Chapter 1964: Biding One's Time, Hiding One's Capabilities

Before the twenty-eighth year of Kaibao arrived, another grand funeral was held in the Western Capital. Snow danced across the sky — perhaps because Luoyang was already a world of white, when white banners stood in rows and spirit money fluttered about, white merged with white, and in that snowy season it did not seem so out of place.

The funeral of Prince Qin, Liu Xu, was strictly speaking only a memorial service. Liu Xu's remains were interred in the Andong Royal Mausoleum, while in the Great Han imperial tombs only a symbolic burial of his robes and cap was conducted. But even if it was merely a memorial service, its rank was lofty and its scale immense — it could be called the fourth such occasion since the founding of the Great Han.

The first three had been for Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan, Empress Dowager Li, and Empress Fu. From this angle, one could see Liu Xu's standing in Emperor Liu's heart. But in all things, going too far is as bad as falling short — when Emperor Liu elevated Liu Xu so high, complaints inevitably proliferated below.

In some people's eyes, no matter how noble Liu Xu's status, he was still only a son of a concubine. Moreover, since he had already been enfeoffed with Andong, he belonged to the outer vassals; that the Prince of Qin title was retained was already extraordinary favor. Though there was the saying of "death bringing full honor," such an extravagant funeral with treatment beyond his station was hard to justify in people's hearts. Virtue not matching position has always been easy to criticize since ancient times.

One could imagine what reaction such talk would provoke when it reached the old emperor's ears. A pot of cold oil was swiftly stirred into a pot of crackling hot oil, and those rumors were like cold water as frigid as snow.

Thus, another wave of retaliatory dismissals and removals from office occurred. Several dozen capital officials were demoted — and not in the traditional manner of being exiled to remote border prefectures, but all at once driven by Emperor Liu to Anxi and the South Seas.

Emperor Liu was furious — not only because of those rumors, but even more because those people actually dared to speak, dared to criticize. Their courage had grown fat, swelling to the point that Emperor Liu felt himself old and feeble, unable to keep people in check.

In fact, given the old emperor's condition, not resorting to bloodshed was already extreme restraint and extraordinary leniency. However, compared to the matter of demoting officials, one thing was even more chilling: among the demoted officials, more than two-thirds were retainers of the Eastern Palace or people connected to the Eastern Palace. In short, they came from the "Crown Prince's faction" — this truly could not help but give rise to all sorts of unpleasant associations.

Therefore, after crossing into the new year, Crown Prince Liu Yang was noticeably more low-key, his presence greatly diminished. Apart from important court meetings, he almost never appeared before others. As spring arrived and all things strove to revive, the Great Han court fell into silence. Even during the Lantern Festival, though the scene remained grand and the subjects remained lively, Emperor Liu remained lonely as ever, finding less and less flavor in it all.

Night had grown deep. The banquet at Qianyuan Hall ended at the same time as in previous years. Beneath the ink-black sky, in the clear cold night wind, Crown Prince Liu Yang and Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs Murong Defeng walked tipsily between the palace halls, slowly heading toward the Eastern Palace.

Perhaps because so many fireworks had been set off earlier, the air was not so fresh, still retaining a good deal of pungent smell. Since Murong Defeng had been promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs, the sovereign and his minister had rarely walked side by side like this — both because their duties kept them apart and because they needed to avoid suspicion.

Yet no matter how circumstances changed, Murong Defeng remained the minister Liu Yang was closest to, trusted most, and relied upon most. Of course, considering the existence of Ma Huaiyu, adding "one of" after those "three mosts" would also be reasonable.

"Your Highness, your servant recently heard a piece of news — that His Majesty intends to have the Duke of Yan replace His Highness the Prince of Jin and enter the Hall of State Affairs to manage governance." Murong Defeng followed respectfully at Liu Yang's side. The palace lanterns did not illuminate his entire face, but his words revealed his expression: "These days, both in the palace and outside the court, there are many rumors. I wonder whether this matter is merely rumor?"

Upon hearing the question, Liu Yang's pace remained unhurried, showing little change. But after a moment, he nodded and said, "There is such a matter, but the tenth brother declined."

The Duke of Yan, Liu Zhao, ranked tenth among the brothers. Of course, more importantly, he was born of Empress Fu and was Liu Yang's full-blooded younger brother. From the perspective of succession law, among all the princes' qualifications for inheritance, he was second only to Liu Yang.

However, all along, Liu Zhao had neither displayed extraordinary ability nor revealed any similar ambition. His path of growth was no different from ordinary princes later in the birth order — nothing special — and so few people paid him attention.

But when Emperor Liu suddenly issued an edict for Liu Zhao to enter the Hall of State Affairs as chancellor and participate in central governance, it inevitably stirred associations and speculation in some people. At this point, many seemed to realize anew that this was also a legitimate son of the Great Han emperor.

As Liu Yang's staunch supporter, Murong Defeng naturally belonged to those with rich imaginations. Seeing the Crown Prince's calm reaction, he pressed further: "May I ask what Your Majesty's intention is in this move?"

There was an elusive flavor in Murong Defeng's words, but Liu Yang clearly received it. He tilted his head to glance at him, clasped his hands behind his back, and said blandly, "Did you not already say it? Replacing the Prince of Jin, participating in court governance — the Hall of State Affairs needs a seat for a member of the imperial house!"

Is that all? Murong Defeng calculated silently in his heart, but observing Liu Yang, he was clearly playing dumb. As he hesitated, Liu Yang spoke: "The tenth brother declined, saying his talent and virtue were insufficient, that he had not studied governance, and could not bear such heavy responsibility — asking His Majesty to find another worthy person."

"Your servant ventures to ask directly — what is His Majesty's attitude?" Murong Defeng's eagerness was almost written on his face.

At this, Liu Yang's face showed a faint smile that was not quite a smile: "His Majesty agreed, and summoned the seventh brother for a talk. The edict should be issued within these two or three days."

Upon hearing it was the Duke of Wu, Liu Hui, Murong Defeng's expressive face returned to calm. Clearly, in his view, Liu Hui's threat was not great. Liu Hui's literary talent was excellent — one could almost say he was unrivaled in the capital. In poetry he was even paired with Li Yu as "Li of the South, Liu of the North." But equally, he could not escape the faults of having high aims but low ability, of being flashy and superficial. No matter how lively he jumped, it was hard to arouse wariness.

What had happened back then in the Henan capital tax reform had already let many ministers see this seventh prince clearly, and now he would hardly be taken seriously by a weighty minister like Murong Defeng.

Seeming to sense Murong Defeng's relaxed air, Liu Yang's tone remained calm and level as he spoke words that surprised him: "These years, toiling over state affairs without rest, I am truly somewhat weary. I have decided to ask His Majesty for leave, to temporarily withdraw from the council hall, cultivate my character, and live a lighter life."

Hearing this, Murong Defeng's brows immediately furrowed. He boldly and carefully observed Liu Yang — under the dim lamplight, that face remained calm and hazy. Lost in thought, after a moment of deliberation, Murong Defeng sighed softly: "Why has it come to this?"

Liu Yang was silent for a while, then shook his head with a light sigh: "The Eastern Palace has lost many people of late — it has grown somewhat lonely! Rixin, would you be willing to serve in the localities again? With your current seniority and reputation, becoming a regional magnate of a circuit is a natural and fitting matter."

Murong Defeng's brows furrowed even tighter, his mind spinning rapidly as he pondered the intent behind the Crown Prince's words. After a moment, he composed himself, cupped his hands, and replied, "Your servant obeys Your Highness's will!"

"The Liaodong Circuit or the Yan Mountains South Circuit — choose one of the two!" Liu Yang said.

If following his own heart, Murong Defeng would naturally want to go to Liaodong. But considering the purpose behind Liu Yang's move, he hesitated for a moment, then answered solemnly, "Your servant is willing to go to the Yan Mountains South Circuit."

"Good!" Liu Yang's reply was equally brief and forceful.

The sovereign and minister walked a while longer, until they reached Xuanhui Gate. Stopping to gaze at that towering and heavily guarded palace gate, Liu Yang murmured to himself: "Through a thousand cliffs and ten thousand ravines, never sparing toil; only from afar do you see how high the source rises. How could mountain streams hold it back? In the end it returns to the great sea to make waves."

Hearing this, Murong Defeng's face showed a look of sudden understanding, and he too murmured to himself: "Bide one's time and hide one's capabilities!"

Liu Yang glanced sidelong at Murong Defeng, extended a hand, and invited with a smile: "I fear we did not drink our fill at Qianyuan Hall. How about going to my Hongde Hall to drink freely once more — not leaving until drunk?"

"Then your servant can only risk his life to keep you company!" Murong Defeng answered with a laugh.

In fact, in Liu Yang's planning, it was not only Murong Defeng — a large number of nobles, officials, and talented people close to the Eastern Palace whom he valued were all to be gradually sent out to the provinces in the coming period.

The purpose was clear: to train and cultivate talent, to strengthen his influence and control over the localities as Crown Prince, and at the same time to let the old emperor in the capital feel more at ease.