Chapter 1821: No One's Truly Stupid—Just Character

"What are you and your mother conspiring about in secret?" While Consort Hui and her son were racking their brains, Emperor Liu's voice suddenly came from outside.

At the sound, both of them changed color involuntarily. Consort Hui hurriedly rose, instinctively straightening her attire. In her fluster, Emperor Liu had already walked in—his steps slow, but carrying an awe-inspiring dignity that struck fear into one's heart.

"His Majesty has come!" Consort Hui hurried forward to pay her respects. At ordinary times, she would only be delighted, but now she was both startled and afraid.

"There was a night banquet at the Zichen Hall; every palace and every hall attended, yet you were absent, sending only Liu Chang as your representative. I came to see what urgent matter you had that you couldn't even spare time for the banquet!" Emperor Liu said calmly, but his gaze fell upon Liu Shu, who was leaning against the couch.

"Y-Your Majesty..." Although Liu Shu talked boldly in private, facing Emperor Liu directly, that almost instinctive sense of awe swiftly flooded his entire body, and his glib tongue became clumsy.

After coldly appraising Liu Shu for a while, Consort Hui beside him could not help but speak up: "Your Majesty, Liu Shu knows his mistake. He's already been punished—both his knees are worn raw from kneeling. Please forgive him just this once!"

Seeing Consort Fu Hui behaving just as she always did, Emperor Liu felt a sudden inexplicable irritation. He swept a glance at her: "You, withdraw!"

"Your Majesty—"

"Withdraw!" Facing Emperor Liu's rebuking tone, Consort Hui's expression hesitated for a moment. She cast a worried look at Liu Shu, then reluctantly stepped out.

Inside the chamber, father and son were alone. Emperor Liu casually sat on a short stool, his movements slow and leisurely, but the entire space seemed enveloped by his presence. Liu Shu, for his part, dared not even breathe heavily, not daring to meet Emperor Liu's gaze, just hanging his head.

Emperor Liu gave a cold laugh: "If they were all corrupt officials and state-devouring pests, what harm would there be in killing them all?"

Seeing him in that state, Emperor Liu said mildly: "So, I chose the wrong man?"

"Are you blaming me for being partial?" Hearing this, Emperor Liu was thoroughly annoyed: "You don't measure your own abilities. Can you compare with Liu Xu? Ask yourself—do you have that kind of capability?"

"Do you think I would be afraid?"

"No need to test further—I've seen you clearly now!"

It wasn't that Liu Shu had strong psychological fortitude, but rather that he had chosen to give up entirely, putting on a defeated air, and said in a low voice: "Whatever Your Majesty wishes to do with me, I will accept it!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu was somewhat surprised, but not angered. Instead, he calmly observed, waiting for what came next. That's not how he should be reacting! Liu Shu muttered inwardly, and the courage he had just mustered quickly deflated.

Liu Shu put on a look of deep remorse, his expression as sincere as could be, and for a moment he actually stunned Emperor Liu into a daze. If anyone else had said these words, Emperor Liu would likely have felt only anger and displeasure, thinking they were expressing dissatisfaction with his governance policies and his campaign against corruption—a challenge to his will.

"These harsh officials, under Your Majesty's banner, disrupt the localities. If they are not restrained, it will not only affect the functioning of government and ruin the people's livelihood, but also damage Your Majesty's reputation. I truly cannot bear to stand by and watch!"

It seemed things were already showing signs of spiraling out of control. Should he continue? Emperor Liu finally began to hesitate. At least on one point, he was clear in his heart, and he concurred with the view held by many, including the Crown Prince: corrupt officials could never truly be eliminated.

Facing the cold autumn night wind, under the dim palace lanterns, Emperor Liu strolled along the corridor between the palace halls, his face stern, his expression grave, a hint of deep contemplation in his eyes.

"Speak! I want to hear what grievances you have, and how I have wronged you!" Emperor Liu remained equally calm.

"What's even more outrageous—sending guards to seize people, forcibly extracting accused officials from prison. Is that your doing? Who gave you such audacity! What do you take the laws of the state to be?"

Having said this, Emperor Liu left. Liu Shu, upon hearing this, was stunned for quite a while, and only when Consort Fu Hui hurriedly rushed in did he snap back to his senses.

"Your Majesty's application of the law is so severe—are you afraid the regions will spiral out of control?"

Of course, Emperor Liu would not be fooled by Liu Shu. When he finished speaking, he finally gave a direct response: "So you're saying you were considering the welfare of the state and thinking of me? From what you say, the entire Liaodong is full of incorruptible officials and virtuous ministers, worthy subjects and good people?"

In truth, although Liu Shu had been reluctant to go to Liaodong, once he went, he did initially harbor thoughts of accomplishing something and clearing his own name. It was just that he truly couldn't get things done—he lacked all method and approach, like a reckless brute, distinguished only by willfulness and arrogance. And the results proved that he was indeed not someone who could bear great responsibility.

The chilling menace beneath those lightly spoken words made Liu Shu's heart turn cold. Noticing Emperor Liu's indifferent expression, Liu Shu opened his mouth, but for a moment felt that all his defenses were utterly pale and feeble.

Liu Shu fell silent for a moment, then muttered: "Elder Brother, in Andong, did so many things that violated court regulations. How could he act so recklessly, so willfully and autocratically, and you never once reproached him—"

"Without trying, how would you know?"

But coming from Liu Shu's mouth, it was nothing but unexpected—a full sense of novelty. Since when could Liu Shu speak with such righteousness and impartiality? One could only say that Emperor Liu's expectations for Liu Shu were truly too low. Hearing this plea, he also felt a sense of profound unreality.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Shu replied: "Your Majesty truly should go see Liaodong—what a situation it is there now! These so-called special envoys and capable investigators, under the banner of anti-corruption and eliminating evil, abuse their power and act with violence. To complete their tasks and claim merit before the court, they no longer distinguish good from evil, loyal from treacherous. They fabricate charges and persecute Liaodong's officials and prominent families on a massive scale."

Facing the furious Emperor Liu, Liu Shu opened his mouth, and all his resentment and dissatisfaction were instantly shattered into pieces. His self-righteous indignation, before Emperor Liu, seemed rather laughable.

That night, Emperor Liu thought a great deal, but the more he thought, the more his killing intent crystallized. But this time, the targets included more people—such as those "investigating special envoys who wielded power with arrogance and acted wantonly" that Liu Shu had spoken of.

Emperor Liu certainly harbored deep hatred for corrupt officials, but toward those who twisted the court's good policies, he would have no goodwill either.

"Speak! Didn't you have a great deal to say? Weren't you just now full of righteous arguments? Now that I'm right before you, why have you fallen silent?" Emperor Liu said coldly.

On the other hand, if even Liu Shu could clearly articulate the problems that the official purge had caused for local governance and people's livelihoods, then shouldn't this matter warrant deeper reflection?

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, Liu Shu's eyes reddened slightly. His face still showed defiance, but his spirit had weakened, his face fallen and dejected, no longer speaking.

This truly surprised him. After all, back then, merely for speaking nonsense and snapping at Liu Min over the adoption matter, he had been angrily rebuked and confined by Emperor Liu. How was it that this time, when Emperor Liu was clearly furious beyond measure, he had let it go so lightly? Could it be that Uncle's intercession had worked?

"But they're not all corrupt officials! Not everyone deserves death!" Liu Shu replied: "There are thousands upon thousands of officials in Liaodong. Who can guarantee they are without any fault? Surely Your Majesty cannot kill them all?"

It had to be said that this night's conversation with Liu Shu had somewhat refreshed his understanding of this son. From his speech, Liu Shu was not as hopelessly foolish as he had previously appeared—though he was still somewhat like mud that couldn't be plastered onto a wall.

Back when he had seen them off at the Zichen Hall, he had specifically emphasized that they were not to act recklessly. But clearly, some people had cast his admonitions to the wind. Perhaps there were all sorts of reasons behind it, but Emperor Liu would not concern himself with that. He only looked at results and effectiveness. He wanted to rectify the court's discipline and renew official governance—not let them, in order to complete their tasks, disregard everything and bring calamity upon the state.

"Look at yourself—defying my will, interfering with investigations, shielding and indulging offenders. Is that what you should be doing? Even if there were injustices, that is not for you to judge! How much do you truly know about Liaodong's officials and gentry? What makes you think they were wronged? Some hearsay—is that more credible than the court's own investigation?"

The once fine officialdom of Liaodong had become a scene of terror—alarm spreading on every wind, everyone in fear for themselves, the common folk in constant turmoil, government administration stalled, and public order and good customs collapsing.

Of course, Emperor Liu also knew that wrongful cases and the innocent being implicated were unavoidable, but everything should have a limit. Once that bottom line was crossed, it became intolerable to Emperor Liu.

In essence, this campaign was a self-purification; reform was the ultimate goal, not revolution. The methods might be harsh, but it did seem that the officials of the Great Han should not be pushed too hard.

Liu Shu, for once serious, spoke at length, relating his experiences in Liaodong to Emperor Liu: "Since Your Majesty sent me to guard Liaodong and pacify its officials and people, upon seeing such dire conditions, I could not turn a blind eye and stop my ears, letting them do as they pleased and wield power arbitrarily.

Seeing his state, Emperor Liu had no heart to waste more words with him. As he rose to leave, he said calmly: "Don't stay in the palace any longer. You're a man of thirty now—don't act like an unweaned child who still needs his mother to worry about everything. Return to your residence, reflect properly, and do not leave for six months. You were originally supposed to spend six months in the detention cell of the Court of the Imperial Clan."

"From the Liaodong Circuit Command on down, nearly every official has already arranged their affairs, prepared a coffin, and readied themselves for disaster to strike at any moment—to suffer and die."

Clearly, Emperor Liu had been at the Spring Orchid Hall for quite some time. The conversation between mother and son just now, he had heard from behind the curtain—clearly and completely. Hearing this, Liu Shu also realized it, a flash of tension crossing his face, but he quickly calmed down.

"So this matter is just dropped?" Liu Shu looked at Consort Fu Hui, somewhat incredulous. He had also gathered that Emperor Liu had no intention of continuing to pursue the matter against him.

After thinking it over, Liu Shu finally said with some grievance: "If I can't do anything at all, then why did Your Majesty send me to Liaodong?"

If the country were truly thrown into chaos, Emperor Liu himself would regret it deeply. Moreover, on the Anxi front, war with the YSL world could break out at any moment—should the domestic situation really be eased?

"It seems you have quite a few complaints! Your mother says you know your mistake, but I don't feel it at all." Emperor Liu said softly.

Liu Shu fell silent. At this moment, even the pain in his legs was forgotten. His face twisted with conflict, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty would rather trust those ministers outside than trust your own son!"

"And also—if you were truly devoted to the public good, what about accepting gifts? A bit of gold, silver, and silk was enough to buy you, a prince and duke of the imperial house. Is the dignity of the imperial family so cheap?"

One sentence left Liu Shu at a loss for how to respond. Seeing this, Emperor Liu sneered twice, and his words finally carried some anger: "Not to mention the specifics of the investigation campaign in Liaodong—whether there were violations of orders, abuses of law, or harm to officials and people—the court will handle it as it sees fit!"