Chapter 1950: The Detached Palace, the Dire News

It was already high summer, the heat abnormally intense, heaven and earth like a stuffy furnace. For Emperor Liu, such days were extremely hard to endure. Those close to him all knew that since the start of the sixth month, the old emperor's temper had grown much more irritable, and it was clearly due to the weather—his aversion to heat was a weakness he could never overcome in his lifetime.

And this year, it flared up with unusual severity. He could not sit or stand still, could not eat or sleep in peace—it was no longer something that could be solved by waving a fan or adding a bit of ice. And unlike before, though the heat left him dizzy, he sweated very little.

In the imperial physician's words, it was heat toxin accumulating in the body. Acupuncture and medicine had little effect, and they dared not use strong drugs, nor let the old emperor indulge in cold things. Naturally, it was Emperor Liu who suffered.

Seeing the imperial health failing, the ministers and grand officials were also "deeply worried." Of course, heard through Emperor Liu's ears, it was restless hearts and even ulterior motives—and then the Crown Prince and Zhao Pu were rebuked.

Seeing that Emperor Liu found the heat increasingly unbearable, some people began to scheme. Dong Yan, Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Rites, submitted a memorial, for the sake of His Majesty's health, requesting that Emperor Liu move to a detached villa to escape the heat. To this, Emperor Liu was tempted—of course, he had been tempted every year in the past, only then he could withstand the heat and suppress his desire, but this year it was truly hard to bear.

In such matters, when the emperor had the intention, no extra words were needed—he only had to reveal a hint of his meaning, and his ministers would rack their brains to get it done. Thus, the old emperor's heat-avoidance problem became an important agenda item for the court, and a problem requiring urgent resolution.

Of course, after a not-too-long period of discussion, they returned to the old problem: in the vicinity of the capital, there was no summer resort suitable in all respects. At the end of the discussion, Jigong Mountain in Xinyang came back into view, and building a detached palace on Jigong Mountain was put back on the agenda. The "Jigong Mountain Summer Villa" project plan that Emperor Liu had previously rejected was once again submitted to the imperial desk in full.

Emperor Liu, to show his stance earlier, had indeed burned the blueprints—the originals, too—but the Court of the Imperial Treasury had kept copies on file, sealed away, waiting to be unsealed. And indeed, they awaited their chance to see the light of day again...

When reviewing the summer palace design blueprints once more, Emperor Liu hesitated again—only this time, his hesitation leaned toward building. In the end, after a full three days of deliberation, Emperor Liu formally issued an edict to construct a summer detached palace on Jigong Mountain in Xinyang.

Perhaps seeking psychological comfort, Emperor Liu also "solicited" the ministers' opinions on the matter, though naturally no other answer could be obtained. At the same time, all expenses for building the detached palace were borne by the imperial privy purse. In Emperor Liu's words, this was his own affair, not a waste of the state's resources...

Clearly, Emperor Liu's psychology had undergone some subtle changes again. It was probably caused by the rapid decline of his body over the past two years. Ever since that fall last year, Emperor Liu had felt discomfort here and ailment there; his body had seemingly recovered on the surface, but his mind had never healed—as if there were not a single good spot on his whole body.

Previously, Emperor Liu's thinking was: he might not have many days left, so he should not undertake grand construction projects and stir things up. Now, his consideration was: if he did not rest and recuperate properly, he would have even fewer days remaining. He was an old man—how much manpower and resources could he really consume?

Thus, Emperor Liu's heat-avoidance problem had a solution implemented. Emperor Liu obtained a summer retreat; the Court of the Imperial Treasury and the Ministry of Works obtained a grand project that could please the emperor; the common people of Xinyang and Shen and Guang prefectures, and even the surrounding counties, obtained an opportunity to work and earn money; and even Dong Yan, who had first proposed the idea, added a conspicuous "advisory merit" to his record.

Of course, this was only the result under ideal circumstances...

However, distant water cannot quench present thirst—the Jigong Mountain detached palace could not possibly be completed in less than a year or two, but Emperor Liu clearly could not wait that long.

In the end, they could only find a compromise: within the Western Park of Luoyang, a small garden pavilion was specially decorated, supplemented with ice and cool mats, to barely get by and endure this summer.

Within the small pavilion, surrounded by hills and waters, shaded by green trees, Emperor Liu had already been residing there for over a month. During this time, he had basically set aside state affairs entirely, like a reclusive sage, focusing solely on seeking coolness and escaping the heat.

Strangely enough, after settling the matter of building the Jigong Mountain palace and sending people from the Court of the Imperial Treasury and the Ministry of Works to Jigong Mountain for preparatory work, Emperor Liu still felt unwell, but his temper had improved considerably—no longer so irritable, which relaxed the serving palace attendants considerably.

By the waterside pavilion, in the shade, a cool mat was spread on the ground. Emperor Liu, in a single layer of clothing, hair loose and disheveled, lay sprawled by the water in an utterly undignified manner, with no railing separating him. His eyes were half-closed, half-open, one hand resting on the water's surface, occasionally swishing it about, looking thoroughly bored.

Yan Tuo and the others waited to one side. Though silent, their gazes were fixed intently on Emperor Liu—after all, he was by the water, and they feared he might carelessly fall in.

Emperor Liu's "leisure" did not last long. The sound of hurried footsteps came, and along the pavilion corridor, rapidly approaching Emperor Liu—it was none other than the Crown Prince, Liu Yang.

However, he was stopped by the guards from a distance. The emperor had decreed that no one was to disturb him; such was the imperial command, and even the Crown Prince could not violate it. This carriage had to be blocked.

In ordinary times, Liu Yang would have waited. But today there was clearly important business, and without further ado, he barged straight in. The two guards really had no way to handle this—this was the Crown Prince, after all; they could hardly draw their blades on him...

The commotion Liu Yang made was rather loud, carrying directly to Emperor Liu. His brow furrowed slightly, and he said to Yan Tuo: "Let him come over!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo acknowledged, personally going to receive the Crown Prince.

Liu Yang offered no courtesy, following Yan Tuo quickly to before the sovereign. That solemnity—ten people could feel it. Glancing sideways at Liu Yang, Emperor Liu said flatly: "What matter could drive you to barge into the imperial presence like this!"

Emperor Liu appeared nonchalant, but Liu Yang's face was heavy with gravity. Upon the question, he seemed to want to speak but held back, his eyes carrying a trace of sorrow... Noticing his unusual state, the ease at the corners of Emperor Liu's mouth vanished. His old eyes fully opened, he sat up and asked in a deep voice: "What exactly has happened? Speak!"

Liu Yang took a deep breath and said in a heavy tone: "Just now I received a report from Guo Liangping, saying, saying that the Eleventh Brother has died of illness..."

Emperor Liu did not react at first, habitually mulling it over before the meaning sank in. Then his old eyes nearly bulged out, and he roared furiously at Liu Yang: "What did you say! Say it again!"

Facing Emperor Liu's wild, clawing demeanor, Liu Yang did not panic. He only reddened his eyes, the sorrow in his voice no longer concealable: "The Eleventh Brother has passed..."

When the confirming answer came from Liu Yang's mouth, Emperor Liu's entire body stiffened, turning from violent rage to wooden blankness. Slowly rising, he looked up toward the south—only shimmering ripples dazzling his eyes. In a moment of daze, he missed his step and fell into the water.