Chapter 1303: The Rarely Loquacious Emperor Liu

In the evening, autumn clouds spread across the sky, the entire expanse overhead dyed a brilliant orange-red, stunningly beautiful. The already exquisite rear garden of the prefectural office was bathed in a captivating glow.

"Your... Your Majesty..." Two palace maids bowed low in greeting, their voices trembling, their delicate faces marked with obvious astonishment.

At this moment, Emperor Liu looked somewhat disheveled—drunk, flushed in the face, carrying a distinct smell of wine, his hair slightly disheveled, and more importantly, his dragon robe was dirty.

His steps staggered, his figure swaying. Yan Tuo followed closely at his side, reaching out in a gesture of support, desperately wanting to steady Emperor Liu, but it was clear Emperor Liu was unwilling. Helpless, Yan Tuo could only maintain the awkward posture, following step by step, watching Emperor Liu nervously lest he fall again.

"Where's the Empress? What is she doing? I've come to see her!" Though Emperor Liu appeared drunk, his eyes remained perfectly clear as he spoke with a smile to the Empress's personal female attendant who had come out to greet him.

Facing the inebriated Emperor Liu, the attendant dared not be negligent and hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Her Grace is inside her chamber!"

Hearing the commotion outside, Empress Fu set down the brush she was writing with and walked out with the measured steps of a noble lady. Seeing Emperor Liu's disheveled state, her phoenix brows immediately knitted together as she hurried forward to support him. Facing the elder Lady Fu, Emperor Liu offered no resistance, obediently leaning into her.

Helping Emperor Liu sit in a chair, the elder Lady Fu looked him over, noticed the stains on his robes, and asked in a serious tone, "What happened? Why are you in such a sorry state?"

Emperor Liu chuckled: "On the way here, I took a fall in the corridor!"

Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu was momentarily alarmed and asked with concern, "How were Yan Tuo and the others attending you? Is it serious? Were you hurt? Should I summon the imperial physician to take a look?"

"It's nothing!" Emperor Liu waved his hand. "I was just a bit unsteady on my feet! I'm not so fragile—what's a little fall?"

"And you call yourself Emperor!" The elder Lady Fu breathed a sigh of relief and gave him a reproachful look. "It's been a long time since I've seen you so undignified! How much wine did you drink?"

"Not much!" As he was helped toward the couch, Emperor Liu still spoke clearly, his tone full of emotion: "Elder Lady Fu! Today I am both overjoyed and deeply moved!"

"What was so special about those officers and soldiers that moved you so?" The elder Lady Fu grew somewhat curious, humoring him.

Emperor Liu said, "They were just ordinary low-ranking officers and soldiers, very common, nothing remarkable about them! But they represent the countless warriors fighting for the nation. From them, I saw the loyalty and bravery of the Great Han's soldiers—that spirit of casting aside life and death is truly moving!"

The elder Lady Fu took a damp towel and personally wiped him down, while Emperor Liu transformed into a chatterbox, rambling on: "There was a young man, not yet twenty, who already joined the northern expedition, traveled through barren wastelands, endured fierce battles, and survived countless perils before returning alive."

"That's no easy feat! Therefore, I am all the more satisfied with my sons Liu Fang and Liu Min—they have the courage to campaign far into Mobei and share hardships with the soldiers. That too is rare!

Liu Fang, after years of my tutelage, has achieved something—truly gratifying. But that lad Liu Min, fresh out of the gate, was able to ride deep beyond the northern frontier and gallop across the battlefield—that fills me with delight!

You've given me fine sons. Liu Yang is steady and can inherit the great mandate; entrusting the realm to him in the future puts my mind at ease. After this northern expedition, his position as Crown Prince will be even more secure—you need not worry any longer.

Liu Min, at such a young age, already shows remarkable military talent. He can serve as a pillar of the court, a cornerstone of the imperial house..."

Hearing Emperor Liu speak this way, a flicker of surprise passed over the elder Lady Fu's face. Noting his half-drunk, half-sober gaze, she chided, "I think you're truly drunk!"

Even as she said this, the corners of the elder Lady Fu's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly. Of course, with her intelligence and wisdom, she knew full well that Emperor Liu was once again giving her reassurance. Clearly, the emotions she had subtly shown over the years had been seen through and understood by Emperor Liu.

"Now word has come that Liu Min is not only safe but has distinguished himself—Yang Ye praised him as resolute and brave, destined for greatness!" Emperor Liu took the damp towel and pressed it to his forehead, still talking without pause.

At this mention, the elder Lady Fu rarely broke into a bright smile. The specific details had already been reported to the Empress long ago. The elder Lady Fu asked, "Since they've already achieved results in Mobei, when will they return with their troops?"

At this, Emperor Liu paused, seemingly unsure how to respond. He pulled the towel down to cover his eyes and said casually, "That depends on Generals Yang Ye and Wang Yansheng. When generals are in the field, they may decline orders from the sovereign. I cannot issue commands either. But the most dangerous phase has passed—with their battlefield experience and ability to adapt, there shouldn't be any major problems..."

Emperor Liu's words were rather vague, and his movements somewhat deliberate. Seeing this, the elder Lady Fu sighed, "Let us hope so!"

Seeing Emperor Liu still playing dead there, the elder Lady Fu couldn't help but laugh: "Enough, I won't meddle in military affairs, nor will I put you in a difficult position! Get up and drink some hangover soup!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu pulled the towel away from his eyes, looked at the elder Lady Fu, and slowly sat up. After drinking a few mouthfuls of the hangover soup the Empress handed him, he wiped his mouth and smiled: "Actually, I'm not drunk!"

"Drunk or not, what difference does it make?" the elder Lady Fu said leisurely.

Taking off his boots and sitting cross-legged on the couch, Emperor Liu casually loosened his robes. His expression suddenly turned serious as he pulled the elder Lady Fu to sit down and said, "At today's banquet, I was indeed deeply moved. I consider myself an emperor on horseback—I've campaigned across the realm, led expeditions in person on no few occasions, and have always prided myself on loving my soldiers like my own children and treating them generously.

But after all these years, it seems I've developed some illusions—believing I understand the soldiers and can appreciate their hardships, when in truth, it was only my own presumption.

I've long been separated from the common soldiers. I'm too high above them, too far removed. Just now at the banquet, I merely offered a few words of encouragement and performed some perfunctory consolation, and it moved them beyond restraint—they were so stirred that they'd have marched to their deaths willingly, fearlessly and generously...

Compared to their sincere devotion, am I not rather hypocritical?"

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, a strange look appeared in the elder Lady Fu's eyes. How could she not understand Emperor Liu? With his temperament and thick skin, where would shame or embarrassment come from? Perhaps in his heart, he was actually delighted by the soldiers' loyalty and reverence toward him.

Still, since he had made such a statement, the elder Lady Fu went along with it, stroking his ego: "You are, after all, the Emperor. An emperor is by nature elevated above all—how could you be as close to the officers and soldiers as in your early years, sharing the same clothes and food, sharing hardships? But the fact that you can reflect on this shows that the soldiers are in your heart, and you are worthy of their loyalty and reverence..."

Emperor Liu lay back down, right foot crossed over left, a gleam of longing in his eyes. "Hearing the officers and soldiers describe their combat experiences on the battlefield, I couldn't help but feel my heart surge—I wish I could fight alongside them and drive out the Khitan together! Elder Lady Fu, I truly regret not choosing to lead the campaign in person this time..."

The elder Lady Fu, who had originally intended to be a listener, saw her jade-like countenance shift slightly at these words. Her tone immediately turned stern as she looked at Emperor Liu: "Surely you're not thinking of going to the front lines again?"

Meeting her gaze, Emperor Liu gave an awkward smile and looked away, saying, "Just a passing remark! Leading a campaign in person is not something to be done on a whim. Right now, the northern expedition is entering a critical phase, and the front lines don't need me. Rushing over would only cause trouble for the generals. I'm well aware of that!"

"Good that you're aware!" The elder Lady Fu's expression did not change, her tone still just as serious.

Clearly, she was still worried that Emperor Liu might suddenly get an idea, just as during last year's northern tour when he abruptly detoured to tour the west. Though Emperor Liu was in the prime of his life, his constitution was no longer what it once was.

Looking at Emperor Liu, the elder Lady Fu spoke as if coaxing a child: "You made this northern tour, personally visiting Hebei and going straight to the Yan Mountains, drawing close to the main army. The soldiers can feel your concern for them."