northernbook Chapter 132 Pig King
Chapter 132 Pig King
This fat man was none other than Liu Kun's second elder brother, Liu Huan, the Prince of Xiangyang. He had completely lost his former nobility and demeanor.
It is said that because of Liu Kun's policy of weakening the power of the princes, Liu Huan was summoned to Jiankang and fell into the hands of He Songzhi. He was falsely accused of treason and suffered inhuman torture in the Ministry of Justice prison, teetering on the brink of life and death several times.
Fortunately, Liu Huan still had good relationships with the court officials, and many of them pleaded for his life. Although he was spared death, Liu Kun, under the guise of mockery, dubbed him the "Pig King" because of his obesity and imprisoned him in a pigsty, isolating him from the world.
Not far away, Liu Kun, Yu Jin, and He Songzhi stood side by side, their faces bearing contemptuous and smug smiles, as if they were admiring the most interesting scenery in the world.
Beside them, Liu Kun's favorite concubine, Consort Pan, also joined in this immoral spectacle. Her face was beautiful yet indifferent, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and amusement. She seemed to feel no discomfort or sympathy for the scene before her.
At that moment, Liu Kun's decisive move to weaken the power of the princes shocked the entire imperial family and the court. For a time, life became difficult for all the princes surnamed Liu.
He Songzhi, the Minister of Justice known for his ruthlessness, became Liu Kun's sharpest sword. He was adept at fabricating charges, weaving seemingly insignificant details into a deadly net. No matter how cautious the feudal lords were in ordinary times, they could hardly escape this meticulously crafted trap.
Liu You, the Prince of Shanyang, was a prince known for his caution and low-key demeanor. He was not immune to the web of crimes woven by He Songzhi. Overnight, Liu You went from being the Prince of Shanyang to the "King of Bandits," and his fiefdom was forcibly stripped of three counties, leaving him only with bitterness and helplessness.
The fate of Liu Yigong, the Prince of Jiangxia, was even more tumultuous. He once commanded a large army and was renowned for his power. However, under Liu Kun's policy of weakening the power of the princes, even he could not escape unscathed. His territory of ten commanderies was stripped away, and he was given the title of "King of Slaughter," a title that seemed to be an irony of his past glory.
In this storm of weakening the power of the vassal kings, none of the dozen or so princes escaped unscathed. The most tragic of them all was Liu Kun's third brother, Liu Jing, the Prince of Jiangdu. This prince, who was once considered a strong contender for the throne, was falsely accused of treason and tortured to death in a death row cell by He Songzhi.
Liu Kun's gaze pierced through the layers of iron bars and landed on Liu Huan, who was huddled in the corner. A smug smile appeared on his lips as he ordered, "Go quickly and prepare the best feed for our pig king. We can't skimp on it."
Soon, a soldier brought out a worn-out bowl filled with thin porridge that was covered in green mold and emitted a pungent stench. He carefully placed it in front of Liu Huan; a few drops of undried grime still clung to the rim of the bowl, making it look particularly disgusting.
Liu Huan felt a churning in his stomach and almost vomited at the sight, but he held back, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—anger, humiliation, and helplessness in the face of fate.
Upon seeing this, Liu Kun clapped his hands and laughed, his voice tinged with madness: "Haha, Pig King, hurry up and eat, this is a special reward from me."
Liu Huan forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, I am truly flattered. However, I am already full. As you can see, my belly is round and full; how could I possibly have any more of this 'delicious food'?"
As he spoke, he deliberately patted his sunken belly, trying to defuse the awkward situation with humor.
Liu Kun's face instantly darkened, a flash of anger crossing his eyes: "Pig King, are you really full?"
Liu Huan took a deep breath, his eyes resolute: "Your Majesty, I have indeed eaten just now. Although it was not lavish, it was enough to fill my stomach."
Upon hearing this, Liu Kun was so angry that he laughed. He suddenly flicked his sleeve and shouted, "Guards! Cut open the pig king's belly for me! I want to see with my own eyes whether he is really full!"
At this moment, two warriors clad in iron armor with stern faces, wielding gleaming long swords, walked straight toward Liu Huan, who was huddled in the pigsty.
As the warriors approached, Liu Huan felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart, and his breathing became rapid and labored. His legs trembled, and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing desperately and shouting, "Your Majesty, spare my life! I know my crime! I will eat now!"
As he spoke, he picked up the bowl of moldy porridge with trembling hands and forced down mouthfuls of the moldy rice.
Liu Kun witnessed this scene, a complex and enigmatic smile playing on his lips. He slowly turned around, his gaze sharp as he looked at He Songzhi beside him.
"Matsuyuki, how is the reduction of the power of the feudal lords progressing?"
Upon hearing this, He Songzhi immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, most of the princes from various regions have already been summoned to the capital. I have dealt with them accordingly in accordance with the decree to demonstrate the power of the court. However, only Prince Liu Xun of Jin'an and Prince Liu Yixuan of Jingling have been reluctant to come to Jiankang, as if they intend to disobey the order."
Upon hearing this, Liu Kun frowned, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Hmph, give them both a month to come to Jiankang. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless and showing no mercy."
As soon as Liu Kun finished speaking, he gently took the hand of his favorite concubine, Consort Pan, and the two of them walked slowly into the secluded and winding path of the back garden in the afterglow of the setting sun.
All around, flowers bloomed in profusion, and butterflies fluttered about. Their footsteps were particularly clear in this tranquil garden.
Just as the two were immersed in this tranquility and beauty, an unusual figure quietly came into view. It was a woman with a graceful figure, standing before a sea of vibrant flowers, her back slender and elegant, like a fairy stepping out of a painting. As she slowly turned around, a voluptuous and beautiful face was revealed before them. It was none other than the late emperor's favorite concubine—Lu Huilan.
Time seems to have been exceptionally kind to her. Although she is nearing forty, Lu Huilan still maintains an amazing figure, with skin as smooth and delicate as jade, showing no signs of aging. Her eyes possess both the gentle grace that comes with age and the liveliness of a young girl. Every gesture she makes exudes a mature charm that transcends her years, like a blooming peony, both beautiful and elegant, inspiring longing in all who behold her.
Liu Kun's gaze was instantly drawn to Lu Huilan. He seemed to be pulled by some kind of magic, and his feet moved forward involuntarily.
Upon seeing this, Lu Huilan curtsied slightly, her voice gentle as a spring breeze: "Your Majesty, I greet you."
Liu Kun then came to his senses and quickly stepped forward, extending his hand to help her up. His smile was filled with respect and warmth: "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities. The scenery here is so beautiful that I've unexpectedly encountered such a lovely lady."
Standing to the side, Consort Pan, being an exceptionally intelligent woman, immediately noticed the unusual expression on Liu Kun's face. In a magnanimous and tactful manner, she said, "Your Majesty and the Dowager Consort must have something to discuss. It would be inconvenient for me to be here, so I will take my leave now."
After speaking, she gave a slight bow, turned and left with light steps.
For a moment, only Liu Kun and Lu Huilan remained in the back garden. Everything around them seemed to stand still, with only their breathing and the occasional chirping of birds in the distance.