Chapter 1640: The Decade-Long Struggle Should Also Come to an End

Inside Chongzheng Hall, a dark tone prevailed. The curtains were not drawn open as in the past, no candles were lit, and only thin strands of sunlight seeped through the cracks in the doors and windows, bringing a faint glimmer.

In the height of summer, it was only the ice placed indoors to ward off the heat that brought a slight chill; otherwise, Emperor Liu, with his body that feared cold yet dreaded heat, would have long been unable to bear it.

With the growth of years and the change of temperament, Emperor Liu increasingly preferred to hide himself in darkness. Light seemed to have become his enemy, while black appeared to have become his protective coloration, bringing him a sense of security.

At this moment, within Chongzheng Hall, all the palace eunuchs had been dismissed, including the chief eunuch Zhang Dejun, who was kept waiting outside. Before the imperial desk, a man knelt—clad in black robes, black cloak, and black hat, the whole of his person seeming to exude a black aura, matching the atmosphere of the hall.

The position where he knelt was relatively close to the imperial desk, even closer than the spot where ministers like Zhao Pu knelt for audience. Clearly, this was for the convenience of speaking, and it also indicated Emperor Liu's "trust."

On the imperial desk lay a sheet of white paper. Emperor Liu, holding a vermilion brush, was carefully writing something. His movements were slow, his expression heavy, and his tone measured: "By what you say, the Palace City Office is not so clean after all. Zhang Dejun has some collusion with the ministers, does he?"

"According to this one's investigation, the Commissioner of the Palace City does indeed have some private dealings with certain ministers at court. During festivals, gifts are exchanged. As for the specifics of how they are connected, solid evidence is still lacking," the kneeling man stated flatly, his voice almost devoid of emotion.

"Unclear and ambiguous—that in itself means there is a problem! Otherwise, if one were clean and upright, why need private dealings? Does Zhang Dejun need to rely on courtiers to maintain his power and wealth?" Emperor Liu said indifferently.

Pausing for a moment, Emperor Liu asked again: "What of the collusion with Zhao Pu?"

The man before the desk fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "According to records, the close relationship between Chancellor Zhao and the Commissioner of the Palace City has developed over the past five years. Though there have been no secret meetings, contact does exist. Gifts are exchanged between them—though few are rare treasures, they have never ceased. Several officials of the Palace City Office who were posted to outside duties were arranged by Chancellor Zhao. As for what Chancellor Zhao has received from the Commissioner of the Palace City, that still requires verification."

"In other words, so-called private favoritism!" Emperor Liu said coldly, his tone sending a chill down one's spine.

In truth, as he had said, there was no great problem in the exchanges between Zhao and Zhang. In a society of human relationships, personal dealings are only natural, and problems like this were even more commonplace in officialdom. In ordinary times, it would hardly be worth mentioning.

The key lay in how Emperor Liu viewed it. With the matter of Wang Yinwu serving as a prelude, given Emperor Liu's current state of extreme sensitivity and vigilance, any small matter would swell into a great problem in his eyes, brewing into a great disaster.

And every matter would leave a thorn in Emperor Liu's heart, stabbing his inner self while also making him colder and harder. Every move, every breath, brought with it great terror.

"Enough. There is no need for you to say more, and I have no mind to listen further!" Emperor Liu waved his hand lightly and said: "Withdraw. Do what you ought to do well."

"Yes! This one understands!" Without any superfluous words, he rose, bowed, turned, and left. Apart from his utterly respectful bearing, there was nothing hesitant or dragging about him.

The visitor had come in an ordinary manner and left with equal low profile, but such a situation of dismissing others for a private audience could hardly escape attention. Of course, the one most concerned was Zhang Dejun.

Standing beneath the corridor of the hall, watching the figure walking with hands clasped and head bowed in hurried steps, Zhang Dejun's expression could not help but reveal a hint of surprise, and doubt surfaced in his eyes.

He pondered for a long while but found it hard to understand. Naturally, speculation in his heart was unavoidable. Zhang Dejun recognized the man—Zhou Fang, a regular attendant of the Palace Domestic Service, who currently managed the tea and wine affairs of the palace.

In terms of rank, he was already not low among eunuchs. In the eunuch system of the Great Han at present, only two men held the fourth rank: one was Zhang Dejun, and the other was this man. This was already the ceiling for eunuch treatment, at least in the current dynasty.

Below these two were the various regular attendants of the Palace Domestic Service and the various palace supervisors. And this Zhou Fang was merely one who managed tea and wine, usually keeping a low profile and rarely contending with others.

In the past, Zhang Dejun had never paid him any attention, but now it seemed this man was by no means simple. Though Zhang Dejun was a eunuch of the Palace Domestic Service and spent most of his time attending before the imperial presence, that was not absolute—at least, he had never before noticed anything special about this Zhou Fang.

Of course, what Zhang Dejun felt most deeply now was about Emperor Liu. How many secrets were hidden within this deep palace? The emperor's inscrutability was largely reflected in this.

As for this Zhou Fang, he should pay more attention to him in the future. Zhang Dejun thought to himself that perhaps he could send someone to probe a little. Such a thought flashed through his mind, but was quickly extinguished by Zhang Dejun himself. Why? Simply because he dared not. Too much curiosity invited trouble—this was roughly the experience he had summed up from serving beside Emperor Liu for so long.

While Zhang Dejun was lost in thought, a young eunuch walked out, bowed at a ninety-degree angle, and respectfully reported that Emperor Liu was summoning him.

At this news, all stray thoughts vanished. Zhang Dejun straightened his robes, composed his expression into one of deference, and hurried into the hall.

Inside the hall, Emperor Liu was holding the sheet of paper he had just written on, gazing at it in deep thought. It was a list, encompassing the important ministers of all the various departments of the court, as well as a portion of the great regional officials.

Among this string of names, Emperor Liu had made various marks, circling and crossing. Among them, the most conspicuous, without a doubt, was Lu Duoxun, who had been circled separately.

Looking at this name, Emperor Liu's cold gaze rarely revealed a trace of disgust. Zhang Dejun entered and, seeing Emperor Liu so absorbed, immediately bowed and said: "Your Majesty, what instructions do you have?"

Emperor Liu raised his head to look at him. A single glance was enough to make Zhang Dejun's heart tighten. After a moment's deliberation, he instructed: "Go to the Hall of State Affairs and inform the Crown Prince and Zhao Pu that a grand court assembly will be held tomorrow."

Zhang Dejun was startled. Tomorrow was neither the first nor the fifteenth of the month—why hold a grand assembly? Of course, this was merely a thought that flashed through his mind. He dared not ask, and bowed in response: "Yes! This one will go at once!"

After Zhang Dejun left, Emperor Liu lowered his head once more, reviewing the list. Though a hint of contemplation lingered on his face, his gaze was resolute. Originally, Emperor Liu had entertained some notion of watching the show, curious to see just how grand a spectacle Lu Duoxun could stir up, how many people would surface, and how many forces would seize the opportunity to fan the flames and stir up trouble.

But after this period of deliberation, Emperor Liu had finally made a painful decision. The court was, after all, not his playground, and in his heart, he had grown weary, tired, and vexed.

The decade-long struggle between Zhao and Lu, in his view, ought to be brought to a full stop. In the past, a major overhaul had been carried out on the regional governors across the realm, and some court ministers had been sent out to the provinces to change the blood, but the personnel and power structures at the center had not undergone fundamental change.

Though over the past twenty years—within the more than thirty years of Emperor Liu's reign—personnel changes at the center of the court could be considered frequent, in Emperor Liu's current view, it was still not enough.

At the very least, during the years of Zhao Pu's administration, things had tended toward rigidity, and the point had been reached where adjustment was unavoidable. Lu Duoxun had one correct perception: Zhao Pu's position as chancellor was not truly stable, and Emperor Liu's trust was not unconditional. As time passed, this sign would only become more and more apparent.

The matter of Wang Yinwu's confession was merely a trigger.