The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

morning.

Inside the palace courtyard.

Liu Chen was dressed in a black robe with the sleeves tied with a belt, the hem of which was tucked into his waistband. He stood holding a large bow.

There were eunuchs serving him on both sides; the one on the left was carrying a tray with a handkerchief on it.

He held a quiver on his right, constantly providing Liu Chen with arrows.

Fifty paces ahead of Liu Chen stood a grass target with three arrows stuck in its center.

The large bow in Liu Chen's hand was extremely ornate, entirely crimson with black ends painted with golden unicorns.

He took an arrow from his quiver, looked straight ahead, and nocked it. After a moment, he released the bowstring.

With a "thud," the arrow, like a black bolt of lightning, flew swiftly towards the target. It struck the bullseye, and the arrow immediately began to sway violently.

Liu Chen was very satisfied; he truly lived up to his reputation as the most valiant descendant of Liu Bei. Coupled with the original owner's diligent training, his horsemanship and archery skills were exceptionally high.

He said to those around him, "Go, move the arrowhead forward another fifty paces."

"Yes." The two eunuchs bowed and responded, then stepped forward together, picked up the target, and moved it fifty paces little by little.

Liu Chen took a new arrow from his quiver, relaxed his breathing, then drew back the bowstring, his eyes like an eagle's, and suddenly exerted force.

The bow was instantly drawn to its fullest extent, like a full moon.

With a "whoosh".

The arrow flew out again, hitting the target squarely. It just missed the bullseye by a little.

Liu Chen raised an eyebrow, about to draw his arrow again.

A guard approached and bowed to Liu Chen, saying, "Young Master, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince requests an audience."

"Please come in," Liu Chen said, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Yes." The guard bowed again in response, then turned and left.

"Whoosh." Liu Chen drew an arrow again, nocked it, aimed, released the bowstring, and the arrow flew out, but it missed a little.

"Practice makes perfect," Liu Chen sighed, adding that he still needed to practice more.

At this moment, a minister walked towards Liu Chen. This minister wore a scholar's cap, a black official robe, and a blue sash with an official seal hanging from one end.

It was none other than Han Ji, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince.

The Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince was a high-ranking official with a salary of two thousand piculs of grain, and he was given a blue ribbon and a silver seal.

In this era, an official seal was considered respectable to wear on one's waist.

The Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince was the Crown Prince's teacher and also had the responsibility of educating the princes in the palace. He was also Liu Chen's teacher.

"Young master is skilled in archery," Han Ji said with a smile after looking at the target.

"Thanks to my grandfather's blood, I feel divinely aided whenever I pick up a bow and arrow." Liu Chen handed the bow to the eunuch and wiped his hands with a handkerchief. His expression solemn, he bowed respectfully to Han Ji and said, "Teacher."

Upon hearing the words "Emperor Zhaolie," Han Ji's eyes revealed a look of reminiscence. Although he had never met Liu Bei, it was difficult for him not to feel admiration for a hero like Emperor Zhaolie.

His gaze then dimmed as he thought of the current court and the state of the world. If Emperor Zhaolie were still alive, the Han Dynasty would never be in this state.

Wait, what am I thinking? He shook his head, looked up at Liu Chen, and said, "Young Master, you have been recuperating for a long time. I was worried about your health. Now that I see your rosy complexion and strong body, I am puzzled."

He paused, then asked, "Why does the young master practice archery in the deep palace instead of studying?"

The Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince is, after all, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince; his primary responsibility is to educate the Crown Prince. The other princes are secondary.

He shouldn't visit Liu Chen too often, but this time he couldn't resist.

Most of Liu Shan's sons, including the crown prince and the princes who were enfeoffed outside the palace, were not academically inclined.

Liu Shan was a lenient person and was very lenient in his sons' education. Even the crown prince did not pay attention to his studies. Instead, he preferred archery and horsemanship, and often went hunting outside the palace without restraint.

Liu Chen was the most diligent and hardworking of Liu Shan's sons.

He was very worried when Liu Chen fell from his horse. He came to visit him on the very first day.

He was very happy to hear that Liu Chen had recovered.

But after Liu Chen recovered, he seemed to disappear. He stopped reading, and he also heard some bad things.

Liu Chen glanced at Han Ji, who looked concerned, and said with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, teacher, but I've come to a realization. A true king should listen to music and indulge in sensual pleasures. What benefit is there in reading?"

"His personality has indeed changed drastically." Han Ji's heart tightened. Although he sympathized with Liu Chen's fall from his horse, he couldn't bear to see such a fine piece of jade go to waste.

He pondered for a moment. Wasn't the phrase "listening to music and indulging in sensual pleasures" something Prince Jing of Zhongshan had said? It wasn't easy to refute it. He quickly came up with an excuse and said to Liu Chen, "Your Highness is mistaken. Your Majesty also possesses the virtues of the Prince of Hejian, is intelligent and studious, and has compiled the Zuo Zhuan and the Mao Shi. He has made great contributions and achieved great virtues."

Liu Chen retorted, "What good are great achievements and virtues? In the end, all that's left is a tomb and a pile of bones. Studying is hard work, but enjoying life is joyful. What if I were to die tomorrow? I might as well enjoy life while I can."

With that, he stopped talking to Han Ji, took a bow and arrow from the eunuch, and drew the bow fully.

Arrows were shot out one after another, like a string of pearls. But they all missed the mark, and very few hit the bullseye.

Han Ji opened his mouth, as if to say something, but couldn't say anything.

Liu Shan was too lenient; he couldn't force Liu Chen to study, so Liu Chen had to take the initiative.

If you don't see eye to eye, even half a sentence is too much.

"Alas." Han Ji stood for a while, then sighed deeply, cupped his hands in farewell, and took his leave. Liu Chen put down his bow and returned the greeting.

Han Ji left reluctantly, lamenting in his heart, "The Crown Prince, the princes, the young masters. The entire army has been wiped out."

He then thought of the current chaotic state of affairs, with treacherous officials in power and loyal ministers being sidelined. He felt a pang of heartache and thought there was no hope left.

The Han Dynasty lasted four hundred years under the two emperors; is the Mandate of Heaven truly about to end?

"Even in muddy ground, pure white lotuses can bloom. Even in the most corrupt country, there will be loyal ministers. In this darkness, besides Jiang Wei and Zhuge Zhan who died in battle, there are also people like Han Ji. Han Ji is the Crown Prince's tutor, and his learning is excellent. Qiao Zhou is a great Confucian scholar, and he has a good reputation in the court and among the people. They are both great Confucian scholars, so why is there such a big difference between them? Lord Han, wait a little longer, wait a little longer." Liu Chen seemed to be shooting arrows, but he was actually watching Han Ji the whole time. He saw him sighing and looking at his desolate figure.

Look at him.......

After Han Ji left, he never came to see Liu Chen again.

Apart from him, not many others came to visit Liu Chen.

Just some familiar faces.

Consort Li, Liu Zan, other brothers, Mi Zhao, etc. Liu Chen did not study, but focused on riding and archery to strengthen his body.

Although they lived deep within the palace, they were never bored.

He also consistently sent money to Huang Hao every month.

Spring passed and autumn came, and several months quickly went by.

The ancients said that one should read books in spring and summer, and hunt in autumn and winter.

Besides the fact that the game is plump and delicious in autumn and winter, it is also because there are crops in the fields before the autumn harvest, making it difficult to trample on the crops for hunting.

There won't be any problems once the grain is harvested.

Liu Chen planned to ride a horse, carrying a bow and arrows, and with hawks and hounds, to hunt outside the palace after the autumn harvest.

morning.

Although it is already autumn, the weather in Chengdu is still hot and humid.

Wearing only trousers and shirtless, Liu Chen practiced push-ups under the eaves, training his body. Sweat glistened from his pores in the sunlight. Combined with Liu Chen's strong physique, he exuded a strong masculine aura.

However, he definitely can't practice blindly on his own.

He planned to wait until he was enfeoffed as a prince and left the palace before hiring a proper tutor to help him train his body.

"Young Master, Mi Zhao requests an audience." A guard approached Liu Chen and bowed.

He was already used to Liu Chen's uncouth behavior.

Although Mi Zhao came frequently, Liu Chen calculated the time and felt a surge of joy. "Perhaps my recipe has finally sold."

"Please come in." Liu Chen immediately stopped what he was doing, but without changing his clothes, he sat cross-legged on the veranda with his upper body bare to receive Mi Zhao.

"Yes." The guard bowed in response and turned to leave.