Chapter 39: The Imperial Son-in-Law Commits a Grave Crime

Zhang Liang spoke in a calm, measured tone.

They could easily ignore Lu Xuan’s wishes and keep him confined to this courtyard. However, their interactions over this period, conducted with careful deliberation, had already established that they would relay Lu Xuan’s various suggestions to the "capital" so the Emperor would be made aware of them. By this logic, once the Emperor received such intelligence, he would naturally be willing to come and collect Lu Xuan. They certainly could not claim that the Emperor had failed to see the letters they sent, or that the Emperor had seen them but chose to disregard Lu Xuan. That would not do.

In short, Zhang Liang believed Lu Xuan’s importance was beyond measure. To accommodate him, even a grueling journey was a small price to pay—it was only a month’s time, after all. If they were lazy or negligent and unwilling to make the effort, Lu Xuan might conclude that there was no hope of reaching the capital, become disheartened, and refuse to share any more information about future eras. In that case, the loss would be theirs. Furthermore, there were many intangible benefits. The Han Dynasty had just been established; it was indeed time to patrol the realm and overawe the lawless. The Qin Dynasty had faced the restoration attempts of the remnants of the Six States—did the Han not face similar threats? What did the Han have that the Qin did not? The reason Qin Shi Huang had tirelessly toured the various regions was precisely to intimidate these elements. Additionally, it would allow Han Xin to feel even more indebted. One solution could yield two beneficial outcomes.

"Brilliant. Truly, you are my Marquis of Liu." Liu Bang stroked his beard and laughed heartily. He had many capable men under his command, and if faced with this problem, many officials would offer reasonable advice; yet, like Zhang Liang, few could solve the problem while simultaneously deriving such additional advantages. The wisdom of the Marquis of Liu was indeed unparalleled in the world.

As he laughed, a thought struck Liu Bang. He looked at Zhang Liang and asked, "Regarding what Lu Xuan said earlier about the future, have you let go of your doubts and come to trust me? I would never commit such heartless and ungrateful acts."

At the mention of this, Zhang Liang’s expression faltered, and he bowed respectfully. "I naturally trust Your Majesty. I only ask that, out of regard for my past services, you might spare my descendants..."

Trust Liu Bang’s words? Only a fool would. Zhang Liang knew all too well that the words of a monarch could never be trusted. Yet, over this time, he had gradually come to terms with it. So be it. If he were to be killed in the future, then so be it; it was an unavoidable fate. Everyone must die eventually. If he could only ensure his lineage survived, that would be enough.

"You still do not trust me," Liu Bang said, his smile fading, his heart heavy with frustration.

Zhang Liang shook his head immediately. "I trust Your Majesty. But if I may speak frankly, even if Your Majesty were to kill me, Xiao He, and the others in the future, that would be a natural course of events. An emperor possesses the four seas and rules the world. To secure the imperial power and the foundation of the state, eliminating meritorious officials is the correct path."

"I do not resent Your Majesty. As long as I live, I will continue to serve you faithfully, working tirelessly and without complaint." Zhang Liang bowed low, his voice soft. Because of Lu Xuan, this future event had been completely laid bare. He saw no harm in speaking clearly now. Killing him was fine; he only hoped that Liu Bang, remembering their shared history, would spare his kin. There was no right or wrong, no question of who was heartless; in the corridors of power, there were only different positions.

Zhang Liang had never doubted the authenticity of Lu Xuan’s words. Since the moment Lu Xuan arrived in the Han Dynasty, Zhang Liang had insisted that Liu Bang keep the location a secret from him to prevent exactly this kind of situation. If Lu Xuan were to label someone a treacherous official, that person would have to die—a terrifying prospect. Now, Lu Xuan still did not know who "Uncle Fang" and "Uncle Ji," the men he spent his days with, actually were. This meant that even if he harbored intentions to harm someone from history, it would be impossible from his perspective. Thus, it was safe to assume that every word Lu Xuan spoke was the truth, a glimpse of what was to come. He and Xiao He were destined to be killed by the Emperor. Resentment? Zhang Liang did not hold much against Liu Bang. Perhaps he had once blamed himself, feeling his life was filled with failure, but now he had let it go.

"Sigh, you may go for now," Liu Bang waved his hand.

Zhang Liang still did not believe him; the attitude was too clear. He was dead set on believing Lu Xuan. Truth be told, Liu Bang himself was starting to believe it, too. He considered the killing of Zhang Liang and Xiao He an impossibility, but who could truly foresee the future? Just as when he was a wandering knight, he had never imagined he would one day possess the Nine Provinces and the four seas.

Liu Bang suppressed his thoughts and headed toward Lu Xuan’s courtyard. Upon entering, he immediately put on a smile. "Haha, Master Lu, good news! Old Fang told me that the Emperor’s caravan will arrive tomorrow to escort us to the capital."

Upon hearing this, a smile could not help but spread across Lu Xuan’s face. It seemed Uncle Fang was quite happy as well. It made sense; according to his previous deductions, Uncle Fang was one of the Han people brought to this far-eastern tribe by Chen Li, son of Chen Youliang. Chen Li had been driven out here by Zhu Yuanzhang for showing disrespect to the Great Ming and to the Emperor himself; his exile was well-deserved. But were innocent people like Uncle Fang not wronged? To be banished to this godforsaken place simply for being a subordinate or clansman of Chen Li? Uncle Fang, benefiting from his connection to Lu Xuan, was now able to return to the Central Plains and even enter the capital; naturally, he would be pleased.

"Then we shall arrive at the capital in a month?" Lu Xuan asked. "And in a month, my eyes will be healed?"

Lu Xuan was brimming with excitement, his face radiant. Liu Bang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, do you not trust my word? In a month, you will certainly see the Emperor."

Lu Xuan’s mind began to race, imagining the scene a month from now. He wondered if this Zhu Yuanzhang really had a long, horse-like face, as the rumors suggested—though he had heard that was just black propaganda from the Manchu Qing.

The two talked for a long time. Liu Bang was very cooperative, discussing the good life that awaited them in the capital. After a long while, Liu Bang asked what he had been wanting to ask all along: "Master Lu, since there is still a month before we reach the capital, why not tell me more about history? For instance, will there be any treacherous officials in the court in the future? It would be good for me to be prepared."

Lu Xuan laughed at this, not expecting Uncle Ji to be thinking even further ahead than himself. He had only thought about helping Uncle Ji gain wealth, but Uncle Ji was already thinking about serving as an official and guarding against traitors. That was perhaps thinking a bit too far ahead. However, whether Uncle Ji could actually become an official was a matter for later, but telling him some history was fine—he had nothing but time, and it was a good way to pass the hours.

"Treacherous officials, how should I put it? The officials who committed great crimes in the early days of our dynasty cannot exactly be called 'traitors' in the traditional sense. It is just that there were few who truly brought disaster to the country and the people, though many did commit crimes."

"Oh, right, I just remembered something. Uncle Ji, do you have any children about my age who are not yet married?"

Liu Bang pondered for a moment and replied, "I do have one who is indeed unmarried." His eldest son, Liu Fei, had married long ago, but he could not say that. It was clear Lu Xuan intended to reveal some information. If he answered that he had an unmarried child of similar age, the conversation could continue; if he said no, Lu Xuan might move on to something else.

"Good, let me think."

Lu Xuan asked because he had remembered a specific case: the Ouyang Lun incident. He felt that Uncle Ji was very eager to be an official, but serving in the Hongwu court was a dangerous business. Wishing to repay Uncle Ji’s kindness, he thought about finding a way for him to form a marital alliance with the imperial family. Uncle Ji had a son of similar age, unmarried. In the future, the驸马 (Imperial Son-in-law) Ouyang Lun would be executed by Zhu Yuanzhang for his crimes, leaving Princess Lin'an a widow. Surely, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma would be deeply distressed by this. Could he suggest this matter to Zhu Yuanzhang once they reached the capital? Although the Ouyang Lun case was still some time away, the illicit tea trade had been going on in secret for years; informing the Emperor now might allow him to uncover traces of it. Calculating the time, Princess Lin'an and Ouyang Lun had likely not been together long, and their bond was not yet deep. Exposing the case now might not cause such a violent reaction from the Princess. Then, he could see if he could help Uncle Ji secure that marriage. It would be a way to repay his kindness. Besides, he recalled that in history, the marriages of Zhu Yuanzhang’s children were not always based on noble birth. Since Uncle Ji had just asked about treacherous officials, Ouyang Lun was certainly one. He could tell Uncle Ji about it while seeing if the plan was feasible.

After a moment of thought, Lu Xuan said, "Treacherous officials... I do recall one. The current Imperial Son-in-law. He privately traffics in tea and allows his servants to harass the locals, committing a grave crime."