Chapter 1059: A Plain Meeting

Yang Bin and Su Fengji were summoned to the palace to have an audience with the Emperor. Lady Yang had been called to Ciming Hall by Empress Dowager Li. Back in the days in Jinyang, when Yang Bin had been the most important minister under Liu Zhiyuan and their interactions had been close, there had been some friendship between the Empress Dowager and his wife. Now that they had managed to cling to their remaining lives and return to the capital, there ought to be some gesture of gratitude, which also fit with Emperor Liu's display of "leniency and benevolence."

Learning that Yang and Su were shabbily dressed, travel-worn, and weary from the journey, Liu Chengyou specifically ordered palace attendants to take them to the imperial pool to bathe and change into clean clothes, so as to grant them some dignity.

Although many people knew that for ministers who were truly trusted confidants and right-hand men, Emperor Liu generally brought them to Qionglin Garden to entertain them. Still, for Yang Bin and Su Fengji, being able to bathe and change clothes within the imperial palace was already a favor beyond their imagination.

After bathing and changing into new clothes, their spirits did indeed seem somewhat improved. But more than that, there was a sense of deep emotion, and when facing the palace eunuchs and maids, they felt utterly ill at ease.

The two old men sat quietly, silent and unspeaking. After entering the palace, walking along the way, they saw those magnificent towers and imposing halls — seemingly not much changed, and they could vaguely find some familiar memories. Yet recalling the past, no matter how many emotions welled up, they dared not speak them aloud.

Su Wenzhong was fortunate enough to accompany his grandfather into the palace. As a young man who had basically grown up enduring hardships in the western frontier, this was his first time seeing a majestic city like Kaifeng, his first taste of the imperial capital's splendor. Upon entering the palace, he was even more dazzled by the carved railings, jade masonry, and jeweled towers.

So this was what Kaifeng and the palace his grandfather had spoken of looked like — truly magnificent and extraordinary. The young man's heart gradually filled with awe, and at the same time, he felt a particular curiosity toward the mysterious and solemn court.

Seeing his grandson fidgeting and looking around in every direction, Su Fengji could not help but scold him: "Wenzhong, calm your heart! Sit still!"

Noticing his grandfather's expression, which was extremely severe — in Su Wenzhong's memory, Su Fengji only showed such a face when he was not serious about his studies — he immediately settled down and respectfully acknowledged with a "Yes."

Only then did Su Fengji say: "The imperial palace is unlike any other place. That you have the fortune to attend the audience together is already His Majesty's grace. You must strictly observe propriety!"

"The palace rules are indeed much stricter now!" Seeing Su Fengji instructing his grandson, Yang Bin remarked softly from the side.

This was something one could clearly feel. Back when they had been at the height of their power, coming and going from the forbidden palace, their words and actions had not been subject to overly strict limits or restraints, and court etiquette had clearly been incomplete. But now, ranks were strictly demarcated, superiors and subordinates were ordered, and the people living in this gilded cage all strictly played their roles, not daring the slightest transgression.

"Have the two elders finished preparing? His Majesty has decreed that I escort you both to Wansui Hall!" At this moment, a middle-aged official in light crimson robes walked in, elegant and refined, and with a gentle demeanor offered the two men a bow.

Upon hearing this, Su Fengji rose, returned the bow, and replied: "We guilty ministers have finished preparing. Please, lead the way!"

"Please!" The newcomer's face showed a warm smile, and his words and bearing were all mild, displaying great gentlemanly conduct. Asked about the name of this extraordinary young official of distinguished bearing, he was called Shi Xizai, a graduate of the special examination in the fifth year of Qianyou, who had successively served as Left Reminder, Investigating Censor, Magistrate of Yuancheng, and Prefect of Xuzhou. Not long after returning to the capital, he had been transferred to Chongzheng Hall to serve as Chief Academician. Because he was honest, observant of propriety, magnanimous, and bold in direct remonstrance, he was quite appreciated by Emperor Liu.

Walking all the way with heads lowered, passing through one palace gate after another, traversing layer upon layer of halls, they spent more than a quarter of an hour before arriving at Wansui Hall, where they waited to be summoned. When the eunuch herald announced the audience, before entering the hall, Yang Bin raised his head and gazed at the three large characters "Wansui Hall" — compared to back then, there seemed to be no great change.

"Your guilty subject Yang Bin (Su Fengji) pays respects to Your Majesty!" After entering the hall, having only glanced once, the two prostrated themselves.

The young Su Wenzhong knelt alongside, respectfully, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold floor, not daring to make any sound. His inner sense of awe inexplicably surged, as if only this posture of complete prostration could make him feel somewhat at ease.

"Rise! Be seated!" Emperor Liu's voice was deep, steady, and forceful.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

As for Yang Bin and Su Fengji, Liu Chengyou had originally thought that when he saw them again, his emotions would be complicated. The grudges of those years, the struggles for power, the conflicts between sovereign and minister — enough to fill a book. As the victor, Emperor Liu, having climbed to a peak in his life after more than ten years, meeting them again — this audience ought to have been extremely significant.

Emperor Liu had even been prepared to vent some of the oppression of his early years, to have a good long talk with the two of them, especially Yang Bin, about those days, reminiscing about the past...

However, when he actually saw Yang and Su, Liu Chengyou suddenly lost that interest, and for a moment, he did not even know what to say. The two old men, whose ages added up to nearly one hundred and thirty years, had endured a hard life in exile — it had ultimately been difficult to bear. Their hair was white, their bodies thin and aged. Though dressed in splendid brocade robes, the clothes did not match their hunched figures at all. It was completely impossible to imagine that a little over ten years ago, they had been powerful ministers controlling the governance of the Great Han.

Emperor Liu rarely felt compassion, but at this moment, seeing the state of these two ministers, he uncharacteristically let out a sigh. To be honest, Liu Chengyou did not care that much about Yang and Su. After so many years, after experiencing so many things, all feelings had faded.

Summoning the two back to the Eastern Capital, besides displaying his "magnanimity," had also been to vent the displeasure in his chest from those years. But now, he felt there was really no need for that. His achievements and merits did not require the affirmation of passersby like Yang and Su, and he had no need to flaunt his power before these two men...

Sitting upright on the dragon throne, he silently watched the two men. They did not dare to sit but stood humbly, their aged bodies trembling slightly, as if they might fall at any moment. Noticing Yang Bin, Liu Chengyou even felt some emotion — the Yang Chancellor of those days, neither humble nor arrogant, strong and unyielding, seemed to no longer exist.

After a long while, Liu Chengyou calmly said: "The two elders have suffered in Jingyuan!"

Upon hearing this, Su Fengji prostrated himself again, his voice choked with tears: "Your guilty subject got what he deserved. I only regret that my suffering was not enough to atone for my faults and make up for my errors!"

Su Fengji's self-awareness was still quite high. Ever since he had fallen from the peak to the valley, losing power and wealth, becoming a criminal exiled to the frontier, he had awakened from his confusion and recovered his intelligence and wisdom.

From his words, Liu Chengyou could sense that intense emotion, and could not help but smile. He looked at Su Wenzhong: "Are you Old Su's grandson? What is your name?"

Upon being asked, Su Wenzhong, who had been kneeling all along, was startled for a moment, then calmed the inexplicable emotions in his heart. Emperor Liu's gaze seemed extremely oppressive, and he did not dare raise his head, replying meekly: "Your humble subject, Su Wenzhong!"

"Your grandfather is old, and kneeling for so long is not good for him. Help him up and have him sit!" Liu Chengyou instructed.

"Yes!" Not daring to be slow, Su Wenzhong did as told.

Gazing at Su Wenzhong for a couple of moments, Liu Chengyou added: "I observe that this young man has quite a heroic air. I hope that in the future, he may become a pillar of the state!"

At these words, Su Fengji was as excited as could be, trembling lips thanking Emperor Liu, then making Su Wenzhong kneel again. Emperor Liu waved his hand, understanding — after all, this was essentially a complete lifting of the ban on the Su family.

Turning his gaze to Yang Bin, Liu Chengyou found that although Yang Bin now wore a submissive posture, he still felt that within this frail body, there remained a spine that was not easily bent.

Noticing his aged face that had fallen into calm, Liu Chengyou pointed at Wansui Hall and said with a light smile: "Does Chancellor Yang still remember? That year when the late emperor was on his deathbed, it was in this very hall that he entrusted the weight of the rivers and mountains, the thousand-jun burden of the state, to me. It was also here that you both accepted the late emperor's commission to assist me!"

Hearing Emperor Liu raise this matter, Yang Bin instinctively looked up and met Emperor Liu's eyes for a moment, then clasped his hands and said with a bitter smile: "Your Majesty has not failed the late emperor's trust. We old fools, however, lacked self-awareness — our abilities were insufficient for our posts, and our virtue did not match our positions. With Your Majesty's brilliance and martial prowess, what need was there for auxiliary ministers? What need was there for old fools like us to assist?"

From Yang Bin's attitude, Liu Chengyou sensed a kind of openness and candor. And hearing his words, he could not help but reveal a smile. Clearly, the achievements Emperor Liu had made over these years, the development and strengthening of the Great Han, had already won over Yang Bin. Perhaps this bow in the hall today was the first time Yang Bin submitted with genuine conviction.

His mood inexplicably lightened somewhat. His gaze rested on Yang and Su for a moment, and he said solemnly: "Regardless of past grudges and faults, you two have ultimately been old servants who attended the late emperor and myself, and you rendered great meritorious service in establishing the Great Han. For the upcoming National Celebration ceremony, I have reserved two seats for you — you may attend!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" When Emperor Liu spoke these words, both Yang and Su could not help but show moved expressions.

The audience with Yang and Su ended in a plain and unremarkable atmosphere. Throughout, Emperor Liu spoke little, did not engage in any deep exchange with the two men, merely offered simple greetings, and formally issued an edict pardoning their crimes and permitting them to move back to the Eastern Capital. Then, it was over.

"Yan Tuo, if I were to banish you to the frontier, make you suffer hardship for over ten years, and then pardon you, what would you think?" After Yang and Su had taken their leave, Liu Chengyou asked Yan Tuo with interest.

This was somewhat difficult to answer. Yan Tuo's eyes rolled for a moment, then he replied: "Naturally, I would be grateful and indebted!"

"Could more than ten years of torment and hardship really be forgotten so easily?" Emperor Liu smiled faintly.

"His Majesty has always been clear in rewards and punishments. If one receives severe punishment, it must be because one deserved it. How would one dare to complain?" Yan Tuo answered.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu shook his head and said lightly: "If one had such a breadth of mind, how would one have been banished by me to such a place?"

If these words of Emperor Liu were heard by Yang Bin and Su Fengji, they would surely be filled with anxiety and fear. In fact, over all these years, Emperor Liu had truly never pardoned anyone, nor had he ever issued a general amnesty for the realm. The reason was precisely this — he did not believe that those who had suffered and endured hardship would have no resentment in their hearts.

Even if they showed none, it was likely only because they did not dare, and simply had no opportunity for revenge.