Chapter 1682: The Loyal Minister and Filial Son, the King of Goryeo

"Changmin has come from afar, weary from the journey by boat and carriage—there's no need to stand on ceremony!" Inside Chongzheng Hall, Emperor Liu spoke warmly to the King of Goryeo, Wang Zhou, who was bowing in salute.

Wang Zhou before the throne was performing the grand ritual of three prostrations and nine kowtows with utmost reverence and piety. In Emperor Liu's eyes, that solemn and devout bearing was far more sincere than that of many of his own ministers.

Of course, perhaps it was because he saw his own ministers every day that he inevitably grew tired of them and suspicious of them, whereas this occasional foreign monarch coming to court gave Emperor Liu a bit of fresh novelty.

Wang Zhou had been escorted back to Goryeo by Xu Xi in the thirteenth year of Kaibao to ascend the throne, and eight years had passed since then. In those eight years, this was already Wang Zhou's third personal visit to court. His loyalty and reverence toward Emperor Liu and the Great Han were recognized even by the court ministers, who all felt this King of Goryeo was quite commendable.

After eight years as king, the once-profligate crown prince had matured somewhat. Of course, perhaps it was that he had no choice but to restrain himself before Emperor Liu, and what he displayed differed somewhat from the impression Emperor Liu had gathered from what he'd heard.

Facing the affable attitude of the Great Han's "kind father," Wang Zhou's mood gradually relaxed. He rose, took his seat, and a smile spread across his round, plump face, making him look utterly simple and honest.

Wang Zhou smiled at Emperor Liu and said, "Your Majesty, on this journey westward, I traveled by both boat and carriage, and I was indeed exhausted. Yet the moment I entered the Eastern Capital, my body and mind relaxed, my fatigue vanished, and I felt an overwhelming warmth, as if I had returned home!"

"Haha." Wang Zhou's words were clearly most pleasing to the ear. Whether or not they came from the heart, such an attitude was genuinely comfortable to behold. Emperor Liu said with a beaming smile, "Changmin, your words fill me with warmth as well!"

"Since it's rare for you to come to the Eastern Capital, stay for a while longer. I've already instructed the protocol officials to make arrangements—they must receive you well and make you feel at home, and let you see the changes the Eastern Capital has undergone these past few years!" Emperor Liu's face was full of delight; it had indeed been some time since he had felt so cheerful.

"Your Majesty's profound kindness moves me beyond words!" Wang Zhou looked honored and hurriedly rose to give thanks.

Emperor Liu waved his hand and said lightly, "Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar? You are an old friend of the Great Han!"

"I thank Your Majesty!"

Wang Zhou bowed again and said, "Your Majesty, Goryeo is a small state with a poor people and meager resources. For this audience, I have specially brought twenty beauties, a thousand catties each of gold and silver, a hundred ginseng roots, and a whale four zhang long—a humble tribute to express my sincerity, offered to Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will deign to accept it!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu smiled: "Changmin's sincerity is most complete, so I shall gladly accept. Not long ago, people came from the South Seas and presented me with some spices, purple wood, coral, and agate. I'll have some prepared for you to take back with you when you return!"

"What Your Majesty bestows, I dare not refuse! I, your servant, bow in thanks to Your Majesty!" Wang Zhou was overjoyed and bowed deeply.

As he spoke, his voice choked up, and tears actually welled in his eyes. Seeing this, Emperor Liu was rather taken aback. Wang Zhou's perfect etiquette, even if it contained an element of performance, left nothing to be faulted—but being moved to the point of tears and sniffling was a bit much.

Emperor Liu beckoned to him and said, "Why go this far? What are you crying about?"

Wang Zhou looked up at Emperor Liu through tear-blurred eyes and said, "Having not seen Your Majesty for years, and finding that you still treat me with such openness and sincerity, I am truly overcome with gratitude. Yet when I see that a few more strands of white hair have appeared on Your Majesty's head, my heart aches for reasons I cannot explain. Your Majesty, you must take good care of your imperial person!"

Hearing Wang Zhou speak such words, Emperor Liu was momentarily stunned, then understood and laughed freely, saying to him, "I am human, not a god—I too have a day of growing old. Your loyal devotion moves me deeply. Rise!"

"Yes!" Only then did Wang Zhou stand up.

Looking at Wang Zhou, Emperor Liu said, "I've heard that in recent years, Goryeo's governance has been clear, the court stable, and the people's hardships alleviated. It seems you've done well as king. Continue your efforts in the future!"

Facing Emperor Liu's praise, Wang Zhou seemed somewhat embarrassed and said modestly, "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's grace and the Great Han's guidance that I have achieved even this small measure of success!"

"Xu Xi is a talented man. Making him your chancellor was the right choice!" Emperor Liu said with a light laugh.

Wang Zhou immediately agreed: "Your Majesty has keen eyes for talent, but without the Great Han's support, even with Xu Xi's efforts alone, Goryeo could hardly enjoy its current peace!"

From beginning to end, Wang Zhou maintained one principle: to fawn upon the Great Han wholeheartedly and without reservation, to revere Emperor Liu with complete devotion, looking every bit the Emperor Liu superfan.

Could Emperor Liu find fault with such a loyal and filial vassal monarch? He even felt a twinge of regret, thinking that his past policies and actions toward Goryeo had been somewhat excessive. The very fact that even Emperor Liu could feel this way showed just how moving Wang Zhou's performance was...

Largely for this reason, Emperor Liu gave Wang Zhou more time, chatting with him, asking after his well-being, and even keeping him to share a meal.

Thus, when Wang Zhou left Chongzheng Hall and exited the palace, he couldn't contain the smile on his face, and his steps were almost floaty. The emperor's attitude pleased him immensely. Even his father Wang Zhao, who had been domineering for decades, had never received such treatment before Emperor Liu—this alone was enough to make him proud. And with Emperor Liu's endorsement, his position was naturally even more secure; no one could shake it.

At the palace gate, Wang Zhen, the Vice Minister of Rites of Goryeo, saw Wang Zhou strolling out slowly after a hearty meal and, forgetting his own sore legs and aching back, hurried forward to meet him.

Wang Zhen was a member of the Goryeo royal clan who had accompanied the king on this visit. Seeing his exhausted appearance, Wang Zhou looked at him with surprise: "You've been waiting here all this time?"

Wang Zhen naturally dared not complain at this moment, and answered with a smile: "It's only proper!"

"You've worked hard!" Wang Zhou patted his shoulder in encouragement.

Seeing his relaxed tone and beaming smile, Wang Zhen asked, "It seems the audience with His Majesty went smoothly?"

Wang Zhou smiled, quite self-satisfied: "His Majesty was in excellent spirits, his manner was affable, and our conversation was most pleasant. He also granted our request—the Ministry of Rites may send more people to the Great Han in the future to study governance. I hear that in recent years, those Japanese dwarfs have been coming to the Great Han frequently, sending many envoys. How can their relationship with the Great Han be closer than ours? In this regard, the Ministry of Rites must step up its efforts!"

"Yes!" Wang Zhen hurriedly acknowledged.

"One more thing!" Wang Zhou thought of something and instructed further: "Send a letter back home and have Xu Xi continue arranging for people to go out to sea and fish. His Majesty is very interested in those great whales—we can catch more of them. They can be offered as tribute and also sold to the Han."

"I understand!" Wang Zhen agreed.

Wang Zhou was in excellent spirits, and even more satisfied with Wang Zhen's deference, so he asked again: "Are the gifts all prepared?"

"All prepared!" Wang Zhen said hurriedly.

"Good! Summon the princess consort and the crown prince—we shall go pay our respects to my father-in-law!" Wang Zhou walked on ahead.

The father-in-law Wang Zhou referred to was Prince Xu, Liu Chengyun. Four years prior, when Wang Zhou's consort had passed away, he had made a special trip to court to request a princess from Emperor Liu.

However, the princesses under Emperor Liu's care were either already betrothed or of unsuitable age—and, more importantly, Emperor Liu himself could not bear to part with them.

But Wang Zhou's sincerity was such that it would have been difficult to refuse him, so a selection was made from among the daughters of the imperial clan. Liu Suo, the fifth daughter of Prince Xu, Liu Chengyun, was of suitable age, and she was enfeoffed as Princess Zhenming and joyfully taken back by Wang Zhou.

The relationship between the Han and Goryeo thus became even closer. Princess Zhenming bore Wang Zhou a son named Wang Song, who was immediately established as Crown Prince and designated heir to the throne.

On this visit to court, seeing Emperor Liu was the foremost matter; the second matter was naturally to visit the old father-in-law at Prince Xu's residence. In this regard, Wang Zhou would certainly not be remiss.

Wang Zhou strode toward the carriage waiting outside the palace, while Wang Zhen followed with soft footsteps, quietly studying Wang Zhou's back, a faint flicker of something unusual passing through his eyes.

As for this king, Wang Zhen didn't know how to evaluate him. To call him clever—well, looking at his deeds and conduct, he hardly seemed like a ruler of ambition; he was fond of women, indulged in pleasure, and scarcely concerned himself with affairs of state.

Yet to call him foolish—his wholehearted fawning upon the Great Han and the Han Son of Heaven was an extremely clever move. At the very least, his throne could no longer be shaken by anyone. One could even say his position was more secure than that of his vigorous, ambitious father.

In the eight years since Wang Zhou had ascended the throne, his days had been carefree and comfortable. All state affairs were entrusted to Xu Xi and a host of other ministers, while he himself practiced governance by doing nothing.

Xu Xi and the others had corrected the harsh policies of the Guangzong era, rehabilitating a large number of those unjustly persecuted in wrongful cases. The effect was immediate—the terrifying political atmosphere of the past was quickly improved, and as the new king, this merit and gratitude naturally accrued to Wang Zhou.

At the same time, under Xu Xi's planning, the field-and-forest land system was introduced domestically, granting lands and forests to officials and soldiers according to rank, and distributing public fields for the common people to cultivate. This won over popular support at a stroke and, to a certain extent, alleviated the political and land conflicts within the country.

Thus, during the years of Wang Zhou's reign, Goryeo experienced a rare era of political harmony and popular contentment—even if it was only on the surface.

Therefore, as his reign lengthened, Wang Zhou's throne naturally grew steadily more secure. With state affairs entrusted to Xu Xi, Wang Zhou could enjoy himself to the fullest, undisturbed by worldly concerns.

Aside from respectfully currying favor with the Great Han, he also devoted his attention to the construction of the capital. His time in Kaifeng had left a deep impression on him, and after returning home, he could not stop thinking about it.

After eight years of effort and investment, Kaijing in Goryeo had come to be known within the country as the "Little Eastern Capital."