Chapter 1365: The Empress's Comfort

Reeking of wine, he hadn't removed his robes, hadn't even taken off his boots, and just buried his head in the imperial couch. The loyal servant Yan Tuo wanted to attend to Emperor Liu and make him more comfortable, but was kicked away by Emperor Liu's foot.

He fell on his backside, leaving a mark on his chest, yet showed no temper at all—only some helplessness and fear. Of course, what concerned him more was that His Majesty hadn't covered himself with a blanket; what if he caught a chill?

Fortunately, Yan Tuo wasn't left agonizing for long—the Empress arrived, and he breathed a great sigh of relief. The elder Lady Fu still carried herself with phoenix-like grace and dignity. She looked at Emperor Liu lying somewhat slovenly on the couch, her brows curving slightly, and instructed: "All of you, withdraw. Prepare some hot water!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo hurriedly acknowledged, bowed, and retreated on tiptoe, also gesturing to the several palace attendants on duty.

The bedchamber fell silent at once, with only the occasional night breeze slipping through the cracks in the window lattice, making the lamplight flicker. Looking at Emperor Liu lying there like a corpse, the elder Lady Fu sighed softly, stepped forward quietly, reached out to brush aside the gauze curtain covering Emperor Liu's face, and looked at him.

At this moment, Emperor Liu's face, besides the obvious flushed redness of intoxication, was still fairly serene—he even gave off faint snores. Next, Empress Fu personally attended to him herself: removing his boots, taking off his outer robe, laying him down properly, covering him with a blanket, wiping his face—meticulous and tender. After all that fussing, the elder Lady Fu was rather worn out.

And evidently because it was a different person attending to him, Emperor Liu was very cooperative, very obedient, letting the Empress care for him as she pleased.

His face, freshly wiped with care, felt waves of coolness. Startled by this, Emperor Liu seemed to gradually sober up. Opening his eyes, what met his vision was slightly hazy—bright lamplight, dim chamber. After a moment, the elder Lady Fu's dignified, graceful face gradually came into focus.

"Awake?"

"Mm."

"You didn't drink that much—how did you get so drunk?" the elder Lady Fu asked.

"It seems I'm truly getting old, my energy is failing, I can't even hold my liquor anymore!" Emperor Liu said with a bitter smile.

"You're only forty—how can you speak of being old?" Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu said: "Your tolerance for alcohol was never high to begin with. In my view, you have something weighing on your mind! It's the start of the new year, a time of celebration—why are you so gloomy?"

"You could tell?" Emperor Liu's mouth curved slightly as he asked. It was only before Empress Fu that he could reveal his truest self.

Meeting Emperor Liu's gaze, the elder Lady Fu sighed: "Never mind me—the dukes and ministers at the banquet, could any of them have failed to notice? They, Chancellor Zhao, Chancellor Li and the others, are perhaps right now feeling anxious, wondering why Your Majesty is like this, whether they've made some oversight somewhere..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu shook his head and said: "True. Ministers like Zhao Pu—how ingenious their minds are, how keen their noses. In reading faces and expressions, in gauging the sovereign's intentions, how many in the court can match him?"

"Could you truly have some dissatisfaction with Zhao Pu?" The elder Lady Fu couldn't help but be surprised. Though she never interfered in state affairs, she was sharp-eared and clear-eyed about the court's matters and figures, and she knew well how highly Emperor Liu regarded Zhao Pu.

"Not at all!" Emperor Liu denied at once, saying: "Zhao Pu has done quite well as chancellor. With him in place, the entire court, high and low, is managed in perfect order—I needn't worry overmuch.

One could say that among all the chancellors since I ascended the throne, the one I'm most satisfied with is Zhao Pu. Even compared to Duke Yu (Wei Renpu), he performs better in the position of Chief Chancellor.

Duke Yu I have always treated with the courtesy due a teacher. His talent is beyond question—he has a chancellor's capability and a man's magnanimity, yet he lacks political cunning. He is a gentleman. Zhao Pu is different: he isn't burdened by concerns for a spotless reputation, focuses on practical matters, and possesses considerable skill. In whatever position he holds, he can bring out his outstanding abilities.

With such a man presiding over state affairs, if sovereign and minister are well matched, it can save the Emperor half his energy, freeing him from being weighed down by tedious matters..."

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, the elder Lady Fu nodded and said: "Chancellor Zhao's governance is indeed capable!"

"Since that's the case, then what matter has left you so pent up?" the elder Lady Fu asked.

At the question, Emperor Liu pondered for a moment, then said: "Do you know how much money and grain this northern expedition has cost the court?"

"I don't, but it must be an enormous sum!" the elder Lady Fu gently shook her head.

"Indeed!" Emperor Liu said: "From west to east, the soldiers and civilian laborers directly serving at the front number over six hundred thousand. Sustaining such a vast army is an extremely heavy burden for the Great Han.

In less than a year's time, the state treasury has expended over eighty-five million strings of cash, and transported over four and a half million shi of military grain. These are only rough figures—just the most major portion of the losses. The actual expenditure exceeds this.

Nearly ninety million strings of cash and silk—even at the court's current annual tax revenue, that would take nearly three years to recoup. Do you know what this means? Since the beginning of the Kaibao era, the court's savings of nearly seven years have been essentially drained.

Zhao Pu has already reported to me—the state treasury is now severely depleted. Song Qi has already come crying poverty to me on behalf of the Finance Commission! Next, stationing troops to guard the borders, continuing the northern expedition, restoring the frontier, rewarding meritorious generals, and comforting the soldiers and people—all still require massive expenditures.

Song Qi told me that next year, even paying officials' salaries and nobles' stipends may prove difficult for the court! And the two-tax revenue will certainly plummet next year; within three to five years, it will be hard to recover to the level of the seventh year of Kaibao..."

"The court is already in such straits?" A hint of surprise couldn't help but appear on the elder Lady Fu's jade-like countenance.

She was a very clever woman. Noticing the growing weariness on Emperor Liu's face, she suddenly understood: "You feel that these past few days' grand ceremonies were too extravagant?"

Truly clever—one point and she understood completely. Of course, it was also because she knew Emperor Liu so well that she could easily discern his thoughts.

Emperor Liu raised his hand, wiping at his hair bun streaked with a few strands of white, and said slowly: "The celebrations were held by my command, to lift the spirits of officials and people alike. I don't regret them. Extravagance is acceptable—grandeur and solemnity serve to display authority.

But that a mere celebration should cost as much as three million—that truly is wasteful! What worries me most is that the entire court, civil and military, seems utterly oblivious, reveling in it, indulging wantonly in this luxury.

I have devoted myself to building an age of prosperity, yet only eight years into Kaibao, the dukes and ministers of the Great Han seem already to believe that the golden age has arrived—as if this song-and-dance peace is prosperity and wellbeing, and all under heaven is tranquil. As if it were all performed for my benefit!

What chills me even more is that I myself seem to have secretly begun to enjoy it..."

Hearing Emperor Liu's words, the elder Lady Fu fell silent. She reached out and gently stroked Emperor Liu's cheek, as if trying to soothe the discomfort and anxiety in his heart with the warmth of her hand.

"You've been far too exhausted lately!" the elder Lady Fu said.

After a pause, she continued in a comforting tone: "I still remember before the Great Han was founded—the Khitan raiding south, the Central Plains sinking into chaos, the realm in turmoil, the people with no means to live, bandits springing up like wildfire. Though I was but a woman in the inner chambers, I had some rough knowledge of the people's suffering.

In the early years of Qianyou, the state was still unstable—troubles within, threats without, the court strapped for funds, the common folk in hardship. Those past years were certainly difficult and worth remembering, but in the end, we made it through.

In your diligent governance, enriching the state and strengthening the military, isn't what you've striven for precisely the peace and wellbeing of today? In recent years, though I dwell in the deep palace, I often hear of the realm growing ever more prosperous, the people's lives ever more abundant.

If even the common folk are like this, how much more so the nobles and officials? Unless constrained by circumstances, who would willingly endure hardship and poverty? Everyone delights in peace and comfort—you cannot keep demanding, as in the past, that all within and without adhere to frugality.

In the short term, they may fear your power and prestige and conceal or restrain themselves, but over time, they will surely come to resent you. It is human nature to favor ease and dislike toil—you must understand this appropriately.

However, since the state is currently in difficulty, there should be some restraint. Extravagance and waste truly ought not to be encouraged, but you also shouldn't brood over it too much..."

"the elder Lady Fu, comparing you to Empress Zhangsun—that's exactly right!" Hearing the elder Lady Fu's words of comfort, Emperor Liu smiled.

At this, the elder Lady Fu smiled warmly and gracefully, replying: "I am merely your Empress Fu!"