Chapter Twenty-Three: Drinking and Requesting a Painting

In the past, every matter, great or small, concerning Liu Chan was arranged solely by Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang embodied the concept of personal involvement to its utmost degree. Only in the past two years, as Zhuge Liang approached fifty, did his declining health and singular focus on the Northern Expedition cause him to neglect Liu Chan somewhat; otherwise, he would have entered the palace daily to teach Liu Chan literature and strategy.

Yet the original Liu Chan was lacking in talent, unable to digest even a fraction of Zhuge Liang’s wisdom. Otherwise, with such a mentor, even mastering just a little of Zhuge Liang’s abilities would have been enough to secure his position on the throne. After Zhuge Liang’s death, Shu Han would not have been reduced to barely surviving under the oppressive might of Cao Wei, nor would the saying “content here, forgetting Shu” have come to be.

Zhuge Liang’s meticulousness left Liu Chan feeling powerless; all his affairs would inevitably reach the Prime Minister’s ears by the next day at the latest, inviting Zhuge Liang’s reproach.

Since his accession, Liu Chan had been in constant fear and trepidation. Even when he felt aggrieved, he dared not voice any complaint, nor did he risk developing his own faction within the palace.

Since Liu Tan crossed into this world, he saw this all too clearly. In this vast palace, not a single eunuch, maid, or guard ever tried to curry favor with him.

Why was that?

Because everyone in the palace knew that here, and indeed throughout Shu Han, it was not the Emperor who held sway, but the Prime Minister. Since the Emperor was not the true master, why go to the trouble of currying favor? Conveying useful information to the Prime Minister would be much more practical.

Thus, Liu Tan understood that he must act with restraint; once he went too far, there would surely be consequences.

He needed to proceed gradually, like boiling a frog in warm water, so that by the time the world realized it, he would have grown strong enough to challenge all opposing forces.

Otherwise, even with his knowledge of history’s course, his understanding of critical battles in Zhuge Liang’s northern campaigns, and the ability to advise Zhuge Liang to turn the tides, he could not act so rashly.

So, though he wished dearly to send the assassin’s corpse to Prince Liang or the Empress Dowager, and regardless of whether Prince Liang was truly involved, execute them both—after all, history has seen plenty of fratricides and executions for treason—reason prevailed.

He could not do such a thing.

He rose and stepped outside the hall, calling loudly, “Attend me!”

A group of maids and guards entered and knelt. The Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior had only just departed, reminding them repeatedly to care well for His Majesty and atone for their faults.

Liu Tan pointed at two guards and ordered, “Chop the assassin’s corpse into mince and feed it to the dogs!”

The two guards exchanged a glance while kneeling, then obeyed and carried out the corpse.

The Empress asked, “Your Majesty, the assassin is dead. Why go to such lengths?”

Liu Tan narrowed his eyes slightly. “I want everyone to know I am no longer the fool of the past! I have returned from hell!”

The three women exchanged looks, a chill running through their hearts. The Emperor had truly changed!

After supper, the Empress and Lady Li took their leave. Liu Tan knew they were indicating that Lady Wang would attend him that night.

But Liu Tan objected. After the assassination attempt, he felt deeply uneasy and needed the Empress’s martial prowess for protection. Besides, he felt lonely and wanted conversation. “The three of you, find a room here tonight. None of you need return to your quarters. Stay with me, chat, and drink.”

The long night stretched on, and the ancients’ lives were indeed dull.

“Yes!” they replied, and each sent their maid to prepare.

At nightfall, with lamps lit, Liu Tan sat on the couch, a small table before him bearing a wine vessel and four jade cups.

From the conversation, he learned the wine vessel was called a gu, and the jade cups were yuzu.

The three ladies sat around the table. Lady Wang lifted the gu, pouring wine into three jade cups, filling the air with fragrance.

As Liu Tan caught the aroma, he realized it was more the scent of grain than wine, much like the beer of his previous life.

The Empress raised her cup. “Your Majesty, we three offer you a toast!”

Liu Tan lifted his own cup, gazing at the yellowish, slightly cloudy wine in the candlelight. “Let us drink together!”

The taste was indeed reminiscent of beer from his former world, though inferior in flavor and marred by a faint note of spoiled grain.

That such wine could be served in the palace showed how undeveloped the wine culture of this era was.

But Liu Tan knew that wine had existed since the advent of grain, and had always been revered. If he could improve brewing, he could surely sell it for a good price in this world—many a transmigrator’s tale had done so, and he could borrow such ideas.

Yes, he could try. If he succeeded, he could sell it outside. He did need money, after all. Three-quarters of the imperial treasury’s gold and silver had already been donated, leaving only a little more than twenty taels of gold and two hundred taels of silver. That might seem enough now, but to recruit guards or pursue other plans, it was far from sufficient.

In any era, money is a good thing! So Liu Tan mused.

“Your Majesty, what are you thinking?” asked the Empress.

Liu Tan replied, “I’m wondering what gift to bring when I next visit the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress suggested, “Some silk, or perhaps fine cloth. The Empress Dowager would surely like that.”

Lady Wang added, “Gold and silver would be better. Her maternal family’s expenses are all covered by her own support.”

Liu Tan shook his head. “But I’m reluctant to part with those. Why give so much to the Empress Dowager? The palace’s expenses are regularly provided for by the court. To be frank, I’m short on money myself. In recent days, I haven’t given you any rewards, have I?”

He spoke the truth; to leave the palace, he needed funds.

To him, as a transmigrator, the Empress Dowager meant nothing emotionally, and with Prince Liang’s obvious hostility, why go out of his way to please her?

Lady Wang said, “If Your Majesty needs money, just tell me. I can have my father send some!”

Liu Tan paused, then laughed. “I forgot I had a wealthy father-in-law! But relying on your family’s money all the time would invite ridicule.”

Lady Wang shook her head. “What’s mine is Your Majesty’s.”

“I won’t take your family’s money, but in a few days, I do need to visit your father.”

Seeing that Liu Tan said nothing more, Lady Wang did not press him and instead smiled. “If Your Majesty honors my family with a visit, we will prepare to welcome you with all due respect!”

Liu Tan raised his jade cup and drank with the three ladies again. “Which of you is skilled in painting?”

The Empress shook her head; Lady Wang did likewise. Only Lady Li replied softly, “Your Majesty, I can paint a little, though my skills are modest.”

Liu Tan was delighted. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, as long as it is recognizable. Tomorrow, paint me a picture—‘A Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain to Catch Wolves.’”

Lady Li’s eyes narrowed slightly as she pondered, then nodded. “Though I’ve never seen a real tiger or wolf, I have seen paintings of them. I can manage it.”

Liu Tan nodded. “There will be one tiger and two wolves—one large, one small. Understood?”

Lady Li glanced at him. “Your Majesty, such a picture should not be painted, nor gifted to the Empress Dowager.”

Liu Tan replied, “No matter. The Empress Dowager has weathered much. She will understand its meaning.”

Lady Wang, puzzled, asked, “What are you talking about? And why can’t such a painting be given?”

The Empress, sensing the underlying meaning, refilled the cups. “Sister, why so many questions? Let’s toast His Majesty again!”

As Liu Tan drank, his mind wandered to thoughts of brewing.

The night grew deep. Though the wine was weak, it was still intoxicating. The slightly tipsy Empress and Lady Li took their leave, retiring to their prepared rooms. Lady Wang remained to attend to him.

As the Empress was leaving, she whispered to Liu Tan, “Your Majesty, I estimate the garments will be ready in a day or two!”

Liu Tan’s eyes lit up, but by then the Empress had already left with Lady Li.

Helpless, he could only spend the night with Lady Wang, enjoying the spring night together…