Chapter 69, Chapter Seventeen: Revealing One's Boldness and Sincerity
As expected, Suo Lin launched his attack in the court the following day, even producing evidence that someone with ulterior motives had set the fire.
His followers echoed his sentiments, and the crowd was filled with indignation, pleading with the emperor to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Sima Ye was filled with bitterness and regretted his rash actions. He looked to Liu Jun for help, but found that Liu Jun only looked down at the ground, as if it were none of his business. Knowing that Liu Jun was still angry, Sima Ye had no choice but to deal with it on his own.
Fortunately, the person who started the fire had been captured and sent back by Liu Jun, and Sima Ye felt a little more confident. "The General is absolutely right. This person set fire to the palace with the intention of assassinating the emperor. His crime is unforgivable and he should be severely punished by the authorities!"
He thought there were still a few days to negotiate, but unexpectedly, the court official immediately testified against Du Lin.
Du Chen was Du Lihua's elder brother.
Clearly, the Suo faction was also aware of this connection, and immediately began to frantically accuse Du Lihua, as if they were determined to drag her down with them.
Fine beads of sweat had appeared on Sima Ye's forehead. Currently, apart from Liu Jun, whom he couldn't control, the only trustworthy and confidante by his side was Du Lihua. If she were to perish here, Empress Suo's family would become the sole power in the harem, and his own safety would no longer be guaranteed.
Liu Jun finally broke his silence and stepped forward. "Your Majesty," he said, "according to the laws of the court, the trial should be presided over by the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. As the Attendant-in-Ordinary, I should not overstep my bounds. However, since this matter involves Suo, I fear that Minister Suo should recuse himself. I request to investigate this matter and share Your Majesty's burden."
Indeed, it was a relief. Seeing that Suo Lin's expression, though unpleasant, was already somewhat wavering, Sima Ye quickly said, "What you say is absolutely right. The Attendant-in-Ordinary is usually fair and impartial, and is perfectly suited to handle this matter. Moreover, the Attendant-in-Ordinary has been stationed in the prefectures and counties, and has no connection with these entrenched factions in the court. I am at ease entrusting this to you. The Grand General will not have any objections, will he?"
Suo Lin snorted heavily, but said nothing more, and so the matter was settled.
After the court session ended, Sima Ye invited Liu Jun to stay for a meal. Perhaps due to the fire, the dishes were unusually simple.
Despite Sima Ye's repeated persuasion and even serving him food, Liu Jun remained expressionless, making Sima Ye feel both guilty and ashamed.
After finishing their meal without tasting it, the two returned to the palace that had become a wasteland. Sima Ye stammered, "I know that the people's livelihood is difficult, so when I decided on this policy, I chose the most dilapidated palace."
Liu Jun hadn't been truly angry; his feigned displeasure these past few days was merely an act. Now, seeing his genuine remorse, he dropped his pretense and sighed, "Your Majesty's plan, though riddled with flaws, wasn't entirely without merit. I dare not blame Your Majesty, but..."
He suddenly fell silent and remained tight-lipped.
Sima Ye asked urgently, "But what?"
Liu Jun shook his head with a wry smile, "If Your Majesty knew what I was thinking, you would definitely think I was self-righteous and naive."
His brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Sima Ye, his expression a mixture of confusion and disappointment. "In the past, Your Majesty repeatedly wrote letters, summoning your ministers to court. I was mindful of Your Majesty's hardships in court. Having just pacified Liangzhou and Yuzhou, I hadn't even had a chance to properly manage them before abandoning all affairs to come to the capital. I thought that since we had grown up together, Your Majesty would have trusted me. I never imagined that Your Majesty wouldn't even inform me of such a crucial matter... If I hadn't planted someone to keep an eye on Suo Lin, the whole affair would be over by now! If Your Majesty doesn't trust me, I beg Your Majesty to allow me to return to the army. At least I can still guard a region for Your Majesty and defend against foreign invasion!"
Sima Ye knew perfectly well that his words were somewhat exaggerated, but he also knew that what he said was true. He took a step back and bowed, saying, "To be honest, Yanshi, I had planned this matter long ago, but I felt that this matter was of great importance, and I was afraid that if it failed, it would implicate you, so I dared not tell you. In the future, I will entrust you with my heart and discuss everything with you, and I will not hide anything from you!"
Liu Jun, seeing that he had the upper hand, stepped aside to avoid the man's bow and also bowed, saying, "Your subject would give his life for the world and for Your Majesty, even unto death!"
Sima Ye helped him up. "Alright, with our friendship, there's no need for such sentimentality. Things have come to this point, and Suo Lin is pressing us so hard. What's the next step?"
Liu Jun looked around and whispered, "To be honest, Your Majesty, Suo Lin came to the headquarters last night. I met him and we talked for an hour."
"Huh?" Sima Ye exclaimed in surprise.
Liu Jun nodded, "He originally wanted to target His Majesty, but fortunately I had some dirt on him, so he had no choice but to turn his attention to attacking the Du family."
"There's another connection." Sima Ye recalled the court meeting today, and some of his confusion was completely resolved. "No wonder he was willing to compromise on this matter in the end."
"My opinion is also that if we can resolve this matter peacefully, it would be best to resolve it amicably." Liu Jun looked at the ruins with his hands behind his back. "With foreign enemies at hand, national humiliation yet to be avenged, the land in ruins, and people displaced, I believe that we should all take a step back and work together to overcome these difficult times, and avoid creating further complications. As for the Du family, Suo Lin has promised me that Empress Suo will be careful in her words and actions in the future and will not make things difficult for Your Majesty again."
Although Sima Ye originally wanted to seize power in one fell swoop, he also knew that he was just a greenhorn emperor who had been put on the throne by the crowd. Even if he rashly took power, he would probably be unable to issue orders outside Chang'an City and would not be able to mobilize a single soldier.
"Can I, with my own power, drive out the barbarians and unify the land? Will I live to see it?" Sima Ye said quietly.
Liu Jun sighed, "Perhaps."
Several years ago, Sima Ye also asked this question. At that time, Liu Jun was full of ambition and confidence. Now, the pale-faced young man is still the same, but his eyes are full of vicissitudes.
"Does Your Majesty believe in destiny?" Liu Jun asked softly. "Man can conquer nature, but destiny is hard to defy. Which do you believe in more, Your Majesty?"
Sima Ye pursed his lips. "I believe in destiny. The division of the empire into three kingdoms, ultimately unified under the Jin Dynasty, isn't that a kind of destiny?"
Indeed, the Luo River bears witness that the Sima family was renowned for their reverence for Heaven and their ancestors.
Liu Jun barely managed to suppress his eye-roll. "Your Majesty is absolutely right, but I have more faith in human effort. When I was young, I studied the Book of Changes, and there was a saying that, although somewhat out of place in today's world, I particularly liked."
"What line? Let me guess, is it 'The dragon appears in the field, it is advantageous to see a great man' or 'The flying dragon is in the sky'? Or is it 'The dragon that has risen too high will regret it'?" Sima Ye's mind was full of Liu Jun's painting.
Liu Jun shook his head and laughed, “As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement. The mysteries are profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders. I neither understand nor deign to understand them. I only know that the world is difficult. If everyone sits and discusses the Tao, who will guard our vast land and protect our millions of people? Can we defeat a million soldiers with just eloquent words? Therefore, the court does not lack elegant scholars, but rather rough men wielding hooks, halberds, and long spears. I am willing to be that rough man for Your Majesty.”
"The wind rises and the clouds fly... Where can I find brave warriors to guard the four directions..." Sima Ye looked at him, his eyes welling up with tears that had not been there for a long time. "Fortunately, you are here, otherwise I would be a fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others."
Liu Jun sighed, “If Your Majesty still wishes to maintain your power and prestige throughout the land, you should change your habit of shedding tears in front of others at the drop of a hat.”
Sima Ye blurted out, "You're not just anyone."
Liu Jun was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Good!"
The Xiongnu were not yet destroyed, and Shi Le coveted the Central Plains.
The hidden dragon helped establish the Han dynasty, and his illustrious career is recorded in the Book of Jin.
Volume 5: Clouds Rise and Dragons Soar
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