Chương 110: Farewell

Cai Yong laughed heartily: "Bo Lue, you can't escape now! Zhao Ji is in your hands, you'd better treat her well!"

"Don't worry, father-in-law," Liu Ce solemnly promised.

...

Two days before leaving the capital, Liu Ce went to the palace to fulfill his promise to He Jin and instructed Prince Liu Bian in riding and archery.

On the palace training ground, Liu Bian stood there nervously, wearing a specially made small-sized riding and archery uniform.

"Uncle..." he called softly.

Liu Ce patted his shoulder: "Relax. Riding a horse and shooting arrows isn't difficult. Come on, let me teach you how to hold the bow first."

He took out a small bow, suitable for children. He then taught Liu Bian how to hold the bow, how to nock an arrow, and how to draw the string.

"Your fingers should be like this, that's right. Look at the bullseye, don't blink. Keep your breathing steady, inhale, draw the bow, release!"

"Whoosh—" The arrow flew off course, missing the target entirely.

Liu Bian lowered his head in frustration.

"It's okay, it's okay, everyone's like this the first time," Liu Ce encouraged him.

"The first time I shot an arrow, it flew backward and almost hit my butt."

Liu Bian chuckled.

"real?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Liu Ce said seriously.

"So don't be discouraged, take it slow."

He taught patiently, again and again. Liu Bian studied diligently and made rapid progress.

An hour later, he was able to hit the target, even if it was just on the edge, it was still better than missing the target altogether.

"Uncle, look! I hit the target!" Liu Bian jumped up with joy.

"Not bad, not bad!" Liu Ce gave a thumbs up.

"Come on, get on the horse and give it a try."

He helped Liu Bian onto his horse and taught him the essentials of archery on horseback.

"The hardest part of riding a horse and shooting arrows is keeping your balance."

Liu Ce led the horse slowly, saying, "You need to learn to grip the horse's belly with your legs and keep your upper body stable. Just like... just like writing while sitting in a sedan chair."

The analogy was very vivid, and Liu Bian understood it immediately.

He tried to do it, and it worked much better.

After practicing for several hours, the sun was already setting in the west.

Liu Bian was already able to trot on horseback and shoot arrows. Although eight out of ten arrows missed the target, he managed to hit the target with two.

His face was flushed and he was covered in sweat, but his eyes were bright and sparkling.

"Uncle, I've learned it!"

"This is just the beginning," Liu Ce said with a smile.

"To master it, you'll need to practice diligently. Practice for an hour every day for three years, and you'll be able to hit a target from a hundred paces away."

"I will!" Liu Bian nodded vigorously.

Sitting on a stone bench by the drill ground, Liu Bian drank the honey water offered by a eunuch and suddenly asked:

"Uncle, is Youzhou... far away?"

"It's quite far," Liu Ce said.

"It would take more than half a month to travel by horse."

"Then... will my royal uncle come back?"

Looking into the child's expectant eyes, Liu Ce's heart softened.

"Yes, I will. Once Youzhou is stable, I will come back to see Your Highness."

"It's a deal!" Liu Bian's eyes lit up.

"I'll show you how to ride a horse and shoot arrows!"

"Okay, it's a deal."

After leaving the training ground, Liu Ce met Empress He under the palace corridor.

She was wearing a light purple palace dress today, standing under the corridor, looking in the direction of the training ground, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Upon seeing Liu Ce, she smiled and asked, "Is my royal brother leaving?"

"Yes, I will leave the capital the day after tomorrow."

The two remained silent for a while.

A breeze blew along the palace path, carrying a faint fragrance of flowers.

He Lian lowered her head, looking at the hem of her skirt, "Youzhou is bitterly cold, Marquis Champion, take care."

"If needed... you can write to me."

The words were spoken subtly, but Liu Ce understood. He cupped his hands in greeting:

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now."

As he turned to leave, he could feel He Lian's gaze fixed on his back.

But he didn't turn around.

...

The day before leaving the capital, Liu Ce packed his belongings at the Marquis of Champion's residence.

There was so much stuff; the books alone filled several trucks. It was all stolen from my cheap father-in-law.

There were also various daily necessities. The housekeeper was so busy that her voice became hoarse from shouting.

"My lord! Where should we put this box of books?"

"My lord! Mr. Guo Jia said he wants to take three jars of wine with him on the journey, but wine jars are fragile!"

……

Liu Ce was in a real bind.

Just as they were busy, a palace maid arrived. She was He Lian's personal maid.

"My lord, Her Majesty the Empress sent this to me." A palace maid handed over a sachet and a letter.

Liu Ce took it, opened it, and saw that inside was a good luck charm and a strand of hair tied with a red silk thread.

After opening the letter again, the gist of it was:

"Personal observation by the Imperial Censor:"... I have specially embroidered amulet for your safety. May you carry it with you and be protected when you go out.

"... I will miss you after you leave..."

……

After delivering the message, the palace maid hurriedly bowed and left.

Liu Ce held the sachet, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

This woman...

He tucked the sachet into his bosom and placed it close to his body.

Regardless, it's a token of my appreciation.

...

Ren Hongchang accompanied Liu Ce as a maid, taking care of his daily life along the way.

As for Cai Yan... her marriage was already arranged, and she was supposed to stay in Luoyang to wait for Liu Ce to return and complete the wedding.

But for some reason, Cai Yong changed his mind and agreed to let Cai Yan go to Youzhou first to live with Zhang Ning, and then get married after Liu Ce was settled.

Liu Ce asked Cai Yan, "Why did your father suddenly have such a change of heart?"

Cai Yan blushed and said, "I told Father... I also wanted to stay with the General. Seeing my firm attitude, Father thought for a while and then agreed."

Liu Ce was moved and took her hand, saying, "I'm sorry you had to go through this. Once we get to Youzhou and everything is settled, I will definitely marry you in a grand and glorious way."

"I don't care about the glory," Cai Yan said softly.

"As long as I'm by the general's side, that's enough."

……

On Cai Yan's side, Cai Yong had already had his luggage packed.

Tomorrow morning, Cai Yan will travel with her personal maid in a carriage, joining the procession.

As for Zhang Ning, he was already waiting in Zhuojun.

After Qin Qiong, Zhang Fei, and Cheng Yaojin escorted the Yellow Turban legacy back, Zhang Ning took charge of affairs in Zhuojun.

The five Zhen sisters are still in Wuji County. They will be picked up by Liu Ce once he has settled down.

The steward came in and reported, "My lord, everything is ready."

"Okay." Liu Ce nodded.

"We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

After the butler left, Liu Ce walked to the window and looked at the moonlight outside.

The night in Luoyang is quiet. In the distance, the sound of a night watchman striking the gong can be heard, long and lonely.

He knew that this quiet wouldn't last long.

Historically, Liu Hong had another four or five years to live.

Once he dies, the conflict between He Jin and the eunuchs will erupt, and then Dong Zhuo will enter the capital, plunging the country into chaos.

He must first establish a foothold in Youzhou before that.

"I need to step up my game," Liu Ce muttered to himself.

On the day they left the capital, before dawn, the Marquis of Champion's residence was already bustling with activity.

The carriages and horses lined up in a long queue, and luggage was loaded onto one carriage after another.

The strategists sat in carriages, escorted by generals on horseback. Liu Ce's hundred Xuanjia Iron Cavalry were fully armed and ready to go, their black armor and black horses making them awe-inspiring.

Cai Yan and Ren Hongchang rode in the same carriage, with Cai Yan's personal maidservant following along.

Liu Ce, mounted on his horse, looked at the procession before him.

There were many people seeing him off outside the city gate.