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

Chapter 76 Auspicious
"My money!"

Liu Che's roar echoed through the clouds, "I have exhausted all my efforts and lost all face to deal with the deficit in the national treasury, and I was even on the verge of losing the throne, only to become a stepping stone for those two rats, Yan Yi and Zhao Yu! My money! That's my money!"

At this point, he grabbed the stack of memorials on the Chang'an Incident and slammed them to the ground. His face was ashen, his breathing quickened, and sweat poured down his forehead.

"His Majesty."

The emperor's favorites all changed their expressions and called out to go and help him.

Liu Che rolled his eyes, deterring everyone, and spat out two words through gritted teeth, "elixir."

He retired due to illness and left the palace.

Liu Che knew he wasn't sick, and he certainly wouldn't take the cooling medicine prescribed by the imperial physician Yi Shuo. To maintain appearances and for the sake of his health, the alchemist's elixir became the only option.

Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che) was a notoriously lustful emperor. Even after arriving at Ganquan Palace, he still indulged in singing and dancing. However, he was nearing forty and, after working tirelessly all night, was inevitably feeling the effects. The wonders of elixirs lay in his heart.

"Let's call the imperial physician," said Wuqiu Shouwang nervously.

Elixirs, that thing.

Only emperors seek recognition, and the people of the world saw through the true nature of those alchemists after the death of Qin Shi Huang.

I'm probably going to have a lifelong chance of being cured by elixirs.

When Your Majesty is healthy, taking some pills is nothing, but with the change in Your Majesty's appearance, even if I, Prince Qiu Shou, do not understand the medical diagnostic methods of observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, I know that Your Majesty may really be ill.

Calling the imperial physician would be more reliable.

Chun Tuo, Su Wen, and other eunuchs were also at a loss, not knowing whose advice to follow.

"You...you want me dead...the pills!" Liu Che's face gradually darkened.

Chun Tuo dared not delay. He rushed to the dragon bed, opened the jade box, took out two bright red pills, and ran back, shouting, "The pills are here! The pills are here!"

In front of the emperor, Chun Tuo first swallowed a pill, then put another pill into His Majesty's mouth, supporting His Majesty's neck with one hand and taking the water bowl with the other to feed him.

Liu Che swallowed the pill with great effort, wrapped in water. After the pill was swallowed, it was not long before everyone saw that the sweat on the dragon's head slowly stopped, and the gray-black color of the dragon's face turned red, but it was not a normal red, but more like the red of blood rushing to the head!
His Majesty has recovered his spirits and looks better than ever before.

King Wuqiu Shou has witnessed the final moments of lucidity in a dying person. Although I cannot curse Your Majesty, I must admit it seems so.

Seeing the indifferent attitude of his favored ministers, King Wuqiu Shou was filled with sorrow.

Liu Che looked at Prince Wuqiu Shou and said, "Mei Gao said that you vomited blood and collapsed during the court meeting. Before you had recovered from your serious illness, you braved the wind and snow to come to the palace. Your loyalty is rare. Chun Tuo."

"The servant is here."

"Bring me another pill."

"Yes."

Chun Tuo returned, and Wu Qiu Shou Wang gazed at the elixir filled with His Majesty's warmth and kindness. At this moment, words seemed inadequate. He extended three slender fingers to take the elixir, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it with water. Instantly, he felt as if his physical ailments had vanished, replaced by a joy, or rather, pleasure, unseen for many years, rushing straight to the top of his head. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing this elixir." "I must return to court."

Liu Che's voice was firm, "I cannot wait any longer."

He was well aware of the people's suffering, and he knew very well who in the world was wealthy. He also knew that merchants profited from government policies and exploited the people. But for the sake of his military prowess, he had no choice but to do so. Only when merchants were closely united around him could the court mobilize countless resources in a short period of time to support his annual campaigns against the Xiongnu and other barbarian tribes.

Water has its source, and trees have their roots. The deaths of his grandfather and father left him uncertain about his lifespan. In the more than seventy years since the founding of the Han Dynasty, there has never been a truly long-lived ruler.

The reigns of emperors were increasingly shorter, and the necessary sacrifices were worthwhile for the sake of unparalleled military prowess.

Of course, Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che) did not intend to let the merchants go, or more accurately, he did not intend to let go of anyone who could profit from them. However, the purge of merchants was relegated to a very low priority.

But he never expected that the Crown Prince would first settle scores with him, completely negating his twenty-year reign and delivering a heavy blow to his "partners".

Three taxes and one.

Even when Shang Yang implemented reforms in Qin, he didn't collect as much tax as the Crown Prince. Most importantly, the Crown Prince held military power and the Prime Minister's office. If even the wealthiest merchants of the Han Dynasty dared to resist taxes, their fate was self-evident.

If they don't return to the capital soon, and the Crown Prince thoroughly purges the major merchants in the country and cultivates new Han merchants, the allocation of resources in the country will no longer be up to the emperor.

Imagine how miserable an emperor would be without money or resources; it's chilling to even think about it.

"Your Majesty, the time was too short..."

Wuqiu Shouwang looked troubled. Winter hadn't even passed yet, and the people of the world could hardly forget the blood of their relatives at the execution ground by the Wei River. Liu Che took over the conversation, saying, "It's the Crown Prince who's too quick."

A little dirt is better than nothing.

“If Your Majesty wishes to return to court, you must first announce to the world that your health has been restored and that you have received Heaven’s forgiveness. But how can the world believe that?” King Wuqiu Shou fell into deep thought.

If it were a common illness, any imperial physician could "confirm" that there was no problem. But since it concerns the will of Heaven, the imperial physician's opinion is no longer valid; only Heaven has the final say.

How can Heaven speak?
“Your Majesty, there will be auspicious omens,” Prince Wuqiu Shou said again. “If auspicious omens descend upon Ganquan Palace, Your Majesty’s health will be restored…”

"It's too deliberate."

Dong Zhongshu couldn't help but remind Prince Wuqiu Shou, "Your Majesty has shown no intention of praying for Heaven's forgiveness, no intention of praying for the country and the people, and no intention of repenting. Such auspicious omens will only allow the Crown Prince to reap the rewards."

In this world, no school of thought is better at profiting from gods, ghosts, heaven, and earth than Confucianism, and no one is better at it than him, the one who "interacts with heaven and man."

If auspicious omens were to appear at Ganquan Palace now, the imperial court, specifically the Crown Prince's court, would immediately announce that the new policies had been approved by Heaven, and that Heaven had bestowed these auspicious omens.

Ganquan Palace is merely a detached palace of the Han Dynasty. It doesn't matter who is there or not. Can Your Majesty prove that the auspicious omens were sent to you by Heaven?
The fact that both sides have their own version of events only shows that His Majesty has no intention of repenting and reforming. If the Crown Prince could return power to the Emperor, then Dong Zhongshu would be the one to take over.

Liu Che glanced at Prince Wuqiu Shou, then at Dong Zhongshu, as if he understood something, and said, "Please teach me, sir!"

"The New Year has arrived. According to ancient custom, there should be five altars in Yongdi: Mi Altar, Fu Altar, Xia Altar, Shang Altar, and Bei Altar. These altars are used to inform the Green Emperor, White Emperor, Red Emperor, Yellow Emperor, and Black Emperor. Your Majesty, despite your illness, went to offer sacrifices, confessed your sins to Heaven and Earth, and prayed for the well-being of all people. Your sincerity was utmost. On your return journey, auspicious omens leaped onto the dragon chariot... In this way, Your Majesty's return to power can be expected."

(End of this chapter)