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

Chapter 25 Liu Jianjun's Alternative Plans

Li Xian was shocked by what Liu Jianjun was holding.

It was a sheaf of rice.

But that wasn't an ordinary bunch of rice ears; that bunch of rice ears was very full!
As a descendant of the imperial family, Li Xian was not completely ignorant of agriculture; at least he knew that a bunch of rice ears with a hundred grains was considered a high yield.

But the bunch in Liu Jianjun's hand looks to have at least 120, or even 150, grains!

Auspicious!

This is a true auspicious sign!
Compared to a winter melon, this rice stalk is truly an auspicious omen!
Emperor Taizong once offered sacrifices to Heaven for a bundle of rice ears that had 120 grains of rice, and even granted a general amnesty because of this, as rice is the foundation upon which all people in the world depend for survival!

Winter melon may be called a vegetable, or it may be called a melon, but rice is most often referred to as a grain!

People take food as their heaven!
Li Xian stared wide-eyed at Liu Jianjun and asked, "This...this...where did you come from?"

"Didn't I tell you? Fertilize!" Liu Jianjun rolled his eyes and closed the purse again.

Li Xian glanced at the purse with lingering affection, then asked, "Fertilizer? You mean that radish from last time?"

"Well, the radishes were fertilized mainly to make them sweet, but it wasn't very successful. But the winter melons were a success. They're all huge. We even had winter melon soup a few days ago. The winter melon we used was even bigger than the one we transported."

Li Xian was taken aback. He remembered the winter melon soup that Liu Jianjun mentioned because he had eaten it for three days in a row.

"You mean... we ate the same winter melon for those three days?"

Then, Li Xian realized what was happening and asked incredulously, "This winter melon... did you grow it yourself?"

"Yes, you saw my shed, didn't you? It's full of them. If it weren't so hard to crawl in, I could have pulled out even bigger ones."

Li Xian glared at Liu Jianjun again and asked, "You mean, there are winter melons as big as that auspicious creature all over your vegetable garden?!"

Just as Liu Jianjun was about to nod, Li Xian lunged at him, baring his teeth and claws: "And you still expect me to carefully look after that winter melon?! Do you know that before I dug the cellar, I used to sleep with it by my side at night! I'm covered in its thorns!"

Liu Jianjun immediately pleaded for mercy: "No, no, Xianzi... I was just afraid you'd give yourself away."

"Given away? What did I give away?" Li Xian looked confused, his hands frozen in mid-air.

"If you hadn't treasured that auspicious omen, do you think those bandits would have left so easily last night?"

Li Xian paused for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "You mean..."

“That’s right, Qiu Shenji sent them.” Liu Jianjun directly confirmed Li Xian’s guess, and then said, “Qiu Shenji knew you were going to send auspicious omens to Chang’an, and Hanzhong is the only way to Chang’an. He could easily catch you here. Otherwise, do you think it was a coincidence that we encountered a fire as soon as we arrived at the post station?”

Li Xian hesitated for a moment, then said, "I know this is no coincidence, but... how did Qiu Shenji know I was going to bring auspicious omens?"

"Pshaw! How else could they know? Someone in the court tipped us off!" Liu Jianjun scoffed, "Not only tipped us off, but I reckon they even know our itinerary perfectly well!"

Li Xian then asked, "You mean...the yamen runners who came with us?"

"Nonsense, I reckon only the governor of Bazhou is unaware of this entire line of events, because he's the only one excluded from this matter!"

"But...those constables are dead too!"

"Yes, that's the only thing I didn't expect. They actually dare to kill, and even their own people! So, now you know how ruthless the people behind them are, right?"

This time, Li Xian hesitated for a moment again.

He understood what Liu Jianjun meant.

It is precisely because I understand it that I find it incredible.

To be able to obtain the imperial edict in advance, mobilize Qiu Shenji, keep the governor of a prefecture, Li Mingshi, from involvement, and even dare to intercept the convoy transporting auspicious omens despite the emperor's wrath—there are few who can do all of these things. And none of them… are people I would willingly suspect.

Liu Jianjun continued, "Why doesn't the magistrate of Huacheng County dare to obstruct your procedures? Because he received orders from above!"
"If the problem is that the auspicious item couldn't be delivered to Chang'an on time due to issues with the transportation process, then that's his problem! But if the problem occurred during the transport of the auspicious item, then that's your problem!"
"As long as the auspicious omen... or rather, if this winter melon dies halfway through, even if you go to Chang'an, it won't help!"
"I want you to realize this very clearly, which is why I can't tell you I have a backup plan! Because I need you to act convincingly so that the person behind it can be fooled!"

Liu Jianjun waved the purse in his hand and said smugly, "Although your action of rushing out last night was a bit reckless, I have to say that by doing so, they will be more relaxed about you."

"We'll take this to Chang'an then...tsk tsk, I really want to see what kind of faces those people behind it will have."

Li Xian finally understood.

Then, looking apologetically at Liu Jianjun, she said, "Liu Jianjun...I..."

"Alright, no need for apologies. In my eyes, you're just an old-fashioned person!" Liu Jianjun rolled his eyes and pulled Li Xian up from the ground. "Can you still walk? At least you should be able to get on the horse, right? I'm still nervous riding that thing myself, I don't have the guts to help you up, I'm afraid it'll kick me!"

Li Xian chuckled, but then fell silent for a moment: "Liu Jianjun...am I really such a pedantic person?"

"Hey! Being old-fashioned and inflexible, I don't mean you're pedantic! Forget it... I can't explain it to you, but in my eyes all of you are a bit 'old-fashioned,' you know?"

Li Xian didn't understand.

Are being rigid and inflexible the same thing as being pedantic?

"But I have to say, those two moves you made just now..." Liu Jianjun gestured again, mimicking Li Xian's earlier aggressive manner, and teased, "That's much more natural. Don't be so serious all the time! Do whatever you want, that's more comfortable, and I feel more at ease watching you!"

With that, Liu Jianjun walked toward the stable.

Li Xian was a little embarrassed and annoyed, but he jogged over and said solemnly, "Liu Jianjun, thank you!"

"Don't thank me. I told you, when you go to Chang'an, find me two pretty girls. That's more practical than anything else!" Liu Jianjun untied a horse and tossed the reins to Li Xian.

Li Xian mounted his horse.

Then he asked, "Those people yesterday were well-trained and definitely not ordinary street thugs. They might be skilled soldiers. Can we follow the clues and find evidence that Qiu Shenji illegally mobilized troops?"

"No, if they dare to do this, they must have already planned their escape route." Liu Jianjun carefully mounted his horse and then asked, "What's wrong? Do you hate Qiu Shenji and want revenge?"

Li Xian remained silent.

Liu Jianjun scoffed, "So what if you hate him! If I were you being treated like that, I'd want to fuck his ass. Just say it out loud, what's there to be afraid of?"

Li Xian glared angrily at Liu Jianjun: "You, when you're writing poetry you're like a scholar, how come you speak so vulgarly?"

"Vulgar? Well, let me tell you, I have a way to deal with Qiu Shenji. Do you want to hear it?"

Li Xian's eyes lit up.

“Say it out loud, you’re talking about Caoqiu Shenji’s asshole.” Liu Jianjun put on airs.

Li Xian was annoyed, but looking at Liu Jianjun's arrogant expression, he finally couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "That Grass Hill God's asshole..."

"Speak louder, I didn't hear you!"

"Grasshill God's asshole! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Li Xian roared loudly, and his voice echoed throughout the entire post station.

……

(End of this chapter)