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

Within the imperial city of Luoyang, various forces were stirring up trouble.

As a newcomer from across the river, the Liu family of Youzhou, with the emperor's support, naturally attracted close attention from various forces.

Even though Liu Hong is humble and keeps a low profile, he is already in the spotlight, so how could others not notice him?

But Liu Hong never expected that he would be drawn into the vortex of the struggle for the crown prince.

On this day, Liu Hong was summoned to the inner palace and came to the rear courtyard to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Dong.

He slowly walked into the hall, his face showing just the right amount of surprise and respect.

"Your humble servant Liu Hong greets the Empress Dowager."

Within this inner court, Empress Dowager Dong was still able to maintain a firm grip on Empress He.

It was precisely because of her presence that the He family's power as maternal relatives was never able to truly interfere in matters at the core of imperial power.

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That all happened later.

Later, Emperor Liu Hong passed away, and the world was in chaos. Liu Bian ascended the throne, and Empress Dowager He then joined forces with the He family to force Empress Dowager Dong to her death.

It is evident that the struggles within the harem are no less intense than the court intrigues, and perhaps even more terrifying without the bloodshed.

However, at this moment, no one dared to defy Empress Dowager Dong.

Even Liu Hong, who held considerable military power, had to treat his subjects with utmost respect.

The Empress Dowager was the emperor's birth mother, and among all women in the world, even the empress was inferior to her.

"So you are Liu Hong, the great general of the Liu family?"

Empress Dowager Dong raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze calm yet imposing, "It is quite a story that you share the same name and surname as the Emperor."

"Now that the Emperor has ascended the throne, and you hold military power, the two of you must work together with one heart and one mind to protect the entire Liu family's empire. Only in this way can our Han dynasty remain safe and sound. Do you understand?"

It is clear that although Empress Dowager Dong appears kind and gentle, she has her own set of rules and methods for doing things, and is by no means a reckless woman.

otherwise.

It was impossible for her to remain in the harem for so many years, protecting Liu Xie, the Prince of Chenliu, and giving him the opportunity to compete for the throne.

Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion swept across thirteen provinces, it was completely quelled by Liu Hong in just a few years.

Although it shook the foundation of the Han Dynasty's rule, it did not truly destroy the Liu family's national foundation.

Although the Han Dynasty suffered a great loss of vitality as a result, with the emergence of Liu Hong, this decline was subtly restored.

Therefore, in the present Han Dynasty, all the various gentry families have given up their previous ambitions.

After all, those thoughts weren't as intense as one might imagine.

They were merely using the Yellow Turban Rebellion as a small test. If the test failed, they wouldn't have had such a strong obsession with immediately changing the dynasty.

Seeing Liu Hong's humble and polite demeanor and his measured actions, unlike He Jin, who was an arrogant and domineering relative of the emperor, Empress Dowager Dong's gaze towards him unconsciously held a hint of genuine joy.

"A young man like you, if you don't already have wives and concubines at home, you would be worthy of being a princess."

It's such a pity.

Empress Dowager Dong and Liu Hong hit it off immediately.

In the end, she even started talking to him about everyday matters and intimate conversations.

Such intimacy is extremely difficult to express unless one is very close to the other.

As for Empress Dowager Dong's words, Liu Hong naturally agreed to everything his elders wanted to say.

Only in this way can one gain more support within the harem.

Liu Hong would never have wanted to fall from grace because of matters in the harem and die at the hands of a woman.

Throughout history, such a way of dying is considered extremely ridiculous.

Liu Hong absolutely did not want to encounter this situation.

The meeting between Liu Hong and Empress Dowager Dong lasted only an hour.

But who was Empress Dowager Dong?

How could they not realize Liu Hong's current influence in the court?

Her deep gaze fell on her grandson Liu Xie beside her, and then she spoke slowly and meaningfully: "If His Majesty passes away one day, this General Liu will be your only chance."

"Among all the civil and military officials, they are all the kind of people who flatter the powerful and fawn over the weak. Only this general holds a large army and is also a member of the imperial family."

As long as he has no intention of rebelling, he will be your greatest support.

Remember this, remember this.

Empress Dowager Dong stroked Liu Xie's palm, her voice extremely low.

Upon hearing this, a look of determination flashed in Liu Xie's eyes.

The young but intelligent boy was deeply impressed by Empress Dowager Dong's words and this meeting.

Perhaps one day, he might be able to find a way out for himself from the Liu family of Youzhou.

The turmoil surrounding the crown prince has gradually replaced the previous Yellow Turban Rebellion as the most pressing issue at present.

Especially as the emperor's health deteriorated, the calls from court officials to establish a crown prince and establish the foundation of the state grew louder and louder.

On this day, all the civil and military officials gathered in the main hall, and Liu Hong, who had not attended court for a long time, made a rare appearance at the court meeting.

As soon as he appeared, the officials below eagerly stepped forward, kowtowed, and offered their advice.

"Your Majesty, the matter of the crown prince must be decided as soon as possible."

"If the foundation of the nation is not established soon, I fear there will be great chaos throughout the land. A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day, nor can Heaven be without a sovereign for a single day. Your Majesty. Your Majesty."

One official shouted loudly, and seeing this, many more officials followed suit, and for a moment the hall was filled with deafening shouts.

As for how many of them were acting under the orders of clandestine forces, and how many were genuinely concerned for the stability of the Han Dynasty, Liu Hong couldn't tell at this moment. He simply nodded slightly and went with the flow.

As for his own choice.

Liu Hong was, of course, looking out for himself.

However, these thoughts must not be openly expressed now.

If he wanted to become the master of this great Han dynasty, he should naturally follow the path of abdication, declining and relinquishing power three times, so that he, as a member of the imperial clan, could rightfully and securely sit on the throne.

Otherwise, wouldn't that make them traitors plotting to usurp the throne?

Liu Hong was absolutely unwilling to bear the heavy crime of treason, because he was truly loyal to the Han Dynasty and would never do such a ridiculous and shameful thing.

When it comes to unwavering loyalty to the Han Dynasty, how many can rival Liu Hong?

Liu Hong has a clear conscience.

He was completely absorbed in his own thoughts, appearing detached and unconcerned about the matter of establishing a crown prince in court that day.

"What is the General's opinion on this matter?"

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence of the court, pointing directly at Liu Hong, "This involves a matter of national importance, and the Grand General should also express his opinion."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong was genuinely a little surprised.