Chapter 32: As Expected, the Emperor Was Meeting Liu Jin Outside the Palace

Liu Jin sat in the pavilion of the Crown Prince’s Palace. Given the gravity of the incident, Lady Shi naturally heard of it.

She scoffed, "Jin'er, do not worry. Given your status, what does it matter that you killed a servant?"

"Besides, they were the ones who killed first. It is a life for a life; even before His Majesty, there is justice to be found in that!"

Liu Jin shook his head. "Mother, do not worry. I will take responsibility for my own actions."

Lady Shi replied, "I am not worried. Mother knows that everything will be fine."

Liu Jin pondered for a moment before saying, "Mother, you are holding your wine cup upside down."

"Oh?"

Lady Shi adjusted the bronze cup, her hands trembling slightly. It was clear she was deeply unsettled, yet as a mother, she still forced herself to comfort her son. Her stubbornness was heartbreaking.

When Liu Ju returned from Weiyang Palace, Lady Shi hurried over, tugging at his sleeve. "Crown Prince, what did the Old Man say?"

Liu Ju forced a smile and gently wiped a stray drop of wine from her lip. "That is unseemly."

"Go inside for now. There is nothing to worry about."

Lady Shi nodded, and despite the many questions in her heart, she asked no more.

Seeing his parents worrying on his behalf, Liu Jin suddenly felt that his actions had been somewhat impulsive, though he did not regret them.

"Father, I... I was wrong."

Seeing the boy's look of self-reproach, Liu Ju smiled. "Wrong? How so? You did what was right. I do not find fault in your actions."

"However, could you not have left such matters to the servants?"

"You are the Imperial Grandson; why lower yourself to such tasks?"

Liu Jin kept his inner thoughts to himself and simply said, "I will do better next time."

Liu Ju patted his shoulder. "That is the spirit. Correct your mistakes, and as long as I am here, I will stand between you and the heavens falling. Why be so gloomy? Go back to sleep. The Old Man did not hold the Crown Prince’s Palace accountable, and all is well."

"Are you certain?" Liu Jin looked at him skeptically.

Liu Ju replied, "Your father studies the Analects; I never lie."

"That is good, then." Liu Jin let out a long sigh of relief, feeling much more at ease.

...

To say he was not panicked would be a lie; Liu Ju was terrified. Yet, as several days passed without any action from Weiyang Palace, his heavy heart began to settle.

At Hengmen Street, the residence of the Marquis of Andao.

Han Shuo sat at his desk, deep in contemplation. After days of racking his brain, he had arrived at an unbelievable conclusion: the Emperor’s attitude toward the Crown Prince’s Palace had changed!

Realizing this, Han Shuo felt compelled to take remedial action. He immediately summoned a servant. "Take... one hundred... eighty... thirty... twenty taels of gold to the Crown Prince’s Palace. Tell them it is a gift of apology."

"Yes, sir!"

Han Shuo squinted. A notorious miser, parting with twenty taels of gold was the greatest display of sincerity he could muster. He hoped the Crown Prince would accept him. Since he had deciphered the Emperor’s intentions, he had to make amends to secure his future.

The Crown Prince’s Palace was short on funds, and twenty taels of gold was a significant sum. However, Liu Ju flatly refused, stating he accepted the sentiment but the gold must be returned.

Liu Jin was perplexed and asked his father, "Father, why refuse Han Shuo?"

Having one more friend was better than one more enemy, and Han Shuo was clearly trying to curry favor.

Liu Ju sneered. "Last year, when the Emperor granted the Yao-Mu Palace to Lady Gouyi, Han Shuo sent fifty taels of gold."

"Such a fence-sitter, a hypocrite—how could he be worthy of my association?"

Liu Jin argued, "But a friend is better than an enemy. By refusing him like this, are we not making an enemy?"

Liu Ju narrowed his eyes. "Han Shuo only acted this way because the Emperor did not make a scene of this matter. If, one day, the Emperor were to punish the Crown Prince’s Palace, this man would sell us out completely. How could I plant such a seed of disaster now?"

Liu Jin nodded, finding his father’s logic sound, though he knew that Han Shuo was one of the instigators of the future Witchcraft Crisis and would inevitably bring great trouble. But no matter—if he could find a way to eliminate him, would that not be the best outcome for everyone?

...

Changxin Palace.

Dressed in white, his face unnaturally pale, the Prince of Changyi, Liu Bo, suffered a sickly flush after only the slightest exertion with his maids.

Having feigned illness for so many years without much movement, his body had truly become frail, especially after forcing down so much medicine. He had to keep up the charade; he dared not deceive Emperor Wu.

Liu Quli had already informed him of the incident where the Imperial Grandson, Liu Jin, killed Han Shuo’s servant.

The Emperor had not blamed the Crown Prince’s Palace, and there was not even a whisper of it in the outer court. This was clearly a move to protect Liu Jin!

But why?

Liu Bo could not understand. He did not know why the Old Man’s attitude toward the Imperial Grandson had changed. Was he planning to refocus his sights on the Crown Prince’s Palace?

"My Prince, the messengers from Weiyang Palace report that the Emperor has frequently left the palace of late, as he did today."

Liu Bo looked puzzled. After deep thought, he said, "I shall leave the palace. Do not let others know. Keep it low-profile."

He mingled with the servants of Changxin Palace and left, carrying his own warrant.

"Go to the Coal Mountains." Liu Bo wore coarse hemp clothes, blending in with the common folk, drawing little attention.

...

The Western Suburb Coal Mountains.

Liu Jin had come to inspect the area once more, fearing that Han Shuo might continue to harass the commoners working there.

No sooner had he arrived than he saw a familiar figure approaching. The Old Man said with a beaming smile, "It really is you, little one!"

"I said to myself, a coal mountain has appeared here recently and many people have come to work, so I wondered if it might be you. It seems my hunch was right!"

Liu Jin dismounted and walked to the Old Man’s side, naturally taking his arm. He laughed, "Why have you come all the way out here so early, sir?"

"Investigating business, and it just so happens I ran into you."

"Haha, it seems we truly share a telepathic bond, Grandfather." Liu Jin smiled. "Let me tell you a secret: I am cooperating with the government on this mountain. I make quite a bit of money each year, so I am not just bragging when I say I can pay you back next year."

Emperor Wu chuckled. "As if I were worried about your little pittance."

"What? Do you want to try your hand at the coal business? If you want to, I can give you a share."

"So generous?"

Liu Jin replied, "It depends on who it is. I am very stingy with others; this is a mountain of gold, why would I share it? But you are different!"

"Hahahaha!" Emperor Wu laughed heartily.

...

So that was it. His guess was correct; the Emperor had left the palace to come here. This mountain was the property of the Imperial Grandson, Liu Jin. If the Emperor wanted to meet him outside the palace, this was the most likely place. He just hadn't expected to be so lucky.

The Fifth Imperial Son, Liu Bo, hidden among the crowd, felt his face twitch. The jealousy in his eyes was overflowing!

Within the palace, the man he saw was always the majestic, expressionless, inscrutable, and ruthless Emperor!

He had never seen his father laugh so genuinely and heartily before anyone!

Everything made sense now! Liu Bo pieced it all together, silently slipped away from the crowd, and returned to Changxin Palace with his eunuchs, simmering with resentment.