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

The shouts erupted almost simultaneously.

The Imperial Guards surged forward, instantly disrupting the previously orderly ranks. Just then, a fire suddenly erupted from a wooden cart carrying ceremonial items behind the imperial carriage.

The fire wasn't started by a lamp wick.

Flames suddenly shot out from under the car, as if someone had poured something on it beforehand. The fire licked up the wooden wheels and swallowed half of the carriage in the blink of an eye.

Amid the chaos, someone cried out in alarm:

"Ket oil!"

"Someone has poured kerosene!"

Arrows and fire, both starting at the same time.

This is no longer just causing trouble.

They came because of the "imperial decree".

Emperor Ling's expression changed instantly.

He was sitting on the imperial carriage when he suddenly stood up, causing his crown to sway wildly.

"Who dares—!"

There was definitely anger in that shout.

What he was afraid of was not whether Liu Xie would get into trouble today.

What he feared was—

If a great disturbance were to occur today outside the Duanmen Gate, before the officials, and amidst the ceremonial procession, the people of the world would only remember one thing:

Even the emperor himself couldn't protect the imperial decrees he issued.

One of the prayer beads in Empress Dowager Dong's hand snapped off with a "crack" and rolled off the bed.

Empress He reacted extremely quickly, almost immediately taking a step forward.

"Protect His Majesty first!"

Zhang Rang, no longer caring about pretending to be a shadow, immediately shouted in a shrill voice:

"Where are the Imperial Guards? Seal off the gates! Close off the streets!"

But they weren't the first to act.

It was Liu Bian.

The moment the fire broke out, he held Liu Xie in his arms, took a step back, shielded the child behind him, and used his body to block the direction from which the arrows came.

Liu Xie was startled and instinctively gripped his shirt.

Liu Bian lowered his head and uttered only two words:

"Don't be afraid."

The sound was not loud, but it was steady.

The next moment, he raised his head, his voice suddenly rising and directly drowning out the chaotic shouts around him:

"Cao Cao—Seal off the streets!"

From the side and rear of the crowd, a voice responded almost immediately.

"promise!"

Cao Cao kept his Eastern Palace guards positioned to the side and behind the ceremonial procession, neither in front nor behind, in an inconspicuous position, but most suitable for making a move.

Upon receiving the order, he did not hesitate for a moment and immediately led his men in two groups.

They rushed straight to the burning ceremonial vehicle, first cutting the tow rope, then forcibly dragging the burning wooden cart out of the procession to prevent the fire from spreading along the ceremonial procession.

The other route headed directly towards the alley entrances on both sides.

Close off alleys and streets, and investigate by the headcount.

If anyone is seen running around, pin them down on the spot.

His movements were swift and efficient, as if it weren't his first time doing it.

In fact, that's not the case.

The Crown Prince has staged this privately more than once in the past few days.

Liu Bian didn't even wait for any imperial decree.

Holding Liu Xie in his arms, he turned and shouted loudly at the Imperial Guards and the Commander of the Golden Halberd:

"Today, as we move the capital, all those entering and leaving the area will be permitted passage upon presentation of their official credentials!"

"Anyone entering without authorization will be detained according to the law!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already pulled out a document from his sleeve, unfolded it, and read it aloud:

"Access control verification order—"

"From this day forward, all gates, alleys, and passes along the route from Duanmen to the Prince of Chenliu's Mansion shall be subject to verification of entry and exit based on the registers, credentials, and ten-day reports."

"Signature of the person who released the vehicle."

"Those who fail to release, release privately, or impersonate others—will be considered accomplices!"

Wang Ming had already led the registrar of the Eastern Palace to guard the rear. As soon as the order was issued, he immediately rushed out with the register of names and spread out the "Today's Passage Verification Register" on the spot.

Every door, every hour, and every talisman is recorded in the book.

No one can shirk their responsibility.

The fire was pulled away, and the sound of arrows stopped.

But people's hearts did not stop.

Everyone present witnessed two things:

First, the crown prince protected his younger brother.

Second, the Crown Prince immediately took control of the situation and was able to maintain it.

Empress Dowager Dong's face turned pale. She tried to step forward, but was stopped by someone: "Empress Dowager, do not approach, lest there be remaining arrows!"

Empress He stared intently at Liu Bian—not out of surprise, but out of a deeper sense of relief.

Emperor Ling of Han stood on the imperial carriage, his chest heaving, and for the first time, his eyes showed not "doubt" but "lingering fear".

After the initial fear came anger.

"Arrest them!" he growled. "Take them alive!"

-

They really caught them alive.

Cao Cao sealed off the streets too quickly; the enemy didn't have time to escape unscathed.

A man in gray was pinned to the ground with a poison sac still in his mouth. Cao Cao pried open his jaw, and the poison sac was spat out, smashing into black fragments on the ground.

The man in gray was pinned to the ground. During the struggle, his sleeve was torn open, revealing a section of a wrist guard underneath.

As soon as the pattern on the wristband was revealed, many people around changed their expressions.

That's not the Imperial Guard insignia.

It is not the Eastern Palace pattern.

It is a style commonly used by the old guards of Chongde Hall.

Empress Dowager Dong's vision went black, and she almost lost her balance.

Empress He also saw it, but did not speak immediately.

She knew all too well that she shouldn't kick someone when they're down.

The more eager you are to point fingers at the other person, the more it seems like you're trying to shift the blame onto yourself.

Liu Bian glanced down at the wrist guard, but his expression remained unchanged.

He did not go to see Empress Dowager Dong, nor did he take the opportunity to speak.

He simply turned to Wang Ming and said:

"Check the talisman."

"yes!"

Wang Ming immediately rushed to the book, his fingers trembled slightly, but he forced himself to steady them and flipped through the entries by door number and time.

His expression quickly changed.

"Found it!"

"Passage is permitted through the East Alley outside Duanmen Gate, identification number: Jia 37."

"Release the signature..."

Wang Ming swallowed hard before uttering the last few words.

"Zhao Quan, eunuch of Chongde Hall."

Even Zhang Rang's expression changed at this.

He recognized the name Zhao Quan.

He was a former protégé of Zhao Zhong, who was later placed in the Chongde Hall. He usually kept a low profile and no one paid much attention to him.

But it is precisely these kinds of people who are most likely to keep secrets.

Liu Bian raised his eyes, his voice not loud, yet it dominated the entire room:

"Bring Zhao Quan along."

Cao Cao responded and turned to leave.

Empress Dowager Dong's lips turned pale, and she finally spoke, her voice hoarse:

"Your Majesty...I—"

She had barely uttered two words when Liu Bian turned around, bowed respectfully to her, and spoke in a tone that could even be described as gentle.

"The Empress Dowager need not explain."

"What happened today is a stain on the Emperor's decree, not on any particular palace."

Empress Dowager Dong's words were cut off, and her face turned even more unpleasant, but she could only remain seated.

-

Evening, Zhangde Hall.

When Zhao Quan was dragged into the palace, he was already unable to hold on any longer.

He tried to bite his tongue, but Cao Cao kicked him, breaking two of his front teeth, and blood kept flowing from the corner of his mouth.

Upon seeing blood, Emperor Ling of Han was immediately enraged.

"explain!"

Zhao Quan knelt and trembled, and at the very end, he uttered a sentence:

"I...I only let them pass..."

"The money came from outside..."

"They said...we should make Lady He take the blame, so the Empress Dowager will be even more anxious..."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Dong's expression changed instantly.

She understood immediately.

The net she had originally borrowed had long been secretly rigged with a hook.

This hook wasn't meant to help Liu Xie at all.

It wasn't to avenge her.

The purpose was to completely disrupt the palace, making her and Empress He fight even more fiercely, thus making it easier for others to take advantage of the situation.

Emperor Ling's voice was as cold as a knife:

Who's outside?

Zhao Quan looked up, his mouth slurring, his words unclear:

"Former members of the Zhao family...and...talismans...talisman water from the old guild..."

He didn't dare to utter the three words "Ma Yuanyi" completely.

But Xun Yu, who was standing to the side of the hall, had already reconnected the wire when he heard this.

Zhao Zhongyu's ashes.

Old Taiping Road.

If these two things get mixed up, things will no longer be just palace squabbles.

It is the root of all evil.

It's a real potential source of trouble that could catch fire.

Emperor Ling of Han felt a sudden heaviness in his chest.

When he looked at Liu Bian again, his eyes were completely different from those of the previous few days.

In that glance, there was finally no wariness of "you're so capable," only a realistic need:

—I need someone to keep the capital under control for me.

Liu Bian did not take the opportunity to cry foul, nor did he take the opportunity to implicate Empress Dowager Dong.

He took only one step forward, his voice steady:

"Father, what happened today is no longer just a rumor."

"It is a thorn, it is fire, it is a provocation against the emperor's decree."

"If the capital doesn't establish rules, next time they'll dare to burn the imperial carriage."

Emperor Ling of Han's Adam's apple bobbed; anger and fear churned in his chest, finally settling into a resolute statement:

"deliver an imperial order--"

Everyone in the hall knelt down at the same time.

Emperor Ling of Han spoke slowly and deliberately:

"From today onwards, the Crown Prince's Palace may act as the inspector of the capital's gates for a period of three months."

"The Crown Prince is hereby given the authority to patrol and investigate, and all officials of the Imperial Guard, the Northern Army, and the gatekeepers are to obey his orders and cooperate with him."

He paused, his eyes like nails:

"Anyone who does not cooperate will be considered to have defied the imperial decree."

Empress Dowager Dong's face was pale.

Empress He raised her eyes, and for the first time, a genuine light appeared in them.

Liu Bian kowtowed, his voice clear and distinct:

"Your subject obeys the imperial decree."

-

Late at night, Liu Bian returned to Chengde Palace.

The lights are on.

Wang Ming strode in carrying the newly copied "Access Control Audit Register" and handed it over with both hands.

Liu Bian took the register, looked down at it for a moment, and then suddenly chuckled softly.

"The three-month period is merely a title given by my father."

Wang Ming didn't dare to reply.

Liu Bian gently placed the register on the table and tapped it with his finger.

"Once you establish a reputation, a path will open up."

"Once the road is opened, it must be paved with rules."

He raised his head and looked out at the dark night outside the hall, his voice gradually fading away.

"They originally thought the fire was meant to burn down the Crown Prince's Palace."

"Let's get this going!"

"But first, the key to the capital was burned into my hands."