Chapter 1810: Losing a Daughter in Old Age

At dusk, the sky was covered with clouds, and gorgeous rays of light interweaved and shone, enveloping the imperial city of Luoyang like a skilled weaving maiden had woven a beautiful gauze garment for it.

Inside Chuigong Hall, Emperor Liu was leisurely enjoying his meal, holding in his hand a report from the Palace City Office, all about the movements of nobles and officials. His movements were slow and relaxed, his expression calm, but Emperor Liu still exuded an air of melancholy.

When he read about Zhao Kuangyi's recent activities, Emperor Liu's brow furrowed slightly, but soon returned to composure. During this period, Zhao Kuangyi had been quite well-behaved, devoting himself wholeheartedly to state affairs. Of course, his private contacts with his disciples and old friends remained frequent, and the Palace City Office had intercepted several letters exchanged between them—they contained only advice and warnings, nothing out of line or taboo.

Clearly, Zhao Kuangyi knew which way the wind blew, unlike some people whose resentment and indignation were written all over their faces. What Zhao Kuangyi did was only what most high-ranking officials and ministers did—keep a low profile to avoid disaster, and carefully cut losses.

Just as he was lost in thought, Yan Tuo came rushing in hurriedly, his face anxious. He looked at Emperor Liu, opened his mouth as if to speak, then hesitated and stopped.

Seeing his expression, Emperor Liu knew it could not be good news. He asked coldly, "What has happened?"

"Your Majesty, the Princess of Huaiyang has hanged herself in her residence!" Yan Tuo's voice trembled slightly.

Upon hearing this news, Emperor Liu's whole body went numb, completely frozen. He slowly turned his gaze and stared hard at Yan Tuo: "What did you say!"

"The princess's residence reported that Her Highness hanged herself just now!" Emperor Liu's gaze was too intimidating; Yan Tuo felt his scalp tingle and lowered his head to repeat.

"How is she? Was she saved!" Emperor Liu's words were deliberately maintaining a calm composure.

Yan Tuo lowered his head even further, but his account was clear: "According to the report, after learning that her husband Zhang Jing had been executed according to law, Her Highness dismissed all the palace eunuchs and maidservants, secluded herself in her bedchamber, and wept bitterly. By the time anyone noticed something amiss, it was already too late."

"Did I ask you for the process?" Emperor Liu could barely suppress his anger, his gaze turning fierce.

Yan Tuo shuddered, but still gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, she could not be saved. Her Highness has already passed."

When the tragic news was confirmed, Emperor Liu collapsed into his seat, his old eyes blinking wildly, his face twitching involuntarily. That kind of painful complexity rarely appeared on his face.

He raised a slightly trembling hand, took the tea from the table, drank it down in one gulp along with the tea leaves, gripped the cup tightly, then hurled it viciously to the ground, shouting angrily: "Was she so eager to die?"

The shattered teacup seemed to open the floodgates. Had he not lacked the strength, Emperor Liu would have overturned the entire table. Waving one hand wildly in the air, Emperor Liu was like a furious old lion, roaring incessantly: "For such a beast, she could throw away her own life? How could I have such a foolish daughter! How could she bear it, how could she be willing!"

Seeing Emperor Liu's uneven breathing and unsteady stance, Yan Tuo nervously stepped forward to support him, his face full of worry, and urged: "The princess's taking her own life is grievous, but this humble one ventures to beg Your Majesty to restrain your grief and protect your imperial health!"

"Restrain what grief? Does she think that by dying, she can make me feel guilty? I feel no grief at all—I only feel satisfaction!" Emperor Liu roared angrily: "Good riddance! Dead and done with! She is unworthy to be my daughter, and even more unworthy to be a princess of the Great Han! Such a rebellious daughter, even alive, would only waste the court's stipend!"

Although Emperor Liu said this, Yan Tuo knew that if he did not care deeply, Emperor Liu would not have reacted this way. Seeing Emperor Liu gradually becoming more neurotic, Yan Tuo's unease grew stronger—he was both fearful and terrified, and even did not know how to advise, afraid that one wrong word would incur Emperor Liu's wrath. Emperor Liu at this moment was clearly very dangerous.

Venting his emotions was evidently useful. After roaring for a while, Emperor Liu slowly emerged from his furious state and sat down weakly. Had Yan Tuo not been supporting him, he would probably have fallen.

With a gloomy face, after a long silence, Emperor Liu said: "Issue the order—seal off the news. The matter of the princess's suicide must not spread!"

"Yes!" Seeing Emperor Liu return to "normal" thinking, Yan Tuo hurriedly acknowledged. After such an incident, the worst thing was Emperor Liu falling silent.

Pausing for a moment, Emperor Liu quickly changed his mind and waved his hand: "Forget it! At this point, it has probably already spread throughout the palace and beyond. It cannot be sealed off anymore. This unfilial daughter has done a foolish thing—can I do something even more foolish to cover it up for her?"

However, Emperor Liu's duplicity showed itself again. After hesitating, he instructed: "Send word to the Three Institutes. Regarding the matter of the Princess of Huaiyang, I do not wish for even a trace of it to appear in the historical records!"

"This humble one understands!"

"Clear away the meal—I no longer wish to eat!" Emperor Liu waved his hand wearily and said: "Also, summon the Duke of Wu!"

Yan Tuo went to carry out the orders, while Emperor Liu slowly rose and entered the side chamber, groping his way to the bed and lying on his side in a curled-up position. At this moment, Emperor Liu felt somewhat hollow inside, somewhat lost, not knowing whether to grieve or to be angry.

Fragments of memories kept flashing through his mind—of Liu Xuan, of Pure Consort Zhou. Most frequent of all was the scene from those years in Shulan Hall, when the consort danced while Emperor Liu held the young Liu Xuan in his arms and watched.

Some memories, though deeply hidden, were ultimately beautiful, but the pale and bleak reality often added much sorrow and desolation to that beauty. Unless struck by great grief, great pain, or great joy, Emperor Liu rarely wept. Unconsciously, his pillow was already damp.

He did not rest long. Soon, the Duke of Wu, Liu Hui, came for an audience. By the time Emperor Liu sat back behind the imperial desk, he had already resumed his usual restraint and coldness. Looking at Liu Hui, who stood waiting respectfully in the hall, he said in a hoarse voice: "Your sister is gone. Do you know?"

Liu Hui's face showed grief, and his eyes reddened slightly. He nodded, his voice somewhat agitated: "My sister was too foolish! And it was not worth it! She—"

Liu Hui choked up and could not continue. Since Pure Consort Zhou's death, his only blood relative left was Liu Xuan. The bond between brother and sister was deep, and he had always cherished his younger sister.

Liu Hui understood his sister's temperament far better than Emperor Liu did. Ever since Zhang Jing's crime came to light, he had been extremely worried, and had even gone to the princess's residence to comfort and advise her, precisely to take precautions and prevent Liu Xuan from doing something rash. He never expected that things would still slide into an irredeemable abyss.

"Your sister's funeral arrangements—you shall handle them," Emperor Liu instructed calmly. "As for Zhang Wen, you shall adopt him from now on. Change his surname to Liu. The surname Zhang is too great an insult to my grandson!"

"Yes!" Liu Hui wiped his tears and cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

"Do not grieve too much either. She could abandon her father, her brother, and her young child—her death is not worth regretting!" Emperor Liu said coldly again.

Liu Hui was slightly startled at these words, but still nodded.

After Liu Hui withdrew, Emperor Liu coldly instructed Yan Tuo: "Transmit the decree to the Wude Office—all those involved in the Zhang Jing case are to be convicted and sentenced with the utmost severity. Those who aided the tiger in its evil, those who benefited from him—not a single one is to be spared! Also, all the close attendants and maidservants who served the princess—dispose of them all for me!"