Chapter 1239: It Cannot Be Cured

The winter solstice had not yet arrived, but the bitter cold of the ninth nine-day period was not far off, and as the capital of Hexi and a key stronghold of the northwest, Guzang City had already entered a state of ice and snow. A sudden snowfall added a touch of softness to the rigid winter, but it quickly melted away under the erosion of the coarse wind and sand.

However, the weather in Guzang had grown even colder, and the plan to continue westward had thus been shelved. The barracks in the city were packed full with soldiers of the field headquarters, and because there was not enough lodging, even the officials and clerks of Liangzhou were asked to share the burden of hosting some of the personnel.

What could be said with certainty was that almost everyone no longer wished to continue marching west. But since the Emperor had not spoken, no one dared to broach the subject rashly, lest they invite misfortune.

In Guzang City, the place with the best environment and the most space was, without a doubt, the office of the Hexi Administration Commissioner—this was newly built with funds after Lu Duoxun had taken office—and so it naturally became the Emperor's temporary residence.

The subordinate staff under his jurisdiction all found other places to work, and Lu Duoxun's family also chose to move out. However, Emperor Liu specifically kept him behind, permitting him to stay overnight at the temporary residence to work and to be available for consultation.

The gloomy, cold weather made even breathing uncomfortable, and for many people, it was hard to imagine how the locals managed to survive in such an environment. Among the nobles, ministers, and soldiers accompanying the imperial entourage, though there were no shortage of those who had served on the frontier, most came from the interior and were accustomed to the climate of the Central Plains—for them, this place was indeed an ordeal.

In the temporary residence, a gate guarded by four Inner Palace guards served as the boundary preventing passage between inside and outside. Outside the gate, the chancellor and Imperial Uncle Li Ye waited there, pacing back and forth, occasionally lifting his eyes to peer inside, his face showing hesitation, yet he did not order anyone to announce his request for an audience.

Zhao Kuangyin had accompanied Liu Yang on an inspection tour of the Longyou circuit, so among the ministers accompanying the imperial entourage at this time, Li Ye held the highest position. Holding the highest position also meant that certain matters required him to take responsibility—when remonstrance was needed, he had to remonstrate.

Although Li Ye was the Emperor's own maternal uncle and an elder, it could be said that he had been nurtured and promoted all along by Emperor Liu. In the early years, when the Empress Dowager was still alive, he had once been arrogant on account of her favor, but he was quickly and severely suppressed by Emperor Liu, and in the nearly twenty years since, he had gradually grown and eventually risen to the position of chancellor.

However, after all these years, Li Ye still felt quite timid and extraordinarily awed when facing Emperor Liu. Offering remonstrance and counsel was not something Li Ye dared not do—indeed, he was often quite proactive about it—but it also depended on the matter.

Take, for example, this matter of dissuading the Emperor from marching west. Although he did not know why Emperor Liu was so fixated on this distant great northwest of Hexi, having sensed his powerful will, Li Ye did not dare to defy it. Otherwise, his remonstrance would gain no benefit and instead provoke Emperor Liu's wrath—that would be a loss outweighing any gain.

However, in the two days since arriving in Guzang, many among the civil and military officials in the field headquarters had asked him to speak up. This situation of being entrusted with hope and trust was something Li Ye rarely encountered. Therefore, as the representative of the ministers accompanying the imperial entourage, he could hardly appear perfunctory.

Hence, his pacing back and forth before the courtyard gate reflected Li Ye's state of mind at this moment.

"Is that the Imperial Uncle?" A gentle voice sounded, interrupting Li Ye's thoughts.

Lifting his eyes to see the noble lady accompanied by palace maids, Li Ye hurriedly bowed in salute: "I pay my respects to Noble Consort!"

The newcomer was none other than Noble Consort Gao. Her phoenix eyes swept over Li Ye, and she raised a hand to signal him to dispense with the formalities, asking: "The Imperial Uncle has come to seek an audience, has he not? Why do you linger outside without entering? Have the palace eunuchs been negligent?"

Having stood outside for so long, Li Ye's hands and feet—even his beard—had grown somewhat stiff. But facing Noble Consort Gao's question, his spirits rallied somewhat, and a thought formed in his mind. He said: "I have a word I wish to present to His Majesty, but I fear His Majesty will not grant it, and so I have hesitated to enter, delaying until now! Fortunately, I have encountered Noble Consort—I hope you might be willing to convey it on my behalf!"

Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Gao's brows furrowed slightly, but she did not agree. Instead, she indicated: "I am but a woman accompanying the imperial entourage. The Imperial Uncle is a chancellor—if this is a grave matter of state, I must beg your pardon that it is not convenient for me to inquire into it!"

It had to be said that Emperor Liu had trained the women of his harem rather well—at the very least, they all strictly observed the rule against harem interference in governance. Although Emperor Liu would often discuss the affairs of state and military matters of the outer court with them, even the Empress, the elder Lady Fu, rarely took the initiative to inquire...

Though Li Ye was somewhat surprised by Noble Consort Gao's reaction, he quickly explained himself: "This matter concerns not only the state, but also His Majesty himself. Since the western tour began, we have traversed mountains and rivers for over two thousand li, and the delay has been long. From the ministers above to the soldiers below, none have escaped the wind and cold, marching on in hardship.

I have made inquiries—within the field headquarters, over two thousand men can no longer endure the march, some with frostbite, some fallen ill. Deep winter approaches, and the climate of Hexi will grow even harsher, yet His Majesty's resolve to continue west only strengthens.

I fear that if we press on, the injuries will only worsen, and epidemics may even break out. If His Majesty wishes to travel far, even into the bitter cold of the remotest regions, we would dare to follow—but I am only concerned for His Majesty's imperial health. This truly cannot be left unconsidered.

When we were at Lingzhou, I already submitted my remonstrance, but His Majesty's resolve was firm and he would not grant it. Now, I beseech Your Ladyship to convey my words on my behalf and offer some counsel..."

Having heard Li Ye's purpose, Noble Consort Gao's phoenix brows could not help but knit deeply. She naturally understood Emperor Liu's temperament well—this favor was not so easy to grant.

However, since Li Ye had lowered his posture so much, she could hardly refuse his request outright. After brief consideration, Noble Consort Gao still agreed: "I was just about to go see His Majesty. I can only offer persuasion on your behalf and convey your meaning, but His Majesty has always been firm of resolve—whether I can move him, I have no certainty!"

"Many thanks to Your Ladyship for speaking up!" Li Ye immediately said: "If it fails, I shall have no choice but to seek another opportunity to petition!"

As for Emperor Liu at this moment, he was sitting on the heated kang—he was following local customs, after all. But the kang was indeed quite practical; otherwise, no matter how thickly the quilts were piled, the gloomy cold would still seep through.

Not only was there a kang, but also a warming stove—in short, Emperor Liu could not be allowed to catch cold. Leaning back against a pillow with his legs exposed, Emperor Liu was flipping through reports on Hexi's political conditions and popular sentiments that Lu Duoxun had submitted, while an imperial physician was intently performing acupuncture on him.

"Your Majesty, I have finished inserting the needles!" the imperial physician reminded cautiously.

"Oh!" Emperor Liu did not raise his head, merely responding casually, while Yan Tuo hurriedly helped roll Emperor Liu's trouser leg back down.

"If Your Majesty has no other instructions, I shall take my leave!" Seeing Emperor Liu's reaction, the imperial physician could not help but request in a low voice.

Emperor Liu set down the memorial in his hand, felt that his knees were considerably more comfortable, and looked up at the physician, asking calmly: "Physician Sun, I have been treating this cold ailment in my legs for quite a few years now. You are all master hands in medicine—why has there still been no recovery?"

To the physician, these words were no different from a death sentence. Physician Sun's legs went weak with fright, and he dropped directly to his knees: "We are unskilled in medicine and have been negligent toward Your Majesty's person—please punish us, Your Majesty!"

Seeing him so terrified, Emperor Liu simply waved his hand and said in a gentle tone: "I have no intention of blaming you—rise!"

But the physician did not dare rise.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu sighed and asked: "Tell me honestly, directly—can this ailment of mine still be cured at the root?"

"This..." How could the physician dare give a definitive answer?

"Speak freely! I want to hear the truth. Surely you would not deceive your sovereign!" Emperor Liu's tone did not change at all, but to the physician, it felt several degrees colder.

Meeting Emperor Liu's gaze, the physician finally spoke his judgment: "Your Majesty's leg ailment has sunk deep. Our needling and medication were meant for gradual treatment, with careful nursing. Given time, there is still a possibility of a complete cure—only, Your Majesty must no longer bear burdens or suffer cold. If the cold invades the flesh, it will inevitably worsen the affliction..."

"Given time..." Emperor Liu murmured the phrase, then waved a hand at him: "I understand! You may withdraw!"

"Yes!" Physician Sun felt as if pardoned from death, rising on trembling legs: "Your Majesty should rest quietly—I take my leave!"

"The consorts, imperial princes, and civil and military ministers accompanying the entourage—have them all undergo examinations and diagnoses as well!" Before he withdrew, Emperor Liu added: "Also, many of the accompanying soldiers have fallen ill and there is a shortage of physicians—send some of the imperial physicians out to help!"

"Yes!"

"It seems it cannot be cured!" After the physician withdrew, Emperor Liu was silent for a long while, then sighed.

Seeing Emperor Liu's spirits seem to sink, Yan Tuo hurriedly said: "His Majesty, it is all these useless imperial physicians—they enjoy Your Majesty's grace and the court's salaries, yet cannot even resolve a minor ailment. Why not issue a proclamation to the realm, seeking out good physicians far and wide..."

"Shut your mouth!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu suddenly snapped.

"Yes!" Yan Tuo was startled, retreating two steps, head bowed and hands folded.

Pressing his leg, it was still somewhat warm, but the previous symptoms of that nagging, neither-here-nor-there pain and itch had eased. After a long while, Emperor Liu said: "Perhaps the leg ailment has sunk deep, but what is even harder to cure is the ailment of the heart!"