Chapter 1820: A Loving Mother Spoils Her Son

The mission's overseas experiences naturally covered more than just what they saw in Central Asia, but Emperor Liu clearly placed greater importance on that region—after all, the direct conflicts of interest with the Great Han right now lay in that Islamic world.

That said, the scene in Chuigong Hall was primarily about family reunion, and dwelling too much on international affairs would inevitably spoil the mood; even if they wanted to discuss it, they couldn't finish in a short while anyway.

After finishing the discussion on Persia, Emperor Liu temporarily set aside his interest and told Liu Yang to come to the palace another day to tell him more. Liu Yang, for his part, said that he had recorded all his experiences and observations from his travels, and planned to organize them into a book, compiled into volumes, with the title already chosen—called *The Western Travels of Duke Qi*.

Of course, with Emperor Liu's enfeoffment as a Prince, it naturally became *The Western Travels of Prince Qi*. Emperor Liu was naturally pleased to hear this—Liu Yang was doing something serious, and he certainly supported it. He directly stated that once the book was completed, he would personally review it, and if the quality was excellent, it would be printed by the Pacification Commission and published throughout the realm, so that all the scholars under heaven could read it. Even if assistance was needed, the Academicians and compilers of the Three Institutes could all be placed at his disposal.

As the chief envoy of the mission, Liu Chenghsun naturally had to say a few words as well. Since he had spent most of his time in the South Seas, he focused on explaining the conditions of the various South Seas states. However, regarding the South Seas situation, with the increasingly close exchanges, Emperor Liu had already heard a great deal about it in the past, and so did not show much interest.

After all, in Emperor Liu's eyes, that region to the south, even if some state polities had emerged there, was still just inhabited by natives—uncivilized monkeys—whose standing in his mind was even lower than that of the barbarians within the country.

And the broad and small regions of the South Seas were merely seen as a supplement to the Great Han, left for officials and commoners to take from as they pleased. However, to maintain that kind of position, some effort was still required.

On that front, Emperor Liu likewise offered some feasible suggestions—such as developing faster seagoing ships, building a more offensive navy, and simultaneously establishing academies and even Buddhist and Daoist schools throughout the South Seas, promoting Han learning, Han script, and Han speech. Through cultural export, they could further strengthen the Han's influence over the South Seas.

The Chenghsun Academy established in Liangping County was also mentioned in passing, and that point did earn Zou Anlan's approval. Although promoting Hanization in the multi-barbarian regions within the country had been progressing rather slowly, and had even provoked violent backlash such as from the Tangut of Yulin—

—that national policy was nonetheless fundamental and had to be upheld consistently. It might seem even more laborious and thankless to promote in the South Seas, but the goal was the same. After all, from start to finish, Liu Chenghsun had never intended to actually occupy and control the South Seas or establish direct rule.

Meeting his mother's concerned gaze, Liu Shu revealed a helpless smile: "Mother, you're speaking in anger! Don't take it seriously! I've already knelt, lost all face—at worst I'll be confined for another year or two. Hasn't it always been like this?"

Seeing his mother's angry expression, Liu Shu's bravado gradually weakened. No matter how much of a scoundrel he was, he was ultimately facing his own birth mother, and he couldn't bear to see her cry.

After all, they were all family men who had rushed over upon hearing the news and were waiting outside. Zou Anlan waved her hand, and they each dispersed to rest briefly, preparing for the evening welcome banquet.

Liu Shu sat brooding in silence, not answering. After a moment, he finally spoke: "I'll accept whatever punishment is given! Isn't Father always like this? He's already killed one Imperial Son-in-law and driven a Princess to death—the only thing left is an imperial prince. Among all the brothers, is there anyone more suitable than me to make an example of?"

The night was deep, so thick it could almost drip, and the cold wind blew without cease, making the attending palace maids shrink their hands and feet. Inside Spring Orchid Hall, the lamps burned bright, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense.

"Your Highness!"

Consort Liu waved her hand, signaling the palace eunuchs to withdraw, and bestowed some silver as a reward. The imperial physician did not decline—in such a situation, refusing would be an affront.

"Then please bear with it."

"He is truly obstinate and incorrigible!"

That son of hers—unless it was something he was interested in, he wouldn't budge without a whipping. Zou Anlan had also learned from experience that she had to find him something to do. Although Liu Chenghsun didn't expect him to use his clever mind to tinker with ingenious gadgets, she still hoped he could apply himself to something more meaningful.

"You!" Consort Liu was thoroughly enraged, raising her hand to point at Liu Shu, her withered chest heaving unevenly. In a fit of anger, she found herself momentarily speechless, and tears even glistened in her eyes.

"What's there to say—just apply the medicine!" Liu Shu replied somewhat impatiently.

With the return of his brothers and descendants, Liu Chenghsun's joy was clearly genuine. After warmly conversing for over half an hour, he sent them off to handle social obligations.

Chastised by his mother like that, Liu Shu's groaning voice quieted down, and he turned his head away without answering. Seeing this, Consort Liu grew even more furious, but suppressing her anger, she still asked the physician with concern: "How are his legs? Nothing serious, I hope!"

"Hiss—" Very quickly, the sound of Liu Shu sucking in air rang through the hall, and he said angrily: "What kind of medicine is this? Why does it hurt so much!"

That night, Liu Chenghsun held a night banquet in Zichen Hall. Though prepared on short notice, the palace's efficiency was remarkable, and it was arranged just as grandly. Several hundred attendees were present—essentially all the nobles and high ministers of the capital with any standing came, jointly welcoming the Prince and imperial grandson, sharing in the Emperor's joy.

"Your Highness, it may hurt a little!" The old physician's aged voice carried a note of caution.

"But I can see His Majesty is truly angry!" Consort Liu couldn't help worrying: "What if I go plead for you again?"

Listening to Consort Liu's nagging, Liu Shu found it hard to bear the irritation and couldn't help interrupting her: "Mother, no need for these lectures! If words were of any use, would I be where I am today? If I could take them to heart, would I still be Liu Shu?"

"Many thanks to the physician!" Consort Hui said, finally letting out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Those old pedantic scholars at Wenhua Hall back then probably judged me the same way!"

Hesitating for a moment, Liu Shu hung his head and said: "Mother, I know I was wrong! If you get yourself sick from anger, then I'll have another crime of filial impiety added to my list! Now, no matter how you scold me it won't help. If you think a few harsh words will cool Father's anger, then go ahead—"

"Mother! What you're saying is annoying me! If you go plead for me again, aren't you just adding fuel to the fire?" Liu Shu immediately tried to dissuade her: "Let's just see how things play out."

Stung by Liu Shu's retort, Consort Liu was momentarily taken aback. Coming to her senses, a hint of heartache showed in her eyes, and then she said in frustration at his lack of ambition: "You have the nerve to talk! If it weren't for your willful recklessness, how could things have come to this?"

Just before taking his leave, seeing that Liu Chenghsun was in a good mood, Emperor Liu finally brought up the matter of Liu Shu. Sure enough, although Liu Chenghsun still wore an expression of exasperation, he ultimately said calmly, "I know."

"Shut up!" Hearing Liu Shu's mouthful of nonsense, Consort Liu was furious, and at the same time a look of fear surfaced on her face: "His Majesty is angry with you, but could he really kill you? Liu Shu, wake up! Do you want to end up like him?"

Before the physician could even beg forgiveness, Consort Liu, sitting nearby, snapped: "Liu Shu, the physician is treating your wounds—it would be one thing if you didn't thank him, but how dare you blame him!"

With Liu Shu's words, the mother-son argument finally came to an end. Looking at her somewhat dejected son, Consort Liu's heart ultimately softened. She sat by the bed and asked: "What do you plan to do?"

"You're nearly thirty, a husband and a father—how can you still be so lacking in judgment."

So Liu Chenghsun made the decision on the spot, having Liu Yang and Emperor Liu take the lead in formulating a new set of policies for further developing the South Seas, encouraging maritime ventures, and deepening the Great Han's influence. At the same time, he also squeezed Fu Hui into the project, directly cutting off any notion of his enjoying a leisurely time after returning.

Under such premises, cultural and ideological export naturally proceeded however was most convenient and effective. On the grand scale, this was spreading the glorious civilization of the Central Plains—even those big eaters knew to spread Islamic doctrine, so how could the Great Han lag behind?

The physician clasped his hands and replied: "To answer Your Ladyship, His Highness knelt for too long and injured his knees. However, the condition is not too severe. I shall prescribe a formula—with proper care and medication, he will recover in a few days. Additionally, he should limit activity in the coming days!"

After the physician left, Consort Liu walked to the bedside and looked at Liu Shu, who was still grimacing in pain. Her gaze fell on his knees, covered in bruises, and she sighed: "His Majesty is too harsh—wasn't he afraid of crippling your legs? And you—why didn't you think to put a soft cushion underneath?"

"Do you know how His Majesty evaluated you afterward? He said you were rotten wood that cannot be carved, that you've thrown the imperial family's face to the ground and made a laughingstock of the whole realm!"

Hearing this, Liu Shu let out a scornful laugh: "Mother, you usually just echo what others say, always calling me dissolute and reckless in my ways—but now you're the one speaking nonsense! I'm already laden with crimes—do I need to add the crime of deceiving the Emperor on top of that? Father told me to kneel—would I dare cut corners?"

"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!" the physician hurriedly replied.