Chapter 25: The Prince of Changyi

Night fell, the stars twinkled, and a crescent moon hung high, casting a faint glow over the Changle Palace. Inside the two halls by the lake in the Crown Prince's backyard, four glass lamps illuminated the space as brightly as day.

Liu Ju was sipping wine.

"Father."

Liu Jin walked over with his hands behind his back, sat down opposite Liu Ju, took a sip of the chilled wine, and set the cup down casually on the stone table. Liu Ju hesitated for a moment, then reached out to wipe away the wine stain on the table, finally letting out a long sigh of relief, feeling much more at ease.

*Father’s obsessive-compulsive disorder is getting worse,* Liu Jin thought, speechless.

"Coming to see me so late? Is something the matter?" Liu Ju asked curiously. "By the way, I sent people to investigate that Elder Qiu you know. He is indeed a large landowner in the suburbs."

Liu Jin was stunned for a moment and said, "Father, why did you do this behind my back? Why investigate him?"

Liu Ju replied, "It is for your own good. What if you are being used? The situation in the Crown Prince's palace is not optimistic. There are many who wish to attack us; what if they use you as a breakthrough? Besides, I was worried you might be deceived; investigating him makes me feel more at ease."

Liu Jin did not dwell on it. Although he disliked his father's methods, he had to admit his father was right. After all, when an old man one has only known for a month offers to lend 300,000 coins, anyone would suspect ulterior motives. Yet, because the man had given him the money without strings attached, the secret investigation left Liu Jin feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

"Father, I know why Grandfather did not respond to your words at Jianzhang Palace."

Liu Ju asked suspiciously, "Why?"

"He fears you are seizing power!" Liu Jin said. "Think about it: he only recently permitted you to inspect the people. Before much time has passed, you ask to exempt them from taxes in front of so many officials. If Grandfather had agreed, who would the people thank? It would be you, not the Emperor of the Great Han."

Liu Ju pondered this and couldn't help but gasp. "Such an obvious truth, why didn't I see it?"

"It is exactly that, just that."

"How do you know these things?" Liu Ju looked at his son in surprise.

Liu Jin told the truth: "The old man told me."

Liu Ju mused to himself that this elder must possess profound wisdom to see things so clearly. It was truly remarkable for a commoner to have such insight!

"No," Liu Ju shook his head. "I previously submitted a memorial to the Emperor in private; why did he not approve that either?"

Liu Jin replied, "I have been thinking about that, too. Father, is it possible your memorial was intercepted? Or perhaps Grandfather intentionally let you speak those words before the officials so he could make a show of his stance, thereby signaling his attitude toward you to the court?"

Liu Ju paused, his hand holding the wine cup mid-air, and fell into silence.

Both possibilities were likely. Either way, it spelled trouble for the Crown Prince's palace.

"To whom was the memorial delivered?"

"The Right Assistant to the Chancellor... Liu Quli? Did he intercept my memorial?" Liu Ju muttered to himself.

That was quite possible. Liu Quli was related by marriage to Li Guangli. Since the deaths of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, and with famous generals like Li Ling and Li Gan gone, and veterans like Wang Hui and Yan Zhu aging, the Great Han's military talent was dwindling. The Emperor now relied solely on General Li Guangli. Li Guangli held great prestige in the army and was the uncle of Liu Bo, the Prince of Changyi. If Liu Bo harbored ambitions for the throne, Liu Quli would certainly support him.

When Liu Ju analyzed this for Liu Jin, Liu Jin also gasped. The political climate in the twilight years of Emperor Wu was indeed dire. Too many people wanted the Crown Prince dead. Aside from Gongsun He and his son, and the descendants of the Wei and Huo families, most of the court likely did not wish to see Liu Ju ascend the throne smoothly.

"I will go to the Weiyang Palace tomorrow. If I can see Grandfather, I will ask him directly," Liu Jin said.

Night deepened, and he slowly walked away with his hands behind his back.

"Young Master," a servant found Liu Jin and said awkwardly, "The carpenters you brought to the outskirts today haven't been paid yet."

"What?" Liu Jin looked at the servant in confusion, then slapped his forehead. He had forgotten about it. He had intended to have a rocking chair made for the elder as a gesture of filial respect, but it had slipped his mind entirely.

"Fine, go get some bamboo, wood, and a plane. I will do it myself. Pay the carpenters for the delay."

"Yes, sir."

That night, Liu Jin tried to craft a rocking chair himself with a plane. He failed. Without nails, he could not master the mortise and tenon joints. He marveled at the wisdom of his ancestors and the importance of specialization. *Better to find a carpenter tomorrow; I shouldn't try to be a hero.*

Early the next morning, Liu Jin rose. He dipped a willow twig in salt and brushed his teeth back and forth. Although the fibrous end of the twig was uncomfortable, it was better than using his fingers. Life two thousand years ago was always difficult, even for the nobility.

Dressed neatly, Liu Jin headed toward the Weiyang Palace again.

Outside the Xuanshi Hall, as Liu Jin reached the square, he noticed another man in white walking toward him. The man had an unnaturally pale complexion, appearing somewhat sickly, yet he was refined and well-mannered. Dressed in silk, one could sense the aura of high-ranking nobility radiating from him. He merely glanced at Liu Jin and continued toward the gate of the Xuanshi Hall.

Liu Jin stood outside the hall and bowed to the eunuch, saying, "Please inform my grandfather that I wish to see him."

Unlike Liu Jin, the man in white walked in calmly with his hands behind his back.

"Your son pays his respects to Your Majesty." Liu Bo bowed. Emperor Wu glanced at him, grunted expressionlessly, and then looked away.

The eunuch approached Emperor Wu quietly and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Grandson is outside, asking for an audience."

Emperor Wu frowned slightly, looked at Liu Bo, and then told the eunuch, "Tell him to come another day."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Only then did Emperor Wu look at Liu Bo and ask, "What is it?"

Liu Bo bowed. "I have been studying the ways of the Taoists recently and obtained a string of Bodhi prayer beads. It is said they aid in restful sleep. I had my uncle’s soldiers search through the Lingnan region to find this top-grade Bodhi wood..."

Emperor Wu interrupted him. "You have gone to great lengths. I like them. Anything else?"

Liu Bo was stunned for a moment. "No, Your Majesty."

"Very well. I have state affairs to attend to."

"Your son takes his leave." Liu Bo bowed and exited the hall politely.

"Wait."

Emperor Wu called him back and said coldly, "Next time you enter, could you please have the eunuch announce you first?"

Liu Bo was startled and quickly replied, "I was abrupt. I apologize for my error."

"Then can you change it?"

"Yes! I will strictly follow Your Majesty's teachings!" Liu Bo’s heart raced. He knew the Emperor was displeased, but it had been like this before; why was his attitude so different today?

*Because of him?*