Chapter 3

In the following half month, Liu Yao followed Cai Yong to learn to recognize characters. Yes, that’s right, just recognizing characters. For Liu Yao, who was an archaeologist, he was very proficient in the clerical script and regular script commonly used during the Han Dynasty. However, to avoid arousing Cai Yong’s suspicion, he pretended not to know and slowly learned to recognize, read, and write characters, which made him quite depressed.

On this day, Liu Yao followed Cai Yong as usual to learn to recognize characters.

"Good! Good! Good! I never thought that in just ten days, you, Yao, could recognize more than 5,000 commonly used characters of the Han Dynasty, and you can already write many of them. Truly, you are a worthy disciple of mine." Cai Yong stroked his goatee, his smile so wide it almost split his face.

Liu Yao pouted slightly, somewhat depressed. "If I didn’t want to make you suspicious, I wouldn’t need even a second."

"Hehe, it’s all thanks to your teacher." Liu Yao flattered Cai Yong without hesitation.

"Good! Good!! Hehe!! However, from now on, you need to practice calligraphy more. Here is a copybook by me; you can practice by copying it. I will come back to check after an incense stick burns out." After saying this, he waved his sleeve and left, constantly marveling, "Teaching a genius disciple is really easy."

Liu Yao looked speechlessly at the irresponsible old man. But out of respect for his teacher, he still followed Cai Yong’s instructions and began to copy the text.

Liu Yao saw that the script on the copybook was clerical script, not the famous flying white script of Cai Yong, which made him feel a bit uninterested. In his previous life, he had never seen the real flying white script, which left him somewhat regretful.

Liu Yao slowly took out a piece of silk and began to improvise. In his previous life, Liu Yao was an amateur calligraphy enthusiast, particularly fond of Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji’s thin gold script. Although he could only achieve a third of the resemblance, Liu Yao was quite satisfied.

Liu Yao improvised, and a grand piece of calligraphy soon appeared before him. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, looked at his "masterpiece," and nodded with satisfaction.

At this moment, Cai Yong, who had gone somewhere, returned and saw that Liu Yao had already put down his brush. "How did Yao’s copying go? Let me see." He directly took the silk from Liu Yao’s hands.

"Oh no!!" Liu Yao inwardly cursed, but it was too late to stop him.

"Hmm?!! Yao, this, this is what you wrote?" Cai Yong’s expression changed constantly, sometimes frowning, sometimes surprised, and sometimes puzzled.

"Um, um, um, this is just something I doodled." Liu Yao hesitated for a long time before coming up with a lame lie.

But Cai Yong paid no attention to the lie, looking at Liu Yao with a very strange expression. "Heaven’s will, heaven’s will! The Han Dynasty is saved. The script you wrote, though still somewhat immature, exudes an imperial aura in every stroke. This is something only an emperor can possess. Born to be an emperor, born to be an emperor."

Feeling extremely uncomfortable under Cai Yong’s strange gaze, Liu Yao had no choice but to take a box from the study. Inside was a wooden board with horizontal and vertical black lines, and the words "Chu River" and "Han Boundary" in the middle.

"Yao, what is this?" Cai Yong looked curiously at the object in Liu Yao’s hands.

"Teacher, this is called Xiangqi, which was taught to me by an old man in my dream." Liu Yao saw that Cai Yong’s attention had been diverted and immediately breathed a sigh of relief, casually lying. This set of Xiangqi was made by a craftsman at the command of Empress Dowager Dong after Liu Yao pestered her for a long time.

"Xiangqi, what is Xiangqi?" Cai Yong was full of confusion.

Liu Yao slowly explained the rules of Xiangqi to Cai Yong.

"Hmm, your Xiangqi is somewhat similar to the ‘Xiangxi’ passed down from the Warring States period, except it has fewer pieces," Cai Yong said. But the next moment, his curiosity was aroused, and he began to play Xiangqi with Liu Yao.

As the game progressed, Cai Yong’s inner surprise grew. "Each move in Xiangqi contains military strategy. It’s truly a divine object. ‘Chu River Han Boundary’? Could it be that Yao is really sent by the High Ancestor to save the Han Dynasty? Indeed, a born king!!"

If Liu Yao knew that the small toy he used to divert Cai Yong’s attention would make Cai Yong think so much, he wouldn’t know what to think.

However, it was Cai Yong’s first time playing Xiangqi, and he was completely defeated by Liu Yao. The old man was so angry that he yelled. After losing three consecutive games, he angrily snatched the Xiangqi and ran home, saying he would study it thoroughly and come back to take revenge.

Seeing Cai Yong’s behavior, Liu Yao couldn’t help but laugh. He never thought the old man would have such a side. "Fine, take it, take it. I’ll just have someone make another set."

The morning’s study time passed quickly, and with Cai Yong gone, the lesson naturally ended.

Liu Yao sat on a stool, stretched lazily, and then rubbed his flat stomach. "Ah, I’m really a bit hungry."

Liu Yao rushed out of the study, shouting, "Grandma, Grandma." He looked around and found that Empress Dowager Dong was not there, seemingly having gone out. "Hmm, where is she?"

At this moment, a palace maid walked over and brought a plate of pastries. "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager asked me to inform you that she has gone to the imperial garden to admire the flowers. But she has already prepared pastries for you, which are your favorite."

"Ah, Grandma still cares for me, knowing I’m hungry." Saying this, Liu Yao took the pastries and ran to his room, eating the delicious pastries while reading a book.

Just as Liu Yao was engrossed in his reading, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. "Ugh," he groaned, clutching his chest, and his vision became blurry. "Damn, what’s happening? Could it be poisoning? How can I, Liu Yao, die without accomplishing anything great?"

But the next moment, "Pfft," Liu Yao spat out a mouthful of black toxic blood, which landed on his arm. Then he lost consciousness. After Liu Yao lost consciousness, the toxic blood on his arm began to be absorbed by the book-shaped tattoo, until there was no trace of blood left. Soon, the tattoo began to emit a greenish glow, enveloping Liu Yao entirely. It lasted for half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn out before disappearing, leaving no trace.

After an unknown amount of time, Liu Yao slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying on his bed, surrounded by many people.

"Oh, grandson, you’re finally awake, wuwuwu..." Empress Dowager Dong’s tears couldn’t stop flowing.

"Hmm? I didn’t die?" Liu Yao looked at the crying Empress Dowager, struggling to sit up and wiping away her tears. "Grandma, don’t cry, I’m fine."

"Mother, don’t cry. The prince has woken up. Imperial physician!! Come and check the prince." Emperor Lingdi Liu Hong first softly comforted his mother, then roared at the imperial physician waiting nearby.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty." The imperial physician immediately ran over and placed his fingers on Liu Yao’s pulse.

Empress Dowager Dong and Emperor Lingdi looked anxiously at the imperial physician, waiting for his answer. However, Liu Yao was not worried; he felt better than ever, though he didn’t know how the poison had disappeared, but it was a good thing.

"Your Majesty, the prince’s pulse is steady, and his body is in no danger. In fact, his body is even stronger than that of a typical child of his age." The imperial physician respectfully reported to Liu Hong.

Hearing the imperial physician’s words, both of them breathed a sigh of relief. "Grandson, why did you suddenly faint? Do you feel any discomfort?" Empress Dowager Dong felt all over Liu Yao, afraid there might still be a problem.

"Father, Grandma, I don’t know why I fainted, but I feel very energetic now." He even flexed his little arm to show them.

"Ha ha." Empress Dowager Dong burst into laughter, tapping Liu Yao’s forehead. "You’re such a smooth talker."

"Father, I feel a bit tired. I want to rest for a while." Liu Yao said. He suddenly noticed that the tattoo on his arm was slightly warm, so he wanted to dismiss everyone.

"Alright. Prince, rest well." Liu Hong’s face was full of concern. After saying this, he led Empress Dowager Dong and the others out. Liu Yao felt that his father truly cared for him, unlike the historical records that portrayed Liu Hong as only indulging in debauchery.

After everyone left, Liu Yao eagerly rolled up his sleeve and saw the book-shaped tattoo emitting a faint green light. He couldn’t help but touch it. The next moment, the green light flashed, and the tattoo fell to the ground, transforming into an ancient book.

The book had five large characters on it...