A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 240 National Upheaval
The history museum has been open for more than a year.

After being granted permission to enter the Shiqu Pavilion to peruse its secret archives, Sima Tan, the Grand Historian, finally decided to compile a biography of Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, a subject most feared by the Han Dynasty.

When recording the names of Emperor Gaozu and Marquis of Huaiyin, Sima Tan wrote: "The King of Han granted me the seal of a Supreme General, gave me tens of thousands of troops, clothed me with his own clothes, fed me with his own food, listened to my advice and adopted my plans, and thus I have come to this position."

The custom of sharing food and clothing originated from this.

Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty gradually grasped the essence of Emperor Gao's rule and tested him in the Ganquan Palace.

As a result, although it took a long time to put on the clothes, with eunuchs making several trips to distribute the "dragon robe" to the officials before His Majesty could finally put on his clothes, and the breakfast was eaten until noon before all the dishes were sent out, the hearts of the people in the Ganquan Palace were subtly and genuinely changed.

Liu Che suddenly realized that people's hearts could be won over.

If things had been like this from the beginning, perhaps without any planning, he could have returned to Chang'an and taken power. No, if it had been like this from the start, he would never have lost his imperial power.

This is what the Crown Prince often refers to as letting the world see his perseverance in solving problems.

Liu Che went a step further, showing concern for officials in the central court who caught a cold, even personally preparing medicine for them. At first, he was stunned by the sight of those who were moved to tears and vowed to serve him to the death. Later, he realized that the actions of an emperor could have such a great influence on those below him.

It seems that he doesn't need any grand schemes or political maneuvering. As long as the Crown Prince doesn't restrict him, he can gradually influence the entire Han Dynasty court, and the lost imperial power will naturally return.

Before Liu Che could continue verifying the information, the "angel" who had come from Chang'an despite the wind and snow dealt him a blow.

A murder occurred at the auspicious burial site of the retired emperor's mausoleum, and the murderer was a palace attendant of the emperor. Liu Che was stunned on the spot. In order to prevent the crown prince from killing his father, the palace attendant had always protected him and had never... no, the palace attendant had never made a move!
Together with Dong Zhongshu's outstanding disciple, he escorted Luo Shu and Tang Ping, two renowned scholars of astronomy, on their journey.

Hearing what Er Kuan said, that the imperial court or the crown prince ordered him to immediately hand over all the murderers who had disturbed the Emperor Emeritus's peaceful rest, and to return to the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Chang'an to apologize to the gods of heaven and earth and to his ancestors, Liu Che finally couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of dragon blood that turned into mist in the void.

Er Kuan was immediately startled. He rushed forward in three strides and barely managed to support the collapsing dragon body, exclaiming, "Your Majesty?"

Unlike before, Liu Che did not fly into a rage. He adjusted his breathing, and Huangmen Suwen skillfully found the pill. It was no longer the bright red color it used to be. It was offered by a hermit from Zhongnan Mountain. Liu Che swallowed the pill with water with difficulty, and his pale face slowly regained its color.

Lying back on his dragon bed, Liu Che thought of Yin Zhong's hasty return and departure, and of Dong Zhongshu's long-term illness, seemingly due to a heart ailment. One thought leads to a hundred.

The show has already started!

Chang'an and Ganquan, but only he didn't know. Liu Che found it hard to explain his true feelings. Perhaps the pills were suppressing his anger, preventing him from feeling any rage.

"Send Dong Zhongshu here!" Liu Che's voice was devoid of any warmth or gentleness.

Su Wen hurriedly did as instructed, and soon after, Dong Zhongshu, looking refreshed and with his hair neatly combed, entered the main hall.

Liu Che forced himself to sit on the side of the couch. As he looked up, the emperor and his minister met eyes, and Dong Zhongshu could clearly feel the endless killing intent emanating from them.

If time could be reversed, Dong Zhongshu believed that he would be the first to behead His Majesty.

However, it was all too late.

The secret talisman and blood pact have been sent out. The wealthy and powerful who have suffered greatly under the relocation order and the officials who are about to be brought to justice for the huge loss of national wealth during the twenty years of strict investigation by the court into His Majesty's rule will not be able to surrender without a fight. His Majesty's banner has been secretly raised. Either the Crown Prince will suppress the nine provinces, or His Majesty will successfully restore the throne, until one side is completely defeated.

Unless Your Majesty is willing to proactively explain your delusional "restoration plot" to the court and the Crown Prince, believing that the Emperor, Gongsun Hong, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing can eliminate everyone with swift and decisive action. And this "everyone" includes Your Majesty, who will abdicate, become the second retired emperor of the Han Dynasty, and forever leave the court and power, spending the rest of his life in misery.

Dong Zhongshu knew that His Majesty would not do that. Whether it was abdicating or relinquishing power, there was no turning back once the arrow was released. Even if there was only a sliver of hope, His Majesty would still fight against the former ruler.

"I can kill you right now!" Liu Che, whose anger had been suppressed, expressed his rage in his own way.

The awe-inspiring dragon's might was enough to terrify even the most ruthless executioner, yet it could not shake Dong Zhongshu in the slightest.

Without any fear, Dong Zhongshu bowed deeply and said, "Your subject is willing to die!"

this moment.

Liu Che learned what it felt like to have his weaknesses exposed. Dong Zhongshu's schemes were always based on his weaknesses. He knew Liu Che's fear and hatred of the Crown Prince, which led him to sign a blood pact and collude with the wealthy and powerful of the Han Dynasty to seek restoration. He knew Liu Che's attachment to imperial power and his reluctance to relinquish it, and he predicted that Liu Che would not confess his crimes to the court or the Crown Prince, thus ending the "Changing the Country Coup" that never happened.

At this moment, whether Dong Zhongshu lives or dies will have no impact on anything. Everyone and everything will proceed in an irreversible direction according to the established plan.

Liu Che suppressed his murderous intent and asked soberly, "Can we win?"

He made a decision in his heart: once he completed his restoration, returned to Weiyang Palace, and regained imperial power, he would immediately order the massacre of all Confucian scholars in the land. These people who regarded Confucianism and their own learning as above all else were too terrifying.

Before that, he needs to complete the restoration.

"Your Majesty, I do not know," Dong Zhongshu replied truthfully.

From the dragon's eyes, he could see that His Majesty had no intention of burying the Confucian scholars, and he disregarded it.

If the restoration succeeds, do you really think that the world, the Han Dynasty, will still be ruled by Your Majesty alone?

If the restoration fails, then there's nothing more to say; the emperor will continue to rule, and Confucianism will also perish.

But he was able to tarnish the reputation of the Supreme Ruler for filial piety by having His Majesty rebelled, thus tainting the image of that sage and virtuous ruler. Leaving aside the other Confucian scholars, he had not wasted his life on earth.

"We shouldn't have done this."

Liu Che looked at Dong Zhongshu, recalling their first meeting. Both of them had boundless visions for the future of the Han Dynasty and even China. Together they ended the Huang-Lao school of Taoism, but things did not go as planned for them afterwards.

Driven by extravagance and a pursuit of martial prowess and virtue, he aspired to conquer places no one had ever reached before and become an emperor for all time.

Dong Zhongshu did not aspire to be regent in the Han Dynasty; rather, he sought to restore the Confucian benevolent rule of the State of Lu within the Han court.

Both major events should have been planned slowly and deliberately, without any rash actions. However, things did not go as anyone had predicted.

Dong Zhongshu paused for a moment, then said firmly, "Your Majesty, we will win!"

(End of this chapter)