Chapter 134: Returning to the Residence

Dissatisfaction, resentment, indignation—of course he felt them, and the feelings were strong. But Liu Chengyou couldn't show them. Or rather, things had already come to this; anger and complaint were useless, and might even arouse greater wariness in Liu Zhiyuan.

Tao Gu had told Liu Chengyou before that after arriving in Kaifeng, he might face some suppression from the Emperor. And sure enough, it had come to pass.

With a few casual words, Liu Zhiyuan had stripped away Liu Chengyou's direct command over the Longqi Army. Given the chaos among the capital troops, reorganizing the imperial army was an absolute necessity—Liu Chengyou would raise no objection to that. But to use it as a pretext to suppress him as well—anyone would be displeased. Even if he appeared calm and unruffled, it was all an act.

The Longqi Army, blessed by the glory of the Battle of Luancheng, could now be called the foremost of all armies. But what about after the reorganization? Especially when Shi Hongzhao was put in charge of the restructuring.

Shi Hongzhao's reputation in the Eastern Capital these days was one that made soldiers fear him, commoners dread him, and officials loathe him. Putting him in charge of the troops... Thinking of this, a thought suddenly flashed through Liu Chengyou's mind—could it be precisely for this reason that Liu Zhiyuan had chosen Shi Hongzhao for the task?

As for Guo Wei, with his upright and steady character, having him assist and supervise on the side might serve as a safety net for the training results, preventing Shi Hongzhao from going too far. And it wouldn't provoke too many conflicts or clashes—Guo Wei and Shi Hongzhao had always gotten along quite well, and in the eyes of others, Guo Wei could be considered Shi Hongzhao's junior. Moreover, Guo Wei's way of handling matters had never failed to put Liu Zhiyuan at ease...

Everything bears scrutiny. Though the various stray thoughts had only briefly passed through his mind, Liu Chengyou still felt he had vaguely guessed Liu Zhiyuan's intentions. But it made no difference—his mood remained sour.

Still, if it was suppression, it wasn't suppression to the very end. Hadn't he been given a sweet date as well? Promotion in rank, a bestowed residence—and no doubt gold and silk would not be lacking either. The title of Director of the Secretariat went unmentioned—it was nominal anyway. Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs, now that was a position of real power, still at the center of authority, participating in military and state affairs. But above him sat Yang Bin, and given Yang Bin's attitude toward him—was he supposed to go contend with Yang Bin for power...

"Your Highness, this way!" The eunuch leading the way suddenly spoke, interrupting Liu Chengyou's train of thought.

"Mm." Liu Chengyou responded flatly, following him as they turned into another corridor.

"Your Majesty." In Chuigong Hall, an old eunuch bent at the waist as he approached the imperial presence, calling out softly.

Liu Zhiyuan was reading a memorial. He raised his eyelids slightly: "How did he react?"

The eunuch replied: "After the Second Prince left the hall, he was very calm, his expression unchanged. He went to pay his respects to the Empress."

"Did he say anything?" Liu Zhiyuan asked.

"No."

"I see." Liu Zhiyuan's stern black face seemed to relax somewhat. He instructed: "Add a cup of tea."

"Yes."

The Empress, Lady Li, resided in Renming Hall. By the time Liu Chengyou arrived, he had already composed himself. Habitually smoothing his robes, he was about to have himself announced when, accompanied by two palace maids, Lady Li came out on her own, her steps slightly hurried, calling out "Erlang."

Months unseen, Lady Li was just as before—kind and gentle, beautiful and gracious. Her attire was not flashy, yet it exuded dignity and nobility. Lifting the hem of his robes, Liu Chengyou knelt on both knees and performed the formal bow to Lady Li, kowtowing once: "Your son pays respects to Mother."

"Get up quickly!" Seeing Liu Chengyou perform such a grand salute, Lady Li hurried forward, reaching out with both hands to help him rise.

"You've gone to see His Majesty?"

"Yes."

"You've grown thinner, and darker too." Lady Li studied Liu Chengyou carefully for a good while, her gentle expression tinged with concern as she reached out to wipe the dust from his forehead.

Feeling the light touch of Lady Li's fingers, a warm current flowed through his heart. Liu Chengyou knew well how good she was to him—and especially since his "self-imposed isolation," she had been particularly attentive.

People are not grass or trees—who can be without feeling? Perhaps at first Liu Chengyou had harbored some dark thoughts and purposes, but now, toward this mother, he was genuinely accepting and devoted from the bottom of his heart.

"And sturdier too." Liu Chengyou patted his chest to show off his strength.

"Were you hurt?" She gave him a reproachful look, but her loving gaze still roamed over Liu Chengyou.

Liu Chengyou said gently: "Since joining the campaign, I have been under the protection of elite guards the whole time, without a single scratch. But many soldiers, in order to protect me, threw themselves into danger without regard for their own lives and lost theirs."

Hearing this, Lady Li's brows furrowed slightly, then she admonished: "One should carry gratitude and righteousness in one's heart. Those soldiers who died or were wounded—their families and descendants must be properly compensated and cared for, to comfort their spirits and reward their loyalty and bravery."

"Mother speaks truly. Your son will keep this matter in his heart, and now that I have returned to court, I will set about it at once." Liu Chengyou replied.

Taking him by the hand, Lady Li led him into the hall to talk. Liu Chengyou followed obediently. Entering the hall, he noticed the interior was very simply decorated, with no trace of extravagance—in the center stood several looms...

Meeting Liu Chengyou's surprised gaze, Lady Li said with a light laugh: "With nothing to do in this palace, I weave a few bolts of cloth. Autumn has already come and the weather is turning cool, so I'm making a few garments for you and your father."

Lady Li said this without the slightest affectation, giving Liu Chengyou a feeling of genuine sentiment beneath plain words. Moved, he bowed solemnly to her: "In all the world, only you are worthy to be the mother of the realm."

Liu Chengyou's sudden display made Lady Li laugh: "You child..."

"Come, tell your mother about these past few months. I heard you led eight thousand troops against the Khitan's several hundred thousand—your boldness was far too great, enough to worry a person to death. Even hearing it now, I still feel my heart race..." As they sat down to talk, Lady Li chattered on like any ordinary woman.

Liu Chengyou showed not the slightest impatience, recounting his experiences since setting out on campaign from beginning to end. It should have been a splendid legendary tale, especially the Battle of Luancheng, but Liu Chengyou was hardly a gifted storyteller—he narrated it plainly and straightforwardly. Perhaps because of his flat delivery, the peril and excitement were somewhat muted, which at least kept Lady Li from being too frightened in hindsight.

Still, though the telling was plain, the listening was earnest—Lady Li didn't seem to find it dull at all.

He talked with Lady Li in the palace for over half an hour, then stayed for a meal at her place. Only after eating and drinking his fill did he take his leave.

On his way out of the palace, he ran into Liu Chenghsun. At that age of rapid growth, the lad had clearly grown taller in the months since they'd last met. Dressed in a fitted outfit, idly toying with a green bead in his hand, he was strolling along the palace corridor with light steps, looking thoroughly at loose ends.

Spotting Liu Chengyou walking slowly toward the palace gate, Liu Chenghsun gave a visible start, then very decisively turned and headed the other way.

"Third Brother!" Seeing this, Liu Chengyou called out directly.

At the sound, the boy's quickening steps halted at once, his whole body seeming to tense up. He turned around, looked at Liu Chengyou, and his bitter expression quickly shifted into a smile as he trotted over: "Second Brother, you've come to the palace. When did you arrive in Kaifeng? Why didn't you send someone to let me know? I would have gone to welcome you..."

Liu Chengyou eyed him sidelong: "It seems to me you don't really want to see me."

"How could that be?" Liu Chenghsun immediately dropped his grin, his little face tightening as he said carefully: "I was just about to go back and study. Second Brother, you don't know—Father found me a Hanlin scholar as a tutor, and that old gentleman is extremely rigid. He's assigned a mountain of homework..."

Listening to Liu Chenghsun's rambling nonsense, Liu Chengyou's expression softened, and a trace of emotion welled up in his heart.

After "explaining himself," Liu Chenghsun stood there properly, still feeling quite daunted by his second brother. His small eyes kept darting upward, and the moment they met Liu Chengyou's stern face, they would jerk away as if shocked, dropping down to stare at the tips of his shoes.

Seeing his behavior, Liu Chengyou chose to let him off, waving a hand at him: "Aren't you supposed to go study? Go on, then."

At this, Liu Chenghsun's eyes lit up, and he immediately broke into a grin again: "Second Brother, take care." With that, he hurried off in a flurry.

Withdrawing his gaze, Liu Chengyou continued walking at a composed pace, following the palace attendant leading the way toward the palace gate. The gate was called Xuanwu Gate—at first glance, one might mistake it for Xuanwu Gate.

"Your Highness." Before he exited, a junior officer of the Konghe Army on gate duty took the initiative to greet Liu Chengyou.

The Great Han's Konghe imperial guards had originally been personally selected and established by Liu Chengyou himself, and had remained in use ever since. Here in the Eastern Capital, they served as the Inner Palace's own troops. Liu Chengyou had some recollection of this junior officer—he had been selected from the Longqi Army by Liu Chengyou back then.

"I remember you. Your surname is... Li! You're called Li Jian?" Liu Chengyou said.

Seeing that Liu Chengyou actually remembered him, the junior officer was both surprised and delighted, and promptly replied: "It is indeed this humble officer."

Scanning him over—he wore the uniform of a lower-ranking officer of the imperial army—Liu Chengyou asked: "Promoted?"

Li Jian replied: "With Chief Commander Li's trust, this humble officer has the honor of serving as gatekeeper of Xuanwu Gate. I also have Your Highness to thank for the original promotion."

Liu Chengyou knew he was referring to his maternal uncle, Li Hongxin, the Chief Commander of the Konghe Army.

"My uncle has a good eye for talent!" Liu Chengyou said.

"Serve with loyalty, and guard the palace gate well!" Leaving those words, Liu Chengyou did not linger and departed.

"Yes!" Li Jian responded respectfully and returned to his post.

Before the outer gate of the imperial city, Li Chongju had been waiting for a long time with Liu Chengyou's personal guards. Not daring to approach the palace gate, they stood far off, and upon spotting Liu Chengyou, immediately came forward to meet him. When Liu Chengyou had set out on campaign, his personal guard had been organized as one company of five hundred men. Before heading south, Liu Chengyou had reduced it to fifty men, still under Li Chongju's command. The rest had either been stationed in the north or assigned to the Longqi Army as junior officers.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Li Chongju looked toward the imperial city and asked cautiously.

Liu Chengyou couldn't help but rebuke him softly: "I went to see the Emperor — that is my father. What could possibly happen!"

Li Chongju was a bit embarrassed, realizing he had misspoken, and quickly shut his mouth.

Liu Chengyou then looked at the eunuch who had been brushed aside behind them, and ordered forcefully: "His Majesty has bestowed a residence upon me, has he not? Lead me there!"

"Yes!" That eunuch, having indeed received such orders, dared not be negligent, and answered with great deference.

The construction of the Bian Palace began under the Later Liang, and it was basically modeled after the Ziwei Palace in Luoyang. Though smaller in scale, the layout was much the same. The imperial city was to the north, so they had to circle around before re-entering Kaifeng through a side gate.

"Where has the Longqi Army been stationed?" Calling Li Chongju up to his carriage, Liu Chengyou asked.

"Temporarily at the great drill ground south of the city," Li Chongju answered. "Chief Inspector Guo sent word — everything is in good order."

"Send word to all the officers of the army: the Eastern Capital is not Zhending. Now that we're here, they had better behave themselves, keep their men disciplined, and cause no trouble. Also, His Majesty intends to reorganize the army — whatever adjustments are made, cooperate actively!" After a moment's thought, Liu Chengyou lowered his voice and instructed Li Chongju.

Li Chongju was briefly taken aback at the words, but immediately acknowledged with a "yes" and asked nothing further. This was something Liu Chengyou appreciated about him — he worked steadily and never talked too much.

Within the Eastern Capital, the wards and markets were strictly separated and tightly controlled, and the city was not very lively. Liu Chengyou had no mind to pay attention to Kaifeng's wards for the time being. In about a quarter of an hour, they arrived at the residence; the sky had already grown dark.

Not far from the imperial city, a vast and luxurious mansion stood — enough to show Liu Zhiyuan's regard, and quite at odds with Liu Chengyou's "frugal" style. According to that eunuch, the residence occupied over a hundred mu of land, complete with waterside pavilions, singing stages, towers, and gardens. Over the decades, it had passed through many hands, each time belonging to figures of immense power in successive dynasties. During the Later Jin, it had been the home of the powerful Chancellor Jing Yanguang. When the Khitan entered Bian, Yelu Deguang bestowed it upon the Yan King Zhao Yanshou, and later it was taken as his own by Xiao Han, the Khitan imperial uncle left to guard the Eastern Capital.

After Liu Zhiyuan entered Kaifeng, he had the place cleaned up and prepared as a reward for Liu Chengyou.

There were people in the residence, and Liu Chengyou was quite familiar with them all — they were his servants from Jinyang.

"Second Young Master." A soft voice carried surprise. Upon learning that Liu Chengyou had returned to the residence, Lady Geng hurriedly gathered her skirts and ran into the front courtyard.

Clearly, she had been waiting for a long time. When she caught sight of Liu Chengyou's tall, straight figure, the joy in her beautiful eyes grew even brighter. She came close, stopped, and let her watery gaze linger over Liu Chengyou. The beauty was tender and delicate — perhaps from excitement, perhaps from running too fast, she panted a few times, caught her breath, and then gracefully knelt in a bow: "This concubine welcomes Your Highness back to the residence."

"Rise." Liu Chengyou nodded.

Lady Geng was as ever — soft and lovely, with skin as white as snow, so tender it seemed it could squeeze out water. She wore the plain attire Liu Chengyou preferred, and her makeup was light and elegant, with not a trace of garishness. A hint of blush colored her beautiful face, but it could not conceal that frail, pitiable quality about her — most alluring.

Though she was older than Liu Chengyou, Lady Geng was not old at all — not yet twenty. With his keen eyes, Liu Chengyou immediately noticed that her bosom was a bit fuller than before, though it wasn't obvious through her clothes — he would need to verify by hand.

"Mm."

Though Liu Chengyou's reaction was much the same as always, with no great change, it was precisely because of that familiarity that Lady Geng felt relieved — there was none of the estrangement she had feared from months apart.

"Take the brothers into the residence and familiarize them with the layout as soon as possible! Also, anyone whose family has already moved to the Eastern Capital may request leave to visit them!" Liu Chengyou turned and gave Li Chongju this instruction, then, accompanied by Lady Geng, went deep into the residence, straight to the inner hall.

Though the weather had turned cool, the room was still unavoidably warm. Hanging Liu Chengyou's discarded outer robe on the clothing rack, Lady Geng personally wet a towel for him and handed it over: "Second Young Master."

Still that soft, alluring voice — quite enticing.

Wiping his face, Liu Chengyou asked casually: "When did you arrive in the Eastern Capital?"

"It's been a month already. I came along with the officials and people of Jinyang in the migration..." Lady Geng helped Liu Chengyou undo his belt as she answered.

"No trouble along the way, I take it?" Liu Chengyou asked awkwardly.

"With soldiers escorting us and the residence guards as well, naturally all went smoothly."

Turning to look at Lady Geng, under Liu Chengyou's gaze, the beauty still held his belt in her hands and shyly lowered her head. This woman, Lady Geng, was a top-grade beauty. Though her figure was not of that typical plump and voluptuous type, she still surpassed most women in the world, especially with that frail, pitiable temperament of hers.

Feeling his loosened trousers and the growing intimacy in the room, Liu Chengyou was already stirred. In such an atmosphere, he had no mind for awkward small talk — the man was willing and the woman was eager. Soon Liu Chengyou drew her onto the bed, and they tumbled together.

Though Liu Chengyou's temperament was cold, his body was quite honest — young and vigorous, in the prime of his blood. Having been away on campaign, he had long suppressed his desires. The harder the restraint, the more satisfying the release...