Chapter Thirteen: You miserable bastard, sweating buckets now, are you?
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Hu Weiyong’s mind went blank for a moment. Zhu Yuanzhang’s reaction had left him utterly dumbfounded.
He had been at the height of his triumph, certain that victory was securely in his grasp, when this news suddenly struck him. Even someone as calculating and brilliant at scheming as he considered himself could not withstand such a blow.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s reaction had completely exceeded his expectations.
To eliminate Liu Bowen, Hu Weiyong had long ago begun taking every opportunity to sow discord against him before Zhu Yuanzhang, all while leaving no obvious trace.
The first time he told Zhu Yuanzhang that Liao Yongzhong was trafficking large quantities of contraband salt and undermining the salt-for-grain system, he had already hinted that the Little Ming King’s death had indeed been carried out by Liao Yongzhong after listening to Yang Xian.
But Yang Xian had merely been the man on the surface. The true source of the idea had been Yang Xian’s teacher, Liu Bowen.
And Liu Bowen’s reason for proposing it had been to prevent the emperor from inheriting the legitimacy of the Song dynasty, forcing him instead to hold his nose and accept the legitimacy of the Yuan dynasty.
The reason had been hinted at as well. Recognizing the Song, a Han Chinese dynasty, as the rightful successor would have little effect on the emperor or on those who had followed him in conquering the realm.
For the many men represented by Liu Bowen who had once served as officials under the Yuan, however, the consequences would be enormous.
If the legitimacy of the Song were inherited, the Yuan would inevitably be branded a false dynasty.
Liu Bowen and the many others who had passed the examinations and served as officials under the Yuan would all bear stains that could never be washed away.
Conversely, if the legitimacy of the Yuan were inherited and its orthodoxy acknowledged, all those past experiences would remain honors.
Hu Weiyong had never stated these things too bluntly, but he believed that, with the emperor’s intelligence, Zhu Yuanzhang would certainly be able to figure them out.
Hu Weiyong also knew that the Little Ming King’s sinking at Guabu was one of Zhu Yuanzhang’s deepest regrets.
Yang Xian’s presumptuous attempt to divine the emperor’s intentions and Liao Yongzhong’s reckless actions had not only destroyed Zhu Yuanzhang’s plan to have the Little Ming King abdicate and allow him to inherit the legitimacy of the Song with dignity—
they had also saddled Zhu Yuanzhang with the crime of murdering the Little Ming King.
It was like having yellow mud fall into one’s trousers: even if it was not excrement, it looked exactly like excrement, and there was no way to wash it clean.
Even though the emperor had later executed Yang Xian, publicized his crime, and clearly stated that Liao Yongzhong had colluded with Confucian scholars, presumptuously guessed the emperor’s intentions, and caused the Little Ming King’s death,
that thorn must still have been driven deep into Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart.
Zhu Yuanzhang was also a deeply suspicious and vindictive man.
Moreover, his attitude toward Liu Bowen had always been highly conflicted.
He wanted to make use of Liu Bowen, yet was forever worried that Liu Bowen was not truly on his side.
Having repeatedly used the Little Ming King’s death to poison the emperor against him, Hu Weiyong believed that Zhu Yuanzhang must have come to hate Liu Bowen to the core long ago.
And now, with the three partially burned letters discovered at Liao Yongzhong’s residence—
Liu Bowen was surely doomed to die!
Besides, at last night’s New Year’s Day banquet, the emperor had explicitly said that he would send an imperial physician to examine Liu Bowen.
That was tantamount to announcing Liu Bowen’s death sentence.
Based on his understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang, after everything that had happened, the emperor would certainly kill Liu Bowen.
There was no need to worry that Zhu Yuanzhang might summon Liu Bowen and question him about these three letters.
Hu Weiyong had already completed his killing blow against Liu Bowen.
But who could have imagined that, at the final moment, Zhu Yuanzhang would make such a move?
How could Hu Weiyong not be utterly bewildered?
“Your Majesty, the Earl of Sincerity has been ill for many years, and his lung disease has grown increasingly severe since the beginning of winter.
“I have heard that he has not left his home for more than a month.
“With the weather so bitterly cold, I fear he may not be able to endure the journey.”
Hu Weiyong struggled to suppress the storm raging in his heart.
The man who desperately wanted Liu Bowen dead had, for the first time in his life, begun expressing concern for Liu Bowen’s health.
He absolutely could not allow the emperor to summon Liu Bowen here for questioning!
Zhu Yuanzhang took in Hu Weiyong’s reaction and could not help smiling inwardly.
You wretched cur. Sweating through your clothes yet?
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“It is nothing. That fellow Liu Bowen suffers from headaches one day and an itchy backside the next. Every year he claims to be ill, and every year he manages to survive.
“Who knows whether his illness is real or feigned?”
From Zhu Yuanzhang’s words, Hu Weiyong could hear the emperor’s distrust and displeasure toward Liu Bowen.
Under ordinary circumstances, he would have been delighted.
But now, he could not feel happy in the slightest.
“Your Majesty is wise.”
Apart from saying that, Hu Weiyong had no idea what else to say.
He certainly could not continue urging the emperor not to summon Liu Bowen. That would only make matters worse and arouse Zhu Yuanzhang’s suspicions of him.
The loss would far outweigh the gain.
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and continued examining the letters, while countless pieces of information concerning Hu Weiyong surfaced in his mind.
Had he not lived a second life, he truly would never have imagined that this man before him—who appeared so capable and so loyal—would one day possess the audacity to rebel against him.
Because of that, he had eventually had Hu Weiyong executed, abolished the institution of the chancellor, and eliminated the Central Secretariat.
The two Hu Weiyong cases, taken together, had dealt with an enormous number of people.
Although the second case had not been as exaggerated as the records he had seen in modern times, which claimed that tens of thousands had been implicated and beheaded directly,
the number of people executed because of it had still been considerable, with especially many high-ranking officials and powerful nobles among them…
Hu Weiyong clearly had no idea what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking. At that moment, he was still racking his brains, wondering what method he could use to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
He had to ensure that Liu Bowen would not survive, while also allowing the emperor to continue favoring and trusting him…
…
“Father, this… What could His Majesty mean?
“Why would he suddenly summon you to the palace at a time like this?”
At the Earl of Sincerity’s residence, Liu Bowen’s eldest son, Liu Lian, asked anxiously.
Thin and gaunt, Liu Bowen coughed as Liu Lian helped him dress.
“Either it is because I failed to attend last night’s New Year’s banquet, or it is related to the uproar with Liao Yongzhong in the Golden Hall and his subsequent execution after his property was confiscated…”
“Or perhaps… everything I have guessed is wrong… Cough, cough, cough…”
As soon as Liu Bowen finished speaking, he began coughing uncontrollably.
Merely rising from bed and putting on his clothes had left him somewhat breathless.
Liu Bowen was an exceptionally intelligent man. At first, he had spoken with considerable certainty, but as he recalled the emperor’s inhuman behavior over the years, his confidence began to waver.
Over the years, Zhu Yuanzhang had tormented him so thoroughly that Liu Bowen had developed a psychological shadow.
“Father, your health…”
Liu Bowen shook his head. “This is not the time to concern ourselves with my health. The more one worries about it, the sooner death may come.”
Then he consoled Liu Lian again. “Do not worry. Your father is not going to die just yet.
“Cough, cough, cough… His Majesty summoning me at a time like this is better than not summoning me at all…”
A short while later, Liu Bowen climbed into a donkey cart. Liu Lian drove it himself, following the palace messenger all the way toward the imperial city.
Sitting in the cart, Liu Bowen coughed from time to time. His heart was uneasy, tinged with desolation.
He was already this gravely ill. He had no interest in officialdom, much less in political struggles.
All he wanted was to return to his old home in Qingtian and spend his remaining years in retirement. Why, then, did trouble keep seeking him out?
This time, he feared, misfortune outweighed fortune…
…
“Your subject Liu Bowen pays his respects to Your Majesty and asks after your sacred health. Cough, cough, cough…”
Inside Wuying Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Bowen, who seemed even thinner than before and who continued coughing from time to time. His instinctive reaction was to move farther away from him—
and find a face mask to put over Liu Bowen’s mouth.
“Rise. Bring him a seat.”
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, and someone immediately brought over a brocade stool.
Liu Bowen thanked him and then cautiously lowered half his buttocks onto the stool.
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“Earl of Sincerity, your illness truly seems rather serious. I wonder, though… how much of it is genuine?”
Zhu Yuanzhang had a habit of intimidating old men.
At those words, Liu Bowen—whose buttocks had only just touched the stool—reacted as though he had been scorched by a red-hot iron. He hurriedly dropped to his knees and explained:
“This lung disease of mine is an old affliction. It flares up from time to time, especially in winter, when it is particularly prone to recur.
“Your subject is genuinely gravely ill and would never dare deceive Your Majesty! Cough, cough, cough…”
Liu Bowen began regretting everything once again.
Had he known this would happen, he would have forced himself to attend the New Year’s banquet the previous day, no matter what.
But as soon as that thought arose, he rejected it.
If he had attended, it would only have reinforced His Majesty’s suspicion that he had been pretending to be ill.
Having encountered an emperor like Zhu Yuanzhang, Liu Bowen felt utterly exhausted.
It seemed that no matter what he did, he was always in the wrong…
Seeing how swiftly Liu Bowen had dropped to his knees, Zhu Yuanzhang froze for a moment and secretly sniffed the air.
Old habits built over so many years were truly difficult to change.
He had already resolved not to frighten Liu Bowen anymore, yet the moment they met, the words of intimidation had slipped out before he could stop them…
“Rise. I summoned you here this time not to determine whether your illness is real or feigned. I have something for you to examine.”
Liu Bowen, whose heart had been pounding with anxiety, could not help staring in surprise.
It was not because Zhu Yuanzhang had chosen not to pursue the question of whether his illness was genuine.
Rather, it was because he had heard the emperor address him as “Master Liu” once again.
That form of address had been absent for a very long time.
His Majesty had not called him that for several years.
“Chancellor Hu, give the items to the Earl of Sincerity and let him examine them carefully.”
Hu Weiyong obeyed and handed the three burned letters to Liu Bowen.
Hu Weiyong had already devised a countermeasure. Although Zhu Yuanzhang’s decision to summon Liu Bowen had genuinely caught him off guard,
it would not be so easy for Liu Bowen to escape danger because of it.
Liao Yongzhong was already dead, and the letters had been burned to this state.
Even Liu Bowen would have no way to prove that they were not letters of thanks he had written after receiving a large bribe from Liao Yongzhong.
That left plenty of room for accusation.
Liu Bowen took the letters and examined them. The puzzlement on his face was quickly replaced by delight.
“Your Majesty, these are routine replies I wrote after Liao Yongzhong sent me gifts, which I refused…”
Hearing this, Hu Weiyong smiled inwardly. Just as he had expected.
He immediately prepared to speak and pin the blame on Liu Bowen.
But Liu Bowen’s voice continued:
“There are copies of all these letters, stored at my residence. I shall have my son fetch them and compare them with these three. Your Majesty will naturally see that every word I have spoken is true.”
Hu Weiyong: What?!