Chapter 1796: Prince Wei Has Returned

On the stone terrace before Wansui Hall, Emperor Liu sat slightly sideways, curled up in his soft chair, enjoying the warmth of the spring sun. Beside him, his grandson Liu Wenji was reciting Han Fei's "The Difficulties of Persuasion," and Emperor Liu listened with great attention.

In recent days, Emperor Liu had continued as usual, summoning the Crown Prince's two sons into the palace every few days, taking them in turns. This seeming enjoyment of familial bliss reflected nothing less than Emperor Liu's regard for his two grandsons—and behind that, of course, lay his consistent recognition of and protection for the Crown Prince.

In truth, with Emperor Liu's eyes and ears, how could he not know how much impact Empress Fu's passing would have on the court, and how much pressure it would place on the Crown Prince? Though he tested the Crown Prince from time to time, the purpose of those tests was hardly to wait for him to make a mistake or catch him in a lapse.

Emperor Liu's efforts were sometimes truly painstaking. At the very least, when the Crown Prince's circle heard that His Majesty had summoned the imperial grandsons into the palace again, they would feel an inexplicable sense of reassurance and were glad to see it.

And with Emperor Liu's attitude, the ruler of the next generation might eventually be chosen between two candidates, but the heir to the throne would face no great surprises. Though he had many sons, there was only one Crown Prince, and he stood as steady as a rock on the stage.

"Not bad—this 'Difficulties of Persuasion' is no short piece, and you've managed to recite it in full!" When Liu Wenji finished, Emperor Liu broke into a slight smile, beckoned Liu Wenji to his knee, and praised him: "But Grandfather still says the same thing: reading mechanically and memorizing mechanically won't do. The principles contained within need to be pondered carefully. If you can glimpse even a third of their flavor, it may prove of great benefit to your future!"

Though Liu Wenji listened somewhat bewildered, he still nodded obediently and answered in a soft voice. Before entering the palace, his mother had exhorted him a thousand times over—to serve Grandfather well, to be respectful and obedient, and not to be the slightest bit rash or improper.

And the affability Emperor Liu showed before his grandson was something others could scarcely imagine—the wrinkles on his old face even deepened.

"Have some water, eat some pastries!" Pointing with his hand, Emperor Liu said to Liu Wenji.

"Yes!"

"Where has Prince Wei's party reached?" Turning his head, Emperor Liu shifted his thoughts and asked Yan Tuo.

Yan Tuo answered swiftly: "Reporting to His Majesty, according to yesterday's relay stations, Prince Wei has already passed Mianchi!"

"Why so slow, still at Mianchi?" Emperor Liu's brows furrowed slightly, his tone showing a hint of impatience—though judging by his expression, he seemed not to realize where Mianchi was.

Yan Tuo glanced at Emperor Liu and reminded him carefully: "Your Majesty, Mianchi is less than two hundred li from the capital. By the itinerary, Prince Wei should be able to reach the capital today!"

"Oh, so he's already reached Mianchi!" Emperor Liu was taken aback for a moment, then his countenance brightened with joy, and he immediately said: "Two hundred li, half a day's travel—even if Liu Min's party has many people, they will surely arrive today. Go to the palace gate and see whether they've arrived!"

"Yes!"

Prince Wei Liu Min had only set out eastward from Anxi after the beginning of spring. Having campaigned in the west for over two years, he had been busy on the Anxi front the whole time, even missing Empress Fu's funeral.

Now that the situation in Anxi had settled somewhat, Liu Min decided to return to the capital to pay homage to Emperor Liu. Of course, seeing Emperor Liu was one matter, reporting on his duties another, and personally returning to request support from the court yet another.

And when Emperor Liu learned that Liu Min was returning, he was very pleased—after all, this was the elder Lady Fu's own son, who had won him such great face in the Western Regions. The joy in his heart could well be imagined.

Liu Min naturally had to arrive in the capital before the Jiaqing Festival. Now the festival was approaching, yet the man had not returned—this was also the third time Emperor Liu had asked Yan Tuo about Liu Min's itinerary.

Yan Tuo departed on his orders, but quickly hurried back, a trace of excitement on his face, and reported to Emperor Liu as if presenting a treasure: "Your Majesty, the guards of Duke Ding'an report that Prince Wei's party has arrived at the palace gate and awaits summons!"

"Oh!" Emperor Liu's face immediately broke into a beaming smile, and he promptly ordered: "Quick! Have Li Jian bring them in to see me! Also, notify the Prince Wei's Dowager Consort—I think there is no one in the capital who cares for or misses Liu Min more than she does!"

"Yes!" This time Yan Tuo's response carried a bit more ease, for Emperor Liu was laughing heartily.

"Grandfather, has Sixth Uncle returned to the capital?" Beside him, Liu Wenji, who had just taken a few bites of pastry, asked curiously.

"Yes!" Emperor Liu said with a smile, noticing a few crumbs stuck at the corner of Liu Wenji's mouth, and added: "Wipe the corner of your mouth—meeting your Sixth Uncle looking like that will make him laugh!"

Liu Wenji smiled, took out a white handkerchief, and wiped the corner of his mouth vigorously.

Before long, guided by Duke Ding'an Li Jian, Liu Min, Yang Yanzhao, and Guo Yi came together to pay homage. These three men were enough to represent the entire western expeditionary army, while the military and civil affairs of Anxi had been temporarily left in the hands of Kang Baoyi and Xiang Deming.

Of course, accompanying them was also a woman and a child—that was Third Princess Liu Xing, along with her and Yang Yanzhao's son, Yang Chuanzhen.

These people were all juniors connected to Emperor Liu by blood and marriage. Seeing them, his heart was filled with boundless joy, and he even rose in person to greet them.

"Your subjects pay respects to Your Majesty!" Liu Min and the others performed their bows with proper formality, strictly by the book.

This made Emperor Liu somewhat displeased, and he shot Liu Min a glare, saying: "What, after all these years, you've grown this distant—you won't even call me Father?"

"Father!" Only then did Liu Min call out, and the word did indeed come out with some difficulty.

Carefully looking Liu Min over from head to toe, Emperor Liu could not help but thump his chest and say: "You have more and more of a commander's bearing. Those years in Anxi were not wasted!"

"It's all thanks to Father's good instruction!"

"I didn't teach you much!" Emperor Liu shook his head instead: "You've always had your own opinions. Whatever achievements you have today are the result of your own efforts!"

"By the way, why isn't your wife here?"

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Liu Min's swarthy face: "She is with child and not fit for a long journey, so she remained in Gaochang!"

"Haha!" Emperor Liu laughed heartily at this: "Excellent! This is another happy occasion! But you're thirty now—at this age, you ought to have a son to carry on the family line!"

Liu Min had married late, taking as his wife the granddaughter of the late Duke of Juguo, Li Tao. When Liu Min journeyed far to the Western Regions, she followed her husband as a wife should, going with him.

"Father, Mother, she..." Though he was reluctant to dampen the mood on this occasion, Liu Min's heart was preoccupied with this matter, and he could not help but bring it up.

And indeed, hearing this, Emperor Liu's smile receded somewhat. But seeing the grief revealed in Liu Min's solemn expression—his eyes even reddening—he waved his hand and said: "A grand commander of the western expedition—why make such a mournful show! Your mother's lifespan was limited; Heaven did not grant her more years. Everyone must face such a day eventually. One day, I too will have mine..."

Hearing Emperor Liu speak such inauspicious words, Liu Min restrained his grief and could not help but call out: "Father!"

But Emperor Liu raised his hand to cut him off: "Since you're back, go to the Ancestral Temple later and pay your respects to your mother—that will suffice!"

"Yes!"

After finishing his pleasantries with Liu Min, Emperor Liu turned his attention to Yang Yanzhao's family and stepped forward. Liu Xing immediately knelt in salute and called out in a soft voice: "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Third Princess Liu Xing's mother was Consort Sun Jing, who had been presented by Li Jing in earlier years. Liu Xing was now past thirty, a wife and a mother, with considerable grace and bearing. However, as an ordinary princess, she had always been extremely reverent toward Emperor Liu, and quite ill at ease as well.

Looking at her for a moment, Emperor Liu sighed: "Yang Yanzhao hasn't been bullying you, has he?"

"Your subject would not dare!" Hearing his father-in-law speak thus, Yang Yanzhao dared not be remiss and immediately answered solemnly. His stiff, earnest expression made Emperor Liu laugh.

"My husband treats me very well!" Liu Xing said, shielding Yang Yanzhao from the pressure coming from Emperor Liu.

Smiling, Emperor Liu also patted Yang Yanzhao on the shoulder and said: "Among my several sons-in-law, you and Li Jilong are the most outstanding. Good—sooner or later you will be the pillars of the Great Han. Strive to surpass your father!"

Feeling the encouragement in Emperor Liu's words, Yang Yanzhao answered gravely: "Your subject would not dare compare himself to his father. I can only devote my utmost loyalty and not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations!"

"Good!" Emperor Liu looked down and met the gaze of his grandson Yang Chuanzhen, who was curiously sizing him up, and said with a smile: "My, how time flies—Chuanzhen has grown this tall already, nearly reaching my waist!"

At Liu Xing's signal, Yang Chuanzhen knelt once more and kowtowed to Emperor Liu several times.