Chapter 203: A Remonstrance

"Have the people in the Eastern Capital keep a close watch on the situation there, especially the reactions at court!" Summoning Li Shaoyou, Liu Chengyou wasted no words, but gave a simple and stern instruction: "Also, those court officials who attach themselves to Su Fengji—begin monitoring and investigating them, and prepare the evidence."

Li Shaoyou was clearly quick on the uptake, and without further questions, he readily acknowledged the order.

Before entering the palace, he had already learned the news, and he was somewhat surprised by the outcome of Su Fengji being thrown into prison. Behind Shi Hongzhao's picking a fight with Su Fengji, there had been his own men guiding things from the shadows; he had originally expected Shi Hongzhao to come off worse, yet in the end it was Su Fengji whom the Son of Heaven had taken down.

Surprised as he was, Li Shaoyou still had some measure of understanding regarding the implications of this matter.

Su Fengji was, after all, a founding meritorious official, a chancellor of the state; when the new emperor ascended the throne, he had been among the assisting ministers—and yet, because of this disturbance in Luoyang, he had been toppled outright. It was almost predictable how great the reaction in the Eastern Capital would be. It was not worry for Su Fengji—Su Fengji's reputation was hardly any better than Shi Hongzhao's—but concern for himself. As the saying goes, every new reign brings new ministers; taking down Su Fengji was clearly not a good sign.

And as a close relative, confidant, and trusted minister of Liu Chengyou's, Li Shaoyou had some understanding of Liu Chengyou's thoughts. He could also foresee that these old ministers and old generals of the Great Han would sooner or later be cleaned out of court by him; he simply had not expected that, whereas he had thought it would be Yang Bin or Shi Hongzhao, the first to run into the blade would actually be Su Fengji.

As for Su Fengji, Li Shaoyou could only say that he had brought it upon himself.

"It seems the matters here in Luoyang need to be concluded as quickly as possible—after all, I cannot stay away from the Eastern Capital for too long..." Liu Chengyou remarked with a sigh.

Whatever reactions the lords and ministers in Kaifeng might have, at least here in Luoyang, after news spread of Shi and Su contending before the imperial presence and Su Fengji being thrown into prison, the nobles, meritorious officials, generals, and clerks all fell into fearful silence. If even a real-power chancellor like Su Fengji could be toppled by Shi Hongzhao, then in the Western Capital, who could possibly escape?

This time, the unrest in people's hearts was rather severe.

Outside the palace, hearts were anxious and fearful; inside the palace, Liu Chengyou was as steady as Mount Tai—he even had the leisure, in the company of the Empress and the Noble Consort, to read books and practice martial arts.

In the Fragrant Garden within the palace, after finishing reviewing a batch of memorials sent from the Eastern Capital, Liu Chengyou seized a moment of leisure and invited the elder Lady Fu and Lady Gao to share in some pleasure.

Under the bright spring sunlight, Liu Chengyou sat upright in a corner pavilion, drinking hot tea and chatting softly with the elder Lady Fu. A gentle smile lingered at the Empress's lips as she practiced calligraphy with a serious expression; a noble lady of a distinguished house, her brush movements were graceful and natural, and that virtuous, scholarly aura about her was most captivating.

Of course, what drew Liu Chengyou's gaze even more was the striking figure practicing swordplay on the lush green grass. Gao Huaijin wore a tight-fitting martial robe that outlined her full figure, wielding the sword through forms with heroic vigor, her movements graceful and fluid, the blade swishing through the air. Her delicate curves and alluring figure were clearly visible to the eye, and the vigorous trembling set off by her swings was especially eye-catching.

"Ahem!" The elder Lady Fu, noticing Liu Chengyou's gaze, let a flicker of displeasure cross her face, set down her brush, and coughed as if to remind him.

Liu Chengyou slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at the elder Lady Fu, showing no sign of embarrassment or guilt—the love of beauty, after all, was unlike the love of the people; there was no need to deliberately feign concealment.

"Your Majesty, see how my writing is?" The elder Lady Fu glanced at the swaying figure of Gao Huaijin, then looked at Liu Chengyou and asked.

"Cloud-like hair, flower-like face, golden dangling hairpin; in the warmth of hibiscus curtains, passing the spring night. Spring nights are short, the sun rises high; from then on the sovereign held no morning court..." Liu Chengyou perked up, picked up the paper, read through it once, and recited it aloud.

It felt very familiar. Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then asked: "Bai Juyi's 'Song of Everlasting Sorrow'?"

"Exactly." The elder Lady Fu took a wet cloth handed over by a palace attendant and wiped her hands, then asked: "How does Your Majesty find it?"

"Good," Liu Chengyou said.

Her beautiful eyes resting on Liu Chengyou, the elder Lady Fu pressed: "Good in what way?"

"Better than what I write! Prettier than what I write!" Liu Chengyou answered with a plain truth.

"'From then on the sovereign held no morning court'..." Setting down the poem, Liu Chengyou turned back to gaze at the elder Lady Fu: "My Empress, in selecting this line, you are subtly conveying a remonstrance to me!"

"Your concubine has been presumptuous." The elder Lady Fu lowered her head slightly, not denying it.

Since the western tour began, compared to usual, Liu Chengyou had been noticeably more fond of feminine company, though it was only this one Empress and one Consort.

Liu Chengyou took her hand and sighed softly: "Others wish only to remain forever by the sovereign's side, yet you do the opposite—this shows your heart. To have such a worthy Empress is my fortune."

"Your Majesty overpraises me." The elder Lady Fu bowed slightly, and in her gaze toward Liu Chengyou, there was already a hint of affection. This bearing of Liu Chengyou's as a wise and virtuous sovereign greatly won the heart of a woman of lofty aspirations like herself.

While the two were chatting, Gao Huaijin also finished her sword dance, set down the sword, and walked slowly to Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty."

Liu Chengyou appraised his Noble Consort. The weather was warm, her clothing was thin, and after the vigorous exercise, a fine sheen of sweat had formed on her delicate body, with a slightly translucent effect. Her breath came in soft pants, her figure round and trembling—compared to her unrestrained dancing earlier, she held an even greater charm.

Liu Chengyou clapped his hands and praised: "The Noble Consort is truly a tiger's daughter of a general's house. With your skill, three to five ordinary soldiers would likely not be your match."

Gao Huaijin raised a hand to wipe the sweat from her brow, and facing Liu Chengyou's praise, she shook her head and said: "The soldiers in the ranks have been through battles, faced danger and death, and understand life and death—how could your concubine compare with them? These meager skills of mine serve only for appreciation; if they can delight Your Majesty's eyes, that is enough!"

This self-awareness of Gao Huaijin's was much to Liu Chengyou's liking.

"The Noble Consort's heroic bearing, a heroine among women, is truly admirable." The elder Lady Fu said to Lady Gao with a beaming smile.

Hearing this, Gao Huaijin also smiled lightly in response: "The Empress is refined and brilliant, gifted in both talent and beauty, and also earns your concubine's admiration..."

While the two women chatted, Liu Chengyou fell silent, resolving inwardly that he would never again have the two of them attend before him together.

"Your Majesty, the messenger from the Hall of Civilization reports that Chancellor Feng requests an audience." A palace eunuch walked hurriedly into the garden, bowed to Liu Chengyou, and reported.

"I have state affairs to handle; you two are tired as well—return to the palace and rest." Hearing the report, Liu Chengyou collected himself and said to the two women.

"We respectfully see Your Majesty off." In unison, they gracefully knelt in farewell.

"No need for ceremony—sit and speak!" In the hall, after the formal greetings, Liu Chengyou's attitude was as always, showing Feng Dao exceptional courtesy.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Feng Dao was likewise extremely deferential.

"Minister Feng, what matter brings you to the palace to seek me?" Liu Chengyou went straight to the point.

Seeing this, Feng Dao did not mince words either. He rose, bowing his old back, his expression growing ever more natural, and drew from his bosom a stack of folded documents, raising it to present: "Your Majesty, these are this old minister's residences, estates, farmlands, money, and grain in the Western Capital—I wish to offer them all up..."

Feng Dao suddenly pulling this move caught Liu Chengyou quite off guard. His eyes full of scrutiny, he stared at him and said in surprise: "Minister Feng, what is the meaning of this?"

Feng Dao maintained his posture, body bent, his old back somehow still holding up, a humble smile curling at the corners of his mouth: "This old minister reflects that state affairs are not going smoothly, the treasury is empty, and the court's expenditures are lacking..."

"Minister Feng, your loyalty to the state shames me!" The property list and land deeds fell into his hands; Liu Chengyou gave them a brief look, then ordered a palace eunuch to return them to Feng Dao, and sighed.

Then his expression turned stern: "But Minister Feng, take them back. However difficult state affairs may be, it should not come to an old minister offering up his entire family property. A dignified court—if word of this got out, it would be a laughingstock and make the world think lightly of our Great Han!"

Hearing this, Feng Dao's expression still showed little change, and he said calmly: "In the Western Capital's land seizures from farmers, this old minister bears fault as well, and now I am deeply ashamed and repentant. Rather than be investigated by the generals or seized by the military officials, it is better to offer them up voluntarily. This old minister only begs that Your Majesty, mindful of this decaying frame of mine, spare me the suffering of imprisonment..."

Hearing Feng Dao speak thus, Liu Chengyou showed understanding on his face, rose, and walked before him: "Minister Feng, if you have something to say, speak it plainly—why make this gesture of retreating in order to advance?"

"This old minister would not dare." Being directly exposed in his tactics, Feng Dao showed no embarrassment; on the contrary, he breathed a slight sigh of relief, a flicker passing through his eyes, and said in a respectful tone: "The disorder in the Western Capital does indeed need to be rectified, but in all things, going too far is as bad as not going far enough. Harsh punishments and severe laws, indiscriminate implication of others—I only fear it will drag out an even greater disturbance."

"At present, the officials high and low in the Western Capital are restless at heart, each fearing for himself—I imagine Your Majesty has heard something of this as well. Your Majesty has the intention to purge the ills, but if you overcorrect, then what is thrown into chaos will not be merely the single corner of the Western Capital. I beg Your Majesty to consider this carefully."

Liu Chengyou studied Feng Dao, pondering inwardly what could have prompted such a slippery old fox to come forward of his own accord. Could it be that he truly feared that one day Shi Hongzhao would come for him?

"Minister Feng, no need for ceremony—I understand your meaning. I shall immediately issue an edict for Shi Hongzhao to withdraw his troops and return to camp, to quell this disorder!"