Chapter 1847: The Last Fruits Remaining

Lying in a lazy posture, he idly flipped through a memorial. By custom, whenever a senior minister was on the verge of death, if he had the chance, he would prepare a final memorial. Zhao Kuangyin had naturally prepared one, so his final testament was delivered to Emperor Liu in complete form.

However, it seemed Emperor Liu had been busy with something before this and had never gotten around to reading it. Now, having found a bit of leisure, he opened it up to see what Zhao Kuangyin had to say before his death.

The result, however, was not entirely satisfying. Zhao Kuangyin's final memorial was written rather plainly, with nothing particularly compelling about it. Unlike ministers such as Wang Pu and Wei Renpu, who would critique current ills and offer final remonstrances on court affairs.

Zhao Kuangyin merely gave a brief summary of his own life, then, against his true feelings, expressed gratitude for Emperor Liu's favor and generous treatment, and finally offered blessings for Emperor Liu and the Great Han's altars of state. That was all — ordinary to the point of being dull.

Setting down the final memorial, Emperor Liu sank into deep thought, then shook his head. There was nothing more to say... Of course, Emperor Liu had also received reports from the Palace City Office regarding Zhao Kuangyin's activities and conduct before his death, including that "accidentally" deceased palace maid. In Emperor Liu's view, the Zhao brothers were not as well-behaved as they appeared on the surface — even Zhao Kuangyin himself.

Especially when he recalled how Zhao Kuangyin had sworn brotherhood with those veteran generals of the army, Emperor Liu's suspicion could not be restrained. Still trying to pull off a "Righteous Brotherhood of Ten Brothers"?

However, the dead are gone — death settles everything, and it also removed a thorn from Emperor Liu's heart. Without Zhao Kuangyin, the Zhao family's threat naturally diminished greatly. As for Zhao Kuangyi, who was scrambling about, Emperor Liu had to admit he only appreciated his political talent and regarded him as a tool.

If one truly said he was greatly feared, that would be overrating Zhao Kuangyi. At the very least, Zhao Kuangyi had essentially no influence over the military. Those military aristocrats who had been close to Zhao Kuangyin were not so easily tamed. They respected Zhao Kuangyin, a commander who had earned his reputation through blood and steel, but they would not readily accept the olive branch Zhao Kuangyi extended. Relying merely on the identity of a younger brother was clearly impossible — even a son might not manage it.

And observing Zhao Kuangyi's conduct during the mourning period — putting on the airs of the Zhao family patriarch, intending to inherit the blessings Zhao Kuangyin had left behind — those political resources were not so easily consolidated.

When the core figure of a political force departs, its cohesion inevitably declines. If the successor lacks sufficient prestige and skill, it could even collapse entirely. The saying "when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter" roughly captures it.

Of course, with Zhao Kuangyi's capabilities, continuing to carry the Zhao family banner was sufficient. But whether he could remain as steady as a mountain as when Zhao Kuangyin was alive clearly remained to be seen.

Emperor Liu had also heard that at Zhao Kuangyin's funeral hall, Dang Jin and a host of marquises and barons, along with proud soldiers and fierce generals, had wept bitterly, wailing as if their own fathers had died — some even crying themselves unconscious...

However, for Emperor Liu at this point, his suspicion of Zhao Kuangyi was perhaps reduced to instinct — a wariness from the depths of memory. After all, using the original timeline as a reference, Zhao Kuangyi was the only living person in the world who possessed the fortune of a "true dragon." Though somewhat mystical, it reflected the old emperor's most genuine state of mind.

"Your Majesty, Duke Shou requests an audience and awaits your summons outside the hall!" The deep contemplation did not last long before the attendant eunuch hurried over again, reporting somewhat nervously.

Among those who served at Emperor Liu's side, aside from Yan Tuo, no one could act with ease — each and every one was cautious and timid. Partly out of habit, and partly because what Emperor Liu considered his own "easygoingness" appeared to the eunuchs as mere capriciousness.

Upon hearing that Li Shaoyou had returned to the capital, Emperor Liu sat straight up, an immediate smile blooming on his aged face, unable to hide his delight. He promptly ordered: "Quickly, invite him in!"

Emperor Liu was clearly a complex creature — the older he grew, the more pronounced his contradictory nature became. On one hand, he was eccentric in temperament, heavy with suspicion, often borrowing trouble, doubting all people and matters; his mental affliction was in truth growing ever more severe.

But on the other hand, he had also grown more nostalgic. Of course, this applied to certain special people — such as Prince Yong Liu Chenghsun, Prince Xu Liu Chengyun, and Duke Shou Li Shaoyou, the trusted confidant he had grown up with, who was also on that special list.

Since stepping down as Commissioner of the Wude Office, Li Shaoyou had spent most of his time in provincial posts, never failing to hold weighty regional commands. As a frontier grandee, he had served in nearly a third of the Great Han's several dozen circuits, and at least half of that time had been in the Central Plains heartland — the capital region, Henan, Hebei, and Hedong — shepherding the empire's core ruling territories on Emperor Liu's behalf.

Toward Li Shaoyou, Emperor Liu's feelings were naturally deep — to a certain extent, one could say they surpassed even those for his own imperial princes and grandsons. Therefore, at Li Shaoyou's return, Emperor Liu's joy naturally overflowed in his expression.

In but a moment, Li Shaoyou entered the hall. The instant that familiar figure came into view, Emperor Liu hastily stood up, walked forward, and, not allowing him to perform the ritual salute, grasped his hand and called out warmly: "Brother You, quickly, no need for ceremony!"

However, faced with such an intimate gesture from Emperor Liu, Li Shaoyou maintained his caution and still solemnly performed the ritual: "Rites must not be abandoned! This old minister pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Seeing his cautious and proper demeanor, Emperor Liu paid it no mind, carefully sizing him up for a moment, then sighed with feeling: "It's good that you're back! Coming to see me — that alone makes me happy enough!"

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, a strange feeling rose in Li Shaoyou's heart. He had returned from his post in the Guannei Circuit, having been specially recalled by Emperor Liu. Yet Emperor Liu spoke as if Li Shaoyou had come back specifically to pay his respects.

Suppressing the slight ripple in his heart, Li Shaoyou replied respectfully: "It has been a long time, and this old minister has missed Your Majesty greatly. I wonder how Your Majesty has been lately?"

"Not well!" Emperor Liu's answer was somewhat unexpected — he didn't even bother with pleasantries, making no effort to conceal his dissatisfaction with the current court: "Affairs have been numerous lately, and the court is mired in endless disputes, arguing so loudly my ears ring!"

"Is it about the tax reform?" Li Shaoyou asked.

Emperor Liu did not reply, but pulled him to sit down together, then stared straight at Li Shaoyou. Li Shaoyou was not wearing court robes; his attire was plain, just black brocade, faintly carrying a hint of travel dust.

Emperor Liu asked: "Have you been to the Duke Rong's mansion to pay your respects?"

Li Shaoyou nodded and said: "Upon hearing of Duke Rong's passing, I stopped by to offer a stick of incense, to express my grief."

Emperor Liu sighed: "Of the twenty-four ministers of Qianyou, only you and Xiang Xingmin remain! The old ministers are withering away one by one — the last fruits alone remain, few and far between. You must take good care of yourself!"

As Emperor Liu said this, he was actually somewhat moved. Seeing Li Shaoyou, tears seemed about to well up in his eyes. Seeing this, Li Shaoyou could not help but console him: "Your Majesty should not be overly grieved. Please take care of your imperial person!"

Emperor Liu shook his head, pointing at Li Shaoyou's equally graying beard, and said: "You've grown quite a lot of whiskers too! If I remember correctly, you're nearly sixty now!"

Li Shaoyou was about four years older than Emperor Liu, and indeed approaching sixty. Hearing this, he nodded and replied: "I am grateful for Your Majesty's concern. Next year, I will enter my sixtieth year!"

"Then we must properly celebrate that! When the time comes, I'll send you a great gift!" Emperor Liu declared.

"Then this old minister offers his thanks to Your Majesty in advance!"

"You're famous for having many offspring. How many sons and daughters do you have now, and how many grandsons and granddaughters?"

At the mention of this, Li Shaoyou looked somewhat embarrassed and said: "Beneath this old minister's knee, there are now 19 sons, 13 daughters, 34 grandsons, 25 granddaughters, and 7 great-grandsons..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu could not help but laugh and scold: "You old thing, you certainly know how to breed! In this matter, I am far inferior to you!"

Li Shaoyou said: "What Your Majesty produces are imperial princes and dragon grandsons, favored by heaven's fortune. What this old minister produces are merely ordinary mortals — they cannot be compared. Besides, supporting such a large household is no small burden..."