Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Chen Zhi suddenly realized: "After leaving Baidi City, the area from Wuxian in the west to Baqiu in the east is all under Zhuge Ziyu's jurisdiction, while Wuchang is under Lu Xun's jurisdiction?"

Chen Zhen added, "Yes, Baqiu was under Lu Xun's jurisdiction, and the area from Baqiu to Chaisang, as well as the area around the Han River, was all under Lu Xun's supervision. Just as Baqiu belonged to Lu Xun, Chaisang, although it was part of Jingzhou, was under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou."

Hearing this, Chen Zhi laughed and said, "We use Zhuge Ziyu, but we also use Lu Xun to guard against Zhuge Ziyu. We use Lu Xun, but we also guard against Lu Xun. It is precisely because the territory of Wu is along the river that the jurisdiction is so clearly defined, isn't that right?"

"Exactly." Chen Zhen nodded again.

Liu Shan then interjected, "Lord Chen, I remember Fei Wenwei saying before that Sun Quan had a jade seal engraved by Lu Xun, and that Lu Xun was allowed to modify all documents related to the Han Dynasty at his own discretion. Is that true?"

Chen Zhen snorted lightly: "I have never heard of Lu Xun using it. If Sun Quan dared to give it to him, how could he dare to use it? Giving Lu Xun the rank of Grand General is not the treatment a subject should receive. Sun Quan has long been wary of Lu Xun. We have known this for a long time, just as the people of Wu knew about the discord between Wei Yan and Yang Yi. The relationship between the ruler and his ministers in Wu is not the same as that in our dynasty."

"Indeed." Liu Shan nodded to himself. "I know that Sun Quan is outwardly lenient but inwardly suspicious. Thank you for your help today, Lord Chen. After we have finished speaking, Feng Zong will come to the rear hall to find me. Lord Chen and General Zong, please go back first."

"Your Majesty, we obey your command." Chen Zhen, Zong Yu, and Chen Zhi bowed in unison.

Chen Zhen was getting old and his health wasn't very good, so his words became more rambling and he talked for an hour about the appearance, conduct, personality, and various trivial matters of Sun Quan of Wu and his important ministers. Zong Yu and Chen Zhi both felt a little dizzy.

Only after the event was over did Chen Zhi have time to go to the back hall to find Liu Shan.

"Have you finished speaking?" Liu Shan asked, raising his eyes.

"Yes." Chen Zhi bowed. "What you said, Lord Chen, is very detailed. General Zong and I have benefited greatly from it."

Liu Shan nodded: "I have already thought it through. Before you two set off, I will promote you both in your official positions. I previously said that I would appoint you as the Commandant of the Yue Cavalry, and today I will grant you that position without any problem. I will also prepare to appoint Jin Zongyu as the General Who Assists the Han. Everything will be almost settled then."

"Fengzong, I have two other matters to discuss with you today."

Chen Zhi bowed again: "Your Majesty, I accept the decree and express my gratitude. Please give your instructions."

Liu Shan said, "The first thing I want to talk about is your marriage. You have no elders in your family, so I don't need to interfere with your taking concubines. However, marrying a woman from the Fei family requires the assistance of a respected elder in your clan. Empress Dowager Wu has heard of this and is willing to act as matchmaker for you personally. The Grand Master of Ceremonies will handle everything. Is Fengzong satisfied?"

"Empress Dowager Wu?" Chen Zhi was surprised and didn't know why she would pay attention to this matter. He hesitated and said, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty really doesn't know. I only obey Your Majesty's orders. If Your Majesty is willing, I will naturally thank the Empress Dowager for her grace. If Your Majesty is not willing, then I will follow Your Majesty's wishes."

"Please sit!" Liu Shan sighed heavily. "To be honest, I lost my mother at a young age. Now, Empress Dowager Wu is my legal mother. I have always been polite and kind to her, but that's all. We're not particularly close. After the incident with Liu Yan at the beginning of this year, even that little bit of closeness between us has diminished. I don't want to see her anymore. I've changed my greetings from once every ten days to once a month, and we talk less... For the sake of the late Emperor, I don't want to be so estranged from her."

"Empress Wu is trying to curry favor with me. She sees that Fengzong is useful to me and is short of a matchmaker, so she has offered herself up. Let's do as she says."

After sitting down, Chen Zhi cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Liu Shan and said, "Then I will obey Your Majesty's decree."

Liu Shan said, "In a little while, I will have the Grand Chamberlain take you to the Empress Dowager's palace, and you can hear what she has to say in person."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Chen Zhi simply replied with a few words, unwilling to say more.

Clearly, the relationship between Liu Shan and Empress Dowager Wu is somewhat strained, and Chen Zhi's marriage has become an opportunity for them to get closer.

Becoming a confidant inevitably involves getting involved in the emperor's private affairs. This principle applies not only to those around the emperor, but even in later generations, few secretaries to their superiors refrain from doing personal favors for them.

At the beginning of this year, Lady Hu, wife of General Liu Yan, entered the palace to celebrate the New Year with Empress Dowager Wu. Lady Hu stayed in the palace for a month before leaving. Then Liu Yan suspected Lady Hu of having an affair with Liu Shan and spread the news widely. He even ordered his soldiers to beat Lady Hu in public and then divorced her. Lady Hu then filed a complaint against Liu Yan with the authorities, causing a great uproar. The matter ended with Liu Yan's death.

Chen Zhi had also heard about this matter.

In short, Liu Yan was an alcoholic and unruly man, a frequent drunkard who would ramble incoherently when intoxicated. However, due to his seniority and good relationship with Liu Bei, he held a high position and was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry. Two years earlier, during the Northern Expedition, Liu Yan had argued with Wei Yan while drunk, escalating the argument and even making unfounded comments about the success or failure of the expedition. Zhuge Liang ordered him to return to Chengdu, where he remained depressed and often suffered from mental instability.

Without Zhuge Liang's restraint, Liu Yan drank even more and became increasingly unruly. He not only made many irresponsible remarks about state affairs, but also frequently beat Lady Hu. Lady Hu had a past relationship with Empress Dowager Wu, so she used the excuse of visiting the Empress Dowager to hide in the Empress Dowager's palace for a month. Of course, she also complained about Liu Yan's nonsense.

So Liu Yan composed a satirical rhyme about Lady Hu and Liu Shan...

What empress dowager would find women for an emperor who wasn't her own, and then keep them in her palace? Moreover, the empress dowager's palace and the emperor's palace were separate; Liu Shan wouldn't engage in such illicit affairs with his legal mother, and the Chamberlain Dong Yun wouldn't allow it. Besides, Chen Zhi knew Liu Shan's temperament well; Liu Shan did like beautiful women, but he preferred young and vibrant girls, while Lady Hu was almost forty, completely not to his liking…

Therefore, Liu Yan was given death, and the matter was closed. However, the fact that Empress Dowager Wu had "helped" Lady Hu stay in the palace still caused Liu Shan a lot of trouble, which is why the two gradually became estranged. Chen Zhi could agree, but he couldn't say anything either.

Seeing that Chen Zhi remained silent, Liu Shan spoke again: "Fengzong, before you go to the Empress Dowager's palace, I have one more thing to do."

One thing after another...

Chen Zhi cupped his hands in greeting: "Please give your orders, Your Majesty."

Liu Shan sighed, "I also experienced much hardship in my childhood. Sun Quan's sister, Lady Sun, was once married to the late emperor, and I used to call her Mother. When I was two years old, Empress Zhaolie passed away, and she took care of me for a few years. But Sun Quan interfered, and she returned to Wu and never came back. Then came Empress Dowager Wu, but I was already eight years old at that time, and Empress Dowager Wu didn't take care of me much either..."

"I often think of her, but when the late emperor was alive, I could not ask. After I ascended the throne, the Prime Minister often asked me about the envoys to Wu. I could not and could not bring myself to ask. I heard that she passed away about five or six years ago. With my father gone, I feel lost and sometimes I dream of her at night."

"Fengzong," Liu Shan said earnestly, "This time it's your mission to Wu, and I can finally ask you for help. I'll give you a pair of jade tablets; after you arrive in Jianye, please also prepare a sacrificial offering and go to pay respects to Lady Sun to ease my longing for her. Is that alright?"