Chapter 1544: The Rod Finally Falls

Emperor Liu had slept in again—not merely too lazy to get up, but even too lazy to wake. Though the window lattice did its utmost to block the sunlight, the light that seeped through still brightened the bedchamber.

This was Kunming Hall, where Emperor Liu had once again come last night. It had become something of a habit: whenever Emperor Liu encountered a difficult problem he could not unravel, or found himself in low spirits, he would come to the Empress seeking comfort.

Though in recent days the one Emperor Liu doted on most in the harem was the young Pure Consort Zhou, the Empress's chambers were the softest harbor in Emperor Liu's heart, a place to rest his soul—a status no one else could rival.

Perhaps provoked beyond endurance by the bright light, Emperor Liu finally opened his eyes. His head was still groggy, his eyes uncomfortable. He wiped away the sleep from his eyes twice, rubbed his forehead, and only then did his vision clear. What met his eyes were halos of light, and he felt as though he had awakened to a different world.

"Awake?" The Empress's familiar voice sounded by his ear.

In his field of vision, Empress Fu sat at the edge of the bed, wearing a thin summer dress, with no trace of seductiveness. Though her hair was simply pinned up, every movement she made carried dignity.

At the age and stage Emperor Liu and Empress Fu had reached, the passionate physical exchanges between them were long gone, replaced by a greater emphasis on spiritual harmony. Of course, to be realistic, the Empress had indeed passed her prime, her beauty faded; when Emperor Liu truly felt the urge, there were plenty of beauties in the palace far more alluring to him.

"What time is it?" Emperor Liu shook his head to clear his mind and asked.

"Not late—still before the hour of Si." Empress Fu said softly.

"You're mocking me now." Emperor Liu gave a wry smile at this, then yawned: "Compared to before, I've grown lazier and more negligent. If not for the support of Liu Yang, Zhao Pu, and other ministers, the myriad affairs of state and mountain of memorials would surely have crushed me!"

Yawning again at length, Emperor Liu muttered: "Lately, I often feel drowsy and sleep long without waking. Tell me, is something wrong with my body?"

"Nonsense again!" Hearing this, Empress Fu glared at him and said: "I asked Imperial Physician Sun as well. According to him, you're overthinking, taxing your spirit and harming your body. You've been weary lately—you simply need rest and quiet recuperation."

"The imperial physicians' words can't be fully trusted!" Emperor Liu wore the expression of one who knew his own body well, saying: "It's been some time since I returned from Mount Tai, and I've rested this while, yet there seems to be no relief. I think these physicians still harbor reservations—afraid to speak of the worst, and even more afraid to treat boldly..."

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, Empress Fu fixed her eyes on him and said slowly: "In my view, this isn't an ailment of the body, but an ailment of the heart!"

Emperor Liu smiled lightly and waved a hand dismissively: "Where would so many heart ailments come from!"

Empress Fu did not argue with him. She summoned two palace maids carrying basins and washing implements, saying: "Wash up first!"

Aware of the unpleasant taste in his mouth, Emperor Liu did not decline. Under the maids' attendance, he brushed his teeth and rinsed his mouth. Empress Fu personally wrung out a facecloth and handed it to Emperor Liu. After wiping his face, Emperor Liu's spirits improved somewhat.

Someone wrung the towel, someone put on his shoes, someone combed his hair, someone dressed him—such was Emperor Liu's simple imperial daily routine. Only when eating did Emperor Liu need to wield his own chopsticks, for he had not yet aged to the point of needing to be fed.

When the couple ate, there was no rule of silence during meals. Empress Fu finally spoke up to ask: "Has His Majesty encountered some troubling matter again?"

"Ah?" The chopsticks in Emperor Liu's hand paused, and the small slice of bamboo shoot he had picked up nearly fell onto the table. He looked up at Empress Fu and said with feigned bewilderment: "The realm is at peace, the court is stable, nothing stirs within or without. I rule by non-interference—where would troubling matters come from?"

"Nothing stirs within or without? The case of the Petition Drum has caused quite a stir—I live deep in the palace and have still heard of it!" Empress Fu looked at Emperor Liu with amusement: "Besides, if you had nothing on your mind, why would you think to come to Kunming Hall?"

At these words, Emperor Liu immediately said: "What talk is this? You are the Empress, I am the Emperor—can't I come to Kunming Hall to see you without a reason?"

Perhaps feeling this lacked persuasiveness, Emperor Liu added: "In the future, I will come often..."

Empress Fu's attention naturally was not on Emperor Liu's rather stingy promise. Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she asked: "After sleeping a night, has your mood improved at all?"

"About there!" Emperor Liu blurted out, then, realizing what he had said, spoke with a hint of "embarrassed anger": "Don't worry yourself. What could be wrong with me? Everything is perfectly fine!"

Having said this, he buried his head in finishing the bowl of multi-grain porridge. Seeing this, Empress Fu smiled gently and said peacefully: "I won't ask more. Just get yourself adjusted—that's all that matters!"

"Mm..." Emperor Liu responded vaguely.

Regarding the princes' struggle for the succession, Emperor Liu naturally could not explain it to the Empress. No matter how harmonious the couple's marriage, how mutual their respect, it was impossible.

After all, this touched upon the foundation of the state. More importantly, she was the Empress, the mother of the Crown Prince—on this point, Emperor Liu could not help but keep a few extra thoughts in reserve.

Speaking of the Crown Prince, speaking of Liu Yang, the couple could talk about anything without reservation. But the topic of rivalry among the princes was truly inconvenient to discuss. And the reason Emperor Liu had come to Kunming Hall was precisely that he had pondered long, found his spirits low, and instinctively sought a place where his heart could rest, to sleep well.

The effect was naturally somewhat effective. When he left Kunming Hall, Emperor Liu's steps were unhurried, his expression calm, and one could even spy a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

Though even now, Emperor Liu still had not figured things out, still could not produce a proper solution. In his heart, there was still no final decision on how to grasp the measure and scale in this matter, how to arrange the various princes, how to ensure the smooth transition and succession of the imperial throne.

But none of this could truly confine Emperor Liu for long. As long as he, Emperor Liu, still stood, everything remained within control.

This was also the key point—things must not slip beyond his control. Now that the seeds of rivalry among the princes had emerged, he too must make some responses. At the very least, he could not let it run unchecked, could not continue to give Liu Xu and the other princes a false impression.

Especially the use of tactics similar to those employed in the Petition Drum incident—this was absolutely impermissible. When the day came that one would stop at nothing to seize the throne, what else would one not do?

Given Emperor Liu's character, he clearly did not wish to see such a situation arise, nor would he permit it. If it led to factional strife at court, harmed the nation's interests, or damaged the state itself, then it deserved even more to be struck down.

Emperor Liu's sense of vigilance—or to put it bluntly, his suspiciousness—also made him inevitably consider the worst-case scenarios, and under that premise, he could maintain greater vigilance and preparedness.

The matter of Liu Xu had already been suppressed by Emperor Liu. The investigation had been conducted in secret from the start. He could sit by and watch the common folk criticize Li Fang, even allow the Petition Drum case to become fodder for street gossip, but he absolutely would not permit rumors of "imperial family strife, princes contending for the succession" to spread.

However, though the matter had been suppressed, Liu Xu still ought to receive some measure of discipline—at the very least, a warning. Even from the perspective of a father, when a child errs, he must be educated.

This was Emperor Liu's rod, and perhaps it would not be so easy to bear, nor was it a simple matter of lecturing.

Returning to Chongzheng Hall, Emperor Liu asked about Liu Xu's whereabouts. He had originally planned to summon him to the palace for a subtle hint, but was told that Liu Xu had gone to pay respects at the grave of the late Consort Geng.

Upon learning this, Emperor Liu temporarily abandoned the idea of summoning Liu Xu. Later that same day, he himself went to Consort Geng's grave, bestowed some burial gifts, and spoke a few words.

Returning to the palace, he did not dwell further on Liu Xu, but instead summoned Zhang Dejun specifically to ask how the matter had been wrapped up. Zhang Dejun gave a definitive answer. As for the specifics, all that was known was that including some clerks under the Palace City Office, all those involved who seemed unconnected—scholars, merchants, and the like—had vanished from the capital.

It was not until the end of the fourth month, after the staff of the court offices in the Western Capital had gradually filled in the Eastern Capital, and the court had in fact returned to Kaifeng and begun operating smoothly and stably, that Emperor Liu issued an edict and carried out a series of personnel adjustments.

Among them, the most eye-catching was, without question, the Grand Academician of the Inner Cabinet. After Li Fang left his post, someone had to take over. This was a key position connecting Emperor Liu with the Hall of State Affairs. Though its actual power was somewhat limited, its status was high, its authority not weak, and many eyes were fixed upon it.

The result was unsurprising: Lü Yin, Governor of Kaifeng, successfully advanced in rank, and as Chief Minister, formally became chancellor—the first Grand Academician of the Inner Cabinet to be made Chief Minister.

In fact, if Lü Yin had not had his career delayed by his father's death that year, missing some opportunities, he could have become chancellor several years earlier. After all, before he was forty, he had already been a high-ranking official.

Of course, it was not too late now. For Lü Yin, who was not yet fifty, this step into the pinnacle of his official career was steady enough, and fast enough.

Among the many personnel adjustments this time, the transfer of the Prince of Qin ultimately drew some attention. The duties of the Court of Border Affairs were stripped from him by Emperor Liu, and he was replaced by Zhao Kuangzan, the Prince of Dongping—this was his old line of work. As for Liu Xu's next assignment, Emperor Liu's attitude was to keep him under observation.

To this, Liu Xu accepted it calmly, showing no signs of discontent or resentment. On the contrary, without the duties of the Court of Border Affairs, he settled peacefully in his princely residence, focusing his attention on educating his children.