Chapter 109: Du Gou Requests Li Shimin to Visit the Duke Cai's Residence

The next day, Li Shimin was handling state affairs in the Hall of Two Principles, when an eunuch stepped forward to report:

"Your Majesty, Young Master Du from the Duke Cai's residence is seeking an audience outside."

Li Shimin lifted his head slightly, "Du Gou?"

He was puzzled for a moment, then a bad premonition rose in his mind, and he sprang to his feet.

"How did he come?"

"Could it be that Ke Ming met with an accident?"

It's no wonder Li Shimin thought so; after all, Du Gou currently serves as the Crown Prince's attendant, so if there were any court matters, they should go to Li Chengqian, not come to him.

Now, Du Gou has bypassed Li Chengqian, making it hard not to think of an accident involving Du Ruhui.

The eunuch, startled by Li Shimin's gaze, trembled and said, "Your Majesty, I am not clear on the details, but Young Master Du's expression seemed normal, and he was carrying a memorial; I suppose the Duke Cai has not met with an accident."

Carrying a memorial?

Li Shimin calmed down upon hearing this; he had seen Du Gou a few times and knew him to be a child who understood propriety, unlikely to bypass Li Chengqian to hand him a memorial.

Thus only one possibility remained: the memorial was written by Du Ruhui, who, due to his infirmity, sent Du Gou to deliver it.

Thinking this, Li Shimin's expression relaxed considerably; as long as Du Ruhui had not suffered an accident, it would be fine.

"Summon Du Gou inside."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the eunuch bowed his head and retreated slowly.

Soon, Du Gou, dressed in court robes, entered under his escort.

"Your humble servant Du Gou, bows to Your Majesty!"

Li Shimin waved his hand, indicating Du Gou need not be overly formal, "Since Zi An treated your father, many days have passed; your father's condition must have improved a lot, right?"

Du Gou respectfully replied, "I am grateful for Your Majesty's concern. Yesterday, the Marquis of Weinan visited my father and said that my father now has no serious injury; he only needs to wait for the wound to heal to recover fully."

Li Shimin's brows relaxed, his mood improving, "Good, that boy listened and still remembers my instructions."

"Ke Ming being safe is good!"

After speaking, he looked at Du Gou and said, "You, lad, usually value etiquette the most; I heard you came with a memorial."

"I suppose that memorial was written by your father, right?"

Du Gou stammered, "Your Majesty's wisdom, this memorial was indeed instructed by my father for me to deliver to Your Majesty."

"Present it," Li Shimin said with a slight sigh. At present Du Ruhui cannot even get out of bed, yet still worries about court affairs, which moved him internally.

Du Gou respectfully handed the memorial to Wushe, who then passed it to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin placed particular importance on the fact that, even bedridden, Du Ruhui insisted that Du Gou deliver his memorial.

When Wushe placed the memorial in his hand, he immediately opened it to read.

But the more he read, the more solemn his expression became, his brows involuntarily furrowing deeply.

Reaching the end, Li Shimin was even more horrified; he looked up and asked in a deep voice, "I see the handwriting here differs greatly from Ke Ming's usual script; this memorial must have been penned by you, correct?"

Du Gou hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, although my father's condition has improved, he still cannot be careless. He intended to write this memorial himself, but I…"

"I do not blame you!" Li Shimin said, not wanting to hear the excuses, "I ask you, is what is written there true?"

"Will a great flood truly occur soon?"

"This…" Du Gou dared not continue, replying honestly, "I cannot be certain, but my father seems to think so."

"Yesterday, my father asked me to gather many historical records. After searching through the night, my father and I discovered that whenever there is a severe drought and a blizzard, the following year usually sees sudden heavy rain, causing floods to rage."

"The severe drought of last summer and autumn, together with the winter blizzard, occurred at the same time; I think… we cannot help but guard against it."

Li Shimin clenched the memorial tightly in his fist, his complexion turning thoroughly grim.

At that moment, he recalled some entries from the histories that essentially matched what Du Gou had said.

This indicated that the Du father and son were not guessing wildly, but had basis.

Thinking that a flood might soon occur, Li Shimin felt a wave of weariness.

He even began to doubt himself.

Could it be that he truly is unfit to be this emperor?

Is this the heavens' punishment for the Xuanwu Gate Incident?

If not, then why, after only a few years on the throne, does each year bring disasters of varying magnitude?

Last year's severe drought, the previous year's locust plague, and this year a great flood looming…

Li Shimin only felt a wave of fatigue.

Du Gou, seeing his grim expression, said, "Your Majesty, I have another matter."

"Speak, I am listening," Li Shimin said, his mood troubled, constantly pondering how to resolve a great flood should it truly occur.

Du Gou carefully said, "Your Majesty, my father says that after you finish handling state affairs, could you visit him? He has something to discuss with you."

After speaking, he seemed afraid Li Shimin might misunderstand, and hurriedly added, "Please forgive, Your Majesty; my father truly cannot get out of bed and is immobile."

"Otherwise, my father would certainly not make such a request."

"... Hmm?" Li Shimin suddenly realized that since this matter was raised by Du Ruhui, might he have a solution?

The more he thought, the more possible it seemed.

Otherwise, why would Du Ruhui have Du Gou ask him to come over?

He immediately asked, "Could it be that Ke Ming already has a solution?"

Du Gou recalled his father telling him not to say that Chen Yan brought this up, and the cryptic words, and replied, "Your Majesty, I do not know."

"But my father once said, regarding this matter, it is better to act wrongly than to do nothing."

"Good!" Li Shimin exclaimed, "What a saying—better to act wrongly than to do nothing; that reminds me of a phrase."

"Better to believe it exists than to disbelieve it!"

"From my understanding of Ke Ming, he may truly have a solution."

Li Shimin pondered for a moment, feeling that he could not be so rash.

"Wushe!"

"The old servant is here," Wushe bowed and stepped forward.

"You must immediately summon Li Junxian to invite the Grand Historian to Cai Duke's residence, and tell him that His Majesty is waiting for him there."

The matter is of great importance; he cannot launch a campaign based on Du Ruhui's reasoned speculation, so inviting Li Chunfeng is indeed necessary.

"The old servant receives the command!"

Wushe gave a brief reply and slowly withdrew.

Du Gou, with a pleased expression, said, "Your Majesty, you have agreed?"

"How could I not agree to such a great matter?" Li Shimin lowered his hands and stepped down, "Let us go; I will set out at once and go with you to Cai Duke's residence!"

"......"