Chapter 1144: The Empress Admonishes Again

"Wasn't it just a trip out of the palace with your imperial uncle and your father-in-law to renew the bond between ruler and minister? What unpleasantness happened to provoke such anger in you?" In the Kunming Hall, facing Emperor Liu who had arrived with a fierce bearing, the elder Lady Fu asked with mild surprise and gentle warmth.

Glancing up at his Empress, Liu Chengyou reflected for a moment, then asked: "Am I that angry?"

"Mm!" the elder Lady Fu affirmed: "Quite obviously so!"

Liu Chengyou touched his own cheek, muttering under his breath: "Anger showing on one's face—that's no good!"

Seeing this, the elder Lady Fu couldn't help but smile, personally offering him a cup of hot tea: "Have some tea, calm your temper, then tell me all about it!"

There may indeed have been much anger pent up in his belly, but after the Empress's soothing words, Emperor Liu could hardly flare up again. The elder Lady Fu wore a dignified expression, her eyes growing ever more radiant with wisdom as time passed. Taking the teacup, he gulped down a mouthful, then briefly recounted what he had encountered outside the palace.

"It's nothing major, truly. Gathering with my imperial uncle and your father outside the palace was quite pleasant. However, in the marketplace, we ran into a pack of charlatan sorcerers putting on a show!" Emperor Liu said.

"With false tricks, they fool the common folk and delude their hearts! And many among the people of the Eastern Capital follow and believe them. What's worse, it's said that quite a few officials in court treat their ringleader as an honored guest.

The common folk are ignorant, unaware of the truth, and are deceived—that's one thing. But those officials who can read and write, who have even devoured the classics—how can they behave so? They quote the Confucian classics and the words of the sages to admonish me in their daily duties, yet do they not understand such principles as 'do not speak of strange forces and disorderly spirits' and 'respect ghosts and spirits but keep them at a distance'?"

Having heard Emperor Liu's account, the elder Lady Fu understood, a warm smile sufficient to soothe any heart at the corners of her lips: "You need not be overly indignant. Under the Great Han, with its hundreds of millions of subjects, there have always been more fools than wise men. Since you've discovered these charlatan tricksters who deceive both officials and commoners, simply have the relevant authorities investigate and deal with them by law. If you let this anger spoil your mood, it wouldn't be worth it!"

"It's not that I can't let it go!" Comforted by the elder Lady Fu's words, the anger in Emperor Liu's heart had largely dissipated, and he followed with a sigh: "I just feel that now the realm is unified, the four seas are at peace, the state is strong, and the altars of the nation prosper—it should be a time of clear rivers and calm seas, of smooth governance and harmonious people. Yet all sorts of unhealthy trends are emerging. Here in the Eastern Capital, at the very feet of the Son of Heaven, in this foremost place of virtue, such demons and monsters are allowed to swagger through the streets..."

Hearing Emperor Liu's lament, the elder Lady Fu also gained some insight, and said to him: "Back when the mountains and rivers were shattered, the state impoverished and the people destitute, you still feared no hardship, pressed forward with determination, and cleansed the realm. Now that your great achievement is complete and the world is at peace, what are a few minor discordances to be worth mentioning?"

"That's how it's said, but in my heart, I feel particularly displeased!" Liu Chengyou said: "Had I not personally witnessed this, I would never have known!"

As Liu Chengyou spoke these words, Zhang Dejun, who had also followed him to the Kunming Hall, felt a tremor in his heart. Monitoring public sentiment in the Eastern Capital was now chiefly the responsibility of the Palace City Office. He had heard something of this matter before, but simply hadn't taken it seriously enough.

Fortunately, Emperor Liu seemed to have said it only in passing, without any intent to target him. But Zhang Dejun resolved fiercely in his heart that he must take action to make up for this lapse and salvage whatever impression the Emperor might have of him that had been diminished.

"This matter absolutely cannot be dropped just like that!" As he spoke, Emperor Liu's tone turned stern, and he directly instructed Yan Tuo: "Transmit the decree to the Kaifeng Prefecture—interrogate that Zhang Long'er and his followers thoroughly!"

"Also, have the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate intervene in the investigation as well. I want to see just how many people in the court have dealings with them!" Liu Chengyou said coldly, then fixed his gaze on Zhang Dejun: "Palace City Office—handle it as you see fit!"

"Yes!"

The two senior eunuchs acknowledged the order simultaneously, though Yan Tuo was calm and composed while Zhang Dejun was visibly anxious.

Watching the two eunuchs withdraw with utmost deference, Liu Chengyou suddenly asked the Empress: "What do you think of these two men?"

The elder Lady Fu thought for a moment, then said: "Zhang Dejun is clever and capable of getting things done. Having served long before Your Majesty, nurtured and elevated by you, he has indeed displayed his strengths. However, his thoughts run somewhat deep, and he is fond of cultivating connections—that is not a good thing. As for Yan Tuo, he is an old hand from Jinyang, tending to the palace with great propriety. Though occasionally overbearing, his loyalty is commendable!"

"Sigh..." Emperor Liu let out another sigh.

"In past years, you rarely sighed. But today, since arriving at my Kunming Hall, you've already heaved two long sighs." Seeing this, the elder Lady Fu sat down beside Liu Chengyou and said to him.

"Perhaps I'm getting old!" Liu Chengyou said.

"His Majesty is not yet forty, in the prime of vigor and strength. Do not pity yourself and sigh—that is not your usual style!" The elder Lady Fu looked at him.

"I already have grandsons. Have the white hairs at our temples grown a few more?" Pointing to the side of his head, Liu Chengyou said: "Lately I often reflect on the past twenty years, and I feel that being Emperor has not been easy—it's exhausting!"

Seeing this, the elder Lady Fu immediately turned serious, staring intently at Emperor Liu, her expression gradually growing grave.

Seeing her like this, Emperor Liu felt somewhat uneasy and asked: "What's wrong? Why so solemn?"

The elder Lady Fu said: "I am worried."

"Worried about what?" Liu Chengyou grew even more curious.

"If I say it, you must not be angry with me?" the elder Lady Fu said.

"Speak freely, no harm!"

Only then did the elder Lady Fu speak slowly: "I hear many sighs from His Majesty, and I fear your heart grows weary, giving rise to laxity. Throughout history, there has been no shortage of sage rulers and enlightened monarchs, yet those who start well but end poorly are always a cause for regret. You have always admired Emperor Taizong of Tang's way of governance—do you not often lament that he could not see things through to the end? His reign lasted but twenty-three years. Now, you have sat upon the throne for twenty years..."

"You need not say more! I understand your meaning!" Emperor Liu suddenly stood up, paced a few steps with lowered head through the hall, then raised his eyes to the elder Lady Fu: "You fear I will emulate that Li Longji?"

Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu also rose, gently shaking her head: "Emperor Xuanzong of Tang merely inherited the blessings of his ancestors—how could he compare to Your Majesty, who split heaven and earth and recreated the cosmos?"

To be honest, only the Empress's admonitions and warnings in this manner could avoid irritating Emperor Liu. Of course, although the elder Lady Fu often offered counsel, she did not nag at every moment—she only spoke when she felt it was time to say something or offer a reminder.

He was not angry, nor could he be. Emperor Liu subconsciously wanted to sigh again, but he forcibly suppressed it and said in passing: "The bystander sees clearly while the player is lost in the game. It seems that unconsciously, I have indeed revealed some laxity of mind! Your reminder is well taken!"

Seeing this, the elder Lady Fu smiled gently and said softly: "But you have governed for so many years with little slack. When you first began, forgetting sleep and meals, toiling day and night, it was truly admirable. You ought to go out and relax! Balancing work and rest—that was your own saying!"

"This inspection tour is just right—I'll go see the realm I've conquered, and relax my spirits along the way!" Liu Chengyou stretched lazily.

"Has the date for the inspection tour been set?" Mentioning the tour, the elder Lady Fu took the initiative to ask.

"Not yet!" He shook his head: "It'll have to be after the spring plowing at the earliest!"

"These past days, the sisters in the palace have all been coming to visit me!" the elder Lady Fu said.

"Is there a problem?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"They all hope to accompany you on the inspection tour!" the elder Lady Fu said.

"Everyone's getting restless, are they?" Liu Chengyou smiled slightly and said to the elder Lady Fu: "Very well—the selection of consorts to accompany the imperial entourage will be arranged by you, the mistress of the central palace!"

Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu's phoenix brows furrowed slightly, and she said with a wry smile: "You're passing the difficult problem to me!"