About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 6: Dragon Court Old Dreams and Brotherly Love

"Your Majesty! The great cause is not yet complete, how dare I slack off?"

Liu Fang bowed solemnly, his dark sleeves swaying gently in the candlelight.

Liu Hong leaned against the dragon couch and stared at Liu Fang for a long time.

Suddenly he sighed deeply, raised his hand and signaled Liu Kang and the eunuchs and palace maids on both sides to leave.

When the hall door was heavily closed and everyone left, only the two brothers were left in the hall.

Liu Hong suddenly stood up and reached out to pull Liu Fang to sit with him.

Seeing this, Liu Fang quickly took a half step back, looking shocked:

"Absolutely not! Your Majesty is a supreme ruler. How dare I overstep my bounds?"

That look was as if he had touched some taboo, his eyes were full of fear.

Liu Hong frowned slightly, a hint of melancholy flashed across his eyes:

"Yuan Yi, we are brothers from the same mother. If I hadn't tried my best to protect you, you would have become someone else's puppet by now."

The words were full of sincerity, with a bit of helplessness and emotion.

Liu Fang still bowed his head and refused to sit with them. He leaned forward, the corner of his robe almost touching the ground.

"There is a difference between the ruler and his subjects. Your Majesty, I appreciate your grace, but etiquette cannot be abandoned."

Seeing this, Liu Hong frowned and pretended to be angry, and threw his sleeves:
"Since Yuan Yi has recognized me as his sovereign, why don't you obey my orders? Please sit down and talk!"

She looked as if she was really angry, but there was a barely noticeable moisture at the corners of her eyes.

Before Liu Fang could respond, he suddenly softened his tone and sighed:
"Do you still remember the days in the Hejian Marquisate? Back then, I was free and unfettered, and I wanted to tear the roof off the house..."

He looked at the flickering candle flame on the table, his Adam's apple rolling slightly:

"My grandfather passed away early, and my mother has to support the mansion alone. She always has to keep a stern face..."

He choked up at this point, and Liu Hong turned around and wiped his eyes lightly:

"I've been in trouble since I was little, how dare I get close to her? Anyway, we are two brothers who are fighting to the death."

At this point, he suddenly grabbed Liu Fang's wrist, his palms were sweaty, his eyes were red, but he smiled:

"Brother, sitting on this throne is so tiring...looking up and down, having to be cautious about what you think every time you meet someone, even in your dreams."

Before he finished speaking, tears fell on his bright yellow sleeves:
"It would be better to be an ordinary disciple..."

"Back in the Marquis' Mansion, my brother and I were playing around and weren't afraid of breaking a glass cup. The worst that could happen was we would kneel together in the ancestral hall."

Liu Fang only felt his throat tighten, and the scenes of breaking his leg while climbing a tree and being chased by the teacher for stealing wine suddenly all came to his mind.

He looked at Liu Hong's trembling fingertips, and the word "Your Majesty" rolled around on his tongue.

Finally it turned into a muffled voice:

"Brother..."

Liu Hong clenched his hand fiercely:
"In front of others, I can be your servant, but in private... let's just be like before, okay?"

The copper clock on the desk ticked, and Liu Fang looked at his brother's red eyes, and his heart suddenly warmed.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in my mind - Liu Xuande.

Perhaps this is the charm that has been passed down from generation to generation by the Liu Dynasty.

But, my brother, sitting on the dragon couch, do you know? Ten years...

Ten years is enough time for a child to grow into a pillar of society, but it can also cover the original intention with dust.

Even though the tears in Liu Hong's eyes were real and the warmth in his palms was real at this moment, it was not some imperial scheme.

But from the incident with Zhang Jue, it was already apparent that the emperor had subconsciously become wary.

Or rather, suspicious.

From the day I was crowned with the dragon robe, I could no longer return to the Hejian Marquis Mansion...

Whether it is King of Wei or Emperor Ling.

Some things are like roots beneath the palace walls, growing wildly and silently in the dark.

It was every brick and stone in this nine-story palace that was teaching him that people could not be trusted.

A feeling of dryness rose in his throat. Liu Fang lowered his eyes to hide the churning in his eyes, and pinched his palms with his fingertips.

……

Since the restoration of Emperor Guangwu, most emperors have had no heirs.

The imperial relatives would then welcome a young ruler from the side branches of the royal family, and every generation would ascend the throne at a young age.

Emperor Zhang died of fever in the palace at the age of 33.

Emperor He died of depression in the palace at the age of 27.

Emperor An died of a sudden illness at the age of 32 during his southern tour.

Emperor Shun died of illness in the palace at the age of thirty before he could come to the throne.

There was also Emperor Shang who ascended the throne a hundred days later but died before the age of one.

Emperor Chong inherited the throne at the age of two and died of illness in the palace at the age of three.

Emperor Zhi ascended the throne at the age of eight and was poisoned to death by his relatives at the age of nine.

When Emperor Huan was 36 years old, he died of illness in the palace during the period of the Xing Party Faction.

Including Liu Hong, eight emperors in succession lost power and were controlled by external relatives.

Now that the Dou family has been eliminated, the threat from foreign relatives has been somewhat alleviated.

Within a few years, Liu Hong would depose Queen Song and install He, the daughter of a butcher, as the empress, in order to cut off the roots of foreign relatives' interference in politics.

Since he ascended the throne, Liu Hong used the Party Ban to purge the court, and the aristocratic families temporarily restrained their influence.

The eunuchs in the palace completely rely on the imperial power, and now the royal family has also begun to submit to the emperor.

Then, the biggest worry in the future would be his younger brother who would soon become extremely powerful.

Just ask the emperors of this world, which one is not afraid? Which one is not suspicious?

Seven emperors died in accidents. Who knows the secrets of the imperial palace?
As an emperor, how could I tell outsiders about the dangers involved?
In two lives, he was a minister, Liu Fang, or the King of Wei, Cao Cao.

Out of emotion, he would not blame Liu Hong.

Logically, he would not blame Liu Hong.

No matter how people evaluate Cao Mengde, no one has ever questioned his broad-mindedness.

However, while the brotherhood is strong at this moment, he needs to make a move first.

He must step out of the darkness and into the light to restore his identity as Liu Fang.

……

"Here."

Liu Fang stood solemnly with his head bowed, his voice three points deeper than usual:

"minister--"

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Liu Hong's eyebrows slightly raised, and the words changed direction at his lips.

"Brother, please be at ease."

A glimmer flashed across Liu Hong's eyes, and a smile finally appeared on his face:
"Good, we have reached an agreement."

After saying this, he stood up, and the jade belt made a slight sound as he stretched his muscles.

"I just discovered..."

Liu Hong walked to his side with his hands behind his back, the scent of ambergris in his sleeves mixed with the agarwood incense in the hall.

"Brother, do you seem to have a grudge against Liu Kang?"

When Liu Fang raised his eyes, the palace lanterns in the corner of the hall just happened to cast his face in distinct light and shadow:
"It's not a grudge..."

He chose his words carefully, his clothes trembling slightly with his body:

"It's just that although he is a relative, he is still an outsider branch and cannot be fully trusted."

Liu Hong tapped the table lightly with his fingertips:
"Brother, are you worried that your identity will be revealed?"

Without waiting for Liu Fang to answer, Liu Hong smiled and waved his hand:
"We are connected to the Hejian clan, and the kings have provided us with a lot of assistance over the years. We are worthy of your trust."

Liu Hong inadvertently revealed something he didn't quite understand.

The kings have helped for many years?

He temporarily suppressed his doubts and listened to Liu Hong continue.

"The main reason for giving Liu Kang this fiefdom is so that he can serve our father, the heir of Jie Duting. Let's not talk about this anymore..."

After he finished speaking, Liu Hong looked up and saw that Liu Fang was slightly stunned, so he raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder.

Suddenly, a night wind blew through the hall, making the bamboo slips on the table rustle.

Liu Hong looked at the golden curtain hanging high in the hall, swaying gently, and suddenly he sighed:
"It's been over six years, and I'm still not used to everything in this palace."

After saying that, he walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and saw the copper bell on the eaves in the distance looming in the night.

Seeing that he changed the subject, Liu Fang stopped asking questions and took two steps forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

The moonlight shone through the window lattice onto their robes. Liu Fang said softly:

"Now that the court and the outside world are relatively stable, brother can relax a little."

Liu Hong turned around when he heard this and saw a hint of worry between his brows. He couldn't help but laugh:

"That's true. Life is much more stable now than it was in the first two years after I ascended the throne."

As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and pressed his shoulder, with a look of sincerity in his eyes:
"This is all thanks to my brother." Before he finished speaking, Liu Hong suddenly held his forehead and chuckled:
"Look at what I've done, brother. I've been through a lot over the years, but I've never really taken a tour of the palace... Today, I'll walk around with you."

Liu Fang looked at the joy in Liu Hong's eyes, and his childhood memories came to mind.

In the Marquis' Mansion in Hejian, the two of them had traveled side by side in the gardens. At that time, Liu Hong always liked to pick a wild flower and put it in his hair.

But... let's first do a good job of showing the deep brotherly love.

Liu Fang also smiled, as carefree as when he was a teenager:

"Okay, I'll listen to you, brother."

After Liu Hong finished laughing, he turned around and clapped his hands three times. Then, the sound of footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

The vermilion-lacquered palace door creaked open, and Zhang Rang walked in with square steps.

The man was about forty years old, slightly plump, and wore a plain brocade robe with a dark-patterned cloak on top.

I saw a perfect smile in the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, his pupils reflected the warm yellow candlelight, and he folded his hands in a bow from a distance.

"See Your Majesty..."

Zhang Rang's voice was as mellow as wine, and when he bowed, his clothes spread out like a butterfly, giving people an extremely friendly and comfortable feeling.

When he stood up, the faint scent of agarwood hidden in his sleeves overflowed and merged with the fragrance in the hall.

"Greetings, Master Ma."

When Zhang Rang saluted, he bent his waist slightly lower than ordinary eunuchs, but he did not appear humble.

Combining the memories of his previous life, Liu Fang couldn't help but smile at Zhang Rang.

Zhang Rang also noticed his gaze and turned away.

The smile in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened a little, just as gentle as the spring stream.

……

Since Liu Hong ascended the throne, the eunuchs in the palace have gradually formed three factions.

One of them was the group of old eunuchs who had been in power since the reign of Emperor Huan, headed by Cao Jie and supported by Wang Fu, Zhu Yu, Hou Lan and others.

These people have served in two dynasties and held important positions for a long time. However, in the past two years, Zhu Yu and Hou Lan passed away one after another, and their power gradually declined and they are no longer as glorious as before.

The second group consisted of middle-aged eunuchs who served Liu Hong and Empress Dowager Dong. They were headed by Zhang Rang, and assisted by Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, and Guo Sheng.

The third group was young eunuchs selected by Liu Hong and Liu Fang themselves, headed by Jian Shuo, assisted by Feng Yan, Gao Wang, Bi Lan and others.

They are all young talents, and the two men want to use them to cultivate their own trusted forces, but they are still not fully grown and have not yet been able to occupy important positions in the palace.

Therefore, the old eunuch group is now in decline and the new elites have not yet emerged. Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and others are at the peak of their power.

Especially Zhang Rang, who is now a key figure in the eunuch center. His wisdom and strategy are well-known both inside and outside the palace.

Since Liu Hong and Liu Fang were young, they have used their wisdom and adaptability to help their two masters safely overcome crises.

At that time, the court was in turmoil, with the power of relatives and court officials intertwined, intending to influence the young master.

Zhang Rang always stayed by the emperor's side, secretly dealing with various forces and sensing crises from subtle points.

Whenever he encountered temptations from powerful officials or hidden conspiracies, he was able to use his eloquence and careful planning to avert danger and prevent those who coveted the throne from taking action.

Empress Dowager Dong had always known Zhang Rang's talent and held him in high regard, relying on him for many matters in the palace.

Zhang Rang had been well-versed in classics, history, and literature since he was young. He had read all the books in the palace and could quote the words of various philosophers at will.

He quoted from classics and spoke clearly, which not only won the trust of Empress Dowager Dong, but also made the young Liu Hong and Liu Fang admire him very much.

As the two brothers grew up, Zhang Rang not only took care of their daily life, but also taught them carefully in their studies.

Every morning and evening, he would explain the meaning of the scriptures to the two masters and analyze the rise and fall of ancient and modern times.

In his spare time, he would also use stories from past dynasties to teach people how to behave in society.

Over time, for Liu Hong and Liu Fang, Zhang Rang had long surpassed the ordinary eunuchs and became a figure who was both a teacher and a father.

When they were alone, both of them called each other "Father", which was a way of expressing their gratitude for Zhang Rang's support and teaching over the years.

Liu Fang walked around the palace under the name "Ma Yuanyi", but his true identity was a secret in the palace.

Zhang Rang was one of the few people who knew the truth, but he acted extremely cautiously.

When talking with Liu Fang on weekdays, he always addressed him as "Mr. Ma", and his words were very measured and there was never any mistake.

And the title "Mr. Ma".

This is because, although Liu Fang had no official position in the palace, he was the only one who was a close attendant of the emperor with a rank of 1,000 stones.

Therefore, all the eunuchs in the palace respectfully called him "Master Ma".

……

"Father."

Liu Fang bowed deeply and began to return the greeting.

Liu Hong also raised his hand in greeting:
"Father, please prepare a sedan chair for me. I want to take Yuan Yi with me to visit the North Palace."

Zhang Rang smiled slightly and withdrew.

The silk shoes stepped on the blue bricks like a fleeting light, and in the blink of an eye they disappeared behind the moon-shaped door in the corner of the hall.

Liu Fang looked at the empty corridor.

Liu Hong's words "the kings have helped for many years" were still ringing in his ears, and the doubt in his heart quietly arose again.

The sound of a chariot outside the hall interrupted his thoughts.

"Still in a daze?"

Seeing that he was still lost in thought, Liu Hong smiled and tugged at his sleeve:

"The night lotus flowers in Zhulong Pond are about to bloom. If you don't go now, you will miss out on this moonlit night."

The moonlight was like water, stretching the two figures into slender shapes.

"What are you standing there for?"

Liu Hong had already walked to the palace gate and turned around to wave to Liu Fang.

It was as if he was the same young man who had sneaked out of the house with him that year.

The two men smiled at each other, and the laughter swept across the palace walls, breaking the bright light in the courtyard.

……

The sound of the night watchman's drum came from the Que Tower.

With the sound of a bronze bell, the palace lanterns in the Ye Ting were lit one after another.

The candlelight shrouded in red gauze meanders along the corridor, making the green bricks under the red steps look as warm and smooth as jade.

The sound of clappers outside the palace mixed with the chirping of nightingales in Shanglin Garden, echoing slowly in the corridors of the deep palace.

The imperial carriage with golden roots was already waiting in front of the palace. The jade-carved horse was wearing a black brocade saddle, and the coral necklaces tinkled with the gentle movement of the horse's hooves.

The carriage is decorated with cloud patterns inlaid with gold and silver, and luminous beads are hung on the four corners.

Wherever the halo reaches, you can see the lifelike gold-foil dragon wrapped around the shaft of the chariot.

Liu Hong smiled and grabbed Liu Fangguang's sleeve, then jumped onto the carriage by holding onto the armrest.

There were shadows of trees on both sides of the imperial road, and Liu Hong was leaning against a brocade table.

Suddenly she started talking about the funny incident the day before when a dancer accidentally dropped her pearl hairpin while watching a variety show.

Suddenly he pointed at the sparks outside the palace wall and talked about the hustle and bustle of Luoyang city.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived at the Zhulong Pool."

Soon, the rippling light shone through the curtains onto their faces, like flowing silver.

This pool is famous for "Dragons Playing in the Water". It was created by diverting water from the valley into the palace and piling up mountains to form the pool.

There is a pool of clear water like a jade mirror, in which the red lacquer railings of the lotus pavilion in the center of the pool are reflected, which contrasts with the bright moon in the sky.

Zhang Rang was standing by the pool holding a glass palace lantern. The dim light cast a warm golden glow on the wrinkles around his eyes, making him look even more amiable.

The night wind blew past, and thousands of lotus leaves rustled.

A few early-blooming night lotus flowers were half-rolled and half-unfolded, their white petals and pink stamens as glossy as jade in the moonlight, their subtle fragrance floating in the wind.

"The Yeshuhe was planted by the Moon God Wangshu. Only those with a pure heart can appreciate its beauty."

Zhang Rang murmured in an elegant voice and led the two along the nine-curve corridor.

When we arrived at the waterside pavilion, we found lotus leaf cups already prepared. The cups were filled with freshly drawn dew mixed with tea smoke, exuding a refreshing fragrance.

"How about this pool?"

Without waiting for his answer, Liu Hong walked to the edge of the pond with great interest, bent down and stirred the water surface, startling a golden-scaled carp.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Rang immediately took out fish food from his sleeve and scattered it into the pond.

Suddenly, the fishes competed for food, ripples appeared on the water surface, and the moonlight was stirred into tiny silver foil.

Liu Fang looked at the koi in the pond and suddenly felt that the prosperity in the pond was like a mirage in the water.

Just like my current situation, it seems brilliant but it becomes empty when I touch it.

Turning around and seeing Liu Hong's beaming face, he couldn't help but sigh.

After all, the king is the king and the minister is the minister.

Liu Hong seemed to have noticed something, but he still looked at the water without looking back.

"Ever since we met tonight, I've always felt that something is amiss with me..."

(End of this chapter)