Chapter 137 Loyalty
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“Resigning from the position at Dali Temple again? What’s wrong with Ling He? Why can’t you get along with him?”
Emperor Yu glanced at the document in Yu Dexi’s hand and laughed in frustration, “If you keep being stubborn like this, do you not fear that I will hold your father and sister accountable?”
He then pointed at Liu Zhongming, who was kneeling below the steps, and scolded with a smile, “I have been spoiling you too much. Yu Dexi, go and bring Zhongming back, and discipline him well.”
Yu Dexi replied, but as he was about to leave the stairs, Liu Zhongming grabbed his sleeve.
“Your Majesty,” Liu Zhongming bowed deeply, “I don’t have any grievances with Ling Shaoqing. It’s just that I suddenly realized many things these past few days and realized that I was ignorant when I was young, and took many wrong paths.”
Emperor Yu smiled, “It seems like not allowing you to fool around with Jingzhao was the right choice. What did you realize?”
Liu Zhongming stood up straight, with a level gaze that landed on the desk, and answered loudly: “Before, I had narrow-minded views and a shallow outlook. My mind was solely focused on the matter of my elder brother’s death. Even when I went to the Dali Temple to report, it was for my brother. But now I finally understand what is truly important.”
“First comes the country, then the family. Although I’ve read the books of sages, I still couldn’t grasp their true meaning.”
“The Liu family has received the emperor’s grace and we have today’s glorious achievements. From a young age, I have received guidance from the emperor. I am willing to die for the emperor.”
“I have been neglecting my duties and betraying the emperor’s trust. How can I continue to sit idly in the Dali Temple and enjoy a salary without doing anything? Therefore, I have come today to apologize to the emperor.”
“You are still a child after all,” the emperor teased him with his seriousness. “But your appearance reminds me of your father when he was young. Your straightforward and outspoken personality is just like his.”
Liu Zhongming quickly took a step forward on his knees.
“Your Majesty, I am not childish or outspoken to everyone. It’s just that when I think of how I disappointed you in the past, I feel regretful and ashamed.”
“Alright, it’s not that serious,” the emperor gestured to Yu Dexi. “Since you don’t want to stay in the Dali Temple and have requested to resign several times, leave your resignation letter here for now. I’ll discuss your future with your father and make a decision later. Go and accompany your sister for now.”
“Your Majesty, I still have something to report,” Liu Zhongming didn’t thank the emperor with a kowtow and remained kneeling. He hesitated while speaking, “I… dare not ask for Your Majesty’s forgiveness…”
“What is it that’s worth your hesitation?”
“Last year, Pan Gonggong followed my fleet and I. Although I submitted a detailed account of income and expenses, I… was momentarily blinded by greed and hid 300,000 taels of silver.”
The emperor’s face turned cold. “Liu Zhongming, you have a lot of nerve. Do you know how officials who are guilty of such embezzlement are punished according to the laws of Da Yu?”
“Punishment by death,” Liu Zhongming groveled on the ground and dared not stand up. “I am willing to donate 400,000 taels and I don’t dare to ask for Your Majesty’s forgiveness. I only ask for the chance to keep my life and serve Your Majesty as your loyal subject.”
Without waiting for Emperor Yu’s rebuke, he hurriedly continued, “My shopkeepers in the south have received news that they have obtained a batch of Lingzhi grass with excellent quality. I have heard that the Empress Dowager has been feeling weak and fatigued lately, so I have arranged for it to be sent to the capital without any delay. It should arrive within three days.”
“I have also instructed people to make a batch of Buddhist incense and send it to various temples, praying for the health and longevity of Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager.”
“I am aware of my deep sins and disobedience, and I have come here today to ask for Your Majesty’s punishment.”
Liu Zhongming pressed his forehead against the back of his hand. Not knowing if he was really caught up in the moment or had never been so humble before others, he even heard the choking and roughness in his own voice.
Emperor Yu had been raised under the care of the Empress Dowager since he was eight years old. Since ascending the throne, he had been devoted to serving the Empress Dowager with filial piety, always putting her first, and becoming a model ruler for Da Yu.
Whenever the Empress Dowager was mentioned, Emperor Yu always gave face to her.
Moreover, he knew clearly in his heart that this was nothing more than going through the motions.
If it weren’t for Emperor Yu knowing how much money he had embezzled from Pan He, how could there have been what followed?
If it weren’t for Emperor Yu being interested in his insatiable greed, how could he have found a loophole in the impenetrable wall, allowing him to peek through it?
Emperor Yu pondered for a moment and sternly rebuked, “Considering your sincerity in repentance, I will spare you this time for the sake of the Empress Dowager’s face. If you commit another offense, you will not be forgiven easily!”
The first test had passed, and Liu Zhongming kowtowed and thanked him before continuing, “Your Majesty, as for Pan Gonggong…”
He was about to speak but then stopped, and the study suddenly became cold because of the few words he had spoken.
Will they act like they don’t know? Will they immediately kick him out? Or…
Liu Zhongming tried to adjust his breathing and after a while, he saw Yu Dexi walking past him out of the study and giving some orders, and then the outside became even quieter before the person came back.
Clearing the room was the time for them to really talk.
“Pan Gonggong said…” He supported himself on the ground with both hands and whispered, “Those two people are no longer here. I am willing to serve His Majesty as his loyal servant and search every corner of the country to find these two vacancies.”
The sound of flipping through papers in the study suddenly stopped, and Liu Zhongming silently counted to himself, not immediately speaking.
Actually, he didn’t need to explain much, and the Emperor should know what he was talking about, which was nothing more than being shocked by this straightforward opening.
Seemingly ordinary words already indicated that he knew everything.
And with the Emperor’s arrogance, he would definitely not lower his status to ask him in detail how he had learned about the cause and effect of this matter.
“This is an unconscious suppression,” Qu Chenzhou said to him like this, “Since the crime of the sin child is so important to the Emperor, he should be more urgent than you to find someone to do these unspeakable things.”
“The foolish and blindly obedient Liao Guangming is no longer enough to satisfy the Emperor.”
“You need to let him know that you have the support of the Bai and Liu families, you are smart and insightful, and you have ambitions and greed that cannot be hidden. Only then will he be interested in restraining you and be bold enough to control you.”
“Because he thinks he can.”
“This is also the conquering desire that a person sitting in that position should have. The Emperor cannot resist this temptation, and I understand him.”
He was young, he was smart, he was full of strength, he was the future head of the Liu family, and he would also be the backbone of Dayu.
This is the reason why he will be feared by the emperor, and also the reason why the emperor is eager to capture him.
The emperor will not refuse him, just like a hyena will not refuse a piece of fat meat that is delivered to its doorstep.
After a long pause, Emperor Yu spoke slowly, “Which two?”
Liu Zhongming’s response was quick, “Seventeen and twenty-five.”
The sin-born children have no names, only numbered in order from the first year the emperor started taking action.
A woman who is pregnant with twins must raise one of them, while the other unborn child and the woman die together, their flesh and blood turned into a bowl of soup.
These many sin-born children deliberately created have become the emperor’s scapegoat, bearing the emperor’s congenital guilt, and their blood is collected every year.
Emperor Yu sneered, “What seventeen and twenty-five?”
Liu Zhongming’s gaze swept over the table leg in front of him, slowly lifted, and only fell on the folded paper at the corner of the desk, before answering word by word, “Sin-born children.”
“Yu Dexi.”
In Emperor Yu’s calm voice, Yu Dexi stepped forward two steps, bowed to Liu Zhongming, and said, “Shizi, please forgive me.”
Before Liu Zhongming had a chance to speak, a heavy slap landed on his cheek, followed by a second and a third.
Yu Dexi struck left and right, hitting seven or eight times before finally stepping back and standing next to Emperor Yu.
These blows were merciless, and Liu Zhongming’s cheeks felt like they were on fire, his mouth full of the taste of blood. He immediately kowtowed three times in front of the steps and said, “Thank you for the emperor’s grace!”
Emperor Yu looked down at him coldly, “I’m telling you that some things should not be said lightly.”
“Your servant will remember Your Majesty’s teachings!” Liu Zhongming kowtowed again. “I will not disappoint Your Majesty’s trust!”
“I didn’t say anything,” Emperor Yu stared at him. “Did your father tell you?”
Liu Zhongming knew the meaning behind the question. He had already stepped into the door, but whether he could successfully enter before it closed depended on the upcoming conversation.
“In response to Your Majesty, I did learn about the divination from my father, but I did not reveal anything about Pan Gonggong to him.”
“So Ah Zheng doesn’t know,” Emperor Yu sneered. “Liu Zhongming, you are still young, and Zhen does not lack people to use.”
“Your Majesty, there were twelve prime ministers in ancient times. I will be crowned next year and am no longer young. I am ashamed of the chaos and absurdity of the past years, and I hope to make up for it. Besides…”
Liu Zhongming lifted his chin slightly. “I am the future master of the Liu family!”
The study fell silent for a moment. After this sentence, he seemed to become a gust of wind, ignored and unnoticed.
Yu Dexi lowered his eyes and continued to grind ink at the desk, while Emperor Yu licked the tip of his pen and focused on reviewing the documents. The previous conversation seemed to disappear into the cold wind, as if it had never happened.
Liu Zhongming remained kneeling, his back straight, without any intention of retreating.
Because he was greedy, because he wanted too much.
The lights in the room were turned on, and only with the help of Yu Dexi did the Emperor Yu get up. As he passed by him, he scolded, “Kneel outside.”
Liu Zhongming knocked his head and followed out of the study. He really knelt down outside the door.
The sky was so dark that the contours of the clouds were no longer visible. It wasn’t cold in the summer night, but the silence in the palace was wrapped in a chill in the wind.
The bluestone slabs were like the cold springs under ground, and his knees below gradually became numb.
He straightened his back and stared at the hollows on the carved wooden door in front of him. He felt that there were blood-red eyes hiding inside, whispering to each other, waiting for the door to open and pounce on him to devour him.
After midnight, the first person to come to see him was Concubine Liu.
He naturally didn’t get up, nor did he say anything. After a stalemate for a while, Concubine Liu had to hand him a bowl of soup before leaving reluctantly.
Liu Zhongming watched his sister go farther and farther, and suddenly understood a little about Qu Chenzhou’s silence.
Many things cannot be said aloud. The more important the person, the more you want to protect them, the more you want to stand in front of them and sacrifice yourself.
He never regretted taking the money from Pan He, and even felt grateful and lucky for the opportunity to prevent the terrifying past life that Qu Chenzhou had mentioned from happening again.
The Bai and Liu families cannot be destroyed again, and his sister cannot be wrongfully killed in the palace again, and Qu Chenzhou…he wanted to grow old with Qu Chenzhou, hand in hand, with white hair in the sunset.
He wanted too much.
Now he just had to sacrifice a little dignity. What did it matter?
After the sky brightened, Liu Zhongming knew that his father had come and left quickly, but he didn’t know whether he had gone to see the emperor or not.
He had knelt for too long, and there was a faint ringing in his ears that he couldn’t hear clearly. He just remained silent and shook his head.
Later on, his uncle hurried over to see him, and then Ning Wang, Huai Wang, and Qi Wang also entered the Imperial Study to visit him.
He felt like laughing inside, it seemed like everyone knew that the favored Liu Shizi of the emperor had done something wrong and was kneeling outside the Imperial Study as punishment.
Everyone who came to see him would add weight to his cause, making the emperor more inclined to help him.
At first, Liu Zhongming had enough energy to respond to the greetings, but as day and night passed in front of him, he lost all his strength bit by bit due to hunger and fatigue.
Sweat poured down like rain, and the wooden door in front of him seemed to come alive, swaying back and forth, making him dizzy and disoriented, with his consciousness gradually crumbling.
Everything outside of his body seemed to peel away like layers of bamboo leaves. In a daze, he only wanted to go home.
He remembered that he had promised to return home before the palace gates closed.
There was someone waiting for him at home.
That stubborn little fox would never go to sleep and would stubbornly guard the door, waiting for him day and night.
He wanted to go home.
After who knows how long, someone finally squatted down next to him and said softly, “Shizi, if you’ve made up your mind, please come with me.”
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