Shuhan

The Taiji Hall in the Han Imperial Palace is magnificent with carved beams and painted buildings.

Huge nanmu pillars support the towering roof of the hall, and the glazed tiles sparkle brightly in the sunlight shining through the window lattices.

Inside the hall, the scent of sandalwood curls around, creating a solemn and slightly depressing atmosphere.

The Emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Chan, was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown on his head. He sat upright on the dragon throne with a calm face but eyes that revealed deep thought.

Crown Prince Liu Si rashly entered the palace to persuade Liu Chan to stop the land measurement, which made Liu Chan full of doubts.

He knew very well that the prince was usually calm and would not do such a thing without reason.

After thinking for a moment, he gently raised his hand and called out, "Come here, Xuan Zhouche."

The voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying with it unquestionable majesty.

Soon, a woman in gorgeous palace clothing walked slowly into the hall.

She has a graceful figure, a pretty face, and eyes like a clear spring, revealing agility and intelligence.

This person is the concubine Zhou Che, who is in charge of the military affairs. In this palace, her influence is like an invisible net, with its tentacles extending to every corner.

Zhou Che walked up to Liu Chan, bowed slightly, saluted, and said softly: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Liu Chan nodded slightly, motioned her to stand up, and said: "The prince came today and persuaded me to stop measuring the land. This is very strange. I summoned you to ask if there have been any unusual events recently, especially those related to the East Palace."

Zhou Che heard this, and a subtle light flashed in her eyes. She took a few steps forward and came behind Liu Chan. She stretched out her slender hands and gently helped Liu Chan to massage his back and shoulders, saying, "Your Majesty, many ministers knelt outside the East Palace today and begged. The prince was moved by them, so he came to persuade Your Majesty."

Her voice was gentle, like a spring breeze, but it stirred waves in Liu Chan's heart.

Liu Chan frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure appeared on his originally peaceful face, and said, "If someone goes to beg on his knees, will he agree?"

There was dissatisfaction with the prince's performance in his tone.

As the crown prince, he was disappointed that he was so easily influenced by his subjects.

Zhou Che sensed the change in Liu Chan's mood, paused for a moment, and continued, "I heard that the Second Prince was also in the East Palace at that time."

When Liu Chan heard this, his body, which was originally leaning on the back of the chair, suddenly stiffened. He was stunned for a moment, and then asked: "He is here, what did he say?"

The second prince Liu Xuan was usually extremely intelligent and meticulous. When he appeared in the East Palace and this incident happened, Liu Chan intuitively felt that this matter was not simple.

Zhou Che was silent for a moment, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, and he said, "I don't know either."

Her voice was much lower than before, as if she was deliberately avoiding something.

"I don't know?" Liu Chan snorted coldly, his voice full of doubt.

Under his control, the Jianjunsi had enormous power and many spies, even more powerful than the Jinyiwei of later generations. His minions were densely distributed inside and outside the palace and in the court. There was almost no news that they could not find out.

Now that Zhou Che said he didn't know the situation in the Eastern Palace at that time, how could Liu Chan believe it.

Liu Chan's eyes became sharp, staring at Zhou Che closely, as if he wanted to see through her, and said, "It was the Second Prince who said something!"

He already had a guess in his mind that the Second Prince must have played a role in fueling the situation.

Liu Chan leaned back on the dragon chair and sighed softly. As the princes grew up, would the struggle for the throne hidden in the dark finally begin?
He felt annoyed and put his hand to his forehead, shaking his head gently.

As an emperor, he should be high above everyone else, in control of everything, but now, facing the possible fights between his sons, he feels exhausted.

But he knew very well that if this matter was not resolved, there would be endless troubles.

He immediately sat up straight and said loudly: "Come here, tell someone to summon the second prince into the palace."

The voice was firm and powerful, and it echoed in the hall for a long time.

At this time, in another part of the imperial palace, in the East Palace.

The second prince Liu Xuan was sitting in the study with a book in his hand. He seemed to be reading seriously, but in fact his mind had already drifted away.

He looked out the window from time to time, as if waiting for something.

The candlelight on the desk swayed gently, illuminating his young and handsome face. At this moment, there was a hint of smugness on his face.

"Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to the palace." A young eunuch hurried into the study and knelt down to report.

When Liu Xuan heard this, a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He put down the book in his hand, stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "Got it. Lead the way."

The voice was steady, without a trace of nervousness.

Along the way, Liu Xuan had a lot of thoughts in his mind.

He knew that the reason His Majesty summoned him to the palace this time was because the Crown Prince was trying to persuade him to transfer land.

He wondered secretly whether what he said in the East Palace had been leaked?
How will Your Majesty deal with him?
But he also knew in his heart that things had come to this point and he could only fight back against the enemy with his troops and block the water with earth.

When he arrived outside the Taiji Hall, Liu Xuan took a deep breath, calmed himself, and then walked steadily into the hall.

He came before Liu Chan, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Father."

The voice is loud and full of vitality.

Liu Chan looked at the second prince kneeling on the ground, his eyes gazing back and forth at him.

After a long while, he said, "Get up."

Liu Xuan stood up, lowered his head, and waited for Liu Chan's questions.

"Today, the Crown Prince came to persuade me to stop measuring the land. I heard that you were also in the East Palace at that time. Do you know about this?"

Liu Chan's voice was calm, and no emotion could be heard.

Liu Xuan's heart tightened, but his face remained calm, and he said, "My father, I was indeed in the East Palace today. At that time, those ministers were kneeling outside the palace to beg, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was worried. I was just standing by to comfort His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

As he spoke, he secretly observed Liu Chan's expression.

Liu Chan narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, and said: "Comfort? I think you have ulterior motives. Tell me the truth, what did you say to make the prince do such a foolish thing?"

Liu Chan's voice became louder, more majestic and questioning.

Liu Xuan was shocked, knowing that his plan might have been discovered by his father.

He knelt down again with a plop and said, "Father, please understand. I have absolutely no such intention. I just think that as the crown prince, you should follow the will of the people, so..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Liu Chan.

"Follow the will of the people? Humph, those officials are only pursuing their own selfish interests, how can they say they follow the will of the people. As a prince, you don't want to share the country's worries, but you are here to sow discord between the Crown Prince and me. Do you know your crime?"

Liu Chan's voice was full of anger. He clenched the armrests of the dragon throne with both hands, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

Liu Xuan lowered his head, not daring to look Liu Chan in the eye, and said, "I know I was wrong, please punish me, father."

He was filled with remorse. He didn't expect that his plan would be seen through by his father so quickly.

Liu Chan looked at the second prince kneeling on the ground with mixed feelings.

He was angry at the second prince's behavior, but also felt sorry for his intelligence.

He knew very well that if the fighting between the princes was not stopped, it would lead to turmoil in the court and unrest in the country.

"Since this is your first offense, I will not punish you severely today. But you must remember not to do such foolish things again in the future. If you do it again, I will not let you off easily."

Liu Chan's voice gradually calmed down, but the majesty in it did not diminish in the slightest.

"I will follow my father's instructions." The atmosphere in the Taiji Hall of the Han Dynasty Palace was solemn and depressing. The hall was magnificent with carved beams and painted buildings, and huge dragon pillars reached the top of the hall, but at this moment, it seemed to be chilly.

The sunlight shone through the glazed windows onto the ground, forming patches of mottled light and shadows, but it could not dispel the uneasiness in the heart of the Second Prince Liu Xuan.

Liu Chan sat upright on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, a crown on his head, and his face looked majestic.

He stared at the Second Prince standing below with a sharp gaze, and slowly said, "My son, I want to ask you, how are your studies going? Have you made any progress in martial arts and military strategy?"

Liu Chan's voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the empty hall.

When Liu Xuan heard this, his body tensed slightly. Having just been punished, he did not dare to slack off at this moment.

He straightened his back and replied respectfully, "Father, I have completed all my studies on time and never slacked off. As for martial arts and military strategy, these are exactly what I excel in, and I have received excellent reviews in all aspects."

When Liu Xuan said this, a hint of confidence flashed in his eyes. He raised his head slightly and met Liu Chan's gaze.

Liu Chan nodded slightly, his expression softened a little, and said, "I know that you like martial arts and have some talent. Now, I have something to entrust to you."

Liu Chan paused slightly and looked outside the hall, as if thinking about something.

Liu Xuan's heart tightened, and an inexplicable sense of uneasiness surged in his heart.

He subconsciously clenched his fists, and his palms were slightly sweaty.

"You should not stay in Luoyang. Go to Chang'an and work under the Minister of the Chancellery Fa Zheng, and be responsible for managing the Western Regions."

Liu Chan's voice was not loud, but it was like a thunder, exploding in Liu Xuan's ears.

Liu Xuan's face suddenly changed when he heard this, and his eyes were full of shock. His lips trembled slightly, and he hurriedly said, "Father, your son...did you hear me correctly? Go to Chang'an to manage the Western Regions?" There was a hint of disbelief in his voice.

Liu Chan looked at Liu Xuan's reaction with a calm expression. He nodded again and said, "Yes, I asked you to go to Chang'an. Now that the Han Dynasty is gradually becoming stable, the next step is to expand outward. The Western Regions are of great strategic significance. I want to incorporate them into the territory of the Han Dynasty."

Liu Chan's eyes showed firmness and determination.

Liu Xuan had a lot of thoughts in his mind. On the one hand, he felt as if a heavy burden was placed on his shoulders.

Managing the Western Regions is such an arduous task. If you are not careful, it may trigger a war and affect the destiny of the Han Dynasty.

But on the other hand, a sense of loss welled up in his heart.

Did my father send him to such a remote place because he didn't want him to get involved in the throne?

Once this thought arose in my mind, it grew like a weed.

Liu Xuan lowered his head, trying to hide his complicated expression.

He took a deep breath and said, "Father, I will do my best to live up to your trust. But... I still have some doubts in my heart."

Liu Xuan raised his head, looking at Liu Chan with a hint of expectation in his eyes. "Just say it."

Liu Chan raised his hand slightly, signaling Liu Xuan to continue. "I am going to Chang'an, far away from the court. If there is any urgent military information, how can I report it to the emperor in time? Moreover, Chang'an is far away from Luoyang. I am afraid that it will be difficult for me to understand the emperor's will."

Liu Xuan said cautiously. Liu Chan smiled and said, "Don't worry, my son. I will make proper arrangements and set up special post roads to ensure that military information can be transmitted in time. As for the imperial edict, Shangshu Ling Fa Zheng is my most trusted minister, and he will convey my intention to you. You just need to do your work with peace of mind and do everything according to the plan."

There was soothing in Liu Chan's voice.

Liu Xuan felt relieved and knelt down again, saying, "I will follow your father's instructions."

He raised his head and looked at Liu Chan, his eyes full of determination: "I will definitely expand the territory for our Han Dynasty and live up to the mission."

Liu Chan looked at Liu Xuan kneeling on the ground, and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.

He stood up, stepped down from the throne, came to Liu Xuan, held out his hand to help him up, and said, "My son, you have been smart since childhood, and I have high hopes for you. It is inevitable that you will encounter difficulties and obstacles on your way to Chang'an, but I believe you are capable of dealing with them. The Western Regions are rich in resources. If you can manage them properly, our Han Dynasty will surely become stronger."

Liu Chan patted Liu Xuan's shoulder heavily, as if conveying strength.

Liu Xuan felt the strength of Liu Chan's palm, and a sense of pride surged in his heart. He looked at Liu Chan again and said, "Father, rest assured, I will do my best until my death."

Liu Chan nodded and sat back on the dragon throne. He looked at Liu Xuan and said, "You go back and prepare. We will set off for Chang'an in three days. I will order people to prepare all the necessary supplies. Just go ahead and go."

Liu Xuan bowed, turned around and slowly walked out of the Taiji Hall.

The moment he walked out of the palace, he looked back at the towering palace with mixed feelings.

After this trip, he didn’t know when he would be able to return to Luoyang, and he didn’t know what fate would await him in the future.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell softly on the glazed tiles of the imperial palace like golden gauze, and the entire palace complex seemed to be covered with a layer of magnificent halo.

The second prince Liu Xuan walked with slightly heavy steps towards the palace where his mother Guan Yinping was.

His figure was stretched out along the long palace road, with a sense of loneliness and melancholy.

On both sides of the palace road, palace lanterns have gradually lit up, and the hazy warm light swayed in the breeze, but it failed to dispel the haze in Liu Xuan's heart.

His brows were furrowed, his eyes were full of confusion and unwillingness, and his mind kept echoing with his father's decision to send him to Chang'an to manage the Western Regions.

Arriving at the palace gate, Liu Xuan took a deep breath, tidied up his slightly messy clothes, and walked in.

Inside the palace, candles were lit brightly and the air was filled with a faint scent of incense. Guan Yinping was sitting in front of a desk, holding a book and reading quietly.

She was dressed in a plain palace dress, with an elegant posture and a dignified and beautiful face. The traces of time left on her face only added a bit of mature charm.

Hearing the footsteps, Guan Yinping looked up and saw that it was Liu Xuan. Concern immediately appeared in her eyes.

"Son, why are you here today? You look so bad?" She put down the book in her hand, stood up and walked towards Liu Xuan.

Liu Xuan walked up to Guan Yinping, knelt on the ground with a plop, and said with a choked voice: "Mother, I came here to tell you something important."

Guan Yinping quickly helped him up, pulled him to sit on a chair beside her, and said gently, "Don't worry, tell your mother slowly."

Liu Xuan calmed himself down and recounted in detail the conversation he had with his father in the Taiji Hall today.

From his father asking about his studies and martial arts, to the sudden decision to send him to Chang'an to manage the Western Regions under the Shangshu Ling Fa Zheng, no detail was missed.

Guan Yinping listened quietly with a calm expression, only frowning slightly when she heard the key point.

After Liu Xuan finished speaking, Guan Yinping sighed softly and said, "Son, this may be your father's painstaking effort. When you go to Chang'an, you must make a career and stop thinking about competing for the position of crown prince."

Her voice was gentle, but it was full of unquestionable firmness. Liu Xuan raised his head and looked at Guan Yinping, his eyes full of unwillingness.

"Mother, I am not coveting the position of crown prince. I just feel that father's move seems to be intentionally excluding me from the succession to the throne. I think I am no worse than the crown prince, so why..." His voice gradually became low, and tears flashed in his eyes.

Guan Yinping reached out her hand, gently stroked Liu Xuan's cheek, and said, "Son, your father is the king of a country, so his thoughts are naturally profound. Now the Han Dynasty wants to conquer the Western Regions, which is a national event and a heavy responsibility. Your father sent you there because he values ​​your ability and believes that you can make contributions to the Han Dynasty."

Liu Xuan lowered his head slightly, but the unwillingness in his heart was still surging like a tide.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force. "Mother, I understand, but it's just hard to let go."

He whispered. Guan Yinping looked at Liu Xuan, her eyes full of love and pity.

"My son, in this world, there are gains and losses. If you can achieve something in Chang'an, you will also be remembered in history and benefit the people of the Han Dynasty. Don't be obsessed with the fight for the throne, which will only lead you into endless pain and disputes."

She said earnestly. Liu Xuan raised his head and looked at Guan Yinping. The reluctance in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of determination.

He nodded and said, "Mother, I will listen to you. I will do my best to live up to the expectations of my father and mother when I go to Chang'an."

Guan Yinping smiled with relief and said, "That's good. Go back and make good preparations. The journey to Chang'an is long and difficult. But mother believes that you will be able to overcome all difficulties."

Liu Xuan stood up, bowed to Guan Yinping again, turned around and walked out of the palace.

At this time, it was late at night and the moonlight sprinkled on his body like water. His figure looked more and more determined under the moonlight.

Although he still felt a little unwilling, he knew that from this moment on, he would embark on a brand new path to pursue his own glory and dream. (End of this chapter)