, skin like solidified cream, and an indescribable charm, really exist?

Zhuo Wenjun rarely appeared in public, and Xu Zhuang did not know her appearance. However, after Sima Xiangru left, she was "very beautiful" and became more robust after joining the army, showing even more determination, undeterred by the years.

Sima Tan remained silent.

He had seen Zhuo Wenjun; she was indeed "beautiful," but "national beauty" was clearly an overstatement, merely intended to increase the extent to which later generations would scorn Sima Xiangru.

"Slightly inferior."

"a bit?"

"Two or three points."

……

The sounds of celebration could be heard for miles.

The travelers returning from Nanyang gradually slowed down their speed and pace.

The window of the carriage opened, and Liu Che gazed at Chang'an City in the distance, remaining silent.

He should have been the one to severely damage the Han Sea and annihilate the Western Xiongnu, and the whole country should have rejoiced because of him. But now, the people of the world only know the Emperor, not His Majesty, and they only obey the orders of the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty, not the orders of the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Che felt a sudden urge to arrive at the venue and announce the emperor's return.

Can the Crown Prince be stripped of his power to rule the country in front of all the people?
The wheels stopped turning, and Liu Che looked down to see that Chancellor Zhu Maichen, along with officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, had been waiting for a long time ahead.

Liu Che opened the door, stared coldly at Zhu Maichen, and didn't say a word.

Zhu Maichen bowed deeply, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"

Liu Che remained silent.

"As Your Majesty commands, Your Majesty's imperial carriage may pass through Chang'an without disembarking and entering the city; you may proceed directly to the Ganquan Palace," Zhu Maichen added.

Liu Che remained expressionless, neither shaking his head nor nodding.

"The Han Dynasty has dealt a heavy blow to foreign enemies, but has not yet eradicated them. There are still traitors, national villains, and foreigners who cause trouble on national holidays. Guanzhong is not yet completely safe. Therefore, His Majesty has specially dispatched personal guards to escort Your Majesty to the Ganquan Palace." Zhu Maichen pointed to the end of the road.

Led by Zhao Chongguo, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, a thousand of the Crown Prince's personal guards stood in a prominent array.

"The nation is celebrating, yet I am outside the city and cannot enter. Crown Prince, excellent! Very excellent!"

"Your Majesty, please!"

(End of this chapter)