Chapter 790: The Kong Clan's Doubts

The hour was still early, the sky still dim, and visibility inside the room was low, with faint wisps of incense smoke visible hanging in the air. Li Tao's movement as he rose startled his wife beside him on the pillow.

His wife sat up as well, looking at Li Tao with concern. Even with blurred vision, she could sense the heaviness in his heart, and could not help asking: "What's wrong with you? These past two days you've been distracted and absent-minded, and your sleep has been poor too!"

Coming back to himself, Li Tao shook his head, gently pressed his wife's warm hand, and soothed her: "It's nothing! I'm getting old—even if I wanted to sleep more, I can't!"

"You sleep a bit longer! I'll get up first—there's still a mountain of affairs at court that need my attention!" Saying this, Li Tao made to get out of bed and dress.

"Don't try to hide it from me! We've been husband and wife for so many years—the change in you these past two days can't escape my notice!" His wife held Li Tao's hand and spoke seriously.

"It's just that government affairs have been heavy lately!" After a moment's hesitation, Li Tao said.

"However urgent the affairs, can they lack this little bit of time?" His wife said with dissatisfaction, then paused and asked hesitantly: "Before the Emperor returned to the capital, you were busy, but not like this... Is it related to the Son of Heaven?"

Staring at Li Tao and seeing no reaction from him, Lady Li immediately said: "This Liu family Emperor is truly hard to serve!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Hearing her complaint, Li Tao rebuked.

"Did I say anything wrong? Of the several chancellors of this Great Han dynasty, how many came to a good end? Wang Zhang died of pent-up frustration, Yang Bin is still suffering in the border prefectures even now—after Feng Dao, is it your turn?"

"Shut up!" Li Tao seemed to have lost his composure, and said angrily: "You're a woman, with a loose tongue—how dare you recklessly discuss court politics and utter such wild words! Do you want to bring disaster upon our entire family?"

Seeing Li Tao's reaction, his wife could not help but sigh and say: "I don't care about court politics—I only worry about the safety of our family. These past two years, your power has grown ever greater, and your word carries weight at court. But don't forget—you are a descendant of the Li Tang, a scion of Emperor Jingzong. This world has never lacked petty men. If the Emperor begins to suspect you, I fear the petty men will slander you..."

"You've served as chancellor for so many years—that should be enough, shouldn't it? Perhaps you should stop being an official and return to your hometown to retire. Maybe then, like Feng Dao, you could still have a good ending..."

"His Majesty's wisdom is not something you can fathom!" Hearing his wife's worries, Li Tao said somewhat insincerely: "Enough! I have my own plans for this matter—you just stay out of it. The words you spoke just now—never mention them again!"

"I'm leaving now!"

The courtyard in the early morning was quiet and still. The autumn wind brought a chill, dew condensed on the grass blades, and the mist drifting through the circular path made one feel the distinct cold.

After washing and eating, by the time Li Tao entered the palace, dawn was only just breaking. The world was still shrouded in grey, the haze deep and heavy, just like Li Tao's mood. Fortunately, after the gate guards changed their shift, the palace gates had already been opened.

"Chancellor, there's progress on the Jinghu case. Chancellor Fan is personally presiding over the hearings and has already dug out fifteen internal and external officials. At this rate, there's bound to be upheaval both inside and outside the court!" Before the desk, a trusted subordinate reported to Li Tao in a low voice.

Li Tao, who had been approving documents, paused, set down his brush, and said with a perfectly calm expression: "His Majesty is furious and has ordered a strict investigation. Fan Wensu is also of a nature that hates evil as an enemy—how could this matter be easily brushed aside? When the Son of Heaven is angered, a million corpses fall and blood flows for a thousand li. What is a mere political storm to speak of? Moreover..."

The real upheaval and turmoil were probably still to come. That last sentence, Li Tao did not say aloud.

Seeing Li Tao's reaction, the subordinate could not help saying: "Chancellor Fan and you, Chancellor, are not on good terms. I fear he may seize this opportunity to stir up trouble and implicate you."

Li Tao smiled instead: "I know Fan Wensu's character. Our political views may differ, but he would not go so far as to retaliate!"

After hesitating, the subordinate continued in a lowered voice: "This subordinate has heard that the cause of this upheaval is that Zhao Pu of Chongzheng Hall slandered you before His Majesty, deliberately exaggerating the matter..."

Hearing this, Li Tao's expression cooled somewhat, and he then admonished him: "Some matters are not for you to pry into, and some words are not for you to speak. From now on, just do your own duty well! You may go!"

"Yes!" Seeing Li Tao's stern expression, the subordinate quickly composed himself, set down a few documents, bowed, and withdrew.

Picking up his brush again, looking at the text between the pages, Li Tao suddenly lost all interest in reviewing documents.

"Chancellor, someone has come from Chongzheng Hall—His Majesty summons you!" While Li Tao was lost in heavy thoughts, a subordinate entered to report.

"Mm! I understand!" Li Tao replied: "Have the messenger wait a moment—I'll set out right away!"

Sitting behind the desk, he took a deep breath, calmly gathered a few important memorials to carry with him, and headed for Chongzheng Hall. His slow steps gave a sense of heaviness, as if he bore a weight of a thousand jun.

"Your subject Li Tao, paying respects to Your Majesty!"

Inside Chongzheng Hall, the Son of Heaven Liu Chengyou was still buried in memorials and government affairs. Seeing Li Tao, he broke into a smile, his manner very cordial: "Minister Li has come! Don't just stand there—please, sit!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Tao bowed in gratitude: "May I ask what matters Your Majesty has summoned your subject for?"

Liu Chengyou took out the topmost memorial from the stack beside his desk, opened it, and said: "This memorial—I find it quite interesting, and also somewhat puzzling. I've called Minister Li here to resolve my doubts!"

Watching the Emperor's demeanor, and thinking of a memorial he would describe as "interesting," Li Tao could not help but feel some suspicion arise in his heart. He said respectfully: "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengyou said: "Wenxuan Duke and concurrently Qufu County Magistrate Kong Renyu has died. Minister Li proposes that his son Kong Yi inherit the title of Wenxuan Duke and also succeed as Qufu County Magistrate?"

Hearing this, Li Tao was genuinely puzzled, not understanding the Emperor's meaning. He replied: "Kong Renyu is the forty-third generation descendant of the Sage Confucius. The title of Wenxuan Duke has been hereditary within the Kong clan since the Tang dynasty, as a mark of respect and esteem for the Sage and for the scholars of the realm. This is established practice—having Kong Yi inherit the title is entirely proper!"

"Heh heh!" Liu Chengyou laughed: "Can the Kong clan represent all the scholars of the realm?"

Facing Liu Chengyou's question, Li Tao very much wanted to answer, "Yes, they can." But seeing the Emperor's amused expression, Li Tao said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Kong clan of Qufu is, after all, the direct descendants of the Sage. Though they declined somewhat due to the chaos of recent times, in the hearts of the realm's scholars they still hold an irreplaceable position. If Your Majesty wishes to cultivate civil governance to pacify the realm, you should treat the Kong clan with courtesy, to proclaim your intent to promote education..."

Hearing his explanation, the smile on Liu Chengyou's face carried a hint of mockery. He said: "South Zhang, North Kong—I have heard it said that there are two and a half great houses in the realm: the Kong clan of Qufu holds one share, the Zhang clan of Longhu holds one share alone, and the imperial houses of successive dynasties hold half a share. A thousand years of the Kong clan—truly honored beyond compare!"

Li Tao's expression changed drastically, and he abruptly prostrated himself: "How can Your Majesty say such a thing! This must be the wild words of some treacherous person!"

Seeing his nervous appearance, Liu Chengyou waved his hand: "Such superstitious rumors—I naturally would not take them seriously!"

"However!"—one always fears a turn when the Emperor speaks—Liu Chengyou said leisurely: "This Kong Renyu inherited the title in his youth, was diligent in study and good at reflection, and thus became accomplished. In his post at Qufu, he governed both public and private affairs well, with fair and smooth administration. Now that he has died, why propose that his son Kong Yi take over? If I'm not mistaken, this Kong Yi is only sixteen years old—how can he be entrusted with a county post? Can this mere youth govern Qufu well? Or should you simply advise me to just give Qufu to the Kong clan outright, to be inherited in perpetuity?"

"Your subject truly has no such intention!" Li Tao was somewhat flustered, and said with his head bowed and agitation: "Your subject's consideration was improper—please punish me, Your Majesty!"

"Enough!" Seeing his panic, Liu Chengyou's cold and stern expression melted away like ice and snow. He said: "I too revere Confucius and read the Analects. The descendants of the Sage should indeed be treated with courtesy—otherwise, the scholars of the realm might truly resent me, saying I do not respect the ancient sages..."

"How about this: as Minister Li has proposed, let Kong Yi inherit the title of Wenxuan Duke. As for Qufu—it is a great county in the Lu region, and the court will send another capable person to take up the post!"

"Yes!"

Throughout successive dynasties, the status of the Kong clan of Qufu had never been low—though of course, in this era, it had not yet been elevated to such heights. Moreover, due to the wars at the end of the Tang, it had declined severely. Kong Renyu's father, Kong Guangsi, had even lost the title of Wenxuan Duke entirely.

As for Kong Renyu, in the original course of history, he was honored as the "Ancestor of Restoration" of the Kong clan, widely celebrated by later generations, revered for a thousand years, and a legendary drama of "Kong Mo's usurpation of the Kong clan" was even fabricated around him.

Now, in Liu Chengyou's era, although this man had weathered the chaos and revived the Kong clan's reputation with the intent of restoration, who knows whether a hundred years from now, later generations might fabricate yet another legendary tale to fit their own narratives.