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

The eunuch entered the study, bowed, and said, "Young master, a distinguished guest has arrived."

Liu Chen's displeasure vanished instantly, and he quickly put down the bamboo slips and went out to greet them. By the time he stepped out onto the veranda, the carriage had already entered.

Consort Li sat in the carriage with a smile, and had a eunuch help her out.

"Mother." Liu Chen quickly stepped forward, told the eunuch to get out of the way, and helped Consort Li up.

He was a little embarrassed when he first transmigrated. But now he has completely accepted her.

Consort Li's face changed in an instant, and she said resentfully, "My child, how could you be so heartless as to not let me see my face?"

She even reached out and gently scratched Liu Chen's nose.

Liu Chen smiled wryly. He visited Consort Li almost every day, but he hadn't gone today because he was out.

It only takes one day.

"Son was wrong." Liu Chen didn't argue and obediently admitted his mistake.

Consort Li's anger instantly turned to joy, and she regained her smile. Liu Chen helped his elderly mother to the main seat and sat down beside her.

Consort Li glanced down at the bamboo slips on the table and recognized the characters. "Han Feizi! My son has begun his studies!" She was overjoyed, then looked up and smiled at Liu Chen, saying, "My child, I've made you two sets of winter clothes and a cloak."

She looked up at the eunuch again.

The eunuchs carrying three large platters were quite conspicuous.

Liu Chen had already seen it. He felt a warm glow in his heart. He sold all the Shu brocade and silk that Liu Shan had given him to make clothes, and wore last year's clothes instead.

It was fairly clean, but not exactly shiny either.

Consort Li personally made the clothes for her.

She had already transferred the land to him and was living off her meager salary from the palace. Saving even two winter coats and a cloak wouldn't be easy.

"Thank you for your trouble, Mother," Liu Chen said earnestly after taking a deep breath.

Consort Li looked up and rolled her eyes at her son, scolding, "Aren't you a piece of my flesh?"

Liu Chen said no more. To say another word would be a sin.

Consort Li rarely visited her son, and she stayed for a long time. She didn't leave until it was almost dark.

"What do you mean by 'a loving mother spoils her son'? Why don't you blame your son for being incompetent and foolish?" After seeing his mother off, Liu Chen returned to his study, sat down, picked up the bearskin cloak, looked at it for a long time, and then instructed the eunuch to put it away.

Then dry rice.

After eating and drinking his fill, Liu Chen had a palace maid light a lamp so he could read Han Feizi. He only skimmed the surface, not delving into the details.

When he got sleepy, he would put down the bamboo slips, leave the study and return to his bedroom, where he would roll up the fragrant bedding used by the palace maids and go to sleep.

In the era before cell phones, his biological clock was more powerful than an alarm clock.

The next morning.

After Liu Chen opened his eyes, he summoned eunuchs and palace maids to serve him. He went to the side to comb his hair, wash up, and change his clothes.

Before winter even arrived, Liu Chen put on the winter clothes his mother had made.

The size fits perfectly.

After having breakfast, Liu Chen went to Consort Li's palace to let his mother see his face. After talking for a while, he was rewarded with a few bites of pastry.

Upon returning to his palace, he summoned the palace maids and eunuchs to help him remove his winter clothes, change into autumn military attire, hang his broad Han sword, and walk to the palace gate.

A team of guards is ready.

Liu Chen stepped into the stirrups, climbed onto the saddle with both hands, and then took the quiver and bow from the eunuch.

Liu Chen smiled at the guards and said, "You all mustn't lose to me on today's hunt."

"Yes," the guards replied with laughter.

Although serving as palace guards was respectable, it still required them to stand guard and work shifts. Now, during their shifts, protecting Prince Chen on hunting trips outside the city was like going out for fun—a truly enjoyable experience.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter." Liu Chen rode his steed out of the palace, but then dismounted and walked on foot, leading his horse with the guards into Chengdu Avenue.

Several eunuchs and coachmen followed in the carriage.

Once they left Chengdu, Liu Chen mounted his horse and galloped south along the main road with his guards.

There were countless noble sons like Liu Chen who went hunting. Some recognized Liu Chen and immediately bowed or wanted to dismount to pay their respects.

Liu Chen ignored them and simply rode off at full speed.

"I've long heard that Young Master Chen is wise and respectful to scholars. How come he's so arrogant?" someone asked, watching Liu Chen's departing figure with great curiosity.

"That happened last year. This spring, Young Master Chen fell from his horse..." someone who knew the situation explained.

"I see." The strange man suddenly realized, and then sighed, "The world has lost a wise young master and gained a flamboyant one."

Thinking back on all the darkness Liu Han was experiencing, the man shook his head and ordered the driver to set off.

Chengdu has few remote areas, only vast stretches of fertile farmland.

The fields are now bare, but pheasants and rabbits abound.

There are also quite a few flying in the sky.

Large prey are rare. Only in winter, when human activity decreases, do large prey emerge from the forests.

Liu Chen and his group arrived at a somewhat remote place.

With a "whoosh," Liu Chen's feet were firmly wedged into the stirrups, his legs gripping the horse's belly. His lower body remained still, while his upper body moved nimbly. His eyesight was excellent; he spotted a free-range chicken in the distance.

He drew the bow and nocked the arrow in one swift motion, and the arrow shot out like lightning. It passed between the legs of the free-range chicken, startling it so much that it flapped its wings and took flight.

"Hahahaha." Liu Chen laughed heartily, "My archery skills on horseback are terrible." He didn't give up and chased after the free-range chicken. It took him five arrows to finally kill it.

"Congratulations, young master!" a guard shouted, dismounting and picking up the free-range chicken, handing it to Liu Chen. Liu Chen took it, examined it, and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "The chicken is plump. I'll roast it at noon to satisfy my hunger."

He then pulled on the reins and shouted to his men, "With my skills, I'm afraid you'll go hungry. Four of you stay to protect me, the rest of you go hunting."

"Yes." The guards were overjoyed; they had been waiting for this answer. Most of the guards then dispersed, while Liu Chen and four other guards chased after the prey.

However, the guards did not scatter like birds or beasts, but rather formed a circle to protect Liu Chen.

Because it was the first hunt of the year, Liu Chen was having a great time. He chased after his prey and came to an extremely remote place.

By the time Liu Chen realized what was happening, he was already hungry. He looked up at the sky and saw that it was almost noon.

Liu Chen looked back, but the eunuch in charge of driving the carriage had disappeared.

Each guard's horse was laden with game, mostly rabbits and pheasants. A few horses seemed uneasy at the smell of blood.

"Find a place with water and start the fire." Liu Chen gave the order and led the group to search for a while before arriving at a stream with very clear water.

Everyone got off their horses.

The guards split into several teams, some processing the game, others gathering firewood. Liu Chen sat on a small stool, drinking water from a bamboo water jug.

The pheasant that Liu Chen had shot himself was served first. It was sprinkled with salt, roasted over a fire until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fragrant and juicy.

The guard handed the pheasant to Liu Chen.

Liu Chen was also starving, so he picked up a pheasant and started gnawing on it. The pheasant was very plump, and one was enough to fill him up.

Liu Chen sat and rested for a long time before mounting his horse and preparing to return.

Suddenly, he heard a tiger's roar.

"Whoa!!!!"