Chapter 729: The Treacherous Eunuch and the Tyrannical Ruler

"His Majesty has been worried about a Northern Han invasion all summer, unable to eat or sleep in peace. If you can truly secure peace between the two states, that would be a great merit, and His Majesty will not be stingy with rewards!" The old eunuch said coolly, looking down at him.

"I rely on Your Excellency's guidance and this opportunity to render meritorious service!" Chen Yanshou said immediately.

"Rise!" Lin Yanyu gave a light cough and waved his hand, instructing: "First, tell me about your mission to the Northern Han!"

"Yes!" Only then did Chen Yanshou rise with some difficulty, not bothering to rub his sore, aching knees.

Seeing this, Lin Yanyu pointed to the edge of the couch and said: "Come, sit by the couch!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Chen Yanshou's face was full of humility, even more servile than when he had stood before Liu Chengyou.

Under Lin Yanyu's gaze, Chen Yanshou dared not delay, and hurriedly recounted the mission with selective embellishment, boastfully bragging about how he had faced the fierce Han Emperor without diminishing his sovereign's dignity or disgracing his state, arguing on principle to secure peace and complete his mission......

After a torrent of words, Chen Yanshou's mouth was parched, but he suddenly realized that the atmosphere in the room seemed to have turned cold. Realizing this, he looked up and saw Lin Yanyu, the old eunuch, staring at him with a blank expression and cold eyes. He instinctively shrank his neck.

"Why don't you continue with your tales of glorious achievement?" Lin Yanyu said coldly: "You have quite the nerve, daring to deceive me, to deceive His Majesty!"

"This humble one would never dare!" The powerful eunuch's display of authority made Chen Yanshou's composure crack, and he hurriedly spoke.

"Hmph!" Lin Yanyu gave a cold snort, scrutinizing him, and said with a sneer: "Though our court is secluded in Lingnan, cut off from the Central Plains for years, we are not completely deaf and blind. The Northern Han ruler ascended the throne young, and amid national poverty and popular hardship, he subdued the senior ministers and arrogant generals, holding all power under heaven.

Now his imperial enterprise is secure, and every campaign he has launched has ended in total victory. Such an emperor on horseback—how could a petty southern eunuch like you possibly handle him?

How much of what you said is true, how much false—do you think you can hide it from these eyes of mine?"

Facing Lin Yanyu's increasingly frigid gaze, Chen Yanshou dared not meet his eyes. He fell to his knees again with a thud, avoiding the matter of deception, and said urgently: "The Northern Han ruler did indeed agree to friendly relations between the two states, to refrain from war—he only requires that his conditions be met!"

As he spoke, Chen Yanshou hurriedly produced the state letter he had brought back from the Eastern Capital, presented it with utmost respect, and then waited anxiously for Lin Yanyu's response.

Seeing his behavior, Lin Yanyu's expression softened somewhat, but his gaze remained cold. He took the state letter and read it carefully.

Kneeling there, Chen Yanshou watched the old eunuch's expression, his brow gradually furrowing. Seeing this, as time passed, his heart grew more and more anxious, and he could not help but explain: "Your Excellency, although the Northern Han's demands are rather harsh, I was in Kaifeng and truly could not resist their will. I could only bring the letter back and leave the decision to Your Excellency and His Majesty!"

Lin Yanyu slowly closed the state letter, but a smile appeared on his face. He looked Chen Yanshou over and said something that astonished him: "Good!"

Chen Yanshou was completely stunned: "What does this mean?"

"I'm praising you—this task was handled well!" Lin Yanyu said with a light laugh, staring at Chen Yanshou.

"This, I, that......" Chen Yanshou felt flattered and bewildered, wondering if Lin Yanyu had gone senile, his mind addled.

A sinister look quickly appeared on Lin Yanyu's aged face as he stared at him: "Listen! I don't care what you experienced on this journey north, or how you conducted yourself—whether you groveled or upheld the nation's dignity, none of that matters. But bringing back this state letter is a great merit!"

Chen Yanshou was left speechless by these words: "But——"

"Are these conditions harsh?" As if knowing what puzzled him, Lin Yanyu said confidently: "Let me tell you—they are not harsh!"

Even the state's title had been ordered changed, and Lin Yanyu saw nothing wrong with that; as for declaring vassalage and paying tribute, that was even less significant. Rather, what puzzled this old eunuch was why the Northern Han had agreed to peace so easily.

"Let's put our heads together and figure out how to report this matter to His Majesty when he returns to the palace!" Lin Yanyu said to Chen Yanshou.

Though his mind was still somewhat muddled, Chen Yanshou immediately said: "This humble one will follow Your Excellency's lead!"

Seeing this, Lin Yanyu finally smiled: "Do you know why I recommended you for Kaifeng? Because you are obedient, filial, and not lacking in alertness."

"I am getting old, and my health has been failing recently!" As he spoke, Lin Yanyu could not help but cough heavily several times. The young eunuch beside him hurried forward to offer honey water while gently patting his back.

After drinking a few mouthfuls of honey water and dismissing the eunuchs, Lin Yanyu looked at Chen Yanshou and said with emotion: "In the palace, the only ones I can keep in my sights are Gong Chengshu and you. From now on, inside and outside these palace walls, it will be up to you two to manage affairs and attend to His Majesty!"

"Your Excellency must take care of your health!" Hearing this, Chen Yanshou was first pleased, then quickly put on a moved expression, and pulled a finely wrapped box from his bosom, saying: "While in Kaifeng, I spent a fortune to purchase this aged ginseng, said to be over a hundred years old. I brought it specially to help regulate Your Excellency's health."

"You are thoughtful!" Hearing this, Lin Yanyu broke into a smile.

After noon had passed, Liu Sheng, the ruler of the Southern Han, returned to the palace, but he was seething with anger. The ferocity on his face was such that even the eunuchs and palace maids, accustomed to arrogance in the Panyu palace, dared not look at him. Liu Sheng had left the palace this time to inspect the mausoleum being built for him north of Panyu city.

Ever since the Great Han had taken Jinghu, Liu Sheng had been plagued by anxiety, and with years of heavy drinking and carousing, his health had begun to fail. In the seventh month, a meteor had been seen falling, and he ordered divination performed. Liu Sheng took it as an omen against himself. That night he drank himself into a stupor, and upon waking, issued an edict ordering the raising of funds, grain, and materials to build his mausoleum.

Hearing that Liu Sheng had returned to the palace, Lin Yanyu went personally to greet him, but seeing his terrifying fury as he went straight back to his hall, he immediately decided to gather intelligence first. Accompanying Liu Sheng was a beautiful young woman with a lithe figure and skin white as snow—this was the Southern Han's female Director of the Chancellery, Lu Qiongxian.

"What has happened to His Majesty?" Lin Yanyu asked carefully: "Such great anger—who would dare to provoke him?"

Lu Qiongxian's voice was very pleasant, soft as orchid breath, nothing like a witch-palace maid who bewitched her sovereign and threw the state into chaos. Of course, if she were not beautiful, had a poor figure, and an unpleasant voice, how could she have stood out among a host of palace maids, been so favored by Liu Sheng, appointed Director of the Chancellery, donned court robes and cap, and participated in military and state affairs?

At the question, Lu Qiongxian's willow brows furrowed slightly as she explained: "Naturally it is the matter of the mausoleum. His Majesty went to inspect it and was most dissatisfied—the scale is too small, the design clumsy and foolish, the decoration not lavish enough to match His Majesty's status, and there are not enough workers. Hence his great anger!"

"Is that so!" Lin Yanyu was somewhat surprised, a sinister look flashing across his aged face as he said coldly: "It seems a batch of people must be dealt with!"

"His Majesty has already buried all the responsible officials alive!" Lu Qiongxian said with a slight smile, as if speaking of something trivial.

"That was letting them off easy! Those who anger His Majesty have only themselves to blame!" Lin Yanyu said.

Having learned the situation, Lin Yanyu now had a clear picture. After coordinating with Lu Qiongxian, he brought Chen Yanshou in for an audience. In the hall, Liu Sheng had already removed his outer robe and boots, and was lying on a soft couch while two beautiful palace maids carefully massaged his shoulders and pounded his legs.

Liu Sheng was only thirty-five or thirty-six now, but he looked older, with many white hairs mixed among his locks. Lin Yanyu stepped forward, bowed, and said: "This humble one greets His Majesty!"

"Mm!" Liu Sheng glanced up at Lin Yanyu and acknowledged him.

"Your Majesty need not be angry. If you harm your health over a pack of base ministers, it would not be worth it!" Lin Yanyu said, his aged face piled with smiles: "If the mausoleum does not suit your wishes, simply expand and rebuild it!"

Hearing this, Liu Sheng snorted coldly: "Those people dared to be negligent even with my mausoleum—do they want me to suffer poverty underground after I pass? Claims of insufficient funds are all excuses. Not exterminating their entire clans was already my mercy!"

Seeing this, Lin Yanyu smiled along: "His Majesty is naturally merciful. It's just that those outside ministers find it hard to appreciate His Majesty's magnanimity!"

Hearing this, Liu Sheng's mood finally improved somewhat. Perhaps tired from the outing, he could not help but yawn, and said to Lin Yanyu: "I am somewhat weary. What business do you have? If none, withdraw—I wish to rest!"

At the question, Lin Yanyu hurriedly reported: "I beg to report to Your Majesty—Chen Yanshou, who was sent on the mission to Kaifeng, has returned!"

"Hm?" Liu Sheng's eyes, which had been somewhat drowsy, widened as he finally noticed Chen Yanshou standing behind Lin Yanyu.

Forcing himself to rally, he sat up and asked: "What was the result?"

"The result is gratifying. Chen Yanshou did not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations—he secured a peace agreement with the Northern Han, establishing friendly relations and tribute, and ending the hostilities!" Lin Yanyu said.

Hearing this, Liu Sheng's face lit up with joy, as if all the weariness in his body had been dispelled at once. He looked at Chen Yanshou and raised a hand, beckoning him: "Come forward and report!"

"Yes!" Chen Yanshou hurriedly stepped forward on tiptoe.