Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 12 Confess Identity
The breakfast at Liu Laosan's house is really delicious.

Liu Laosan's breakfast consisted of a flatbread and some very thin white porridge. The porridge was just ordinary white porridge, and the rice they used seemed to be even inferior to what they grew themselves.

Li Xian noticed that the Liu couple's porridge contained some bright red chili peppers and ginger slices, but his own bowl did not.

Clearly, Liu Lao Er now knows he's "not good" at eating spicy food, so he didn't add those things to his porridge.

The porridge retains its original flavor.

But what Li Xian cared about was that kind of pancake.

The Liu couple called this cake "Toon Tree Cake". The Toon Tree Cake looked about the same size as a regular flatbread, but it contained some unidentified wild vegetables that tasted sour and astringent and looked dark green.

It's very appetizing when served with plain congee.

According to Liu Lao Er, the toon tree cakes are made by baking flour with dried toon tree buds. The dark green stuff that Li Xian saw was the dried toon tree buds.

Li Xian had never realized that toon tree sprouts could be so delicious, so much so that he wanted to ask Liu Lao Er how to make toon tree cakes.

The embroiderer has very skillful hands; the food she makes will definitely taste even better.

"These toon tree cakes were invented by Gou'er. When he was a child, he didn't like eating cakes, so in a fit of pique, he poured the toon tree buds he had just picked from the house into the flour. His second aunt even beat him for it!"

Liu Laosan said with a smile, "The child has been beaten, but we still need flour. But if the flour turns into clumps, how can we pick out the toon tree buds again? His second aunt couldn't bear to throw away the flour, so she simply baked it together. Anyway, it's all food, it won't kill anyone!"
"Turns out, hey, these new pancakes are actually pretty delicious!"

Li Xian chuckled to himself, realizing that Liu Jianjun had been mischievous as a child.

"Didn't Liu Jianjun get beaten up for nothing?"

"That's for sure! But he's a forgetful kid; he'll get a beating right after you hit him." Old Liu smacked his lips and sighed, "But the kid has a good heart. He doesn't hold grudges, and he's still just as affectionate towards his second aunt!"

"Eat your food! Stop talking so much!" Liu Lao Er slammed his fist on the table, clearly annoyed by Liu Lao San's endless nagging. "I raised Gou'er when he was a puppy! I had to go door to door to get his milk. Why is he closer to you than to me?"

Judging from the latter part of Liu Lao Er's words, he was probably dissatisfied with Liu Lao San's portrayal of her as a wicked aunt who only knew how to beat Liu Jianjun.

Liu Laosan immediately shut his mouth.

Liu Laosan fell silent, and Li Xian, unable to find anything to say, simply finished his porridge, stood up, and said goodbye: "Then I'll head back now."

"Hey, you haven't finished your biscuit yet!"

"No, I'll take it to eat on the way." Li Xian waved the toon tree cake in his hand to indicate.

Seeing this, Liu Laosan did not try to stop him. But as he got up, he took a few more of the toon tree cakes from the table and stuffed them into Li Xian's hand: "Take these back for the child to try!"

Li Xian couldn't refuse, so he thanked him again and accepted the cakes.

As Li Xian was leaving, he heard Liu Laosan complaining, "We have guests, so why are you being so rude! They'll think you have a problem with him!"

Then came Liu Lao Er's roar: "Who has a problem with this? I think you have a problem with me! Liu Lao San, Liu Lao San, have you grown a temper? You haven't been beaten in three days..."

Then came Liu Laosan's desperate pleas for mercy.

Li Xian chuckled softly.

He suddenly realized that even the most unsophisticated country folk could live a fulfilling and enjoyable life.

only……

What did Liu Jianjun go to do?

……

In the following days, Li Xian still did not see Liu Jianjun.

According to Liu Laosan, Liu Jianjun leaves home before dawn every day and doesn't return until midnight. He won't answer any questions.

Liu Jianjun rarely saw his family, let alone Li Xian. But Liu Laosan relayed Liu Jianjun's words: Liu Jianjun said that Li Xian's calligraphy was very beautiful, with the strength and elegance of Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan.

Li Xian searched his memory but couldn't recall any famous calligraphers related to "Yan" and "Liu". In the end, he could only attribute it to Liu Laosan being illiterate and probably misremembering the message when he relayed it.

On the eleventh day, Li Xian finally met Liu Jianjun.

Yawning as if he hadn't woken up yet, he stood at Li Xian's door, startling the embroiderer who had gotten up early to open the door.

“Xianzi, come with me to the county town tomorrow, and we’ll continue with your business,” Liu Jianjun said bluntly.

Li Xian was taken aback and asked, "Where have you been these past few days?"

Liu Jianjun replied, "I'm so sleepy today, I need to go back and get some sleep."

Li Xian then asked, "Your second uncle said you leave home before dawn every day. You didn't go to the county town, did you? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Liu Jianjun replied, "By the way, we don't need to get up as early as last time tomorrow. We can go out at noon. We need to meet the governor privately after he finishes his shift."

Li Xian was about to say something more when he suddenly realized that the two of them seemed to be on different wavelengths. He wanted to ask Liu Jianjun how to meet the governor privately, but in the short time that he hesitated, Liu Jianjun spoke first, saying, "Alright, go back now, remember!"

After saying that, Liu Jianjun left, still half asleep.

Li Xian was completely baffled.

……

The next day, noon.

Li Xian was waiting for Liu Jianjun, who looked energetic. Li Xian was still thinking about their off-key conversation yesterday, so as soon as he saw Liu Jianjun, he asked directly, "What have you been doing these past few days?"

"Didn't I tell you yesterday that I went to take care of your business?" Liu Jianjun scratched his head, looking confused. "Didn't we send those thugs to the government office before? Do you remember I tampered with the nails on the carrying pole?"

Li Xian nodded blankly, not understanding what necessary connection there was between the two things.

"That settles it then. I've been keeping an eye on them these past few days. The governor of Bazhou must know the background of those local bullies. If he ignores the fact that those bullies have fallen ill in prison, it means he's not afraid of the powerful figures behind them and that he's not affiliated with them. We can then win them over."

"But if he makes any other moves, then we'll have to rethink your relationship with your grandfather."

"Fortunately, I saw them dump the bodies of those thugs in a mass grave the day before yesterday, which means that the governor of Bazhou can be won over!"

After saying that, Liu Jianjun looked confused: "Didn't I explain it to you yesterday? I remember I yawned several times when I told you about it, right in front of your door!"

Li Xian was also confused by Liu Jianjun's expression.

Did Liu Jianjun mention this yesterday?

Did you forget?
But Li Xian quickly realized what was happening.

It turns out that Liu Jianjun had been going to the governor's mansion to keep watch these past few days, leaving early and returning late.

Li Xian had personally walked the distance between the governor's mansion and Liu Family Village. A round trip would take almost a whole day. Even if Liu Jianjun walked faster, it would probably take him four or five hours.

No wonder he's been leaving early and returning late these days. If he leaves late or returns early, he might miss the shift change at the governor's mansion and miss seeing the bodies of those thugs being carried out.

No wonder he looked so tired yesterday, and even forgot what he said, because he had barely slept for the past ten days.

A warm feeling rose in Li Xian's heart, and he finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Liu Jianjun, actually... I used to be the crown prince."

……

(End of this chapter)