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

Chapter 134 When the Wind Rises and the Flag is Set

Despite Jian Shuo's death, the West Garden did not descend into chaos.

The silence was rather unusual.

After Gongsun Zan took over the three battalions of patrol officers, everyone originally thought that there would be chaos for a while - after all, the West Garden was the late emperor's personal army, and the old generals, military officers, military commanders, and eunuchs were all intertwined, so how could it be straightened out overnight?

But surprisingly, the roster and military tally were handed over very quickly.

Even the grain registers, armor and weapon registers, and night watch registers in the warehouse were cleaner than I had imagined.

Gongsun Zan stood in the central military tent in the West Garden, holding a page of the newly delivered troop rotation log in his hand, his brows furrowing more and more tightly.

"It's so clean that it doesn't look real."

The military commander standing to the side watched, but didn't dare to say anything.

Cao Cao took the troop rotation logbook, glanced at it, and then let out a cold laugh.

"It's not that no one tampered with it."

"Someone cleaned everything that needed cleaning before we arrived."

Gongsun Zan turned his head and glanced at him.

"Who?"

Cao Cao did not answer directly. Without evidence, making random points would only disrupt his train of thought.

"There are many possibilities, but that's not the most important thing right now."

Gongsun Zan didn't press further and simply nodded.

"The problem is that those who stayed behind are all too obedient."

"There are a few military commanders in the West Garden who have been too obedient these past two days."

"They withdrew when told to withdraw, and handed over what they were told to hand over, without even a single complaint."

"People like this are either truly pragmatic, or—" He paused, "or they're just waiting."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's face revealed a look of "I knew it" in his opinion.

"It's not wise to alert them."

He paused for a moment, then patted Gongsun Zan on the shoulder.

"Let's leave it for now and see if they are truly willing to submit."

The late emperor had only been gone for a few days, and the first place to be disturbed was not the West Garden, but the Chang Le Palace.

Empress Dowager Dong then screened out the people around Liu Xie twice.

The original staff brought from the Prince of Chenliu's residence were reassigned and reorganized.

She personally replaced several of the elderly people who had served in Chang Le Palace for many years.

Even Liu Xie's daily life, including his clothing, food, books, medicine, lamps, and night watch, had an extra layer of people watching over him.

From the outside, it seemed that the Empress Dowager was frightened by the two incidents at Zhangde Hall and the Prince of Chenliu's residence, and was therefore more cautious in her actions because she was eager to protect her grandson.

Along with it came a gust of wind that went straight into the cochlea.

Some say that the Prince of Chenliu has been reading very quickly these past few days, and the late emperor once praised him, saying, "This child is very intelligent."

Some say that Empress Dowager Dong has been extremely protective of the young prince all these years, not out of favoritism, but out of fear that the imperial offspring might be harmed.

Some people say that although the late emperor clearly established a crown prince when he was on his deathbed, his tone was not entirely without concern when he mentioned the Prince of Chenliu.

Individually, none of these words are considered inappropriate.

But once they get together, it's no longer just idle talk.

The late emperor had only been gone a few days, and Liu Bian was still temporarily residing in Chengde Hall.

"The news spread very quickly within the palace?"

"Quickly," Xun Huo said, "and it doesn't seem like it was released by the same group of people; it's more like three or five lines are testing it together."

Cao Cao stood aside and sneered.

"Should we get a few messengers?"

"Taking it will only shut them up," Xun Huo shook his head. "It won't shut them up."

Liu Bian did not respond to this, but simply said, "It's alright, come with me to take a look."

"Prepare the carriage."

Liu Bian turned around.

"Go to Chang Le Palace."

Chang Le Palace was quieter than ever before.

Empress Dowager Dong did not stop him this time; one could say she couldn't.

She was seated at the head of the table again, but unlike before, there was an extra seat next to her.

This was left for Liu Bian.

"His Majesty has only recently ascended the throne; he must be quite busy these days."

"Why did you suddenly decide to visit this old woman today?"

Liu Bian glanced at her indifferently. This grandmother had been opposing him from beginning to end, and he was too lazy to pretend anymore.

"Where is Xie'er?"

Empress Dowager Dong chuckled softly.

"Now that you are the emperor, it is quite rare that you would think of visiting Xie'er."

His words were barbed.

"If I don't even look after my brother, I'm afraid others will have to look after him for me."

After Liu Bian finished speaking, he didn't even raise his head and strode directly towards the side hall.

He waved his hand behind him and said impatiently.

"lead the way."

The old nanny behind her glanced at Empress Dowager Dong with suspicion. Empress Dowager Dong pressed her trembling fingers, closed her eyes, and nodded.

In the side hall, Liu Xie was leaning against the window, staring blankly out the window.

Compared to the child who turned pale and shrank back at people after being frightened a few days ago, he is now much quieter.

He heard footsteps and looked up.

Upon seeing that the visitor was Liu Xie, he stood up and bowed respectfully, but the elation he had felt at the Prince of Chenliu's residence was gone from his eyes.

"Brother Emperor."

Seeing his appearance, Liu Bian felt a slight unease.

"Is the wound on your forehead any better?"

"Alright." Liu Xie nodded.

Have you been sleeping well these days?

"It's better than the past few days."

One answer, one question.

That was all.

Liu Bian sat down opposite him, his gaze falling on the books on the table.

The Classic of Filial Piety.

The Book of Documents.

There is also a scroll of bamboo slips that has been torn in half.

But it's no longer just a book to amuse children.

Liu Bian asked casually, "When did Xie'er start reading this kind of book?"

Liu Xie pursed his lips, not answering immediately.

He glanced outside, then at Liu Bian, before whispering, "Grandmother said that reading a little can't hurt."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian immediately understood.

He didn't want to read it himself; someone told him to.

After a moment of silence in the hall, Liu Xie suddenly raised his head, looked at Liu Bian, and asked, "Brother Emperor."

"Um?"

"If I can't do anything, will they stop mentioning me all the time?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian was suddenly taken aback.

The child knew everything; he heard everything.

He overheard people talking about him behind his back.

I've heard people repeatedly mention the name "King of Chenliu".

He even vaguely sensed that he wasn't being mentioned because he was himself.

It's not that it's brought up because of what it can be used for.

Liu Bian remained silent for a moment.

He just looked at the child, and suddenly the guilt in his heart surged up again.

After a long while, Liu Bian raised his hand and gently patted Liu Xie's head.

"That's their reason."

"It's not yours."

Liu Xie looked up at him.

"And what about my elder brother?"

Liu Bian paused slightly with his fingers.

"Me?" he said slowly, "I only wish for you to grow up safely."

Liu Bian thought that Liu Xiehui was happy after he said that.

But he didn't; instead, he simply nodded quietly.

Seeing this, Liu Bian said no more.

He got up and walked out of the hall, his face now gloomy.

When they came out of the side hall, Empress Dowager Dong was still sitting at the head of the table.

She glanced at Liu Bian and asked in a flat tone, "You saw him?"

"I saw him."

"That's good then." Empress Dowager Dong lowered her head and stirred her teacup. "Xie'er is young and can't take a shock or a lot of trouble. If Your Majesty truly cares about brotherly affection, then keep the rumors out of Chang Le Palace."

That sounds like a reprimand.

Compared to the head-on confrontation of a few days ago, this is already a sign that a gap has been left.

Liu Bian stood there, looking at her, and suddenly said, "Grandmother."

Empress Dowager Dong raised her eyes.

"I didn't bring the wind here." His voice was low but clear. "But if someone uses the wind at Chang Le Palace to create a disturbance, I won't pretend I didn't see it."

Empress Dowager Dong paused slightly on the lid of her teacup.

The two looked at each other for a moment, but neither of them said anything more.

Liu Bian bowed and withdrew.

It was already late when we returned to Zhangde Hall.

A breeze blew through the corridor, causing the lamplight to flicker slightly.

Cao Cao couldn't help but speak first: "Should we move a few people from Chang Le Palace first?"

"Don't move."

Cao Cao was taken aback.

"It's already come to this point, and you're still not doing anything?"

"If they make a move, it will confirm their intentions," Xun Huo added casually from the side. "What the people spreading the rumors want now is not what the Prince of Chenliu really does, but for everyone to believe that there is indeed another layer of meaning behind Chang Le Palace."

"If Your Majesty were to pull it out now, others would only think that the new emperor cannot tolerate a child."

After listening, Cao Cao frowned but ultimately said nothing more.

Liu Bian took a few steps and then suddenly stopped.

"Any new developments at the West Garden today?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao immediately frowned.

There hasn't been any major commotion.

"There is one thing that I find somewhat strange."

Liu Bian raised an eyebrow.

"where?"

"All areas are pacified. However, two former military commanders have requested leave due to illness, a military officer has voluntarily surrendered his camp register, and a minor official in charge of orders hanged himself last night."

Xun frowned.

"Suicide?"

Cao Cao nodded.

"He died at the perfect moment."

Xun Huo looked up at Liu Bian: "It seems that things are still not quite settled in the West Garden."

"The other party is testing the waters."

"Let's test whether Chang Le Palace can be built, whether the West Garden will be in chaos, and whether His Majesty will rush to quell the unrest."

"What they want to see is His Majesty patching up leaks everywhere, until in the end, it all looks like he's proving his own guilty conscience."

Liu Bian also looked over, but his expression was not good.

"I am already the Emperor, why should I be so cautious at every step?"

Xun shook his head.

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, but the court is currently unstable, and Your Majesty is a new ruler."

"Gongsun Zan did not have enough prestige in the Western Garden, and the Northern Army led by He Jin was stubborn and inflexible."

"Instead of focusing on the gaps in Chang Le Palace and west Garden, Your Majesty's most important task is to raise your own banner high."

.

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light finally appeared in Liu Bian's eyes.

"You mean Liu Bei, sir?"

Xun nodded.

"Exactly."

""