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

In the study of the Lu residence, the steward entered and whispered:

"My lord, the decree has been issued. Bo Gui has entered the West Garden and has been appointed Right Colonel."

Lu Zhi sat behind his desk without looking up, simply turning a page of the document in his hand and giving a faint "hmm".

The butler waited a moment, then bowed and withdrew.

The study fell silent again.

As Lu Zhi sipped his tea, the memory of Gongsun Zan's first visit to him flashed through his mind.

At that time, the boy was riding a horse that was half a head taller than him. He stood at the door and said that he wanted to become his disciple. He spoke in a tone that was as if he were giving an order.

He didn't agree immediately, but asked him: What do you want to learn?

The boy paused for a moment, then said: Learn how to win battles.

Lu Zhi knew then that this student was destined to be a person who could do things, not an official.

If such a person were placed in the West Garden, Jian Shuo would not be able to see through his true nature, and Yuan Shao would not be able to figure out his background.

But he will remember everything he needs to see, one by one, so that when the day comes that he needs to speak, he will be able to stand firm.

Although Gongsun Zan was still serving in the north and held a high position, he was not so conspicuous as to arouse the emperor's suspicion.

He was originally leading troops in Youzhou, and the small number of men under his command could be temporarily led by a subordinate official in the prefecture.

Changing generals in border regions is a common occurrence; selecting a colonel in Luoyang, however, is a major event.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhi's lips curled into a smile.

His student is very intelligent.

He knew how to choose.

-

The list of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden was officially announced on the morning of the third day after Liu Bian woke up.

When Wang Ming placed the copied notice on the table, Liu Bian had already gotten up and was sitting by the window drinking medicine.

He put down his bowl, picked up the thin piece of paper, and read it from beginning to end—

Jian Shuo, a military officer.

Commandant of the Central Army, Yuan Shao.

Junior Colonel, Bao Hong.

Commandant of the Army, Zhao Rong.

Assistant Commandant of the Left, Feng Fang.

Assistant Right Colonel, Xia Mou.

Left Commandant, Chunyu Qiong.

Right Commandant, Gongsun Zan.

He read the list twice from beginning to end, mentally reviewing each name, and then put it down.

Jian Shuo was at the very top, which was within his expectations.

Emperor Ling of Han wanted an army that would only listen to him, and having a eunuch as the commander-in-chief was the most secure way to control it. Yuan Shao was ranked second, a position he negotiated in the Western Garden, which was not surprising.

The others each had their own backgrounds and their own purposes.

Emperor Ling of Han arranged this list very meticulously, so meticulously that behind each position there was a balance that he himself could see.

Gongsun Zan was ranked last, and held the rank of Right Colonel.

Liu Bian looked at the spot and thought for a moment.

The last position is inconspicuous and unobtrusive, making it the least likely to be noticed by Jian Shuo.

Lu Zhilian had even thought of this.

Wang Ming whispered from the side, "Your Highness, should we send someone to inquire about this...?"

"No need," Liu Bian interrupted him. "The list is already finalized, why are you asking about it?"

Wang Ming responded and stepped back to the door.

Liu Bian picked up the medicine bowl again. The medicine had gone cold, but he didn't frown and drank it down sip by sip.

-

Xun Yu arrived that evening.

When he entered, Liu Bian was sitting at his desk.

The list lay on the table, with several sheets of paper covered in writing and crossed out next to it; the crossed-out marks outnumbered the written words.

Xun Yu glanced at the crossed-out marks, sat down beside him, and didn't speak immediately. He first picked up the tea Wang Ming offered, took a sip, put it down, and then said:

"What is Your Highness thinking about?"

Liu Bian did not answer.

Xun Yu didn't press further, but simply continued speaking to himself:

"Your Highness, how much have you thought through what happened that night these past few days?"

"I've thought most of it through," Liu said. "I got anxious, and my father quickly pressed his hand down on me. It's my own fault, I can't blame anyone else."

Xun Yu looked at him, a fleeting glint in his eyes.

He didn't reply, but simply picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said:

"I am relieved that Your Highness has said that."

He put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and spoke with a more serious tone than before:

"I have been thinking about the same thing these past few days—why has Your Majesty placed His Highness under house arrest?"

Liu Bian looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"It's not because Your Highness did anything wrong," Xun Yu said. "It's because Your Highness did the right thing, so right that His Majesty feels that this son is no longer needed by His Majesty."

"Your Highness, please hear what Your Majesty has to say first."

"Your Majesty has appeared cold these past few days, but you are not at ease inside."

"What he fears is not just Your Highness's reach into military power," Xun Yu said slowly, looking at Liu Bian. "What he fears is that Your Highness is acting too much like someone who 'can change the world.'"

Liu Bian's eyes flickered slightly.

Xun Yu continued:

"His Majesty is not unaware of His Highness's abilities. On the contrary, he knows it all too well."

"Lifting the ban on factions, purging the eunuch faction, stabilizing grain prices, establishing public granaries, promoting trade routes... Every single thing Your Highness has done has won the hearts of the people. The hearts of the people are the softest thing, yet also the sharpest."

"What would His Majesty think if he saw this?"

Xun Yu paused for a moment before uttering those words:

"He will be proud—this is his son."

"He also has reservations—this is a son who might not need him in the future."

"What does it feel like for a father to watch his son do everything for him without him having to do anything?"

Liu Bian remained silent for a moment before speaking, his voice very low:

"He would feel that this son not only doesn't need him, but that one day he will surpass him."

"That's right." Xun Yu nodded. "What His Majesty fears is never the things His Highness has done. What he fears is that His Highness did those things without ever looking back at him once."

Liu Bian leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and mentally reviewed Xun Yu's words.

He knew it was true.

Everything he has done in recent years has been motivated by a desire to save the big man, to help the refugees who were digging up grass roots, and to find a way to survive for those who have fallen on the official road.

He never considered whether he should turn back and let Emperor Ling of Han see a son who needed him.

Because he doesn't need it.

He entered this body carrying the history of an entire lifetime, and he saw further than anyone else in this era. He certainly didn't need a father who was addicted to pleasure and neglected state affairs to guide him.

But it was precisely this "not needed" that made Emperor Ling of Han feel threatened.

"Sir, do you mean," Liu Bian opened his eyes and looked at Xun Yu, "that I need to make Father Emperor feel that I still need him?"

"It's not a need," Xun Yu shook his head, "it's to let him see that His Highness still has him as his father in his heart."

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:

These two things are different.

Liu Bian remained silent for a moment, without saying a word.

Xun Yu took a piece of paper from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and said in a very calm voice:

"I wrote something last night, Your Highness, please take a look."

It was a draft of a memorial to the throne.

His words were earnest and his attitude respectful; from beginning to end, he uttered not a single word of defense or complaint, but only one thing:

During his period of recuperation, the Crown Prince secluded himself to reflect on his past actions. He deeply regretted that he had acted too hastily and feared that he had failed the Emperor's grace. He earnestly requested Emperor Ling of Han to admonish him.

After Liu Bian finished reading, he raised his head and looked at Xun Yu:

"You want me to admit I'm wrong?"

Xun Yu did not avoid his gaze, but calmly said:

"Admitting your mistake will lift the confinement. Only after the confinement is lifted can you proceed to the next step."

"Your Highness has been resting quietly for the past few days and has done nothing, which is good. But simply 'not doing' is not enough. His Majesty needs to know that Your Highness's inaction is not because you are forbidden from doing anything, but because you have figured things out."

He turned around and looked at Liu Bian:

"When this memorial was submitted, His Highness wasn't admitting a mistake, but rather recognizing the weight of the title 'Crown Prince'."

"After the recognition, Your Highness will still be Your Highness. You will not slack off on any of the things that can be done. However, from now on, when Your Highness does things, you must make sure that His Majesty sees it—that the Crown Prince is doing things to share His Majesty's burdens, not to pave the way for himself."

Liu Bian lowered his head and looked at the draft of the memorial on the table for a long time.

Then he picked up a pen and added a few words to the paper—

"Since childhood, I have been raised and educated by my father, and I have always thought of repaying him, fearing that I am not good enough. If I have made any mistakes, it is because I am young and ignorant and eager to succeed, and I have no other intentions."