Chapter 94

When Chu Shaoling arrived at Chengqian Palace, the Emperor had already woken up.

As soon as Chu Shaoling stepped into the bedchamber, he smelled a strong medicinal odor. Chu Shaoling slightly frowned. Wang Muhan stepped forward, handed over a handkerchief and said in a low voice, "These past two days, they've been force-feeding medicine day and night. The smell is quite strong. This old servant will have someone burn some incense cakes to get rid of the odor."

Chu Shaoling closed his eyes for a moment. "Take all the irrelevant people out. Don't disturb my conversation with Imperial Father."

Wang Muhan bowed. "This old servant understands."

Chu Shaoling entered the eastern warm chamber of the bedchamber. Inside, the Emperor was leaning on the couch calling for someone. Chu Shaoling approached and said in a deep voice, "Whatever Imperial Father wants, just order your subject son."

The Emperor's eyes were bloodshot. With effort, he turned his head and glanced outside. Chu Shaoling smiled. "Afraid of disturbing Imperial Father's peace, your subject son just ordered the servants to leave. If Imperial Father has any orders, just tell your subject son."

The Emperor opened his mouth but didn't say anything. Chu Shaoling turned around, poured a cup of tea for the Emperor and brought it over, saying, "Imperial Father hasn't spoken for a while. You must be thirsty. Would you like a cup of tea?"

The Emperor's eyes were full of wariness. Chu Shaoling knew he definitely wouldn't drink the tea he handed him. He casually put it aside and said, "Imperial Father hasn't seen your subject son for several months. Don't you have anything to ask?"

The Emperor only felt his whole body burning with heat. With effort, he lifted a corner of the quilt and said hoarsely, "It seems the war in Liaoliang has been quelled?"

"Imperial Father doesn't know yet? There is no more Liaoliang now." Chu Shaoling sat casually on a chair to the side and slowly said as he took the cup of tea he had just poured and drank it himself. "Your subject son slaughtered the Liaoliang royal clan and changed the Liaoliang people to the Western Yi people. Right now, those people are on the road to Yunnan."

The Emperor widened his eyes and angrily rebuked, "Such a major event! You actually decided it on your own! Do you still have any regard for me?!"

"Of course not." Chu Shaoling put down the teacup. "But now it's not just your subject son who doesn't hold Imperial Father in regard, others are the same too."

Chu Shaoling stood up, walked closer and slowly said, "When we left Karakash, the local people chased after the army, kneeling and bowing towards your subject son's carriage while loudly shouting 'Tima'. Later, your subject son asked the locals. They said 'Tima' means heavenly god, the emperor."

Chu Shaoling's eyes carried a hint of a smile. "Poor Imperial Father has ruled for twenty years but has never received worship from the frontier people. Instead, your subject son beat you to it. On this journey, your subject son encountered quite a few people dissatisfied with Imperial Father. They all hope your subject son can ascend the throne soon."

"Unfilial son!!" The Emperor was so angered by Chu Shaoling that his face turned bright red. His chest heaved like a bellows. "You acted recklessly and willfully. You, you think doing these few things can win people's hearts?! Dream on! You..."

"Of course not," Chu Shaoling replied coolly. "So after ascending the throne, your son still has much to do. In about a month, the Western Yi barbarians will all arrive in Yunnan. I'll give them the winter to adapt to the local climate. Once spring comes, the local officials will oversee those slaves as they start cultivating the wasteland. By then, the men will farm, and the women will weave. With the full effort of the Western Yi tribes, it won’t take more than two years for the southern wasteland to be fully cultivated."

As he spoke, Chu Shaoling couldn't help but sneer: "Father Emperor has long known that the southern climate is pleasant and suitable for farming, yet you’ve delayed taking action, leaving that land barren for so long. Now, your son has done you a great favor by acquiring many slaves for Great Chu. There is land, there are people, and soon there will be an abundance of grain."

"If you want the people to genuinely submit to you, you must first ensure they have enough to eat. Those were your own teachings to me, Father Emperor." Chu Shaoling smiled. "Have you forgotten? It's not just about agriculture; the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Works—all these departments need to be rectified. Do you remember how the Six Ministries flourished under the late emperor? Now look at them—decayed and decrepit! You’ve left everything unchecked, allowing overreach and chaos. I couldn’t bear to watch any longer."

The emperor, enraged, laughed coldly: "Ha! Who would’ve thought you aspire to be a wise ruler?"

Chu Shaoling shook his head with a faint smile: "You overestimate your son, Father Emperor. I only aim to be a tyrant. But one cannot solely rely on killing—extremes breed counteractions. I must ensure people both fear me and respect me! Three years from now, I want to give this empire a transformed Great Chu, one comparable to the grand era of Emperor Wu’s prosperity."

Chu Shaoling closed his eyes briefly. "By then, all nations will bow, and the people will embrace me. No one will dare object to anything I do. I’ll have fulfilled my duties as emperor, and after that, whatever I choose to do, no one can question me!"

Wang Muhan had once used the story of Emperor Xuanzong and Noble Consort Yang to admonish Chu Shaoling. Back then, Chu Shaoling had thought that if not for the An Lushan Rebellion, no one would’ve blamed Yang Guifei. Throughout history, when emperors became muddleheaded, people targeted their favored ones. But what if the emperor ruled during a golden age? Even if others wanted to criticize, they wouldn’t find an opening.

But there was no need to explain all this to the emperor. Chu Shaoling looked at the man before him with a hint of pity—barely past his forties, yet already showing signs of decline. Even if he spoke, this person likely wouldn’t understand.

Outside, a medicine boy brought in freshly brewed medicine on a tray alongside a bowl of ginseng soup. Chu Shaoling took the medicine cup and said lightly: "Father Emperor, it’s time for your medicine."

The emperor impatiently waved him off: "I won’t drink it!"

As Chu Shaoling was about to set down the medicine and dismiss the boy, the emperor glanced at the ginseng soup on the tray and said: "Wait, bring me that bowl of ginseng soup."

When Chu Shaoling moved to take the soup, the emperor quickly added: "Don’t touch it! Let him bring it over."

Chu Shaoling chuckled. "Heh, people gossip in private, calling your son a venomous snake. Do you really believe it, Father Emperor?" Seeing the emperor act so cautiously, Chu Shaoling couldn’t help but laugh. "There’s no poison on my hands; what are you afraid of?"

The emperor ignored him, hastily took the bowl of ginseng soup, and drank it in a few quick gulps. Chu Shaoling sneered inwardly. The emperor, already filled with Zhen Si’s concoctions, had just hastened his own demise with that bowl of ginseng soup.

The emperor, of course, was unaware. His throat was parched, his body weak—he simply wanted the soup to replenish his energy. Chu Shaoling said no more. After finishing the soup, the emperor gripped the medicine boy’s hand tightly and said in a hoarse voice: "Quick, summon my people! Bring them here. What’s your name? Once I deal with this traitorous son, whatever you want, I will..."

"Your Majesty, if you’ve finished, this servant will take his leave," the medicine boy interrupted, shaking off the emperor’s grip. He tidied the tray, bowed respectfully to Chu Shaoling, and said, "Your Highness, if you need anything else, please call me."

Chu Shaoling, calm and composed, watched the emperor’s enraged expression with amusement: "No further instructions. I have matters to discuss with the emperor. No need to let anyone in for now."

The medicine boy bowed: "Yes."

Once again, only the father and son remained in the great hall. Chu Shaoling couldn't be bothered to waste any more time. He rose and said indifferently: "I forgot to tell Imperial Father, the other day, this son already dealt with Chu Shaoruan. Just like his mother concubine, he went to the netherworld with a white silk cord. The servant supervising the execution said before Chu Shaoruan died, he cursed this son quite a bit. That's one thing, but he also cursed Imperial Father with many vicious words. The language was truly unbearable, this son can't bring himself to repeat it."

The Emperor's eyes reddened with anger: "They're both dead? You actually-"

"Did Imperial Father forget? Chu Shaoruan sent Imperial Father a plate of poisoned fruits. It was those toxins that caused Imperial Father to be bedridden." Chu Shaoling feared the Emperor was already confused, so he kindly reminded him, "He truly was the son most doted on by Imperial Father. Even while under house arrest, he didn't forget Imperial Father. A bunch of grapes nearly took Imperial Father's life."

The Emperor was stunned for a moment. He had been ill in bed for months and his mind had long been unclear. Now reminded by Chu Shaoling, the past events all came back to him. He finally remembered everything that had happened before. The Emperor had just taken the ginseng decoction. Getting angry now, he only felt all the blood in his body was about to boil. His chest throbbed with pain. His nose felt hot. Touching it, he saw it was all scarlet!

"Sigh," Chu Shaoling wrinkled his brow in disgust. "Imperial Father, get less angry. Being all bloody is unsightly."

Blood kept flowing from the Emperor's nose. The Emperor felt both furious and afraid in his heart. He started shouting loudly. Chu Shaoling lazily sat to the side and continued: "This son sometimes really can't understand, what exactly did Imperial Father like so much about Consort Li? Just because her face was a bit more beautiful than Imperial Mother's? Did she have Imperial Mother's dignity? Did she have Imperial Mother's graceful bearing? An improper woman, yet you favored her for so many years. In the end, you were nearly killed by this mother and son pair."

Chu Shaoling couldn't help but feel it was preposterous even as he said it himself. Shaking his head and chuckling: "The world is so big that nothing is too strange."

The more the Emperor listened, the angrier he became. He struggled wanting to pounce over. Chu Shaoling didn't move a muscle. The Emperor tried several times with effort but suddenly crashed to the ground. He convulsed for a while, unable to get up. His mouth kept hoarsely shouting indistinctly: "You... you in the future, will also..."

Chu Shaoling couldn't be bothered to pay attention. He just fixedly watched the Emperor struggle like a fish out of water.

The Emperor struggled on the ground for a while before going still. Chu Shaoling walked closer to look. Blood kept flowing from the Emperor's nose, but his chest was still faintly rising and falling. Chu Shaoling turned and left the bedchamber.

Outside, Wang Muhan approached and bowed: "The Emperor's few old servants have been put under watch. Should we directly-"

"How can dealing with just those few be enough?" Today's events in Chengqian Palace absolutely could not be known by others. Chu Shaoling said indifferently, "Watch this place well. Don't allow anyone to enter. Wait around one hour, that should be about right. At that time, just say the Chengqian Palace servants attended poorly. Execute those few confidants of the Emperor. Dismiss the remaining palace servants back to their hometowns, never to serve again."

Wang Muhan lowered his head: "This servant understands."

Chu Shaoling coldly glanced back before leaving. Before long, the Emperor would go meet Consort Li and Chu Shaoruan. However much resentment there was between them, they could go argue it out themselves.

Chu Shaoling left the palace first, washing his hands of the matter entirely. When news of the Emperor's death arrived, Chu Shaoling was in the Qin Prince Manor, appreciating the first snow of winter with Wei Ji. The servant delivering the message cried: "The Emperor... the Emperor passed away at the third quarter of the Xu hour today..."

Chu Shaoling put down the white jade wine cup in his hand and asked unhurriedly: "Wasn't it said his condition had taken a turn for the better? When I paid respects at the You hour today, he was still fine. How did something happen?"

That servant lowered his head and choked out: "It's true that he seemed to be getting better these two days. But today after the Emperor woke, he drank ginseng decoction. The imperial physician said it was precisely this ginseng decoction that caused the problem. The Emperor's body was too weak and his liver qi too vigorous. Drinking the strong ginseng decoction at this time was simply asking for death..."

Chu Shaoling nodded: "You may go. I will return to the palace right away."

That servant kowtowed and left. Wei Ji stood and walked closer. He hesitated, not knowing what to say. He just tidied the fox fur on Chu Shaoling and said softly: "This official will accompany Your Highness into the palace."

Chu Shaoling turned his head to look at the swirling snowflakes outside and suddenly said: "Do you know? In another month, it will be the twelfth of the twelfth lunar month."

Wei Ji nodded: "Empress Ling's memorial day. This official knows."

Chu Shaoling smiled faintly: "You do remember. With the Emperor dead, consider it my early offering to Imperial Mother. My imperial mother was the best woman in the world. It's a pity the Emperor never cherished her. After making use of her in all ways, he just cast her aside. Now Imperial Mother's spirit in heaven can finally rest in peace."

It wasn't just for Empress Ling. It also counted as a big gift to himself. This three year mourning period, he accepted it.