Volume 1: Kyoto Winds and Clouds Chapter 11: Encountering Wang Yue in the Imperial Garden

  Liu Hong's actions were quite swift, having just allowed Liu Zhang to enter the palace as a study companion yesterday, and today the imperial edict had already been delivered! The person who brought the edict was a eunuch of medium rank, and Liu Yan merely exchanged polite greetings with him before going off to deal with the matter of guards for Liu Zhang. However, Liu Zhang deeply understood the power of eunuchs, especially during the late Han period - the Ten Eunuchs were no ordinary figures. Nevertheless, Liu Zhang had no money, so he could only lower his posture and try to build a good relationship with this medium-ranking eunuch by chatting with him.

  The eunuchs' responsibility was to communicate between the inner and outer palaces. They often went out of the palace to meet people, but although others gave them face, they were actually looked down upon behind their backs, even ridiculed for not being whole men. It's worth noting that castration was also one of the punishments in ancient times. In ancient times, having been punished meant that one had committed a crime, and those who had committed crimes would be looked down upon by others, even feeling inferior to themselves. If it weren't for this, there wouldn't have been the punishment of shaving heads in ancient times. What's the big deal about shaving heads? It's just humiliation! But it was precisely these humiliations that made people unbearable in ancient times.

  The old saying goes: "A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated." In ancient times, most eunuchs were forced to enter the palace as servants due to poverty and were castrated under duress. After all, the emperor needed people to serve him, but how many officials and their families could be castrated and sent into the imperial palace to serve the emperor and his concubines? These eunuchs, who were forced to undergo castration due to poverty and serving the emperor, also had to endure humiliation, which is one of the reasons for their psychological distortion.

  This eunuch had long been accustomed to the contemptuous glances of officials, and with the struggle between the imperial relatives and the eunuchs, the eunuchs were described as the source of national calamity and they were treated even worse. Except for the emperor, this eunuch had never seen anyone speak to him in a gentle tone. Even when he went to read out the emperor's edict, those officials either thoroughly looked down on him or were very flattering but revealed their contempt, and even if there was someone who was neither arrogant nor humble, they would not treat him with the attitude of treating normal people, but Liu Zhang gave him respect!

  Don't look at this small respect, but it made the eunuch feel very comfortable! Of course, Liu Zhang wasn't intentionally trying to please the eunuch, it's just that modern people's egalitarian concept makes him extremely friendly to anyone he sees. You have to know that modern disabled people are protected, and these eunuchs in Liu Zhang's eyes are just some disabled people. Plus, Liu Zhang studied law in his previous life, even criminals have the opportunity to defend themselves, let alone some innocent eunuchs!

  It was this unconscious respect that moved the eunuch, and he was willing to chat with Liu Zhang like a little kid. It's worth noting that the children in the capital were also influenced by adults and often showed disrespect to eunuchs. Moreover, as a member of the imperial family, Liu Zhang had always been superior to others, so his affability made the eunuch feel even more honored. However, Liu Zhang's character was not like that; although he wouldn't look down on others, he also wouldn't be overly obsequious.

  After chatting for a while, Zhong Huangmen felt that Liu Zhang was very worth befriending. If he didn't have to return to the palace to report back, he would really like to talk more with Liu Zhang. Looking at the sky, Zhong Huangmen said somewhat reluctantly to Liu Zhang: "Young master, I had a great conversation with you, but duty calls and I must return to the palace! If fate allows it, we'll speak again!"

  "Slow down, sir!" Liu Zhang also thought this eunuch was quite good, not only was his conversation refined, but he also had some talent. This kind of person is most likely to stand out. With the intention of not being able to get along well, yet also not wanting to offend him, Liu Zhang smiled and said: "There's plenty of time in the future, if we hit it off, I'll invite you for tea! However, after chatting for so long, I still don't know your name, sir. Are you afraid that I'm too young to remember?"

  "Remember! I'm Zhang Ren!" The yellow gatekeeper patted Liu Zhang's head and walked out straight away.

  "Zhang Rang?" Liu Shao was stunned by this familiar name, and he secretly thought: "Isn't Zhang Rang one of the Ten Eunuchs?" Suddenly, Liu Shao smiled! At present, Emperor Ling had only been on the throne for a few years, and Cao Jie, the eunuch, still held power. Zhang Rang was working under someone else's command, and being able to mix with the Yellow Gate Guards was already quite an achievement.

  The next morning, after obtaining the token to enter the palace, Liu Zhang began his accompanying reading. Due to concerns about being late, Liu Zhang got up early and entered the palace with Liu Yan. In his opinion, even if Emperor Wu was diligent, he wouldn't get up at 3 or 4 am to read books! However, after arriving at the imperial palace, Liu Zhang realized that he had come too early because the emperor also needed to attend the morning court session, and only after it ended could he have time to read. Of course, if the court meeting lasted too long, reading time would be pushed back to the afternoon! As for memorials, Emperor Wu could only look at them but didn't have the qualifications to review them.

  They've all come, and they can't go back. Liu Zhang was bored in the palace, wandering around. He was only five years old, so even if he stumbled into something, it didn't matter. He inserted his token into his waist, and the guards and eunuchs saw the emperor's token and didn't bother him. Only when he asked questions did someone answer him. In the end, Liu Zhang decided to take advantage of the early hour to visit the Imperial Flower Garden. If the place was big enough, he would practice some martial arts. Of course, what he practiced wasn't any killing technique. The martial arts of later generations, except for some professional institutions like special forces and soldiers, had all become mere decorations and health exercises. What Liu Zhang wanted to practice was just Tai Chi!

  To be honest, Liu Hong's imperial garden is not that great, it's just about the same as the parks of later generations. If it were some large-scale parks or theme parks, then it would be far inferior! However, at least it's an open space, and with a flick of his wrist, Liu Zhang stood up in the imperial garden and started practicing Tai Chi. He stood for almost half an hour, and when he felt like he couldn't take it anymore, he began to practice Tai Chi moves one by one. At first, Liu Zhang was a bit rusty, after all, he hadn't practiced in four or five years, and this body had never practiced before, so after just over 20 moves, he started to feel sore and soft. However, Liu Zhang didn't give up, and he persisted in finishing the 40 moves he had learned before stopping.

  "Good!" A shout of approval sounded behind Liu Zhang, startling him so much that he almost jumped up. Turning his head to look back, it was actually Liu Hong!

  "Brother Huang, when did you arrive?" Liu Zhang said somewhat awkwardly: "What's so great about this fancy footwork?"

  Liu Hong did not respond to Liu Zhang, but instead asked a sword-holding guard beside him: "Wang Qing, what do you think of the emperor's brother's boxing skills?"

  "Not bad!" The sword-holding guard said with a glint in his eye: "This boxing technique looks ordinary, but it contains many things that make people's ears and eyes open wide, although it looks soft, it has a hidden killing intent, it's just a pity..."

  "What's a pity?" Liu Hong smiled and said: "Just say it straight, Wang Qing!"

  The guard laughed and said, "It's a pity that the young master is still young, this set of fist techniques seems to be incomplete! Otherwise, with this fist technique, the young master would also have achieved something extraordinary in martial arts!"

  "Recognize the goods!" As soon as Liu Zhang heard this guard say it, he immediately gave his evaluation in his heart. This Tai Chi Fist has been tempered for hundreds of years and entered its prime during the Song and Ming dynasties, being refined by Zhang Sanfeng into thirteen forms. These thirteen Tai Chi forms not only can strengthen one's body but also kill people and rob goods. However, as time went on, martial arts declined. In modern times, although Tai Chi Fist has become popularized, there are not many people who truly understand it, which is also a characteristic of Tai Chi Fist: easy to learn but difficult to master! As for Liu Zhang's Tai Chi Fist, it can only be considered superficial! However, Liu Zhang still remembers the Tai Chi Fist manual, and those manuals have been turned into rhymes, making them hard to forget!

  "Wang Qing's achievements in martial arts are beyond doubt!" Liu Hong smiled and asked, "In your opinion, does the emperor have a natural talent for martial arts?"

  The guard smiled and said: "The young master's natural talent is naturally good, but..."

  "There's nothing wrong with that!" Liu Hong smiled and said, "The imperial brother once said that he wanted to be the Huo Qubing of this dynasty! Since he has a natural talent for martial arts, Wang Qing can guide him!"

  "What I learned is not the art of killing enemies on the battlefield!" The guard said: "If it were to let the young master learn my martial arts, it would be even more unbecoming!"

  Liu Hong said helplessly: "I'm not asking you to teach the imperial brother martial arts. You should know that the imperial brother is only five years old this year, and you are just laying the foundation for him. As for the tactics of killing enemies on the battlefield, someone will teach him in the future! Besides, what I want is a general, not a rough man. Learning martial arts is just to let the imperial brother protect himself in battle!"

  "Your Majesty! My brother has another impertinent request!" Liu Zhang saw that the Emperor was discussing with this guard, and knew he must be extraordinary. So Liu Zhang thought of digging a corner for the Emperor!

  "The imperial brother is my own brother, speak directly if you have something to say!" Liu Hong pointed at the Wang surname guard and smiled: "Could it be that the imperial brother has taken a liking to this person?"

  "It seems you've taken a liking to him! But how could my younger brother dare to steal the affections of his imperial brother?" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "My younger brother's family has just arrived in Luoyang, my father wants to find him a few bodyguards, but so far there have been no leads. My younger brother thinks..."

  "It turns out that you wanted a few guards!" Liu Hong thought for a moment and said: "Wang Qing, I heard that you have a disciple named Shi Ah who has mastered your true skills. Why not let him be the prince's guard and teach the prince martial arts at the same time?"

  "Shi Ah is his disciple?! Then isn't he the Emperor's Master Wang Yue!" Liu Zhang was shocked in his heart, never expecting that this thirty-something year old guard would have such a big background.

  Wang Yue listened to Liu Hong's suggestion and considered it for a moment. "Shi Ah has indeed mastered my true transmission, but still needs to be tempered. Since Your Majesty has spoken, let him go protect the young prince and teach the young prince's basic skills at the same time."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty, Wang Shifu!" Hearing this, Liu Zhang hastily paid his respects. It's worth noting that Shi Ah is also a famous swordsman in history, with his protection, at least before Huang Zhong arrives, Liu Zhang's life is safe! However, soon Liu Zhang will be driven mad!

  The guards' discussion was over, and Liu Hong told Liu Zhang that Cai Yong had something to do today and wouldn't be coming to give a lecture. So Liu Zhang, having nothing better to do, left the palace. As he was leaving, Wang Yue told him that Shi Ah was already waiting for him at the palace gate! Excitedly, Liu Zhang arrived at the palace gate and looked around everywhere, but after searching for half a day, he still hadn't seen anyone who looked like a swordsman. Suddenly, a 12 or 13-year-old boy patted his shoulder and said: "Excuse me, are you Liu Zhang, young master?"