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

The two spoke very quickly, revealing the current crisis in detail.

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze deep and thoughtful. He nodded slightly and spoke slowly after a long while, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger, but rather an undeniable certainty: "Then prepare everything that has been arranged, and let's see who dares to do this rebellious thing in the future."

"Here you are."

Cui Yan and Jia Xu bowed in unison, their voices resounding.

They were already Liu's trusted confidants and would stand firmly on the side of the Liu family of Youzhou.

Moreover, in terms of military power, clan influence, and public sentiment, Liu Hong is already in an invincible position, and there is no need to fear any storms.

The scene shifts to the inner palace deep within the Northern Palace, where a somber atmosphere prevails.

A royal physician carrying a medicine chest stepped in with trembling steps, his face as white as paper.

He stepped forward to examine Liu Hong on the dragon bed, and the moment his fingertips touched the emperor's pulse, his heart tightened, and his fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

The pulse was weak and scattered, almost like a thread, indicating that the patient was on the verge of death.

He was terrified, feeling that if he didn't handle things properly, he might lose his life in this deep palace tonight.

"Hurry up and diagnose His Majesty. Are you even capable of being a royal physician?"

Seeing his hesitation, Zhang Rang immediately launched into a tirade of curses, his voice sharp and menacing.

The imperial physician panicked even more after being shouted at, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

"Attendant Zhang... His Majesty's illness has reached a critical stage; at present, the only option is to gently nurture and prolong his life, but there is truly no way to reverse the situation."

The imperial physician fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, his face filled with panic and bewilderment. "Please, Zhang Changshi, spare my life! Spare my life!"

To everyone's surprise, Zhang Rang did not fly into a rage or panic as everyone expected. Instead, he remained calm and cautious as always, though a shadow of malice flashed in his eyes.

He walked slowly to the imperial physician and said in a deep voice, "His Majesty's illness can certainly be cured, why do you underestimate yourself?"

"Besides, even if something truly terrible happens, we servants will take responsibility. Don't worry, we will never take your life."

After hearing Zhang Rang's words, the imperial physician calmed down a little and stepped forward tremblingly, taking out silver needles to perform acupuncture on Liu Hong to prolong his life.

At this moment, Emperor Liu Hong had already fallen into a deep coma and was unconscious. All matters, big and small, in the deep palace had fallen into the hands of his close ministers.

Ta-ta-ta.

A series of hurried footsteps suddenly rang out, and then Empress Dowager Dong, accompanied by Prince Liu Xie of Chenliu, and Empress He carrying Crown Prince Liu Bian, entered the bedchamber one after the other, followed by their respective palace attendants. They had all arrived at the same time.

Their purpose in coming here was not simply to save Liu Hong's life, but more to demonstrate their own power.

Liu Hong could die, but not now. If he were to pass away now, before the edict of the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne was issued, before the new emperor's foundation was solid, and before many matters were properly arranged, it would be far from a good thing for those in the harem.

In the eyes of these women, the life of Emperor Liu Hong of the Han Dynasty was far less important than the power he held after his death.

He may die, but before he dies, he must make clear arrangements for what happens after his death, at least to ensure that their support is solid and secure.

Empress Dowager Dong may still have some compassion for Liu Hong as husband and wife, but Empress He has none at all; all she sees in her eyes is her burning desire for power.

"How is His Majesty?"

As soon as Empress Dowager Dong stepped into the bedchamber, she asked in a deep voice, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the room before finally settling on the imperial physician.

The imperial physician, under the Empress Dowager's gaze, dared not respond and could only cautiously glance at Zhang Rang.

Empress Dowager Dong was furious upon seeing this, her eyebrows furrowing: "What? You, the imperial physician, are now disobeying even my words?"

"Zhang Changshi, it seems I am not even as good as you in this palace."

Empress Dowager Dong sneered, her words filled with dissatisfaction with Zhang Rang. Ostensibly she was reprimanding the imperial physician, but in reality she was giving Zhang Rang a warning.

Zhang Rang remained calm, bowing slightly to Empress Dowager Dong. He appeared respectful, but his words were anything but: "Empress Dowager, the most urgent matter is His Majesty's health."

It would be better to let the imperial physicians do their best to treat His Majesty. Once His Majesty is in good health, everything will be fine.

If His Majesty were to suffer any mishap, no one in the entire palace would be able to bear the responsibility. I implore the Empress Dowager to consider this carefully.

Zhang Rang's words, neither too soft nor too hard, left Empress Dowager Dong speechless.

Even though she was dissatisfied, she could only nod reluctantly and say, "Alright, let's examine the patient first."

Just as the imperial physician picked up the silver needles, preparing to continue the acupuncture, Empress He suddenly stepped forward, stopped him with her hand, and curled up a cold smile that was exactly the same as that of Empress Dowager Dong, her voice sharp: "What is it?"

Now, in this North Palace, with the Empress Dowager here and you, Zhang Changshi, have you somehow lost your place?

Empress He's words were clearly a public power struggle at this critical juncture. Empress Dowager Dong and Zhang Rang both frowned, their eyes filled with impatience and anger.

Why must the struggle for power and profit be chosen at a time when His Majesty's life hangs in the balance?

If Liu Hong really went at this moment.

Of those present, eight or nine out of ten ended up worse off. Even Zhang Rang, despite having Liu Hong as his patron, was unwilling to easily switch allegiances.

The saying goes, "A subject should not serve two masters," and this was true when Liu Hong was alive.

He was a powerful eunuch in the inner court, wielding immense power within the palace, enjoying immense prestige; but what if Liu Hong were to die and a new emperor were to ascend the throne?

His power will likely vanish sooner or later.

Even if Liu Hong could guarantee him wealth and status, he was still a powerful figure who had once held sway over the court. With his ambitions, how could he be content to be just an idle person enjoying wealth and status?

They can seize all power.

He was determined to compete for it.

As the sounds of arguing subsided, the atmosphere in the bedchamber grew increasingly tense, as if a fight was about to break out at any moment.

Just at this critical moment, a series of hurried footsteps sounded again, and Liu Yan, the Imperial Clan Minister, strode into the bedchamber.

He had just received a report from the palace and rushed over immediately. But as soon as he entered, he saw the Empress and Empress Dowager vying for power in the Emperor's bedchamber. He was immediately enraged, his hair and beard standing on end, and he shouted angrily, "Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

"At this very moment, His Majesty's life hangs in the balance, and his health is critical. Instead of being worried and fearful, you are arguing endlessly over trivial matters of power. Do you really not care about His Majesty's health?"

"Hurry up and leave, let the imperial physician treat you properly."

The Imperial Clan Head was the patriarch of the Liu clan, in charge of clan affairs, and held immense prestige within the imperial family. His angry rebuke silenced everyone in the hall.

Upon hearing Liu Yan's words, the imperial physician seemed to finally have a pillar of support. He quickly broke free from the crowd's restraint and strode to the dragon bedside.

Under Liu Yan's watchful gaze.

He dared not slack off in the slightest, administering acupuncture and medicine in one go.

After the entire bowl of medicinal soup was fed to Liu Hong, the imperial physician took his pulse again, and after a short while...

His originally pale face flushed slightly, and a strange joy appeared in his eyes. He quickly bowed and reported to Liu Yan.