Chapter 5

In the following days, Liu Yao followed Cai Yong to study, occasionally reciting a poem, which made the old master exclaim him as a demonic genius. Or he would play chess with the old conservative, making him so angry that he would shout and yell. Time slowly passed by in this manner.

Finally, on the night of the fifteenth day, the time indicated on the blueprint had arrived. Liu Yao couldn't wait to open the large jar, looking at the clear water inside and smelling the overwhelming fragrance of alcohol, he couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

Liu Yao picked up a copper spoon, scooped a spoonful, and drank it directly.

"Pfft!! Hey, hey, spicy, so spicy." Liu Yao spat it out directly, constantly sticking out his tongue to relieve the spiciness, tears streaming down his face. What Liu Yao didn't know was that he was no longer an adult who had been tested by alcohol, but a child. A child's taste buds were not fully developed and could not adapt to high-alcohol liquor.

After a long time, the spiciness in Liu Yao's mouth finally subsided, his face full of bitter smiles, "Why is it so spicy? I didn't feel it in my previous life." However, he quickly changed his expression from bitter to excited, "But it's right to be spicy, it means this alcohol has a high degree. It also means that my brewing this time was completely successful."

Liu Yao immediately divided the large jar of alcohol into twenty prepared jars. After so much labor, Liu Yao felt a bit tired and jumped onto the bed. "Tomorrow, I'll think of a way to go to the teacher's place and start making preparations." Liu Yao muttered to himself and soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Liu Yao ordered two guards to carry ten jars of alcohol to pay respects to his father, the emperor.

The three of them arrived at the Southern Palace, and immediately a eunuch went to inform Emperor Ling.

In the Southern Palace, Emperor Ling was indulging in debauchery with several palace maids. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has something to report."

"I don't want to see him, ahaha, beauty, come... Wait, who did you say?"

"Your Majesty, it's the Crown Prince," the eunuch said softly.

At this moment, Emperor Ling suddenly came to his senses, "All of you, leave." He dismissed all the palace maids, leaving only Zhang Rang, one of the Ten Attendants. Then, Emperor Ling tidied up his disheveled clothes, "Let the prince come in."

With permission, Liu Yao entered the Southern Palace alone. "Your son pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Prince, what brings you here today?" Emperor Ling asked.

"Your Majesty, your son has obtained some good wine from the teacher and specially wants to offer it to Your Majesty," Liu Yao said with a smile.

"Oh, good wine!! Where is it? Bring it to me quickly for me to taste." Liu Hong's eyes lit up at the mention of good wine.

Liu Yao gestured, and the two guards outside carried the wine in and then respectfully withdrew. At this moment, Zhang Rang took the initiative to bring a jar of wine, opened the seal, and a fragrance of alcohol immediately spread.

Liu Hong greedily smelled the fragrance of the wine, "Mm!! What a fragrant wine, just by the smell, I know it's good wine. Quickly, quickly, let me taste it." Liu Hong's face was full of eagerness.

Zhang Rang scooped a spoonful of wine into a wine cup and respectfully handed it to Liu Hong, "Your Majesty, please."

Liu Hong couldn't wait to take the wine cup and drank it in one gulp.

"Cough, cough, cough." Liu Hong had never drunk such strong wine and was immediately choked. "Your Majesty, are you okay?" Zhang Rang asked anxiously.

Liu Hong waved his hand, "I'm fine, I'm fine. I just didn't expect this wine to be so strong. It's indeed good wine. I have never tasted such good wine in my life." As he spoke, Liu Hong took another spoonful of wine, this time learning from his mistake and began to taste it slowly.

"Ha, good wine, good wine, but there's not much of it." Liu Hong looked at the ten jars of wine in front of him, somewhat dissatisfied. Then he looked at Liu Yao, "Prince, did you get all this wine from Cai Bojie?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, these wines were brewed by a friend of the teacher, but there's not much of it," Liu Yao said.

"Hmm? Not much? Then I won't be able to taste such good wine every day in the future." Liu Hong frowned, looking dissatisfied.

At this moment, Liu Yao's eyes sparkled, "Your Majesty, your son wants to leave the palace and stay at the teacher's house for a while, and also help you get more good wine to offer to Your Majesty."

"Ha ha ha, worthy of being my son. I approve. In the future, you don't need to report to me when you leave the palace." Liu Hong looked very satisfied at his "filial" son. Then he added, "However, even though it's in Luoyang, some guards still need to protect you."

"No, no, in Luoyang, who would dare to offend the prince? Besides, so many guards would disturb the teacher, wouldn't they?" Liu Yao hurriedly waved his hands in opposition. If so many guards followed him, he wouldn't have the space to do his own things.

"No!! You must have guards, otherwise how can I let you leave the palace with ease?" Liu Hong said sternly, but then his tone softened, "However, what you said does make sense. Having guards is indeed inconvenient."

Liu Hong thought for a long time and then turned to Zhang Rang, "Zhang, go and call the Imperial Tutor."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhang Rang said and quickly went out to announce the order.

"Imperial Tutor?!! Who could it be? Who has the qualifications to be the Imperial Tutor? Why don't I remember this person?" Liu Yao's mind was constantly thinking about who the Imperial Tutor could be.

After half an incense stick's time, a middle-aged man with a sword-like brow and a tiger-like back walked in, "This humble subject, Wang Yue, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"It's him!!" Liu Yao was startled. It turned out to be Emperor Ling's sword teacher. No wonder he didn't remember. Wang Yue, a great hero of the time, entered Helan Mountain alone at the age of 18 and returned with the head of the Qiang leader. He was said to be the only one who defeated Lü Bu, although that was because Lü Bu was not good at fighting on foot. However, this also showed Wang Yue's superb martial arts.

"Rise." Liu Hong said indifferently, then turned to Liu Yao, "Prince, this is my sword teacher, Wang Yue. He is highly skilled in martial arts. With him protecting you, I can rest assured."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but your son has another request." Liu Yao also agreed.

"Prince, speak your mind."

"Your son wants to learn martial arts from Great Hero Wang Yue." Liu Yao revealed his purpose. Upon hearing Liu Yao's words, Wang Yue couldn't help but look at Liu Yao, sizing him up.

"Ha ha ha, I thought it was something big. I approve. Wang Yue, from now on, you will stay by the prince's side and teach him martial arts. His safety is also entrusted to you." Liu Hong said with a big laugh.

"Yes," Wang Yue responded, but his eyes were clearly filled with excitement. In just a few glances, he had discovered that Liu Yao had excellent physical attributes, which would make training much easier.

"Your Majesty, if there's nothing else, your son will take his leave." Liu Yao bowed and prepared to leave.

"Go, remember to bring more good wine back for me to taste." Liu Hong waved his hand, his face full of greed.

After Liu Yao and Wang Yue left, Emperor Ling's expression changed, "Zhang, you can also leave. I want to be alone for a while."

Zhang Rang, not understanding, still respectfully responded and left the Southern Palace.

Suddenly, the Southern Palace was left with only Emperor Ling and a faint sigh.

On Liu Yao's side, the sun was high in the sky. With Emperor Ling's permission, Liu Yao easily walked out of the palace gate, where a carriage was already waiting. Liu Yao and Wang Yue got into the carriage, and the driver drove towards Cai Yong's residence. Of course, the carriage also carried the other ten jars of wine.

Inside the carriage, "Great Hero Wang Yue, I will rely on you from now on." Liu Yao bowed to Wang Yue.

"Unworthy, unworthy." Wang Yue immediately waved his hand, feeling somewhat flattered.

"Ha ha, Great Hero Wang Yue, there's no need for such modesty. Since you are teaching me martial arts, this bow is well-deserved." Liu Yao said with a smile.

Wang Yue was deeply moved. He never expected that Liu Yao, with such a noble identity, would be so approachable.

"Great Hero Wang Yue, do you have any wishes?" Liu Yao prepared to gain another ally.

"Frankly, Your Highness, I am 35 years old and have always wanted to be an official. However, I only have martial arts skills and cannot be a civil official. Moreover, my martial arts are not suitable for the battlefield. So, I have achieved nothing all my life." Wang Yue's disappointment was evident on his face.

"Then, are you willing to believe in me?" Liu Yao said seriously.

Wang Yue didn't know why, but looking at this child in front of him, he always felt a sense of trust. He bit his lip, "I believe."

"Good, as long as you are willing to help me, there will definitely be a place for you in the officialdom." Liu Yao patted his chest, making a promise.

Wang Yue looked at this strange prince with shock and then unhesitatingly clasped his hands, "I pay respects to my lord."

"Good! Good! Good! 'Lord' is not necessary now. You can still call me Crown Prince, and I will call you by your courtesy name, Ziru." Liu Yao's face was full of joy. Although Wang Yue could not become a general on the battlefield, he was a good assassin, and some things definitely required the existence of such people.

"Yes."

---

The page flip begins with an ad.

The page flip ends with an ad.