Chapter 174: The Emperor's Passing

For the Great Han court, the first month of the first year of Qianyou had not been easy. There were military disasters without and famine within, the Emperor lay ill in bed, and even the Lantern Festival had passed without any flavor or joy.

On the twenty-fourth day, rumors once again spread through the palace that the Emperor had fallen into a coma. Thereafter the palace gates were tightly shut, and the Emperor refused to see anyone. Shortly after, several palace women were beaten to death, and the entire imperial city fell into a grim silence.

But the court was now thoroughly unstable. Even the most foolish person could sense that the Great Han might be about to change hands, and in an instant, a great many gazes unconsciously turned toward the Eastern Palace.

In the Hall of State Affairs, several chief ministers were present, including Chief Ministers Shi Hongzhao and Liu Xin. The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. Liu Chengyou sat upright in the host's seat, his face indifferent, only his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze occasionally darting toward Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao.

"Your Highness, Xuzhou has memorialized that unrest has broken out—rioters have colluded with bandits to storm the official granaries and seize money and grain!" Yang Bin broke the silence, reporting to Liu Chengyou.

"If rioters are attacking the city, just have the local authorities suppress them. What about the garrison troops of the Zhongwu Army Military Governor?" Su Fengji cut in directly.

"Xuzhou has no one in charge to control the overall situation, and the various aides are not cooperating, making it difficult to suppress..." Yang Bin said calmly, though his gaze kept flickering toward Liu Xin.

Although Liu Xin had been appointed Military Governor of the Zhongwu Army, he had not taken up his post there. The military and civil affairs of Xuzhou were handled by his staff aides and civil and military officials dispatched by the court.

Liu Chengyou, however, read the implication between the lines and asked: "What does the Commissioner have in mind?"

Yang Bin seemed to have been prepared for this and answered directly: "Commander-in-Chief Liu is the Zhongwu Military Governor. With unrest in his jurisdiction and instability in the prefectures and counties, he should hasten to his post and suppress the rebellion!"

"I'm not going!" No sooner had Yang Bin finished than Liu Xin blurted out bluntly: "A bunch of base commoners making trouble—do I need to go in person?"

Liu Xin clearly failed to notice anything unusual. He didn't want to go simply because he couldn't bear to part with the comfort and ease of the Eastern Capital. Moreover, Liu Zhiyuan's grave illness had some effect on him as well.

Hearing this, Yang Bin's eyes widened and he shouted in a raised voice: "The Commander-in-Chief is both a military governor and a member of the imperial clan. Now that the people under your governance have risen in revolt, do you not know to pacify the realm and settle the people for the sake of the state, for the Great Han's rivers and mountains?"

Those words stumped Liu Xin, who didn't know how to answer, but he stubbornly shot back: "I'm not going!"

Yang Bin's brows shot up. He glanced at Shi Hongzhao, then pressed his gaze menacingly toward Liu Xin, about to unleash another barrage of rhetoric when Liu Chengyou interrupted him.

"Commissioner Yang need not be so agitated!" Liu Chengyou stared at Yang Bin, speaking in a slow, unhurried tone: "My uncle is the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, assisting in managing the imperial army. A bunch of rioters—why should he trouble himself to go? If a mere prefecture or county has a popular disturbance and we need a dignified commander of the imperial army to pacify it, if word of this spreads, how would the world view the Great Han? Is the court so bereft of men?"

"What do you think, Commander-in-Chief Shi?" Liu Chengyou suddenly turned to look at Shi Hongzhao.

Shi Hongzhao seemed caught off guard. He hemmed and hawed for a moment, then answered: "What Your Highness says also has merit, but—"

Not letting him finish the rest of his sentence, Liu Chengyou said forcefully: "Since Commander-in-Chief Shi agrees with my view, then it's settled. We'll simply dispatch an officer from the imperial army to go. I propose that Shi Honglang, Chief Inspector of the Xiaodi Army, lead a force of Xiaodi soldiers to quell the rebellion. What do you think?"

"Your minister seconds the motion!" Su Fengji immediately voiced his support.

"Shi Honglang is Commander Shi's younger brother. He has served in the army for many years and must have received some true instruction at Commander Shi's side. A bunch of rioters—he should be able to settle them with a turn of his hand!" Dou Zhengu, who had been silent all along, spoke up.

Shi Hongzhao ordinarily enjoyed being flattered, but at this moment, although he was being praised, he truly could not muster a smile.

With a hint of amusement in his gaze, Liu Chengyou looked at Yang Bin. But to his disappointment, Yang Bin seemed to have shut himself off, his face bitter, head slightly bowed, saying nothing more.

"In that case, let the edict be drafted!"

After the discussion dispersed, Yang Bin did not continue working in the Hall of State Affairs. He left the palace directly. Only after passing through the palace gates did he turn back to look at the imperial city, let out a long sigh, his eyes unable to conceal their desolation.

He had gone to all this trouble, only to have Liu Chengyou defuse and turn it back on him in a few words, resulting instead in Shi Hongzhao's younger brother being sent out of the capital. A feeling of powerlessness filled his heart. What frustrated Yang Bin even more was that the chief ministers were gradually falling silent, leaving him to fight alone. Under normal circumstances, shouldn't it be these chief ministers joining forces to keep the young lord in check?

Liu Chengyou understood Yang Bin's calculations very well—nothing more than using that little disturbance in Xuzhou to send Liu Xin, the pillar of support Liu Zhiyuan had arranged for him, packing off to the Eastern Capital.

A somewhat naive idea. At this critical moment, Yang Bin still seemed unable to see the situation clearly. Liu Chengyou's confidence had never rested on Liu Xin, this uncle who couldn't accomplish anything.

For some unknown reason, after returning to his residence, Yang Bin submitted a memorial requesting sick leave, then closed his gates and refused all visitors, as if he had completely shut himself off.

When he learned of this, Liu Chengyou was actually taken aback. What was the reason for this? To deal with possible contingencies, Liu Chengyou had made several preparations, and Yang Bin's reaction caught him somewhat "off guard." Nevertheless, Liu Chengyou remained as steady as Mount Tai, having people keep watch on Yang Bin's side, as well as on Shi Hongzhao.

"Your minister pays respects to the Crown Prince!"

"Rise, Minister Tao!" Seeing Tao Gu, who had come seeking him, Liu Chengyou set down the brush in his hand.

Lately, owing to his origins in the Prince of Zhou's household, Tao Gu had been somewhat ostentatious in the Chancellery.

But before Liu Chengyou, he still kept his head low and eyes downcast, looking at Liu Chengyou with a fawning expression.

"What do you seek me for? Has something gone wrong with a government order?" Liu Chengyou asked.

At this, Tao Gu looked around in all directions, then leaned in mysteriously and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, His Majesty is gravely ill."

Isn't that obvious? Liu Chengyou knit his brows and stared at him, waiting for what came next.

Seeing this, Tao Gu quickly added: "Your Highness has been entrusted with regency, and of course must be diligent in government affairs. But as the heir apparent, if you do not attend to His Majesty's medicine and care, how can you live up to the expectations of the realm?"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou was first taken aback, then seemed to gain some insight. All that talk of "living up to the expectations of the realm" was not the point. Attending to His Majesty's medicine and care at his bedside, staying by Liu Zhiyuan's side—that was what mattered most. Tao Gu was reminding him of this.

"I shall go to Wansui Hall at once!"

Soon, Liu Chengyou left all court affairs to ministers Wang, Su, Dou, Li, and others, and went himself to Wansui Hall, where he joined Lady Li in caring for Liu Zhiyuan.

Spring breezes gradually greened the banks of the Bian River, and the weather was turning warm yet still cold. But the atmosphere in the Han palace grew ever heavier. After dragging on for these two or three days, the Emperor could no longer hold out.

In the evening, the sky was dim. In Wansui Hall, before the imperial couch, with Liu Chengyou at the head, a crowd of people had already knelt prostrate, each with head bowed, their expressions unreadable.

Liu Zhiyuan lay on the couch, his dim gaze fixed on the bed curtains, clearly at death's door, in his final moments. Empress Dowager Li sat at the side of the couch, holding an empty medicine bowl in her hand, somewhat dazed. She was not weeping, but her dignified countenance bore obvious sorrow, her eyes slightly reddened.

Shi Hongzhao, Wang Zhang, the two Sus, Dou and Li, Guo Wei, Bai Wenke, Feng Dao... more and more ministers arrived upon hearing the news. This was clearly a scene of entrusting the orphan.

But this time, it was not only those outside ministers—Liu Xin, Liu Chengyun, Li Hongjian, Li Hongxin, Song Yanwo, these imperial clansmen and relatives were also among those present.

Faintly, some sobbing could already be heard, and it slowly spread.

"What are you crying about? I'm not dead yet!" Liu Zhiyuan's hoarse voice carried the last stubbornness before his departure from this world.

At these words, the sobbing grew even heavier. Interestingly, Lady Li, Liu Chengyou, and Liu Chenghsun—the three people closest to Liu Zhiyuan—showed no reaction.

"Who else hasn't come?" After a pause, Liu Zhiyuan asked.

A palace eunuch quickly glanced around and answered: "Commissioner Yang is still missing."

"Oh." Liu Zhiyuan's mind seemed already somewhat clouded, and he murmured: "I heard he's ill too?"

No one answered Liu Zhiyuan, or perhaps no one thought to answer his question. After a moment of silence, accompanied by a "heart-rending" cry, Yang Bin burst in and immediately knelt prostrate before the sickbed. As if he had arrived one step too late.

Unfortunately for him, Liu Zhiyuan was still clinging to his last breath. He forced himself to have Lady Li help him sit up, crossing his legs on the couch, still wrapped in his quilt. His hazy eyes swept over the dense crowd of people before the couch, pausing briefly on Liu Chengyou.

Hunched over, back bent, his breath unsteady, Liu Zhiyuan spoke slowly: "I, with my humble person, by the fortune of heaven, obtained the sacred vessel and entered the Central Plains, establishing the imperial domain. Though the barbarian invaders pressed hard and I had merit in rescuing the drowning, yet after ascending the throne, the times were difficult. Eager to end killing, I had no leisure to promote benevolence. In destroying the rebel commanders, my exactions were harsh and cruel, causing the people under my rule to suffer the ravages of war. I have had the heart to govern the realm and end military campaigns, but grave illness has taken hold of my body, chronic disease has erupted, and heaven grants me no more years..."

Speaking haltingly, Liu Zhiyuan reached this point, and a burst of weeping erupted before the couch, cries of "His Majesty" unceasing. Of the people behind him, who knew how many wept sincerely for Liu Zhiyuan. As for Liu Chengyou, his eyes reddened, and he forced out a few tears, but to make him wail loudly, hysterically—that was asking too much.

At this moment, Liu Chenghsun could no longer hold it in either. With a "waa" he burst into loud crying, then threw himself before the couch.

But Liu Zhiyuan had no leisure to comfort his young son. Seeing the commotion in the hall, he gave Lady Li a look. Lady Li gently wiped the corner of her eyes, drew Liu Chenghsun into her embrace, and said to the assembled ministers: "Silence! His Majesty still has more to say!"

At once, the weeping quieted considerably.

After a pause, Liu Zhiyuan raised a trembling hand, pointed at Liu Chengyou, and said with effort: "The Crown Prince is young. From now on, I rely on all of you ministers to support him!"

This was a complete entrustment of his final affairs.

After giving these instructions, Liu Zhiyuan seemed to have exhausted all his energy. He bade everyone withdraw, leaving only Liu Chengyou behind, as if he had one last admonition to give.

Only father and son remained in the hall. Liu Chengyou stepped forward and was suddenly seized by Liu Zhiyuan—whose grip was surprisingly strong. Liu Zhiyuan's eyes had grown exceedingly dim. He said to Liu Chengyou, "Second Son, I was not a good emperor. You have great talent; the weighty burden of the Great Han's realm I now entrust to you. Complete for your father the cause left unfinished!"

Liu Chengyou said nothing more, but answered solemnly, "Yes!"

"The abdication edict is with your mother."

"It is only a pity that I could not live to see my grandson born."

"I know not whether it will be a boy or a girl..."

In the latter half of the night, the Great Han Emperor Liu Zhiyuan passed away, and wailing filled the imperial city.