Chapter 103, Chapter Fourteen: Casual Chat

Liu Junwan never expected that Sima Ye would be here. Did someone around him leak the news, or did he guess it himself?

Regardless of the reason, he will need to be prepared to deal with his bedmate, the emperor, from now on.

"Your Majesty." After bowing, Liu Jun walked to Sima Ye's side, nodded to Guan Tong, and stepped forward to support him.

Sima Ye noticed that he was half a step behind and was slightly displeased. He gently squeezed his arm, gesturing for him to walk side by side. "I've been thinking that you wanted the Golden Valley Garden, so I bestowed it upon you today. But I forgot that this garden has been abandoned for many years and has never been repaired. So I thought I'd come and take a look, from the imperial treasury..."

"Has Your Majesty recently acquired some unexpected wealth? One minute it's building a pagoda, the next it's distributing porridge, and now you want to build a garden for me." Liu Jun said with a helpless smile, "I am not fortunate enough to enjoy the Golden Valley Garden for the time being. How about using that money for military pay?"

Sima Ye glared at him angrily: "You think about war all day long, fine. In these troubled times, when you're short of soldiers and supplies, just take them from the imperial treasury. I've never refused you."

The moonlight was perfect in the Golden Valley Garden. Not wanting to spoil the mood, Liu Jun joked, "Your Majesty favors me so much. If I weren't so big and burly, old and faded, I don't know how many people would mistake me for a sycophant like Zhou Xiaoshi."

Sima Ye couldn't help but take his hand, "Little did you know that Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were also mentioned in the biographies of treacherous officials?"

"Sima Qian had a past relationship with the Li family, so he was naturally somewhat biased," Liu Jun disagreed. "Li Guang was a defeated general, Li Gan was brave but lacked strategy, and Li Ling ultimately became a traitor. Then look at Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, who drank from the Hebei River and sealed the wolf's lair. The difference in their abilities is obvious. Regardless of whether Sima Qian's account was true or not, even if he truly had a relationship with Emperor Wu that went beyond that of a subject, it would not diminish his reputation."

"Moreover, Emperor Wu is 'handsome and dashing,' so it's not impossible that he might have developed feelings for him." Sima Ye raised his eyes to look at him, his gaze full of affection. "And for Emperor Wu, the general who expanded the territory and drove out the Xiongnu just happened to be 'handsome and dashing,' so it wouldn't be too much to show him any respect or favor."

"I am well aware of my own limitations and dare not compare myself to Wei Qing and Huo Qubing." After midnight, the midsummer air was still slightly cool. Liu Jun took off his inner robe and draped it over Sima Ye. "It is getting late. Please return to the capital, Your Majesty."

Perhaps there was really nothing to see at the Golden Valley Garden, because Sima Ye readily agreed, "There were too many people and too many eyes at the banquet just now, and I had some questions I didn't have time to ask you..."

"Your Majesty, I will escort you." Although Liu Jun knew that it was impossible to discuss any serious matters tonight, he still wanted to indulge himself occasionally, so he gave Lu Jing a wink and followed Sima Ye back to the palace.

But what Liu Jun never expected was that after the storm had passed, Sima Ye leaned against him and said lazily, "They all want me to move the capital to Luoyang... Mao Tou, you were born and raised here, so you must think the same way, right?"

Still lost in his romantic thoughts, Liu Jun's fingers slid across his rounded shoulder. "The capital is a matter of great importance. How can it be explained in just a few words? Whether it's Luoyang or Chang'an, it must be determined by the general trend of the world, not by personal likes or dislikes. Even Your Majesty's likes and dislikes are not enough, let alone mine."

“Others’ likes and dislikes are irrelevant, but yours is different. I myself have some hesitation. Now that most of the Central Plains have been recovered, only Shi Le remains, occupying Youyan. If we were in Luoyang, it would be more advantageous to fight the enemy. However, by the same token, if the enemy attacks, there would be no room for maneuver.” Sima Ye frowned.

"I intend to seize Shu as soon as possible," Liu Jun said, lifting the thick curtain, taking a teacup, pouring water, and feeding him. "Guanzhong is bordered by Xiaohan to the east, Qinling Mountains to the south, Longshan Mountains to the west, and Beishan Mountains to the north. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties all seized the world through Guanzhong. Shu is rich in resources, and Shu brocade and rice can be used to supply the army. Now Hanzhong is in our hands. As long as we take Shu, Guanzhong and Shu can be connected, and Your Majesty's great cause can be accomplished."

Sima Ye chuckled, "And then?"

“It depends on the situation,” Liu Jun said, playing with his hair. “We can attack Shi Le to the north and unify the area north of the Yangtze River. We can also take Jingzhou to the south and take over Jiangdong. At that time, Shi Le only had three parts of the country. How could he possibly contend with Your Majesty?”

Sima Ye pondered, "By then, the people will be able to enjoy a few good years. Yet, in just over ten years, the population has decreased by thirty percent. Thinking of this, I..."

Isn't this all the work of your Sima family?

Liu Jun was too lazy to argue with him and closed his eyes to rest.

"By the way, now that Liu Cong and Liu Yao have been executed, what should be done with their remaining relatives?" Sima Ye frowned and asked. "If I remember correctly, Empress Yang was later taken by Liu Yao? Where are Liu Yao's concubines now? Have you seen her?"

Liu Jun, busy with countless affairs of state, had long forgotten about this insignificant person, but then, as if remembering something, he suddenly smiled. "I suddenly remembered that I first met Your Majesty when I was in Luoyang to pay my respects to Emperor Hui. Twenty years have passed, and things have truly changed. Well then, since Your Majesty has inquired about her, and she was once Your Majesty's aunt, I will send someone to find her."

Seeing his gloomy expression, Liu Jun suddenly remembered seeing a gazette before that seemed to mention Lady Yang. He got up to look for it, searching for a long time until Sima Ye almost fell asleep before finally finding it. He read it aloud: "Yao asked, 'How do I compare to the Sima family's daughter?' She replied, 'How can we compare? Your Majesty is a wise ruler who founded the dynasty, while he is a foolish man who brought about the downfall of his country... You are an emperor, yet your wife and children are humiliated by commoners... I was born into a high family and always thought that all men in the world were like this. Since I began serving as a maid, I have come to know that there are men in the world.' Ah, to submit to a powerful enemy, to flatter and fawn, I have never seen such a woman in the world."

Sima Ye glanced at him and knew he was disdainful. "There's no need for such sarcastic remarks. With the country overthrown and her family wiped out, what else can a weak woman do in such chaotic times but eke out a living?"

Moreover, it was already a great injustice for such a stunningly beautiful woman to marry the not-so-bright Emperor Hui.

Seeing the deep empathy on his face, Liu Jun didn't want to upset him, so he said, "It seems that she and Emperor Hui's princess fled to Jiangnan. In Wuxing, she became a slave and was abused. After the Prince of Langya stabilized the situation, she personally went to the county government to report to the authorities. She was very patient and deep, much like her mother. The eldest son of Lady Yang and Liu Yao is named Liu Xi, and I heard that he has already ascended the throne. Neither Shi Le nor I will spare him and his two brothers."

"It's a pity to be born into an imperial family." Sima Ye looked at his cold and hard profile and couldn't help but sigh. "If the situation were reversed and I were to become a prisoner, I'm afraid I wouldn't be much better off than Liu Yao."

"Your Majesty, I would never allow you to fall into such a predicament. However, things are unpredictable. If that is indeed the case..." Liu Jun lay back on the couch wearily and reached out to pull him into his arms. "Perhaps Your Majesty's Empress Suo and Consort Du could also become Liu Yao's empresses."

Sima Ye was amused by his words, "How can a common woman compare to you? If anyone should go, it should be you, Empress Liu."

Liu Jun silenced him with a kiss, saying, "The night is too short, Your Majesty, please make your arrangements soon."