When Tuoba Yilu discovered Tuoba Liuxiu had disappeared, he immediately dragged Liu Kun along to request an audience with Zhao Hanzhang.
Inside Deyang Hall, Zhao Hanzhang had just finished talking with Tuoba Liuxiu when she heard the commotion outside.
Lai Qing ran in with cold sweat dripping, kneeling and saying, “Your Majesty, Governor Liu and the King of Dai request an audience.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded to indicate she understood, and was in no hurry. She relaxed her expression and said to Tuoba Liuxiu, “Do you want to leave the palace to rest, or stay in the palace to wait for the palace banquet?”
The palace banquet started at the hour of the dog, but entry verification began at the hour of the rooster. At this time, there was only half an hour until the hour of the rooster—just enough time for him to return and change clothes.
Tuoba Liuxiu didn’t have as many Han rituals, so he said, “I wish to remain in the palace.”
Zhao Hanzhang then said to Lai Qing, “Take the crown prince out through the back and escort him to a side hall to rest. Do not neglect him.”
Tuoba Liuxiu rose but hesitated, unwilling to leave.
Zhao Hanzhang stood and patted his shoulder, saying, “Since your mother entrusted you to me on her deathbed, I naturally won’t fail her.”
Tuoba Liuxiu’s eyes reddened. He choked up as he bowed. “Yes, Aunt.”
Only then did he withdraw with Lai Qing.
Zeng Yue blocked them, his face stern as he warned, “Governor Liu, King of Dai, His Majesty is resting. There shall be no disturbance in the palace!”
Liu Kun said, “We are requesting an audience with His Majesty. If you report it, why would we cause a disturbance?”
Zeng Yue said, “Attendant Lai has already gone to report. Now please step back three paces and wait quietly. If you make more noise, I will expel you from the palace.”
Tuoba Yilu was being treated with such disrespect for the first time. His face flushed red with anger as he raged, “Just a retainer, yet you rely on someone’s power like a dog…”
Zhao Hanzhang opened the hall doors and walked out, coldly staring at Tuoba Yilu. “Is the King of Dai dissatisfied with my commander of the Imperial Guards, or dissatisfied with me?”
Tuoba Yilu’s belly full of curses was blocked. He lowered his head to admit his fault. “In my urgency, I spoke rashly. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness. Your Majesty, I have urgent matters to report.”
Liu Kun also hurriedly pleaded for him. “Your Majesty, the matter between the King of Dai and his son concerns national order and also relates to the moral principles of the realm. Please allow us to report.”
Zhao Ming and Ji Yuan and others, having changed their clothes, arrived. Seeing this situation, they were about to step forward when Zhao Hanzhang shook her head slightly at them, glanced at Zeng Yue, then turned back into the hall. “Come in.”
Liu Kun breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pulled Tuoba Yilu to follow.
Zeng Yue stepped forward to open the hall doors, sent four guards inside for protection, and quietly sent someone to fetch the court historians to have them enter and record.
Only then did he step forward and say to Zhao Ming and the others, “Please wait in the side hall, gentlemen.”
Zhao Ming had originally wanted to help Fu Tinghan in the rear palace after changing clothes, but unexpectedly Zhao Hanzhang was discussing state matters at this time. He only came upon hearing the commotion.
He turned his head to ask Ji Yuan, “His Majesty is deciding on Dai’s affairs at this time?”
Not waiting until after the palace banquet to deliberate?
Ji Yuan said, “His Majesty is not in a hurry, but the King of Dai seems very urgent. His Majesty has always been someone who eagerly helps others with their urgent needs, so naturally she will attend to what urgently concerns the King of Dai.”
Zhao Ming: …
He silently went with Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, and others to the side hall to wait.
Zhao Hanzhang’s face was stern. Today was clearly her enthronement ceremony, but looking at her now, she didn’t appear happy at all.
This made Liu Kun and Tuoba Yilu, who wanted to take advantage of her good mood to resolve matters, feel somewhat uneasy.
There were several more people in the hall, but neither Liu Kun nor Tuoba Yilu paid attention. After all, this was Deyang Hall, and now that Zhao Hanzhang had proclaimed herself emperor, she couldn’t be without attendants.
The guards all stood silently at their posts, not conspicuous. Even less conspicuous were the court historians—this was an invisible profession. They not only couldn’t attract the attention of the guests and ministers in the hall, but also had to avoid drawing the emperor’s attention as much as possible.
So no one looked at the few additional people. Lai Qing also quietly entered to stand at Zhao Hanzhang’s side awaiting instructions.
Zhao Hanzhang sat behind the dragon desk, quietly looking at Tuoba Yilu and Liu Kun.
Liu Kun was first to kneel, bowing his head and saying, “Your Majesty, Dai is a vassal state of our Hua nation. The sovereign nation has the responsibility to implement moral education. Now in Dai there has occurred such a greatly rebellious matter as a son rebelling against his father, a son beating his father—the sovereign nation cannot sit idly by.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked at Tuoba Yilu. “King of Dai, is this so?”
Tuoba Yilu also knelt and tearfully complained to Zhao Hanzhang about Tuoba Liuxiu’s misdeeds from childhood to the present, especially this time when he actually sent troops to capture his own father and even wanted to commit patricide to seize power. This was greatly rebellious.
When speaking of how Tuoba Liuxiu tried to strangle him to death, Tuoba Yilu shed tears in grief, deeply sorrowful.
Liu Kun was a person of abundant emotions. Hearing this, his face showed anger. He cried along with Tuoba Yilu and said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Please, Your Majesty, severely punish Tuoba Liuxiu.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “I heard that Tuoba Liuxiu had a fine horse to present to me, but the King of Dai ordered him to give the horse to Tuoba Biyan instead. Is this true or not?”
Both Tuoba Yilu and Liu Kun’s crying paused. Liu Kun turned his head to glance at Tuoba Yilu and had no choice but to plead for him. “Perhaps it was because the King of Dai had an even better gift he wanted to present to Your Majesty.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded and continued asking, “Why did the King of Dai make Tuoba Liuxiu kneel before Tuoba Biyan? In this world, there is reason for a younger brother to bow to an elder brother, but where is the reason for an elder brother to bow to a younger brother?”
Liu Kun also couldn’t find a reason and could only remain silent, waiting for Tuoba Yilu to explain himself.
Tuoba Yilu chose to tell the truth. “I wanted to formally designate Tuoba Biyan as crown prince. The crown prince is most honored, so naturally Liuxiu should bow to Tuoba Biyan.”
“Formal designation is the right and duty of the court,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “The court has not agreed to designate Tuoba Biyan.”
Tuoba Yilu said, “I am only satisfied with Tuoba Biyan.”
Zhao Hanzhang sighed and asked, “Even if you were dissatisfied with him and humiliated him, he is your son. Whatever faults he has, he should endure them. But why did you have to kill his mother?”
Tuoba Yilu knew that killing his wife was a crime. He quickly said, “I have already deposed Yi Nalou Zao. She is no longer my wife.”
Zhao Hanzhang said sternly, “What evil did she commit to deserve your deposing her?”
Tuoba Yilu opened and closed his mouth, stammering, “She didn’t respect me.”
Seeing that he couldn’t explain for a long time how she didn’t respect him, Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes filled with disappointment.
Liu Kun was also very disappointed and couldn’t help saying, “Elder brother! Lady Yi Nalou accompanied you from Shengle City to Pingcheng. For twenty years through wind and rain, sharing joys and sorrows together—how can you depose her over a verbal dispute? This is unrighteous!”
Zhao Hanzhang delivered the final blow. “Yi Nalou Zao is Tuoba Liuxiu’s mother. You killed his mother—the hatred of killing one’s mother—as a son, do you want him to avenge it or not?”
“If he doesn’t avenge her, he is unworthy as a son. If he seeks revenge, he becomes a patricidal rebellious son.” Zhao Hanzhang slammed the table hard and angrily said, “King of Dai, you have trapped your son in unfiliality and unrighteousness. Is that child your enemy that you frame him so?”
Liu Kun suddenly understood why Zhao Hanzhang favored Tuoba Liuxiu. Analyzed this way, Tuoba Yilu was indeed unworthy as a husband and unworthy as a father.
Upon hearing this, Tuoba Yilu quickly defended himself. “Your Majesty, Yi Nalou Zao was not killed by me. She was killed by Kezuhun Sun.”