Chapter 160: Prince Wei Gravely Ill

After winter set in, the weather grew colder day by day. The common folk inside and outside the Eastern Capital consciously reduced their time outdoors, and the Bian River visibly grew desolate as well. With the fighting at Yedu brought to an end and word of the court's successful suppression of the rebellion arriving, the earlier turmoil within the capital immediately subsided. Though it could not be said that scholars and commoners alike were wholly at ease, the situation was on the whole moving toward stability.

For the people of the Eastern Capital and the Central Plains alike, though they could not be certain how long this Great Han dynasty would last, it ought to hold together for at least a few years, surely. From the Liang to the Tang to the Jin—even the shortest-lived Shi Jin had managed nearly a decade on the throne... As long as there was no war to ravage them, a few years of peaceful days, even if hard, were not unacceptable.

The ground was frozen and the cold bitter. South of the Eastern Capital, an unusually large crowd of common folk had gathered, buzzing with murmured discussion. Every open mouth sent a plume of steam into the air, lending a touch of warmth to the bitter winter.

Several commands of the imperial army stood guard around them, bearing ceremonial banners and drawn up in neat ranks, while others were detailed to keep order. Yang Bin and the other civil and military officials had all come in full formal dress—brocade and sable furs, an air of wealth and rank that stood in sharp contrast to the coarse cloth and hempen garments of the commoners around them.

Word had already spread that the army would reach the capital today. The people had gathered not really to bask in the might of a victorious returning host—they did not yet feel that pride or sense of belonging toward the Han court. Most had come to wait for fathers, brothers, and sons who had gone off to war...

Some craned their necks, straining for a glimpse; some prayed in silence; some wore worried, anxious expressions, unable to keep still... All sorts, each showing a different state of mind.

The civil and military officials, led by Yang Bin, also stood on the cold, hard ground, feeling the chill creep up from their feet into their bodies.

Yang Bin's expression was almost excessively grave, the muscles of his face seeming frozen solid, a gloomy cast hanging between his brows, as if he had encountered something deeply troubling. Wang Zhang stood at his side, visibly thinner by a notch, his face full of bitterness, a few more strands of grey at his temples. Su Yugui, Dou Zhengu, Li Tao, and other chief ministers were also in the ranks.

Shi Hongzhao and several senior generals of the imperial army who had remained in the capital waited off to one side, the civil and military keeping clearly apart. Shi Hongzhao lacked the patience of Yang Bin and the others. He could not stand still, pacing back and forth, rubbing his hands together and muttering curses at the wretched weather.

"Didn't the imperial carriage reach Chenqiao yesterday? It's already past noon—why hasn't it arrived yet?" Shi Hongzhao complained. "Send someone to look!"

The imperial camp had reached Chenqiao the day before, and Liu Zhiyuan had sent word that there was no need to come out to greet him. Still, as this was the first large-scale suppression campaign since the founding of the state, how could they show nothing? Yang Bin and the others had come of their own accord to welcome the emperor. They had been waiting since the hour of Chen—nearly two shichen now—and still there was no sign of movement. Hands and feet were stiff, and still no shadow of the army. No wonder Shi Hongzhao was anxious and impatient.

"Chancellor of the Bureau, it looks like His Majesty won't be arriving for some time yet. Why not go rest a while longer?" Su Yugui, finding it hard to bear, sidled over and suggested to Yang Bin.

These high officials and great ministers, of course, could hardly be expected to stand stock-still in the winter cold for two full shichen. In between, they had taken turns resting in the makeshift shelters off to the side, even setting up braziers, brewing tea, with servants in attendance...

Yang Bin looked up at the sky. Rarely, the sun was actually shining overhead, but it was still cold—mainly the wind made it miserable. When he opened his mouth, a puff of white vapor emerged: "The weather is cold. If you gentlemen find it hard to endure, you may go rest for a while."

But he himself made no move to go, lowering his head slightly as he pondered matters. With him in that posture, the others found it awkward to leave, and could only shift their feet in place and breathe warm air into their cupped hands. Any pretense of courtly bearing or proper decorum, they could no longer be bothered to maintain.

"All of you, shut up! All this racket—what sort of decorum is this?!" At that moment, Shi Hongzhao suddenly exploded, barking at the common folk waiting all around.

He had been irritated by the noisy environment and simply wanted to vent. With his outburst, the noise around him immediately dropped considerably. Commander Shi's "prestige" was something the common folk of the Eastern Capital had generally heard of.

"This Shi Hongzhao grows more arrogant by the day!" Wang Zhang, phlegm in his throat, gave a light cough.

Hearing this, Yang Bin glanced over toward Shi Hongzhao, his expression cold. He withdrew his gaze without saying anything, but the disgust in his eyes was plain to see.

After waiting a little longer, an imperial cavalry rider returned and announced in a loud voice that the army was about to arrive...

"Your subjects welcome Your Majesty's triumphant return!"

When the imperial carriage arrived, all the civil and military officials bowed in unison, their voices so well-coordinated that for a moment they drowned out the surrounding clamor.

"Rise!" Liu Zhiyuan descended from the carriage, looking at Yang Bin and the other ministers, then sweeping his gaze around, he chided lightly: "Did I not say that you ministers should each tend to your own duties and need not come to greet me? Why make such a great show of it? The weather is so cold, and you've drawn out so many common folk to gawk as well?"

At this, Yang Bin replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, sparing no hardship, personally campaigned against the rebels and now returns. We ministers, sitting idle in the Eastern Capital, are truly ashamed, and naturally ought to come to welcome you. As for these common folk, they came of their own accord to wait for you—how would we dare do anything to disturb the people..."

Liu Chengyou, standing nearby, cast a sidelong glance at Yang Bin. This Chancellor of the Bureau carried more authority and presence than ever. Perhaps sensing Liu Chengyou's gaze, Yang Bin shot him a look from the corner of his eye, but did not dare hold his gaze for long.

Liu Zhiyuan had no intention of saying more about his explanation. He waved a hand: "March the army into the city!"

The returning imperial army, under the command of their respective officers, entered the city in orderly fashion and returned to their original barracks. Throughout the process, one could hear from time to time the delighted voices of the common folk around them—cheers of those who had found their loved ones. Of course, after today, quite a few households would also be hanging up white funeral banners. In suppressing the rebellion, a good number of soldiers had died after all...

"How fared affairs at court during my campaign?" After returning to the palace, Liu Zhiyuan went straight to Chuigong Hall and summoned only a few ministers—Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, and a handful of others.

"With His Highness the Prince of Wei overseeing the state, handling court affairs and reassuring the people, everything has proceeded in order." Yang Bin reported with head bowed, though his voice was somewhat low.

Hearing this, Liu Zhiyuan nodded, then asked curiously: "Eh? Where is the Prince of Wei? Why haven't I seen him?"

At these words, Yang Bin and the others below fell silent for a moment, exchanging glances, their eyes full of hesitation, as if the matter were hard to broach.

"What's going on?" Seeing their demeanor, Liu Zhiyuan pressed, his tone already turning cold.

Unable to suppress a shiver, Yang Bin clasped his fists and answered: "To report to Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince of Wei... is gravely ill and bedridden..."

Before setting out on campaign, Liu Zhiyuan had made the Prince of Wei, Liu Chengxun, regent of the state. Liu Chengxun, keenly feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, naturally applied himself diligently, toiling day and night, handling court affairs, steadying the people's hearts, and also having to marshal grain, weapons, and military supplies to provision Yedu. It was a high-intensity workload. Even with Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, and other ministers lending their full support, with a thousand matters pressing in on him, Liu Chengxun still could not hold out. His health had never fully recovered from before, and suddenly bearing the weight of all state affairs, he finally collapsed once word of the end of the fighting at Yedu arrived. Once stricken, he took to his bed and could not rise—it was very serious...

Hearing this explanation, Liu Zhiyuan slammed his fist hard against the imperial desk and roared at Yang Bin and the others: "Why was this not reported to me earlier?!"

Whether from agitation or because the blow had hurt his hand too much, Liu Zhiyuan's hand trembled as he spoke.

Facing Liu Zhiyuan's angry interrogation, all the ministers uniformly bowed their heads low. It was Yang Bin who sighed and said: "It was His Highness's instruction. He feared Your Majesty would worry, and so..."

Before he could finish, Liu Zhiyuan cut him off directly, demanding sternly: "How is the Prince of Wei now? Have the imperial physicians examined him? What did they say?"

"According to the physicians, His Highness had earlier caught a chill that never fully healed. This collapse was brought on by overexertion. They have already prescribed medicine, but there has been no improvement yet. It is said..."

Having no interest in listening to Yang Bin speak further, Liu Zhiyuan, dragging his own increasingly heavy body, gave the order: "Prepare the carriage—to the Prince of Wei's residence!"

This chapter is short.