Chapter 1653: The First Chancellor to Be Executed

Perhaps sensing Emperor Liu's gaze, Liu Wenhai spurred his horse forward. From ten zhang away, he leaped off the horse, landing lightly with a figure as graceful as a swallow. Gazing at Emperor Liu, he trotted forward quickly, approached before the Emperor, bowed deeply, and prostrated himself: "Grandson pays respects to Grandfather!"

Liu Wenhai radiated the vitality of a young lad, along with the nobility and pride of imperial blood ingrained to the bone. Having just engaged in vigorous activity, his face was covered in sweat, but his handsome brow was filled with excitement and joy.

"No need for ceremony, rise quickly!" Emperor Liu raised a hand and said to Liu Wenhai.

An adjective like "affectionate" could probably only be applied to Emperor Liu when facing these grandsons. At ordinary times, even when facing those imperial princes, he was mostly stern and imposing.

Pulling a silk handkerchief from his sleeve, Emperor Liu personally wiped Liu Wenhai's face, then tossed it to him: "Look at you, drenched in sweat and covered in dust. If your grandmother finds out, she'll scold you again! Hurry up and wipe yourself clean!"

"Yes!" Liu Wenhai deftly caught it, directly wiped it across his face, and rubbed himself clean in a rough manner.

The grandmother Emperor Liu referred to was naturally Noble Consort Gao. Perhaps because of her advancing age, or perhaps because she had completely given up hope on the unambitious Prince of Jin, Liu Xi, in recent years Noble Consort Gao had become much more well-behaved. She no longer displayed the aggressiveness of her early years, competing with Empress Fu for favor and stirring up trouble.

Instead, she quietly stayed in her Yaohua Hall to enjoy her remaining years, occasionally reporting to Emperor Liu, and could even leave the palace to visit her family or return to her hometown to pay respects to her ancestors.

However, deep within the palace, with beauty faded by age, Emperor Liu rarely visited her, so loneliness was naturally inevitable. Fortunately, Liu Xi was filial and entrusted his eldest son Liu Wenhai to her care, giving her some emotional sustenance.

Thus, in her later years, Noble Consort Gao seemed to have found her former drive once again, and began to diligently nurture her grandson Liu Wenhai, just as she had done with Liu Xi in the past.

What gratified Noble Consort Gao was that Liu Wenhai was no less clever and quick-witted than his father, but he was diligent and eager to learn, setting grand ambitions at a young age. Unlike his father's laziness, he excelled in both martial arts and academics, earning much praise.

Thanks to this, Emperor Liu naturally paid more attention to and doted on this grandson from the Prince of Jin's household, occasionally summoning him to his side to test and encourage him.

While wiping his sweat, Liu Wenhai couldn't help but grin and respond to Emperor Liu: "Running a few laps on horseback, even if Grandmother scolds me a bit, it's no trouble!"

There was a clever spark in his light smile. Emperor Liu laughed heartily, pointed at the horse Liu Wenhai had ridden, and asked: "How is this horse? This is a fine steed presented as tribute from Shandan. Do you like it?"

"Naturally it's a fine horse!" Liu Wenhai hurriedly nodded: "Naturally I like it!"

"Since you like it, it's yours!" Emperor Liu said with a magnanimous air.

Upon hearing this, Liu Wenhai didn't rush to express gratitude. Instead, he furrowed his brow slightly before shaking his head: "Grandson doesn't want this horse!"

This rather surprised Emperor Liu, who asked curiously: "Why?"

Liu Wenhai chuckled: "This horse has long been tamed, too docile, not spirited enough. Though strong, it has no distinctive character. Horses like this, throughout the realm, though they count as fine stock of the upper grade, are still quite ordinary..."

Hearing Liu Wenhai's words, Emperor Liu was stunned for a moment, then another burst of laughter erupted from his mouth: "You little brat, your ambitions are certainly not small, turning up your nose even at an imperial steed. Still, this spirit of yours is about the same as your Fourth Uncle's back in the day!"

At Emperor Liu's words, Liu Wenhai was immediately delighted, though he tried to hide his smile with modesty: "How could Grandson compare with Fourth Uncle? I can only strive to learn from and emulate him!"

Emperor Liu looked at this grandson, his eyes nearly squinting into slits. He was indeed somewhat moved, seeing a shadow of Zhao Wang Liu Fang's youth in him. However, compared to Liu Fang, who was somewhat "lopsided" in his studies, Liu Wenhai was also quite accomplished in letters, already able to compose poetry and prose.

A palace eunuch came rushing over. Yan Tuo, who kept his eyes and ears open in all directions, noticed and hurriedly went to meet him. How could this escape Emperor Liu's notice? Seeing them whispering in each other's ears, he immediately asked: "What is it?"

Yan Tuo dismissed the eunuch, quickly approached, and said respectfully: "The Crown Prince has arrived!"

"No need to return to the traveling palace, have him come here!" Saying this, Emperor Liu braced himself on his bamboo staff and bent down. Seeing this, Liu Wenhai hurriedly came over to support Emperor Liu as he sat down on the ground.

Emperor Liu said to Gao Qiong: "Minister Gao, you sit with me for a while too!"

"Yes!"

Seeing this, Liu Wenhai obediently sat to the side. As for Yan Tuo, he personally went to welcome the Crown Prince. Soon, Liu Yang arrived, walking at a somewhat brisk pace, only slowing down when he drew near and saw Emperor Liu casually sitting by the banks of Jinming Pool, chatting and laughing with Gao Qiong.

After paying his respects, he also sat down cross-legged. Emperor Liu looked at Liu Yang and asked directly: "What happened again that required you to come personally? Couldn't wait for me to return to the palace?"

At the question, Liu Yang revealed a reserved smile, then reported solemnly: "The Three Judicial Offices have concluded their investigation and interrogation of Lu Duoxun. As for how to convict and sentence him, I request Your Majesty's decree!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu's expression didn't change much, but his tone became drawn out: "Finally over, huh... I've said it several times already — handle everything according to the Criminal Code, dispose of it according to law. Why do you still need to come ask me? The investigation is over; how to pass sentence — don't Xin Zhongfu and the others have any opinion?"

Sensing the displeasure in Emperor Liu's tone, Liu Yang hesitated for a moment, then still defended the matter: "Lu Duoxun is after all a chancellor, and this case involves grave matters with wide-reaching implications. After all the turmoil until now, a result has finally been reached. Minister Xin and the others being cautious and prudent is understandable. Without Your Majesty's instruction, how would they dare to rashly pass judgment! In both reason and propriety, this matter still requires Your Majesty's guidance!"

Emperor Liu neither approved nor disapproved of Liu Yang's words. After thinking for a moment, he asked: "What is Xin Zhongfu's opinion? Don't just look to me for instructions. These men who know the law well and were in charge of the investigation — if they don't have any thoughts of their own, then what use are they to me?"

Emperor Liu's attitude remained somewhat harsh, and Liu Yang also tread carefully: "If judged according to the law, Lu Duoxun's crime falls somewhere between execution and leniency..."

"A fine 'between execution and leniency'!" Emperor Liu was somewhat amused, though his tone was truly chilling.

Emperor Liu's displeasure had already surfaced. At this point, Liu Yang didn't dare to speak rashly, merely lowering his head slightly, silently waiting for the rebuke.

Glancing at him, Emperor Liu laughed again: "Xin Zhongfu is also a decisive and bold official. How is it that this time he's being so wishy-washy and dragging his feet? He doesn't dare come see me himself, instead asking you to report on his behalf!"

After a sigh of reflection, Emperor Liu asked: "Regarding the disposition of Lu Duoxun, have the ministers at court offered any opinions?"

Liu Yang: "Most court officials remain silent, though a few have submitted memorials stating that Lu Duoxun's crimes are too great for pardon and that the laws of the state must be upheld!"

Emperor Liu showed no obvious reaction to this, and asked again: "Has no one submitted a memorial pleading for leniency on Lu Duoxun's behalf?"

Glancing cautiously at Emperor Liu, Liu Yang said: "Chancellor Zhao believes that Lu Duoxun's crimes are grave and should be dealt with according to law. However, since he has served as chancellor for many years with great toil and merit, his life could be spared and he could be sentenced to exile!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu immediately sneered: "What's wrong with Zhao Pu? Even at a time like this, he's still talking to me about merits offsetting faults!

That Lu Duoxun has merits, I acknowledge, and I don't need to deny it. But as for his contributions — did the court not reward him in the past? Did it not commend him? Have I treated him shabbily?

Using old merits to offset new crimes — is there such a provision in the Criminal Code?"

Emperor Liu began criticizing again, and this time he was mercilessly criticizing Zhao Pu, speaking rather harshly. However, though his words were stern, they couldn't even convince Liu Yang — wasn't this just a matter of one word from him?

After all, Emperor Liu stood above the law. But though he invoked the Criminal Code on one hand and the legal system on the other, many of Lu Duoxun's crimes truly couldn't be reflected in the Criminal Code.

But regardless, from Emperor Liu's attitude alone, one could tell — Lu Duoxun was in grave danger!

Emperor Liu continued with his piercing words: "Zhao and Lu are mortal enemies, yet he actually pleads for leniency for Lu Duoxun. Don't think I don't know how he's thinking. It's not that this chancellor of his is broad-minded — he's afraid that if there's one, there'll be two..."

At these words, Liu Yang's expression immediately changed. His brow furrowed, and he instinctively lowered his head, not daring to respond.

However, after saying this, Emperor Liu also fell silent. His gaze drifted toward Jinming Pool, sinking into deep thought. The rippling water seemed to reflect his current state of mind.

Whether to kill Lu Duoxun or not was indeed just a single word from Emperor Liu — or even without saying it, just an attitude would suffice. But whether to kill or not, Emperor Liu ultimately had a trace of hesitation. Even if it was just a trace, it prevented him from making a direct decision.

Yet he didn't ponder for long. When Wang Yinwu's report from that day resurfaced in Emperor Liu's mind, his face lost all expression, and his tone carried that chilling indifference: "Since the founding of the Great Han, it seems we've never executed a chancellor! Let Lu Duoxun be the first!"