Chapter 955: The Imperial Clan

At Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou did not attend to any government affairs. Instead, he rested briefly, took a bath to wash away the dust and fatigue of travel, and only then proceeded to Wansui Hall.

Since it was called a family banquet, there was not a single outsider present—all were members of the Liu family, nearly forty people in all, men and women, young and old, encompassing the three brothers Liu Chengyou, Liu Chenghsun, and Liu Chengyun, Commandery Prince of Julu.

Though not as prolific in offspring as his imperial elder brother, over these three years, Prince Yong, Liu Chenghsun, seemed to have broken some seal as well, adding two sons and a daughter. As for Prince Julu, Liu Chengyun, although he was the adopted son of Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan, by blood he was also a close relative of the imperial house. He had always been fairly well-behaved, and Liu Chengyou treated him well too.

Seven years ago, because of the affair of his biological father, Liu Chong, Prince of Taiyuan, Liu Chengyun had pleaded for him. Later, after Liu Chong died of illness, feeling uneasy and wishing to dispel any possible suspicion in the Emperor's heart, he voluntarily requested demotion. Liu Chengyou agreed and sent him out to the provinces. Over the years, he successively served in Dengzhou, Chenzhou, and Ruzhou. He achieved no outstanding governance results in his posts, but he was proper and well-behaved, never overstepping, and his official reputation was decent.

Of course, his recall to the Eastern Capital was also approved by Liu Chengyou. This was also the first time in many years that Liu Chengyou saw Liu Chengyun again. The man had put on a good deal of weight, clearly indicating that his days had been fairly comfortable.

"How is your wife's brother? This is his first time coming to court. A guest from afar, and a relative besides—don't neglect him!" The three brothers gathered together, and Liu Chengyou asked Liu Chenghsun.

With the growth of age and experience, Liu Chenghsun had become increasingly dignified. Upon hearing the question, he smiled and replied, "It is both a family matter and a state matter—how could I, how would I dare neglect him! It's just that this brother-in-law of mine is anxious at heart, and has asked me several times about the court's attitude toward Wuyue. This great victory in the northern campaign has made all these vassal states quite uneasy!"

Liu Chengyou then asked, "So how did you reply to him?"

Liu Chenghsun said, "Without Your Majesty's approval, how would I dare answer rashly? I only reassured him, telling him to relax—Wuyue has always been obedient to the court, and the Great Han will not treat the Qian family unfairly!"

"Very good!" Liu Chengyou revealed a slight smile. He did not say more on the matter, but he was quite satisfied with the growth and conduct of this full younger brother of his.

"Brother Yun, since you've returned to the capital this time, stay on in the Eastern Capital. I've found a new post for you!" Liu Chengyou then said to Liu Chengyun, "The office of Chief of the Imperial Clan has a vacancy. You are now the senior member of the imperial clan—you shall take it up!"

Liu Chengyun was now thirty-eight years old, and indeed, among Liu Chengyou's generation, he was the eldest. However, upon hearing these words, Liu Chengyun hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, when it comes to being the senior of the imperial clan, I would not dare presume!"

From his tone, Liu Chengyou detected a hint of some other meaning and could not help but look at him. Liu Chengyun, however, appeared completely candid and directly spoke up to plead a case. He was speaking on behalf of the imperial uncle Liu Xin. Although by blood Liu Xin was not a direct member of the imperial line, in terms of seniority, among the surviving elders of the Great Han's imperial clan, Liu Xin ranked highest except for Murong Yanchao. However, although Murong Yanchao was called imperial uncle, he was ultimately not surnamed Liu.

As for Liu Xin, ever since the Xuzhou case broke out back then, he had already been guarding the Rui Mausoleum for a full ten years. Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye. The life of confinement before the mausoleum was extremely tormenting. It was said that two of Liu Xin's sons had died of illness... Thinking of it, it was rather pitiable.

In earlier years, people like the Empress Dowager and other relatives by marriage would from time to time raise the matter of pardon with Liu Chengyou—even if not complete forgiveness, at least he could be moved to a place with better conditions. After all, he was an elder of the imperial clan, and it would not do to treat him so harshly. But Liu Chengyou always put them off with excuses. And because he was too severe toward his imperial uncle Liu Xin, Emperor Liu had also incurred some criticism in this regard. After all, the values of people at the time were what they were.

Time is a good medicine. Ten years had passed, and few still remembered what evil deeds Liu Xin had done in Xuzhou back then—how he had stirred up heaven's wrath and the people's resentment, with weeping filling the fields and curses lining the roads. Even the common folk of Xuzhou were now living their own small lives, and probably no one still held fast to the bone-deep memories of that time.

Liu Chengyou was the same. He could no longer recall the anger he had felt upon first learning of Liu Xin's tyrannical conduct in Xuzhou, nor the impulse to kill him and be done with it. Even if he were to review the case files again, his heart would remain utterly calm.

As for Liu Xin, if he were to be pardoned, it would only take a single word from Liu Chengyou, and it would not provoke any objection—some might even praise him for his magnanimity and benevolence after having placed righteousness above family ties.

However, if it had been a few years earlier, Liu Chengyou might have agreed with a turn of thought. But now, the situation was different. In his view, Liu Xin was crude and cruel, with violence inherent in his character. Ten years of suffering might not smooth away his edges—on the contrary, it might intensify his hatred.

Especially given that his two sons had both died at the Rui Mausoleum, Liu Chengyou would think: if Liu Xin were pardoned, might he resort to some means of revenge? After all, he was an elder of the clan and an imperial uncle of the Great Han. Liu Chengyou was unwilling to add further twists and turmoil to this matter.

Therefore, as far as Liu Chengyou was concerned, there was only one ending for Liu Xin: confinement until death. Indeed, Emperor Liu's heart could, at times, be quite small. Of course, this kind of consideration could not be brought out into the open, as it would tarnish his sagely brilliance.

After thinking it over, Liu Chengyou said, "How many grandchildren does Liu Xin have, and how old are they?"

Not understanding the intent, Liu Chengyun replied, "To answer Your Majesty, only two remain who are of age to be recorded—one boy and one girl. The boy is seven, and the girl is five!"

"Not young anymore!" Liu Chengyou frowned slightly, hesitated a moment, then instructed, "Send word to the Rui Mausoleum to have this boy and girl brought to the Eastern Capital. Brother Yun, you shall raise them!"

Hearing such an order, Liu Chengyun was stunned for a moment. After pondering it, he finally understood—this was Liu Chengyou's final "leniency" toward Liu Xin's family. Sighing inwardly, Liu Chengyun clasped his hands and accepted the order: "Yes!"

"Brother Yun, you must teach them well. On no account may they repeat the mistakes of their grandfather!" Liu Chengyou added in admonishment.

"Yes!" Liu Chengyun fell silent, and at the same time secretly resolved in his heart not to speak further on the matter of the imperial uncle.

But although he would no longer speak of the imperial uncle's affairs, the bond of brotherhood made him unable to resist raising one more matter. Liu Chengyun observed the Emperor's expression, saw that he was not dwelling on the previous topic and seemed to be in good spirits, and so said, "Since Your Majesty has made me Chief of the Imperial Clan, may your servant be permitted to speak on clan affairs?"

Glancing at him in slight surprise, Liu Chengyou immediately said, "Of course!"

With the Emperor's assurance, Liu Chengyun immediately said, "Your Majesty, before I returned to the capital, I received a letter from Liu Jun. Our cousins have been trapped in Luoyang for nearly seven years now, and their lives are growing increasingly strained. Your Majesty, would you consider letting them contribute some effort and handle some affairs for the court?"

"What I bestowed upon them were rich, fertile lands—with such vast estates, they still can't support themselves?" Liu Chengyou replied in this manner.

Back then, because of the Hedong affair, Liu Chong's entire family had been settled in Luoyang, made to study and farm, to cultivate their character. While Liu Chong was alive, his sons were fairly stable, but after his death, contradictions gradually emerged.

When Liu Chong's line was at the height of its power, these people had all been high-spirited and domineering. Now, giving them a bit of land and having them study and farm—how could they endure such a life?

With no other source of income and no skill at managing their fields, relying only on the family resources Liu Chong had left behind, how could they sustain their expenditures? Moreover, discord gradually arose among the brothers, and Liu Chengjun, as the eldest, could not keep them in check.

To be honest, among Liu Chong's sons, the most well-behaved were Liu Chengjun and Liu Chengxian. The others could not endure a life of hardship and had, to a greater or lesser extent, expressed some resentment toward the Emperor and the court.

At this moment, Liu Chengyun was pleading on behalf of his full brothers, and Liu Chengyou's thoughts were somewhat unsettled. However, after brief consideration, he decided to loosen things up a bit—at the very least, he should give some face to Liu Chengyun.

So Liu Chengyou said, "Among the brothers, only Jun and Xian may be given posts. I will have the Ministry of Personnel make the arrangements!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Liu Chengyun was already satisfied with this and dared not hope for more. He immediately bowed in gratitude.