I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 144 Does my cousin have a dog at home?

Just as Liu Ju expected.

After seeing this magical scene, the tension on the faces of everyone in the room did not disappear.

Instead, it became more serious than before. They all opened their eyes wide, and their pupils trembled as they looked at him and the piece of white cloth covered with a bloody handprint in his hand.

That expression would probably be no more than this, even if one really saw monsters or demons.

"hehe."

Liu Ju just smiled slightly, put the piece of white silk with the bloody handprint aside, then took out a new piece of white silk and wiped the turmeric water on his hands.

But this time, there was no bloodstain on the white silk, only some faint yellow marks.

Because this piece of white silk has not been soaked in brine and does not have any alkalinity, it naturally will not react chemically with the turmeric water.

"..."

This detail was noticed by everyone, and even a man as meticulous and rigorous as Huo Guang had the last trace of doubt in his heart completely disappear.

After a long time.

"Gulu!"

Someone swallowed.

Seeing that Liu Ju had no further action, Gongsun Qing asked cautiously:

"Your Highness, has the evil spirit been driven out?"

"The evil has turned into dirty blood, can't you see it?"

Liu Ju looked sideways and asked back.

Of course, this was not what Gongsun Qing was asking. He had already completely believed that Liu Ju had killed the evil spirit with a single slap, and he had seen it clearly with his own eyes.

He just wanted to ask whether Liu Ju's ritual had been completed, whether the evil spirits in the house had been completely expelled, and whether he could move and speak now.

And this is exactly the question that everyone else wants to ask.

next moment.

"Pfft!"

Gongsun Qing suddenly knelt on the ground and bowed his head.

"Your Highness, please accept my humble servant's greeting. If Your Highness had not forgiven me and given me a helping hand, I would have never been able to recover in my life!"

"I didn't know Your Highness had such magical powers. I dared to show off my skills in front of Your Highness. I really don't know how to behave. Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

At this moment he was completely convinced of Liu Ju's ability.

He recalled what Liu Ju had said when he saw the footprints of the three gods that he had secretly led people to dig out.

How could he dare to think that Liu Ju was talking nonsense because he was drunk? Liu Ju must have seen through his tricks, but was too lazy to argue with him, or did not expose him too thoroughly for the sake of the emperor's face.

Recalling what Liu said before:
"I'm not targeting you. I'm saying that people like you, Li Shaojun, Li Shaoweng, Luan Da, and those self-proclaimed Taoist priests in Qi are all rubbish."

Gongsun Qing also had a personal experience at this moment.

Li Shaojun, Li Shaoweng, Luan Da, and he and those alchemists in Qi, what they know, aren't they all rubbish in front of the "real skills" of Liu Ju?
But there is still a problem!
Liu Ju is the crown prince, the son of the emperor!
Since he has such ability, why does the emperor still recruit alchemists from all over the world to seek immortality?

Wouldn't it be most reliable to ask the prince directly?

Could it be because... it's too dark under the light?
"This prince..."

Huo Guang and the others were also shocked at this moment.

But in this situation, they didn't know what to say for a moment, and there was just a little more awe in their eyes when they looked at Liu Ju.

Even Huo Guang's mind had become lively:
"My fortune has been very bad in the past six months. His Majesty has often entrusted me with difficult tasks, and my official position has been up and down because of this..."

"How about asking the prince to take a look at it for me?"

"The prince and I are family after all, you won't refuse, right?"

at the same time.

Liu Ju was already smiling at Gongsun Qing:

"Ignorance is not a crime, Doctor Gongsun, please stand up. If I had the will to argue with you, how could you have survived until now?"

Hearing this, Gongsun Qing trembled again.

In the past, he might have been skeptical about this statement. After all, he was at least an envoy appointed by the emperor. Although he did not have the imperial seal, even if the prince wanted to kill him, he would have to first submit a memorial to explain the reasons and request the emperor's judgment.

But now he dared not doubt Liu Ju's words.

Liu Ju is not only a ruthless man, but also has many means.

He even believed that if Liu Ju really wanted him dead, he might not need to use physical means at all. He could kill him unclearly with magic alone, and naturally there would be no need for any imperial decree.

Thinking of this, Gongsun Qing put his forehead to the ground and said in fear and trepidation:
"Your Highness's forgiveness and kindness, I will always remember it in my heart and will never forget it!"

"In that case, I have something I need you to do."

Liu Ju said with a smile again.

"Your Highness, please give me your instructions. As long as I can do it, I will do it even if it means death!"

Gongsun Qing said hurriedly.

"You have been in Qi for many years, so you should have some connections among the alchemists and common people in Qi. Now that you are employed by my father, there must be many people who want to join you and curry favor with you."

Liu Ju then stood with his hands behind his back, showing the demeanor of a hermit.
"This time I am going to Donglai to wait for the gods. I want to preach and accumulate merits, and bestow blessings on the local scholars and people of Qi."

"Starting today, you will start to move around and use your connections to spread this news throughout Qi. You can gather all the alchemists in Qi to go to Donglai and help me accomplish this. This will also be considered a good deed."

Liu Ju knew that after this incident, Gongsun Qing's help in promoting him would surely be twice as effective with half the effort.

Moreover, he believed in the ability of these alchemists to add fuel to the fire. Just in the process of publicity, they could create a lot of myths for him.

After all these alchemists and common people gather in Donglai, he will perform a few more "divine acts" in front of people. This "god-making" plan will basically be 90% successful!

"I will obey your orders and will not fail in my mission!"

Gongsun Qing responded immediately.

He was extremely delighted at this moment, thinking that the prince had assigned him such a task, and that he must have regarded him as half his own.

Then just do this thing beautifully.

If he kneels down sincerely and asks for a teacher afterwards, he should have a great chance of becoming the prince's "eldest disciple", right?
……

That afternoon.

“Oh, it smells so good!”

Liu Ju took a big bowl of dog meat and ate it with relish.

Gongsun Qing moved quickly, and the big black dog that had barked and bit him as soon as he entered the door could no longer bark.

In this era, cattle and horses were important production and strategic materials. Han law stipulated that they could not be killed for meat, and the crime of killing cattle and horses was no less severe than killing a person.

Even the royal family and nobles who wanted to eat horse meat and beef had to use the excuse of "accidental death by fall" to cover it up.

As for pork, because the pigs were raised directly in dry toilets and no castration or other breeding methods were used, the pork at that time had a very strong fishy smell and was usually only eaten by ordinary people.

Therefore, dogs and chickens became the main source of meat for wealthy families and also a source of income for ordinary people.

The same is true for the big black dog in Gongsun Qing's house. It was doomed to become food, but now that it is still in its prime, it is temporarily kept to guard the house and make the best use of it.

So it is.

Dog lovers like those in later generations did not exist in this era, so there was no need to worry that a group of inexplicable people would suddenly come out and criticize you when you were happily eating meat.

Just when I was enjoying my meal.

"Your Highness..."

Huo Guang came behind Liu Ju at some point, carefully wiped the oil from the corners of his mouth, and bowed to Liu Ju.

But after he opened his mouth, he seemed a little embarrassed, as if he had something to say but didn't know how to start.

"cousin?"

Liu Ju turned around with a large piece of meat in his mouth and asked in a vague voice,
"This meat is more delicious than regular dog meat. Didn't you try some?"

"I have already eaten..."

Huo Guang bowed slightly, pursed his lips, and finally said with a steely determination,
"Your Highness, I have an unwelcome request."

"Why should we be so polite to each other? Just speak frankly, cousin."

Liu Ju swallowed the meat with force, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and looked at Huo Guang sternly.

Seeing Liu Ju agreed so readily.

Thinking of the unfamiliar attitude he had deliberately shown in front of outsiders, Huo Guang felt ashamed and apologetic, and could not help but hesitate and said:
"That's right...that's right. I've been feeling unlucky for a few days, so I'd like to ask Your Highness to take a look at me and see if I've been harmed by some evil spirit."

"Cousin, why are you being so shy just for this?"

Liu Ju's mouth was a little tense.

"If it embarrasses Your Highness, I will pretend that I never said anything."

Huo Guang was still a little too shy now. He lowered his head in embarrassment and even pretended to leave.

“It’s not difficult at all.”

Liu Ju looked at Huo Guang with a smile and spoke:
"After hearing what my cousin said, I took a closer look and it seems that there are indeed some problems..."

Huo Guang became nervous when he heard this and asked quickly:
"What questions do I have? Your Highness, please enlighten me!"

"Let me ask my cousin a question first. Does your cousin have a dog at home?"

Liu Ju said slowly, "Dogs raised by servants don't count. They must be raised by my cousin himself."

"This……"

Huo Guang was stunned when he heard this.

There is no way he could ever raise a dog himself, and it would even be difficult for him to get close to a dog because he simply couldn't stand it!
No matter if you are rubbed by a dog and left with a mess of dog hair.

Or seeing the messy clumps of dog hair that fall to the ground when the seasons change.

Or maybe the dog is running around and disrupting the neat layout of the house and yard.

Just thinking about these scenes made him a little crazy, fidgeting and his teeth ached.

He couldn't even understand why, apart from dog meat, there were people in the world who liked to raise this kind of thing, and some even raised it indoors and held it in their arms.

But on second thought, Gongsun Qing attracted evil spirits because he raised a black dog.

He doesn't have a dog, so this problem shouldn't exist.

Huo Guang then felt a little relieved and replied seriously:

"In reply to your Highness, I do not have a dog."

Liu Ju raised his eyebrows and smiled, clasped his hands together and clapped them lightly, then said with a smile:

"That's right!"

"My cousin's problem is that he doesn't have a dog, which is why the evil spirits took advantage of the situation. Get one as soon as you get back. Just be careful not to raise a black dog like Gongsun Qing did."

Liu Ju really didn't mean to make things difficult for Huo Guang.

Although he had vaguely felt that Huo Guang might have a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder, he did not take such a small matter to heart, and never thought it was serious to this extent.

(End of this chapter)