Chapter 26: Jealousy Blinds the Eyes

The sun over Weiyang Palace blazed with its usual intensity, beating down directly on Liu Bo's fair skin. An attendant tried to hold a parasol over him, but he brushed it aside.

Gone was the composure he had carried upon his arrival; his face was now clouded with jealousy. He walked quietly along the palace path, his forehead beaded with thick sweat.

Five years ago, in the fourth year of the Tianhan era, his uncle Li Guangli had set out on a campaign against the Xiongnu. Emperor Wu of Han had placed great importance on this expedition, entrusting Li Guangli with sixty thousand cavalry and seventy thousand infantry, while also assigning Gongsun Ao with ten thousand cavalry, Han Shuo with thirty thousand infantry, and Lu Bode with ten thousand cavalry to provide cover.

To ensure Li Guangli could focus on the front lines, Emperor Wu had even granted special permission for the Prince of Changyi, Liu Bo—who by rights should have been sent off to his own fief—to remain in the palace at Chang'an to convalesce.

Even though Li Guangli had gained little advantage in that campaign, the Emperor had still bestowed verbal commendations upon him.

It was from that time on that Liu Bo’s status within the palace began to rise significantly. The Emperor frequently summoned him, and had even personally promised that he could come to see him without needing to be announced.

It seemed the old man could retract his own words just as easily as he spoke them!

Liu Bo’s expression was grim. He had clearly felt the Emperor’s fury just moments ago. The old man was deep and inscrutable, rarely showing such emotions unless he was genuinely enraged and doing so deliberately for someone to see.

There could only be one reason: the Imperial Grandson, Liu Jin.

Yet, Liu Bo couldn’t fathom it. The old man had clearly refused to let Liu Jin enter the Xuanshi Hall and clearly held the grandson in low regard; why, then, would he suddenly display such intimidation over his own minor insolence?

There was only one explanation: his disdain for the Imperial Grandson was merely a show for outsiders, and deep down, he actually valued him highly!

Liu Bo felt dizzy. He couldn’t untangle the logic; no matter how he looked at it, it didn't seem reasonable.

***

Liu Jin returned to Changle Palace, disappointed. He shook his head at Liu Ju.

Liu Ju sighed and said, "Son, come with me into the study."

"Yes."

Once they were inside, Liu Ju immediately handed Liu Jin a damp towel. "It’s too hot outside. Your face is covered in sweat and dust. Wipe it off, quickly."

*Oh, give me a break!*

Liu Jin thought, *Can you not be like this? You’re worried about dust on my face at a time like this? The old man didn't see me, he still harbors deep misunderstandings about you wanting to seize power, and I can't find an opportunity to explain—and you're talking about dust on my face?*

"Alright, thank you, Father."

He used the damp towel to carefully wipe his face clean before saying, "Father, I just went to the Xuanshi Hall, but the Imperial Grandfather told me to come back another day."

"However, I saw a sickly, white-robed man walk into the Xuanshi Hall without a care in the world."

"Father, who is he?"

Liu Ju narrowed his eyes and said indifferently, "Your fifth uncle, the Prince of Changyi, Liu Bo."

"Five years ago, when your Imperial Grandfather was preparing for Li Guangli’s campaign, he gave your fifth uncle high status. He became very arrogant. Relying on the fact that he has read many books, he looks down on everyone, as if all people in the world were merely ants. He wears white robes every day, acting affected and effeminate like a woman."

Liu Jin silently glanced at his own white silk robe before asking his father, "Have you suffered at his hands?"

"What?"

"Father, you seem to hold my fifth uncle in low regard. Have you suffered any setbacks because of him?"

Liu Ju laughed it off. "Minor setbacks, just minor ones."

Liu Jin silently noted the Prince of Changyi, Liu Bo, in his mind. To be an adult and still remain in the imperial palace—he was not to be underestimated, and his motives were clearly impure!

"Son, if you feel slighted, we won't go back," Liu Ju comforted him.

Liu Jin shook his head. "The Imperial Grandfather told me to come another day; he didn't say he wouldn't see me. I will go again tomorrow."

"Why bother?" Liu Ju sighed, feeling that his son had been wronged.

"I have some business to attend to; I’m going out of the palace."

"Oh, go ahead."

Liu Ju cautioned, "Be careful, take your servants with you; it's dangerous outside."

"I will!"

***

In front of a carpenter's shop on Hengmen Street, Liu Jin walked in and asked a young man, "Are you a carpenter?"

"My father is the carpenter."

Liu Jin nodded. He had been terrified the man would say his father was a bricklayer. As long as he was a carpenter, that was fine.

For the rest of the afternoon, Liu Jin instructed the old carpenter on the work. Only when the rocking chair was finished did Liu Jin have his servants pull it toward the outskirts of the city.

The sun had not yet set. The country paths were overgrown with weeds. Breathing in the fresh evening air, they soon arrived at the old man Qiu's residence.

The door opened. The old man was sitting in the central hall, as if he knew Liu Jin was coming and had been waiting for him.

"Old Man Qiu, come and try this. I’ve made you a chair."

Emperor Wu walked over, curious, and looked at the rocking chair placed under the poplar tree in the courtyard. "What is this?"

In the Han Dynasty, there were no chairs or stools in the modern sense, let alone a rocking chair.

"Lie down on it and you'll know."

"Oh."

Emperor Wu tentatively lay down. The evening sunlight filtered through the gaps in the poplar leaves, casting a glow on his aged face.

The rocking chair swayed rhythmically back and forth.

He held a round fan in his hand, fanning himself with contentment.

"What a wonderful thing!"

Emperor Wu beamed; the smile on his face showed that he was very fond of the gift.

"You put a lot of heart into this, little one."

Liu Jin said, "It’s only right to show you filial respect. After all, you are my creditor now."

"Haha!"

Emperor Wu burst into loud laughter.

"Sigh."

Seeing Liu Jin sigh, Emperor Wu asked curiously, "What is it now?"

"My grandfather refused to see me again."

*When did I refuse to see you? I told you to come back another day, can't you understand? You call that refusing to see you?*

Liu Jin looked at him with an expectant gaze.

"Your... your grandfather... he really is an ass!" Emperor Wu’s voice trembled slightly as he gritted his teeth.

Liu Jin said softly, "Don't say that."

Emperor Wu really wanted to kick him in the backside. This brat was truly hypocritical!

Liu Jin was satisfied and said, "Alright, I'm off."

Emperor Wu looked at him suspiciously. "Did you come all this way just to deliver this contraption? Won't you stay for a meal?"

Liu Jin shook his head. "I won't eat here. I need to go back and think about how to persuade my grandfather."

"You enjoy yourself, old man. I'm leaving."

Liu Jin waved his hand backhandedly with an air of nonchalance and walked away from the residence with his hands behind his back.

"Don't walk with your hands behind your back, you look like a little old man! You're only a child!" the old man shouted from his rocking chair behind him.

Liu Jin flashed a grin back at him, lowered his hands, and strode away.

Emperor Wu smiled to himself. "That's better. You're just a child, why act so profound?"

After a moment of contemplation, he said to Bao Shengzhi, who was nearby, "When we return to the palace, find some memorials and bring them to me. I will have use for them in a few days."

Bao Shengzhi was stunned. "As you command!"

*What is the old man planning?* Bao Shengzhi felt a jolt of alarm. This made no sense—he still had the Crown Prince!