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

When they returned to Changqiu Palace, it was already past 5 PM.

The sky was gradually darkening.

"Chunjuan, serve the meal."

"promise."

Empress He turned to look at Liu Bian, her eyes softening:

"Are you hungry? Come and have your meal with me later."

Liu Bian silently hummed in agreement, but was actually thinking about something else.

He wanted to protect Lady Wang.

After finishing his meal, Liu Bian looked at Empress He, who was seated in the main seat, and suddenly spoke:

"Mother, is that Consort Wang... a little afraid of you?"

Empress He raised the corners of her mouth slightly upon hearing this, but there was no smile in her eyes: "She should be afraid."

The hall fell silent.

After about two breaths, Liu Bian whispered:

"Mother, she is afraid because you said you would take care of her in front of Father today."

Empress He paused for a moment.

"The Empress Dowager left the nanny in Yong'an Palace," Liu Bian looked up, his eyes clear as if he were still naive, "Then she'll be even more afraid. Won't she think the Empress Dowager wants to harm her?"

Chunjuan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and she quickly lowered her eyes.

Empress He stared at Liu Bian for a long while before finally saying, "What do you want to say?"

Liu Bian hesitated for a moment like a child before whispering:

"I don't want to upset Father."

These words struck Empress He deeply.

Today, she presented her magnanimity in front of everyone, in front of Emperor Ling of Han, but when something really happened, she, the empress, was still the first person to be suspected.

"Bian'er," she said slowly, "are you afraid I'll lay a hand on her?"

Liu Bian hurriedly shook his head, seemingly afraid of angering the Empress:

"Of course I'm not afraid of the Empress Dowager, I'm afraid of others."

Empress He thought about it for a moment, and then it all became clear to her.

This child wasn't protecting that Lady Wang, but protecting her.

Thinking of this, her heart softened, and she pressed Liu Bian's shoulder, whispering:

"You're right."

She looked up at Chunjuan and said:

"Go and invite Mr. Xun."

Chunjuan was startled: "Now?"

"Now," Empress He said calmly.

Before long, Xun Yu entered the hall and performed the usual greetings.

Empress He didn't beat around the bush: "Sir, what about Yong'an Palace..."

She gave Xun Yu a brief account of what had happened that day.

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

After a moment, Xun Yu spoke up: "Is Your Highness worried?"

Empress He nodded.

Xun Yu did not answer immediately, but instead looked at Liu Bian:

"Your Highness spoke very well at Yong'an Palace today."

Then, he changed the subject.

"The key is to establish the concept of benevolence and compassion. What needs to be done afterward is more about the public relations aspect."

Liu Bian had a feeling, but was still somewhat confused:

"Please teach me, sir."

"Make it known to everyone that you are taking care of her. Only when everyone knows can you truly protect yourself. If something happens to Yong'an Palace, everyone's first reaction will not be 'The Empress has harmed her,' but rather 'Who dares to do something under the Empress's nose?'—and the doubts will dissipate."

Before Liu Bian could respond, Xun Yu continued:

"When Your Highness goes to Deyang Palace to pay your respects tomorrow, please casually mention that His Majesty may issue an imperial edict."

"What imperial edict?"

"Say that you are worried about the child in Consort Wang's womb and wish that Your Majesty would order the imperial physicians, eunuchs, and the nannies brought by the Consort to take care of the child as usual."

"His Highness is the eldest son, and his words are only for the sake of the heir and the ancestral temple. His Majesty will certainly not refuse."

"With this imperial edict issued, Her Majesty will be safe."

Empress He took a deep breath. She knew in her heart that it would be difficult to touch Consort Wang again now.

She looked at Liu Bian in front of her, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

So be it. With Bian'er here, what if another prince comes along? The position of crown prince will surely belong to Bian'er.

She said, "Bian'er, as Mr. Xun said, you should go and pay your respects to His Majesty tomorrow."

She then added, "Please don't be impolite."

Liu Bian obediently nodded in agreement.

The following day, at Deyang Palace.

Liu Bian came to pay his respects to Emperor Ling of Han early in the morning.

Emperor Ling of Han was in a good mood because of yesterday's events. Seeing that Liu Bian was no longer like he had been the first time, but instead had a smile on his face, he raised his hand and asked:

"Bian'er, who taught you those lines yesterday?"

Liu Bian replied, "I learned etiquette from my mother, and I learned my language from my teacher."

"Sir?" Emperor Ling of Han looked at Zhang Rang. "Whom did you invite for him?"

Zhang Rang hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, it is Xun Wenruo from the Xun family of Yingchuan, who will temporarily serve as a lecturer."

Emperor Ling of Han raised an eyebrow: "The Xun family?"

Taking advantage of the situation, Liu Bian stepped forward half a step, his voice not loud, but clear enough to be heard:

"Your subject dares not speak presumptuously, but I remember what you said, Master: 'The succession of ancestral temples is of paramount importance, and the stability of the world is of utmost importance.'"

He paused for a moment, then began to speak:

"With the ancestral temples established, the state is at peace; with the emperor's joy, the world is at peace."

It has a touch of childlike naiveté, but it's handled perfectly.

Emperor Ling of Han burst into laughter; these two sentences struck a chord with him.

"Good, good." Emperor Ling of Han nodded repeatedly. "You're quite the talker, aren't you?"

Liu Bian immediately kowtowed and said, "Your subject only wishes that Your Majesty may always be happy."

Emperor Ling of Han laughed even more heartily.

Liu Bian did not stop speaking, but instead seized the opportunity to say:

"Your Majesty, I have another matter to ask for your permission."

"Please feel free to speak."

"Consort Wang is pregnant, a joyous occasion for the whole nation. However, I fear there may be wicked people who would harm the imperial heir." Liu Bian said in a low voice, "Therefore, yesterday I specially asked the Empress Dowager to give two nannies to take care of her."

Emperor Ling of Han nodded, expressing his approval of Liu Bian.

"But I fear I am not up to the task. I would like to request Your Majesty to grant a decree: order the imperial physicians and eunuchs to take care of him day and night as usual, and record all medicines and food he takes. In this way, Your Majesty can rest assured, and Your Majesty and Your Majesty can also rest assured."

Zhang Rang's expression changed slightly.

But Emperor Ling of Han was happy at the moment, feeling that his son and empress were both sensible.

He immediately waved his hand: "Granted."

"Zhang Rang".

Zhang Rang stepped forward: "This servant is here."

"Go and convey the imperial edict, ordering the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Yellow Gate Bureau to take care of the matter according to regulations and record it in their files. Anyone who dares to neglect their duties will be punished for dereliction of duty."

Zhang Rang kowtowed: "Yes, sir."

Liu Bian felt relieved. Lady Wang was safe for the time being, and if anything went wrong in the future, it would have nothing to do with him and his son.

Then, he raised his head and met Emperor Ling's gaze.

For the first time, there was a hint of expectation and a touch of testing in that gaze.

Suddenly, Emperor Ling of Han asked, as if it were a casual remark:

"Since you've said so, I'll have someone keep an eye on Consort Wang." He changed the subject:

"If one day, Consort Wang suffers unbearable abdominal pain, and the medicine is being delivered, but the medicine cup is accidentally knocked over, spilling half the medicine, what will you do? Will you execute her, or will you pardon her?"

The hall fell silent.

Liu Bian knew that this was a test from Emperor Ling of Han.

He wasn't flustered. He thought that a test was a good thing, because only a test could prove that Emperor Ling of Han truly considered him as the crown prince.

He pondered for a moment, then said, "Your subject, I will not kill him for now."

Emperor Ling of Han asked, "Why not kill them? What if someone did it intentionally?"

Liu Bian immediately replied, "That's why we need to ask first."

"Let the imperial physician brew the medicine again first, to save her life and relieve Consort Wang's immediate danger."

"Go ask the people on duty: who took it, who watched it, and who kept the record. If the three people give different answers, then something is fishy."

"If it was truly a slip of the hand and not out of malice, then punish him by making him work twice as hard on the day he's on duty, and also punish the person in charge of him." He paused, then looked up at Emperor Ling of Han.

"Let them know that mistakes will be punished, but not necessarily lead to death."

Emperor Ling of Han nodded, then asked:

"What if someone truly harbors malicious intent and premeditates harm?"

Liu Bian already had the answer in his heart, but outwardly he frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said:

"If it was indeed premeditated, it certainly wasn't done by one person alone."

"We need to find out who's behind him too."

This statement is somewhat beyond the scope of a child, but it is not beyond the scope of a prince.

Emperor Ling of Han was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter:

"Good idea to find the person behind this."

He raised his hand and gently patted the table:

"Your words don't sound like something a person raised in the Shi family would say."

Liu Bian immediately attributed the credit to Xun Yu:

"It's all thanks to the teacher's excellent teaching."

Emperor Ling of Han looked at Liu Bian, his gaze lingering for a while longer, before speaking:

"No matter how well the teacher teaches, one still needs to have the ability to understand."

"Since you can think of these things, starting tomorrow—" He paused, his tone casual, "I will have the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Imperial Secretariat submit a copy of the records every day, one copy to the Empress Dowager and one copy to my desk."

"Take a look too."

"If you understand, tell me: where should I be rewarded, and where should I be punished."

Liu Bian was startled.

This is not something an ordinary prince could do.

This is more like grooming a crown prince.

He immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying:

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Liu Bian kept his head down, and no one could see the slight upturn of his lips.

This was not the establishment of an heir apparent, but it was the first time Emperor Ling of Han had entrusted him with a matter.

As long as he does it well and does it beautifully.

That position is definitely his.