Chapter 540: The Emperor's Stance

Summer had already arrived; the grain grew tall and lush, all things flourished in abundance. Thanks to the heavens' favor and the rivers' cooperation, since the start of the year, the Great Han had suffered no disasters. It was only on the first day of the fourth month that a solar eclipse occurred, stirring up a ripple of commotion, as if mirroring the shifting winds and clouds of Hedong.

The weather gradually grew hot. In the Han palace, the consorts and palace maids wore increasingly thin garments, their fine figures on display, continuing to tempt the Son of Heaven of the Han.

Inside Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou sat handling affairs of state as usual. Likely because some grime on his body had not been washed clean, now that the weather had warmed, the itching was unbearable. Liu Chengyou took a slender ruyi scepter, slipped it into his collar, and slowly scratched.

"Make arrangements—tonight I shall take a hot bath, and have Consort Fu attend me in bed!" Liu Chengyou instructed Zhang Dejun.

"Yes!"

Spread out before Liu Chengyou was Liu Chong's memorial of petition for enfeoffment, which had not yet been submitted to the Eastern Capital, along with various reports from Hedong, all laid together on Liu Chengyou's desk. One moment he had been thinking of carving out territory and sealing his own domain; the next he was a prisoner below the steps—thinking on it, it was rather ironic.

As for Liu Chong, if it came to family affection, Liu Chengyou could say without any guilt that there was none. Moreover, having learned of Liu Chong's improper machinations in Hedong, he felt even more disgust—the desire to kill him was there, even stronger than it had been toward Liu Xin back then.

However, just as Li Shaoyou had guessed, although the situation in Hedong had stirred up waves, it was ultimately under control and had not brewed into a great disorder. To proclaim Liu Chong's crimes to the world in an imperial edict, expose his offenses, and have him executed—Liu Chengyou had this thought, but that was all.

He had to consider public opinion and criticism, consider the stability of people's hearts, and above all consider the overall strategy of reducing the power of the military governors. For the current Great Han realm, Hedong remained the strongest fiefdom. If this matter were handled smoothly, it would also aid the subsequent rollout and soothe the hearts of those remaining old officials and veteran governors.

At the beginning of his reign, Liu Chengyou had been busy stabilizing his imperial throne and gathering military power. Although he had issued good policies to soothe the people, he had not actually placed much importance on public sentiment or popular will.

But as the realm gradually turned from chaos to order, in that process, unconsciously, Liu Chengyou had truly begun to consider and care about such things. If one wished to govern the world and bring peace to all under heaven, one must win over people's hearts—this Liu Chengyou had realized long ago.

Although, up to this moment, Liu Chengyou still had not decided how to deal with Liu Chong, from the edicts he subsequently issued, avoiding the word "rebellion," one could tell that even if he harbored deep hatred in his heart, he would absolutely not proclaim it openly to the world—even though many people knew exactly what had happened.

"Your Majesty, Wang Jingchong, Deputy Commissioner of the Palace City Office, requests an audience!"

"Summon him!" Liu Chengyou snapped back to attention and set the ruyi scepter on the desk.

"Your Majesty, a report has come from the north—the Duke of Shouyang has escorted Liu Chong's family southward back to the Eastern Capital, and they have already passed Zezhou!" After paying his respects, Wang Jingchong reported to Liu Chengyou: "Additionally, as for Liu Chong's sons serving in various prefectures, I have already ordered that they all be taken into custody and transported by officials to Kaifeng to await judgment. The Commandery Prince of Julu's residence has been placed under complete surveillance—Liu Chengyun is in the mansion, restless and uneasy, trembling in fear all day long! Surely he must have heard of the Hedong incident and is feeling guilty as a thief..."

"Who allowed you to act on your own authority and detain the Prince of Taiyuan's sons!" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou grew angry and slammed the desk, rebuking him.

Wang Jingchong was startled and instinctively knelt: "Your servant, your servant only thought..."

"Thought what?" Liu Chengyou said. "Is it that you saw Li Shaoyou achieve great merit in Hedong and could no longer sit still?"

"Are you afraid the Hedong affair isn't big enough, so you want to spread it across the realm for me, letting officials and commoners gossip about it?" Liu Chengyou stared coldly at Wang Jingchong.

Liu Chong had fathered over a dozen sons; aside from a few young ones, the grown ones all served as officials in various places. Seeing the Son of Heaven enraged, Wang Jingchong silently cursed himself for losing his senses and hurriedly said: "Your servant will immediately order their release!"

"You've already arrested them; releasing them now would be slapping your own face, wouldn't it?" Liu Chengyou said. After considering for a moment, he raised a finger: "Bring them all back to the Eastern Capital! Remember—it is an escort, not a detention!"

"Yes!"

"This Wang Jingchong—his actions grow more presumptuous and reckless by the day. I haven't even made a decision, and he dares to detain the Prince of Taiyuan's sons as criminals to curry favor with me?" After he withdrew, Liu Chengyou turned his head to look at Zhang Dejun.

Zhang Dejun kept his head down, not daring to respond.

"Presuming to guess the sovereign's intentions—his heart deserves death!" These words made Zhang Dejun tremble with fear.

"It seems the Palace City Office should also be put on the agenda..." He said this leisurely, then addressed Zhang Dejun: "If I were to have you serve as my hawk and hound, would you be willing?"

Meeting the Son of Heaven's gaze—so deep it chilled one's heart—Zhang Dejun hurriedly replied: "This humble one is already Your Majesty's servant and dog!"

"Heh." Liu Chengyou smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Before long, a palace eunuch came to report that the Commandery Prince of Julu, Liu Chengyun, requested an audience.

Liu Chengyun was Liu Chong's eldest son. Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan had adopted him as a foster son, and after the founding of the state, he had been treated generously. At that time, among the imperial clan, his power and position were second only to Liu Chong and Liu Xin.

In the second year of Qianyou, when Liu Chengyou made his northern winter tour, affected by the "Yang Bin case," Liu Chengyun was relieved of his post and sent into retirement. Since then he had remained in Kaifeng, holding the position of Director of the Imperial Clan, serving the ancestral temples and managing imperial clan affairs.

Liu Chengyun was not an ambitious man. He was generous and humble, lacking in strong opinions, not particularly clever, but he knew his place.

"Brother Yun, sit!" In the hall, Liu Chengyou's manner was cordial as he sized him up. His expression was weary, his face haggard, his brows heavy with worry.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyun directly knelt and said with a tearful voice: "Your servant begs Your Majesty to mete out punishment!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Liu Chengyou raised an eyebrow slightly and immediately said: "Zhang Dejun, quickly help the Commandery Prince up!"

But Liu Chengyun stubbornly refused to rise, knocking his head against the floor, and said with emotion: "Your Majesty, my father was momentarily confused, bewitched by ghosts and demons, and thus committed improper acts—his sins are grave. Your servant presumes to beg Your Majesty, in consideration of his advanced age and failing faculties, and for the sake of the bond between uncle and nephew, to spare his life and let him enjoy his remaining years in peace! Your servant begs to suffer punishment in his father's stead!"

With several thuds, Liu Chengyou noticed the bloody marks on his forehead from knocking. Liu Chengyou's expression tightened, and he said: "Brother Yun, you must remember—you are the son of the late emperor, your imperial father!"

"But the Prince of Taiyuan is after all my own birth father!" Liu Chengyun was already weeping profusely.

To be honest, Liu Chengyou was not very pleased with this request—or rather, plea—from Liu Chengyun. He rose, walked to stand before him, and asked flatly: "Where did you hear such wild rumors? What crime has your imperial uncle committed?"

Liu Chengyun was momentarily at a loss for words. He looked up, wiped away his tears, and stared blankly at the emperor whose expression was calm, then said in a smaller voice: "There are many rumors circulating in the court and among the people..."

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou raised his hand and ordered someone to summon Academician Li Fang, then instructed: "Go immediately to Guangzheng Hall and have Feng Dao and the others admonish the hundred officials—stay in their posts and do their duties properly, strictly forbid spreading hearsay and idle discussion. Violators will be severely punished!"

"Yes!"

After giving the order, Liu Chengyou let out a sigh and personally helped Liu Chengyun to his feet, saying with a sigh: "Brother Yun, I know you are loyal, filial, and honest, but your temperament is too soft, and you lack your own judgment—you must not follow the crowd! No matter what, your imperial uncle is my own blood uncle. And you as well—between family, why make such a display? If word of this gets out, it will only invite gossip!"

Hearing the emperor's kind words, Liu Chengyun's emotions stabilized somewhat. He clasped his hands and said: "Your servant was rash and lost his composure—please punish me, Your Majesty!"

"Enough!" Waving his hand, Liu Chengyou pointed at his forehead: "Clean up the wound and return to your residence to rest. Everything can wait until your imperial uncle arrives at the Eastern Capital!"

After Liu Chengyun withdrew, Liu Chengyou paced back and forth, shaking his head slightly and sneering.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to ask whether your affairs of state are pressing, and whether you have time to visit Ciming Hall!" Amid his deliberations, Zhang Dejun reported.

"Let's go!" When the Empress Dowager summoned him, how could Liu Chengyou refuse? He immediately ordered the procession prepared, saying: "Even the Empress Dowager has been stirred—one can imagine what a tide of discussion is sweeping the court and the realm!"

Two days later, Liu Chengyou learned that Li Shaoyou's party had entered Zhengzhou. He summoned Feng Dao and other senior ministers, and said in a tone of final judgment: "The Prince of Taiyuan, having guarded Hedong for many years, feels himself aged and unfit for duty, and has requested to retire. He has already traveled south with his family—their carts and boats have passed Zhengzhou!"

Looking at Feng Dao, Liu Chengyou instructed: "Minister Feng, you shall go on my behalf to welcome him!"

At the emperor's words, the astute chancellors all caught the implication. Feng Dao rose and respectfully replied: "Yes!"

"Additionally, discuss among yourselves the matters of Hedong's military administration, criminal justice, finances, and oversight! It is the land of the dragon's rise, the foundation of the imperial enterprise—it must be properly reformed, and no errors may be made..."