Chapter 57: The Son of Heaven, Liu Hong
The pearl was definitely not a problem.
But...
Lord Shen, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about the term "prosperous age"?
The current Eastern Han could also be called a prosperous age?
The Yellow Turbans were in rebellion, war flames were rising everywhere, and the Han Empire was in peril.
And this deserved to be called a prosperous age?
Xiao Wen's mouth twitched. He really wanted to throw those words directly into Shen Que's face.
But after thinking about it, he ultimately said nothing.
When living under another's roof, one had no choice but to bow one's head.
Who knew? The fellow in front of him might even become his immediate superior in the future. When it was time to act humble, he had to act humble.
“What the shopkeeper says is absolutely right. Being fortunate enough to meet a distinguished person like the shopkeeper is this youngster's blessing. I will always remember the shopkeeper's kindness and never forget it,” Xiao Wen said, his gaze toward Shen Que filled with admiration.
Faced with such an expression and such words, Shen Que naturally found them extremely pleasing.
With a smile on his face, he looked at Xiao Wen several times. His eyes were filled with approval, as though he were looking at a promising junior.
He quietly put away the letter paper on the table, storing it inside his storage space. Then he spoke to Xiao Wen.
“Little brother, I'll keep these items. Once I report the matter, I'll explain the specific situation to you in detail.”
“It's getting late, so I won't keep you here for a meal.”
With that, he personally escorted Xiao Wen out of the clothing shop.
Even as Xiao Wen was leaving, Shen Que did not forget to add another sentence from behind.
“Young hero, just return home and wait peacefully. If there is any news, I'll have someone deliver it to your residence,” Shen Que said.
Hearing this, Xiao Wen nodded. He did not linger any longer, cupped his hands in farewell, and departed.
Shen Que stood where he was, watching Xiao Wen's departing figure. He said nothing, only allowing the corners of his lips to rise slightly into a hidden smile.
This kid is pretty good!
Just as Shen Que was thinking this and returning to the back courtyard of the clothing shop, two figures were already standing there, one on each side.
Both were dressed in black nightwear and wore masks, making it impossible to see their appearances.
“Handle today's matter according to the original plan. Be careful of the Ten Attendants!” Shen Que instructed.
The two black-clad men immediately acknowledged the order in unison and prepared to leave.
However, before they could go, Shen Que called them back.
“There is another matter of great importance. Go and see what vacant positions still exist in the court. Inform me before I enter the palace.”
The two men nodded at once and turned to leave.
After they were gone, Shen Que straightened his collar, slowly closed the clothing shop, and then headed toward the Han Imperial Palace step by step.
When Shen Que entered the palace, one of the black-clad men appeared and whispered several words into his ear.
Shen Que narrowed his eyes slightly, smiled, waved the man away, and walked directly into the palace.
In the palace's rear garden, the current Son of Heaven, Liu Hong, was frolicking with a group of palace maids.
The kind where everyone was completely naked...
When he heard footsteps approaching from behind and saw Shen Que, the smile on Liu Hong's face changed slightly. He waved his hand and complained:
“Boring! Extremely boring! All of you, leave!”
The sudden change frightened the palace maids. Yet none of them dared speak. Trembling, they glanced at Liu Hong before hurriedly withdrawing.
“Minister Shen, what brings you here?” Liu Hong's gaze fell upon Shen Que.
“Your Majesty, this is not a suitable place to speak,” Shen Que replied with his head lowered, sounding somewhat troubled as he looked at the emperor standing there with nothing on.
“Not suitable? What's unsuitable about it? Attendant Zhang is my father, and Attendant Zhao is my mother. What's unsuitable?” Liu Hong declared righteously.
Shen Que narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice.
“Your Majesty, your servant has already investigated. The Ten Attendants are discussing matters in a side hall today and are not in the rear garden.”
“Your servant has also arranged guards around the area. If anything happens, we will be informed immediately.”
The moment those words were spoken, Liu Hong's expression became instantly serious.
The Liu Hong who had seemed somewhat like a street rogue moments ago suddenly became incomparably majestic, truly worthy of the title Son of Heaven.
Shaking the bracelet on his wrist, he immediately retrieved a set of clothes and put them on before looking at Shen Que solemnly.
“We'll speak in the usual place.”
Shen Que nodded and followed Liu Hong to a pavilion in the imperial garden. There, they activated a mechanism, opened a secret passage, and descended a staircase into a hidden chamber.
Inside the secret chamber, candles illuminated the surroundings.
Books filled the room.
There were maps showing the distribution of forces throughout the Han Empire, the distribution of noble families, and charts detailing the official clans and powerful houses of the capital city, Luoyang.
Sheet after sheet of diagrams hung on the walls, covering every aspect of the Eastern Han.
All of these were the joint work of Liu Hong and Shen Que.
To outsiders, the Han emperor appeared debauched and overly trusting of eunuchs.
But in reality, everything was done out of necessity.
Power had long since fallen into the hands of others.
He had ascended the throne as a child and had no ability to govern personally, forcing him to entrust authority to others.
By the time he reached adulthood, the situation of power being usurped could no longer be changed. As a result, he could only continue favoring the Ten Attendants and use the strength of the eunuchs to counterbalance the great aristocratic clans within the court.
As for himself, he played the role of a debauched emperor.
Because only such an emperor could survive inside the palace.
If he displayed too much talent or acted too uprightly, he could die at any moment.
When he was young, Liu Hong had survived several assassination attempts.
Though he had escaped with his life, those experiences had made him extraordinarily cautious.
All of his ambitions and aspirations were hidden in the shadows, never revealed to the public.
“Speak. What matter could make you willing to risk so much just to see me?” Liu Hong asked, standing proudly with his head held high as he glanced sideways at Shen Que, who was kneeling behind him.
“Your Majesty, there is indeed an important matter to report.”
As he spoke, Shen Que immediately took the fifteen envelopes from his robes and placed them before Liu Hong.
These letters had come from Xiao Wen.
Not only did they mention the Yellow Turbans' plans, but they also contained evidence of communication between certain Yellow Turban rebels and officials of the Eastern Han.
The Yellow Turban Rebellion was not merely a rebellion of refugees.
It was also a rebellion involving great clans and corrupt officials within the dynasty itself!
Liu Hong picked up the letters and quickly read through them.
His eyes narrowed.
A sharp and terrifying light emerged from his gaze, as though it could pierce the void itself and freeze one's soul.
It was killing intent cold to the extreme.
“Where did you obtain these letters?” Liu Hong asked in a deep voice.
“Your Majesty, I obtained them from a rather interesting young hero.”
Shen Que then recounted all of his interactions with Xiao Wen.
He understood this emperor's personality.
Though Liu Hong appeared carefree and rough around the edges, he was actually cautious to an extreme degree.
Yet beneath that caution lay an equally extreme thirst for talented individuals.
“I see. It seems that fellow is also a talented man with lofty ambitions but no avenue to realize them.”
“Your identity wasn't exposed, was it?”
“It was not. He only knows that I am the owner of a clothing shop,” Shen Que replied.
“In that case, that's not bad. Since he wants to become an official, grant him the idle position of Right Chief Clerk first.”
“Investigate his background. If it is clean, then grant him the position of Zhongdu Official Convict Servitor.”
Shen Que was momentarily stunned. Then he cupped his hands and bowed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
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