Regardless of the reason for Liu Kangren’s escape, there could be no clemency for a fugitive. Now that the matter had been brought up, Emperor Shunyuan had to make his position clear.
He first cast a sidelong glance at Duke Liu, who had only just recovered from a serious illness, then steeled his heart once more and said in a deep voice, “Though Liu Kangren was used by Lou Changsui, he did ultimately violate the laws of Great Qian. Now, he has even—”
Just as he was about to deliver the final verdict and decide Liu Kangren’s fate, Wen Zhuo suddenly doubled over, clutching his abdomen, and crouched down as though suffering unbearable pain.
Emperor Shunyuan’s voice came to a halt, and his gaze immediately fell on him.
The official from the Court of State Ceremonies felt his nerves jolt. “Director Wen, in the middle of the imperial court, you—”
“Silence.” Emperor Shunyuan raised a hand, stopping the official’s reprimand. Leaning forward with concern, he asked, “Wen Wanshan, what’s wrong?”
Supporting himself on his knees, Wen Zhuo slowly rose. He lifted a hand and dabbed at the nonexistent sweat on his temple, his voice hoarse with pain. “As Your Majesty knows, I have long suffered from a chill-related ailment. On my return to the capital from Mianzhou, the sudden drop in temperature caused my old illness to flare up. The pain in my body is unbearable. I lost my composure for a moment and beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Emperor Shunyuan frowned, then turned and gave Liu Quan a meaningful glance.
Liu Quan immediately understood. He hurried to the side of the hall and quietly gave a few instructions to a young eunuch.
Taking advantage of the interruption, Mo Shu quietly edged over to Xue Chongnian’s side and gave him a gentle push.
Xue Chongnian had been intimidated by Emperor Shunyuan’s anger and had not dared to act rashly. Watching the emperor prepare to pass sentence on Liu Kangren, he was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan, yet he did not dare interrupt the imperial decree recklessly.
Fortunately, Wen Zhuo’s interruption had made the emperor pause.
Xue Chongnian dared not delay any longer. He strode out of the ranks and called loudly, “Your Majesty, Liu Kangren did not flee! He has returned to the capital to confess his crimes!”
The words struck like a thunderclap. Even Emperor Shunyuan lifted his head, surprise flashing through his eyes. “What did you say?”
Xue Chongnian spoke at breakneck speed, his words coming in a rapid stream. “Your Majesty, Liu Kangren returned to the capital from Mianzhou at great personal risk and went straight to the Dali Temple under my authority, where he bound himself and surrendered. Seeing that he appeared sincere and seemed to have suffered a grave injustice, I allowed him to state his case. He gave me a detailed account of the abuses plaguing Mianzhou, as well as how he had been framed by Lou Changsui, and begged me to report everything to Your Majesty on his behalf. He said he was willing to come personally to the Golden Hall, remove his cap, bow before Your Majesty, and confess his errors. He also said he possessed a strategy that could avert future locust plagues and relieve the suffering caused by famine. He is willing, despite being guilty, to offer this method of eradicating locusts and saving the people from famine, and thereby ease Your Majesty’s burdens!”
The entire court erupted in an uproar.
Duke Liu could no longer concern himself with courtly decorum. Leaning on his cane with both hands, he staggered quickly over to Xue Chongnian, his cheeks trembling with excitement and his voice shaking. “Lord Xue, you said my son… my son is at the Dali Temple right now? Is he… is he all right?”
Xue Chongnian stood with his head bowed, not daring to exchange personal words with Duke Liu without authorization. He merely waited in silence for Emperor Shunyuan’s instructions.
Duke Liu abruptly flung away his cane, turned, and threw himself to his knees. Tears streamed down his face. “I beg Your Majesty to see Kangren! Even if Kangren has committed a mistake, there were reasons behind it. My family has served the empire loyally for generations. We would never dare do anything that shamed Your Majesty or harmed the realm of Great Qian!”
Looking at Duke Liu, who was weeping with joy, Emperor Shunyuan thought to himself: Could it be that Liu Kangren had not even returned home, but had gone straight to the Dali Temple to surrender?
That course of action pleased him considerably.
If Liu Kangren had hidden himself in his residence and had Liu Yuanqing come forward to pressure the emperor, then no matter what, Emperor Shunyuan could not have spared him.
The sudden turn of events left Gong Zhiyuan and Luo Mingpu utterly perplexed.
Gong Zhiyuan wondered: Since Liu Kangren had already escaped, why had he returned to the capital to seek death? How could the emperor possibly overturn the imperial decree he had issued earlier?
Luo Mingpu wondered: Why had he surrendered at the Dali Temple instead of the Ministry of Justice? If he had come to the ministry, Luo Mingpu could have informed the Sixth Prince in advance.
Shen Chen and Xie Langyang, however, did not view the matter so simply. In perfect unison, they fixed their gazes on Wen Zhuo.
By then, a young eunuch had brought over a hand warmer. Without a word, he passed it to Wen Zhuo. Wen Zhuo thanked the emperor for his favor, slipped the warmer into his sleeve, and held it against his abdomen.
With the warmth of the hand warmer, Wen Zhuo’s expression immediately returned to normal. Ignoring the wary looks from Shen Chen and Xie Langyang, he said calmly to Emperor Shunyuan, “Your Majesty, when I traveled through Mianzhou, I witnessed with my own eyes the devastation left by the locust plague—the miles upon miles without a single grain of rice, the starving dead strewn across the land. I am most curious to hear what solution Liu Kangren has devised.”
Emperor Shunyuan pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Summon Liu Kangren to the hall.”
The heavy stone in Xue Chongnian’s heart finally fell. He let out a long breath. “I obey Your Majesty’s command!”
He turned and cast a grateful glance at Mo Shu. If Mo Shu had not happened to visit him for a game of chess the previous night and suggested that he hand this troublesome matter over to the emperor, he had no idea how much longer he would have been tormented by it.
Mo Shu returned his look with a faint smile.
Before long, the clanking drag of iron chains sounded outside the hall. Everyone raised their eyes and saw Liu Kangren, dressed in prison garb, approaching from the distance and staggering into the hall.
“Your guilty subject, Liu Kangren, pays his respects to Your Majesty!” He fell forward onto his knees and struck his forehead heavily against the golden bricks, his voice hoarse and dry.
The military officer who had once carried himself with imposing authority was now so thin that a gust of wind might have knocked him over. The two bones of his shoulders jutted sharply beneath his back, their crooked outlines revealing just how much hardship and torment he had endured along the way.
Seeing his son in such a state, Duke Liu’s eyes instantly filled with tears. He murmured, “My son…”
Emperor Shunyuan slowly spoke, his voice devoid of emotion. “Liu Kangren, since you had already escaped, why return to the capital?”
Liu Kangren kept his forehead pressed to the floor, but his tone was exceptionally firm. “I know that I am guilty. How could I flee alone and bring ruin upon my parents? Moreover, I could not bear to let Your Majesty remain deceived by treacherous men, nor could I bear to see the people of Mianzhou continue to suffer. Thus, even at the risk of my life, I had to present the truth of Mianzhou before Your Majesty. Furthermore, I have a strategy in mind, but it cannot be carried out by one person alone. In all the realm, only Your Majesty has the power to save the common people from fire and water. Therefore, I have boldly come to plead with Your Majesty on behalf of the people: extend your aid!”
Emperor Shunyuan’s heart stirred faintly. What sort of strategy could there be that only he could implement?
He said indifferently, “The truth of Mianzhou has already been uncovered by the Fifth Prince and Director Wen. I know that Lou Changsui was behind it all. But you stole government grain and showed contempt for the law. That crime remains unforgivable. Still, I would like to hear what strategy you have in mind.”
“Yes.” Liu Kangren seemed to have long since cast life and death aside. Even though the emperor had not relented, his tone remained calm and unshaken. “I served at the Thousand-Household Office in Mianzhou for ten years. During that time, I frequently patrolled the coast and came into contact with many foreign merchants. By chance, I learned of a crop from the Western Ocean called the potato. Its tubers grow large and can be eaten as food. When roasted over a fire, they become soft and fluffy, like sand, and release a rich fragrance. Most remarkable of all, they do not demand fertile soil and can grow even in barren ground. Their yield is extremely high, they can be stored for long periods, and—most importantly—the edible portions grow underground. Even if a locust plague strips the leaves bare, the tubers beneath the soil remain unharmed. If we could introduce this crop to Great Qian and plant it on a large scale, the people might be spared famine from this day forward.”
“Can such a miraculous thing truly exist?”
“If it is really as he says, would that not solve Great Qian’s food shortages at a stroke?”
Whispers spread throughout the hall. Every official was stunned by the potato’s extraordinary properties.
Only Shen Chen’s thoughts were in turmoil, leaving him restless and deeply unsettled.
If such a thing truly existed and Liu Kangren brought it to Daqian, would that not be a great service?
The merit would be enough to offset all of Liu Kangren’s crimes in Mianzhou.
But if Liu Kangren did not die, Duke Liu would never possibly turn to his side. Would all his careful planning not then come to nothing?
Yet he had just spoken up for Liu Kangren. It would be awkward to suddenly switch sides now—he had practically handed someone else a stepping stone for nothing!
Emperor Shunyuan furrowed his brows slightly, curiosity piqued as well. “Are you certain of this?”
Liu Kangren continued, “I would never dare deceive Your Majesty! Over the past ten years, I have diligently studied Western languages and now command eight of them, allowing me to converse freely with local merchants. I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant me a treasure ship and permit me to journey to the West to bring potatoes back to Daqian. If they can be cultivated throughout the realm and give our people a chance at survival, then even if I die, I shall have no regrets!”
Emperor Shunyuan fell silent, sinking into thought.
Sending an envoy to the West and introducing a crop from a foreign land was no trivial matter. If anything went wrong, or if Liu Kangren had deceived him, the emperor himself would become the laughingstock of future generations.
Jun Dingyuan caught the emperor’s hesitation. His gaze swept over the kneeling, obsequious Liu Kangren, and his expression tightened. He stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, when I escorted the remains of the old general home, I once heard vague mention of this very thing from a Nanping prisoner.”
“Oh?” Emperor Shunyuan’s heart leaped into his throat. He nearly surged to his feet over the desk. “You mean Nanping knows of it as well?”
Jun Dingyuan nodded. “The prisoner’s account was largely the same as Liu Kangren’s. I heard that the ruler of Nanping also intended to introduce this crop, but their land is hot all year round, and its climate differs from that of the West, so it may not be suitable for cultivation there. Our Daqian, however, has a vast territory and varied climates, and should be even more suitable for growing it than Nanping. Nanping has repeatedly coveted our lands. Perhaps this is one of the reasons.”
“How can this be? Why did you not tell me sooner?” Emperor Shunyuan sprang to his feet in agitation.
Jun Dingyuan dropped to one knee. “The prisoner also said that if the crop were dried and ground into powder, it could be stored for a long time. In times of famine, mixing the powder with water—just a little would be enough to fill one’s stomach. Their claims sounded so fantastical that I thought they were merely trying to deceive me and never took them seriously.”
At that point, Xie Langyang understood everything. The potatoes, the Nanping prisoner—it was all a smokescreen arranged by Wen Zhuo. He had gone to such lengths simply to save Liu Kangren’s life.
How pitiful. The moment Nanping had been mentioned, the emperor’s blood had predictably rushed to his head, and he had fallen straight into Wen Zhuo’s trap.
Judging by the situation, Liu Kangren was going to be allowed to atone for his crimes through service.
Sure enough, Emperor Shunyuan drew a deep breath and stared at Liu Kangren kneeling on the ground. “Very well! Liu Kangren, since the Sixth Prince has pleaded for you and General Jun has testified on your behalf, I shall give you one more chance. I permit you to journey to the West and bring this crop back. If it is as you claim and can relieve the famine afflicting the people of Daqian, I shall wipe away your crime today. But if you dare deceive me, or if this mission fails, I will have you bring me your head!”
“Your subject obeys!” Liu Kangren cried, fiercely knocking his forehead against the floor. Two scorching tears struck the ground.
Shen Chen suffered inwardly. “…”
The fingers of Wen Zhuo’s hand, hidden inside his broad sleeve, lifted the hand warmer and gave it a gentle shake. The base of the copper brazier struck the white porcelain chess piece in his palm, producing a faint, crisp sound.
When the sound faded, he suddenly raised his head and put on a deeply moved expression. “Your Majesty’s heart is devoted to the common people, and your enlightened wisdom shines upon the realm. Your decisiveness embodies the bearing of a true king. I am fortunate to live in such a prosperous age and cannot express the depth of my admiration. I can only pray that Your Majesty will protect the people, for a thousand years and ten thousand generations to come!”
The officials echoed him in succession, their voices rising and falling in waves. “We praise Your Majesty’s wisdom! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long, long live Your Majesty!”
The gloomy expression Emperor Shunyuan had worn all morning finally gave way to a trace of a smile.
That day’s court session dragged on all the way until noon. By the time it ended, Wen Zhuo’s legs had gone numb from standing.
When he saw Emperor Shunyuan rise and Liu Quan step forward to support him, Wen Zhuo hurried after them for two steps. As he handed the warmer to the eunuch beside him, he lifted his eyes and said, “Your Majesty, there is still one matter I do not understand. I would like to ask you about it.”
Emperor Shunyuan lowered his eyelids. “I am tired. Ask me another day.”
Wen Zhuo followed closely. “It will only take one question.”
Emperor Shunyuan turned his head away and waved a hand, his legs moving twice as quickly as before. “Another day, another day.”
Wen Zhuo had no choice but to stop speaking. He glanced at Liu Quan.
This time, however, Liu Quan did not meet his gaze. He merely concentrated on supporting Emperor Shunyuan, and before long, the two of them disappeared through the rear hall.
Wen Zhuo remained where he was, his eyes narrowing slightly. Only after a long moment did he turn and walk slowly toward the hall entrance.
When the bright yellow curtain was lifted, a biting frost-laden wind swept inside. Wen Zhuo hurriedly drew his fox-fur cloak tighter and tucked his neck into the collar.
He had just been about to step into the wind when Xie Langyang blocked his path with a quick stride, still wearing his battered, swollen face.
Ignoring his disheveled appearance, Xie Langyang lowered his voice and demanded indignantly, “There is no such thing as a potato, is there? Do you know that deceiving the emperor is a crime? Even if it buys us a few months of reprieve, it cannot possibly turn the tide!”
He was certain that in his previous life, he had never heard of any such thing as a potato. Liu Kangren’s journey would surely end in failure, wasting the state treasury for nothing.
Wen Zhuo gazed at him calmly and said in an indifferent tone, “Vice Minister Xie, you are blocking the way.”
“Wen Wanshan, how dare you!” Xie Langyang’s brows drew tightly together, the veins on his forehead standing out as he abruptly reached up and seized Wen Zhuo by the wrist.
Shen Zheng was near the hall entrance and had already nearly reached the stone steps. He turned his head, his gaze suddenly darkening.
Through the layers of people, he stared expressionlessly at Xie Langyang’s hand.
Wen Zhuo’s arm jerked. The white chess piece slipped through his fingers, struck the vermilion steps with a sharp click, and then rolled away into the vast gray sky.
Xie Langyang froze and instinctively loosened his grip.
Wen Zhuo merely cast a lazy glance in the direction where the chess piece had vanished, then curved his lips at Xie Langyang with cool disdain, utterly uninterested in explaining himself.
Gu Weizhi happened to be nearby. He strode over and forcibly wedged himself between Xie Langyang and Wen Zhuo, slapping Xie Langyang’s hand away.
“Hiss—” Xie Langyang sucked in a breath of pain and glared at Gu Weizhi in displeasure.
Gu Weizhi, however, wore an open and guileless expression. “Many thanks to Vice Minister Xie for stepping forward in the hall just now and taking Lord Tang’s wrath upon himself. Otherwise, I would not have escaped unscathed!”
Xie Langyang’s face turned livid. “You!”
Jun Dingyuan and Mo Shu happened to be passing by as well. Without a word, Jun Dingyuan waved a hand and shoved Xie Langyang aside, saying curtly, “Vice Minister Xie, stop blocking the entrance.”
Xie Langyang staggered, a dull ache spreading through his chest where he had been pushed.
Mo Shu was more easygoing. As he passed, he left behind a remark. “Huaishen is a martial man and used rather more force than intended. I hope you will not take offense, Vice Minister.”
Xue Chongnian was hurrying after Mo Shu to offer his thanks. When he noticed the commotion, he stopped short and swept his gaze over the ground.
“Director Wen, I saw you drop something just now. How did it disappear so quickly?”
Wen Zhuo curved his lips into a faint smile, his meaning unmistakable. “Lord Xue, it was merely something useless. I no longer wanted it.”
When Xie Langyang heard those words, a sour feeling immediately welled up in his heart.
Xue Chongnian smiled. “Oh, in that case, all is well. Director Wen, you must have had a difficult journey returning from your tour of the south. I imagine His Majesty was too excited today to remember your reward. I expect a generous one will be forthcoming in a few days.”
As he walked, Wen Zhuo said, “I serve the people. What reward is there to speak of?”
With everyone standing between them, Xie Langyang could no longer get close to Wen Zhuo. He could only remain where he was, watching with complicated emotions as Wen Zhuo disappeared from sight.
Wen Zhuo left the Hall of Martial Valor, but instead of going to the Hanlin Academy, he was led by Shen Zheng to the princes’ residence.
In a low voice, Wen Zhuo cautioned him, “Your Highness, we must not be so close in the palace.”
“Once won’t hurt.” Shen Zheng took his hand and led him through the Front Star Gate, around the great screen wall, and all the way into his own palace.
Yuxi Tuandui
The moment they entered, Shen Zheng ordered someone to bring a brazier and fetch hot water and bean soap.
Before Wen Zhuo could react, Shen Zheng pressed him down onto an embroidered stool covered with a soft cushion.
Wen Zhuo stared after Shen Zheng, utterly baffled.
Bending down, Shen Zheng personally rolled up his sleeves, revealing a section of his slender, fair forearm. Light filtered through the translucent roof tiles, and his palm looked as precious as jade from the mountains.
Wen Zhuo was just about to ask what he was doing when a bronze basin was brought over, steaming with hot water.
Shen Zheng took his left hand and slowly lowered it into the water. Wen Zhuo instinctively tried to pull away, but Shen Zheng held him fast.
“Wanshan, don’t pull away.”
Shen Zheng rubbed some fine bean soap between his palms to warm it, then kneaded Wen Zhuo’s hand from the roots of his fingers all the way up to his forearm.
He scrubbed especially thoroughly at the place Xie Langyang had grabbed moments ago, rubbing it over and over before rinsing it with water.
The warmth was pleasantly soothing, but Wen Zhuo still didn’t understand. “What is Your Highness doing?”
Shen Zheng lowered his head, his thick lashes casting shadows over his eyes. He picked up a soft linen cloth from the side, laid it over his palm, and meticulously dried every droplet of water from Wen Zhuo’s skin. Then he pressed the moisturized wrist to the tip of his nose and inhaled its delicate fragrance.
“What kind of person is Xie Langyang? If he wants to talk, he should just talk. Why does he keep grabbing your hand?”
Shen Zheng was displeased. If they had not been surrounded by watchful eyes in the palace, he would never have allowed Xie Langyang to harass Wen Zhuo time and again.
Wen Zhuo’s heart trembled. He instinctively turned his gaze away. “He and I serve different masters. We have always been irreconcilable. It was nothing more than a minor dispute. Why should Your Highness concern yourself with such a trivial matter?”
Shen Zheng was still stroking the small, prominent bone of his wrist. He also felt that he was being unreasonable, and could not help laughing softly. “I don’t know why, but I find him particularly unpleasant.”
Wen Zhuo’s fingers suddenly curled inward.
Shen Zheng immediately noticed his nervousness. His hand came to a halt, and his brows rose as he asked teasingly, “What’s wrong, Teacher?”
Wen Zhuo glanced first at the brazier burning in the corner of the room, then fixed his attention on the seams between the floor tiles. After a long moment, he came up with an idea on the spur of the moment and offered his right hand as well.
“This one… Your Highness isn’t going to wash it too?”
