Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

High-flying towers and low-flying dust-swept buildings, how frequently one climbs and breaks the bridge at Ba Bridge.

But upon reflection, it seems to be a heartless tree, incapable of welcoming people but only sending them off.

The setting sun casts its last rays on the banks of Ba Bridge.

The once vibrant green willows, after being repeatedly broken and plucked by the scoundrels who came to see them off, are now nothing but broken branches and twigs.

Tying his horse to a willow tree and gazing at the vast, misty Ba River, Li Yu couldn't help but recall this poem whose author he had forgotten.

"Young master, your poem is absolutely brilliant!" As a competent henchman, Lai Fu always knew when to offer a compliment.

"You even know poetry?" Li Yu found this rather strange. This ruthless talent who started serving in the military at the age of fourteen had actually studied?

"Young Master, I don't understand!"

Seeing his self-righteous attitude, Li Yu's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot: "If you don't understand, then what are you praising?"

"I just think it's good; it's much better than the pretentious poems recited by those pedantic scholars."

"Stop talking nonsense! If some disgruntled scholar hears you saying this, he might just come storming into our mansion again!" Li Yu turned his head and, finding no one around, breathed a sigh of relief, still feeling lingering fear.

He was genuinely afraid of people discussing poetry and literature with him.

After all, writing poetry is like writing articles; everyone has their own unique poetic style.

Take Li Bai, for example. Even when his ambitions were thwarted, he could still write lines full of heroic spirit, such as "There will be times when the wind will break the waves, and I will set sail to cross the vast sea."

And then there's Du Fu; whenever his poems are mentioned, they represent the realist school of poetry.

As for Li Yu, who plagiarizes from here and there, he will sooner or later be condemned as a disgrace to the literary world, even though he has never claimed to be a literary man.

"Young master, don't be afraid. Leave those pedantic scholars to me. I'll take them down one by one!" Lai Fu thumped his chest loudly, as if he was about to take action.

"Alright, enough with the show of yours!"

Ignoring the simpleton, Li Yu reached out and touched the river water.

Even though summer is just around the corner, the river water is still very cold in the evening.

Just as I was about to pull my hand back, I inadvertently noticed something touching me in the water.

Li Yu pulled his hand out of the water and waited for the ripples to subside. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a group of carp.

No? Damn, this is running water!

Staring at the rushing water for a long time, and then looking at the nearly half-meter-long creatures in the water, Li Yu couldn't understand why there were such dense schools of fish in the river.

If you can't figure it out, don't think about it. Minglai Fu grabbed two flasks for him, and Li Yu took out a tinderbox from his pocket and lit the campfire.

Ever since he came out of the Qinling Mountains, Li Yu has always carried a small knife, a tinderbox, and fine salt with him whenever he goes out.

With these three things, even if you're wandering the streets, you can still live a decent life and avoid feeling miserable.

The fish was placed on the fire and roasted until golden brown in no time.

He sprinkled another handful of salt on top and decided that this would be his dinner.

Blowing away the steam, Li Yu carefully took a bite and discovered that the fish here was not only plump and delicious, but also had a very smooth and tender texture.

"Why aren't you eating? Come on! Don't be shy with me, young master!"

Seeing that Laifu hadn't made a move for a while, Li Yu generously handed him another grilled piece.

I thought Laifu would say some thank-you platitudes and then flatter me about how great the fish the young master grilled was, but to my surprise, the guy took several steps back as if he had seen a ghost.

"Um?"

Li Yu looked puzzled as he took the fish back and smelled it.

Great, there's no strange smell. I wonder what this guy is hiding from...

Laifu was hiding behind a tree, trembling as he said, "Young Master, please don't frighten me! I'm timid and have a short life; it will shorten my lifespan!"

Hey! You bastard!

Even I don't hold back my food, I shared my dinner with you, yet you treat it like trash!

Just as he was about to lash out, Laifu continued, "Young Master, this is a carp! Our Great Zhou has regulations that forbid subjects and members of the royal family from eating carp!"

what?

Upon hearing this, Li Yu stared blankly for a long time. Just as he was about to curse which idiot made the rule, he suddenly remembered that the current imperial surname is "Li"!

damned!

The people were so hungry they were practically starving, and the carp in the river were almost rampant. But because the emperor's surname was Li, no one dared to eat them.

Damn it! If the emperor's surname was Niu (牛), wouldn't farmers have to put on reins and plow the fields themselves?

Too lazy to bother with these feudal customs, Li Yu sat on the ground and started eating by himself.

"Young Master, you..."

"Shut up! Don't say another word!" Seeing Laifu's hesitant expression, Li Yu said angrily, "What? My name is Li Yu. Is it wrong of me to eat my own food?"

"Good lad! What you said actually makes some sense."

"That's natural..."

Just as Li Yu was about to feel smug, he noticed that Lai Fu, who was peeking out from behind the willow tree, hadn't said a word.

Who spoke first?

He slowly turned his head, only to be nearly scared to death, dropping the half-eaten grilled fish he had been eating on the ground.

Damn it, it's Li Er! When did he arrive? Why can't I hear a single footstep?

"I arrived just as you were spouting nonsense. What are you doing here, you brat?"

Li Er's hand landed on Li Yu's shoulder without him noticing, and Li Yu immediately shrank back in fright.

Damn it! Could it be that Li Er has become so outrageous that he can read people's minds?

After cursing under his breath, Li Yu prepared to see how Li Er would react.

"Why are you staring at me? I'm asking you a question!" Li Er slapped Li Yu on the back of the head and asked again.

Fortunately, Li Er is still a normal person...

Li Yu was relieved and replied, "I originally planned to return home, but I suddenly felt like sightseeing on the way, so I remembered this place."

"Don't run around if you don't have to, you're making your mother worry terribly."

Li Er patted Li Yu's shoulder a few more times, then sat down beside him, calmly picked up another grilled fish from the campfire, and began to eat it under Li Yu's surprised gaze.

"Second Uncle, what's wrong with you..." He hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

"What's wrong? You can eat yourself, but I can't eat you?"

"..."

Eat whatever you want...

"Kid, do you still stand by what you said about framing Li Yuanji?" Li Er asked when Li Yu remained silent for a while.

"Natural calculation!"

Li Yu clenched his fists: "That brat is itching to throw him into prison right now. How dare he try to harm my family? He's clearly taking advantage of the Zhao Prince's Mansion's lack of manpower!"

"He does have some temper!"

Seeing Li Yu's indignant expression, Li Er chuckled and said, "But that won't work now. I'll be leaving Chang'an in a few days, and then you won't be able to fight him with your little arms."

Are you leaving Chang'an?

"That's right."

Spitting out the fish bone from his mouth, Li Er said, "I've received news from your father that the war in Hebei is critical, and he needs me to go and provide support..."

.........