Chapter 47: Grandpa Is Quite Lonely

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After leaving the jade shop, Emperor Wu of Han asked with great interest, “The shopkeeper said he would give it to you for free. Why did you choose to pay in the end?”

Liu Jin thought for a moment. “He was merely using a little cleverness in doing business. In the end, he wasn’t guilty of any great evil. How could one buy something without paying for it?”

“Getting him to lower the price was punishment enough.”

The emperor fell silent in thought for a moment, then sighed and looked at Liu Jin. “You are good in every way, but your heart is still a little too soft.”

“I don’t understand. Why is that bad?”

“Because when your heart is too soft, there are many things you will not dare to do. You will always feel guilty. If you were an ordinary commoner, such a quality would certainly be admirable.”

At this point, the emperor’s voice abruptly fell silent.

Liu Jin smiled. “But I am an ordinary commoner.”

“Hmph.” Emperor Wu of Han gave a cold laugh. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“Of course not.”

Liu Jin brushed him off and cheerfully hung the Chiwen jade pendant he had chosen on the old man’s waist. Smiling, he said, “I picked it out especially for you. Chiwen is said to ward off calamity. May you remain free from illness and misfortune from now on.”

The emperor looked down at him, warmth inexplicably rising in his heart. Then he asked, “How much did you pay just now?”

Liu Jin looked up. “Why?”

“I’ll reimburse you.”

Liu Jin waved his hand. “There’s no need to be so particular with me. You’ve taught me so many principles of life. What’s wrong with giving you a jade pendant? Just wear it without worry. Mm, it looks quite good.”

“Oh, right. There is still something I need to ask you about.”

The corner of Emperor Wu’s mouth twitched. With a faint tremor in his voice, he asked, “Dealing with your grandfather?”

“Yes.” Liu Jin blinked.

The emperor gritted his teeth. “Isn’t that somewhat lacking in filial respect?”

“I don’t truly intend to do anything to him. I merely wanted to ask for your advice.”

“When my grandfather speaks to me, he always says as little as possible. Either ‘Mm,’ or ‘Fine,’ or ‘Get out.’”

“How can I get him to speak more?”

The emperor asked suspiciously, “Why do you want him to talk to you more? Do you want him to show you more concern?”

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Liu Jin shook his head. “No. If he talks more, I can get a more accurate understanding of his temperament.”

“Last time, my father spoke with him at some length, and he quickly grew impatient. From that, I roughly figured out that he dislikes hearing about the process, acts decisively, and cares only about the result.”

“But that is all I have managed to deduce so far. The fewer words he speaks, the more impossible he is for me to see through.”

Emperor Wu of Han glanced at him, slightly astonished. This boy had actually discerned some of the emperor’s temperament through the conversation between himself and the Crown Prince. He had truly underestimated the boy’s abilities.

The morning sunlight was still faint as the two of them slowly strolled along Hengmen Street.

The emperor thought for a while before saying, “Your grandfather must be a very formidable man.”

Liu Jin nodded. “He certainly is. But why do you think so?”

“The deeper a person’s self-possession, the less likely he is to display his joys and anger before others. You should learn more from your grandfather about how to conduct yourself and how to speak. It will benefit you greatly in the future.”

Liu Jin rather agreed with this assessment of the old man.

“Your grandfather should also possess considerable charm. I imagine many women would be fond of such an elderly gentleman.”

Liu Jin looked at him suspiciously. Was this old man trying to deceive him?

“Why would you say that? What woman would like an old man?”

Emperor Wu smiled. “You are still young and have yet to experience hardship. Once you have, you will understand. When you possess the authority to control the distribution of resources, those women will adore you regardless of your age. Handsome features are not what measure a man’s charm. Vast knowledge, mastery of power, mastery over the fates of others…”

“Hold on.”

Liu Jin interrupted him. “Why do you think so highly of my grandfather? He will not even show himself to me. I am his own grandson. Isn’t that heartless?”

“Old sir, whose side are you on? What happened to you?”

Emperor Wu: “…”

Liu Jin gazed at him expectantly once more. Inside his sleeves, the emperor alternately clenched and opened his fists. In the end, he could only say helplessly, “From that perspective, your grandfather is indeed rather disgraceful.”

Only then did Liu Jin nod in satisfaction. That was more like it. The two of them were supposed to stand together against outsiders—how could he start praising his grandfather? Was that not outright treachery?

“But is standing at the summit truly so intoxicating? Once one has experienced it, is it really impossible to let go?”

Emperor Wu answered with certainty, “It certainly is.”

Why, despite being over sixty, was he still so obsessed with power? Why would he refuse to surrender his authority until he was on the verge of death? Because once he relinquished power, he would become no different from any ordinary old man. That was something he could never accept—and something no one who had tasted the pinnacle of power could easily do.

Taking hold was easy. Letting go was hard.

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Liu Jin pondered this, but soon returned to the matter at hand. “In any case, old sir, tell me how I can get my grandfather to say more to me.”

“Prove yourself to him. Use your abilities!”

“You missed your opportunity. When it came to the dragon-bone cart, you should not have…”

“What?” Liu Jin grew anxious when the emperor stopped halfway through his sentence.

The emperor drew a long breath.

“You should not have brought it out so readily,” he said. “The dragon-bone cart could increase your family’s prestige. If you offered it to the authorities, it could revitalize your clan. Your grandfather would naturally take an interest in that. You should not have presented it all at once. Use the thing to stir his interest little by little, and then use that interest to pry open his mouth…”

“What a fool!”

The more Emperor Wu spoke, the angrier he became. If Liu Jin really produced some other marvelous invention in the future, would the emperor not have trapped himself by giving him this advice now?

“Why are you cursing all of a sudden? You have already insulted my grandfather once today. Don’t speak of him that way. He is actually quite a good man.”

I think you are the hypocrite here!

Emperor Wu cast him a sidelong glance. Besides, I was not cursing your grandfather. I was cursing you!

The emperor took a deep breath to calm himself, then continued, “Of course, things that benefit the state and the people cannot be created at will. If you have nothing of the sort, you can still offer suggestions that would benefit your family’s development. First, think of how to arouse your grandfather’s interest. Then use that as an opportunity to get him to speak more.”

Something like a sensational announcement? “Imperial Grandfather, if Great Han does not do this, the empire will soon perish!”

There was some sense to it. He could not truly say it quite like that, but the old man’s advice was genuinely useful.

Liu Jin nodded inwardly, then smiled. “Old sir, thank you. Your advice is very useful.”

Emperor Wu remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, “Actually, there is no need to treat your grandfather as an enemy, is there? He did not see you before, but does he not see you now?”

“He does not speak much with you now, but surely he will say more in time. Why are you so determined to deal with your grandfather?”

Liu Jin smiled. “I simply want to understand him better. If he never speaks to me, how am I supposed to understand him? That can hardly be called dealing with him.”

“Truthfully, I still respect him in my heart. I think Grandfather must be rather lonely.”

“Hmm?” Emperor Wu watched him with interest. “Why?”