Chapter 27: Xu Fu Has Spoken

Shusun Tong felt his legs go weak instinctively.

What was that?

Had he heard correctly? Was he to be executed along with his ten generations of kin?

His body trembled as he stammered, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what crime has Shusun Tong committed to warrant the execution of ten generations?"

"Haha, I was merely jesting with you, Minister. You have overthought it," Liu Bang suddenly burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

In the Han Dynasty, "jesting" did not carry the derogatory, mocking connotation it later acquired. As the *Book of Songs* says, "To jest skillfully is not to be cruel," implying the use of humorous language to joke without causing embarrassment. It refers to witty banter or teasing, generally emphasizing a lighthearted and humorous approach.

This was why Liu Bang possessed such an approachable personality; he rarely stood on imperial ceremony for trivial matters, which allowed him to bond easily with his subjects. Under normal circumstances, Liu Bang preferred not to interact with others through the lens of his imperial status.

Only after Liu Bang’s clarification did Shusun Tong set his heart at ease. He knew the Emperor’s character, but that had been terrifying nonetheless.

"However, though I spoke in jest, what I described is truly what will come to pass in the future."

"Keep this to yourself for now. Do not speak of it to others; otherwise, do not blame me for failing to cherish our past ties," Liu Bang said softly. His tone grew heavy, signaling to Shusun Tong that it was time to address serious matters.

Zhang Liang then briefly recounted to Shusun Tong the arrival of Lu Xuan and the specific information regarding the future that had been revealed during this time. Shusun Tong remained unsettled for a long while.

His thoughts were in turmoil. Could it be that the events from the Yellow Emperor’s dream had truly manifested in reality?

However, this was not the time for such doubts. He immediately began to deliberate, then said, "Your Majesty wishes to know who this person is."

"But because of our initial precautions against Lu Xuan, we could not ask his name, lest we be manipulated by him in the future."

"Aside from myself and the Marquis of Liu, there is likely no one else."

Shusun Tong was not boasting; he was stating a fact. While there were many who had rendered great service during the founding of the Han Dynasty, those who wielded significant influence were few and far between.

There was only Han Xin and himself, Shusun Tong.

Han Xin held immense influence within the military, while he held sway among the Confucian scholars.

Since the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the Legalists had vanished in name if not in spirit, with few prominent figures remaining. The Confucian scholars, however, remained active. Shusun Tong had worked in tandem with the Han Dynasty to gradually establish Confucianism as the core ideology of the state, even transforming certain Confucian thoughts into the "Huang-Lao" philosophy of non-interference and resting with the people that the Emperor desired. This had steadily increased his influence.

Perhaps this person really was him.

"However, I believe that since these events will not come to pass in the future, there is no need to confer rewards upon your ministers. How could we, your subjects, demand rewards for things that never occurred?" Shusun Tong looked up at Liu Bang. Liu Bang laughed heartily at these words, "Very well, then I shall not reward you."

Sometimes, Confucian scholars were quite adept at handling social situations.

Liu Bang dismissed Shusun Tong, instructing him not to divulge the matter, then looked at Zhang Liang and asked, "How goes the matter of the Iron Certificates of Immunity?"

"They are already in production, and the decree has been announced to the world."

Liu Bang nodded. "Accompany me to see Heng."

Deep within the Changle Palace, numerous pavilions and halls stood tall. Beyond the warm-toned Jiaofang Palace, there were scattered smaller residences.

In a corner of the Changle Palace, sunlight filtered through mottled window lattices, casting light into a slightly aged hall.

Lady Bo was meticulously tending to her two-year-old son, Liu Heng.

She was not old, and despite having been a wife twice before, she could not mask her beauty and charm. Her beauty was like mutton-fat jade; her brows resembled distant mountains, and her eyes were like clear springs—transparent and gentle.

The palace she occupied appeared extremely ordinary compared to the residences of other favored concubines.

Of course, although Liu Bang had many concubines, only Lady Qi’s palace appeared distinct. Liu Bang was not a frugal man, but he was a "casual" one. He ate what was available without needing delicacies, and lived where he could without needing splendor. Empress Lü Zhi was very similar to Liu Bang—perhaps years of marriage had made her increasingly resemble him—so she did not choose to reside in magnificent palaces, and the other concubines naturally followed suit.

Except for Lady Qi.

The walls of Lady Bo’s palace were mottled with peeling lacquer, revealing the traces of time. The carvings on the beams, though once exquisite, had lost their luster to erosion. The furniture was arranged neatly but was plain and unadorned, lacking complex carvings.

Only a few pots of greenery on the table added a touch of vitality to the somewhat dreary hall.

"I hear the Emperor has been staying in the Empress’s palace at night and no longer frequents Lady Qi’s chambers."

"I wonder why."

There were few secrets inside or outside the palace. In the early Han Dynasty, conflicts in the inner palace were not particularly intense, and many concubines had yet to develop a clear ideology of rivalry. Lady Bo did not associate Liu Bang’s distancing from Lady Qi with anything specific. She looked at Liu Heng, her adorable little prince, who was observing everything with wide, round eyes.

His chubby little face was rosy, making one want to reach out and pinch it. His tiny mouth was always curved in a smile, revealing milk teeth that had yet to fully grow in. The smile was pure and bright, as if it could dispel all the gloom in the world.

Liu Heng wore a simple small jacket with delicate little flowers embroidered on the collar and cuffs, looking particularly lively. He toddled across the floor, swaying as he lunged toward Lady Bo, calling out "Mother" in his milky voice. The soft, sweet sound made Lady Bo’s heart melt.

Seeing this, Lady Bo gently picked him up and stroked his head, her eyes filled with doting love.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

The heartwarming scene was broken by hurried footsteps. A palace attendant ran over, her voice tinged with surprise, "My Lady, the Emperor is here."

The Emperor was here?

Lady Bo’s expression shifted slightly. Her long-calm heart stirred. The Emperor had not visited her for a very, very long time. Among his many concubines, she was the least favored—perhaps because she had been presented to him by Wei Bao, the King of Wei, and he held that against her.

Lady Bo did not show the joy the attendant expected; instead, she asked with concern, "Who is accompanying the Emperor?"

"It is a Marquis, looking very noble..."

The Marquis of Liu, Zhang Liang!

Lady Bo’s heart sank instinctively. If he had come at night, it might mean the Emperor had grown weary of Lady Qi and the Empress. But to come in the middle of the day, and accompanied by the Marquis of Liu, it was surely no small matter.

She tidied her attire and led Liu Heng slowly toward the entrance to welcome them.

Outside, Liu Bang and Zhang Liang were walking slowly. Suddenly, Liu Bang asked, "Marquis of Liu, do you know of the prophecy Xu Fu made regarding Lady Bo?"

Zhang Liang paused, then answered without hesitation, "I have heard of it."

"Xu Fu, a native of Wen County in Henei, was once invited by the Old Lady of Wei to fortune-tell for her daughter, Lady Bo."

"Xu Fu said: Lady Bo will one day give birth to the Son of Heaven."