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

In a single sentence, Liu Bian immediately tucked his outstretched hand back into his sleeve.

He was truly stunned at that moment.

He had anticipated resistance, but he hadn't expected it to come so quickly, so directly, and so mercilessly.

"The Crown Prince will rest quietly in the Eastern Palace."

These four words sound mild, but in reality, they mean—lockdown.

The eunuch who had delivered the message had already left, but the hall remained silent.

Liu Bian slowly sat down from the table, his fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but he couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal.

Because this was not a court official, but an imperial edict.

If he were to argue back, it would be seen as "fighting for military power," "arrogance of the crown prince," and "wolfish ambition."

He finally realized that the more anxious he was tonight, the more he felt like he was stepping into a pre-dug pit.

Does he want to push Liu Bei to the top?

miss you.

But now—Emperor Ling of Han's simple statement, "No need to concern yourself with this," has sealed off all possible avenues. Cao Cao, this crucial figure, doesn't even have the right to be discussed; he's simply left out in the night wind outside the palace.

For the first time in his life, he truly experienced a feeling—

It wasn't a "failed plan" or a "mistake on strategy".

Instead, the opponent simply doesn't play chess with you; they just flip the chessboard over.

Zhou Wen was stunned into silence, while Wang Ming quickly went to help Liu Bian back to his seat at the table.

"Your Highness, please don't get angry."

Liu Bian did not respond; he simply stared blankly at the draft he had just written the night before on the table—

The text describes Liu Bei's deployment after taking up residence at the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden, including Ji Province and the Heavenly Merchant Guild...

Wang Ming panicked and hurriedly yelled at Zhou Wen, who was still lost in thought beside him:

"What are you waiting for! Go and invite Mr. Xun! And invite Doctor Hua as well!"

-

Hua Tuo arrived very quickly.

When he entered, his steps were a bit faster than usual, and his medicine box was slung across his shoulder.

But when he walked around the screen and saw Liu Bian sitting at the desk, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He almost didn't recognize the face under the light.

The person sitting under the lamp had a flushed face, bloodshot eyes, and dry, chapped lips. He looked like a bow stretched to its limit—the bow hadn't broken yet, but the string was already taut and creaking.

Two years ago, when he first entered the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was still a boy, but there was fire and light in his eyes—even if he suppressed it, you could still see that fire was alive.

The fire is still burning, but it feels like it's been doused with cold water and forcibly put back into the furnace, making it suffocating.

"Your Highness." Hua Tuo stepped forward, skipping the elaborate formalities, and simply raised his hand. "Hand."

Wang Ming quickly rolled up Liu Bian's sleeves.

Hua Tuo took the pulse with two fingers, and his brows furrowed immediately when his fingertips touched the pulse. He then switched to his other hand, paused for three breaths, and his gaze became even more intense.

"The pulse is wiry, rapid, and forceful, indicating that the Qi is rebellious and cannot descend."

He said in a low voice.

"When the heart meridian is disturbed and liver qi is stagnant, anger and worry clash—blood and qi rush upward, causing chest tightness, blurred vision, and cold fingers."

Wang Ming's face turned pale: "Physician Hua, Your Highness, what's wrong—"

"The blood and qi are attacking the heart." Hua Tuo's words were concise yet calm and collected.

"It's not an external evil, but an internal injury. Your Highness has been overexerting yourself these past few years, keeping everything bottled up inside, refusing to let it all out; tonight you were suddenly provoked, unable to vent your anger, and with nowhere to release your frustration, your energy became disordered and surged upwards."

He paused, then looked at Liu Bian:

"Your Highness, how many things have you kept to yourself these past two years?"

Liu Bian remained silent.

He simply lowered his head, looking at the draft on the table, at the few lines of text that were not yet finished.

Seeing this, Hua Tuo softened his tone:

"Your Highness, if you get angry again tonight, it won't be as simple as just 'sulking'."

"In mild cases, it can cause fainting; in severe cases, it can cause persistent palpitations, insomnia, and mental exhaustion."

Liu Bian seemed to have finally heard the voice; his eyelashes fluttered, but he still did not speak.

Hua Tuo took out silver needles from his medicine bag, his hand as steady as if nailed to the moonlight:

"Wang Ming, help His Highness to lean on you, loosen his collar, and fetch some warm water."

The needles were inserted quickly, almost silently. Neiguan, Shenmen, Taichong... several acupoints were pricked and twisted, and the stiffness in Liu Bian's shoulders and back seemed to be gently pried open, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Hua Tuo then stopped the needlework and gave instructions:

"Go to bed early tonight, avoid discussing politics and seeing annoying people. Eat light meals, preferably warm porridge. Starting tomorrow, sit quietly for half a day after waking up, and do not try to force yourself to stay awake."

He stood up, picked up his medicine bag, and said, "I will go and get the medicine, and personally brew a soup to calm the mind, regulate qi, nourish the blood, and balance the flow of qi. It should be taken tonight."

Just as he was about to leave the hall, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door—Xun Yu and Xun Shuang arrived almost simultaneously, their robes billowing in the wind, and neither of them looked too good.

Hua Tuo stopped the two at the door, his voice low but extremely firm:

"His Highness is suffering from a stroke. Do not let him get angry tonight; if you speak harshly, it will only worsen his condition."

Xun Yu was taken aback, then quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Physician Hua."

Xun Shuang didn't speak, he just nodded, and at that moment the worry in his eyes was almost impossible to hide.

Hua Tuo didn't linger any longer and immediately set off.

-

When Xun Yu and Xun Shuang entered the hall, it was even quieter than before.

Liu Bian remained seated at his desk, the lamplight illuminating his pale profile. Wang Ming and Zhou Wen stood beside him, even their breathing becoming soft.

Xun Yu spoke first: "What happened?"

Wang Ming gritted his teeth and recounted the events of the past few days one by one—

When Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were invited to the capital, Zhang Fei was tricked and detained in the Henan governor's office. That night, Yuan Shao entered the Western Garden and did not come out for a long time. His Highness was anxious and asked Lu Zhi for help. Lu Zhi signed a letter recommending Liu Bei. There was no response to the letter of recommendation. Until today, the emperor issued an edict: "The Eastern Palace should be kept quiet and there is no need to concern oneself with the military affairs of the Western Garden."

By the end, Wang Ming's voice was trembling:

"His Highness has been sitting here ever since he heard that imperial edict, without saying a word... without moving an inch..."

After listening, Xun Yu remained silent for a moment, going over these matters in his mind, before slowly raising his head to look at Liu Bian:

"Your Highness, let me recount these events in detail. If I make any mistakes, please point them out."

Liu Bian remained silent.

Xun Yu took it as tacit approval.

"Yuan Shu set a trap, causing Zhang Fei to be captured, and luring Your Highness to the Governor of Henan to rescue him." He said slowly, "This step was not for winning, but to get Your Highness to act."

"His Highness has made a move; he personally went to the Governor of Henan. Everyone in Luoyang with eyes saw it—the Crown Prince personally went to the government office for the sake of a stranger."

He paused:

Then Yuan Shao entered the Western Garden.

"I do not know what he and His Majesty discussed in the Western Garden."

"But I know that he must have mentioned Your Highness's actions over the past few years—lifting the ban on factions, purging the eunuch faction, establishing charitable granaries for merchants, and sending people to local areas... Every single one of these actions was done under the banner of 'for the country,' but each one was also a move on the chessboard."

"His Majesty will not think that His Highness is acting for the country."

"He would feel that His Highness is cultivating his own power. Reaching out for money, reaching out for people, reaching out for the hearts of the people."

"The next step should be to extend to the soldiers."

Xun Yu's voice grew slower and deeper:

"Therefore, the West Garden must be established. It must be established right under His Majesty's nose, right beside His Highness's shadow."

"To make His Highness see it, yet not touch it. To make His Highness anxious, yet not daring to be too obvious in his anxiety."

He looked at Liu Bian:

"Your Highness is in a hurry."

"His Highness asked Lu Zhi to submit a memorial proposing that Liu Bei be sent to the West Garden."

"When Your Highness saw this letter of recommendation, what did you think? 'Just as I expected.'"

"This is what he's been waiting for."

The room fell silent for a moment.

The lights flickered gently in the night breeze.

Xun Yu continued:

"That imperial edict was not a spur-of-the-moment decision."

"It was prepared long ago. Yuan Shu made a scene outside to provoke Your Highness to act; Yuan Shao held talks inside to let Emperor Ling of Han see how Your Highness would act. Once Your Highness made your move, the imperial edict was issued."

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Your Highness, this whole scheme was set up for you from the very beginning."

Liu Bian sat there, motionless.

He didn't refute, didn't speak, and didn't even change his expression.

But his fingers slowly tightened on the edge of the table.

Xun Yu looked at him but said nothing more.

After a long time, Liu Bian finally spoke.

He raised his head and looked at Xun Shuang, who had been sitting silently beside him.

Xun Shuang hasn't said a single word since he entered the room.

He just sat there, looking at Liu Bian, with something indescribable in his eyes—not blame, not heartache, but a deep calm that came from understanding everything.

Looking into those eyes, Liu Bian suddenly felt something stuck in his throat.

He opened his mouth, but his voice was hoarseer than he had expected:

"Grand Tutor".

Xun Shuang looked at him without saying a word.

Liu Bian lowered his head, looking at the half-written draft on the table, at the few lines of words he hadn't finished writing, and at the things he thought he could grasp, slipping away little by little through his fingers.

"Perhaps you are right," he said.

The voice was very low, so low it was as if it were being spoken to oneself:

"I was wrong."

Xun Shuang remained silent.

He simply stared at Liu Bian for a long time, then sighed softly.