Chapter 1816: Old Nine

"Reporting to His Majesty, the Prince of Yong, the Duke of Qi, the imperial grandson, and the party of Boyuan Earl Guo Liangping have arrived at the outskirts of the capital!" At Chuigong Hall, Yan Tuo hurried inside, an old face wreathed in smiles, and reported eagerly to Emperor Liu, who was reviewing memorials from the Hall of State Affairs.

Just as Yan Tuo had expected, Emperor Liu immediately set down the memorial. A few ripples surfaced on his increasingly stiff old face, the smile impossible to hide, and he said: "Finally here! Issue the decree—have the Crown Prince lead the hundred officials out of the city and personally escort the Prince of Yong's party back to the palace!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo acknowledged.

Seizing the opportunity while Emperor Liu was in good spirits, Yan Tuo reported another matter, his tone turning more cautious: "Your Majesty, His Highness the Duke of Chu has also returned."

At these words, the smile on Emperor Liu's face vanished without a trace—that face turned faster than a dog's. Emperor Liu said in a displeased tone: "Oh? Where is he?"

"His Highness the Duke of Chu is waiting at the palace gate for your summons, requesting an audience!" Yan Tuo said.

"When did this brat become so proper? Waiting at the palace gate for a summons—he must have a guilty conscience!" Emperor Liu retorted coldly, then instructed: "Then let him wait. Kneel and wait!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo shrank his neck and hurried off to deliver the order.

The Prince of Yong's return seemed to inject a ripple of joy into the Western Capital. The Crown Prince led the hundred officials to welcome him at the Dingding Gate, a grand spectacle—such treatment was something few in the entire Great Han were qualified to enjoy.

Onlookers were numerous; a great many citizens of the Western Capital came upon hearing the news, expressing their welcome to the Prince of Yong and also taking the chance to watch the excitement. Liu Chenghsun had always enjoyed a good reputation among officials and commoners alike, and had briefly served in the Western Capital, so the local populace had always held a favorable impression of him. Of course, such eager enthusiasm was mostly born of admiration for power and envy of rank.

Liu Chenghsun's return to the capital was likewise grand in scale. Not to mention the massive diplomatic mission Emperor Liu had originally assigned him, the goods he brought back from overseas alone required over a hundred river vessels to transport. It was fortunate that water transport in the Central Plains was now well-developed and the waterways had all been opened up; otherwise, moving so much cargo to Luoyang would have taken considerable effort.

Under the personal welcome of Crown Prince Liu Yang, the party proceeded to the imperial city to pay respects to Emperor Liu, chatting and laughing in perfect harmony. But at the palace gate, they instinctively paused in their steps.

By the banks of the Luo River, across from the Jin Bridge, at the foot of the imperial city, in the winter sunlight, a lone figure knelt with head drooping, conspicuously isolated—the Duke of Chu, Liu Shu. The commotion of the large party was considerable. Liu Shu's heart had never been settled; unable to resist curiosity, he turned to look, and when he recognized Liu Chenghsun and Liu Yang, uncle and nephew, walking at the front, he perked up a bit.

"What's going on here?" Liu Chenghsun asked Liu Yang in a low voice as he walked forward.

A trace of helplessness surfaced on Liu Yang's composed face as he explained: "Ninth Brother made another mistake in Liaodong. He was recalled by His Majesty and ordered to kneel at the palace gate!"

Hearing this, Liu Chenghsun's face showed little surprise; he merely sighed: "This Little Nine—he's a father now, yet he still doesn't know his limits."

"Ninth Brother has always been this way by nature; it truly leaves one at a loss!" Liu Yang replied.

"Little Nine!"

"Ninth Brother!"

"Ninth Uncle!"

The group came forward, calling out greetings. Liu Shu looked as if he had seen his saviors, greeting them enthusiastically. Looking at Liu Chenghsun, Liu Yun, and the others, he said: "Third Uncle, you've finally returned! We've missed you terribly!"

"You, thinking of me?" Facing Liu Shu's beaming smile, Liu Chenghsun said with exasperation: "Thinking of asking me to plead for you?"

"That would be wonderful! Please, Third Uncle, save your nephew—put in a good word for me with His Majesty!" Liu Shu seized the opening and hurriedly said.

Seeing this, Liu Yun couldn't help asking curiously: "Ninth Brother, what mistake have you made this time to anger Father?"

Though not born of the same mother, the relationship between Liu Yun and Liu Shu had always been quite good. Liu Shu had always felt that his Fifth Brother lived a carefree life, but more crucially, they were both equally "unconventional," yet Liu Yun could always coax Emperor Liu into good humor and rarely incur his anger. This both puzzled Liu Shu deeply and made him profoundly envious.

At the question, Liu Shu gave an awkward smile. With so many people present, even with his thick skin, he felt somewhat embarrassed, and stammered: "It's really nothing major. Fifth Brother knows—whatever I do, His Majesty is never satisfied."

"Ninth Brother!" Hearing this, Liu Yang's expression immediately changed, and he rebuked him sternly.

Liu Shu had always been a reckless fellow; when his blood was up, he would even dare to talk back to the Crown Prince. But at this moment, he was quite docile, knowing he had misspoken, and hurriedly urged: "Third Uncle, Fifth Brother, you've been away on your mission for over two years. His Majesty has missed you dearly. You should hurry into the palace for your audience, lest you keep the old man waiting!"

Rarely—such considerate words could actually be heard from Liu Shu's mouth. But Liu Chenghsun clearly wasn't buying it. He shot him a glare and said: "If you'd had this much sense earlier, how could you have angered His Majesty!"

Still, meeting Liu Shu's somewhat hopeful gaze, Liu Chenghsun relented: "I'll speak on your behalf, but whether His Majesty listens or it does any good, I can't guarantee. Until then, you just kneel here properly!"

"Yes!" Liu Shu nodded like a pecking chick. No matter how reckless Liu Shu was, when Emperor Liu ordered him to kneel, he dared not say a word of objection—from start to finish, he hadn't moved his knees an inch.

Shaking his head, Liu Chenghsun's party bypassed Liu Shu and entered the palace. Along the way, Liu Chenghsun finally asked for the details: "What exactly did Liu Shu do?"

A hint of frustration at his lack of ambition appeared on Liu Yang's face as he sighed: "On your way back, Third Uncle, you must have heard quite a bit about the court's campaign to rectify official discipline!"

The moment Liu Yang spoke, Liu Chenghsun had a guess in mind. His expression unchanged, he nodded and said: "I've heard something of it. What has Liu Shu done to draw criticism this time? He's reckless, but he never meddles in government affairs—surely he can't be implicated in the discipline campaign!"

Liu Yang explained: "Earlier, His Majesty sent Ninth Brother to Liaodong to supervise, assisting the special envoy in investigating cases and reassuring the local officials and people! However, less than two months after Ninth Brother arrived in Liaodong, word came back that he had crudely interfered with the rectification operations, hindering the special envoy's investigations.

This ran contrary to His Majesty's original intentions in sending him to Liaodong, naturally drawing displeasure. After dispatching people to verify the facts, it was discovered that Ninth Brother had not only interfered with the investigations but had even shielded some officials implicated in the cases in Liaodong.

Upon learning of this outcome, His Majesty's anger was, as one might imagine, considerable—hence the urgent decree recalling him to the capital!"

After hearing Liu Yang's account, Liu Chenghsun was visibly stunned for a moment, then asked in disbelief: "Liu Shu could be this muddle-headed? His Majesty entrusted him with a grave responsibility, and this is how he repays it? If so, never mind His Majesty—I myself would want to whip him a few times!"

Old Nine's way of thinking was always different from ordinary people's.

"Still, to say something that courts taboo—when His Majesty entrusted Liu Shu with this task, it was probably questionable from the start. How could he be the man for such a weighty matter?" Liu Chenghsun said, shaking his head again.

Hearing this, Liu Yang was silent for a moment, then replied: "Ninth Brother is dissolute in his daily life, but His Majesty has always held a measure of hope for him, wishing he would truly mature!"

And clearly, after this affair, whatever faint hope Emperor Liu still harbored for Liu Shu had likely been extinguished completely.

"Another campaign against corruption and evil." Liu Chenghsun mused silently to himself. Since returning to the country, it seemed every person he met and every matter he encountered was connected to it.

What had the Great Han become now? Liu Chenghsun couldn't help but form this question in his mind.