Chapter 8

If Liu Chang had known the scene would be so awkward, he certainly wouldn't have brought up the matter to Liu Ruyi.

After the two continued to stand in silence for a while, Liu Chang realized there was no hope and turned to leave.

However, Liu Ruyi grabbed his shoulder and forcibly kept him in place.

Liu Ruyi looked much more serious than usual, his brows furrowed, and he had a demeanor somewhat like that of Liu Bang, "What do you need the sword for? Is someone bullying you?"

"Bullying me???"

Liu Chang was taken aback, quickly shook his head, and then explained in detail his plan to improve the spinning wheel.

Contrary to what he expected, Liu Ruyi's face never showed a hint of mockery; he listened very seriously to his younger brother's ideas.

After finishing, seeing that Liu Ruyi was unmoved, Liu Chang felt somewhat dejected.

No one believes me at all.

"That's a good idea... It's rare for you to think about Mother..."

Liu Ruyi unfastened the sword from his waist. Just as Liu Chang reached out to grab it, Liu Ruyi pulled it away.

"You just kicked me today. If I give it to you now, I feel like I'm at a disadvantage."

"Then kick me back, I absolutely... won't retaliate for now."

"Ha ha ha, forget it. How about this: if you call me 'Third Brother,' I'll give it to you."

Liu Chang frowned and grumbled, "Third Brother."

"Huh? I didn't hear that clearly... What did you call me?"

"Third Brother!!"

"Ha ha ha, here you go, little brother!"

Just as Liu Chang was overjoyed and about to grab the sword, a large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his forearm. Liu Chang angrily looked up, and the person holding his forearm was Liu Heng.

"Third Brother... you can't give him the sword... It's too dangerous. What if he hurts himself?"

"Mind your own business! Let go!"

Liu Heng calmly shook his head and then looked at Liu Ruyi.

"Brother, you'll be harming him."

Liu Ruyi didn't dare argue further, withdrew his hand, and took back the sword.

This made Liu Chang extremely angry. He had finally found someone who believed in him and was willing to let him take action, but Liu Heng had ruined it. At that moment, Liu Heng even surpassed Liu Ruyi and became the person Liu Chang hated the most.

Liu Ruyi looked at Liu Chang helplessly, as if to say, "Don't blame me."

During the rest of the banquet, Liu Chang was very unhappy. He pouted and sat in his seat, even the beef didn't taste as good as before. Liu Bang drank until he was drunk, sang a song, and then danced gracefully, though unsteadily, which added a certain charm to his performance.

He was in a very good mood and, for once, invited Liu Ying to dance with him.

This was probably the happiest day for Liu Ying, not because his position as the crown prince was secure, but because of his father's rare affectionate attitude. In the past, Liu Bang's entire focus was on his great cause, so he could abandon his wife and son, and even when the enemy threatened to eat his father, he laughed and asked for a share.

He had no time to care about his family's feelings, and Liu Fei and Liu Ying grew up during that time.

After he achieved his great cause, he had the time to enjoy life, but by then, Liu Fei and Liu Ying had already grown up. They could only enviously watch Liu Bang embrace their younger siblings and pour the fatherly love they had never experienced onto their brothers.

However, to say that Liu Bang didn't love his two elder sons would be incorrect.

Liu Bang gave the richest land of Qi to his illegitimate son Liu Fei and sent his most trusted and beloved talent, Cao Can, to assist him. Cao Can was the second most meritorious official in the founding of the Han dynasty, only after Xiao He.

When Liu Ying was sick, Liu Bang lost his appetite and spent his days by his son's side, inviting the best doctors from all over the country.

However, facing a son who was almost as tall as himself, Liu Bang found it difficult to express his feelings, especially towards Liu Ying. His requirements for Liu Ying were very strict, and from childhood to adulthood, Liu Ying never received a word of praise from his father. To gain his father's approval, he constantly strived to become more excellent.

At that moment, when Liu Bang led him in a graceful dance, Liu Ying smiled, and occasionally tears were flung away.

Everyone at the banquet, except for Lady Qi, Liu Ruyi, and Liu Chang, was very happy.

At the end of the banquet, Lady Qi struggled to get up, and Liu Ruyi helped her. Because of Liu Chang's interruption earlier, his mood had improved a lot, and he was now quietly comforting his mother. Liu Chang stood angrily by Empress Lü, gritting his teeth and glaring at Liu Heng in the distance.

Lady Qi, as usual, wanted to stay and serve the night, so Empress Lü took Liu Chang and left first.

The Jiaofang Palace was cold and empty. Since Liu Chang came here, he had never seen his father visit. Empress Lü's personality had become increasingly isolated. In his few memories, he had seen his mother smile and play with him in the palace.

But now, Empress Lü rarely smiled, and even when she did, it was an uncomfortable, polite "smile."

In the Jiaofang Palace, a candle was lit, and Empress Lü sat alone in front of the spinning wheel, weaving cloth.

Little Liu Chang sat obediently by her side, pouting and complaining about his unlucky day.

"Today, the teacher made us study 'Dao Yuan.' I can understand every word, but when put together, I have no idea what it means... It's all mystical nonsense, and it says that wearing clothes of certain colors in different seasons can affect disasters and harvests... Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Hmm."

"Ruyi loudly insulted the teacher, saying that studying these things won't help govern the country. The teacher praised him, saying he had his father's spirit. I stood up and said it was all nonsense, and that old man actually wanted to hit me. We're all princes, so why treat us differently?"

"Hmm."

"Heng answered the teacher's questions correctly and flattered the teacher in every way. I've figured out that none of my elder brothers are good, except for Second Brother."

"Hmm."

"Father's singing is really bad... It's bad enough, and he doesn't even let us say it!"

"Hmm."

In the candlelight, in the empty room, the mother quietly spun the cloth, and the son chattered on.

...

The next day, Liu Chang had a rare lazy morning. Today was their day off, and they didn't have to go to class. They had to attend sixteen days of classes a month, and the rest of the days were for rest. It was said that in the Qin dynasty, they had to attend fifteen days of classes, and the Han dynasty modified the system to avoid being called a copy of the "brutal Qin," adding one more day. This change was significant, showing that the Han dynasty indeed did not copy the brutal Qin system.

When Liu Chang woke up, Empress Lü was not in the Jiaofang Palace. He didn't care where his mother had gone, asked a palace maid for food, and happily ate. There were still many delicious leftovers from yesterday's banquet, which Empress Lü had brought back, all for Liu Chang.

"Master... Master Heng is at the door and wants to see you."

"Heng? No, no, I don't want to see him!"

Liu Chang still remembered what happened yesterday and said loudly.

Actually, as a younger brother, if Liu Heng came, Liu Chang should go out to greet him. However, this was the Jiaofang Palace, where Empress Lü lived, so Liu Heng could only request an audience and couldn't barge in.

The palace maid said helplessly, "I see that Master Heng has brought a lot of things... If the Empress knows that you made Master Heng wait at the door... I'm afraid..."

"Hmph!"

Liu Chang then got up and walked leisurely to the door. When he reached the door, he noticed the package in Liu Heng's arms, thinking, "Do you think a few things will make me forgive you? Impossible!"

"Heng? Why are you here?"

Liu Heng saw him and, without wasting words, opened the package to reveal its contents.

Liu Chang's eyes widened. It was a small saw, about as long as his arm, similar to the saws of later times, but with some differences in craftsmanship and materials.

"This is..."

"The sword is too dangerous and can't be used for woodworking. This can."

"Brother... Is this for me?"

"Agreed, but be careful and don't hurt yourself."

Liu Chang took the saw and was at a loss for words for a moment. He murmured, "But how did you get this?"

"I found the craftsmen who are building the Weiyang Palace..."

"But how did they dare to lend you such a thing?"

"Chang... If you respect others, they will respect you."

Liu Chang was very happy, playing with the saw in his hands. With this, it would be much easier to make things. If he had a woodworking knife, saw blade, milling cutter, drill bit, and mortise cutter, it would be even better, but the things he wanted, Liu Bang probably couldn't get...

"Great, when I finish the spinning wheel, Mother will be very happy, and she won't have to work so hard."

Liu Heng smiled, looking into the distance, and said seriously, "I hope you can make it. If you have a talent for this, don't give up."

"If there really is a machine that can increase the efficiency of weaving, women can support their families, mulberry farmers will benefit greatly, the state treasury will increase, and most importantly... everyone will be able to afford clothes, and the harsh winter won't be so difficult to endure..."

Liu Chang was stunned.