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

After watching Liu Hong leave, Cui Yan went straight to the courtyard in the mansion where the Sun family members were being housed.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I saw Sun Jian standing under the eaves, leaning on his cane, waiting.

Sun Jian had already woken up and learned that the Sun family had not only escaped punishment but had also enjoyed such a fortunate turn of events. He couldn't help but look at Cui Yan with a hint of respect.

"The Lord has entrusted this matter to you all."

Cui Yan looked at Sun Jian, then glanced at Zhou Yu and Sun Ce standing to the side, and said in a deep voice, "Eldest son of Sun, eldest son of Zhou, do not disappoint your lord's expectations."

"Don't worry, sir."

Sun Jian clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice strong and resonant. Even with his injuries, his back remained ramrod straight. "My Sun and Zhou families will serve the Liu family of Youzhou to the utmost, until our dying breath."

His appearance does reveal a certain uprightness in a man.

For the sake of the family behind him.

He risked his life, but unfortunately, he chose the wrong side.

Fortunately, they had a fine son like Sun Ce, which gave the Sun family the opportunity to rebuild from the ashes.

Cui Yan thought to himself that once the Sun family was incorporated into the Liu family of Youzhou, and with the profits from snowflake salt and glass, the Sun family would surely be able to gain a foothold in Wu County within a few years.

Even if he doesn't rule a region, he can at least become a thorn in the side of the Liu family of Youzhou in Jiangdong.

There will absolutely be no problem with that.

Cui Yan waved his hand, showing no interest whatsoever, and turned away with long strides.

On the other side, Liu Hong left the General's Mansion and headed straight for the inner palace.

It wasn't Emperor Liu Hong who wanted to see him, but rather Empress Dowager Dong from the inner palace who sent someone to deliver an oral edict.

Although Liu Hong was an official outside the capital, he was a member of the imperial clan, so his entry into the palace to pay homage to the Empress Dowager was somewhat of an exception.

Even the court officials couldn't find a decent reason to criticize him for it.

Inside the Funing Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

"Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager."

Liu Hong bowed slightly, his face showing a hint of respect.

Liu Hong held this last empress dowager of the Han Dynasty, who wielded some real power, in high esteem.

after all.

All her thoughts and desires were for the sake of the Han dynasty and the Liu clan.

Such a person would not be looked down upon by any Han Chinese.

This applies not only to Liu Hong, but also to the rest of the Liu family.

This will never change.

"So you are Duke Weining, the Grand General?"

Empress Dowager Dong sat down on the couch, her gaze fixed on Liu Hong, and slowly began to speak.

Her voice carried a hint of vicissitude and scrutiny: "To have achieved so much at just over thirty years old is truly rare in the world."

Beside Liu Hong, behind the eunuch standing, was Liu Xie, who had just been enfeoffed as the King of Chenliu.

Now that Liu Bian has been made crown prince, it is only right that Liu Xie, as a prince, should be made a king according to custom.

If we follow the established system of the Han dynasty, it will take some time.

He was then to go to his fiefdom to lead a clan.

This shows that Liu Hong's arrangements for the princes were quite thorough.

However, it must be said that these matters are not something Liu Hong can participate in at present.

He naturally declined, not uttering a single word.

"Your Majesty flatters me."

Liu Hong bowed slightly, his tone humble.

Empress Dowager Dong nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Seeing that Liu Hong remained silent with his head down, he seemed to realize something.

She spoke softly, her tone more sincere: "Don't worry, although Xie'er is here today, the reason I summoned you here is not related to the matter of the Crown Prince."

The matter of the crown prince has already been decided. To bring it up again would be to disobey the emperor's orders, and I am not so foolish as to do that.

You can rest assured.

Empress Dowager Dong's words dispelled Liu Hong's concerns.

He was also willing to have a heart-to-heart talk with the Empress Dowager.

Based solely on his status as a member of the Liu family clan, he could be considered, aside from the emperor's power, the most reliable right-hand man.

It could even be said that even if the power of a clan threatened the imperial authority, the emperor would only deal with members of the clan as the last thing to do.

This is a fundamental rule that remains unchanged regardless of the dynasty or era.

Liu Hong continued to bow his head, listening to Empress Dowager Dong's teachings.

The old man took those words to heart.

"Bian'er is kind and benevolent; there will certainly be no internal strife between them today."

Empress Dowager Dong changed the subject, her tone suddenly becoming serious. She looked at Liu Hong and said, word by word, "But what I fear is that such a disaster will occur in the future."

"Therefore, the reason I invited you here today is to prevent this from happening again."

"If such a change really happens in the future, I hope you can help Xie'er in some way."

Ultimately, they are all members of the royal family, all of the Liu bloodline.

Empress Dowager Dong paused, staring intently at Liu Hong without blinking, her voice carrying a mixture of pleading and expectation: "And in the future, you will surely be promoted to the position of Imperial Clan Minister."

I also hope that you can lend a hand in this regard.

"What do you think, Duke Weining and General?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong smiled faintly and immediately nodded in agreement: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, as long as I am here in this court, I will absolutely not allow anything to happen to the Prince of Chenliu."

Liu Hong's words were resounding, giving Empress Dowager Dong a firm and unequivocal guarantee.

Although no one knows how much truth there is in his words, this is the best thing Empress Dowager Dong could do for Liu Xie, whom she had raised by her side for many years.

Having received a personal guarantee from someone like Liu Hong is enough.

"With your words today, all is well."

Empress Dowager Dong nodded slightly, then gave Liu Xie a wink.

Liu Xie stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Liu Hong, his every move exuding a composure far beyond his years.

This bow also signifies that Heaven and Earth bear witness to today's events.

Liu Hong smiled slightly and returned the greeting in kind, his movements fluid and measured.

Not long after.

He slowly walked out of the Funing Palace, and his figure quickly disappeared at the end of the palace road.

Meanwhile, in the Kunning Palace in the inner palace, Empress Dowager He suddenly heard about this matter, and her expression changed abruptly.

The joy he had felt just moments before, holding his own child and imagining Liu Bian's future ascension to the throne, vanished almost entirely. His face was now filled with suspicion and uncertainty, and he began to mutter to himself, "That old woman, suddenly going to find this Duke of Weining, could she be up to something?"

As she thought about it, she looked at Liu Bian beside her and reached out to hug her child tightly.

Then she thought of the influence of her mother's family.

Although the elder brother He Jin was gone, fortunately there was still He Miao, which gave the He family a little hope.

Otherwise.

Her family, as an in-law, has truly become useless.