Chapter 12: Wei Zifu
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Weiyang Palace, the Pepper Chamber Hall.
As the grandest place in Weiyang Palace after the Emperor’s own residence, the Pepper Chamber Hall had weathered the storms and vicissitudes of time, becoming all the more noble and solemn.
When Liu Jin arrived, a palace maid soon led him inside.
Unlike Emperor Wu of Han, who surrounded himself with an air of mystery, the Great Han Empress Wei Zifu emerged wearing a long green silk robe. She had taken excellent care of herself; though she was already past fifty, she looked no more than a woman in her early forties.
The special affection grandparents held for their grandchildren was displayed to perfection in Wei Zifu. With a gentle smile, she said to Liu Jin, “You’re here, Jin’er.”
Unlike the intimidating aura that made Emperor Wu seem difficult to approach, his grandmother radiated kindness, warmth, and gentleness, tempered by a dignified and refined nobility.
Over the past dozen years, his father had occasionally brought Liu Jin to the Pepper Chamber Hall to visit Wei Zifu, though such visits were limited to the days around the New Year and the Lantern Festival.
In recent years, although Emperor Wu had not summoned Crown Prince Liu Ju to the palace to observe the conduct of state affairs, nor had Liu Ju gone to the Xuan Chamber Hall to seek an audience with the emperor, he still came to visit Wei Zifu. Thus, unlike Emperor Wu—whom Liu Jin regarded almost as a stranger, having never even seen his face—his grandmother was different.
“Imperial Grandmother,” Liu Jin said with a smile. “I went out these past few days and brought a gift back for you.”
He took out the gold hairpin made at the goldsmith’s shop. It glittered brilliantly in the lamplight.
Wei Zifu smiled. “Our little one has grown up. You’re very thoughtful. Grandmother likes it very much.”
Standing behind Wei Zifu, Liu Jin inserted the hairpin into her meticulously arranged hair.
She felt for the ornament while gazing into the bronze mirror, a smile on her face. “You have excellent taste. The hairpin is beautiful.”
Liu Jin smiled. “The hairpin may be beautiful, but it also depends on who wears it.”
Wei Zifu’s smile deepened. “Our little one has truly grown up. You even know how to make your grandmother happy now. Your temperament has changed quite a lot, too. Being more cheerful is a good thing. You were too withdrawn when you were young.”
Liu Jin paused, wondering how he might explain the change in his personality, but Wei Zifu clearly did not take the matter to heart.
“You went to the Xuan Chamber Hall today?”
Liu Jin knelt on the bamboo mat opposite her. Wei Zifu poured him a jug of fine wine mixed with ice and asked the question casually.
Liu Jin nodded. “Yes, I went to the Xuan Chamber Hall.”
Wait… How did Grandmother know?
Did she have informants in the front court? Liu Jin muttered inwardly.
Wei Zifu openly dispelled his doubts. “Grandmother still has a few old acquaintances in the front court. There used to be many, but your grandfather had most of them removed. Very few remain now.”
“If you truly cannot see him, do not waste your efforts. If outsiders notice, they may gossip and say that the members of our Wei family know only how to wag their tails and beg for favor.”
Although Wei Zifu appeared gentle and modest, years as empress had nurtured within her an air of nobility and pride. Her younger brother was a man of upright spirit, and her nephew possessed an unbending backbone. The Wei family had never been the sort to wag their tails like dogs seeking scraps. Even in defeat, they would stand with dignity.
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There were many informants both within the palace and throughout the outer court. Every movement Liu Jin made was observed by others, and she was unwilling to let outsiders make a spectacle of her grandson.
It seemed that Grandmother had seen everything he had been doing recently.
Even so, Liu Jin said, “But it has produced results, hasn’t it? At the very least, Grandfather received me once, even though I never actually saw him.”
Wei Zifu shook her head. “It is useless. Your grandfather is fierce, stubborn, and resolute. Once he has made up his mind, no one can change it.”
“After Zhongqing passed away, seven years ago, there were plenty of people in the outer court who urged him not to attack the Xiongnu. Those ministers who opposed him were dismissed, one after another; some were even put to death. And what came of it? The war seven years ago still ended in defeat. Did he ever reflect on it? No.”
“There are many things you do not understand. Your grandfather has laid countless plans in secret, so even Grandmother does not know how many schemes he has set in motion. Your persistent efforts to see him cannot possibly change decisions he has already made.”
Wei Zifu had faintly sensed that Emperor Wu might soon purge the Wei family’s influence. By now, the outer court was filled with his men, and every reserve talent had already been trained. If he wished, he could replace all of the Wei family’s officials in the government at any time. He merely lacked a suitable reason and the right opportunity.
Although Wei Zifu had already warned Gongsun He, Wei Kang, and the others not to make any mistakes, she remained vaguely uneasy.
Liu Jin was silent for a while before asking, “Imperial Grandmother, is Grandfather… truly going to depose Father? Merely because Father and he disagree over how the realm should be governed?”
Wei Zifu shook her head. “It is not only that. There are many other reasons. But matters may not necessarily reach that point.”
“That is precisely why I cannot let things develop that far,” Liu Jin said.
Wei Zifu studied him seriously. In the end, she did not try to dissuade him again.
…
The sky was still bright. On the road back to Changle Palace, Liu Jin remained deep in thought.
What sort of person was Emperor Wu of Han, truly? Both his father and grandmother had said that the emperor was domineering, fierce, obstinate, self-willed, and stubborn. An emperor like that seemed born with an overwhelming presence. Changing his mind would surely be no easy matter.
Before he knew it, Liu Jin had formed a vague impression of Emperor Wu.
In short, he was not an easy man to deal with.
“Jin’er, you’re back.”
Liu Ju had been sitting in a pavilion with Crown Prince Tutor Shi De, discussing his studies. From a distance, he saw Liu Jin approaching.
“Father.”
“I greet Tutor Shi.”
Shi De inclined his head slightly, then said to Liu Ju, “Your Highness, I shall take my leave first.”
“Allow me to see you off, Teacher.”
Only after Shi De had departed did Liu Jin ask, “What was the tutor doing here?”
“Nothing in particular,” Liu Ju replied. “He was teaching me the Confucian classics.”
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“Oh.”
“Judging by how downcast you look, did you run into another closed door?”
Liu Jin nodded.
Liu Ju consoled him. “I told you long ago—the old man is surrounded by glory and wealth. How could he possibly take a liking to your copper peach?”
“It wasn’t that. He accepted the copper peach.”
“What?”
Liu Ju froze for a moment. The old man had been acting stranger and stranger lately. Could he truly have been moved by Jin’er’s persistence?
While he was still dazed, another eunuch arrived from Weiyang Palace. He delivered a reward of one hundred thousand in gold to the Crown Prince’s Palace, stating that it had been bestowed upon Liu Jin.
This left Liu Ju even more astonished.
“Jin’er, this…”
A trace of excitement appeared on Liu Ju’s face. He could no longer remember how long it had been since Emperor Wu had last sent a reward to the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Liu Jin was also somewhat stunned. The more he dealt with Emperor Wu, the more unfathomable the man seemed. Every time Liu Jin sought an audience, he was met with a closed door, yet the emperor accepted his gifts and even knew to return the courtesy.
At least he had good manners?
Still, Liu Jin felt that his persistence had finally paid off. At the very least, Emperor Wu’s attitude toward the Crown Prince’s Palace had begun to soften.
The corners of Liu Jin’s mouth lifted slightly. He had clearly been hooked.
…
Weiyang Palace.
Emperor Wu stood outside the Xuan Chamber Hall with his hands behind his back, looking down upon the palace complex from above. On closer inspection, one could see that behind his back he was toying with a copper peach no larger than his palm.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.” The Embroidered-Uniform Envoy Bao Shengzhi bowed before him.
Emperor Wu narrowed his eyes and said, “Take the Confucian books to the suburban estate. If the Imperial Grandson leaves the palace, report it to Me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
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