Chapter 1933: Arrest Them!

Inside Chuigong Hall, beside a long table, Emperor Liu was teaching his youngest son Liu Yao to write, stroke by stroke. The father and son—one daring to teach, the other daring to learn—were both utterly absorbed, their expressions exceptionally focused.

However, this warm scene did not last long. His body soon gave out. After instructing "practice on your own," Emperor Liu sat off to the side, kneading his aching back and savoring hot tea.

Yan Tuo strode in quickly, stopped before the imperial presence, took a look at the father and son, then bowed: "His Majesty, this humble one has come to report."

"It's done?" Hearing the voice, Emperor Liu didn't even lift an eyelid. He rose again and stood behind Liu Yao, observing his movements.

Yan Tuo replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Earl of Hechuan has already passed away from illness..."

"No commotion was stirred up, I trust?" Emperor Liu asked.

Yan Tuo clasped his hands: "The Earl of Hechuan departed very peacefully!"

Emperor Liu nodded and instructed: "When the mourning begins, have Liu Zhao (the Tenth Prince) offer condolences in my stead!"

"Yes!"

Clearly, the Earl of Hechuan, Kang Yanze, had been "deceased by illness" under Emperor Liu's secret arrangement. Kang Yanze's "death from illness" was essentially the result of Emperor Liu's likes and dislikes—triggered by Wang Yansheng's death, Emperor Liu vented selectively, an act seeking psychological compensation.

From a legal standpoint, Kang Yanze was somewhat wronged. He himself had committed no crime; his petty conduct was contemptible, but only on a moral level. From a commonsense standpoint, however, he had brought disaster upon himself. Having already left a bad impression on Emperor Liu, and then being used by Emperor Liu as the trigger for Wang Yansheng's death, ending up "deceased by illness" was not too surprising.

To be fair, Kang Yanze did set a precedent. Emperor Liu's adoption of such a simple and crude method—secretly executing a meritorious noble—was the first time in these decades, showing just how unbalanced Emperor Liu's state of mind was in this matter.

From Wang Yansheng to Kang Yanze, plus the already-executed Earl of Changning, Hai Jin, in less than ten days the Great Han had lost three meritorious nobles—one Commandery Duke, two First-Class Earls—all by unnatural death. And so the twenty-sixth year of Kaibao marched toward summer in this unpleasant, even oppressive atmosphere...

"Today is the day of Wang Yansheng's funeral procession, isn't it?" After a moment of deliberation, Emperor Liu said with melancholy.

"Yes! Quite a few nobles and ministers have gone to see him off." Yan Tuo reported.

"How is the duke's household handling the funeral arrangements? I hear those brothers have gotten into no small dispute!"

"Your Majesty decreed that Wang Yingjie inherit the title. Wang Yinghao refuses to accept it, and the two brothers have had many quarrels. Reportedly, the night before last they argued again before the spirit tablet, nearly coming to blows. The third son of the Duke of Pingliang, Wang Yinghua, also raised the matter of dividing the family property. The three brothers are entangled in endless disputes—it has already spread throughout the capital..."

After hearing Yan Tuo's account, Emperor Liu's face showed utter disbelief. After a moment, he spoke with agitation: "His bones are not yet cold, his soul has not yet drifted far, and they're already fighting over the family estate? Wang Guanglie, oh Wang Guanglie, what sins did you commit to produce such heartless, ungrateful wretches! All your painstaking efforts, fed to such beasts—I fear even in the Nine Springs below, you shall find no peace!"

Though this tirade from Emperor Liu was not directed at him, Yan Tuo still felt his heart tremble with fear. In recent years, what made the attendants most afraid of Emperor Liu was his unpredictability—utterly uncontrollable—and the old emperor was increasingly prone to fits of temper, often catching people off guard.

If Yan Tuo felt this way, others were even worse off. The several palace eunuchs and maids serving nearby all wore expressions of terrified silence, heads bowed and eyes lowered. Even Liu Yao couldn't help but stop his brush, lifting his head to gaze at his old father with both curiosity and fear.

Taking a deep breath, Emperor Liu quickly calmed himself. Getting angry over those Wang brothers simply wasn't worth it. However, since he knew of the Wang brothers' infighting, he could not fail to react—otherwise his indignation would not subside. For the old emperor, having a smooth mood and unblocked thoughts was a very important matter.

Therefore, with almost no further deliberation, Emperor Liu opened his mouth and commanded: "Transmit my decree: those three unfilial sons of Wang Yansheng are all stripped of rank and reduced to commoners, and send them all to the northwest to tend horses! They've enjoyed decades of good living. Since they know not how to cherish it, let them truly experience the hardship their father endured guarding the frontier and building his career!

As for the title and property, summon that Wang Zhekai to the capital to inherit!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo acknowledged, inwardly sighing with emotion. With descendants so unworthy, the decline of the Wang family was foreseeable. At the same time, he felt genuine disdain for those brothers' stupidity and shortsightedness.

After finishing a cup of tea, his anger subsided a few more degrees. Just as he was about to resume teaching Liu Yao calligraphy, the old eunuch Wang Ji'en came bustling in with excitement. Seeing his demeanor, Emperor Liu had an idea. He patted Liu Yao's head and revealed a gentle smile: "Go play!"

"Your son takes his leave!" Liu Yao's face lit up with joy at the words, and he fled like an escapee. This was a true escape—though Emperor Liu doted on his youngest son, Liu Yao was genuinely terrified of his old father.

Turning his face, Emperor Liu's expression immediately turned stern, his gaze growing several degrees colder as he stared fixedly at Wang Ji'en: "You have results!"

Upon the question, Wang Ji'en immediately pulled a booklet from his bosom, presented it solemnly, and reported: "Through this humble one's investigation over this period, seventy-eight noble households have connections with Kang Ning, of which fourteen have close dealings, and twenty-five have debt relationships... This is the list this humble one has compiled. Please, Your Majesty, take a look!"

"Present it!" Wrinkles immediately formed on Emperor Liu's brow. He extended his hand, and Yan Tuo promptly took it from Wang Ji'en, carefully handing it to Emperor Liu.

Slowly opening it and reading seriously, Emperor Liu's expression went through a complex and interesting series of changes. The weight of this list was by no means light—meritorious nobles, court ministers, and even imperial relatives.

"The State Uncle also reached out to borrow money?" Emperor Liu could hardly hide his astonishment, looking at Wang Ji'en.

Wang Ji'en lowered his head and said cautiously: "Yes!"

"How could he be short of money?" Emperor Liu asked in bewilderment.

Emperor Liu had reason to be puzzled. State Uncle

Li Ye was a man who knew how to make money. Back when he served as the chief official in Yuan Prefecture, he had profited handsomely through his household slaves' private trafficking of tea and horses. In every post he held, he never came up empty. In the years since stepping down as chancellor, he had continued to manage his enterprises—if one spoke of business, he was hardly inferior to Kang Ning.

That Li Ye could be short of money was simply unbelievable. Seeing Emperor Liu's expression of doubt, Wang Ji'en dared not be negligent. He hurriedly assured: "The specific circumstances still await investigation, but there is conclusive evidence that the State Uncle indeed borrowed twenty thousand strings of cash from Kang Ning..."

"Go, summon Li Ye before me!" Seeing Wang Ji'en's earnest assurance, Emperor Liu could no longer hide his anger, and snapped at Yan Tuo.

He continued flipping through the pages, his movements growing faster and faster, his expression worsening and worsening. Finally, he flung the list to the ground in fury: "The court pays out so much in salaries every year—has it ever been lacking? Is it not enough to support a family? The Great Han actually has this many nobles reduced to living on borrowed money—utterly ridiculous! Where is the dignity? Where is the propriety?"

"Your Majesty, calm your anger!" Seeing Emperor Liu's eyes nearly spitting fire, Wang Ji'en was slightly startled and instinctively offered consolation.

"This Kang Ning—truly worthy of being the Great Han's foremost great merchant! Generous with his spending, and willing to invest heavily!" Emperor Liu's tone at this moment was utterly sinister, sending chills down one's spine: "What does he want? To use those stinking coins to control the Great Han's nobles? Audacious beyond measure—his heart deserves death!"

And compared to the nobles who borrowed money, what angered Emperor Liu even more were those bureaucrats holding key positions and real power at court. Compared to the nobles, their corruption posed greater harm and destruction.

"Go, arrest that Kang Ning for me!"