Chapter 559: Understood Without Words

There were still more than twenty days before the height of summer passed. Beneath the vault of heaven, whenever the sun climbed high, it would release its blazing heat without restraint, baking the earth and all things upon it, showing not the slightest partiality.

High walls and thick gates, stern rules and regulations, bound the freedom of the palace folk, and seemed also to trap the summer heat within. For Emperor Liu Chengyou, the summer of the fifth year of Qianyou felt especially stifling and hot. His body and mind were filled with restless fire, and no amount of ice blocks placed in the government hall could dispel it.

In idle moments, Liu Chengyou more than once confided to his palace eunuchs that he missed the chill of winter. Of course, before the campaign against Huainan last year, in the depths of the bitter winter cold, he had also said he would rather enjoy the scorching heat of summer.

As dusk fell, fireflies were already flitting about the palace gardens, dancing among the shaded groves and flower beds. Passing by, Liu Chengyou paused in his steps and appreciated the summer night scene for a while.

Entering the Qiuhua Hall, Liu Chengyou did not have himself announced, and gestured with his hand for the eunuchs and palace maids to keep silent. Through the beaded curtain, he could vaguely make out the delicate figure reclining on the soft chair, its contours rising and falling...

Gently lifting the curtain, deliberately slowing his steps, Liu Chengyou drew near. His Worthy Consort, Lady Zhe, was dozing. Between her lovely face and jade-like body, she had clearly put on a bit of plumpness. Her breathing was calm and even, with a few fine beads of sweat on her forehead and neck.

She wore only a simple, loose garment of light gauze and fine silk — one might even call it a covering. Beneath the gauze skirt, her underclothes and private garments were faintly visible. This sort of hazy, tantalizing allure was something Liu Chengyou rarely experienced from Lady Zhe. In the past, only Noble Consort Gao had liked to seduce Liu Chengyou in this manner.

Faced with such a lovely sight, even with her pregnant belly rising high, Liu Chengyou still shamelessly felt a stirring below.

Perhaps Liu Chengyou's gaze was too penetrating. Lady Zhe sensed something and slowly woke, opening her eyes, still somewhat dazed. When she saw the Emperor standing before her, her mind seemed finally to resume functioning.

She rose to offer a salute, but Liu Chengyou pressed her back down, speaking softly: "You are with child, no need for such formalities. Besides, between you and me, there is no need for this."

Feeling the Emperor's care, Lady Zhe smiled gently, a flush of red rising to her skin, and asked: "Why has His Majesty come so suddenly, without sending word ahead so I could prepare to receive him?"

"I came to see you, and to see the prince or princess who will soon be born!" Liu Chengyou's hand naturally came to rest upon her rounded belly, gently stroking it, as if he could feel the rhythm of life within.

Touched by the Emperor, she blushed slightly — though of course, it might also have been the stuffy heat of the hall. Looking around, Liu Chengyou asked: "The weather is so sweltering, why has no ice been added to cool the hall?"

Turning his head, Liu Chengyou's gaze turned sharp, his tone carrying displeasure, as if blaming the palace attendants for not caring well enough for the Worthy Consort. The attendants swept by Liu Chengyou's gaze answered in fear and trepidation: "The lady feared that the chill of ice might affect the noble child in her womb, and so forbade the addition of ice!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou turned his head to look at Lady Zhe, traced a circle on her belly with his hand, and said warmly: "You've worked hard!"

Lady Zhe did not put on a delicate, coquettish air, but appeared calm and strong, saying: "I heard His Majesty wants a princess?"

Liu Chengyou answered with an easy manner: "I already have no shortage of princes. It's time I gave them a little sister..."

During this period, the Han palace had in fact been full of happy tidings. Worthy Consort Fu and Noble Consort Gao had also been found to be with child. Since returning to court, Liu Chengyou had been plowing and sowing diligently enough.

"By the way, your father has already passed Luzhou. At his pace, he should reach the Eastern Capital in about three days!" Liu Chengyou said to Lady Zhe.

Overjoyed at the news, she could not help sitting up with a big movement: "Truly?"

Settling her back down to lie again, Liu Chengyou said: "I have already sent people to receive him!"

"It's been so many years since I last saw my father!" The lady rarely lost her composure like this, and her eyes actually reddened as she spoke.

This was not his intention at all, so he hurriedly said: "Precisely for that reason, I summoned your father to the Eastern Capital, so that you father and daughter might meet and give vent to your longing. Come to think of it, in all these years, your father and I have never met face to face — it's time we did. This time, let him stay in the Eastern Capital for a good while..."

Hearing these words from the Emperor, Lady Zhe gazed at Liu Chengyou with great tenderness, and of her own accord leaned into his embrace...

Along with Liu Chengyou's father-in-law Zhe Deyi, who had also received the imperial summons to the capital, were Yang Ye and Li Wanchao. But compared to Yang Ye and Li Wanchao's brisk efficiency — setting off south immediately upon receiving the order — Zhe Deyi seemed to hold himself with a bit more dignity, delaying for some time before setting out, and traveling at a leisurely pace. Understandable, after all — the big name always makes his entrance last.

On the eighth day of the sixth month of the fifth year of Qianyou, under a blazing sun, the broad official road at Xiangfu Post Station west of Kaifeng had already been cordoned off. Imperial army soldiers, patrol inspectors' troops, and Kaifeng prefectural runners spread out on guard, maintaining order, each in bright, gleaming armor.

With the road occupied, common folk from inside and outside who wished to pass had to take detours. However, more people chose to stop and watch, joining in the excitement. Even when ruthlessly driven back beyond the cordoned zone, their enthusiasm could not be dampened — they craned their necks from the periphery, full of interest, chattering away.

Before the post station, the high officials of the Great Han court, led by Chancellor Li Tao of the Secretariat, waited quietly amid the bustle. The reception standards were very high — every central bureau and office had representatives present.

"Who are they receiving, to put on such a display!" someone wondered.

"Perhaps some foreign envoy is entering the capital!" someone guessed.

"To the southwest there's only Shu, and they're on bad terms with the Great Han, having just suffered a great defeat — why would they send an envoy?" someone countered.

"Sending an envoy to sue for peace!" someone explained.

"Even if it were a Shu envoy, they wouldn't be received with such ceremony!" the counter continued.

In fact, the ones being received with such a display were ministers of noble status — the three Military Governors of Fengxiang, Zhangyi, and Baoda. Zhao Hui, Shi Kuangyi, and Yao Yuanfu were the most senior, renowned, and powerful among the Guanzhong governors. If these three could be won over, Guanzhong would have no major troubles.

Fortunately, after the court's edict was issued, the three men did not deliberately delay. They voluntarily set down their military duties and came east together to the capital for an audience. With them came more than three hundred carefully selected enemy prisoners from the recent campaign against Shu, mainly officers, to be presented at the palace gates as war trophies.

When the three governors' procession arrived, ceremonial music had already struck up. Zhao Hui and the other two descended from their carriages and stood side by side. Gazing at the officials, soldiers, and common folk waiting respectfully beneath the colorful banners before Xiangfu Post Station, Zhao Hui's lips curled slightly, and he said to Yao Yuanfu and Shi Kuangyi: "For the court to receive us with such ceremony — we are overwhelmed by the honor!"

Yao Yuanfu wore the official robes he did not much care for, finding them cumbersome compared to the lightness of military dress. Hearing this, he laughed heartily: "Don't sell ourselves short — we deserve it! Still, since the Emperor shows us such great courtesy, we should accept his goodwill!"

Beside the two stood Shi Kuangyi, Military Governor of the Zhangyi Army. He was somewhat younger in years, but looked more aged. He was a more reserved man, appearing quite deep and calculating. Hearing the other two's words, a faint smile crossed his old face, and he said little.

Li Tao, in purple robes with a golden belt, bore a natural authority from his long immersion in power. Though he smiled, he was neither humble nor overbearing. Sweeping his gaze over the three governors, he clasped his hands and said:

"I am Li Tao. By order of His Majesty, I welcome the three Governors to the capital. His Majesty has decreed that these imperial horses be provided, and that the three of you escort the prisoners through Dingding Gate, along Xuanwu Heavenly Avenue, to the imperial city to present the captives. His Majesty has already come in person to the city gate tower to await you!"

"Much obliged, Chancellor Li!" Zhao Hui took the lead in responding.

Gazing past the crowd at the towering walls of Kaifeng, adjusting their robes and caps, the three old commanders of Guanzhong — whose combined ages approached two hundred — mounted the imperial horses and, with solemn expressions, entered Kaifeng, passed along the great avenue, and proceeded to the imperial city.

Liu Chengyou did everything properly — he personally descended from the palace gate tower, came down the steps to welcome them, bestowed imperial wine, and honored their achievements in guarding the frontier and defeating the enemy. This display moved Zhao Hui and the other two, while also putting their minds considerably at ease.

Besides the three commanders of Guanzhong, since Liu Chengyou's return to court, others who had received the summons to the capital included former Xiangzhou Military Governor An Shenqi, Chengde Military Governor Zhang Yanwei, Cangzhou Military Governor Wang Jing, and Dengzhou Military Governor Liu Chongjin.

With the arrival of Zhao Hui and the other two in the capital, a campaign to strip military power — foreseeable in advance — gradually unfolded from top to bottom, from within to without. On this matter, sovereign and ministers understood each other perfectly without a word being said.