During the famine, my ancient well connected to modern times

Xuzhou Sima said: "We will do it another day. Anyway, we have to deal with him before he finds the evidence."

Liu Bian opened his mouth, thought for a moment but said nothing.

Seeing that he agreed, Xuzhou Sima walked away with his head held high.

Liu Bian watched him leave, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and let out a sigh. He turned around and was about to go to the backyard when he suddenly found a person standing in the shadows. He was startled and screamed.

"Who is there?"

Liu Kun walked out of the shadows expressionlessly and stood under the lantern.

When he saw clearly that it was his second son, Liu Bian's violently beating heart slowly calmed down. Although his face was angry, his voice was not serious, "Why are you standing there without saying anything?"

Liu Kun looked at him with burning eyes and asked in a questioning tone: "Father, as the saying goes, if you don't do anything bad, don't be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door. What were you and Master Sima just talking about?"

Liu Bian felt his face heat up, and then became angry again.

"You don't sleep at night, what are you doing here? You're eavesdropping on our conversation. Is this what your mother taught you?"

"Mom has left."

Mrs. Liu passed away a few years ago. Liu Kun had been studying in a government school before. Today he also came to ask for advice about studying. However, he did not expect to hear that conversation, which made him doubt his father, whom he had always respected. .

Liu Bian's tone slowed down a lot, "Okay, it's getting so late. Let's talk about anything tomorrow. Don't eavesdrop again next time."

After thinking for a while, he reminded worriedly, "Don't tell anyone what happened tonight."

Liu Kun's lowered hands clenched into fists, "Father, I have heard Jiang Qian's name and read his articles. He is a good man."

"Those are all lies. You have never met him, never spoken to him, and you don't know much about this person. How can you judge a person based on just a few words? These are all matters in the court. You I’m still young and don’t understand.”

"I understand." Liu Kun said firmly.

Liu Bian's tone was a bit stern, "I think you are pedantic in your studies. I heard that Fu Xue is organizing people to go to Yuzhou for exchanges. I think you should go with us."

Liu Kun looked at him quietly, then suddenly turned around and left.

Liu Bian was stunned for a moment and hurriedly chased after him.

"What do you mean? Don't you even listen to what I say?"

Liu Kun stood still and said, "Father, you can see a person's character by reading his articles. Jiang Qian is not the person you said, and I am not a pedantic person who reads books. I know right from wrong, and I also Know what you want to do."

His eyes were too clear, too bright, just so faintly forgotten, but they seemed to be the most dazzling light, seeming to be able to see through the deepest secrets of people's hearts.

Liu Bian's heart tightened when he heard Liu Kun say.

"You and Sima don't want the court to find out what you were doing between you, and you want to kill Jiang Qian before he finds out. It's all over. You even want to put all the blame on Sima."

Liu Kun looked at his father's blank gaze with a look of disappointment, "Father, didn't you always tell your son to be loyal to the emperor, patriotic, and an upright person? But what are you doing now?"

"Are you worthy of your ancestors and the people of Xuzhou?"

There was a "pop" sound.

Liu Bian looked at his son angrily, with anger, pain and regret in his eyes.

He gently raised his hand, but clenched it into a fist in mid-air and put it behind his back, "You are still young. You don't understand these things. Adults have their own considerations. I am doing this not only for myself, but also for our entire Liu family." Clan, whether you understand or not, please put your thoughts away from me." Liu Kun's eyes turned red and he turned around and left.

Liu Bian looked at his son walking away, his shoulders slumped.

When they returned to the backyard, the eldest son Liu Jing came up to him in disheveled clothes and said, "Father."

Liu Bian immediately frowned and straightened his body, "Why are you so flustered? What happened?"

Liu Jing hurriedly saluted and calmed down, "Second brother, he seemed to be crying just now. He didn't say anything when I asked him. I don't know what happened."

"He became stupid while studying and heard some things he shouldn't have heard. In the past few days, you sent him to the government school and asked him to go on a study tour with the people from the government school. In short, don't stay in Xuzhou."

Liu Jing's heart sank. In the past few years, her second brother was obsessed with studying abroad. He mentioned it several times and even made a fuss several times. However, his father rejected him because it was not safe outside.

But what happened this time?
"Father, do you really trust him to go out alone?"

"Isn't there someone with him? Besides, he is going with people from the government school. If you are really worried about the officers and soldiers escorting him along the way, just pick a few more people to protect him along the way."

He had said these words before, but didn't his father reject him sharply at that time?
Liu Jing realized something must have happened, "Father, what happened?"

"You don't have to ask what happened, just do as I say." Liu Bian waved his hands impatiently, then turned and left.

Liu Jing came to Liu Kun's yard and found that the yard was brightly lit and the servant was packing his luggage.

"What are you doing? Even if you are angry with your father, you can't run away from home in the middle of the night."

Liu Kun's servants were applying cold water to his face.

Only then did Liu Jing notice the slap mark on his face. What she wanted to say, she immediately swallowed it back.

"Did father beat me?"

Afterwards, I realized that no one in the family would dare to do something to the second brother except his father.

Liu Jing felt tired as she looked at the servants coming in and out, as well as her stubborn-looking brother. "Everyone, stop. You go out first. I have something to say to the second young master."

Liu Kun's servants looked at him.

Liu Kun nodded.

After all the servants had gone out, Liu Jing looked at her brother's face seriously, with a bit of pity in her eyes.

"What on earth did you say to your father? He has loved you since you were a child. I have never seen my father so angry."

Liu Kun took the cold water handkerchief he handed over and said in a hoarse voice, "It's nothing."

"We are brothers, you can't say anything to me."

Liu Kun couldn't hold back the feeling in his heart, so he told him that he had gone to the study to borrow fonts from his father and accidentally overheard him conspiring with Sima.

He looked at his elder brother eagerly, "Do you think what father did was right?"

Liu Jing was silent for a long time after hearing this, and suddenly stood up, "You should go out for a walk this time to see the beautiful mountains and rivers. Your two nephews are not young anymore. They will take the exams in a few years. It is just a good opportunity to let them I’ll go out for a walk with you too.”

Liu Kun thought he heard wrongly, "Brother, what are you talking about? How old are the two nephews this year?"