Chapter 655: News of the Imperial Jade Seal

"Whish, whish, whish"—the sound rang out within the Han palace grounds, surrounded by a bright winter scene as the sun, rarely seen, hung high in the sky. The rain and snow had cleared; the weather in the Eastern Capital had been gloomy for days. Seizing this rare spell of fine weather, Liu Chengyou also found rare interest in practicing his archery.

Noble Consort Gao and Worthy Consort Zhe, the two young ladies, had also been summoned to accompany him. Practice proved that Liu Chengyou's archery had shown no improvement—in fact, it had regressed. Firing fifteen arrows in a row, he hit the target only four times, and those shots landed far off the bullseye.

The two beauties, however, performed far better than Liu Chengyou. Lady Gao hit the target most of the time, while Lady Zhe was a perfect shot, hitting every single time. Shaking his arm, Liu Chengyou readily put away his bow, tossed it to the attending palace eunuch, turned and lay back in his reclining chair, muttering: "Not practicing anymore!"

Seeing this, Lady Gao and Lady Zhe both put away their bows and walked over to Liu Chengyou's side. Beneath the winter sun, he admired the graceful figures of the two beauties. Lady Zhe's cheeks were flushed crimson, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead, while Lady Gao's figure was curvaceous front and back—her plump, mature body wrapped in a snug-fitting martial robe.

Liu Chengyou was indeed somewhat stirred. Meeting the Emperor's burning gaze, Noble Consort Gao deliberately thrust out her chest a little. Were it not for the many eyes around, she might have displayed even more alluring postures.

"Your Majesty, you're not one to give up halfway. Only fifteen arrows, and you're ready to quit?" Lady Zhe looked at Liu Chengyou, blinking her eyes, and asked.

"No need to provoke me—hitting one or two out of ten kills the mood!" Liu Chengyou pursed his lips toward the target, then smiled at his two consorts: "Who says women can't match men? In archery skill, you two ladies are far better than I am!"

Noble Consort Gao sat down beside Liu Chengyou and said: "Your Majesty is merely weighed down by state affairs and has neglected practice. We in the harem, in our spare time, practice all the more. Still, when it comes to archery, Lady Zhe is the more skilled one..."

As Lady Gao spoke, she cast a sidelong glance at Lady Zhe, who responded with a faint smile, unconcerned.

Noticing the exchange of looks between the two ladies, Liu Chengyou lay back, crossed his legs, and said: "As I see it, I truly have no talent for archery. With skill like this, I'd be embarrassed to go out hunting!"

"If Your Majesty dislikes it, then simply don't practice archery in the future!" said Lady Gao.

Liu Chengyou shook his head and replied: "Some things—the worse you are at them, the more you want to do them. Archery is merely an interest to me. To hit the mark with a single arrow from dozens of paces away—what a thrill that is..."

His gaze lingering over the two ladies' full bosoms, slender waists, pert rears, and lovely legs, he flashed a slightly lecherous smile and suggested: "Both of you come from military families and are skilled in the martial arts. Why not have a contest, and let me enjoy the spectacle!"

"Since Your Majesty has such refined taste, I naturally have no reason to decline!" Lady Gao smiled bewitchingly, then looked toward Consort Zhe: "Little sister, what do you think?"

"I'll gladly join!" Lady Zhe also gave a charming smile.

Soon, palace eunuchs presented two blunted wooden swords, and the two went down to compete. Though it was called a contest, it was not true combat—more like a sword dance, each move and stance graceful and captivating.

As the two ladies fought, from the side, the Fourth Prince Liu Fang ran over on his little legs, his bright, sparkling eyes brimming with excitement, all but clapping and cheering.

"You little rascal—your mother and Lady Gao are fighting, and instead of worrying or being scared, you're this excited?" Liu Chengyou patted Liu Fang's head and asked curiously.

Liu Fang tilted his head and said: "Isn't it Daddy who told them to fight? With Daddy here, there's nothing to fear!"

Liu Chengyou laughed at this. Noticing a small bow in Liu Fang's hands, he took it over to examine it. Before he could ask, Liu Fang said: "I wanted to practice archery with Daddy, but this bow is fake—I can't draw it!"

Liu Chengyou tugged at it—the bowstring had no elasticity at all; it was just a toy bow. Looking at this sturdy, clever little boy, he smiled: "My own archery may never improve, but my son should have the aptitude. When you're a bit older, I'll give you a real bow, and you can practice with me—how about that?"

"Okay!" Liu Fang nodded excitedly.

"Your Majesty, Commissioner of the Wude Office Li Chongju requests an audience; he awaits outside the grounds!"

This announcement jolted Liu Chengyou out of his leisurely mood. He rose and let out a sigh. On the snowy ground, the two ladies also stopped and sheathed their swords. After the vigorous exercise, their heaving bosoms were even more alluring—but unfortunately, Liu Chengyou had no more time to admire, toy with, or savor them.

"You two go back and rest, change your clothes, and don't catch cold!" Liu Chengyou instructed gently.

"Yes!" The two women curtsied gracefully.

"Has Lu Duoxun set out?" Adding an outer robe and unbuckling his wrist guards, Liu Chengyou asked Li Chongju, who followed quietly at his side.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, his party of seventy-five, together with Zhefu Jiashi, have already left the capital heading west!" After two years as Commissioner of the Wude Office, Li Chongju had gradually developed the face of a spymaster, reporting in a low, solemn tone.

Liu Chengyou nodded slightly and asked: "How many people were planted?"

"Thirteen in total, all elite officers and men under the Wude Office, all with military experience. Five served as scouts, and two surveillance officers who can read and write and know how to draw maps!" Li Chongju replied.

"I've always been assured by your handling of matters!" Liu Chengyou walked at a leisurely pace, speaking softly: "Lu Duoxun is clever and knowledgeable, but in the end, he's just a scholar. Some things he can see and accomplish, but other matters I must arrange separately!"

"Also, do your best to protect Lu Duoxun!"

"Before his departure, I already gave special instructions!" said Li Chongju.

"Good!"

"There is another matter I must report to Your Majesty!" Li Chongju's expression grew even more grave.

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou seemed to sense something unusual.

Meeting the Emperor's questioning gaze, Li Chongju said in a deep voice: "Luoyang has reported that the Acting Military Governor Wang Yan has dealt with a batch of profiteering merchants and lawbreaking nobles!"

"This Wang Yan—so he really does want to make something of himself!" Liu Chengyou looked perfectly composed and smiled: "If it were just an ordinary case, that wouldn't be remarkable. Unless there's some hidden circumstance—or is Wang Yan bending the law for personal gain, settling scores?"

"Wang Yan discovered a secret treasure in the residence of a jade merchant surnamed Li, and took it into his own household!" said Li Chongju.

"What secret treasure could draw the attention of the Wude Office's informants?" Liu Chengyou grew somewhat interested, turning his head to look at Li Chongju.

"Suspected to be the Imperial Jade Seal!"

At these words, Liu Chengyou immediately stopped in his tracks, turned to stare at Li Chongju, and asked with furrowed brows: "Has it been verified?"

"I have already ordered close investigation! However, this matter is of great importance, and I dared not conceal it!" said Li Chongju.

After a moment of silence, Liu Chengyou's face was full of doubt. The Imperial Jade Seal made by the First Emperor had passed through a thousand years and countless hands, last vanishing from the world's sight when Li Congke, the last emperor of the Later Tang, burned himself to death.

After Shi Jingtang established the Jin, he ordered a new imperial treasure seal to be made, inscribed with the words "Receiving Heaven's bright mandate, only virtue brings prosperity." Later, when the Shi Jin fell, it fell into the hands of Yelu Deguang, and after the Battle of Luancheng, it was recovered by Liu Chengyou.

Liu Zhiyuan, mindful of "the righteousness between ruler and minister," considered himself to have inherited the Jin's mandate and used it as the Great Han's imperial treasure seal. In recent years, Liu Chengyou had also ordered searches for the Imperial Jade Seal, but all were in vain. Lately, he had even entertained the thought of recasting the national treasure.

Now, learning this news unexpectedly from Li Chongju's mouth, he immediately took it to heart. More importantly, if Wang Yan truly had obtained the jade seal...

"Then let's investigate thoroughly first!" Shifting his thoughts, Liu Chengyou said calmly: "Be careful—it's nothing more than a piece of stone after all. Don't alert Wang Yan over it!"

"I understand!" Though the Emperor looked relaxed and unconcerned, Li Chongju's heart was taut as he answered solemnly.

"Oh, and bring me the records of Wang Yan's actions since he took office in the Western Capital!" As Li Chongju was about to withdraw, Liu Chengyou added a light instruction.

"Yes!"

As Acting Military Governor of the Western Capital, Wang Yan was qualified to have a separate file at the Wude Office.

"Wang Yan..." Strolling slowly toward Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou murmured softly, his gaze calm, revealing neither pleasure nor anger.

Liu Chengyou was not so superstitious about the Imperial Jade Seal, but if it were truly found, he would not underestimate its usefulness. As for Wang Yan—if he truly had obtained it and failed to present it, then his intentions would warrant serious consideration.