Chapter 7: The Old Man’s Kidneys Aren’t Well
As night deepened, Emperor Wu of Han, known for his good tolerance of alcohol, had already downed several cups, and Liu Jin was flushed from drinking as well.
That afternoon had been quite an ordeal at Lady Zhao’s place, leaving his waist and back aching. The old man kept tapping behind with his hand.
“Strangely enough, meeting you for the first time, I felt an inexplicable warmth,” he said.
“By the way, young man, I haven’t asked your name yet,” Liu Jin inquired.
Emperor Wu smiled and replied, “Oh, others call me Autumn Wind Guest.”
“Oh, so you’re Old Master Autumn,” Liu Jin said.
“And you? What’s your name, boy?”
Liu Jin thought for a moment and said, “Shi Jin.”
His mother was Shi Liangdi; he had simply taken a different surname. He couldn’t reveal his identity as the imperial grandson to a common old man. If the old man knew, he might become too frightened to even confide in anyone.
The old man downed another hearty gulp of wine and said, “Boy, I feel the same closeness. To be honest, I have some connections in Chang’an. If you ever run into trouble, come to me—there’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Liu Jin didn’t fully grasp the weight of this promise.
He smiled and said, “Funny you should say that, I have a problem right now.”
“Can you ask the Captain of the Guards in Chang’an to open the city gates for me?”
Emperor Wu was speechless.
“Could you take me for a walk around Weiyang Palace?”
Emperor Wu was speechless again.
“Could Your Majesty grant me the title of Crown Prince?”
Emperor Wu hesitated, then said, “We can try?”
Liu Jin laughed heartily. “I didn’t expect you to have such a sense of humor beneath it all.”
He rose, walked behind Emperor Wu, and began massaging his shoulders, tapping his back. Surprisingly, the old emperor found the technique quite soothing and relaxing.
“Cut the nonsense. That’s downright treason. If the Court of Justice finds out we’re chatting like this, the two of us will be boasting from behind bars.”
Emperor Wu rolled his eyes and asked, “Which one of us would betray the other?”
“I’m not that kind of petty man,” Liu Jin replied.
“I wouldn’t know about the old man,” Emperor Wu said.
“Nonsense!” the emperor exclaimed. “Do you really think I’m like that?”
“Just joking. Honestly, I have a keen eye for people. The first time I saw you, you didn’t put on airs and joined me mucking about with farming tools. That told me you’re someone easy to get along with. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered to talk to you again.”
“If it weren’t for the bond between grandfather and grandson, I wouldn’t waste my time on you.”
Emperor Wu smacked his lips, smiling. This boy seemed naturally amiable, speaking and acting with a wild spirit, neither rigid nor gloomy. Despite being the imperial grandson, he could humble himself enough to give an old man a shoulder massage.
This kind of character delighted Emperor Wu immensely.
“All right, from now on, have your servants massage you like this.”
“Your body isn’t in the best shape, Old Master. Your shoulders are stiff, and your waist isn’t good either. When I press, you frown—must be painful, right?”
“The waist connects to the kidneys; your kidneys aren’t great either.”
“Nonsense!” Emperor Wu stubbornly said. “I’m just deep in thought.”
“Really not hurting?” Liu Jin pressed on the small of his back.
“No!” Emperor Wu gritted his teeth.
“I lied to you—the waist and kidneys are connected. Not just you, even young people can’t take this kind of pressure... so, really no pain?”
Emperor Wu took a deep breath and said, “You little rascal! You lied to me. Of course it hurts! Want me to give you a taste of this massage?”
Liu Jin answered seriously, “Actually, I lied again—the waist really is connected to the kidneys.”
Emperor Wu pursed his lips but calmly said, “Did you think I didn’t lie to you earlier? Do you really think it hurts that much?”
They both laughed heartily.
As the night deepened, Liu Jin’s mood lifted considerably. He stood and said, “I must head back. I can’t stay out overnight; my parents would worry.”
“You should rest here tonight, old man. It’s dangerous out so late.”
“Thanks.”
Emperor Wu eyed him suspiciously. “Thanks? Why?”
Liu Jin winked. “Because I’m lonely.”
“Why?”
“There are things I can’t tell anyone else—not my family. I can only vent to you. I have no friends and don’t bother with young people.”
With his identity, genuine friendships were impossible.
“I’ll go back now. Hopefully, I’ll see my grandfather tomorrow.”
Emperor Wu called after him, “Aren’t you afraid of being caught by the patrolling guards outside?”
Liu Jin smiled, “You said you’d help me if I had difficulties. Do you think the guards dare arrest me? You’d have them beaten to death, wouldn’t you?”
“Uh…”
Watching Liu Jin’s retreating figure, Emperor Wu was both amused and exasperated. He took a deep gulp of wine and suddenly burst into laughter.
Since the defeat in the Han-Xiongnu war seven years ago, Emperor Wu had not laughed so freely for a long time.
---
“Insistent on seeing me, are you?” Emperor Wu smacked his lips. “Very well, tomorrow I’ll see what you want!”
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At dawn, the imposing gates of Weiyang Palace opened one by one.
Early morning.
After breakfast in the Crown Prince’s chambers, Liu Jin said to the Crown Prince Liu Ju, who was reading in his study, “Father, I’m going to the palace to see Grandfather.”
Liu Ju, displeased and seeing it as unnecessary, said, “Don’t waste your thoughts. If he doesn’t want to see you, let it be. Why lower yourself to beg?”
“That old man is stubborn. If he doesn’t want to see someone or do something, no one can persuade him.”
“He’s fought so many battles and is riddled with internal strife. I’ve urged him countless times to govern with kindness, but he insists on harsh punishments and won’t listen to anyone!”
“Going there is pointless.”
Liu Jin saw his father’s dissatisfaction with Emperor Wu but persisted, “Father, our future depends on Grandfather.”
“Someone has to yield. I’m willing to be that middleman.”
Liu Ju sighed, “Foolish child, why bother?”
“It’s nothing.”
Liu Jin took a deep breath, waved his hand, and with several servants, headed toward Weiyang Palace.
In the Xuan Shi Hall, Emperor Wu was reviewing memorials behind a screen when eunuch Su Wen quietly approached and said, “Your Majesty, the imperial grandson requests an audience.”
“Hm, let him in.”
“I was about to refuse… Ah?”
Emperor Wu slowly raised his eyes and coldly stared at the eunuch nearby. Su Wen broke out in cold sweat and said, “I was wrong, Your Majesty. I will summon His Highness the imperial grandson at once.”
“Mm.”
Emperor Wu’s expression was unreadable. The hall brimmed with a deadly aura that made Su Wen shudder and hasten his departure.
Outside, Liu Jin had been waiting a while, thinking the day would be like any other. When he saw Su Wen approach, he didn’t have high hopes. Just as he was about to leave, Su Wen said, “His Highness the imperial grandson, His Majesty summons you inside.”
“Ah?”
“All right!” Liu Jin suppressed his excitement and said, “Please lead the way!”