Chapter 1655: The Death of the Kaibao Chancellor

Emperor Liu's instructions by the shore of Jinming Pool inevitably spread—and, of course, there was no intention of concealing them—and the shock they triggered in the court exceeded that of any previous political upheaval.

By this point, the life or death of Lu Duoxun was no longer of such great importance; on the contrary, what people cared more about was the attitude Emperor Liu had revealed toward the meritorious nobility and the bureaucracy in this matter.

And this was clearly not reassuring—it was even chilling. Especially that phrase "too few," which was positively hair-raising. So many officials, involving dozens of nobles, all seemed in Emperor Liu's eyes to be lambs awaiting slaughter, to be killed at a word.

Over all these years, the court had tightened official discipline and repeatedly struck at corruption, and indeed many had been executed—whether meritorious nobles or high ministers—but all had followed the principle of enforcing the law according to statute and carrying out justice openly, maintaining a basic decency.

But this time was clearly different, with an unmistakable sense of killing for the sake of killing. From the outbreak of the Lu case to the present, it had come to this in the end.

The court was restless, yet remarkably, a strange silence prevailed. No one dared speak recklessly; everyone began to keep to their place and draw in their claws. No matter how great their dissatisfaction, they could only suppress it, stifle it.

And so, after entering the Kaibao era, the Great Han fell into a peculiar atmosphere—after the upheaval within the court, there emerged a nearly eerie calm.

Within the court, disputes grew fewer, struggles grew fewer, discipline was greatly purified, and all the courtiers were loyal—only, this situation inevitably gave one a somewhat abnormal feeling.

In the Ministry of Justice's prison, Lu Duoxun had been confined for nearly three months now, and the changes that had come over him were more pronounced than in the past twenty years. His graying hair and beard were truly a sight to move one to reflection.

His sunken eye sockets were shot through with bloodshot veins. Beyond the bars, after Zhao Pu, another visitor had arrived in this cold, gloomy prison. After Zhao Pu's prison visit and heart-to-heart talk, Lu Duoxun, though still maintaining his pride in subsequent interrogations, had on the whole become far more cooperative. And with the news of his aged father Lu Yi's death from illness, he had suffered another blow, losing all his remaining resolve and sinking into grief and guilt.

However, this visitor roused what little spirit Lu Duoxun had left. Standing outside the cell was Yan Tuo, the great eunuch renowned throughout the inner and outer courts.

And Yan Tuo's arrival clearly represented Emperor Liu. Seeing Lu Duoxun in such an utterly wretched state, Yan Tuo naturally had no surplus pity—though a measure of reflection was inevitable.

"Open the cell door!" Though the cell's environment was still fairly clean, Yan Tuo still revealed a trace of disgust, his brow twitching with displeasure as he gave the order.

The jailer beside him hurriedly fumbled out his keys and, flustered, opened the cell door, his hands trembling from nervousness. The previous jailer had been replaced—promoted, in fact. It was said that Zhao Pu felt the man had some insight and was a decent minor official, so he had been transferred to serve as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice.

"Lu Duoxun, receive the edict!" Looking at Lu Duoxun sitting there gazing at him, Yan Tuo wasted no time and directly produced a roll of golden-yellow edict silk.

Hearing this, Lu Duoxun almost instinctively rose and knelt to the ground. Even though three months of imprisonment had left his body terribly weakened, his movements remained precise and proper.

Seeing this, Yan Tuo said nothing further. He did not read the edict aloud, but holding it in both hands, he solemnly handed it down to Lu Duoxun, then stood there, silently observing his reaction.

"Your guilty servant receives the edict!" Lu Duoxun was equally solemn, receiving it with deference, concentrating intently, and opening it with a heart full of trepidation.

Soon, the trembling of his hands grew more pronounced, a look of horror appeared on his aged face, and the bright light that had kindled in his eyes rapidly dimmed.

This was a wordless edict. What it meant needed no explanation—Emperor Liu had nothing more to say to Lu Duoxun. And Lu Duoxun clearly understood this as well.

"Hahaha..." An abrupt laugh echoed through the cell—somewhat desolate, somewhat sorrowful.

Tears that seeped out unbidden made Lu Duoxun look even more wretched. Slowly, he rolled up the edict, carefully tucked it into his prison garb, then turned and kowtowed heavily nine times in the direction of the imperial city.

A man like Lu Duoxun could never completely give up until the very last moment. Even before Yan Tuo's arrival, beneath his dejected exterior, a sliver of hope had still lingered in his heart—however faint.

On the one hand, he hoped to see Emperor Liu once more and pour out his true feelings; on the other, he had prepared for the worst—even if he were demoted and exiled, there might still be a chance to rise again.

It had to be said, such thoughts were pitiable and lamentable. Cut off from the world, he had no idea that the outside world had completely changed, and that the partisans and colleagues who had hitched themselves to him had basically been uprooted entirely.

Lu Duoxun finished his kowtows, looked at Yan Tuo, his face still wearing that bleak smile, and said with some emotion: "Eunuch Yan, I beg you to convey to His Majesty that this guilty servant's death is not worth regretting. I only pray that His Majesty's sacred person remains hale and hearty, and that the Great Han's dynastic fortune endures forever!"

From the moment he had handed over the edict, Yan Tuo had kept watching Lu Duoxun, observing his conduct, and felt some stirring in his heart. This was the chancellor who had once wielded immense power and been insufferably arrogant—to have fallen to such a state, it was impossible not to be moved to reflection.

Yan Tuo naturally understood what that edict was about—he had clearly seen that Emperor Liu had not written a single character on it, but had simply handed it directly to him.

At the same time, his awe and reverence for Emperor Liu deepened all the more. Even such a powerful minister could be dealt with so effortlessly. Or rather, any resistance before Emperor Liu was utterly insignificant.

Hearing his entreaty, Yan Tuo hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "I will convey it on your behalf!"

Of course, Yan Tuo was not sympathizing with Lu Duoxun—he simply did not dare to conceal anything. Accompanying Yan Tuo were two guards.

Yan Tuo was fairly satisfied with Lu Duoxun's attitude and reaction. Seeing that he had accepted reality, he waved behind him: "Escort Chancellor Lu!"

That "honorific" was, in all likelihood, the last dignity granted to him.

One of the guards silently brought forward a covered jug of wine. Yan Tuo said with a light laugh: "This is the imperial wine bestowed by His Majesty!"

Hearing this, Lu Duoxun smiled bitterly, kowtowed again: "Your guilty servant thanks Your Majesty for his grace!"

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Within Chongyuan Hall, amidst the resplendent palace, guests gathered in throngs and the powerful assembled in force. In the Eastern Capital, too, it was bustling with excitement—the full moon hung high, casting its clear radiance, and in the ink-black night sky, brilliant fireworks rose one after another, releasing dazzling splendor.

The commotion outside the prison—even confined within these walls, one could keenly feel it. To depart accompanied by such a festive scene... perhaps that was not so bad...

The jug of wine was clearly deadly poison—death came the moment it touched the lips. Yan Tuo had already walked out of the cell. He watched Lu Duoxun's collapsing body and the fallen wine jug, gazing for a long while, before finally instructing the two guards beside him: "You handle the aftermath. I return to the palace to report."

"Yes!"

In truth, the very fact that Lu Duoxun had not been dragged to the Southern Market for public execution was already Emperor Liu's grace beyond the law—leaving some face for this Kaibao chancellor who would have a line in the long annals of history.

Within Chongyuan Hall, ritual music played softly, song and dance flourished in an atmosphere of peace. Emperor Liu was spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with his ministers, having drunk some wine. When Yan Tuo came to report, his drinking motion paused for a moment, then he silently downed a cup and simply responded: "I know."

He gestured for a palace maid to pour another cup of wine, and silently poured it out beside the imperial table. At this imperial banquet, no small number of people had been observing Emperor Liu from start to finish—including Zhao Pu. Noticing Emperor Liu's unusual gesture, he immediately formed some conjecture in his heart. A complex emotion began to brew within him, and he too drained a cup—the fine wine's mellow fragrance now tasting somewhat bitter.

It could already be anticipated that behind this festive joy, a slaughter was about to descend. Within that bright moonlight, perhaps blood was already brewing.

For Zhao Pu, a difficult question also lay ahead: with Lu Duoxun meeting such an end, what path was he to take?