Chapter Twenty-Five: Prince Liang Is Stunned

Empress Dowager Liao had been gazing at the painting on the table—“Tiger Descending the Mountain”—when an elderly eunuch entered the hall. After paying his respects, he said, “Your Majesty, news has arrived: yesterday His Majesty was subjected to an assassination attempt.”

“What?” Empress Dowager Liao was utterly shocked, her crow’s feet creasing together, anxiety filling her voice. “Yet the Emperor showed no signs today and still conversed with me as usual?”

Connecting this to the painting before her, she asked, “Could this be related to Prince Liang?”

The eunuch nodded. “The assassin claimed that, if the Emperor were slain, Prince Liang would ascend the throne.”

“Bang!” Empress Dowager Liao slammed her palm on the table, furious. “This is slander, pure fabrication! It infuriates me—he wants to harm my son!”

The eunuch hesitated, then bowed low and said, “Your Majesty, I have also heard that the assassin did indeed frequent Prince Liang’s residence in the past. Now, Attendant Wang is investigating the assassin’s background. His Majesty has ordered all involved parties to be held accountable. If not for the Prime Minister’s intervention, I fear Prince Liang would have been arrested by now. I worry that, should His Majesty find evidence linking Prince Liang to the assassin, he will vent his wrath upon the Prince.”

Empress Dowager Liao lowered her head in thought, but soon shook it. “Impossible! Zhang Bao, come here and look at this painting. What is its meaning?”

The old eunuch acknowledged her, finally focusing his gaze on the scroll atop the table.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor is telling you that, faced with two towering mountains and a fierce tiger, even he struggles to resist. Prince Liang, then, is all the more powerless.”

“Indeed,” Empress Dowager Liao sighed. “When the late Emperor passed, the realm was already divided: Cao Wei and Sun Wu are those two mountains, and the Prime Minister is the tiger. While the late Emperor lived, he could restrain the tiger; but now, with him gone, the tiger has no leash. When the tiger sleeps, all is well, but if provoked to bare its fangs, the enterprise founded by the late Emperor is in mortal danger.”

The old eunuch brought her a cup of tea. “Your Majesty, I served the late Emperor for many years. There are things I feel compelled to say.”

Empress Dowager Liao replied, “Zhang Bao, you have served the late Emperor and myself loyally. Speak freely.”

Zhang Bao bowed. “His Majesty ascended the throne at sixteen, just after the Battle of Yiling ended. Shu Han was in peril. The Prime Minister, entrusted by the late Emperor, restored the court and allowed His Majesty to inherit. Yet, though Emperor in name, he was young and lacked experience, reputation, and cunning. All know His Majesty is not regarded as talented, but I believe his abilities far surpass ordinary men.”

“Oh?” Empress Dowager Liao was puzzled. She could not fathom how an Emperor constantly suppressed by the Prime Minister and his ministers could possess such talent.

Zhang Bao continued, “Your Majesty, consider: Shu Han must resist Cao Wei and Sun Wu externally. Within the court, only the Prime Minister can achieve this. Internally, effective governance is needed. Without the Prime Minister’s military support, the land is plagued by refugees and tribes—problems a newly crowned, youthful Emperor cannot solve. Therefore, His Majesty needs the Prime Minister and his civil and military officials.”

“Moreover, if His Majesty were to forcibly assert his royal authority, he would force the ministers to feel threatened, prompting them to bare their fangs. At such a moment, His Majesty would not prevail. Since his own position is weak, why not appear even weaker, prompting the ministers to withdraw their claws? Consider, Your Majesty: despite His Majesty’s weakness these years, he has remained securely on the throne, and all observe the rites of ruler and subject. Why is this?”

Empress Dowager Liao interjected, “He displays weakness, retreating to advance?”

“Your Majesty sees clearly!” Zhang Bao nodded. “In my opinion, precisely so! Moreover, I sense that His Majesty’s power is soon to blossom!”

Empress Dowager Liao was silent for a moment, looking at Liu Bao. “I dare to ask: if I wished to support Prince Liang’s ascension, would it be possible?”

Zhang Bao shook his head expressionlessly. “Not one in ten thousand.”

“Why?”

Zhang Bao replied, “His Majesty was chosen by the late Emperor, with legitimate claim. The Prime Minister, likewise entrusted, has the duty to assist. With the Prime Minister present, His Majesty is secure. Even if the late Emperor’s portrait authorized the Prime Minister to replace him, unless His Majesty commits a grave error, Zhuge Liang would never usurp the throne. Prince Liang, however, is different. First, with His Majesty alive, Prince Liang has no opportunity. Second, even if His Majesty passes and Prince Liang ascends, would Prince Liang or even Your Majesty be able to suppress the two mountains and the tiger? Should His Majesty die, chaos will engulf the court, and many will covet the throne. At that time, the Prime Minister could, under the banner of restoring order, legitimately seize Shu Han.”

“To the Prime Minister, the throne is not desirable; taking it would invite widespread condemnation and ruin his reputation for loyalty and righteousness. Nor does he need it—since all military and civil affairs are his, there is no reason to commit such a transgression as usurping the throne. Recall how Cao Pi of Cao Wei usurped Han, and the infamy endures! This situation is the product of His Majesty’s four years of careful management. Consider again, Your Majesty: is His Majesty not possessed of great talent?”

Empress Dowager Liao slowly nodded. “Hearing your words, it seems so. Then, what should I do? If His Majesty truly blames Prince Liang, what should I do?”

Zhang Bao shook his head. “Since His Majesty sent this painting, he intends to tell Your Majesty that, should the great mansion collapse, no member of the imperial family will remain unscathed. He also entreats Your Majesty to admonish and restrain Prince Liang, that he not commit acts which bring joy to enemies and pain to kin. Furthermore, he informs Your Majesty that, for the sake of brotherhood, he will not pursue this matter—but should it happen again, His Majesty will not be so forgiving. Though he seems weak, he retains the authority to deal with rebellion. Reflecting now, I am moved by His Majesty’s generosity, unlike Cao Pi of Wei, who forced his brother Cao Zhi to compose poetry in seven steps.”

“We are born of the same root—why so eager to destroy each other?” Empress Dowager Liao murmured, tears streaming down her face. In that very moment, learning of her son’s ambition, she herself had entertained the thought of supporting him to the throne.

Now, thinking of the late Emperor Liu Bei and the magnanimity of the current Emperor, shame flooded her heart. She wept, “Oh, late Emperor, I have failed you!”

After sobbing for some time, Empress Dowager Liao finally raised her head and said, “When Liu Li arrives, I will beat this reckless, ignorant child who disregards brotherhood!”

At that moment, Eunuch Zhang Bao breathed a deep sigh of relief, facing north in secret, muttering, “Late Emperor, this is all I can do. I truly do not wish to see your sons fight each other.”

Just then, Prince Liang—Liu Li—ran into the hall. From afar, he heard his mother’s crying. Coming closer, he saw her face streaked with tears. He seized her hand, angry. “Mother, who has dared upset you? Let your son avenge you!”

Empress Dowager Liao brusquely shook off Prince Liang, bent to remove her shoe, and smacked it against his forehead.

Once: “I’ll beat you, you unfilial son!”

Twice: “I’ll beat you, you audacious scoundrel!”

Thrice: “I’ll beat you, you brainless fool!”

Um… Ow, ow, ow…

Prince Liang was utterly bewildered…