Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

Liu Ce remained silent.

"Until you appeared." He Lian's fingers gently traced his cheek.

"You're different. You seem unafraid of His Majesty, He Jin, Zhang Rang... You seem to be unafraid of nothing."

You were so patient when you taught Bian'er to ride a horse, and the way you looked at me... was different from how you looked at other men.

Liu Ce smiled bitterly to himself: Of course, the way I look at you is different, because I know how you will die, how your son will die, and how this great Han dynasty will perish... but I can't say it.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Liu Ce didn't know how to respond.

He Lian suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with sadness:

"Watching you teach Bian'er to ride a horse today, I was thinking how wonderful it would be if Bian'er's father could be like you."

As she spoke, she took the initiative to hug Liu Ce's neck, and then He Lian kissed him.

When soft, warm lips, scented with wine, touched his, Liu Ce's mind went completely blank.

He tried to push her away, but He Lian held him tightly.

Liu Ce's last shred of reason crumbled.

(Three thousand words omitted here)

The clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.

He Lian leaned against Liu Ce.

"My brother is indeed... amazing," she said breathlessly, her voice filled with satisfaction.

Liu Ce's mind was in complete chaos.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by He Lian.

"Don't say anything," He Lian said. "Don't say anything, and I won't ask."

Liu Ce remained silent.

"Don't worry, no one else will know about what happened today. Those palace maids are all my people, they won't say anything."

She stood up and put on her armor, her movements so composed that it was as if nothing had just happened.

"I had already given up on this palace," He Lian said calmly, her back to Liu Ce. "Before, it was Bian'er who kept me going. Now... there's you too."

She turned around and looked at Liu Ce:

"You made me feel that there are still people in this world I can rely on. You gave me the will to live."

Liu Ce remained silent.

"Don't worry, I won't bother you." He Lian smiled, but there was a bitter taste in her smile.

She straightened her armor, combed her hair, and put on a phoenix hairpin. Then she leaned down and gently kissed Liu Ce's lips.

"As long as you don't mind, that's enough for me."

At this moment, she regained her dignified and majestic demeanor, but the tenderness from before still lingered in her eyes.

Then she cupped his face in her hands.

"What happened today was my choice," she said, enunciating each word clearly. "I don't regret it. And don't feel like you've wronged anyone. His Majesty... His Majesty hasn't touched me in a long time."

She released her grip and took a step back: "From now on, in the palace I will still be the Empress, and you will still be the Marquis of Champion. But here..."

He Lian looked around the room and smiled:

"This is my safe haven. Royal brother, can you give it to me?"

Liu Ce looked at her.

The woman's eyes held expectation, trepidation, and a hint of vulnerability that was barely perceptible.

After a long while, he heard himself say, "Okay."

He Lian's eyes lit up, but she immediately lowered them again to conceal her emotions:

"Then I should go. I've been out for too long; the palace will become suspicious."

She walked to the door, placed her hand on it, then suddenly turned back, her gaze towards Liu Ce still gentle.

"Royal brother."

"Um?"

"Bian'er truly loves you," He Lian said. "In the future... teach him more. Not just how to ride a horse, but how to be a person, how to be a... good emperor."

After saying that, she opened the door and left without looking back.

Outside the backyard, the palace maids waited quietly, each with their eyes downcast, as if they hadn't heard a thing.

After He Lian left, Liu Ce sat alone in the room for a while.

Then he got up and went to sit down in the small pavilion in the backyard.

The evening sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns that made one's eyes dizzy.

He began to review the situation.

"He Lian's actions today were definitely premeditated, from preparing the food and drinks in advance, to choosing the room, and then... step by step."

"What is her motive? Is it really just...? Or is there a political motive? Is she trying to use this method to tie me to the Ho family's cause?"

"How should I react? Pretend nothing happened? Or..."

Thinking of this, Liu Ce suddenly had a "ding" in his mind.

It wasn't a system notification, but a sound he imagined, as if a door had been opened and three little people had jumped out.

The first little figure looks exactly like him, just a miniature version, wearing a modern T-shirt and jeans, and holding a cup of milk tea (don't ask where milk tea came from in ancient times, it's just an imagination). This is the "modern Liu Ce personality," responsible for witty remarks and rational analysis.

The second figure is dressed in a dragon robe and wears a crown, with a majestic expression. This is the "Li Shimin template personality," responsible for providing imperial strategies and... certain special experiences.

The third figure is nine feet tall (scaled down), wearing armor, carrying a halberd, and sporting an "I'm the best in the world" expression. This is the "Xiang Yu template personality," responsible for providing military support and... watching the drama unfold.

The three little people started arguing as soon as they came out.

Little Liu Ce (pointing at Little Li Shimin): "Li Er! It's all your fault! It's all because of that template of yours! Look, look, the original body now... has completed one of your four great achievements!"

Li Shimin (glaring): "You're talking nonsense! How can you blame me? My model is imperial strategy and supreme generalship! I didn't teach him how to handle relationships between men and women!"

Little Xiang Yu (munching on an imaginary watermelon): "Tsk tsk...it's nothing, no big deal. Back when I...was Yu Ji..."

Xiao Liuce (interrupting): "That's your wife! This is...! How can they be the same?"

Li Shimin (coughs twice): "Actually... this kind of thing has happened quite often in history. Look at so-and-so, so-and-so... cough cough, anyway, the key is how to handle the aftermath."

Xiao Liu Ce (rolling his eyes): "You make it sound so easy. What are we going to do now? He Lian is clearly serious. What if she keeps coming to see the main body..."

Li Shimin (stroking his chin): "That depends on how the main body wants to use her. He Lian is the Empress, He Jin's sister. If we can win her over, it will greatly benefit our plans in Luoyang."

Little Xiang Yu (throwing away the watermelon rind): "Troublesome! If you ask me, just lead your troops back to Youzhou, establish your territory, and wait for the world to descend into chaos before vying for control of the Central Plains! Women? We can have as many as we want then!"

Xiao Liu Ce (facepalm): "Brother, we're in Luoyang now! There are spies everywhere! Do you think this is Zhuojun?"

The three little people were arguing fiercely.

Liu Ce himself was sitting in the pavilion, and his head was spinning from listening.

He rubbed his temples, trying to clear his mind.

"What's done is done, there's no use in regretting it."

"He Lian's attitude is very clear: she will not tell anyone, but she hopes to maintain the relationship."

"This isn't entirely a bad thing for me. He Lian has influence in the palace, and if we can win her over, it will definitely help with intelligence gathering and the strategic planning in Luoyang."

"but…"

Liu Ce recalled the look in He Lian's eyes when she left. It wasn't the look of political calculation, but rather genuine...affection.

This is troublesome.

If it were purely a matter of exchanging benefits, it would be easier to handle, but since emotions are involved...

"Sigh." Liu Ce sighed.