Chapter 2065: Taizong Chronicles 7: The Kaibao Old Ministers

Early spring is a season that cannot be taken lightly, especially for frail elderly people—the sudden chill of late cold can pierce the skin and gnaw at the bones in mild cases, and in severe ones, it is no exaggeration to say it can kill.

Xiuye Ward, the Estate of Duke Shou, Lone Bamboo Garden. Inside the study, warm air carried a fragrant aroma, curling incense smoke mingling with rising steam, enveloping the atmosphere.

Duke Shou was a lustful man—this was nearly common knowledge throughout the court, requiring no further proof than his forty-some children.

Even though he was long past sixty, he still did not lack for dalliances with women and consorting with courtesans. Early this very morning, the old duke was already surrounded by several rosy-cheeked temptresses.

The room was indeed warm. Li Shaoyou, wearing only a single layer of clothing, felt not the slightest discomfort. A brocade sash was tied casually at his waist, revealing a large expanse of his chest—though it was withered and skeletal.

Four maidservants attended him nearby. Of course, the point was not what they were busy doing, but rather their bold, suggestive attire. Clearly it was this very sense of veiled allure that held fatal temptation for men—old men included.

It had to be said that in the half year since Emperor Shizu's passing, Duke Shou had been quite restrained in his desires, abstaining from women for a long stretch. Even after the burial, he remained so, and only after spring arrived did he permit himself to be wrapped once more in the warm embrace of pleasure.

But at this moment, compared to those pretty-faced, gracefully curved beauties serving as maids, what interested Li Shaoyou more was the edict read aloud at the enthronement ceremony. Lying prone on the soft couch, he held the transcribed pages and studied them with rapt attention.

Li Shaoyou believed that over these past days, no small number of people in Luoyang had been carefully studying this edict, attempting to see the new emperor's philosophy of governance behind the information, hoping to discern the future direction of the Great Han court, or find some point of entry for flattery and sycophancy.

Compared to those bustling, mediocre folk chasing fame and profit, Li Shaoyou, as a central figure among the empire's upper nobility, possessed far loftier insight, and his channels and volume of information were far greater as well.

And the results of his research left Li Shaoyou quite satisfied, because much of the wind that had previously leaked from the palace to the outside was now absent: the new emperor was going to reform the system. That matter had previously been the talk of the town, with claims that His Majesty would correct and rectify the many malpractices of the late emperor's final years in governance—told with vivid, convincing detail.

For an old minister of the former emperor like Li Shaoyou, this was naturally unacceptable. He certainly did not wholeheartedly endorse every policy and decision of Emperor Shizu, but if Liu Yang was going to rush into reform at the very start of his reign, it would deeply wound the hearts of old ministers like himself. At the same time, it would neither benefit the harmony and stability of the court, nor would it likely harm the interests of these Kaibao-era old ministers—the latter being, of course, the most critical concern.

Fortunately, the emperor had pulled back from the brink; the rumors had not become reality. Reading through the entire text, the emphasis lay in commemorating and summarizing the great achievements and accomplishments of Emperor Shizu, while the exposition of his own governing philosophy was briefly and simply touched upon with phrases like "lenient punishments, simplified governance, and giving the people rest," while clearly expressing an attitude of continuing and consolidating Shizu's major policies.

As for specific matters, aside from ennobling old ministers and the changes in authority involving several dozen senior court officials below the chancellor at the Hall of State Affairs, there was the postponement of this year's imperial examinations to autumn, along with an increase in the number of candidates to be admitted.

Evaluating the whole picture, the new emperor was indeed steady! Though he did not know exactly what circumstances had caused Liu Yang to change his original inclinations, this kind of steadiness was precisely what won the hearts of old ministers like Li Shaoyou.

Of course, with Li Shaoyou's intelligence, he could more or less guess—it was likely that the recent conduct of those ministers had made Liu Yang feel pressure. That was fine as well; the emperor truly should not be influenced and beguiled by those outside officials.

While Li Shaoyou enjoyed the gentle touch of the maidservants' soft hands roaming over his body and praised Wang Dan's literary talent, a middle-aged man of composed bearing and meticulous manner walked in. Seemingly oblivious to the amorous atmosphere of the room, keeping his eyes straight ahead, he glanced only at Li Shaoyou before stepping forward quickly and bowing: "Father!"

Li Shaoyou had twenty-eight grown sons in total, half of whom idled away their days mooching off the Duke of Shou's estate. The man before him was his seventh son, Li Zongkai, who currently managed the estate's affairs.

Li Zongkai was Li Shaoyou's most beloved son, and he had once considered making him his heir. When he had made that request to Emperor Shizu back then, aside from indirectly admonishing in support of the Crown Prince, it was not necessarily without genuine sincerity.

However, though he had many children, Li Shaoyou was not overly troubled. He had always been rational and lived with clarity. His arrangements for after his death were long since settled: his eldest son, Li Zongrui, would inherit the title, his seventh son, Li Zongkai, would inherit the household affairs, and each of his other children would receive a share of property and land. If they wished to join the military or enter officialdom, they would receive basic support—the rest would be up to them.

Li Shaoyou had never thought of treating all his children equally, because he knew it was impossible to balance the scales. He was no Emperor Shizu, who had enough family wealth to enfeoff his princes—and even then, that had stirred up a heap of discontent.

As for the descendants of the Li family, if they were dissatisfied, they were welcome to leave the Li family, sever ties, and have their names struck from the clan register—these were words Li Shaoyou had personally spoken. This consistent attitude and approach had actually worked quite well. In the eyes of the Li descendants, when the old man hardened his heart, he truly acknowledged no kin at all.

Inside the room, he set down the edict text and casually asked Li Zongkai: "What is it?"

"His Majesty has come to the estate, to visit Father!" Li Zongkai said in a low voice. Hearing this, Li Shaoyou immediately pushed aside the maidservants and sat up, asking: "Where is he?"

"Already at the estate gate!"

"Lead the sons of each branch to welcome him!" Li Shaoyou immediately ordered, then rose, barefoot, and in a few quick steps ran to the bed behind the hall's curtain and lay down, shouting at the several maidservants: "Cover me with the quilt, tidy things up, and withdraw at once!"

There was a flurry of frantic activity, but fortunately the maidservants were nimble enough. After they had tidied up for a while, only then did he hear the clamor of voices coming from the corridor outside. At the sound, Li Shaoyou immediately held his breath and steadied his mind, his gaze showing focus, then gradually growing vacant, his entire bearing weakening as he strove to appear like an invalid.

Indeed, Duke Shou had been "ill" for quite some time now. Over the past two months and more, aside from making a single appearance at the enthronement ceremony, he had basically remained within the estate, keeping to himself and rarely going out.

This time, the imperial visit was naturally to see an old minister. Of course, Liu Yang should not be that baleful star that Emperor Shizu had been.

Only Li Zongkai was granted the honor of accompanying Liu Yang inside; everyone else, including the attending palace eunuchs and guards, waited at the door. Upon seeing that bright yellow robe, Li Shaoyou immediately widened his eyes, struggling to rise, while saying in a feeble voice: "Your Majesty honors us with your presence, yet this old minister failed to welcome you from afar—I beg your forgiveness!"

Seeing this, Liu Yang immediately stepped forward quickly, gently pressing Li Shaoyou down, and said in a soft, soothing tone: "Since Duke Shou's body is unwell, there is no need to observe such conventional formalities!"

"Rites must not be abandoned!" Li Shaoyou still struggled.

Liu Yang then looked at him seriously: "Duke Shou is both a meritorious minister and an elder—there is truly no need for this. Let us converse here on the bed!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Seeing Liu Yang's insistence, Li Shaoyou only then "reluctantly" agreed.

At this point, Li Zongkai brought over a stool and invited the emperor to sit. Liu Yang lifted his robe and sat down, sweeping his gaze over the room before asking: "How is Duke Shou's health?"

Li Shaoyou coughed a few times and said: "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern! It is only that this illness came on very suddenly, and this old minister dislikes taking medicine and trusts not those quack doctors, so I can only rest in bed to recuperate!"

"That will not do!" Hearing Li Shaoyou say this, Liu Yang's expression immediately turned stern: "Hiding one's illness and avoiding treatment is unacceptable! Otherwise, whether you harm your body or lose your life, it would be a great loss to the court—I will not permit it!"

Li Shaoyou sighed faintly: "When one is old, ailments are many and unavoidable. To be honest with Your Majesty, sometimes this old minister would rather die outright than suffer the torment of this illness!"

Hearing Li Shaoyou say this, a hint of amusement flickered across his eyes, and Liu Yang said with a light laugh: "If Duke Shou does not trust physicians, then today let me take your pulse and make a diagnosis myself—how about that?"

Li Shaoyou was slightly surprised: "Your Majesty is also versed in the art of medicine?"

"The things I know may exceed what many people imagine!" Liu Yang said with a smile, then his expression turned solemn, and he extended his hand in the posture of taking a pulse: "Duke Shou, please extend your hand!"

Hearing this, Li Shaoyou exchanged a long look with Liu Yang, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, then extended his right hand, still bearing a faint trace of face powder. But his old eyes had regained their clarity, silently observing Liu Yang while his mind pondered the true purpose behind this imperial visit.