Chapter 61: It Seems I Was Wrong

After sending away the group of guards from the Changle Palace, Liu Jin suddenly felt a sense of empathy and loss.
Before you reach the upper echelons, you do not even realize that others are exploiting you; instead, you remain deeply grateful to those who use you.

"My son, are you still worried?"
Liu Ju walked over from a distance and, seeing Liu Jin in a daze, assumed he was still shaken by the events of the previous night.
"You must be terrified, right? You have little life experience, so how could you not know the rule of keeping your wealth hidden? You must learn from this lesson and try your best not to show off your wealth outside... Well, it is simply better if you do not leave the palace in the future. The outside world is extremely dangerous."

Early in the morning, the Crown Prince, his father, came to check on Liu Jin, fearing that he was still trapped in the nightmare of the previous night.
"Father, I am fine."
"Didn't Your Imperial Grandfather say he was coming last night? Why didn't he show up in the end?" Liu Jin asked curiously.
Liu Ju sneered, "Because you didn't die."
Liu Jin: "..."
Father, your words are rather harsh.
"What I mean is, your grandfather knew you were safe, which is why he didn't come."
"Hmph, if the Changxin Palace had been attacked by assassins, just watch whether your grandfather would have gone or not!"

Liu Ju was extremely dissatisfied with Emperor Wu of Han's behavior. When his own grandson faced an assassination attempt, this grandfather remained entirely indifferent. Upon hearing that his grandson was safe, he immediately turned back toward the Weiyang Palace. This showed just how much he detested the Crown Prince's Palace and how reluctant he was to set foot here even for a moment.

"Your Highness."
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived."
A servant came forward to announce, and upon hearing this, Liu Ju hurriedly led all his family members out to welcome Wei Zifu.

Wei Zifu first inquired about Liu Jin's condition and instructed him to be extremely careful in everything he did from now on.
Only then did she finally say, "Jin'er, come take a walk with your grandmother."
"Oh."

In the rear garden of the Crown Prince's Palace, midsummer flowers were in full bloom. Wei Zifu trailed her long skirt as she strolled among the blossoms. Even though she was already past fifty, her noble bearing and well-maintained appearance made it no exaggeration to say she rivaled the flowers in beauty.

My grandfather really is a scoundrel. Even though my grandmother is older, how is she inferior to those young women? How is she any less than Lady Gouyi of the Yaomu Palace?

"Are you trying to seize control of the military power of the Changle Palace?"
Wei Zifu's sudden question left Liu Jin frozen in place. He involuntarily gasped, his speech stuttering subconsciously, "Grand, Grandmother... what do you mean?"
"I don't understand."

Wei Zifu smiled gently, turned back to look at Liu Jin, and said, "You may not trust your grandfather, but you must know that your father is my flesh and blood, the finest son I bore after ten months of pregnancy!"
"You are my grandson, Ju'er's son, and my blood flows through your veins as well. You are all my closest kin. How could I fail to help you and instead favor a husband who shares no blood ties with me?"
"A husband? Hmph!"

Liu Jin suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He had thought his layout was fairly commendable, one that had even deceived his father and his grandfather, but why had his grandmother seen through it so effortlessly?
No wonder his grandfather feared his Empress Wei to such an extent!

"Grandmother, do you think... Grandfather can figure it out?"
Wei Zifu smiled and said, "He probably cannot."
"Because I only guessed it myself and wasn't certain either. It is only because you mentioned it that I now know for sure."
Liu Jin: "..."

"So, at most, he can only guess, but he certainly cannot be certain of your true purpose. Nevertheless, in the days ahead, you need to keep your distance from the soldiers of the Changle Palace and stop doing anything to win over their hearts. He is extremely suspicious; no doubt he has already deployed secret agents to infiltrate the ranks of the Changle Palace guards."
Liu Jin nodded repeatedly, "Grandmother, I understand."
Actually, it was already enough. He did not need to win over anyone else; Zhang Feng, the Captain of the Guards, was already sufficient.

Wei Zifu stared at Liu Jin for a long time before slowly speaking, "You have your grandfather's shadow in you."
"Why do you say that?" Liu Jin asked, puzzled.
Wei Zifu replied, "You are both ruthless people."
Liu Jin still did not quite understand.

"You have already begun making final preparations for a potential failure, willing to resort to a clash of arms rather than choosing to back down."
"Your grandfather is the same. Back then, before Zhongqing launched his campaign against the Xiongnu, your grandfather made the ultimate preparations as well. He had secretly transferred all the nation's military strength to the northern border. If the worst-case scenario were to arise, he intended to wager the survival of the entire state on a future showdown with the Xiongnu!"
"Heh," Wei Zifu gave a slight smile. "Perhaps if your grandfather knew what you were up to, he might even be pleased and impressed by it."

Wei Zifu made a joke, finally lifting the oppressive atmosphere.
"Very well, I must go."
"Remember my words today, and do not have any further contact with the soldiers of the Changle Palace."

Liu Jin nodded heavily, thought for a moment, and said, "Grandmother, thank you!"
"It's his loss that my grandfather does not dote on you!"
Wei Zifu turned back and said meaningfully, "Why do you think he doesn't dote on me? Because I am old and my looks have faded?"
"Isn't that why?"
Wei Zifu smiled and said, "He fears me."
"Come find me at the Jiaofang Hall when you have time." Wei Zifu waved her hand and then departed with great dignity.

...
After Wei Zifu left, a succession of visitors arrived at the Crown Prince's Palace. Gongsun He and his son came first, followed by Wei Buyi and Wei Deng; the two maternal uncles were currently serving in the Jianzhang Camp.
Hearing that Liu Jin had been assassinated, these people naturally came to offer their condolences.

However, to Liu Ju's astonishment, Shangguan Jie also paid a visit to the Crown Prince's Palace to offer his regards.
Finally, Junior Tutor Shi De rushed over in haste, anxiously sought out Liu Ju, and asked with concern, "Your Highness, is the Imperial Grandson unharmed? Heaven has eyes, good people are blessed with good fortune!"
"Where is the Imperial Grandson?" Shi De intended to go pay his respects to Liu Jin.
Liu Ju replied, "He seems to be in the stables."
Shi De asked suspiciously, "The stables? What is he doing in the stables?"
"I am not entirely sure either. Let's go take a look and find out."

Toward noon, Liu Ju brought Shi De to the stables of the Crown Prince's Palace.
Liu Jin had already ordered craftsmen to manufacture high-arched saddles, stirrups, and horseshoes.
Shi De looked around curiously at the horses before him and asked, "What is the use of nailing iron to the horses' hooves?"
"To prevent hoof wear and tear and increase the service life of the warhorses."
"And what about these stirrups and this saddle?"
"To provide cavalrymen with greater stability during a charge."

Liu Ju and Shi De suddenly understood. Yet, instead of being as excited as Emperor Wu and Shangguan Jie, they were filled with vigilance and deep unease.
"These equestrian inventions must never be reported to His Majesty!"
Shi De stated gravely.

Liu Jin: "Ah? But I've already presented them to my grandfather."
Shi De and Liu Ju exchanged glances, neither of their expressions looking good.
"Imperial Grandson, how could you be so foolish!"
"Alas!"

Liu Jin still remained puzzled: "What is wrong? Is this not a good thing? Father, Junior Tutor, perhaps you do not yet realize how magnificent these items are..."
Shi De said, "Old officials naturally understand."
"But if they are presented to His Majesty, they are bound to cause rivers of blood once again!"

Liu Ju fell silent and did not speak.
After pondering for a moment, Liu Jin suddenly had a flash of insight, and gradually, his eyelids lowered. I... seem to have made a mistake.