Chapter 434: Chapter 248 The Imperial Authority Does Not Reach the Countryside
Zhao Yao has been troubled these past few days about whether to make a wind-powered Water Wheel as a birthday gift for the emperor. However, if he starts making it now, it wouldn’t be ready in time for the emperor, as the longevity festival is only a few days away.
He thought about it further; the season for growing and irrigating rice had already passed, and the wind-powered Water Wheel wouldn’t be of use for now, so he decided against it.
Moreover, there’s not enough time to make anything else. After pondering over it, he decided to carve a little figure for the emperor.
Zhao Yao had never carved before, but the Zhao Yao in his dreams could carve. When Zhao Yao tried it himself, he found he could do it too.
These past few days, Zhao Yao has been carving a little figure of the emperor and it’s turning out quite well.
"Yao Yao, you’re just giving the emperor a little figure, is that really okay?" Liang Run felt that Zhao Yao’s birthday gift to the emperor was a bit too light. "Shouldn’t you buy something else to give to the emperor, or maybe pick something valuable from what was brought back from the Western Regions?"
"Uncle, I’m just a six-year-old child. Giving such an expensive gift would be too strange, wouldn’t it?" Zhao Yao said while carving the figure, "If that annoying father says he doesn’t like it, he’ll get mad. So, I can only make something myself and give it to that annoying father."
"Then make something nice."
"Uncle, what nice thing can I make as a six-year-old child?" Zhao Yao said, holding up the nearly finished little figure in his hand, "It’s already pretty good that a child like me can carve a little figure."
Liang Run chuckled, "True." He always forgot that in others’ eyes, Yao Yao was just an ordinary six-year-old child.
"My fingers have taken quite a beating trying to carve this little figure well." Zhao Yao’s fingers were wrapped up with several injuries. "If that annoying father doesn’t like it, I’ll bite him."
Liang Run was amused by Zhao Yao’s last remark, "Yao Yao, do you really have the guts to bite the emperor?"
"I do, if that annoying father pushes me too far, I’ll really bite him." It’s not like Zhao Yao hadn’t bitten the emperor before.
Liang Run took out a brocade box from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao looked at the brocade box Liang Run handed over with confusion. "Uncle, what’s this?" he asked as he took the box and opened it to find a red Jade Pendant inside.
"This is Blood Jade, found among the items brought back from the Western Regions today. Wearing it can warm the body," Liang Run explained, "It’s said to have healing properties, you should give it to the emperor."
"Healing properties?" Zhao Yao took the Blood Jade out to have a look. It’s the same size as the jade token his father had given him before. This one was entirely deep red, as if stained with blood. In the center of the Blood Jade, there were a few blood-like threads that at first glance seemed like cracks.
Zhao Yao lowered his head to sniff the Blood Jade in his hand, not smelling any blood, but instead, detecting a faint fragrance reminiscent of medicinal herbs.
"People from Wusun said this piece of Blood Jade came from the Dawan Royal Family," Liang Run had spent a lot of money on it, "It’s said that for people who are not in good health or have injuries, wearing it for a long time not only nurtures the body but also alleviates pain from injuries."
"Really?" Zhao Yao was skeptical, "Can it really alleviate injury pains?"
"That’s what the seller said."
"Uncle, you weren’t tricked, were you?"
"I had it checked; it’s indeed a top-quality jade," Liang Run said, "You should give it to the emperor."
"How do I explain to that annoying father how I got such a good Blood Jade?"
"Just say I gave it to you," Liang Run chuckled, "Yao Yao, you don’t think the emperor doesn’t know I’m in the capital, do you?"
Zhao Yao paused then said, "Father knows you’re in the capital, Uncle." The villa in Dahua Village was funded by the emperor.
"Just giving a carved little figure isn’t proper, you should give this Blood Jade to the emperor as well," Liang Run said seriously, "Back when the emperor was young, he often fought in battles and must have suffered many injuries. Even though these injuries have healed, they surely left traces of pain. On damp, rainy days, they must ache. This Blood Jade can alleviate such pains, making it a suitable gift for the emperor."
Liang Run didn’t mention it, but Zhao Yao hadn’t considered this aspect because the emperor appeared very healthy, not as if he bore any lingering pain.
"I’ll listen to you, Uncle. I’ll give it to Father, but it can’t be an overt presentation, only a secret one." Presenting such a good Blood Jade openly would arouse suspicion, so it had to be gifted discreetly.