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

Chapter 130 Emperor Liu Bian of the Han Dynasty

Amidst the cries, Liu Bian suddenly seemed to hear nothing at all.

He remained kneeling before the bed, the gold bricks beneath his knees cold, but all that remained before him was that drooping hand.

That hand, which had just been resting on the edge of the bed, with white knuckles and slightly bulging veins, clearly had little strength left, yet it still forced itself to say everything it needed to say and to give instructions to everyone it needed to give instructions to.

It wasn't until the very end that it truly drooped down.

He certainly didn't have the deep affection that an ordinary family would have for his father.

More often than not, Emperor Ling of Han was a ruler, an emperor, someone who would test him, suppress him, and hand over power to him at crucial moments.

No matter how distant he may be, he is still a father.

He suddenly remembered that many years ago, when he was first brought back to the palace, his identity was not yet determined, and even his name was not "Liu Bian".

So many people were watching in the hall. Empress He was watching, Zhang Rang was watching, everyone was watching this child who had been suddenly brought back, to see if he was like a prince and if he was worthy of entering this palace.

Emperor Ling of Han sat there, merely watching him.

Ask questions, scrutinize, probe.

Finally, that name was mentioned.

He then called Liu Bian.

From that day on, he truly earned the right to stand where he is today.

Later, when he was appointed as the heir apparent, the Eastern Palace was established, and he served as regent, Emperor Ling of Han tested and pressured him along the way, but he also showed him approval.

Only at the very end, with the words "Don't follow my example" spoken on his deathbed, did he truly give him everything a father could offer.

But even heavier than the pain of losing his father was another layer of chill.

Because Liu Bian remembered very clearly—according to the trajectory of his previous life, Emperor Ling of Han should not have died this year. But now he died in the third year of Zhongping, a full three years earlier than expected.

All of this came too soon.

He guessed that the person behind that dish was most likely Yuan Shao.

And Jia Xu's destination was definitely Liangzhou.

Time is running out.

"Your Highness."

"With the late emperor gone, the country cannot be without a ruler for even a day."

Xun Huo's words brought him back to reality.

Liu Bian's shoulders stiffened slightly.

Then, he slowly straightened up.

His eyes were still red and his throat was still tight, but his expression gradually regained its composure.

He first bowed deeply before the coffin.

He turned around and looked at the people who were crying and prostrating in the hall. His voice was hoarse, but it was so steady that no disorder could be heard.

"The eunuch receives the imperial edict."

Zhang Rang, tears streaming down his face, prostrated himself on the ground: "I am here!"

"Summon the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, the Three Dukes, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and the Minister of the Imperial Clan to the Zhangde Hall to record the late Emperor's dying wishes."

"Seal the palace gates, maintain strict guard, lock all gates, and no official may move without receiving an imperial edict."

"Then summon the Grand General, the Nine Ministers, the Secretariat, the Yellow Gate Office, and the various officers of the Western Garden to await orders outside the palace."

"After the late emperor's passing, in accordance with ancestral customs and his last edict, we held a mourning ceremony and discussed the succession."

These words actually lessened the crying in Zhangde Hall.

Zhang Rang kowtowed deeply: "This servant obeys!"

Liu Bian watched Zhang Rang accept the order and leave, then turned to Empress Dowager Dong and Empress He, bowing respectfully.

"Grandmother, Mother."

"With the late Emperor's passing, your son should observe the proper mourning rites. The palace still needs two people to oversee things, so please bear with me in your grief."

Empress He, her tears still wet on her face, simply nodded upon hearing this.

Empress Dowager Dong looked at him with a very complicated expression. After a long while, she said softly, "Go."

These two words are tantamount to acknowledging the current situation.

Before long, all the officials gathered outside the Zhangde Hall.

The night was still deep, but the palace lanterns had already illuminated the long steps brightly.

Before long, the Minister of the Imperial Household, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, the Three Dukes, and the Nine Ministers entered the hall one after another. The Grand Master of Ceremonies verified the spirit, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan verified the lineage, and the Minister of the Imperial Household presented a pen and paper before the spirit to record the late emperor's dying words.

Empress He, Empress Dowager Dong, He Jin, Zhang Rang, and others who were nearby all served as witnesses.

After the imperial edict was recorded, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat presented it and loudly proclaimed it before the Zhangde Hall: "The late Emperor's dying wish: Crown Prince Bian, being the eldest son of the legitimate wife, is of noble lineage and capable of inheriting the ancestral temples and the state. After me, all officials, the palace, the Western Garden, and the Northern Army are subject to the Crown Prince's command. Anyone who dares to abuse his power or disrupt the succession will be punished as a traitor—"

As the imperial edict fell, all the officials and ministers in the hall prostrated themselves on the ground, their cries echoing throughout the hall.

But this night was not the time for him to ascend the throne.

This night was one of national mourning, of entrusting the throne to the emperor, of sealing off the palace, and of first stabilizing the already shaky city of Luoyang.

The actual succession would not take place until the following day.

The next day, at Deyang Palace.

When the late emperor passed away, white banners were hung throughout the palace. The guards on the palace steps all changed into white sashes, and all the officials removed their fine clothes and wore plain white ones, lining up in order below the red steps.

The wind swept through the palace courtyard, causing the banners to flutter slightly, yet the entire court was so quiet that only the soft tinkling of jade pendants could be heard.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, the Grand Secretary, and the Vice Grand Secretary were all in the palace.

First, the Grand Master of Ceremonies held the late Emperor's spirit tablet beside him, while the Minister of the Imperial Clan held the scribe's register beside him to clarify the legitimate line. Then, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat held the edict of the late Emperor, which had been copied the previous night, and stood in the hall, loudly proclaiming: "The late Emperor's last will and testament: Crown Prince Bian, being the eldest legitimate son, has the right to inherit the ancestral temple and the state."

"After me, all officials, the palace, the Western Garden, and the Northern Army shall be subject to the Crown Prince's command. Anyone who dares to abuse his power or threaten the throne shall be punished as a traitor. The Grand General may be assisted, but must not act arbitrarily."

The imperial edict echoed through the palace, and all the civil and military officials prostrated themselves on the ground, bursting into tears.

After the announcement, the Grand Master of Ceremonies stepped forward, bowed twice, and said: "The late Emperor has passed away, and the imperial regalia cannot remain vacant for long; the ancestral temples and the state cannot be without a ruler for even a day. Your subject requests that the Crown Prince, in accordance with the late Emperor's last edict, ascend the throne to serve the ancestors and bring peace to the world."

The Three Dukes then stepped forward, prostrated themselves, and pleaded. The Nine Ministers, the Secretaries, and other officials followed suit, bowing again: "We, your subjects, request that the Crown Prince ascend the throne!"

He Jin also knelt in the ranks, bowing his head and not daring to look up.

Liu Bian stood before the throne, dressed in plain clothes, his face still pale, the redness in his eyes not yet faded. He first bowed twice to the memorial tablet of the late emperor, then bowed to the north. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "The late emperor abandoned his ministers, leaving behind his last wishes and the ancestral temple above. I dare not let my personal grief overshadow the weight of the nation's affairs."

"Now I honor Gu's orders and carry on the tradition."

As soon as the words were spoken, the Grand Master of Ceremonies announced: "The Crown Prince has been decreed to ascend the throne." The eunuch presented the imperial seal and ribbon, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat presented the edict, and the Grand Master of Ceremonies and the Minister of the Imperial Clan were present to complete the ceremony.

Liu Bian received the imperial seal and ascended the throne. Although it was only for a short while, the atmosphere in the palace was completely different from yesterday.

The officials bowed again, their shouts echoing throughout the hall: "Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

Empress He wept silently behind the curtain, while Empress Dowager Dong, leaning on a table, remained silent, her face pale. Zhang Rang and the eunuchs prostrated themselves on the ground, their foreheads touching the bricks, not daring to utter a single breath.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies then reported, "The ceremony is complete."

Thus, Crown Prince Liu Bian truly received the late emperor's edict, inherited the throne, and ascended the imperial throne in the Deyang Palace.

The officials in the hall remained prostrate, and the sounds of weeping, ceremonies, and the chanting of names mingled together, as if the entire city of Luoyang had been transformed at that moment.

Emperor Liu Bian of the Han Dynasty officially ascended the throne.

The court session ended, and the officials dispersed.

Yuan Shao rode back to the Yuan residence at full speed, where Yuan Shu was already waiting for him in a side room.

"Second brother, now that the crown prince has ascended the throne, isn't he going to settle scores with us?"

Yuan Shao did not answer him, but instead took out a small box from a cabinet next to him.

Upon seeing this object, Yuan Shu asked in confusion, "What is this?"

"Something that can save our lives."

Yuan Shao didn't even look up. He opened the box and found a brocade pouch lying quietly inside.

He reached out and took out the brocade pouch, then opened it.

Inside was only a short note with eight characters written on it:

In the West Garden, blades were drawn; in Changle, banners were raised.