Chapter 1160: Cotton and Rice, A Lingering Ailment

"Your Majesty!"

"How is the Empress's condition?" Inside Kunming Hall, Liu Chengyou gripped the imperial physician's wrist hard and demanded fiercely.

Wincing in pain, the old physician's face couldn't help but twitch and contort, yet he dared not resist, and hurriedly replied nervously: "His Majesty is merely overexerted, weary in body and mind, and has also caught a slight chill—hence this ailment. With plenty of rest, less toil, and proper recuperation, she shall recover!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou relaxed slightly, released him, and asked as if to confirm: "No serious trouble, then?"

"No serious trouble!" After a moment's hesitation, the physician still gritted his teeth and answered, though the reply carried some risk.

"Withdraw!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and ordered.

"Your servant takes his leave!" As if granted a pardon, the physician bowed and withdrew. It was already winter, yet fine sweat had broken out on his brow.

Emperor Liu at this moment was simply dressed, wearing only a white brocade robe, his hair not particularly groomed, merely pinned up with a jade hairpin—looking quite casual, for he had rushed over upon hearing that the elder Lady Fu had fallen ill.

Of course, he also wore a cotton-padded jacket—not particularly fine or ornate, but excellent at keeping warm. It had been over ten years since Lu Duoxun had journeyed west and brought back cotton seeds and cotton farmers.

Over those ten-plus years, cotton had also undergone a great development in the empire. At first, only some experimental fields were opened in the Central Plains for cultivating cotton seeds. Three years were spent in total before initial results appeared, after which promotion to the common people began.

This introduction and promotion led by the government was naturally incomparable in effect to the free exchanges and transmissions of the past among the people—it could be described as explosive. By the fifth year of Kaibao, vast cotton fields had already been opened in the capital region, Henan, and Hebei.

Just like the promotion of Champa rice in the Jianghuai region, Emperor Liu had specially inspected it during his last tour, and the results were fairly gratifying. Though not overly stunning, they had met his psychological expectations.

Clothing, food, warmth, and cold—these are what the people's livelihoods depend on, and the problem of keeping warm in winter had always been a major issue. Never mind that the world was now peaceful, with reports from all regions showing tranquility, harmony, and prosperity—Emperor Liu knew well that in places he could not see, in those poor and remote villages, people freezing or starving to death every year was hardly a rare occurrence.

The introduction and development of the cotton crop was one of Emperor Liu's great tools for succoring the hungry and cold masses of the world. By now, cotton products had also begun to spread—from the government and the military, spreading among the people. All who used them praised them.

Of course, as things stood, the cotton industry in the empire was still only in its infancy, with enormous potential and room for development. The cotton seeds still needed improvement, planting techniques needed enhancement, and the applications of cotton products needed great expansion.

Take the quality of cotton cloth, for instance—compared to the fabrics that had previously come into the empire from the Western Regions, the locally produced ones were indeed considerably inferior. Moreover, because of their rarity, market prices were also extremely high. All these factors meant that achieving the goal of every common person in the realm owning a cotton garment was still a long and distant road ahead.

But regardless, the direction was clear and hope was visible. The Uyghur cotton farmers brought back by Lu Duoxun, thanks to their meritorious cultivation work, had now become the empire's cotton overseers, receiving fields, estates, wealth, and goods in generous rewards. Running about promoting the empire's cotton enterprise, they could be said to have achieved fame and success.

And in the Western Regions war, some Westerners who had taken refuge in China—many skilled in cotton affairs—had answered the government's call and contributed to the Great Han's cotton enterprise.

Just recently, Emperor Liu had issued a special decree: among officials and commoners alike, those with merit in cotton planting and weaving would be heavily rewarded, and it was proclaimed to the realm that those with great contributions would not begrudge ennoblement as recompense. Emperor Liu had expended no small effort in mobilizing the enthusiasm of officials and commoners for cotton affairs.

After returning from his tour, in matters of state governance, Emperor Liu's chief instructions to the Crown Prince and the Hall of State Affairs were also the promotion and planting of cotton and Champa rice.

Cotton and rice—one for clothing, one for food—were both key development targets of Emperor Liu. Within the palace, the use of cotton products was also increasing. Emperor Liu was thus practicing what he preached, leading by example in cultivating the habit of cotton use throughout the Great Han.

"His Majesty is here!" The elder Lady Fu was lying on the couch, her complexion not good, extremely weak. Seeing Liu Chengyou enter, she struggled to rise.

"You stay lying down!" Liu Chengyou hurriedly stopped her, looking at her haggard face and saying with great concern: "The physician says you must rest, so rest well, recover in peace—don't tax your mind or harm your body anymore!"

"You've truly worked hard this period!" Saying this, Liu Chengyou held the elder Lady Fu's hand and said: "You've often advised me before—why don't you take care of your own body?"

"You must not—have problems again!"

Emperor Liu was not normally a talkative man, but at this moment, his words were rather nagging. Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu, on her dignified jade-like face, couldn't help but show a touch of rosiness, and replied softly: "I understand!"

Her obedient demeanor also made it hard for Emperor Liu to "scold" her further.

"Causing His Majesty worry is my fault!" the elder Lady Fu said.

Tucking the blanket around her and covering her body snugly, Liu Chengyou said: "You and I are one as husband and wife—no need for such words. This period, state affairs are all in the hands of Liu Yang and the various lords. I have ample time, and can spare some to keep you company!"

"My body is indisposed and hard to serve you—you should go visit the other halls and chambers more!" the elder Lady Fu said.

"I am currently in a period of purity and few desires!" Liu Chengyou said.

"This period, Liu Yang has done well. I've read some of the memorials he's approved—great matters and trivial affairs, though not comprehensive in every aspect, are handled with prudence and steadiness. He has the bearing of a ruler. In the future, entrusting the rivers and mountains of the realm to his hands, I can rest assured!" Emperor Liu muttered by the couch.

Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu looked at Emperor Liu with some surprise, seeing his earnest expression. However, she was no ordinary palace woman—possessing great political wisdom, her words were very conservative: "Liu Yang is still young, with many shortcomings. All matters still require tempering, still require learning and growing under you as his father, and need the support of the civil and military officials at court. You should not place too heavy expectations upon him..."

"As Crown Prince, he must naturally bear a burden of a thousand jun—how could expectations not be deep! At eighteen, he's not young anymore. At his age, I was already leading troops on campaigns and governing the state!" Liu Chengyou said.

Perhaps feeling his tone was a bit harsh, he noted the elder Lady Fu's expression and softened his voice: "Rest assured, I've been molding him for all these years—one day he will become capable. And right now, isn't he performing well!"

"Lord Fu's sixtieth birthday is approaching, isn't it!" Emperor Liu changed the subject.

"I am grateful His Majesty remembers!" the elder Lady Fu said in a grateful tone.

"When the time comes, I'll prepare a gift as well and go in person!" Liu Chengyou said.

"Next year, I plan to take time for a southern tour, to see the two lakes region, and perhaps make a trip to Lingnan as well. The south is damp and hot, with harsh conditions. Your body is unwell, and you'd worry about the climate—inconvenient for long travel. Stay in the Eastern Capital then, manage the harem, and also look after Liu Yang..." Liu Chengyou said.

The elder Lady Fu was still somewhat surprised that Emperor Liu planned another tour, but sensing his firm resolve, she did not overmuch dissuade him, only saying: "Going out to relax the mind—that's good too!"

This time, if the trip came to pass, perhaps it truly would be for relaxation—since the Empress Dowager's passing, Emperor Liu's mood had been poor.

The husband and wife chatted at length. Emperor Liu stayed with the elder Lady Fu, personally attending to her medication, until she grew drowsy before he left and returned to Wansui Hall.

Another cold winter, and unknowingly, the fifth year of Kaibao was about to end. In earlier years, Emperor Liu often felt that time passed swiftly, but now he felt it passed too fast—day after day, year after year.

Looking back on the fifth year of Kaibao, there seemed to be only two matters: the tour cut short midway, and the Empress Dowager's funeral. Little else left a deep impression in Emperor Liu's mind.

It must be said, though his age was not yet great, Emperor Liu already often felt a sense of decline. The more he experienced, the more Emperor Liu understood—being a wise and sage ruler was truly not easy. Maintaining enthusiasm and focus over a long period without slackening was too difficult...

In mid-winter, in the tenth month, a happy event still occurred in the Han palace at Kaifeng: the "pure and desireless" Emperor Liu had gained a fourteenth son, named Liu Xin, born of Pure Consort Shun, Yelu Ling.