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

Liu Bian had just returned to the main hall when he heard Chun Juan's voice, which sounded somewhat hurried:

"Your Majesty, news has arrived from His Majesty's side."

Empress He nodded when she saw Liu Bian enter, then said calmly to Chun Juan:

"Don't panic, speak."

Chunjuan swallowed hard and whispered:

"At Yong'an Palace... Consort Wang is pregnant. The imperial physician has examined her, His Majesty is overjoyed, and rewards have been bestowed."

Liu Bian's heart sank.

Liu Xie, also known as Emperor Xian of Han.

coming.

Historically, Liu Xie was the rightful last emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, while Liu Bian, who reigned for only a few months, couldn't even die a peaceful death.

Empress He's fingertips hovered on the table for a long while before she uttered a sentence:

"How many months?"

"Your Majesty, just now it was only said that she is 'pregnant,' but the month is not yet determined. However, the imperial physician said that her pulse has stabilized."

Liu Bian suddenly remembered that Empress He had tried to kill Consort Wang right after Liu Xie was born.

Liu Bian himself will likely be implicated as well.

Whether for the Empress or for himself, he had to stop this from happening.

Thinking of this, he spoke:

"Mother Empress."

"If I'm pregnant... does that mean something good is going to happen?"

Empress He was taken aback.

It's a good thing, of course, but it's not a good thing for her or for Bian'er.

And Wang Meiren, how dare she!

Thinking of this, Empress He's eyes suddenly sharpened.

Liu Bian, seemingly oblivious to the change in Empress He's expression, continued:

"The Emperor has already bestowed the rewards; everyone outside must know about it now."

"Mother, shouldn't we go and offer our congratulations? I want to make Father happy..."

Empress He stared at Liu Bian for a long time, then suddenly smiled.

"You do seem to care about your father," she said slowly.

Liu Bian is right. Now that everyone knows, she has to make sure things look good on the surface.

She neither immediately refused nor immediately agreed, but simply raised her hand to pull Liu Bian closer and gently squeezed his fingertips.

It's still cold.

"Are you scared?" she asked.

Liu Bian shook his head and said softly, "I'm just afraid that my mother will be unhappy. I'm afraid I'll do something wrong."

Empress He's eyes softened, and she pulled Liu Bian into her arms, whispering:

"You did nothing wrong."

"You are the eldest son. You must remember—when you step forward and say 'congratulations' or 'gift,' no one can find fault with you. The more you act like a good elder brother, the more you act like a well-mannered prince, the more the world will respect you."

She was teaching Liu Bian, and she was also teaching herself.

Empress He looked up at Chunjuan and said, "Go and prepare the gifts."

Chunjuan was taken aback: "Your Highness... are you preparing... preparing a gift for Yong'an Palace?"

"Prepare," Empress He said calmly. "Prepare it properly. Since His Majesty is overjoyed, the Empress should not lose her decorum."

She paused, then added:

"Send two more reliable matrons to accompany the gifts."

—Nominally, they are there to take care of the pregnant women, but in reality… they are there to act as their eyes.

Chunjuan immediately understood and bowed, "Yes, sir."

Liu Bian breathed a sigh of relief in Empress He's arms.

This is exactly what he wanted.

On the surface, they go through all the proper formalities, using those formalities as a pretext to extend their reach.

Chunjuan is extremely efficient.

Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea was up, the gift list was presented to Empress He: a bolt of crimson gauze, two bolts of fine silk, two boxes of fragrant cakes, a packet of ginseng and poria powder for pregnancy support, and a small gold lock with the words "Chang Le" engraved on it, which corresponded to Changqiu Palace and had a pleasing meaning.

Empress He glanced at it, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and simply said:

"Add another small jade incense burner."

Chunjuan was taken aback, but then realized that this was to save face for His Majesty.

"Here you are."

A moment later, palace servants lined up outside Changqiu Palace, and the gift box was steadily lifted. Two matrons accompanied them, ostensibly to look after the gift, but secretly—of course—they were keeping an eye on the person.

Empress He took Liu Bian's hand and walked out of the palace gate.

On the way, Liu Bian looked up and asked:

"Mother, are we too early?"

Empress He did not stop walking, and only replied with four words:

"The sooner the better."

...

In front of Yong'an Palace, a crowd of people stood in the hall.

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived, and so has Prince Bian."

Liu Bian followed Empress He inside and immediately saw a person reclining on a couch in the hall. She was dressed in plain clothes and light makeup, with a soft pillow under her belly, and her features were gentle and graceful.

It was Lady Wang.

Not far from the collapsed building, Emperor Ling of Han was sitting, a rare look of joy on his face.

Everyone in the hall knelt down to pay their respects.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress, greetings to Your Highness."

When Consort Wang heard the word "Empress," her body visibly stiffened, as if she instinctively wanted to get up and bow, but was held down by the imperial physician.

Empress He, however, seemed not to see him and bowed to Emperor Ling of Han, saying:

"Your Majesty, I have come to offer my congratulations upon hearing of your great joy."

Then he turned to the beautiful lady Wang on the couch and said:

Congratulations, little sister!

Wang Meiren forced a smile.

Emperor Ling of Han, seeing the respectable manners of her arrival, smiled even more broadly and said:

"Your Majesty is very kind."

Empress He bowed slightly and gestured with her hand to present the silk handkerchief: "The gift is ready."

When the gift box was opened, crimson gauze, fine silk, incense cakes, and ginseng and poria powder were laid out one by one. Finally, the golden lock and the warm jade incense burner were placed on the table, which showed the Empress's dignity without being ostentatious.

Then, two old women stepped forward and knelt down.

Empress He began by saying:

"My sister is newly pregnant with the emperor's child and needs someone to take care of her."

"These two nannies are the most reliable people around me. They are knowledgeable in medicine and know the rules. So they will stay in Yong'an Palace to take care of my sister's daily life and watch over her day and night, so that there will be no mishap."

Wang Meiren's expression changed.

Emperor Ling of Han, seeing this, deepened the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and laughed:

"The Empress is truly thoughtful."

After he finished speaking, his gaze suddenly fell on what was behind Empress He.

There was a small figure standing there, upright and proper.

It was Liu Bian.

"Bian'er is here too?"

Emperor Ling's voice carried a mixture of doubt and delight.

Upon hearing this, Consort Wang leaned forward with a hint of curiosity, only to meet Empress He's gaze.

Empress He smiled and nodded, but Consort Wang shrank back in alarm.

Seeing that Empress He did not speak, Liu Bian stepped forward, stopped as instructed, and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your subject congratulates Your Majesty and Your Majesty as well."

Emperor Ling of Han raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you congratulating your mother?"

Liu Bian sensed a slight dissatisfaction in Emperor Ling's words, but remained calm:

"The Emperor has an heir, which is a blessing for the ancestral temple."

He suddenly changed the subject.

"Your subject also believes that the Empress Dowager's management of the six palaces is a virtue of the Empress Dowager."

There was silence in the room.

This is quite clear: Consort Wang's pregnancy occurred within the six palaces, thanks to the Empress's effective management.

Liu Bian swallowed hard and continued:

"Therefore... Your Majesty, I wish to accompany you to deliver gifts and take care of things together."

"Let others know that the Empress Dowager is kind and benevolent, and that there is no danger in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Empress He smiled. Consort Wang, however, seemed to have been stung by something, and her face turned pale.

Emperor Ling of Han was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

Looking at Liu Bian, he suddenly realized that this child was different from the illegitimate son of the Marquis Shi in his memory.

She is polite, knows how to be tactful, and knows how to speak to people's hearts.

Then, his gaze shifted to Empress He, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction:

"The Empress taught her well."

Empress He lowered her eyes and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I dare not. It is Bian'er who is clever."

Emperor Ling of Han nodded, tapping his fingers on the table as if speaking casually:

"The eldest son should be like this."

Liu Bian was secretly delighted.

A soft gasp suddenly came from the couch.

The beautiful woman's face was pale, and her forehead was covered in sweat, as if she had been holding on for too long and finally couldn't hold on any longer.

The imperial physician immediately stepped forward, took the pulse, and then said:

"A beautiful woman should not sit for long periods of time; she needs to calm her mind and quiet her spirit."

Emperor Ling's expression changed, and he hurriedly got up and walked to the bedside, his tone filled with genuine anxiety:

"Quickly lie down and rest."

He then turned to Empress He and said:

"Your Majesty has fulfilled your duties today; please return to rest."

This is what it means to kick someone out.

Empress He was not annoyed at all, and curtsied, saying, "This concubine takes her leave."

"Your subject takes his leave."

On the way back, Liu Bian was filled with excitement.

According to historical records, Emperor Ling of Han never appointed a crown prince before his death. The reason was simple: he looked down on Liu Bian.

But in this life, the phrase "The eldest son should be like this" made him see the stirring in Emperor Ling of Han's eyes.

He may not have had the intention of establishing an heir, but he did leave a place for himself in Emperor Ling's court.

Liu Bian gazed at the slowly emerging eaves of Changqiu Palace in the distance and slowly exhaled:

"Let me, this butterfly, completely rewrite history."