The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

Liu Hong slowly raised his hand, looked at his withered palm, and couldn't help but chuckle. He turned to look at Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, who were standing beside him, and said in a hoarse voice like a broken gong: "My life can be described as half turbulent and half full of ups and downs."

Fortunately, in his old age, he met the great general, Duke Weining, which gave the Han Dynasty a chance to revive.

Otherwise, I fear I would truly become the biggest laughingstock in the world.

This is indeed a rare and fortunate thing.

He paused, his gaze gradually dimming, tinged with weariness and confusion: "But unfortunately, even so, I am nearing the end of my life and will not live much longer."

Liu Hong's gaze fell on Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, and he slowly spoke, asking a question that was enough to shake the court and the public: "Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, what do you two think? Should we establish Bian'er or Xie'er as the new crown prince of our Great Han Dynasty?"

Liu Hong's expression was calm, but his words struck Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong like a thunderbolt, severely shaking their minds.

The two of them fell to their knees with a thud, their foreheads pressed against the cold ground, not daring to even breathe.

How could eunuchs possibly have the right to interfere in matters such as the selection of an heir?

Zhang Rang's voice trembled as he hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty. This matter is of paramount importance to the royal family and concerns the very foundation of the nation. We eunuchs would never dare to interfere in the slightest."

Zhao Zhong also kowtowed immediately, echoing, "Your Majesty, everything is entirely up to Your Majesty's will. We servants would never dare to speak recklessly."

The two of them were smart; at this critical juncture, they dared not utter a single foolish word.

After all, even deep within this Northern Palace.

If these eunuchs were to harbor evil intentions and poison the emperor before them, they should not forget that there is also a powerful general named Liu Hong in Luoyang who holds considerable military power.

At that time, the other side could easily eliminate all these eunuchs under the pretext of "purging the emperor's inner circle."

Therefore, within this imperial city, no one dared to harbor any dissent, and even the matter of establishing an heir could only be decided by Liu Hong alone.

Even though Liu Hong's health is declining day by day, anyone in the imperial city who dares to have a disloyal heart will not survive for more than a few days.

It is only because Liu Hong has secured this peaceful and stable realm for the entire Liu family clan that he can enjoy a comfortable old age.

It was precisely because Liu Hong had felt these things that he uttered these poignant words at this moment.

Otherwise, given his imperial nature...

Emperors are by nature cold and indifferent, so how could they easily feel such tender emotions?

"Bring the Empress and the Empress Dowager here."

Liu Hong's voice carried an undeniable resolve: "It's time to make a decision."

"If we don't finalize this soon, I'm afraid I'll lose my mind."

Liu Hong felt that his time was coming to an end, and that he should finish what needed to be done.

Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong dared not delay for a moment, immediately nodded in agreement, bowed and withdrew.

About half an hour later, inside the main hall of the North Palace, in addition to Empress Dowager Dong and Empress He from the inner palace, Liu Yan, the Minister of the Imperial Clan, also arrived here by imperial decree.

This is enough to show that Liu Hong's mind is now firm, and not just a whim or an act.

"The matter of the prince and the crown prince should be discussed and a plan should be devised today."

Liu Hong leaned back on the dragon throne, his voice weak but carrying the majesty of an emperor.

Liu Yan glanced at everyone in the hall, but a vague feeling of unease crept into his heart.

After much thought, I finally came up with this idea.

Liu Hong is missing.

But upon closer reflection, Liu Hong's absence was actually the best thing for him.

Otherwise, after Emperor Liu Hong passes away, this general who holds great military power will be suspected of "interfering in politics and establishing an heir," which will be detrimental to his reputation.

The current situation is quite appropriate.

"His Majesty."

Empress He was the first to kneel down, her voice trembling with sobs, her words earnest: "Bian'er is His Majesty's legitimate son. According to the rules set by our ancestors, he should be the eldest son of the legitimate wife. Otherwise, wouldn't that disrupt the law and the proper order?"

After hearing this, Liu Yan, the Imperial Clan Secretary, nodded secretly.

He surprisingly also agreed to establish the legitimate heir as heir.

After all, what good is it to appoint a wise and virtuous person?

No matter how wise or virtuous one is, one can never surpass Liu Hong, the Duke of Weining.

No matter how wise or virtuous a ruler may be, he will ultimately find himself in a situation where the ruler is weak and the ministers are strong.

Fortunately, the person who held military power over the country was also a member of their Liu clan.

Even if the worst situation comes tomorrow.

He is still the head of the Imperial Clan Court; it's just that the emperor has changed from one lineage to another.

Even this deposed emperor still survived, unlike other cases where death was almost certain.

As the saying goes, "A new emperor brings a new court," and the relationship between one family and two families is ultimately very different.

Empress Dowager Dong frowned, clearly dissatisfied with Empress He's words.

She coughed lightly a few times, then slowly opened her mouth, her tone carrying a hint of authority: "Establishing the eldest son as heir is naturally the ancient system."

However, it also depends on whether this eldest son is capable of shouldering the responsibilities of the realm.

Empress He immediately cast a venomous glare at her and said coldly, "What? Does the Empress Dowager mean that the world is not peaceful and harmonious today?"

With His Majesty and the Great General, who else could possibly dare to overthrow my Liu family's empire?

"Your Majesty is overthinking it."

Empress Dowager Dong opened her mouth, as if to say something, but when her gaze swept over Liu Hong's calm and expressionless face, she seemed to sense his decision.

Therefore, the original idea was temporarily put aside, and there was no need to continue. He simply said, "Everything is at the Emperor's discretion."

Since that was the case, once the noise in the hall had completely subsided, Liu Hong slowly raised his eyelids and expressed his own thoughts in a resolute tone: "Then it's settled, Li Bian'er."

Establishing the eldest son as heir is the only legitimate way to rule.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice carrying a hint of weariness, yet also an undeniable firmness: "I know that once a virtuous person is chosen, I fear that the world will eventually be thrown into turmoil again."

Our great Han dynasty has barely overcome this difficult time; we absolutely cannot allow any further unforeseen changes to occur.

Otherwise, if I were to one day descend to the netherworld, I would have no face to meet my ancestor.

Liu Hong's words signaled the end of this discussion.

Empress He's cheeks flushed with shock, and tears rolled down her cheeks without warning.

She came here today with the worst possible outcome in mind.

After all, the Ho family fell from power.

She had long lost her former confidence.

But to everyone's surprise, it actually worked.

"His Majesty……"

When Empress He looked at Liu Hong again, her eyes were full of tender affection.

Empress Dowager Dong remained expressionless, inwardly sighing but having nothing to say.

The Imperial Clan Secretary Liu Yan nodded in agreement, thinking to himself: This is the proper way to continue the orthodox lineage.