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

Chapter 42 Writing a Letter
It was still early, so Li Xian summoned a servant from his household, brought paper and pen, and said to Liu Jianjun, "I plan to write a letter to ask Xiu Niang to return to Chang'an. Would you like to send a letter to your second uncle and the others?"

Liu Jianjun's eyes lit up, and he came over, picked up a piece of paper and pen, and walked to the side.

Li Xian smiled and shook his head, then picked up his pen as well.

After a moment's thought, I wrote down:
The embroiderer's virtuous wife's makeup is presented for my sons Guangshun, Guangren, and Guangyi, and my daughter Changxin to peruse:

Xianbai.

Ten days have passed since we parted, yet my longing for you feels like three autumns. The scenery of Chang'an remains unchanged, but my heart is filled with longing; I have never forgotten my loved ones in Bazhou.

There is an important matter that I must inform you of: Liu Jianjun and I have been sent on a mission to escort auspicious omens from heaven into the capital.

His Majesty personally ascended the imperial steps to view this wondrous object, and was greatly pleased, clapping his hands in celebration. Heaven's will is clear, and His Majesty's will is abundant; that very day, His Majesty bestows grace, restoring the title of Prince of Pei and granting him the Hibiscus Garden as his residence.

I recall the day we parted, when I was hastily summoned and had no chance to speak fully with you all.

However, thanks to the blessings of Heaven and the legacy of our ancestors, this journey was accomplished, and I was able to clear my name and regain my honor.

Now that my rank and position have been restored, and my family's glory has returned, Chang'an is my true home, far superior to the remote and desolate Bazhou. You should quickly prepare yourselves and not hesitate for a moment. Have your loyal and faithful servants escort the carriage and ensure a safe passage along the official road. I eagerly await the early return of my wife and children, so that we may reunite and share in the joy of family reunion!

Though the journey is long, my heart is filled with anticipation. Take care, and may you reach the capital soon!

夫贤
手泐
After finishing writing, Li Xian carefully took the seal and stamped it at the end of the signature.

Then, when he looked up, he saw Liu Jianjun staring wide-eyed at his letter.

Li Xian blushed and asked, "Have you finished writing your letter?"

"No!" Liu Jianjun slumped back down, threw a piece of paper with writing on it in front of Li Xian, and muttered, "My second uncle and aunt are illiterate, I don't know what to write for them, I was thinking of asking for your advice."

"But after reading it for a while, I realized that if I wrote it the way you do, they would definitely think someone was trying to scam them!"

Li Xian chuckled and glanced at Liu Jianjun's letter.

It simply says three words: Liu Laosan.

It looks like a dog is paddling.

"Write whatever you want to say. The embroiderer is literate; just ask her to read it to your second uncle."

Liu Jianjun's eyes lit up. He picked up the pen, pulled the letter back, and began to write.

Li Xian was curious about what Liu Jianjun had written, so he leaned over to take a look.

[Liu Lao Er, don't worry, I've become an official in Chang'an, a higher-ranking one than the Prefect of Bazhou.]

This part is attached to the name "Liu Laosan".

Li Xian couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Didn't the officials in Chang'an teach you how to hold a pen? Why are you holding it like you're using chopsticks?"

"As long as he can write, that's enough. Why are you so concerned?" Liu Jianjun rolled his eyes and shoved the letter haphazardly into Li Xian's hand. "This is fine!"

Li Xian smiled, placed Liu Jianjun's letter and his own aside, pressed them together with a seal, and waited for the ink to dry.

Taking advantage of this moment, he added, "Many people will be coming to your residence in the next few days. Would you like to meet them?"

"A lot of people are coming?"

“Hmm…” Li Xian sighed softly, “It’s all just social interaction. I’ve been away from Chang’an for a long time, and now that I’m back and have been restored to my royal title, whether it’s just for show or because of the coldness of human relationships, there will always be some people who come to visit me.”

Li Xian felt a little uneasy.

When I was in Bazhou, not a single message came from Chang'an, but now that I'm back, I know without a doubt that the Prince of Pei's mansion will be bustling with visitors these next few days.

Liu Jianjun is right; the world is bustling with activity, all driven by profit.

"Why would I go see them?" Liu Jianjun's voice interrupted Li Xian's thoughts.

Li Xian chuckled: "You are the Chief Secretary of my Prince Pei's Mansion..."

"I won't do it!" Li Xian was interrupted by Liu Jianjun before he could finish speaking.

Liu Jianjun tilted his head and glared at Li Xian: "You didn't say that you, as the steward, were also responsible for receiving guests! It's fine if the people who come are of lower rank than me, but if the people who come are of higher rank than me, then am I supposed to go over and smile and fawn over them..." Before Liu Jianjun could finish speaking, Li Xian added: "They will bring gifts."

Liu Jianjun's voice trailed off.

Li Xian then added confidently, "You are a member of my Prince Pei's household, and you don't need to fawn over anyone."

But after thinking for a moment, he added, "Well, besides Father, there's also Mother, but those two..."

"Okay, I'll take it!"

Liu Jianjun slapped his thigh and grinned slyly: "Whether I accept gifts or not is irrelevant. I mainly want to see if there are any people here worth recruiting. After all, although I alone can replace your previous group of subordinates, it's always good to have more people and more strength, right?"

Li Xian couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Since this is to recruit talent for me, will I need to make an appearance?"

"No need! Just stay home and do what you're supposed to do." Liu Jianjun took it all in. "You're a prince now, you have to maintain your dignity! This is a prince's mansion! Does anyone think they can just come here like a nobody?"

Li Xian glanced at Liu Jianjun with some concern, thinking that Liu Jianjun didn't even know what official rank or what he did, so he might offend those distinguished guests.

But Liu Jianjun seemed to have read his mind, patting his chest and saying, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'll let them in when it's time to see them!"

Li Xian was somewhat relieved.

……

Li Xian suddenly found himself with nothing to do.

Liu Jianjun's house was arranged next to his own, but he also asked for a piece of land, nearly a hundred acres in size, located in the Zhongnan Mountains to the south.

They said they wanted to farm.

He also summoned a large number of servants from his household to help him cultivate the land.

Li Xian was speechless at Liu Jianjun's idea of ​​farming in the Wangfu (Prince's Mansion), but when he thought of the sheds Liu Jianjun had built in Bazhou, he figured Liu Jianjun might have other plans, so he let it go.

These past two days, Liu Jianjun has been busy having his servants cultivate the land while also receiving guests and accepting their gifts.

On the contrary, Li Xian would simply sit in the Ziyun Tower, holding a warm stove, sipping tea, and gazing at the Qujiang River scenery.

They call it: maintaining a high-class image.

This morning, a heavy snow suddenly fell. Looking down from Ziyun Tower, the entire city of Chang'an seemed to be wrapped in a blanket of white jade. Qujiang, on the other hand, looked like a dark jade ribbon, winding and flowing.

In this situation, Li Xian felt compelled to compose a poem.

But when I thought of Liu Jianjun's joke about me that day about "one piece, two pieces, three or four pieces," I felt that I should let Liu Jianjun do the poetry writing.

As Li Xian was gazing at the river view in a daze, he suddenly heard a sound behind him.

"The river is all shrouded in mist, the well is a dark hole. Yellow dogs have white spots, white dogs have swollen bodies!"

Li Xian chuckled, then turned to look at Liu Jianjun: "Such a beautiful scene, and you recite such a vulgar poem?"

Liu Jianjun sat down next to him and forcefully took the hand warmer from his arms: "I'm freezing!"
"There's nothing I can do. These past two days I've been receiving nothing but vulgar people, and all they bring are cheap, tacky things. It's made me feel so tacky!"

Li Xian joked, "Then we won't entertain them. My Prince Pei's Mansion has no need to fawn over these people."

“That won’t do. There’s no need to fawn over them, but I’m fishing! Let’s see if any big fish come to me!” Liu Jianjun said mysteriously.

Li Xian took it as a joke and laughed, "Did you catch anything?"

"No, but a big shot has arrived outside. I'm not high enough rank, so you'll have to go pick him up." Liu Jianjun shook his head.

"Who?"

"Prince."

……

(End of this chapter)