Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 252 The World Without a Master
Zhang Rang looked at the young Liu Xie, then looked down at the still unconscious Liu Hong, and without saying anything, knelt down beside Liu Hong.

Jian Shuo turned around and walked to Liu Xie's side, kneeling down beside him without saying a word.

The Empress Dowager looked around at everyone in the hall, opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she said nothing. She simply walked to Liu Hong's bedside, looked at her emaciated son, and wept.

Zhao Zhong sighed and knelt down beside the Empress Dowager. As usual, he took out a silk handkerchief and handed it to her with both hands.

Actually, it can't be said to be the same as usual.

Because they don't usually kneel.

The Chongde Hall was eerily quiet.

Soon, a ray of morning sun shone into the hall, casting long, dark shadows behind the statue-like figures inside through the window bars.

The shadowy figures lurked in the hall like ghosts, all facing the throne, but there was no one on the throne.

"Liu Bei, Left General of the Household and Governor of Qingzhou, requests an audience with Your Majesty."

A voice came from outside the hall, calm and indifferent, just like during a normal audience.

But no eunuch relayed the message.

The eunuch in front of the palace stood by the door, but dared not speak.

The kneeling statues in the hall all turned their heads, but no one stood up; instead, they all lowered their heads.

The morning sun outside the hall was too dazzling.

"General Liu, please come in."

Liu Xie raised his head, cupped his hands to cover his eyes, and looked outside the hall.

Liu Bei, clad in armor and wielding a halberd, walked to the palace gate, blocking the sunlight, and the black armor on his body reflected a golden glow.

Without the light, the ghostly shadows inside the hall also disappeared.

Beside Liu Bei was Qian Zhao, who was holding Yue Yin.

Liu Xie stood up, stepped out of the doorway, and approached Yue Yin's body, bowing and saying, "Master."

The title "Master" can only be used for the teachers of princes or emperors.

Seeing Liu Xie's actions and noticing the blood-stained clothes on Liu Xie's body, Liu Bei took off his helmet and reached out his hand to Liu Xie.

Liu Xie was taken aback by Liu Bei's actions, but still reached out his hand to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei led Liu Xie into the hall.

"Your Majesty, I have come to inquire about the case of the plot to assassinate Lord Dong..."

Liu Bei entered the hall without looking at anyone, but bowed to the empty throne in the center and asked, "Your Majesty, who is the murderer who killed my master?"

No one answered.

Because Liu Bei was asking... who is 'that'?

The Empress Dowager turned to look at Liu Bei, her eyes filled with unease, as if she wanted to say something, but then she saw Liu Xie shaking his head beside Liu Bei.

Zhao Zhong also shook his head slightly at the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager's eyes were glazed over, and she lowered her head and began to weep again.

"Your Majesty, I have come to inquire about the source of the rebellion throughout the land..."

Liu Bei clearly didn't expect an answer, and instead asked the throne, "Your Majesty, who is the culprit behind the chaos in the world?"

"call……"

Perhaps it was the sunlight, or perhaps it was Liu Bei's question, but Liu Hong on the bed stirred, took a slight breath, and slowly opened his eyes.

Liu Hong lay on the couch and slowly turned his head to look at Liu Bei, or rather, at Liu Xie beside Liu Bei.

It moved its mouth, but made no sound.

His face, which had been bluish-purple, now had some color in it.

"Son……"

The Empress Dowager covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, unable to speak—everyone could see that the Emperor had indeed regained his senses, but this was hardly something to be thankful for.

This is a sign of a final burst of energy before death.

"Your Majesty, I have come to inquire about the fate of the myriad people..."

Liu Bei saw Liu Hong open his eyes, but still continued to ask the throne: "Your Majesty, the Central Plains suffer from floods and plagues every year, millions of people are displaced and live in misery. Who is the culprit?"

This time, someone finally answered Liu Bei's question.

Liu Xie lowered his head and said, "My master once said, 'When the emperor issues an edict, the officials obey it; when the officials issue an order, the people follow it. If the people are in chaos, the blame lies with the officials; if the officials cause chaos... the blame lies with the emperor.'"

Liu Hong was still unable to speak, but a slight smile appeared on his face.

Liu Bei, holding Liu Xie's hand, walked to Liu Hong and glanced at Zhang Rang.

Zhang Rang wisely retreated a bit further away.

"Does Your Majesty have something to say?"

Liu Bei asked softly.

“…Your Majesty…Issue…” Liu Hong could barely make a sound. Liu Bei could see that he wanted to reach out and stroke Liu Xie, but he could only move a finger.

"Your Majesty, the imperial edict is here..."

Jian Shuo had served the emperor for over twenty years, so he quickly retrieved the imperial edict—which was originally located in the Chongde Hall.

Liu Hong looked at Liu Bei, his mouth moving, and there seemed to be a hint of pleading in his eyes.

“My master has taken in a junior brother, and as his senior brother, I will do my best to take care of him.”

Liu Bei didn't read the imperial edict; he knew what Liu Hong wanted: "But if a rebellious disciple emerges from my sect, I will certainly cleanse the sect..."

Liu Hong seemed to want to nod, but could only slightly twitch his eyelids. He mumbled something for a long time, but ultimately made no further sound.

She just kept looking at Liu Xie, as if trying to make a smiling expression.

Liu Xie did not shed tears, but instead forced a smile.

Liu Hong exhausted his last bit of strength, and finally managed to let a final smile appear on his lips.

Zhao Zhong finally stirred, and with a tone that was hard to tell whether it was crying or a sigh of relief, he cried out, "His Majesty... has passed away!"

Empress Dowager Dong was already recovering from poisoning, and she had been extremely tired and distressed these past two days. At this shout, she collapsed weakly and fainted to the ground.

……

Looking up at the rising sun just breaking through the clouds outside the palace, Liu Bei hesitated for a moment, a rare occurrence for him.

Liu Bei had arrived fast enough that night, and so far he remained the only foreign army in Luoyang.

However, only a few hundred armored cavalry have entered the city so far, which is clearly insufficient.

Although they managed to take control of the palace before anyone else, it wasn't enough to control the situation.

Moreover... that good-for-nothing Liu Hong couldn't even leave behind a single last word.

Fortunately, Liu Bei had rescued He Miao beforehand.

Liu Bei brought He Miao with him into the palace, but the Empress was neither in Changqiu Palace nor in Chongde Hall.

At this moment, He Miao was outside the hall, still dressed as a soldier.

"Zilong, send someone to order Zumao to come here immediately and take over the palace."

After giving instructions to Zhao Yun, Liu Bei turned to He Miao and whispered, "General of Chariots and Cavalry, you must have heard what Yuan Shu and his Tiger Warriors said in front of the North Palace Gate. The Yuan family has always secretly raised assassins and controlled the Tiger Warriors by holding other men's wives and children hostage. The person who framed you must be the Yuan family."

"Since the Empress is not here, she must be with He Jin. That means she knew He Jin sent people to kill you, but she didn't protect your life... General of Chariots and Cavalry, are you on bad terms with Marquis Shi?"

In fact, Liu Bei could tell at a glance that Liu Bian probably disliked He Miao.

He Miao always had a serious and boring look, and he didn't talk much. Apart from his decent appearance, he didn't seem to have anything special about him. It was impossible for a young person to play with him.

He Miao sighed and nodded: "Yes, Lord Shi doesn't like me... Lord Shi likes heretics and sorcerers."

No wonder He Jin often dressed as a heretical sorcerer, always in a white robe. It seems that it wasn't He Jin himself who believed in sorcerers, but rather Liu Bian and the Empress.

"It was the heretical alchemist who poisoned the emperor with the elixir of immortality, causing his death... The emperor has left a will, and now, apart from me and Prince Xie, no one can tolerate you... But your surname is Zhu, understand? In your family, you are the only one with the surname Zhu! You are a descendant of the Zhu family!"

Liu Bei asked, "Are you going to stay here and wait for Empress Dowager Dong to wake up, or leave the palace and take a gamble to win the first merit in suppressing the rebellion?"

He Miao hesitated for a moment: "The Empress Dowager will surely kill me... I have no choice but to leave the palace. Wu Kuang is still in the east of the city... but..."

Liu Bei shook his head and said in a low voice, "Your subordinate Wu Kuang has also defected to He Jin and can't be relied on. Dong Zhongying is stationed in Gucheng... and may have already reached the outside of Xiamen."

"While no one knows you are in Luoyang, quickly go and ask Dong Zhongying to help you suppress the heretics. Right now, only by supporting the emperor can you save your life."

He Miao nodded his thanks and left the palace.

Although He Jin and others pinned the assassination charge on He Miao, only He Jin's troops are currently capable of attacking He Miao.

No one knows that He Miao is in the city. Yuan Shu still thinks that He Miao has been killed by Liu Bei. At this time, He Miao is in the dark and has plenty of opportunities.

However... Liu Bei was actually giving He Miao the psychological suggestion that he had been "abandoned".

The Yuan family's attack on Liu Xie was not actually to frame He Miao; it was He Jin who framed He Miao.

The assassination attempt on Liu Xie, which resulted in the death of Yue Yin, was actually intended to pit Liu Bei against the entire He family, not just to force Liu Bei to deal with He Miao—the story told to He Jin was merely a ruse to deceive him…

Many people could see that He Miao was not the real culprit. The assassination of Liu Xie was too obvious, and the Yuan family would not have gone so far as to frame him so clumsily.

But because it's obvious, people will direct their anger at He Jin and the Empress, because in their eyes, He Jin is the one who benefits from the situation.

This is not a conspiracy; it is an open attempt to force Liu Bei to deal with Empress He's family.

The last time Liu Yu was assassinated, it wasn't to frame him.

The purpose of the Yuan family's assassins has always been to force the other two families to wear each other down. The Yuan family operates on a capitalist basis, using the cost of the assassins to force the other two parties to exhaust themselves, because the Yuan family does not appear to be a beneficiary.

This is not an attempt to frame someone.

Only He Jin would use this to frame He Miao.

Liu Bei wanted to step forward and send He Miao to fight the enemy.

He Miao couldn't understand why Empress He wouldn't protect him, so he could only conclude that he had no other choice.

But in reality, the reason Empress He didn't protect He Miao was most likely because she knew absolutely nothing about him... How could He Jin possibly order He Miao's execution in front of Empress He? At most, he would have said, "Let's ask him."

(End of this chapter)