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

Chapter 31 Liu Jianjun's Crooked Principles
Liu Jianjun is despicable.

He pulled his hand away, then stared at himself with a terrified look, and said, "Xian... Xianzi... tell me honestly, is the story about the chicken farmer true or not?"

Li Xian, enraged and embarrassed, shook him off.

"Why can't you be serious for even a quarter of an hour!"

Liu Jianjun disagreed and argued, "It's not a matter of being proper or improper. We're two grown men, and you just grabbed my hand like that. Anyone would be flustered."

Li Xian was utterly speechless at Liu Jianjun's idea.

Between grown men, there's no need for so many taboos.
Holding hands is a way of showing intimacy. Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Sun Quan even held Lu Zijing's hand to plot something!

If Liu Jianjun were a woman, it would be impolite of me to do this!

Thinking of this, Li Xian looked at Liu Jianjun suspiciously. Could Liu Jianjun be a girl?

No, that's not right either, he went to brothels.

Lost in thought, Li Xian heard Liu Jianjun cough lightly and say, "Ahem, alright, let's just talk about this once and for all, understand?"

Li Xian was taken aback, then realized that Liu Jianjun was referring to that huge idea.

Then he nodded solemnly and asked, "So... what should I do now?"

"Do nothing, just go back to the post station and wait for news."

Li Xian was about to nod, but then frowned and asked in confusion, "I'm going back, what about you?"

"Aren't you going to talk nonsense?! I've already written the poem! We've drunk the wine, flirted, and I was just about to take my pants off when you showed up! Now that I've finally resolved your matter, shouldn't I go back and get down to business?" Liu Jianjun said irritably.

Li Xian was furious and decided to ignore Liu Jianjun.

He stood up and walked out of the restaurant.

Behind him came the brothel madam's voice pleading with him to stay, saying something about finding a girl to keep him company, but Li Xian didn't turn his head.

He felt that this was a crucial moment for him, as he was waiting for news from his father. If word got out that he had been visiting brothels, his father would surely be disappointed in him.

Hmm, why didn't I realize this when I went out to look for Liu Jianjun?

……

Lost in thought, Li Xian returned to the post station.

It was already noon, and Li Xian was getting hungry, so he summoned a soldier from the post station and asked, "Does the post station prepare lunch?"

The courier honestly replied, "The officials' mealtime has passed. If you are really hungry, there are still some leftovers in the post station. Would you... like to make do with that?"

The courier spoke to Li Xian cautiously. Li Xian wanted to ask if he knew his identity, but after thinking about it, he felt it was unnecessary, so he nodded and said, "Then please bring me some."

The courier nodded and left. A moment later, he returned with a tray containing a large bowl of thin white porridge. The porridge was a bit watery, but the courier had thoughtfully included some unidentified pickled vegetables. Li Xian thanked him, and the courier put down the tray and left.

Li Xian's stomach was empty, and he could no longer hold back. He drank a large mouthful of thin porridge along with the pickled vegetables.

The pickled vegetables were salty, adding a touch of flavor to the white porridge, but they were also a bit bitter, so they probably weren't anything special. However, Li Xian had even eaten toon tree cakes in Liu Family Village, so he naturally wouldn't mind this. He wolfed down the white porridge.

Burped.

This was the most satisfying lunch he had during the time he was transporting auspicious omens to Chang'an.

There's no need to be anxious; the future is still full of hope.

Just then, Liu Jianjun's voice came from outside the door: "Xianzi! I'm back! I brought you something good!" Li Xian was startled, looked up, and saw Liu Jianjun standing at the door, holding a lotus leaf bag in his hand. Li Xian asked curiously, "What good stuff?"

Liu Jianjun sat down next to Li Xian and immediately noticed the tray, the empty ceramic bowl, and the dish with a few bits of pickled vegetables left.

Liu Jianjun's expression suddenly turned strange. He hid the lotus leaf package behind his back and waved his hand, saying, "No, I was just joking with you. You're really... easily amused, haha..."

Li Xian realized something was wrong.

He suddenly reached out and touched the lotus leaf bag behind Liu Jianjun.

The lotus leaf package had been heated and was somewhat soft and mushy. Li Xian easily tore it open with his fingers, revealing a golden yellow color inside.

It was a roast chicken, roasted until the outside was crispy, and it was even dripping with oil.

The aroma of roast chicken, combined with the unique fragrance of lotus leaves, instantly filled Li Xian's nostrils.

Li Xian's expression first showed surprise, then realization, and finally anger: "Liu Jianjun! Why didn't you say you had roast chicken sooner!"

Seeing that he had been found out, Liu Jianjun stopped hiding and put the roast chicken on the tray. He said in a "what's the use" tone, "I just thought you probably hadn't eaten yet, so I specially packed it up for you from Yuchunlou!"

"The madam was very polite and even asked if I wanted to pack some drinks to go. I thought about it and realized that their wine jugs looked quite exquisite. I figured it would take more than a dozen jugs to make a profit if I packed just one jug, so I declined."

As he spoke, Liu Jianjun said with a hint of smugness, "Let me tell you, if I take that wine, the madam will definitely be eyeing her wine jug. Next time she wants to take some home, she won't be so nice to me!"

Annoyed by Liu Jianjun's evasive remarks, Li Xian cut to the chase: "I mean, since you packed your things, why didn't you come back sooner!"

If Liu Jianjun had come back even a little earlier, I wouldn't have drunk that whole bowl of plain porridge.

Looking at the roast chicken, Li Xian felt his mouth water, but the feeling of fullness in his stomach made him unable to eat anything else.

"Didn't I tell you? Well, I've already sent out the lines, I can't be with the girls... who knew you'd end up eating it all by yourself?" Liu Jianjun said, waving his hand with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Alright, alright, you're acting like a wronged little wife. It's cold, this roast chicken won't spoil, you can eat it tonight!"

"Come with me tomorrow, and I'll get you two pretty girls to make up for it, okay?"

Li Xian said irritably, "Didn't you already tell me to just wait patiently for news from Father Emperor these days? How can I go to a brothel at a time like this?"

As he spoke, Li Xian rewrapped the roast chicken, took a piece of paper, and wrapped the torn part of the lotus leaf before sitting back down next to Liu Jianjun.

Liu Jianjun shrugged: "Have you forgotten what you told me before?"

Li Xian was puzzled.

Liu Jianjun continued, "You said your father definitely wouldn't directly restore your status as crown prince, right?"

Li Xian nodded.

"So, it's right to wait patiently for news from your father, but since you can't become the crown prince again, you can't show any desire or ambition. Otherwise, someone with ulterior motives will target you."

Li Xian seemed to understand but not quite, and asked, "Then... if I frequent brothels at this critical juncture, no one will criticize me?"

"When faced with two evils, choose the lesser. It's better to say you're being absurd than to say you're plotting a rebellion," Liu Jianjun said nonchalantly.

This time, Li Xian felt relieved and asked, "Then... what should I do?"

"Let's go to a brothel." Liu Jianjun pointed to the newly wrapped roast chicken on the table. "And it'll solve our food problem for the next few days. I don't want to drink plain porridge!"

……

(End of this chapter)