A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 50 Scolding the Saint
"May Your Majesty restrain your warlike heart, start anew with the people, and bestow grace upon the world!"

"...This existed in the early years of Your Majesty's reign, but it was not as severe. Now that taxes have increased, all regions will follow suit... The world is therefore under Your Majesty's control... The people of the world have long disrespected Your Majesty!"

Foreign voices entered the hall.

The entire hall was filled with that buzzing voice: "The people of the world have long been dissatisfied with Your Majesty... The people of the world have long been dissatisfied with Your Majesty..."

Liu Che finally leaped from his dragon throne, unleashing a roar like a dragon and a tiger, shouting, "Take the sword!"

This sentence, which he kept buried deep in his heart, fearing that future historians would record it during his lifetime, was the one he kept hidden.

Officials who curse the emperor outside the palace will all die: Sima Xiangru, Zhang Tang, Gongsun Hong, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, Liu Ju... all of them will die!

Prince Hong, who was serving in front, was almost scared to death and curled up to the side like a wounded little animal.

Han was so frightened that he turned his head and froze there.

Prince Wuqiu Shou clung tightly to His Majesty's right leg, refusing to let go no matter how much he was kicked. "No! No, Your Majesty..."

The blood of the imperial family is still in his veins. If he were to slaughter court officials again, His Majesty's holy name would likely immediately rival that of Jie and Zhou. At that time, whether the Crown Prince purges the court of corrupt officials or restores the emperor from his misdeeds, he will be welcomed with food and drink wherever he goes.

Not to mention the generals of the Southern Army, even Li Guang and Li Gan had to lay down their arms upon hearing the news. Chang'an would change hands in an instant.

Without a doubt, the title of "tyrant" that His Majesty tried so hard to avoid was firmly pinned on the Crown Prince's head.

Using the pretext of "divine punishment," he blamed himself on behalf of the emperor and instigated his officials to curse the emperor outside the palace, claiming it was for the emperor's good.

The most heartless thing in the world is this "for your own good" excuse, which stabs you in the back and leaves you speechless.

At this point, His Majesty can do nothing and should do nothing; whatever he does will only make things worse.

At that very moment, Liu Che's face gradually turned from white to red, and blood slowly flowed from his nostrils, followed by a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"too…"

Prince Wuqiu Shou noticed His Majesty's unusual behavior and had barely begun to call for the imperial physician when Liu Che stopped him with two words he uttered while holding his breath: "Stop!"

Chun Tuo immediately rushed over and took out a piece of white silk to cover Liu Che's still bleeding nostrils.

"Can all my achievements in life not wash away my warlike and militaristic tendencies?"

"The people of Guanzhong can still survive by selling their food rations, but what about the people of the border regions? What about the people of Shuofang?"

"A bunch of incompetent officials!"

"Which official dares not report the famine?"

"How low are the taxes of our great Han Dynasty that they have to be so low that we have to sell our own food rations?"

"Don't they just want to change the emperor?"

“A true dragon emperor who is not like me, who trembles at the sight of a shadow or the sound of a voice.”

"What Heaven? What destiny? I don't care about eternal infamy."

"One life is a life for ten thousand lifetimes. If the Crown Prince is willing to wait, then continue to wait. I will live until the world is well-governed and a golden age arrives!"

"Without father or ruler, abandoning country and family!"

"..."

Liu Che spoke incoherently, but it was clear to everyone that the emperor was on the verge of a mental breakdown. "Your Majesty..."

"Incorporate Sima Xiangru into the army and send him on a campaign with Colonel Piao Yao in the spring. Let him see what the country is like."

"I order the Grand Historian to immediately begin compiling history, establish a history bureau, and compile the history of the past and present. All the classics of the dynasty should be made available for viewing. Many people have died, but many more are still alive. They can go and listen. I do not seek eternal fame, but only a reliable history..."

The father and son of the imperial family fought tooth and nail.

Emperor Wu of Han could not forgive Sima Xiangru for his "Ode to the Autumn Hunt," but he could not kill him. He could only send him to the army to suffer, hoping that Sima Xiangru's diabetes would flare up early and he would die one day.

Liu Che could not accept the slander and fabrication by the Crown Prince, nor could he believe that the Crown Prince would give him a fair and objective historical evaluation after his death. He could only put the matter of compiling history while he was alive.

The historians at present are still trustworthy, and they can help him preserve his reputation and safety.

Liu Che fell backward to the ground, and even Wuqiu Shouwang couldn't support him. Everyone in the hall rushed over and carried him to the bed. The emperor continued to ramble on, but his words were so mumbled that it was difficult to understand him.

"Since the Crown Prince desires my throne, I am not in favor. If the Crown Prince were to enter Chang'an, what harm would there be in letting him oversee the country and govern?"

"Let him know, let him know that being an emperor isn't so easy..."

The emperor fainted completely.

Wuqiu Shouwang immediately ordered Han Shuo to find the imperial physician. After briefly comforting the frightened Prince Hong, he walked out of the Xuan Shi Hall and stopped the angry shouts of officials from both the central and outer courts. However, seeing that the officials still seemed unsatisfied, it was clear that they were happy to have become the Crown Prince's tool.

"Minister of Justice".

Wuqiu Shouwang called out to Zhang Tang, who was the most enthusiastic among them, and said, "His Majesty's decree states: 'His Majesty is unwell. He requests that the Grand Censor personally go to the Northern Army to summon the Crown Prince to the palace to oversee the state and administer the government. This is the imperial decree.'"

The ministers who had been criticizing the emperor all day had already smeared him with as much mud as they could muster. So when they heard that His Majesty wanted to invite the crown prince back to the palace to oversee the country, they felt no surprise at all. It was as natural as a ship lowering its mast when it reached a bridge arch.

Zhang Tang, who had been specifically named, suppressed his overwhelming joy and was the first to declare, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

All officials who insulted the emperor, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

……

The Imperial Censor's Office.

Dong Zhongshu gradually became accustomed to the position of one of the Three Dukes and inherited the valuable legacy left by his predecessor: "Do less work and do more travel."

As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility; with great responsibility comes many more things to do; with many more things to do comes many more mistakes; with many more mistakes comes less ability. Therefore, the greater the ability, the less the ability.

Upon hearing the emperor's decree in the dead of night, Dong Zhongshu went back to sleep. He didn't wake up until dawn the next day, and after washing up, he felt refreshed and invigorated.

Completely ignoring the murderous glare of Zhang Tang, the Minister of Justice, who had been waiting at the mansion all night, urging him repeatedly to no avail, he summoned the Crown Prince to oversee the country. Such a good opportunity to show off his achievements, since he had encountered it, it was worth waiting until the end of time.

But yesterday's cursing of the emperor and last night's torment were extremely draining on his spirit and strength. When Dong Zhongshu invited him to ride with him, Zhang Tang's weakness and the illusory figure before him could not be hidden from anyone.

"Why should the Minister of Justice care so much about what was all for nothing?" Dong Zhongshu said, helping him up.

His Majesty wants to use the Crown Prince to oversee the country and temporarily divert the world's attention, but being in the "enemy's camp," the Crown Prince will know what it's like after the Mid-Autumn Festival hunt. Given the current situation, unless His Majesty passes away, the Crown Prince will definitely not go to the capital. Even if the Crown Prince wants to risk his life, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and the twelve generals of the Northern Army will not allow it.

The temptation of being a regent is too low.

The Imperial Censor's carriage slowly drove out of Xuanwu Gate. Two other carriages had been waiting for a long time. One came from Jiaofang Palace, and the other came from the Prime Minister's residence. They walked brightly in front of the carriage.

Seeing this, Dong Zhongshu sighed deeply and asked, "What can save you, my Emperor?"
(End of this chapter)