Chapter 1399: Retiring with a Plea

The rising sun climbed high, spring light boundless, strands of radiance enveloping Chuigong Hall, lending it a touch of sanctity and nobility. True to the hall's name, Emperor Liu now truly sat facing south from the north, steadily occupying the dragon throne, ruling by non-interference. Recently, he had spent most of his time in Chuigong Hall, rarely even visiting the rear palace, leaving many consorts longing for the imperial favor with eyes strained from gazing.

"It's only been a short while—how have you grown so aged?" A slightly surprised voice rang through the hall. Emperor Liu, visibly moved, looked at Li Chongju kneeling prostrate in the hall.

It had been nearly a month since Li Chongju last entered the palace to pay his respects. During that time, he had been recuperating from illness at his residence. Yet in just that single month, Li Chongju had undergone a complete transformation.

His face was sickly, utterly haggard, frost-white streaking his temples, his frame gaunt and wasted, his vital essence seemingly drained by the demon of illness. Even kneeling there was a visible struggle, his entire person enveloped in a desolate atmosphere.

After all, this was a trusted minister who had followed him for over twenty years. Seeing him in such a state now, the emperor could not help but feel a pang in his heart, saying: "Did I not send imperial physicians to diagnose you? Why has your condition not improved? Could it be the physicians are not doing their utmost?"

There was a trace of anger in Emperor Liu's tone, as if he meant to lay blame on the physicians. Li Chongju, being a fairly honest man, immediately prostrated himself and said: "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern! Do not blame the physicians—they have done their best! I know my own body well. For over twenty years past, I never once fell ill, but when illness comes, it topples a mountain, and there is nothing to be done..."

"What do you mean, nothing to be done! If you are ill, seek treatment; if you need medicine, take it!" Emperor Liu waved his hand. Looking at Li Chongju's feeble state, some of the dissatisfaction that had accumulated in his heart seemed to dissipate along with it. He sighed heavily: "If you were this ill, you should have let me know sooner!"

Li Chongju bowed again: "Your servant's illness was alarming to behold before. To appear before Your Majesty rashly would have disturbed your sacred person. Now that it has somewhat eased, I have come to the palace to express my gratitude!"

"What nonsense are you speaking!" Emperor Liu seemed somewhat agitated: "What need for all these scruples! What have I not seen, what have I not experienced? You and I have been lord and minister in harmony for over twenty years—why must you be so distant!"

"Your Majesty's kindness to your servant is weighty as a mountain. I will remember it all my life and dare not forget!" said Li Chongju.

After exchanging pleasantries, Emperor Liu gradually came to his senses. He looked Li Chongju over once more, and from his words, he seemed to sense something. A flicker of suspicion passed through his eyes. He reached out a hand and said: "Since you are unwell, there is no need for such grand formalities. Stop kneeling—rise quickly, and sit down to speak!"

As he spoke, Emperor Liu shot Yan Tuo a glance. Yan Tuo understood, stepped forward to help Li Chongju up, and supported him to a seat. Emperor Liu said gently: "You have come this time—surely it is not merely to pay your respects!"

Hearing this, Li Chongju's body stirred, and he made to stand again. Seeing this, Emperor Liu immediately said: "Just speak from where you sit!"

Meeting Emperor Liu's gaze, Li Chongju took a deep breath. A solemn expression emerged on his weary, aged face as he said: "Your servant reports to Your Majesty: I am now old and frail, my energy greatly failing, difficult to manage affairs, no longer able to bear the weight of the Wude Office. I humbly beg Your Majesty, in your benevolence, to grant your servant leave to retire and convalesce, and to select another capable person to oversee the affairs of the Wude Office!"

Just as I thought!

Emperor Liu had already sensed Li Chongju's purpose in coming, but hearing it stated plainly still stirred ripples on his face. Soon, all emotion vanished, and he stared at Li Chongju with an expressionless face. Perhaps Emperor Liu's gaze was too lethal—even though Li Chongju had already made up his mind, he could not help but look away, lowering his head to await the reply, like a man awaiting his sentence.

"You too wish to resign your post, to leave the court, to depart from me?" After a long while, Emperor Liu finally spoke, his tone seemingly devoid of any emotion.

His heart trembling slightly, Li Chongju did not raise his head, answering: "Your servant's body truly can no longer bear heavy responsibility. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and grant permission. Though I leave the court, I remain Your Majesty's subject—unchanged for a thousand years, unmoved for ten thousand. Even in the rivers and lakes, I shall always remember Your Majesty's favor and pray for Your Majesty's blessings!"

"You are not even fifty years old! How can you speak of being old!" Emperor Liu's voice suddenly rose, nearly shaking the hall's beams. He raised his hand and waved it irregularly in the air, clearly somewhat displeased: "In all these years, have you ever seen me let a minister in the prime of his vigor retire to convalesce?"

"Your Majesty!" Li Chongju's voice remained that aged, strengthless quality, his attitude earnest: "This old, sickly body of your servant truly brings no benefit to the court!"

"I doubt that is so!" Emperor Liu's eyes narrowed slightly, his hidden gaze seeming to release some dangerous signal: "The claim of old age does not hold. If it is merely illness, then rest and recuperate—surely it need not come to resigning your post!"

To Li Chongju, Emperor Liu's words were no less than a thunderbolt crashing down. His mind and spirit shook violently, a trace of bitterness flashing across his weakened face. Then, in an earnest tone, he pleaded: "Your servant begs Your Majesty to show a measure of compassion!"

Li Chongju's display was truly pitiable. Emperor Liu did not respond for a moment, watching him for a while, then stood up and walked before him with hands clasped behind his back. Seeing this, Li Chongju rose unsteadily, standing with visible difficulty—whether from fear and trepidation, or because his body truly could not bear the strain.

Looking at him, Emperor Liu said softly: "Shouze, do you not feel that in recent years, you and I have grown increasingly distant?"

Not waiting for his answer, Emperor Liu continued on his own: "From Luzhou onward, you have followed me—twenty-four full years now, through wind and rain, sharing heart and soul, life and death together!

In all the court, there are few worthy of my complete trust. You, Li Shouze, are one of them, and I have always relied heavily upon you. The Wude Office is a post of utmost importance—placed in your hands for nearly twenty years, never once did I harbor any doubt.

And yet, in recent years, you and I seem to have drifted ever further apart! What is it that has created a rift between you and me, that now you wish to resign your post and flee the court?

Is it I who has made you uneasy? Do you fear I am suspicious and jealous? Or do you think me obstinate and self-opinionated, cold by nature, and fear I will not come to a good end?"

These words were perhaps the most heartfelt Emperor Liu had spoken to Li Chongju in recent years. Yet to Li Chongju, they were like sharp blades ruthlessly stabbing into him—every word piercing the heart, terrifying.

And Li Chongju finally could not hold himself together. He suddenly fell to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face, knocking his head repeatedly: "What Your Majesty says, your servant dare not accept! Please say no more—it is your servant who harbored secret unease, failing your sacred kindness. I beg Your Majesty to mete out punishment..."

Looking down at Li Chongju kowtowing at his feet, hearing the sound—the head-knocking was truly fierce. Hearing his plea, Emperor Liu's expression finally softened from its coldness. He bent down, reached out to help him up, and sighed: "Enough! I had hoped for a beginning and an end, but some things, it seems, ultimately cannot be forced!"

"Your Majesty!" Li Chongju's forehead already bore traces of blood. He called out with a choked sob.

Emperor Liu slowly turned and sat back down, saying: "If your mind is set on leaving, I will not force you. But while resigning your post is acceptable, retiring to convalesce is quite unnecessary. Stay here in the capital, in your own residence, and rest easy in recuperation! Whenever you think of me, come to the palace and see me!"

"Your servant bows in thanks to Your Majesty!" Hearing that Emperor Liu had finally relented, Li Chongju felt as if pardoned from a great sentence. He bowed down once more, moved as he gave his thanks.

Emperor Liu looked at the agitated Li Chongju, then turned his head away, a sense of loss welling up in his heart. Perhaps there had been suspicion toward Li Chongju, but on the whole, Emperor Liu still trusted and valued him. Twenty-four years of spring and autumn—the bond between them could not be summed up in a few words. It had stood the test.

It was just that the special nature of the Wude Office's position inevitably gave rise to unusual circumstances. A minister who had presided over the Wude Office for nearly twenty years—no matter how much Emperor Liu trusted him, some reservation would always remain. And for Li Chongju, the longer the time, the more dangerous it became.

Emperor Liu understood Li Chongju well. Just like his name, he was a man who kept to the rules and knew where danger lay—evident from the very beginning when, upon first assuming the post of commissioner, he had anxiously begged to resign.

Likewise, Li Chongju was among the ministers who best understood Emperor Liu. From recent years, especially during the northern expedition, when Emperor Liu had voiced considerable criticism and dissatisfaction toward the Wude Office, he had sensed the risk.

Perhaps it was not even aimed at the Wude Office itself, but at him, the Commissioner of the Wude Office. Rather than sit on this furnace and suffer its scorching, better to beg for retirement and preserve himself whole—that was Li Chongju's choice.

In fact, once the men of the Wude Office had located the Mobei expeditionary army and confirmed the safety of the two princes, Li Chongju had already made his preparations to retire and resign.

But he still held back—waiting until his illness gradually worsened, waiting until the war in the Western Regions reached a conclusion, before finally entering the palace to state his case. Of course, Li Chongju had wanted to return to his hometown in Luzhou, to distance himself from all disputes from then on. But from Emperor Liu's arrangement, he would still be kept in the capital, under surveillance—that point could not be forced. And Emperor Liu's words had been truly frightening, filling him with dread.