Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

Chapter 129 The Emperor's Death

At the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), in Chengde Hall.

Liu Bian, Xun Yu, and Cao Cao had been discussing matters in the palace for several hours.

Liu Bian felt that appeasing both sides was the most important thing, while Cao Cao felt that He Jin was too rash and should be properly reprimanded.

Xun Huo hadn't said much, but as time went on, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

"Your Highness, this matter cannot be left unresolved."

Cao Cao suddenly looked up.

"Wenruo, do you also think a '6'..."

"But it can't get any worse."

Xun Yu stopped Cao Cao from saying what he was about to say.

Liu Bian finally spoke up: "In your opinion, sir, what should be done about this matter?"

Xun's voice was not loud, but extremely steady.

Although Jian Shuo used the excuse of protecting the emperor tonight to save himself, he ultimately closed his camp and defied the regency order. He Jin, though foolish, still managed to crack the shell of the Western Garden.

"The most important thing to do now is not to argue with the general again."

"It's time to seize the opportunity—to reclaim the momentum in the West Garden."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian's eyes flickered slightly.

Xun continued, "Before tonight, Your Highness wanted to visit the West Garden, but you lacked a pretext. Now, the pretext is there."

"Jian Shuo's decision to close the camp is a crime."

"It is reasonable that the military power of the Western Garden is divided among the central authorities."

"Gongsun Zan has just taken power, and Mengde has also become involved. If we take advantage of tonight's events to change the powers of the West Garden insignia, night patrols, entry and exit from the camp gates, and the rotation of palace guards—"

"Your Highness is not merely a regent."

"He has also grasped the last real sword in the capital."

Liu Bian stood before the table, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded.

"good."

"Since the edges of this pot are already fried tonight, we should lift the lid while it's still hot."

Wang Ming

He had barely uttered a call when a series of even more hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, disregarding all decorum.

"Your Highness!"

"An urgent summons has been issued from the Zhangde Palace!"

""

Liu Bian's heart sank.

"What's wrong?"

The young eunuch who came to report was kneeling, covered in sweat, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty—Your Majesty just vomited blood again, this time—this time it might be bad!"

The Chengde Hall fell silent.

Xun's expression immediately changed.

Liu Bian didn't waste any words and turned to leave.

"To Zhangde Hall!"

Zhangde Hall.

This time was different from the last time. Last time, palace servants rushed back and forth both inside and outside the palace, as if they were racing against time.

This time, however, the silence was unsettling.

Palace lanterns were placed on both sides of the long steps, casting long shadows in front of the palace gate.

Liu Bian stepped onto the steps of the palace, but as soon as he entered the palace gate, his steps faltered almost imperceptibly.

Because besides Zhang Rang, Hua Tuo, and a few personal palace servants, there were two other people standing in the hall.

One is Jian Shuo.

One is Yuan Shao.

The two stood separately on the outer side of the inner hall, their expressions downcast, revealing nothing of their inner turmoil. Yet, a glance at them sent a chill through Liu Bian's heart.

Why are these two people in Zhangde Hall?

And it just so happens to be at this time.

But when he saw Emperor Ling of Han on the bed, this thought suddenly became less important.

His face was no longer just ashen, but tinged with a defeated bluish tinge. His chest heaved violently, and there was a trace of blood at the corner of his lips. The last breath he had managed to hold on to a few days ago had now been severed as if by something.

"Father!"

Liu Bian stepped forward quickly.

When Emperor Ling of Han heard the voice, he barely opened his eyes. When he saw it was him, a trace of genuine sadness finally returned to his eyes.

"You've come—"

Liu Bian knelt before the bed, his voice strained: "Your subject is here."

Emperor Ling of Han reluctantly raised his hand, and Yuan Shao and Jian Shuo immediately bowed and withdrew.

Hua Tuo stood to one side, his face extremely somber, but he did not make a move as frequently as he had in the past few days. He only said in a low voice, "Your Highness—His Majesty should not expend any more energy this time."

That was actually a pretty strong statement.

Emperor Ling of Han himself understood this.

He leaned back on the pillow, the light slowly shifting from Liu Bian's face, sweeping across the people in the hall, finally landing on Empress He and Empress Dowager Dong. The two had also arrived one after the other, but neither of them uttered a word of argument. The entire Zhangde Hall was filled with a deathly atmosphere that seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

"They're all here—"

Emperor Ling of Han said something in a low voice, as if he wanted to laugh, but he didn't even have the strength to laugh.

"Perfect."

Liu Bian was startled.

He knew that what followed that "just right" was probably not an ordinary statement.

Sure enough, Emperor Ling of Han took a few breaths and suddenly raised his hand.

"Help me sit down."

Zhang Rang and Liu Bian stepped forward together and gently helped him up. Emperor Ling's chest heaved more violently, but his expression was clearer than before.

By this time, only Liu Bian, Empress He, Empress Dowager Dong, Zhang Rang, and Hua Tuo remained in the hall.

Emperor Ling of Han then looked at Liu Bian again.

"Bian'er".

"Your subject is here."

"A few days ago, I appointed you as regent to see if you could handle the responsibility."

"Now that we've come this far, there's no need to look any further."

Empress He's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Empress Dowager Dong stood to the side, her fingers tightening almost imperceptibly.

Emperor Ling of Han seemed not to notice their reactions, and stared at Liu Bian, saying word by word: "Crown Prince Bian, being the eldest son of the legitimate wife, has the right to inherit the ancestral temple and the state."

"After me, all officials, the palace, the Western Garden, the Northern Army, and the area inside and outside the Zhangde Hall shall be subject to the Crown Prince's orders."

"Anyone who dares to abuse their power for personal gain and disrupt the succession to the throne..."

He coughed violently, and his lips regained color, but he still managed to suppress his words: "All according to the contrary theory."

Liu Bian knelt before the bed, his forehead almost touching the ground.

"Your subject obeys the order."

Emperor Ling of Han took a breath and then said with great difficulty, "He Jin—"

Empress He immediately looked up.

Outside the hall, He Jin had also been urgently summoned to the hall entrance. Upon hearing the roll call, he hurriedly strode inside and knelt on the ground.

"Your subject is here!"

Emperor Ling of Han looked at him, his eyes devoid of warmth, only a weariness that seemed to be fading away.

"General, you are capable of assisting the Crown Prince."

"Can be used as an adjunct therapy"

He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly turning cold: "It must not be done rashly."

He Jin's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "Your subject dares not!"

Seeing that He Jin's attitude was relatively sincere, Emperor Ling of Han did not continue to suppress him.

He slowly turned his head and looked at Empress Dowager Dong.

This elderly woman, well past fifty, did not resemble a powerful empress dowager at this moment; she was simply an old woman with a full head of white hair, seeing her son off on his final journey.

"Mother Empress Dowager—"

Empress Dowager Dong's eyes finally welled up with tears, and she took half a step forward: "Your Majesty."

"Xie'er—still young."

"I hope that Mother Empress will protect him."

Empress Dowager Dong's lips trembled slightly, but she finally replied in a low voice, "I know."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Ling of Han seemed to have finally given up his last breath.

He looked at Liu Bian again, his eyes already starting to glaze over, but he still managed to hold on to the last bit of clarity.

"Bian'er————"

"Your subject is here."

Emperor Ling of Han looked at him, paused for a long time, and then uttered very softly: "Be cautious to the end—maintain the established order."

"Don't imitate me."

Liu Bian was suddenly jolted and almost immediately raised his head.

But Emperor Ling's gaze had already wandered.

His chest heaved twice, as if he wanted to say something more, but in the end he didn't.

The next moment, the hand that had been barely resting on the edge of the tatami mat suddenly fell down.

Zhang Rang was the first to fall to the ground, screaming incoherently, "Your Majesty—!"

Empress He burst into tears on the spot, and almost couldn't stand up as she leaned over the bed.

Empress Dowager Dong's face turned pale, and she swayed slightly, but was firmly supported by the old nanny beside her.

The rest of the people in the hall also prostrated themselves on the ground, and the hall was filled with cries.

The emperor has died.