Chapter Twenty-Two: I Wish to Leave the Palace for a Stroll

In truth, there was a fourth point, but after some thought, he chose not to voice it. If the first three requests were merely extensions of his instinct for self-preservation in the matter of the assassin, then the fourth was rather more sensitive.

Fourth: One must possess unwavering loyalty. One must know to whom allegiance is owed—to me!—and be able to uphold it steadfastly, to the death, without faltering!

Forget it, best not to act rashly; impetuosity is the devil’s hand.

Zhuge Liang frowned and considered, but in the end, he did not object and agreed. For the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards of the past were, it seemed, all recommended or arranged by him. The current situation had taken him by surprise as well. If he obstructed further, he would be hard-pressed to justify it. The emperor had already adopted his counsel and had not held him accountable for those he had recommended. To then refuse responsibility would be indefensible.

Not only would the emperor object—even Li Yan, always at his side, would not be able to accept it. Why should the emperor always heed only Zhuge’s advice, when other ministers also served the state? Fine, if he could not win out in the emperor’s presence, he could always create a few invisible obstacles in Zhuge’s grand northern campaign. After all, he too was a leading figure among Shu’s officials.

See, Li Yan immediately spoke up, “Your Majesty speaks wisely. I shall draft an edict at once to summon heroes from across the land for Your Majesty’s selection and approval!”

“Father-in-law, please don’t!” Liu Jin waved his hand and said, “As emperor, envy and malice surround me. Is there a day that Cao Rui of Wei or Sun Quan of Wu does not wish for my demise, hoping for chaos in Shu? If we issue an edict, is it not tantamount to announcing to the world that I am seeking new guards? That is practically asking, ‘Which of you wants to kill me? Please, send the guards over—send more! Surely I’ll pick one or two who will suit!’”

He mimicked the voice and gestures of a famed comic from his past life, delivering his argument with vivid expression and solid reasoning, so much so that Li Yan broke into a sweat and bowed, “Your Majesty sees through to the heart of matters; it is I who was muddle-headed.”

Liu Jin nodded, “Therefore, my guard must be sought out quietly, and sought out slowly. Quality over quantity. I intend to leave the palace for a time—if I can find even one person as skilled in martial arts as my father’s Five Tiger Generals, then let’s see who dares to threaten me.”

Li Yan hastened to agree, “Just so! Just so!” Indeed, if the emperor never left the palace, even a private word was impossible; all matters had been discussed to death in the court, and the palace walls had too many ears. If this continued, the government of Shu would become the sole province of Zhuge Liang. He was, therefore, in favor of the emperor leaving the palace.

Zhuge Liang looked at the emperor, so that’s how it is—the emperor, having only just found some stability, was already growing restless.

Perhaps the search for new guards was genuine; after enduring an assassination attempt, any man would fear for his life. Even he, after surviving such danger, had bolstered his own security. In the end, everyone fears death.

Furthermore, the emperor had grown weary of the palace; life outside was a hundred, a thousand times more lively.

Thus, Zhuge Liang agreed, saying, “Then I shall arrange for a few skilled soldiers to protect Your Majesty.”

Liu Jin sighed, “Prime Minister, I said I want to keep a low profile. Which of these military experts does not cut a grand, imposing figure? If I take them along, it might as well be an announcement to the world that the emperor is leaving the palace, inviting trouble upon myself. I’ll only bring four people: the empress, Concubine Zhao, Dai Qiao—and, of course, General Zhao Yun. The three ladies will tend to my daily needs; General Zhao will protect me and instruct me in martial arts. That is enough! Ah, yes, I also need a coachman. I think that Governor Li Shan of Yizhou would be suitable—his speech and manner suit me. He must come along. Lord Li, see if he would be willing to accompany me for a time.”

Li Yan replied, “To accompany Your Majesty is the greatest fortune of Li Shan’s life. He will surely agree!”

Liu Jin grinned. He had to bring along this invaluable helper—after all, what good was accomplishing deeds if no one spread word of them? Was he to sing his own praises like a fruit vendor extolling his melons?

He continued, “Prime Minister, as before, in my absence you and Minister Li shall deliberate on state affairs. Military matters fall to you, and civil affairs to my father-in-law. With both of you present, I have no worries.”

Zhuge Liang said, “Your Majesty, that will not do. If you are absent too long, the court will grow suspicious again.”

“I’m not a fool. I shall still appear in court from time to time. Otherwise, what if you ministers forget about me?” Liu Jin thought to himself, then said aloud, “Prime Minister, it’s not as if I mean to go to Wei or Wu. I’ll only be nearby—a day at the shortest, two or three at most. Prime Minister, you may rest assured. My intention is to trouble you and my father-in-law with state affairs and my own safety—my guilt would be boundless!”

Li Yan laughed, “That is for the best!”

Zhuge Liang also nodded in agreement.

Liu Jin slowly seated himself on the divan. After over an hour of conversation, his feet ached with fatigue, and the blood on his face had long since dried and scabbed. But his goal was achieved, and so he said, “Prime Minister, Father-in-law, you must also be tired from standing. I nearly forgot to offer you seats. Empress, see to the preparations for a meal—I would dine with these two elders.”

The three ladies, too, were weary in body and spirit, having stood quietly in a corner while the emperor, Prime Minister, and Minister of State conversed. With those two present, even being allowed to stand was a luxury; to speak was out of the question. Upon hearing Liu Jin’s command, they felt as though pardoned from a great sentence and hurried to obey.

But Zhuge Liang and Li Yan both excused themselves, citing the press of state business, and took their leave first.

Unless for a ritual, banquet, or special occasion, it was not customary for ministers to dine with the sovereign.

Liu Jin did not press them to stay; for both sides, dining together would only have been uncomfortable.

After the two had gone, Liu Jin felt a wave of contentment. The world was vast; he, the emperor, ought to go out and see it.

But for now, he scratched his nose and cheeks and said, “Which of you will help me wash up? I can hardly bear it any longer!”

After a round of washing, the empress remarked, “Your Majesty, you were so commanding today. In the past, whenever you wished to leave the palace, you had to ask the Prime Minister, who would always rebuke you, urging you to focus on your studies. Who would have thought he’d agree today?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, do you truly mean to take us out of the palace?” Li asked, her face full of anxious anticipation.

Lady Wang also looked at Liu Jin, her eyes filled with silent pleading.

For the emperor, the palace was a cage; for his consorts, all the more so. The emperor could at least occasionally indulge himself and leave, but they, as women, could not.

“Of course,” Liu Jin replied. “An emperor does not go back on his word. Once these next few days have passed and my body has recovered from the riding drills, we’ll go out for a walk!”

Hearing this, their faces lit up with joy.

Gazing at the corpse of the assassin in the courtyard, Liu Jin fell into a daze. It seemed that, though he’d only been in this world for a week, he had not been idle: he’d reclaimed his empress and concubines, arranged to have Zhao Zilong teach him martial arts, promoted the divine right of kings, rooted out the palace spies through the assassin’s attempt, and, using this incident, secured the right to leave the palace and establish a personal guard. On reflection, it was not a bad start at all.