Chapter 43: The Crown Prince is Benevolent and Weak

Liu Ying strongly disapproved of this. Lu Xuan had contributed so much to the dynasty, yet now his father, the Emperor, intended to have him killed.

How was this any different from the tyrants Jie or Zhou in history?

"Ying'er, I do not wish to kill Lu Xuan either, but I must."

"We could simply remove Lu Xuan from office, grant him abundant wealth and grain, and let him live in luxury," Liu Ying argued.

"You think too simply," Liu Bang replied, his expression turning grave. "As you say, one could indeed strip Lu Xuan of his rank and reward him with riches for his contributions to our Han Dynasty."

"But Lu Xuan is a man from the future. He possesses vast knowledge of Han history. This means that, regardless of the challenges or choices we face, I would subconsciously turn to him to ask what will happen, or whether a decision is right or wrong."

"Even you, once you ascend the throne, would inevitably turn to him as well."

"In that case, Lu Xuan’s own intellect would retain the power to sway the decisions of the entire imperial court, and even change the destiny of the Han Dynasty. He truly possesses the will of an emperor. Ying'er, can you guarantee that a man in such a position would never harbor ulterior motives?"

"Even if Lu Xuan does not now, what about later? Few can remain steadfast once corrupted by power. We cannot gamble the fate of the entire dynasty on the hope that Lu Xuan will keep his integrity. We are not betting the Liu family's imperial power; we are betting the entire world, the common people, and the future of the Nine Provinces!"

Liu Bang’s words were cruel, yet they left Liu Ying stunned.

Liu Ying was still young and at a sentimental age. His eyes suddenly reddened, misting over, and his voice trembled as he asked, "Is there truly no way to spare his life? He has contributed so much to our Han Dynasty—why must he be killed?"

"As an emperor, there are things one knows are wrong, yet must still do. Sometimes, even an emperor is not master of his own fate."

"Even if one possesses the world and all its riches, one cannot always do as one pleases."

Liu Bang watched Liu Ying quietly. He was instilling the true way of an emperor, teaching his son with painstaking care.

Seeing that Liu Ying’s emotions were not yet settled, Liu Bang sighed and sat with him in silence.

Time slipped by. Night fell, and the entourage rested outside Xinfeng City, while the Emperor and his high-ranking officials entered the city walls. From Chang'an to Luoyang, the route passed through many towns—Baling, Xinfeng, Zheng, Hu, and others—and Xinfeng was the first stop.

It was only upon reaching Xinfeng that Liu Bang went to visit Lu Xuan's room.

Throughout the journey, Liu Bang had arranged for Xiao He to share a carriage with Lu Xuan to keep him company. Aside from Zhang Liang, Xiao He was the man Liu Bang trusted most. Though Xiao He was not of common birth, his family lacked the immense power of Zhang Liang’s clan, and thus he posed less of a threat.

The two had grown distant and suspicious of him, and no matter how Liu Bang explained, it was of no use. Naturally, Liu Bang chose to increase his vigilance, particularly toward Zhang Liang.

Along the way, Lu Xuan had no opportunity to interact with others. The imperial carriage signified supreme status, accessible only to high officials. Many were burning with curiosity: Who was this man? Why did His Majesty show him such respect? He appeared to be blind, and even when getting in or out of the carriage, he had to be supported by Chancellor Xiao He himself. They had even seen the Emperor assist him.

Because Liu Bang had issued strict orders before their departure, there was no whispering allowed, and the journey remained deathly quiet.

In Lu Xuan’s quarters, Liu Bang pushed open the door and spoke softly, "Master Lu, is the carriage uncomfortable? Are the cushions not soft enough? Or do you have other needs?"

In these final days, Liu Bang wanted to do his best to ensure Lu Xuan lived comfortably.

"No, no, Uncle Ji, you are too kind."

"The carriage is quite comfortable—as expected of one sent by the Emperor, there hasn't been a single jolt along the way."

Lu Xuan was quite satisfied with the ride; it lacked the swaying he had anticipated. The road was smooth, and the carriage was steady.

The only thing he found strange was that he had not seen anyone else sent by the Emperor approach him. From the moment he left his courtyard to boarding the carriage with Uncle He, and throughout the entire day of travel, he had heard almost no one speak.

It felt odd.

However, Lu Xuan did not dwell on it. Uncle Ji and his companions could not possibly wish him harm; after all, if they wanted to, why save his life and care for him for two months? As for his utility, he would only be truly valuable once he reached the capital. No one would be foolish enough to kill him before they arrived.

Lu Xuan was completely at ease. This was also due to his blindness; even if he had other thoughts, he lacked the means to act on them.

"That is good. I have dealt with various matters today; tomorrow, I shall keep you company in the carriage again."

"I would like to hear you tell me more things," Liu Bang said with a smile.

With only a month left and the return journey ahead, he wanted to extract as much information as possible within the limited time. Yesterday was meant to spend time with Liu Ying and deepen their bond; the coming days would be spent talking with Lu Xuan.

"Very well, I will tell you whatever you wish to hear, Uncle Ji." Lu Xuan nodded. Uncle Ji was always so considerate; he probably thought Lu Xuan was bored, so despite his busy schedule, he made time to chat.

As for Uncle He, who had shared the carriage with him all day, he had been stuttering and hesitant, asking no questions as if he had some secret concern.

"Then I shall return to rest." Liu Bang rose slowly. Tomorrow, he would ask Xiao He if he had discussed anything with Lu Xuan.

One must always be guarded.

Night fell, silent as a flowing stream. When one's heart is at peace, even sleep comes easily.

Lu Xuan fell asleep quickly. By dawn, he awoke early, feeling refreshed, despite his blindness. The hope that lay ahead filled him with motivation.

The same palace servant who had cared for him for two months helped him toward the imperial carriage. As they passed, the officials, guards, and servants could not help but steal glances at Lu Xuan. They dared not speak, however.

The Emperor had issued strict orders: no loud talking allowed during the journey. In the presence of the Emperor, or high ministers like Xiao He, Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, and Zhou Bo, no one was permitted to converse. Anyone who defied this, regardless of rank, would be executed without mercy.

In the past, imperial processions had similar prohibitions to maintain the dignity and authority of the dynasty, but they had never been so stringent regarding the ministers themselves. This time, however, even ministers were forbidden from whispering or speaking loudly.

Most had assumed Liu Bang was simply in a foul mood. But gradually, they realized something was wrong. It seemed that whenever this blind young man was present, the Emperor’s attitude became exceptionally stern and cautious. Even high ministers like Zhang Liang and Xiao He constantly scanned their surroundings, as if ready to strike anyone who dared utter a word.

No one was willing to gamble with their life. What if one careless sentence led to their execution?

The entire scene remained deathly quiet. As Lu Xuan climbed into the carriage, Liu Bang followed. Once everyone was settled, Zhou Bo, riding on horseback, signaled with his hand.

The procession moved slowly, advancing toward Luoyang.

Inside the carriage, Liu Bang chatted casually with Lu Xuan. At midday, after they finished their meal, Liu Bang asked languidly:

"Master Lu, what did Old He say to you yesterday? He did not ask you anything he shouldn't have, did he?"

"Oh, and one more thing."

"It is said that the current Crown Prince is of a weak and benevolent nature, lacking the decisiveness a future ruler should have. What should be done about this?"