Chapter 1868: That Kick

On the platform before Chuigong Hall, Liu Shu hung his head dejectedly, kneeling in silence. Warm sunlight broke through the clouds, casting thin strands of light across the hall, but no one was in the mood to appreciate the long-awaited spring scenery.

The scene before the hall gave people a strange sense of familiarity—still the Ninth Prince, still being punished, whether kneeling before the hall or before the palace gates, it was always him, Liu Shu...

"Why have you gone quiet?" Emperor Liu said with a cold face, pacing slowly beneath the corridor eaves, his gaze cast down at Liu Shu. "Weren't you full of righteous indignation before? Why have you turned mute now?

You've been quite busy these past few days! Scrambling about, stirring up trouble and sowing discord, and today you've gone even further—daring to raise a clamor at the palace gates. What exactly are you trying to do? Intimidate the throne? Or start a rebellion!"

Facing Emperor Liu's storm-like rebuke, Liu Shu buried his head even lower, and only after a long while managed to squeeze out a few words: "Your subject would not dare!"

"Would not dare?" Emperor Liu let out a mocking chuckle, then immediately turned stern and fierce: "Is there anything you, Liu Shu, wouldn't dare do? Weren't you the one who said you'd lead men to tear down the Capital Circuit government offices?"

Hearing this, Liu Shu suddenly raised his head and said, "So Third Brother went and tattled to you?"

Liu Shu naturally thought of Liu Xi—he had only ever said those words in front of Liu Xi that day, and in his heart, he grew even more furious at Liu Xi, even harboring some resentment.

Noticing his gaze, Emperor Liu said coldly, "Though I am old, my ears and eyes remain sharp. Why would I need others to tattle? You have never known restraint—the things you do, the words you say, who can they possibly be hidden from?"

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, Liu Shu's stubborn streak flared up as well. Meeting Emperor Liu's stern gaze, he craned his neck and said, "Your subject would not dare defy Your Majesty! Everything I have done was merely to seek justice!"

"Ha! You still think you've been wronged?" Emperor Liu grew even angrier at his attitude and continued to berate him: "Do you even have the right?"

Liu Shu said urgently, "Is Father going to stand by and let those ministers bully his own son? Is the majesty of the imperial house to be trampled upon like this?"

"Don't sing me those high-sounding tunes. Is there anyone in this realm who could actually bully you, Liu Shu? As for the majesty of the imperial house—it is not meant for you to run wild without restraint, to enjoy privileges, nor is it meant to place you above the laws of the court!" Emperor Liu said sternly.

Emperor Liu's words had already revealed his inclination on the matter. And when Liu Shu heard them, his expression finally changed. He instinctively bit his lip, almost drawing blood.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu said, "You're not convinced?"

"I am not convinced!" Liu Shu had thrown all caution to the wind: "It's not for those few plots of land—it's for the dignity of the imperial house. To place princes on the same footing as those meritorious nobles and common folk, taxing them equally—if this continues, who will still hold the imperial house in awe? If imperial authority loses its majesty, how can the rivers and mountains of the state remain stable!"

Seeing Liu Shu's display of "righteous indignation," Emperor Liu sneered: "Fine! By your reasoning, if the court collects taxes from you, the majesty of the imperial house is lost, and the foundations of the Great Han are about to crumble?"

"Placing princes on equal footing with those ministers—that outcome is not impossible!" Though Emperor Liu's gaze was piercing, Liu Shu still dared to talk back.

Gazing down at Liu Shu, Emperor Liu fell silent, but the atmosphere grew even more tense. Before long, Emperor Liu erupted like a volcano, venting his fury at Liu Shu: "

You think you're above others? Ashamed to be ranked with your subjects? Setting aside those meritorious nobles who have served the state, even those common folk, those ordinary people—they toil diligently, paying taxes and performing corvée for the court. Their value to the court is greater than yours, a prince!

You're thirty years old. Ask yourself honestly—in these thirty years, what achievements have you accomplished for the court, what merits have you established for the state? I have said it countless times: the court has given you honor and emolument. Do you know gratitude? Do you know to cherish your blessings?

And now you still dare to speak shamelessly before me, going on about imperial majesty and state stability! The court collects a bit of tax and you jump about like this. What contribution have you ever made to the Great Han? Have you ever had any self-awareness?

Are the favors and titles I've given you not enough? As a prince, you have no sense of responsibility or duty, scrambling after those bits of land and profit—is this how a prince sets an example for the realm?

If I didn't impose some restraint on you, who knows what outrages you'd commit! In my view, I've been far too lenient with you, which is precisely why I've raised such a useless parasite..."

Facing this merciless tirade from Emperor Liu, Liu Shu was stunned for a moment, his face flushed red. His mind went hot, and he actually sneered: "In Your Majesty's eyes, I have always been absurd, mediocre, and utterly worthless. Since that's the case, why grant me those favors at all! If you feel they're not worth it, you may take them back—then naturally I'd have no reason to resist taxes, and naturally I wouldn't be violating court regulations!"

As if not yet satisfied, Liu Shu added, "Even this life and body of mine were bestowed by Your Majesty. If you're not pleased, take those back too—how would I dare resist?"

"You think I wouldn't dare?" Seeing his obstinate, unrepentant demeanor, Emperor Liu was thoroughly enraged. No longer able to suppress his impulse, he strode forward and kicked Liu Shu down with a forceful blow.

Perhaps the movement was too violent and he failed to pull back in time—Emperor Liu instantly threw out his back and fell to the ground. This alarmed the attending palace attendants and guards. Yan Tuo's face went pale with shock; he rushed over fastest, kneeling to check on Emperor Liu's condition, shouting with frantic anxiety: "Summon the imperial physician! Summon the imperial physician!"

Of course, Yan Tuo had some basic sense. Seeing Emperor Liu lying there motionless, he didn't dare intervene rashly, lest he cause secondary injury—he was simply filled with worry.

Before Chuigong Hall, there was a great commotion. As for Liu Shu, no one paid him any attention anymore—nothing in heaven or earth mattered more than the safety of the imperial person.

That kick from Emperor Liu had clearly not held back. Caught off guard, Liu Shu was knocked breathless. But when he came to his senses and saw Emperor Liu fallen on the ground, surrounded by attendants, he too was dumbfounded, his mind buzzing.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something concerned, but didn't know how to begin. He shuffled forward on his knees two steps, then slowly retreated back to his original position. With Yan Tuo directing things nearby, he had no room to interject. For a moment, he didn't know what to do, utterly embarrassed...

Hasty footsteps sounded on the imperial road outside Chuigong Hall. Crown Prince Liu Yang and a group of high-ranking ministers came rushing over, all with hurried steps and grave expressions.

When they reached the front of the hall, Liu Shu was still kneeling there, but he looked utterly dejected, as if his very spirit had been drained away. Liu Yang paused briefly before him, gave Liu Shu a cold stare, said not a word, and swept into the hall with a flick of his sleeve.

Soon, Liu Yang's concerned voice came from within the hall: "How is Your Majesty's health? Is there any serious injury?"

Liu Xi did not enter the hall. He stopped before Liu Shu, looking at him with a complicated expression, and finally said angrily, "Ninth Brother, you've stirred up a huge disaster!"

Liu Shu had long regarded Liu Xi as the "chief culprit." Hearing this, he immediately flared up: "I don't need your reminder! Whatever disaster I've stirred up, I'll bear it myself. If they want to kill me or cut me to pieces, I'll wait right here!"

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