Chapter 3

The Han imperial court, lacking the golden splendor of the Tang Dynasty and the lavish extravagance of the Ming and Qing Forbidden City, exuded a sense of simplicity and solemnity.

Walking down the corridor, Liu De noticed that the paint on many of the railings had faded, and some of the floorboards had clearly been repaired multiple times.

At the time, Xiao He, ordered to oversee the construction of the Weiyang and Changle Palaces, once told Liu Bang: "Without grandeur, there can be no majesty."

The imperial court of that era was grand and magnificent, showcasing the might of the Han emperor to all his subjects.

However, times have changed.

Liu De's grandfather, Emperor Xiaowen, was a famously frugal emperor. Once, when Liu Heng wanted to build a pavilion, he consulted the craftsmen and found that it would cost a hundred gold pieces, equivalent to the wealth of ten middle-class households. This frugal emperor promptly decided not to build it.

Even in his final moments, this emperor was still concerned about saving money, detailing in his will how to arrange his funeral to save costs.

Liu De's step-father, the current emperor, though not as frugal as Emperor Xiaowen, was still a poor child from Dai who had endured hardships.

Thus, he could inherit the legacy of the previous emperor, and during his reign, the Han imperial court saw little expansion or renovation. The Han treasury was well-stocked.

As a result, when people praised the reigns of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, they often mentioned how the state granaries were so full that the ropes tying the coins together had rotted.

However...

Liu De remembered the last time he came to Chang'an in his previous life.

The palaces were expanding...

Everywhere, workers could be seen transporting wood and stone...

The money and resources saved over decades by Emperors Wen and Jing, intended for the final battle against the Xiongnu, were being steadily drained to build Emperor Wu's Shanglin Park and Jianzhang Palace.

The costs of the war against the Xiongnu were being passed on to the common people.

Emperors Wen and Jing, in their efforts to rest and recuperate the nation, had reduced taxes and labor services for the common people.

Land taxes were reduced to one in thirty, and the age for conscription was raised from fifteen to twenty.

These measures maintained peace and allowed the common people to live in prosperity, stabilizing the Han dynasty.

However, under Emperor Wu, the benevolent policies of Emperors Wen and Jing were completely abandoned. Various taxes and levies multiplied, and to raise military funds, Emperor Wu even invented a new tax—children over three years old had to pay twenty-three coins annually.

This was something even the so-called "brutal Qin" had not done...

Thinking about this, Liu De found another reason to become emperor.

Not for himself, but for the people of the land!

Who could be more empathetic to the common people than a time traveler?

Although Liu De knew this was just his own wishful thinking.

But with this reason, his resolve became much stronger.

History has shown that even bandits, if they claim to "rob the rich to help the poor" or "act on behalf of heaven," can be more efficient in their plundering.

In human history, an organization or individual with a shiny facade may not necessarily succeed, but one without it will certainly fail.

Unconsciously, Liu De had arrived at the entrance to the sleeping quarters.

"Your Highness..." The eunuch guarding the door quickly knelt down upon seeing Liu De.

Liu De recognized the eunuch; he was Li Xin, the Grand Attendant, essentially the Queen's steward, the highest-ranking eunuch in the palace, who usually managed all the eunuchs and maids and could even discipline lower-ranking concubines.

Unfortunately...

Empress Bo was not like Empress Dou of the previous emperor...

So Empress Bo's Grand Attendant was more of a figurehead with little power.

This was evident from the fact that only Li Xin was guarding the door.

Liu De nodded and asked, "Is Mother well?"

"Your Highness, the Empress is feeling better. She has just taken some calming medicine and is now resting..." Li Xin replied respectfully.

"Take me in to see her..." Liu De whispered, "Do not disturb her!"

"Understood!" Li Xin nodded and led Liu De inside.

As soon as he entered, Liu De smelled the scent of calming sandalwood incense.

Seeing Liu De enter, several maids who had been standing in the hall made a move to bow and greet him, and to inform the Empress.

Liu De quickly placed a finger to his lips to stop them.

He walked quietly to the bed where Empress Bo lay, knelt down, and took a fan from one of the maids, gently fanning the sleeping Empress. At the same time, he observed her appearance.

Liu De remembered that in his previous life, when he was accused of filial impiety at a funeral, it was this frail woman lying on the bed who stood up to defend him.

Only she had the power and status to do so.

A single phrase, "Who has not made mistakes in their youth?" had greatly relieved the pressure on Liu De, and even helped him be enfeoffed as the King of Hejian, which would not have been possible with the stigma of filial impiety.

To be honest, Empress Bo was not a beauty.

She was merely average in appearance.

There were often rumors in the palace that unless absolutely necessary, the current emperor never spent the night in the Empress's quarters.

Of course, this was not important.

Emperor Xiaowen's mother, the current Empress Dowager, was not a beauty either; she was just a servant in the laundry room, far from being a beauty.

The current Empress Dowager Dou was beautiful in her youth, but her eyesight began to decline after the age of thirty, and now she could barely see people.

So, in the imperial harem, beauty was not the most important factor.

The Empress Dowager gave birth to Emperor Xiaowen, so she was the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Dou gave birth to Liu De's step-father, Liu Qi, so even though her eyesight was failing, she was still the Empress Dowager of the Han dynasty.

The greatest flaw and fatal weakness of Empress Bo was that she had no children, not even a daughter.

This was the most critical issue for the imperial family and her position as Empress.

Filial impiety has three aspects, and the greatest is the lack of offspring.

Not being able to bear children for the emperor was her greatest sin.

As he was thinking about these things, he heard a soft moan, and the Empress slowly woke up. Her black eyes, swollen from crying, fixed on Liu De.

Liu De quickly knelt and said, "Your son, Liu De, greets Mother!"

Empress Bo let out a long sigh, her eyes fixed on Liu De, then shifted to the fan in his hand, feeling some comfort.

She had thought that with the passing of her great-aunt, she would be completely forgotten.

But to wake up and see a prince fanning her was undoubtedly a source of warmth.

She then said softly, "I am well..."

"Are you the son of Su Ji?" Empress Bo, supported by two maids, sat up and said, "You are truly thoughtful..."

"This is what a son should do..." Liu De replied gently.

Liu De stood up, bowed, and said, "Seeing Mother well, I am at ease. I will go to the memorial hall first and visit Mother later. Please take care of yourself and bear the loss with composure."

Watching Liu De's retreating figure, Empress Bo sighed, "What a good child... Unfortunately, I do not have such good fortune..."

For years, she had been trying hard, but despite all her efforts and various methods, her belly remained flat.

Now, with the passing of her great-aunt, her heart was like dead ashes. She knew she would never have a child.

As a woman, not being able to bear children was the greatest sin, let alone as an Empress.

She understood that her position as Empress was likely to be taken away. If she was lucky, the emperor might give her a garden to live out her days; if not...

But Li Xin, standing beside her, suddenly said, "Madam, this third prince is a filial child. If you have the heart, perhaps you could test him. If you could adopt him, you would not be alone in the future..."

"This..." Over the years, Empress Bo had thought about adopting a son, but her attempts to approach other concubines had been met with rejection. With the Empress Dowager still alive, she had no chance. Now, with the Empress Dowager gone, she had even less hope.

However, Li Xin's words touched a nerve.

If she could adopt a son...

This thought, once planted, grew like a vine in her mind.

Although she knew that with the Empress Dowager's passing, whatever she did would be like drinking poison to quench thirst.

But like a drowning person, she would grasp at any straw.

...

Note: I couldn't find how people in the Western Han addressed the Empress, so I used the term "Madam" based on the common practice of calling other people's wives "Madam."

PS: There will be another update tonight.

Thank you to Zang Long Mo Jun for the support.