gnovel Chapter 34: The Emperor and Empress Meet, Liu Che Has Always Been Cold-Blooded and Ruthless!
Chapter 34: The Emperor and Empress Meet, Liu Che Has Always Been Cold-Blooded and Ruthless!
Weiyang Palace, Jiaofang Hall.
The pink walls faintly exude a delicate fragrance, a blend of Sichuan peppercorns and other plants, which is aromatic, warming, and insect-repellent, and also symbolizes many children and good fortune.
Since the time of Emperor Gaozu of Han, this has been the residence of the Empress Wei Zifu. She has spent more than 6,000 days and nights in this palace. The most beautiful time of a woman's life is spent in this cold and impersonal hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Grand Chamberlain Wei Yong deliberately raised his voice because Emperor Wu of Han had arrived so suddenly that no one had time to react.
In the first year of Yuanshou (122 BC), after Liu Ju was made crown prince, the emperor neglected the empress. The palace maids and eunuchs in Jiaofang Palace gradually ignored the existence of Emperor Wu of Han, let alone such a sudden visit, which no one had informed in advance.
"Tap tap!"
Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, didn't even glance at Wei Yong, and walked into the palace expressionlessly.
"His Majesty."
"What brings you here?"
Wei Zifu put down her embroidery, a hint of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes.
"Our crown prince has grown up and knows how to go against his father."
Liu Che flicked his sleeve and said with an unfriendly expression.
"His Majesty!"
Wei Zifu was startled, and a look of panic appeared on her gentle face.
"My son is becoming more and more capable."
"Several hundred Confucian scholars from the Crown Prince's palace were summoned by the Crown Prince's edict from the Court of Justice to be sentenced one by one."
"More than three hundred lawless and disorderly wandering knights were all killed with a single order."
"Now they're even openly plotting against his father in the imperial court."
"He used the Shanglin Garden to settle more than 500,000 refugees from Guandong. From now on, I, the emperor, will probably not have peace."
When this was mentioned, Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, displayed a very subtle change in expression, showing a mix of relief, surprise, apprehension, and pride.
"According to my son..."
Empress Wei Zifu had no idea that Crown Prince Liu Ju had changed so much; she only knew about cleaning up the Crown Prince's palace.
"I originally thought my son was a good-for-nothing."
"Now it seems that I misjudged him. He has the brave and warlike blood of your Wei family flowing in his veins, as well as the fearless courage that our Liu family inherited from our ancestor."
Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, plopped down on the couch, his gaze seemingly drifting across the main hall to the Bowang Garden in the southeast corner.
"His Majesty."
"According to reports, the task of resettling more than 500,000 refugees from Northeast China is not easy."
Empress Wei Zifu was exceptionally intelligent; she subtly hinted at Emperor Wu's attitude with just one sentence.
"I know."
Liu Che turned to look at his empress, whom he had personally chosen, the beautiful woman who had brought him the two pillars of the Han Dynasty.
Compared to Chen Ajiao's arrogance, Wei Zifu, who was only two years younger than him, was not only good at singing and dancing and gentle and charming, but also knew how to be considerate of him. This is why he was able to choose Wei Zifu to be the empress among many concubines.
As it turned out, Empress Wei Zifu was the right choice, and Wei Qing and Huo Qubing became the greatest contributors to the expansion of the Han Empire's territory.
The only thing that displeased him was Liu Ju, the son of Empress Wei Zifu, who was pedantic and often advised him to stop fighting and allow the people to rest and recuperate.
There is a folk saying: "For the first thirty years, observe how the father respects the son; for the next thirty years, observe how the son respects the father."
Crown Prince Liu Ju brought him not hope, but despair; he was constantly afraid that Liu Ju would ruin the country.
But now, Liu Ju's changes have given this once arrogant emperor many ideas he had never had before.
"His Majesty."
"You intend to..."
Wei Zifu tentatively spoke.
"There are some things that I don't know whether doing them is right or wrong."
"No one else could possibly know; perhaps only God knows."
"He is first and foremost the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty, and only then my son. He has the right to govern according to his position, and I have no say in this matter."
"You are his mother. A mother's love for her child is a natural and ethical principle."
Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, glanced at Wei Zifu, left a few words, and got up to leave Jiaofang Palace.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"
Grand Chamberlain Wei Yong quickly bowed.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"
The palace maids and eunuchs in Jiaofang Palace all knelt down and bowed their heads, shouting in unison.
"Grand Chamberlain".
"Your Majesty the Empress."
Upon hearing the sound, Wei Yong moved and waited by the side.
"Go to the Crown Prince's Palace in person; I need to see Ju'er."
Empress Wei Zifu, who had been gentle and graceful just moments before, now possessed a fierce and dignified air, her phoenix eyes filled with power, her face as beautiful as jade, displaying the majesty and nobility of the Empress of the Han Dynasty.
"promise."
Wei Yong obediently agreed and hurriedly left the Jiaofang Palace.
"call!!!"
Watching him walk away, Wei Zifu frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, did not come today to see himself, but for the sake of Crown Prince Liu Ju. His words were less a sign of concern and more a test.
Having lost forty counties, Tangmuyi, even if the Crown Prince sold Bowangyuan, he might not be able to support more than 500,000 refugees from Guandong. This is why she, or rather the Wei family, helped the Crown Prince do this.
She couldn't figure out what Liu Che was up to. After sharing a bed with him for so many years, her husband, the Emperor of Han, had always been unpredictable and made it impossible to guess his true thoughts.
What she feared was that Liu Che wasn't testing the crown prince, but rather using this incident to ascertain the strength of the Wei family and further weaken them.
After all, Liu Che was a quintessential political figure who showed no mercy when it came to his maternal, wife's, and relatives.
............
Bowang Garden, the inner garden.
"Jin'er."
"I've come to see my father."
Liu Ju held a rattle drum and teased Liu Jin, who was a little over one year old, just like a loving father.
Shi Liangdi watched the interaction between the father and son with a smile, her face radiating happiness.
The Crown Prince's palace didn't have many concubines. Besides her, there were only two other ladies-in-waiting, and neither of them were as favored as her. She also gave birth to His Majesty's eldest grandson, the Crown Prince's eldest son. His elder brother, Shi Gao, is now the Crown Prince's Right Guard Commander. His two younger brothers are Shi Zeng and Shi Xuan, one is the Crown Prince's attendant, and the other is the Crown Prince's study companion.
Although she is not the Crown Princess, she is better than the Crown Princess. What more could she ask for?
"Father...Father!"
"I want...I want..."
Liu Jin's speech was still a bit slurred; he simply stretched out his chubby little hand toward Liu Ju, his eyes fixed intently on the rattle drum.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Liu Ju gently shook the rattle drum, which produced a crisp sound, attracting Liu Jin's attention.
"Your Highness."
"The Grand Chamberlain has arrived."
The Crown Prince's attendant, Shi Zeng, quickly entered and quietly reported the news.
"Oh?"
Liu Ju paused slightly, a strange look flashing in his eyes, before turning to Shi Zeng and saying warmly, "You and Liangdi don't see each other often, so it's a good opportunity for siblings to chat about everyday things."
As he spoke, he handed the rattle drum in his hand to Shi Zeng.
"promise."
Shi Zeng's face lit up with joy, and he quickly took the rattle drum to continue attracting Liu Jin's attention.
"This concubine sees Your Highness off!"
Shi Liangdi knew that Liu Ju was concerned about her, and her heart warmed. She wanted to get up and see him off.
"No need."
"You should talk to Shi Zeng."
Liu Ju waved his hand and strode away from the inner garden.