Chapter 2021: The Banquet Continues, Wang Qinruo

Before long, Hu De came to report that the Prince of Xu sought an audience. The sky had gradually darkened, and the old emperor had been planning to summon a few more singing girls to listen to music and "cultivate" his temperament—his interest was immediately disrupted.

However, after all, it was the Prince of Xu, so the old emperor gave him some face. While ordering him to be summoned, he also remarked with a sigh or two: "It seems everyone is quite busy today..."

Perhaps because he had lived a life of ease and comfort, paid attention to self-care on ordinary days, and was more restrained, the Prince of Xu was several years older than the old emperor, yet his appearance was far younger. His vigorous spirit made the old emperor envious.

After the formal greetings were completed and he was offered a seat, the old emperor said with a smile: "Brother Yun, you've come just in time—you can share an evening meal with me. I was just feeling bored; now that you're here to keep me company, it's merely a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks and a bowl..."

Hearing the old emperor speak thus, Liu Chengyun's face quickly filled with smiles as well. He cupped his hands and said: "Then this old minister has arrived at just the right moment—perfect for begging a cup of imperial wine from Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, the old emperor studied Liu Chengyun and said slowly: "Though riding in a carriage is more comfortable than on horseback, the bumps along the way are no easy matter. Why not rest and recover for a night? You're not young anymore—you must take care of your health!"

Meeting the old emperor's gaze, Liu Chengyun forced a smile and cupped his hands: "This old minister thanks Your Majesty for your concern. Though I find the fatigue of travel hard to bear, when I heard that the imperial carriage had been startled on the road into the mountains today, I could not help but worry. I sought an audience only to confirm that Your Majesty's sacred person is well; otherwise, this old minister fears he would be unable to sleep all night."

The old emperor did not believe a single word of Liu Chengyun's speech—at least, it held no credibility at the moment. Of course, since the man had personally come to express concern and loyalty, the old emperor simply smiled and waved his hand: "A mere ripple, hardly worth mentioning! Even my own lady was not frightened, let alone me. Yun need not worry!"

"Then this old minister can rest easy," Liu Chengyun replied. As he spoke, a hint of indignation appeared on his aged face, and he feigned displeasure: "Your Majesty has weathered countless storms and pays no heed to such a ripple, but for such an accident to occur during the imperial carriage's journey is still unforgivable. For Shen Prefecture to harbor such a public-security hazard, one wonders how Liu Jiqian has been managing as Prefectural Administrator. Should any mishap occur, he cannot escape blame!"

Hearing this, the old emperor simply gazed silently at Liu Chengyun without speaking, as if appreciating a performance. This naturally made Liu Chengyun uncomfortable; his aged face strained to maintain a smile, yet he knew not what to say.

It was the old emperor who gave him some face after all, saying softly: "Let us set aside other matters. Liu Jiqian, as Prefectural Administrator of Shen, has at least been diligent and conscientious in the construction of Taikang Palace. That Taikang Palace was built with such splendor—his contribution cannot be overlooked."

Liu Chengyun clearly sensed that the old emperor's eyes held deep meaning when he said this. However, since he had already stepped before the emperor, there was no reason to hesitate further. Thus, Liu Chengyun somewhat steeled himself and said:

"Since coming up the mountain, this old minister has also taken a brief look around. This Taikang Palace is indeed built with grandeur and magnificence, with a myriad of scenes that dazzle the eyes—all thanks to the Court of the Imperial Treasury's overall planning and supervision.

As for Liu Jiqian, this old minister knows him fairly well. His methods are rather aggressive and hasty; he strives for perfection in all things, even demanding completeness to the point of fault-finding.

Now that Taikang Palace is complete, so magnificent and varied, I fear some of Liu Jiqian's methods are open to question. Beyond being rash and excessive, they also invite criticism from others."

The meaning behind Liu Chengyun's words could hardly be more blatant, and that look of "cleverness" was especially vivid. However, the old emperor could not help but harbor some strange thoughts in his heart.

This father and son—was it not enough that the son came first to lay down a preemptive warning, that the father had to follow right after? For the sake of a mere Liu Jiqian, you, Liu Chengyun, would go this far, showing off your petty schemes before me? Though the old emperor had always maintained a measure of respect for Liu Chengyun, his performance tonight likewise stirred the old emperor's displeasure.

Thus, after a simple but sumptuous evening meal, the old emperor dismissed the Prince of Xu, Liu Chengyun, without the slightest attempt to conceal his displeasure—which only deepened the anxiety in Liu Chengyun's heart.

And after the Prince of Xu, no one else came to "disturb" the old emperor. Not because they were unwilling, but because they dared not. Most of the powerful nobles accompanying the imperial entourage were shrewd and cautious; before the situation became clear, they would never act rashly. This, too, was the pressure the old emperor had imposed over the years.

"His Majesty..." As the night deepened, the old emperor still had not retired to bed, and would not even allow attendants to help him wash. Seeing this, Hu De approached again and called out cautiously.

The old emperor still wore a listless expression. Hearing the voice, he glanced at him sideways: "What is it?"

Hu De knew that the old emperor was best not provoked at such a time, but there were matters he had to confirm, and so he had no choice but to do so. Thus, he lowered his head and asked: "For tomorrow's banquet at Taikang Hall, shall preparations proceed as usual?"

The old emperor's arrival at Taikang Palace with the assembled nobles marked the formal inauguration of the traveling palace. Naturally, this required a formal ceremony, and holding an imperial banquet in the main hall, Taikang Hall, had long been the planned arrangement.

But now, at least in the eyes of some—including Hu De, the chief of the palace eunuchs—it seemed that matters had taken a turn.

Upon hearing this, the old emperor's reaction was slightly delayed, and then he said with a look of puzzlement: "Everything proceeds as usual, of course! Has something happened that even my arrangements to host a banquet for all my ministers must be changed?"

The old emperor's gaze and tone both sent a chill down Hu De's spine. At this moment, how could he dare say another word? He hastily straightened his bearing and assured that, together with the various supervisors of the Han court and the Court of the Imperial Treasury, he would prepare the next day's imperial banquet to perfection.

In the Great Han, Shen Prefecture could hardly be considered a major prefecture—it governed only three counties. Besides Xinyang, where the prefectural seat was located, there was Yingshan County bordering Hubei to the south and Luoshan County bordering Huaixi to the east.

Luoshan County was clearly the least developed—in population, economy, and culture alike. Though situated in the heartland of the Great Han, it was a poor, low-ranking county on the edge of the capital circuit. Yet in this very county, the people's livelihood had completely deteriorated and sunk within a mere two years. The common folk, who already struggled to make a living, now found another heavy burden pressed upon their bent backs.

The reason was obvious without saying. As for the exhaustion of the people's livelihood in Luoshan County and the suffering of the common folk, in the words of one clerk in the county office: the fact that no riot on the scale of a thousand people had occurred, and no mob had stormed the county office, was already a sign of the people's restraint.

This clerk of the Luoshan County office was named Wang Qinruo. A native of the Jiangnan West Circuit, he had grown up in E Prefecture and had been known for his talent since youth, with wisdom surpassing others.

His great-uncle had once served as Prefect of E Prefecture, and his father had also served as a county magistrate. Coming from an official family, after completing his studies he naturally began seeking entry into officialdom. With a letter of recommendation from a "worthy elder," he came to serve as a clerk in Luoshan County.

Starting as an ordinary scribe, then serving as an agricultural official and tax clerk, he spent over four years before finally rising step by step to Registrar of Luoshan County, successfully navigating the difficult path of "clerk to official."

By now, Wang Qinruo was twenty-nine years old and still only the Registrar of Luoshan, unable to advance. For a man of such high ambition as himself, this was truly a grinding, unbearable stagnation.

At the same time, within the official system of Shen Prefecture, Wang Qinruo was one of the few officials who had explicitly opposed and openly questioned the prefecture's governance.