Chapter 733: This Winter Was Unusual

In Shulan Hall, after a long absence, Liu Chengyou came to visit the pregnant Pure Consort Zhou. The "Elder Lady Zhou" was now nearly eight months pregnant, her belly round and full, her whole figure appearing much more ample, yet her natural beauty remained undimmed. Only between her fair brows lingered a trace of melancholy—even with the Emperor's visit, her joy was tinged with a hint of resentment.

She extended a delicate hand, revealing her wrist. The old imperial physician carefully took her pulse with proper decorum, then rose and stepped back, bowing as he reported to the Emperor and Consort: "The Pure Consort's pulse is normal, and the fetus is healthy. However, her mind is unsettled and needs soothing. This old minister will prescribe another calming tonic for the pregnancy..."

"You may withdraw," Liu Chengyou waved his hand.

The languor on Lady Zhou's jade-like countenance lessened somewhat, yet seeing the sorrow knitted between her moth-like brows that seemed impossible to dispel, Liu Chengyou could not help but sigh. He reached out and gently stroked her brow, as if trying to smooth away her melancholy.

He could understand her state—after all, she was pregnant, and emotions were always unstable. Perhaps due to her personal values and the constraints of palace rules, she did not display excessive agitation. But that deep-seated resentment of a palace woman was still rather pitiable.

He recalled that when she first entered the Han palace, Lady Zhou had been an innocent maiden full of longing for romance. Now her most vibrant youth had passed, and she had grown accustomed to life in the Han palace—but after familiarity came numbness. Like the other consorts, she could only await the Emperor's occasional bestowal of favor, then begin another long and lonely wait.

Compared to the Empress and the other consorts, Pure Consort Zhou was not particularly favored. For Liu Chengyou, after experiencing the initial thrill of "collecting" her, he had grown weary. What she excelled at, what she loved, were not things that interested him. And in terms of appearance alone, Pure Consort Zhou could hardly claim much advantage—to capture the Emperor's interest, run-of-the-mill beauty was simply not enough.

Moreover, Liu Chengyou was a workaholic; the time he allotted to the harem was limited to begin with, and even the Empress and the others found it insufficient—how much less could Pure Consort Zhou, who had been taught by her father to remain low-key and uncontentious, expect?

At this moment, feeling Liu Chengyou's warm touch, the slightly rough texture of his hand clearly perceptible, Lady Zhou's pretty face gradually flushed red.

Noticing the crimson spreading across her cheeks, Liu Chengyou spoke in a tone of rare tenderness: "You heard what the imperial physician said just now—a depressed mood is harmful to the child in your womb. I see sorrow weighing on your brow. Is there something you find hard to resolve? If you have any difficulties, tell me. I rarely come here—smile for me!"

"Thank you for His Majesty's concern. This concubine is fine—it's just that seeing the deep winter, my feelings got the better of me, and I felt a moment of loneliness," Lady Zhou replied softly in response to his inquiry.

And with that, she leaned gently into Liu Chengyou's embrace, tilting her head up to show him a smile. Only, that smile was clearly somewhat forced.

Gently embracing Lady Zhou's fuller waist, Liu Chengyou said warmly: "I know that since you became pregnant, I have shown you less care. But the realm is at a critical juncture, and the Great Han's fortunes are rising daily—I must devote most of my energy to matters of state and military affairs. Where I have wronged you, please understand.

Ah, enough—I won't comfort you with high-sounding words. Though I am Emperor, I have no shortage of worries, and the palace is no place of tranquility. I cannot give you romance, only try my best to give you peace and stability..."

Liu Chengyou's words were somewhat callous—he didn't even bother with sweet nothings, and even thoroughly shattered the last bit of hope in Lady Zhou's heart. But they were honest enough.

Leaning against his chest, breathing in the Emperor's scent, a mist seemed to gather in Lady Zhou's eyes, yet a smile rose at the corners of her lips: "That Your Majesty still thinks of me in your spare time is already enough to satisfy me. How dare I ask for more?"

Hearing her say this, Liu Chengyou kissed her forehead and said: "I will come to see you more often from now on!"

With a beauty in his arms, he could not attend to other matters, but he did find a measure of tranquility. Unfortunately, the two could not linger together for long before Zhang Dejun entered and spoiled the mood: "Your Majesty, Director Zhao at Chongzheng Hall seems to have urgent matters to report!"

At this, Liu Chengyou's brows furrowed. He looked at Lady Zhou with slight apology. After the man's comforting, the young lady's spirits had improved somewhat. She smiled gently: "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs—please return to the hall. If there are urgent matters, don't delay!"

Liu Chengyou did not stand on ceremony. He patted her shoulder and rose to leave. After a few steps, he turned back to look at Lady Zhou and said: "I see your sorrow is hard to dispel, which is not good for nurturing the pregnancy. This Shulan Hall is also rather cold and quiet. I will issue a special decree allowing your mother and sister to enter the palace to keep you company—both for conversation and to help care for you!"

Feeling the Emperor's concern, Lady Zhou finally brightened at last, her spirits seeming to improve considerably. She smiled in response: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After Liu Chengyou departed, the beauty's pale, delicate lips pressed together lightly as she seemed lost in thought. Her hand slowly moved down to her swollen belly, stroking it gently, a smile gradually curving at the corners of her mouth, her demeanor becoming much more composed. No matter what, being pregnant was a good thing—boy or girl, from now on she would have something to hold onto in the palace, and she need not be so lonely...

As for Liu Chengyou, he returned to Chongzheng Hall and summoned Zhao Yan, asking directly: "What happened that it had to be relayed all the way to Shulan Hall!"

Zhao Yan's expression looked somewhat grave. He reported respectfully: "Your Majesty, Zizhou has reported that Duke Jing, during his mourning period, has passed away from illness!"

"What!" Liu Chengyou's brows shot up, and he nearly stood straight up from his seat. His tone was urgent: "What happened?"

"Duke Jing had overworked himself on government affairs for many years and had long suffered from chronic ailments. This time, upon his father's death, he hurried east to handle the funeral arrangements. Overwhelmed by grief, exhausted in body and mind, and with the bitter cold of winter on top of it all, he ultimately could not hold out and fell ill," Zhao Yan said.

"What were the local authorities doing? When Duke Jing fell ill, why did they not seek physicians to treat him?" Liu Chengyou's tone now carried a hint of anger.

Zhao Yan explained: "Zizhou reported that when Duke Jing fell ill, famous physicians were urgently dispatched, and the Prefectural Administrator personally visited him. However, Duke Jing's condition was extremely severe and deteriorated rapidly—medicine could not save him. He passed away within seven days..."

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou could not help but close his eyes and take a deep breath. Many complicated thoughts surfaced in his mind. Just a few days ago he had mentioned Jing Fan, and now the next news of him was this tragic report.

A trace of grief hung on his face as Liu Chengyou's low voice trembled slightly: "Why is Heaven so merciless, to take from me a pillar of the state and a good minister!"

"Your Majesty, please restrain your grief!" Zhao Yan consoled him in a low voice.

After a moment to compose himself, Liu Chengyou raised a finger: "Zhao Yan, record this!"

"Yes!"

Liu Chengyou sighed and gave his orders: "Suspend court for three days. Posthumously ennoble Jing Fan as County Duke of Changshan, with five hundred households as his fief, and add the title of Director of State Affairs. Let his eldest son inherit the title. Instruct the Zizhou authorities to build a temple and erect a stele in his hometown, and to handle the funeral arrangements. Additionally, have the Hanlin Academy compose an inscription for his spirit path stele, recording his achievements and conduct!"

The cold winter wind continuously seeped through the cracks in the palace, drilling into Liu Chengyou's heart and making him feel chilled. Upon hearing the news of the death, Liu Chengyou was genuinely grieved. Unfortunately, over the years, many old ministers had passed away, but only Jing Fan's death moved him to this degree of sorrow.

Even when his father-in-law Gao Xingzhou had died, he had not felt such grief. However, what surprised Liu Chengyou was that Jing Fan's death was only the beginning—from the second day of the eleventh month onward, death reports came one after another, leaving him overwhelmed.

On the eighth day of the eleventh month, Taiyuan Prefecture reported that Commandery Duke of Taigu, Zheng Renhui, who had been recuperating in his hometown, had passed away from illness.

On the fifteenth day of the eleventh month, Minister of Rites He Ning passed away from illness, and his son presented his posthumous work, *The Collection of Doubtful Cases*.

On the twentieth day of the eleventh month, Luoyang memorialized that Duke of Shan, Zhao Hui, had passed away from illness.

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, Luoyang memorialized that Duke of Jing, Shi Kuangyi, had passed away from illness.

On the third day of the twelfth month, Luoyang memorialized that County Duke of Guangping, Liu Ci, had passed away from illness.

Death reports came thick and fast—the entire eleventh month was basically spent in "suspended court" and Liu Chengyou's posthumous honors. Indeed, had these meritorious ministers and old generals not shown prior signs, Liu Chengyou would have suspected someone of secretly murdering his loyal officials. Before retiring, every one of these men had been figures of great weight in the Great Han—and now they had all passed away together...

Rumors even spread abroad, with some directly speculating that the Emperor was killing off his meritorious ministers. In his foul mood, Liu Chengyou directly ordered a rectification campaign in the Eastern Capital.

Agents of the Wude Office and constables of Kaifeng Prefecture went out in force, arresting over two hundred people. In recent years, the court had relaxed its control over public opinion and speech considerably, causing many to lose their sense of awe and dare to discuss anything.

This time, Liu Chengyou was rarely brutal. After screening those arrested, anyone found guilty of malicious speculation or discussion was executed on charges of deceiving the sovereign. In one stroke, over a hundred heads rolled to the ground, giving the scholars and commoners of the Eastern Capital a taste of the autocracy and darkness of a monarchical centralized dynasty.

Compared to the Eastern Capital, the situation in Luoyang was even more severe. To suppress the rumors, Wang Yan, the Defender of the Western Capital, also took harsh measures, killing over two hundred people—killing first and reporting afterward. After that, things quieted down...