Chapter 1931: The Death of Wang Yansheng

"That's enough for today!" Setting down the memorial, Emperor Liu looked up, glanced at the somewhat dazzling lamplight in the hall, and couldn't help rubbing his sore, tired eyes. He said softly, "I am weary! Let us rest!"

"Yes!" Hearing Emperor Liu's command, Yan Tuo hunched his old back in acknowledgment and hurried off to make preparations.

Just as he was about to rise, Emperor Liu's body visibly paused. He turned his head and asked, "How is Wang Yansheng? Has he gone back?"

At the question, Yan Tuo reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, he is still waiting outside the hall for your summons!"

"Is he unharmed?" Emperor Liu's brow furrowed slightly, as if displeased, and he asked.

Yan Tuo: "This servant has had someone keep watch over him; any development will be reported at once."

"He has waited this long!" At this, Emperor Liu fell silent for a moment, then said flatly, "I would like to see just what he intends! Summon him into the hall!"

Starting from the late afternoon hour, Wang Yansheng had entered the palace requesting an audience, but Emperor Liu had refused to receive him. Wang Yansheng's temper seemed to have flared up as well — if you won't see me, then I'll wait. He sat right on the palace steps, at ease and unrestrained, paying no mind to the people coming and going, nor to their sidelong glances.

"Your guilty subject Wang Yansheng pays respects to Your Majesty!" Finally granted the honor of seeing the imperial countenance, Wang Yansheng knelt before the emperor and performed the full grand salute, reverent and respectful, just as in years past.

But with sovereign and subject face to face, much of the past harmony was gone, and the very air seemed steeped in awkwardness. He was old after all, and having waited bitterly outside the hall for nearly two hours, Wang Yansheng was utterly exhausted, barely holding himself up by sheer force of will.

Emperor Liu sat upright at the imperial desk, lofty and aloof, silently scrutinizing Wang Yansheng. The old minister exuded an air of desolation. Emperor Liu's heart was hard, but seeing him in this state, he naturally felt much of his displeasure ease.

However, the moment of feeling was just that — a moment. In Emperor Liu's eyes, this was still Wang Yansheng putting on a show for him. Therefore, after a moment's deliberation, his first words were: "Your body has recovered quite well — keen ears and sharp eyes. Only in one's later years does one realize how precious an iron-strong body truly is! I must congratulate you!"

There was a hint of mockery in Emperor Liu's words. On an ordinary day, no matter what one thought inside, one would have to show fear on one's face, or at least give some reaction. But Wang Yansheng at this moment was very composed. He merely lowered his head slightly and answered with little sincerity: "Thanks to Your Majesty's blessings and protection..."

Wang Yansheng's reaction actually surprised Emperor Liu. This old fellow's state was somewhat off. After a brief moment of thought, Emperor Liu straightened his body and said directly, "Speak, then. What is it that you insist so stubbornly on seeing me about?"

At the question, Wang Yansheng visibly regained some vigor. He raised his eyes to Emperor Liu, clasped his fists with force, and said solemnly, "This old minister has come hoping to beg a favor of Your Majesty!"

"Oh?" Emperor Liu was rather taken aback. He glanced at Wang Yansheng and said, "Let's hear it!"

Immediately after, Wang Yansheng said with a grave expression, "This old minister's household finances are tight and insufficient to maintain itself. I wish to borrow fifty thousand strings of cash from Your Majesty..."

Hearing Wang Yansheng state his purpose, Emperor Liu was visibly stunned for a moment, then his brows arched upward, his expression seeming to say "Are you kidding me?" Suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, he asked, "Borrowing money! This — this is what you sought an audience for!"

Wang Yansheng nodded and gave an affirmative answer: "Exactly so!"

Seeing how serious he looked, Emperor Liu couldn't help taking a few more measures of the old man. With a stern face, he said coldly, "You, Wang Yansheng, actually short of money? Now that truly is a strange affair!

I have heard that in your official residence's inner quarters, everyone is decked in gold and silver, the stewards all wear Shu brocade, the maidservants are dressed in Suzhou embroidery, and even the gatekeeper's boy has a piece of Huzhou silk. With such airs on ordinary days, being short of money is somewhat hard to believe..."

Facing the same mockery, upon hearing Emperor Liu's words, Wang Yansheng's expression finally changed, and a touch of gravity appeared on his old face. After a moment of silence, he answered with melancholy, "Your Majesty's words fill this old minister with shame! It is this old minister's poor management of the household that has led to today's straits. My brazen request today is truly to meet an urgent need. I beg Your Majesty to consider it!"

Wang Yansheng spoke candidly, and there was even a hint of despondency in his tone. Emperor Liu grew more interested, his expression softening somewhat. After thinking it over, he said, "What urgent need? Are you buying jewelry, or have you taken a fancy to some fine horse or precious sword again?"

Clearly, Emperor Liu had heard something of the situation in Wang Yansheng's household. And even having already steeled his shamelessness, Wang Yansheng still felt his face grow hot at these words. Gritting his teeth, Wang Yansheng clasped his hands and said, "To be frank with Your Majesty, this old minister has rallied some relatives and old friends, organized them into a company, and prepared to go overseas for reclamation and settlement. But we are considerably short of funds. This old minister has no other avenue above or below. After much deliberation, rather than beg from others, it would be better to request aid from Your Majesty..."

Having heard Wang Yansheng's explanation, Emperor Liu's brow only furrowed even more tightly rather than being reassured. His cold gaze fell upon Wang Yansheng as he said, "Truly?"

"I would not dare deceive Your Majesty!" Wang Yansheng said.

"Ha!" Emperor Liu let out a cold laugh, displaying his contempt for such a declaration.

Under Wang Yansheng's anxious gaze, Emperor Liu thought for a while, then said, "This money, I cannot lend to you! The reason is simple — the ministers and officials organizing overseas expeditions are countless. If all of them were like your household, I would not have so much money to lend out!

If I lend only to a portion of them, that would be treating people differently, which would not accord with my principle of 'treating all equally'! Therefore, although you are responding to my call in organizing men to go overseas for reclamation, the money I cannot lend.

It is not that I am stingy — this is a matter of principle. Once the floodgate is opened, there will be no stopping it..."

Hearing Emperor Liu lay out this reasoning, Wang Yansheng was also stunned for a moment, clearly taken aback. He had no great reaction, standing there woodenly, lost in thought. After a long while, he slowly clasped his hands and gave a solemn bow: "This old minister understands Your Majesty's meaning!"

"In that case, this old minister will not disturb you further and shall take his leave!" With that said, he bowed at the waist and shuffled away slowly.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu was genuinely dumbfounded. He knit his brows but did not call him back for a moment. However, Wang Yansheng soon stopped on his own, turned around, and said this to Emperor Liu: "Though there are petty people spreading slander, in the end it was this old minister's improper words and deeds that displeased Your Majesty. This old minister feels guilty and will give Your Majesty an accounting..."

Having said this, Wang Yansheng walked out of Chuigong Hall with slow steps. Emperor Liu said nothing either, only silently watching his stooped, aged back, his brow locked even tighter.

"Your Majesty!" It was only when Yan Tuo called out that Emperor Liu snapped out of his reverie. He glanced at him, then raised a finger and said, "Wang Yansheng is acting somewhat off. Go investigate — find out what's going on!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo acknowledged. As for this task, he was rather pleased at heart. Straight to the Palace City Office — this was, after all, an investigation by imperial decree.

Nearly midnight, the sky dark as ink. In the rear garden of the official residence, Wang Yansheng, clad in a single layer of clothing and gripping a steel blade, stood silently by the edge of the pond. Only a few scattered stars dotted the night sky, the light dim, the water's surface barely able to form a reflection.

His old face was already numb, yet his eyes remained resolute. His withered hand gripped the scabbard tightly. After a long moment, Wang Yansheng suddenly drew the long blade and laid it across his neck. The motion was fluid, immediately cutting a thin gash — but at the last moment, he held back his strength.

His old face still wore a detached expression as Wang Yansheng murmured, "A true man should die by the blade!"

As he spoke, Wang Yansheng let out another burst of desolate laughter that drifted through the rear garden. He reversed the hengdao saber, thrust it forcefully into the soil beneath his feet, then leaped up and plunged into the pond, desperately burrowing downward...