Chapter 1647: Whether One Forms a Faction or Not Doesn't Matter

At Kunming Hall, after a long absence, Emperor Liu once again came to visit. The reason was simple — the Empress was ill.

Inside the hall, on the phoenix couch, Empress Fu lay quietly in a single garment, her hair scattered, her lips slightly pale, her face bloodless. Through her dignified bearing, a clear frailty showed through. Her youth had long since passed, and the beauty she once possessed was no more. Yet none of this detracted from her status as the most honored woman in the world.

Though her body was weak and her spirits not particularly good, Empress Fu's gaze remained as clear and wise as ever. One hand clutching the thin blanket, she silently watched Emperor Liu.

Feeling Empress Fu's gaze, Emperor Liu smiled and asked, "What, have you not had enough of this old face of mine?"

Empress Fu's strength was truly failing, and her voice came out somewhat faint as she replied, "I have grown old and my beauty has faded. I fear it is Your Majesty who has grown tired of looking at this face of mine!"

Hearing her say this, Emperor Liu's face showed a trace of embarrassment. "What nonsense are you speaking? How could I grow tired of looking at you? Your appearance has long been engraved upon my heart — not something the passage of years could wear away."

As if to cover up something, Emperor Liu added with a slightly guilty tone, "It's just that lately, I've been rather busy and haven't been able to attend to the inner palace. When I heard you were ill, did I not come immediately..."

She calmly watched Emperor Liu until he began to look somewhat awkward, then spoke softly: "Busy with Lu Duoxun's affair?"

Emperor Liu hurriedly nodded and asked, "You've heard about this matter too?"

"These past days, this affair has stirred up a storm throughout the city, with everyone talking about it. How could I not hear of it?" said Empress Fu.

With that, she sighed: "I hear that besides Lu Duoxun himself, quite a number of people have already been arrested. It has become this serious — now the court and the realm are shaken, and people's hearts are unsettled. Do you intend to simply let it continue?"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu couldn't help but frown. Suppressing his slight impatience, he said, "Has someone come begging at your door, stirring up trouble and sowing discord before you?"

Seeing that Emperor Liu was being suspicious again, Empress Fu was silent for a moment, weighing her words carefully before speaking: "I lie ill in bed, unable even to manage myself — how could I meddle in the affairs of the court? I only fear that you will wear yourself out with worry and harm your health..."

He held Empress Fu's gaze for a while, then his expression softened. Reaching out, he smoothed a few strands of hair that clung to Empress Fu's cheek and said softly, "Since your body is unwell, do not trouble yourself with such thoughts. Rest well and recover — the court will not fall into chaos!"

Clearly, Emperor Liu had long since formed his plans on this matter, and his stance was resolute, not to be altered. Seeing this, Empress Fu said nothing more on the subject.

As he smoothed Empress Fu's hair, Emperor Liu's hand suddenly paused, and his tone carried a note of wistfulness: "Your hair has turned so white as well!"

The white strands upon one's head and the wrinkles upon one's face — these are perhaps the most conspicuous signs of aging. Hearing this, Empress Fu smiled faintly, her smile slightly pallid: "At this age, everything follows the natural course of heaven. There is no need for sighs."

The husband and wife chatted idly, one topic drifting to the next, when Empress Fu's personal lady-in-waiting approached the couch and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the medicine has been prepared. Her Grace should take it now!"

Glancing at the steaming bowl of medicine, Emperor Liu stopped her and asked, "What medicine is this?"

"To answer Your Majesty, it was prescribed by the imperial physician — a tonic to nourish the body!"

"Has anyone tested it?"

"It has already been tested!"

Only then did Emperor Liu nod. He took the bowl himself and gestured to her: "Withdraw. There is no need for you to attend here!"

"Yes!" The lady-in-waiting dared not say another word.

Emperor Liu took the spoon and gently stirred it in the bowl. Scooping up a spoonful, he blew on it lightly, then tasted it himself. A slight smile appeared on his face as he said to Empress Fu, "It's fine — the taste isn't too bitter. Take your medicine. Don't dwell on those troublesome matters. For now, your priority is to take good care of yourself."

Seeing Emperor Liu attending to her with such care and gentleness, Empress Fu was deeply moved. Her gaze grew softer, filled with emotion. In all the world, the only person who could make Emperor Liu go to such lengths was likely Empress Fu alone.

Emperor Liu stayed at Kunming Hall accompanying Empress Fu for over an hour before he left. Upon departing, he repeatedly instructed the attendants to take good care of the Empress, and even threatened them with their lives.

Although before Empress Fu, Emperor Liu had appeared gentle and calm, even smiling and making light conversation, his mood was in fact far from good, and he found it difficult to let go of his worries. He was anxious — in recent years, especially over the past year, Empress Fu's health had been deteriorating steadily, growing weaker day by day.

Emperor Liu was afraid — afraid that on some unforeseeable day, Empress Fu would suddenly pass away. If such a thing were to happen, he did not know how he would face it. Though he was extremely unwilling to think in that direction, that detestable thought always lingered vaguely in his mind, gnawing at Emperor Liu's spirit.

When he returned to Chongzheng Hall, Crown Prince Liu Yang was already waiting there. The matter at hand was still the Lu Duoxun case. Regarding this case, apart from his statement at the grand court assembly at Chongyuan Hall, Emperor Liu had made no further indication since.

All matters were left to proceed freely below, and on the surface he barely paid attention anymore. The progress of the case was left for Liu Yang to oversee and decide upon. This was also the reason Liu Yang had been able to go to the Ministry of Justice that day to issue directives.

"Sit!" Looking at the Crown Prince, Emperor Liu's spirits were clearly low, and even his speech sounded listless.

"Yes!"

Because of Empress Fu's illness, Emperor Liu had initially wanted to reprimand him a little, but seeing the exhaustion on Liu Yang's face from the heavy affairs of state, he found it hard to speak the words.

He opened his mouth, then said softly, "Your mother is ill. Go and visit her shortly!"

Hearing this, Liu Yang was slightly startled and immediately asked with concern, "How is her condition? Is it serious?"

"An old ailment!" Emperor Liu sighed. "When people grow old, if it's not one thing wrong, it's another. When you go to see her, act normally — don't wear your worry on your face!"

"Yes!" Liu Yang replied with a melancholy air. "I will go to Kunming Hall shortly!"

"By the way, how is Liu Zhao's situation now?" Emperor Liu suddenly asked.

Liu Yang: "The tenth brother now goes by the assumed name Liu Shi, and is currently serving as a county clerk in a certain county in the central region, in charge of prisons and litigation. It is said he is doing quite well!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu also showed a slight smile and instructed, "Call him back! He's nearly twenty-three years old — when he returns, we'll first settle his marriage!"

"Yes!" Liu Yang acknowledged, then hesitated briefly before asking, "Father, is it because of Mother's health?"

"Consider it as bringing joy to dispel misfortune!" Pausing for a moment, Emperor Liu continued, "Your mother gave birth to you three brothers. You are busy with state affairs all day, and Liu Min is far away in Anxi. Let Liu Zhao come back and fulfill his filial duty!"

"How is the Lu Duoxun case progressing?" Waving his hand, Emperor Liu asked, his expression gradually returning to calm.

At this mention, Liu Yang replied gravely, "At present, based on the verification and deliberation of the Three Judicial Offices over these past few days, thirty-seven charges have already been established. The investigation and collection of evidence are still ongoing!"

"Ha!" Emperor Liu let out a cold laugh, whether in reflection or something else: "Wang Yucheng only impeached him on fifteen charges, and before that investigation even concluded, Xin Zhongfu and the others have already come up with thirty-seven?"

Liu Yang could not quite discern whether His Majesty was satisfied with this progress, so he could only report the facts: "Among them, the crime of forming a faction is the most serious. The number of officials implicated in connection with him amounts to several hundred, of whom over a hundred have been clearly identified as having engaged in benefit transfers or correspondence. Within three days, twenty-three people have come to the Ministry of Justice on their own initiative to surrender and report Lu Duoxun..."

"It seems they have placed the focus of their investigation entirely on the matter of faction-forming!" Emperor Liu sneered: "Everyone is attacking factionalism and self-dealing, everyone is accusing others of cliquish exclusion — but within the court, who does not form a faction?"

Emperor Liu's words left Liu Yang stunned. Was this not what angered him the most? Sensing Liu Yang's confusion, Emperor Liu said flatly: "Being a solitary minister is no easy task! For a solitary minister to get things done and rise in rank — is that easy? When there's a shortcut to take, who wouldn't want someone to attach themselves to, someone to serve as a backer?"

Emperor Liu's words gave Liu Yang much to ponder. He asked, "Should I send word to have the direction of the investigation changed?"

"No need!" Emperor Liu directly rejected the idea: "Let them investigate!"

"Additionally, these past days, many court officials have submitted memorials impeaching Lu Duoxun, and quite a few have also reported crimes of Lu Duoxun arrogating power and violating the law..."

Emperor Liu was not surprised by this, but he still could not help but sneer: "Fine! Now they all jump out. What were they doing before the matter came to light? Among these people impeaching Lu Duoxun, how many of them were actively currying favor with him on ordinary days?"

Liu Yang instinctively lowered his head — he knew this would be Emperor Liu's reaction. Once Emperor Liu's emotions had calmed somewhat, Liu Yang again sought instruction: "Father, regardless of how conclusive the evidence is, Lu Duoxun continues to deny everything. Yet his crimes cannot be denied by himself. The investigation is currently proceeding in an orderly manner and will eventually come to an end. As for how to convict and punish Lu Duoxun, we await your directive!"