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

Chapter 19 Song Dian

A moment later, the wind outside the hall suddenly picked up.

First came a low shout from the courtyard gate, then footsteps pressed in like a tide, a cacophony of footsteps mixed with the soft rustling of armor plates, each step carrying a strong sense of official authority.

Chen Yu's face turned pale instantly.

He could hear it clearly; it wasn't the footsteps of ordinary attendants, but the rhythm of someone from the inner court: unhurried yet every step carried an air of pressure.

The door was kicked open.

The moment the person in the lead entered, the room felt noticeably narrower.

Song Dian.

He wore a brocade robe, and his flabby body made him appear unlike the upright and honest civil officials of the outer court; the jade belt around his waist hung extremely high, as if to restrain the power emanating from his belly. His face was fair, his eyes were upturned at the corners, and his gaze was extremely sharp, as if a knife were scraping flesh from a person's body.

Behind him followed several eunuch-like men, dressed in dark clothes, who blocked the doorway and the sides when they stood still; behind them were two armored guards, whose armor was not shiny, but whose presence made it hard to breathe.

As soon as Song Dian entered, he didn't even glance at Chen Yu, but fixed his gaze on Cao Cao, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

"Oh."

"Who dares to touch the Song family in Luoyang?!"

Before he could finish his rant, a voice suddenly rang out from inside the hall.

The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like it had suddenly pressed down on Song Dian from the roof.

"Attendant Song, you have quite the airs of an official."

This sentence is plain and simple, even carrying a touch of youthful clarity.

But to Song Dian, it was like a bucket of ice water being poured over his head.

His expression froze, and the ferocity in his eyes vanished instantly.

That sound...

Like hearing it in the depths of a grand mansion, in a place where he would bow and scrape before anyone he met.

He swallowed hard, his gaze following the sound—

Liu Bian stood beside the table, still wearing his short robe, but his sleeves were neatly gathered. The young man's figure had not yet fully grown, but at first glance, one felt as if he were sitting in the palace, not standing in the hall.

Liu Bian slowly turned around.

This turn was unhurried, but to Song Dian, it felt incredibly long.

He harbored a suspicion he refused to acknowledge.

But then, Song Dian's pupils suddenly contracted.

He finally recognized him.

That's not "some young master from a prestigious family".

That face belonged to the Crown Prince.

It was the face he had seen from afar in the Forbidden City, a face he could only look down at with meekness—Crown Prince Liu Bian.

"..."

Song Dian's lips trembled, and he felt as if his bones had been removed. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.

He didn't even have time to brace himself against the table.

The sound of his forehead hitting the blue bricks was so dull it made his heart ache.

"Your Majesty... Your Highness—!"

That howl was like a thunderbolt striking the room.

Everyone in the hall froze.

Chen Yu's vision went black, and he almost collapsed. Only one thought remained in his mind: "It's over, it's over—I've imprisoned the Crown Prince in the county temple."

Song Jin was deathly pale. His waist, which had been so stiff just moments before, suddenly felt as if it had been cut in half. His mouth was open, but no sound came out; only a series of hoarse gasps escaped his throat.

Those city officials fared even worse; their legs were as weak as noodles, and they couldn't even kneel steadily. They all collapsed to their knees with a clatter, their foreheads hitting the floor tiles with a loud thud.

Cao Cao merely raised his eyes slightly, his expression remaining calm, as if this scene was how it was supposed to be.

Xiahou Dun grinned, as if he had finally realized the importance of his young master; Xiahou Yuan's eyes were even colder, and he had mentally rehearsed the movement around the doorway three times: if anyone dared to make a move, he would break their leg first.

Liu Bian did not allow anyone to stand up.

He simply looked at Song Dian as if he were looking at a fox that had suddenly revealed its true form.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, his tone almost gentle:

"Attendant Song, rise."

Song Dian dared not get up.

His forehead was pressed to the ground, and his voice trembled like a sieve:

"I...I dare not. I deserve to die. I deserve to die ten thousand times—"

"I didn't ask you whether you're dead or alive."

Liu Bian interrupted him, his voice still low, but it made everyone straighten their backs:

"I have only one question."

He took half a step forward.

That half-step onto the ground felt like stepping on everyone's heart.

"Who's in charge of the thug organization your Song family keeps outside?"

Song Dian was startled, looked up, his eyes filled with fear and confusion:

"A...a human child?"

He turned around abruptly, his anger threatening to flare up, but when he met Liu Bian's gaze, it instantly vanished, and he hurriedly kowtowed:

"Your Highness, please understand! I was unaware! I truly knew nothing!"

"I work in the inner court, and these things outside... these are all underlings acting recklessly under my name! If I were to find out, I would punish them first!"

Liu Bian neither agreed nor disagreed, only giving a soft "hmm".

That single "hmm" is more terrifying than an insult.

Song Dian immediately changed his tune, speaking rapidly as if afraid of losing his head if he hesitated even for a moment:

"But if Your Highness wishes to investigate, this...this servant can lead the way!"

"Song Jin—that scoundrel Song Jin! He must know something! And those brokers in the city, they're the closest of accomplices!"

Upon hearing his name called, Song Jin felt as if struck by lightning, and he prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing frantically.

"Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me! I... I was only following orders! I didn't know the Crown Prince's identity! If I had known—"

"Whose orders are you taking?"

Liu Bian didn't wait for him to continue his sophistry and asked.

Song Jin paused, sweat rolling down his forehead, and for a moment he dared not answer.

Song Dian immediately answered for him, saying crisply:

"I'll investigate him thoroughly when I get back! No matter who it involves, I'll find them for Your Highness!"

Liu Bian, however, was not in a hurry.

He looked at Song Dian, his eyes not filled with anger, but with something colder—as if he were assessing whether Song Dian was worth keeping.

"What I want is not for you to go back and 'investigate'."

"I want to see people right now."

He paused, his voice clear and distinct:

"Take me to the place where the kidnapped people are gathered."

Song Dian's face instantly turned pale and then bluish.

That kind of place cannot be seen in the light of day. Taking someone there would be tantamount to admitting one's sins.

But he dared not refuse.

He didn't dare hesitate for even a moment.

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"

Song Dian kowtowed repeatedly, his voice cracking:

"I will take Your Highness away immediately! I will personally lead the way! I... I will immediately arrange carriages and horses, and silence you, and—"

"You don't need to seal the mouth."

Liu Bian raised his hand, stopping his panic.

He turned his head and looked at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu was kneeling, his forehead pressed to the ground, his back soaked with sweat, and he was trembling like a withered leaf in the wind.

Liu Bian's tone suddenly softened:

"Chen Yu".

Chen Yu suddenly looked up, her eyes reddening:

"Your subject is here!"

"You did the right thing today."

Liu said.

"The door was closed correctly, the words were spoken correctly, and the person was pressed correctly."

Chen Yu froze, and then tears almost fell—he thought he was going to die.

Liu Bian continued:

"But there's one thing you must remember."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was as firm as iron.

"This matter must not be publicized."

"Today the Crown Prince enters the county temple, today Eunuch Song kneels on the ground, today the case of the child slave—whoever dares to utter even half a word, I will first kill the one who uttered the word, then kill the one who heard the word."

Chen Yu's throat tightened, and he immediately kowtowed:

"I understand! I'm willing to stake my family's lives on it!"

Liu Bian nodded, then glanced back at Song Dian:

"Walk."

Song Dian felt as if he had been granted a pardon, yet also as if he were being led to the execution ground. He scrambled to his feet, not even bothering to straighten his sleeves, and hurriedly led the way.

"Your Highness, this way please! This servant...this servant will clear the way for Your Highness!"

Immediately, Song Dian turned his gaze to Song Jin and hurriedly said:

"Song Jin, what are you waiting for! Quickly lead the way for His Highness!"

Song Jin trembled all over and hurriedly kowtowed:

"Your Majesty, I am here! I am willing to lead the way! I am willing to lead the way! Please spare my life—"

Liu Bian gave a soft "hmm," then changed the subject: "If you dare to play any tricks, believe me, Song Dian won't be able to protect you."

Song Dian hurriedly said:

"I understand! I swear on my life! I would never dare to omit a single word!"

Liu Bian added another sentence:

"Do not call me Your Highness outside."

"Like Cao Cao, they call me 'Young Master'."

Song Dian quickly agreed: