Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 158 The Crown Prince is like his father!
As dusk settled, the majestic ridgepole on the roof, like a silent guardian, slowly disappeared into the indigo sky.

Beneath the eaves of the Yong'an Palace's sleeping quarters, the copper bells jingled crisply in the gentle evening breeze. The sound, like lively musical notes, startled several swifts that had been comfortably perched among the caissons in the ceiling. They flapped their wings and hurriedly flew across the sky with a hint of panic.

Whether awakened by the clear, melodious sound of the copper bells under the eaves or startled by the sudden cry of the swift, Liu Bian slowly opened his eyes.

Her eyes were still somewhat dazed, and her face held the bewilderment and confusion characteristic of someone just waking up. Her gaze shifted slightly, slowly focusing on Liu Qing, who was staring blankly at her, and she asked in a low voice, "What time is it?"

"It's past 5:45 PM. Your Highness, I will assist you in changing your clothes."

Hearing the Crown Prince's slightly hoarse voice, a smile appeared on Liu Qing's face, spreading from her curved eyes to her lips.

Whether it was Liu Bian's imagination or not, he felt that Liu Qing's words and actions at this moment had more sincerity, no longer showing the deliberate obsequiousness he had shown when he was trying to please and flatter.

Liu Bian nodded slightly, rubbed his eyes, and slowly sat up straight. With Liu Qing's help, he changed into a set of red casual clothes.

Liu Bian noticed that Liu Qing's red inner robe was full of wrinkles. He frowned slightly and reached out to try to smooth it out, but to no avail. He sighed and said, "Lianyi, you should change your clothes too. I've slept in these clothes and they're all wrinkled. It would be impolite to wear these clothes to pay respects to Father and Mother."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qing was slightly taken aback at first, then tilted her head, looking somewhat bewildered. She had originally thought the Crown Prince was just talking in his sleep, but she never expected that he would actually take her to pay her respects to the Emperor and Empress?
Liu Qing, being from a noble family, naturally understood the difference between paying respects and paying respects.

The Crown Prince had favored her last night, and today she accompanied him to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress. This was like a new bride paying respects to her parents-in-law after entering the family; it was a ceremony, and more importantly, a recognition of her status.

Thinking of this, Liu Qing blinked slightly, her eyelashes trembling gently, and asked with a hint of caution, "Am I truly qualified to go?"

Liu Bian reached out and gently pinched Liu Qing's soft, fair cheek with his index finger. A doting smile appeared on his face, but with an undeniable tone, he said, "If I say you are qualified, then you are qualified."

Seeing Liu Qing happily changing clothes in front of the bronze mirror, Liu Bian couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

It was just a matter of having dinner with Liu Hong and Empress He, nothing serious. After all, he hadn't accompanied the Crown Prince to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices and announce the news to the ancestors. It was just a meal, but it could further win Liu Qing's heart. Why not do it?

According to the rules, only the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince's concubines were qualified to accompany the Crown Prince to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress after their marriage. However, he and Liu Qing did not even hold the most basic wedding ceremony. Liu Qing was merely a servant without a formal title and was not qualified to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress.

Moreover, although the crown prince's concubines in the Later Han Dynasty had to pay their respects to the empress every day, they did not have to pay their respects to the emperor. Only in this ceremony, which was similar to a bride meeting her parents-in-law, and on a few festivals and celebrations, were they among the few opportunities in their lives to pay their respects to the emperor.

He was, after all, one of the few normal men in the palace. If he were to be careless and commit the despicable act of forcibly taking his daughter-in-law, it would be a huge joke that would be remembered for all eternity.

On the Crown Prince's carriage, Dong Huang, the Crown Prince's tutor, did not accompany Dong Zhuo's army on this expedition, but stayed in Luoyang to drive the Crown Prince's carriage.

On the way to the North Palace, Liu Bian held Liu Qing's soft, boneless hand and patted it gently to show her that she didn't need to be nervous. He said, "From now on, Lianyi doesn't have to stay in her bedchamber every day. I can walk around the palace and keep the Empress Dowager company. As long as you don't defile the palace, I won't impose any restrictions on you."

During the reign of Emperor Huan, considering the scandalous behavior of some concubines and even empresses in the Later Han Dynasty, the emperor completely banned scholars from entering and leaving the inner palace and severely restricted the activities of the concubines. However, Liu Bian was not prepared to follow Emperor Huan's old system. The reason why those concubines and even empresses in the Later Han Dynasty were involved in scandalous behavior was ultimately due to the power held by their maternal relatives, who made it possible for them to use the palace's informants to prevent the news from leaking out.

From a certain perspective, the power struggles within the imperial harem, besides representing the infighting of their respective families, may also reflect the fact that these women were so bored that they could only pass the time by engaging in palace intrigue.

As the number of people increases in the future, he will appropriately add some entertainment activities, allowing the concubines of the harem to take the guards of the Crown Prince's residence on outings to Shanglin Garden or Xiyuan Garden together.

As for the possibility of corruption within the palace, given his control over the palace, if someone could corrupt the palace without being detected by the many eunuchs, maids, and imperial messengers outside the palace during his reign, then he might as well give up his position.

Moreover, Liu Bian has recently been considering establishing a female guard composed of women, modeled after the female cavalry that the empress relies on, to guard the inner palace.

Not long after, Liu Hong, who had not dined with his wife and children for a long time, took a bath, changed his clothes, and dressed up. However, his eyes looked at Liu Bian with a slightly strange expression.

Liu Hong suddenly asked a surprising question: "How was it last night?"

Empress He, who was sitting at the same table as Liu Hong, covered her face, unable to bear looking at this tyrannical emperor.

What could be more satisfying than asking your son how it feels to become a real man, especially in front of this bride?

However, Liu Bian unexpectedly held up three fingers, a knowing smile on his lips, and a hint of youthful arrogance on his face.

Liu Hong curled his lip and said, "Don't brag, kid. I've only drunk deer blood three times a night!"

Liu Bian shook his head, his right hand intertwined with Liu Qing's, and his left hand extended three fingers towards her back.

Ha, that's all? I made Lianyi come three times in one night!

Liu Hong, however, did not believe it at all, thinking that the Crown Prince was just bragging without thinking.

"Pooh!"

Empress He spat at the father and son, then suddenly reached out, grabbed Liu Hong's arm, and twisted it forcefully, a blush creeping onto her face.

Liu Qing, blushing and bowing her head, suddenly understood where the Crown Prince's sometimes unruly demeanor came from.

Liu Qing secretly glanced at Liu Bian, then quickly lowered his head, but couldn't help but smile slightly.

The emperor once said that the crown prince was not like his father, and the officials also felt that the crown prince was not like his father. However, at this moment, it seems that the crown prince really is like his father!
(End of this chapter)