Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

Just then, another announcement came from outside the hall: "Your Highness, His Majesty summons you."

Liu Bian's heart skipped a beat.

Another test question?

He had been tested by Emperor Ling of Han many times in the past few days, and each time it felt like he had been cut on a knife's edge.

But this time is different.

The eunuch who came to deliver the message looked relaxed, even a little amused:

"His Majesty said... today we will not discuss books or strategies. Take His Highness the Crown Prince to see the 'market' His Majesty has newly established."

market?

Liu Bian was taken aback, then recalled the virtues of Emperor Ling of Han as recorded in historical texts: that year, he not only set up markets but also established offices for selling official positions. All of these were both for enjoyment and for accumulating wealth.

And he actually witnessed this market.

"Let's go." Liu Bian stood up, his robes billowing, his face showing a childlike curiosity and joy. "Let's go see Father Emperor."

When the side gate behind Zhangde Hall opened, Liu Bian realized that the so-called "play" was indeed just playing.

Emperor Ling of Han was not wearing his imperial robes or riding in his imperial carriage today.

He wore a plain short robe with a coarse brown overcoat, and a common merchant's turban tied around his head. He even deliberately smeared some ash on his face to conceal his imperial air. If it weren't for the usual arrogance and interest in his eyes, no one would believe that this was the emperor.

He turned around and saw Liu Bian, and smiled as if by magic:

"Bian'er, today I will not be the emperor, but a merchant."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the eunuch immediately brought over a set of small clothes and a hat.

The clothes were made in a very simple style: short brown, narrow sleeves, a cloth belt around the waist, and even the shoes were changed to light hemp shoes.

Emperor Ling of Han personally fastened Liu Bian's belt, his movements rough, but he was very enthusiastic:

"You change into it too. Today you are not the Crown Prince, you are my 'little steward'."

Liu Bian looked down at the short brown clothes and understood in his heart that this was not kinship, nor was it concern for the people's plight.

This was a game that Emperor Ling of Han played on a whim.

History records that he was fond of commerce, curious and ingenious, and enjoyed palace markets. He set up markets in the palace and had eunuchs and palace women pretend to be merchants, haggling over prices and having a great time.

But Liu Bian couldn't say that was wrong.

Then he looked up, his eyes showing the surprise and curiosity that a child should have:

"Father... there really is a market in the palace?"

Emperor Ling of Han was pleased to hear this and laughed heartily:

"Of course! It's even more lively than outside!"

He clapped his hands, and a small donkey cart appeared outside the side gate—the kind commonly seen in the countryside. It wasn't large, but it was decorated quite nicely.

Emperor Ling of Han turned and sat down, beckoning to Liu Bian:

"Come, get in the carriage! I'll take you sightseeing!"

Liu Bian climbed onto the cart and sat comfortably beside him. The donkey cart swayed back and forth, making everyone's bones itch, but Emperor Ling of Han laughed like a smug child, occasionally imitating a shout:

"Make way! Make way! The traveling merchants are coming!"

Liu Bian smiled ingratiatingly, but his mind remained perfectly calm.

Emperor Ling of Han was truly incompetent and tyrannical.

The donkey cart drove into a secluded courtyard. As soon as the gate opened, a cacophony of sounds rushed out—the cries of vendors, the haggling, the clinking of coins—it truly sounded like a bustling marketplace.

The stalls were lined up in a row, offering everything from silk and lacquerware to spices, pearls and jade, and all sorts of ingenious objects. Eunuchs and palace maids changed into their clothes, pretending to be merchants and customers, and called out their wares with great enthusiasm.

Emperor Ling of Han was extremely pleased, as if he were watching a stage he had personally built.

"How was it? Was it fun?"

Liu Bian blinked, revealing a hint of excitement that suggested he had never seen anything like it before:

"This is fun! It's so lively!"

Emperor Ling of Han was even more pleased with himself, pointing to a pile of pearls:

"Go, pick out a cheap one for me. Let's see if you can bargain."

Liu Bian walked up to the stall and, imitating the mannerisms of ordinary people, deliberately frowned:

"So expensive? My mother said that yours only costs one-tenth or one-twelfth of the cost."

The stall owner, disguised as a eunuch, immediately put on a slick and cunning expression:

"Young shopkeeper, where can you find cheap goods in the palace? If you want cheap goods, go outside."

Liu Bian, looking unconvinced, pursed his lips, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and mimicked the tone he used when he was living a life of hardship among the common people:

"When selling beads, people first look at the luster, then the roundness, and then whether there are any pinholes. Your string... it's shiny, but the roundness isn't uniform, and there are small flaws inside. At most... I'll give you half the price."

The eunuch hesitated for a moment, almost ruining his act, and quickly gave a vague answer:

"This...this is top-quality!"

Emperor Ling of Han listened in his carriage and burst into laughter, laughing so hard he almost fell over:

"Good! Good! You're quite the smooth talker!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Liu Bian turned around smugly:

"Father, I've lived outside before, so I know a little about the ins and outs of the city."

Emperor Ling's eyes lit up: "Oh? Then tell me, if you were in charge of organizing this 'palace market,' what else should be added?"

These words were exactly what Liu Bian wanted to hear.

He recounted his seven years of experiences in rural areas, selecting only the most relevant aspects for the present day:

"Father, the city is now mostly filled with silk and jewels; everyone just glances at them and moves on."

"But a truly bustling city needs to have food, utilities, and entertainment."

Emperor Ling of Han asked with great interest, "How so?"

Liu Bian counted on his fingers like a child:

"A market, a market. Since it's called a market, it should have everything: food, daily necessities, toys—nothing should be missing!"

"There must be food stalls selling pancakes, soups, candied fruits, and fermented rice. If people have something to eat after walking around the city, they'll enjoy the food and be more willing to explore further."

"What you need is paper, ink, brushes, inkstones, needles, thread, cloth scraps, medicinal herbs, and fragrant herbs. Especially the medicinal herbs; there are often long queues outside to buy them, and if the palace has them, that would be nice too."

"For entertainment, you can hire acrobats or storytellers; that's what makes it truly fun! Even cockfighting or dogfighting can draw a large crowd."

As he said this, he added something that seemed casual but actually revealed his true thoughts:

"Also, Father, it would be best to divide the city into districts."

"There's a place for silk, a place for spices, a place for food, and a place for entertainment. The flow of people isn't chaotic, and even the noise is orderly."

Emperor Ling of Han nodded repeatedly, his eyes growing brighter and brighter:

"Good! That's more like a market! How come I didn't think of that?"

Liu Bian's heart skipped a beat, and he took another step forward, still using a childlike tone:

"There's another thing called a 'license'."

Emperor Ling of Han was taken aback: "With a token?"

Liu Bian pointed to a small wooden sign hanging next to a stall:

"Some shops outside give customers a token with the quantity written on it. Customers use the token to collect their goods, so there's no confusion. There are many people in the palace. If tokens are used in the same way, they won't get lost or misremembered."

Emperor Ling of Han found it increasingly fascinating and even burst into laughter, patting the edge of his carriage.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! You're really capable, young shopkeeper!"

He waved his hand on the spot:

"By my decree—this matter of the palace market is to be handled by the Crown Prince!"

"You change it! Change it however you want! I want excitement, I want something new!"

Liu Bian quickly feigned surprise, his eyes sparkling as if he were overjoyed at being rewarded by the emperor:

"Your subject... Your subject will definitely make it a grand affair!"

He bowed his head in greeting, but continued to make plans in his mind.

This isn't a joke; it's a loophole he'll use to get things done in the future.

A loophole for "legally" implementing rules, registers, and certificates within the palace.

When the Crown Prince wants to implement some new policies for future generations, his biggest fear is that they will be "illegitimate".

But the palace market is the emperor's plaything; it was the emperor who gave him the authority to manage it.

If he establishes "procedures," "categories," "certificates," and "ten-day reports" here, who can say he has overstepped his authority?

Liu Bian quickly made a mental calculation.

The token can be made into a "redemption voucher" to facilitate statistics and accounting.

The zones can be divided into "workshops" to facilitate inspection and control.

The stalls could be used to cover the expenses of the palace market, and even a sum of "miscellaneous funds" that could be made public for the Crown Prince's Palace could be obtained.

Thinking of this, he looked up at Emperor Ling of Han, a glimmer of hope in his eyes:

"Father, I have another request."

Emperor Ling of Han was in high spirits and waved his hand, saying:

"Speak! I am pleased today!"

Liu Bian spoke cautiously, as if afraid of saying the wrong thing:

"Since I am to manage the market, I want to learn how to do it better."

"The palace is, after all, the palace; many goods come from outside. Your subject thinks... we should also set up a small shop among the common people."

He quickly added a sentence to minimize the danger:

"It's not for making money, but for purchasing goods for the palace market, saving the middlemen from adding layers of markups; in case of famine, we can also sell some grain here to prevent outsiders from driving up prices."

Then, changing the subject, he looked towards the market:

"Your subject thinks... if it's just playing in the palace, it's ultimately like being separated by a thin layer of paper."

"To play like a pro, you have to go outside and actually play it once."

When Emperor Ling of Han heard the words "go out and play," it was like scratching an itch—the kind of interest that comes from an emperor who has been confined to the deep palace for a long time, and suddenly hearing someone say that "it's more real and more lively outside" is instantly ignited.

He burst into laughter:

"allow!"

"Go ahead and set it up! You set up a business, and I'll see how you manage it!"

Liu Bian immediately kowtowed, his voice clear and bright:

"Thank you, Father Emperor!"

Liu Bian suppressed his excitement and began to conceive a plan.

Businesses, private individuals.

It allows them to both make money and try out new methods.

He wanted to hide these nascent ideas within Emperor Ling's indulgence, allowing them to quietly grow.