Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 172 Wearing the armor of Emperor Shizu, he ascended the chariot to punish the disobedient!
Yong'an Palace, Sleeping Hall
The Crown Prince, who should have been dressed in fine clothes and preparing to go to the Situ residence for a banquet, had not yet finished changing his clothes and was calmly stretching out his hands to both sides.

Liu Qing moved gracefully, standing behind the Crown Prince. Her hands trembled slightly as she wrapped them around the Crown Prince's waist, draping a silk robe over him with such gentle movements that it was as if she were handling a priceless treasure rather than clothing. She then placed a soft armor over the silk robe, and over that, a black suit of armor connected by a red ribbon.

However, this armor was clearly quite old. Although it seemed to be regularly maintained, there were still some traces of swords and arrows on it.

Emperor Taizu Gao's armor was too old; it had been damaged during the Xin Mang Rebellion. However, Emperor Shizu Guangwu's armor was well-preserved, and Liu Bian's physique was similar to his, so the armor fit him perfectly.

Liu Qing carefully dressed the prince in armor, her hands unconsciously tightening the buckles slightly as she did so. Her pretty face gently pressed against the cold, hard armor, her eyes filled with reluctance and worry.

Although Liu Bian did not turn around, he seemed to be able to truly feel the fiery heat emanating from the delicate body behind him. He turned his head slightly, a gentle smile appearing on his lips, and said softly, "Don't worry."

"Your Highness, please be extremely careful and do not venture into dangerous places."

Liu Qing's expression was solemn, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. She had just learned of the Crown Prince's scheme, that such a dangerous event was taking place in the capital Luoyang, and that her man was going to the scene of the danger.

But she also felt a little fortunate, because if she were still Yuan Shao's second wife, then when the three clans were exterminated, she and the Liu family of Yanshi behind her would also be killed.

Fortunately, her husband had a discerning eye and saw through the conspiracy of the Yuan family of Runan.

Thinking of this, Liu Qing subconsciously gripped Liu Bian's arm, but Liu Bian just chuckled and shook his head.

As a politician, Yuan Wei was undoubtedly qualified, and even an excellent politician before Liu Bian took control of the government. However, the saying "a scholar's rebellion will not succeed in three years" is also undoubtedly true.

At Yuan Ji's wedding, Yuan Kui did not borrow any servants or maids from his other close colleagues or friends. This alone was enough to make Liu Bian wary.

Apart from the royal family, even the Situ Mansion could not afford a wedding banquet of this scale, which invited almost half of the officials in the capital. However, Yuan Wei chose to borrow servants and maids from his hometown of Runan.

Instead of seeking what is close at hand, he sought what is far away, and even borrowed from his own clansmen who were alienated from him.

Okay, even if you're just using his status as the Crown Prince to intimidate your clansmen and prevent them from disobeying orders, at least don't openly distribute weapons and armor to your clansmen and guards just days before the wedding banquet. Distributing weapons and armor so blatantly in the inner quarters, even the Embroidered-Robe Envoy can't pretend to be blind.

The distribution of weapons and armor clearly revealed their intention to rebel.

Hongmen Banquet?
My Liu family is naturally unafraid of the Feast at Hongmen! Why did Xiang Yu dare to set up the Feast at Hongmen to entertain Emperor Gaozu?
Firstly, Xiang Yu had 400,000 troops behind him, and with the momentum from the Battle of Julu, he held the reins of power among the feudal lords, directly threatening Emperor Gaozu, who only had 100,000 troops.

Another reason is that Xiang Yu alone could have killed everyone at the banquet, not to mention that there were other powerful generals of the time, such as Long Ju, Zhongli Mo, Cao Jiu, Zhou Yin, Xiang Zhuang, and Xiang Sheng, who were also present at the banquet.

What, you think your Ji Ling can compare to Xiang Yu?
Was the smashing of the cup a signal?

Before your cup even hits the ground, I guarantee that Dian Wei's halberd will have already taken the lives of Yuan Kui, Yuan Ji, and Yuan Shu, and Xu Chu can cut off Ji Ling's head with a single stroke.

Of the five men—Wang Yue, Qu Yi, Gao Lan, Duan Wei, and Zhang Xiu—which one is easy to deal with?
You're still setting up a trap for me?

Besides, Liu Bian never intended to attend the banquet.

If you are guilty of embezzlement and breaking the law, I will have to gather evidence.

But you are committing treason!
All you need to quell the rebellion is coordinates!
I already know you're plotting a rebellion. Do you really expect me to come to your door and let you play the assassination and rebellion cards, braving the threat of war to publicly convict you of treason?
What a big joke!
Liu Bian slowly turned around, his eyes fixed on Liu Qing. He could sense that Liu Qing's concern for him was genuine. He gently patted Liu Qing's delicate hand and comforted her, "I will not enter the Situ Mansion immediately. I am just going to witness the destruction of the Yuan family of Runan."

After speaking, Liu Bian pressed his left hand on the hilt of the Yuanzhi sword at his waist, and with his right hand he embraced Liu Qing's slender, boneless waist. He lowered his head slightly and gently bit her alluring, moist lips until Liu Qing was panting heavily and her cheeks were flushed. Only then did she let out a soft moan and gently push him away.

Liu Bian chuckled, turned around, strode out of the bedchamber, and boarded the military chariot driven by Dong Huang, the Crown Prince's stable master.

The war chariot is different from the imperial carriage. The war chariot is surrounded on three sides and painted with red clouds, which can block arrows, but it has no roof and is only shaded by an umbrella.

However, before leaving, Liu Bian glanced at the guards of the Crown Prince's residence and the Tiger Guards in front of him, and ordered them to remove the umbrella and plant the Crown Prince's banner instead.

The ornaments on the chariot shaft are made of bronze animal heads and painted with dragon patterns. The key parts such as the axle and yoke are covered with bronze and painted with cloud and thunder patterns and dragon patterns.

Four white horses swayed their hooves as Dong Huang drove them away, the bells hanging on the chariot jingling as the chariot moved. Dian Wei and Xu Chu stood on either side of the Crown Prince, while Zhang Xiu and Qu Yi rode alongside, galloping towards the Situ Mansion.

(End of this chapter)