Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In mid-February, with the cold still blanketing the land, renowned scholars Dong Yanxing and Ying Shao met their end in a gloomy prison. They were brutally tortured to death, yet the public was told they committed suicide out of fear of punishment. What a ridiculous excuse! They hadn't even been charged with a crime, yet they committed suicide out of fear of punishment!

Their descendants, under fear and threats, dared not make any noise and could only silently endure the great grief and bury them hastily as required.

This news, like a boulder dropped into a tranquil lake, ignited an uproar among the scholar-officials. They could not believe that two highly respected figures had been so callously taken. Sorrow and grief permeated every heart. They were filled with immense indignation at this injustice, yet, oppressed by the oppressive power, they felt powerless to resist. The entire scholar-official class was plunged into deep anxiety and unease, as if they could see a dark shadow gradually enveloping the court, and the future of the Han Dynasty becoming increasingly uncertain.

After seeing the fate of Ying Shao and Dong Yanxing, some ministers loyal to the Han Dynasty fell silent. They knew that expressing their opinions could be dangerous in the political environment at the time. Therefore, they only dared to discuss the situation secretly during gatherings, not openly expressing their loyalty to the Han Dynasty.

A puzzling scene unfolded in the imperial court: He Jin, who was supposed to be a relative by marriage, had all his subordinates comprised of children from aristocratic families. Empress Dowager He, who was supposed to be the greatest supporter of the relatives by marriage, had all her subordinates comprised of eunuch clique forces.

Against this background, the conflict between Empress Dowager He and He Jin was inevitable.

Although Empress Dowager He was a relative of the emperor, she had lived in the palace for a long time and was deeply influenced by the eunuch party. She was more inclined to maintain relations with the eunuch party to ensure her own status and power.

He Jin, on the other hand, focused on the overall situation of the court. He was well aware of the harm caused by the eunuch party and wanted to eradicate it in order to revive the court. This was at odds with Empress Dowager He's ideas.

He Jin's subordinates were mostly children of aristocratic families, and they had conflicts of interest and ideological differences with the eunuch faction. He Jin himself had no talent, and being surrounded and flattered by these aristocratic children had long since become arrogant. He did not take Empress Dowager He and the young emperor seriously, and joined these aristocratic families in promoting actions against the eunuch faction, which further exacerbated the conflict between him and Empress Dowager He.

In addition, Empress Dowager He may have been worried that He Jin's power was too great and posed a threat to her, so she conflicted with He Jin on some decisions.

The conflict between the two is not only a collision of different political positions and interests, but also a reflection of the complex power struggle in the court.

The young Emperor Liu Bian should have been the supreme ruler, possessing immense power. However, reality was completely inconsistent with his status. Within the magnificent palace, he seemed bound by invisible shackles, completely stripped of his power and without the slightest room for independent action.

He was trapped deep within the palace, surrounded by eager eyes. The imperial relatives and eunuchs, each with their own agenda, kept him under close watch, like a precious yet dangerous treasure. His every move was under their scrutiny, every subtle shift in his expression keenly captured, fearing he might act beyond their control.

He struggled, tried to express his will, but his voice was drowned out by the clamor of power, unheard. His eyes were filled with helplessness and confusion, a deep sadness and powerlessness over his predicament. He was like a caged bird, longing for the freedom of the sky, yet unable to break free from the invisible cage. The power that should have belonged to him was now a distant dream, and he could only silently endure it all, living a life of guarded and isolated existence.

The young Emperor Liu Bian seemed bound by invisible shackles, trapped within the inner confines of the palace. Beyond the maids and eunuchs who served him day and night, he rarely saw anyone else. His only companion each morning was Cai Yong, who came to teach him the classics.

The young emperor was filled with longing and curiosity for the outside world. He inquired with Cai Yong about news from the outside world. When he learned of Lu Zhi's recent situation, he was extremely anxious and anxious. He tried to leave the palace several times to investigate, but was ruthlessly stopped. He could only endure unspeakable helplessness and sorrow in this cramped space. He was unable to break free from this bondage and could only watch helplessly as he was imprisoned here, feeling helpless.

However, in this complex situation, Cai Yong, the only one who had the opportunity to interact with the young Emperor Liu Bian, was caught in the dual surveillance of He Jin and Empress Dowager He. Cai Yong was like a bird in a cage, his movements restricted.

Even though Lu Zhi was Cai Yong's best friend, they rarely met, separated by an invisible chasm. Only when Cai Wenji came to play with Lu Zhi's daughter Lu Wan could Cai Yong take advantage of this rare opportunity to cleverly pass on news from the outside world to Lu Zhi.

After more than a month of careful recuperation, Lu Zhi's health gradually improved. During this time, he visited the palace several times, requesting an audience with the young Emperor Liu Bian. However, He Jin and Empress Dowager He tacitly excluded him, as if by some tacit agreement.

They were well aware that Lu Zhi held an extremely high prestige. If he were to advise the emperor, it would be extremely difficult for either of them to control him. Despite his fame, Lu Zhi seemed powerless in the face of absolute power. He tried every possible means, but was unable to see the emperor, which left him constantly anxious and worried. He worried about the emperor's plight and felt deeply anxious and helpless that he could not contribute to the Han Dynasty.

On this particular day, Cai Yong finished his morning lectures for the young emperor as usual. Afterward, the young emperor, seizing the opportunity, asked Empress He if he could visit Cai Yong's residence to relieve his boredom. This time, Empress He finally agreed.

He Jin learned the news when the emperor left the palace, but it was too late to stop it.

However, to ensure that nothing could go wrong, both sides sent heavy troops to surround Cai Yong's residence like an iron barrel, making it impossible for anyone to get in or out. Under such difficult circumstances, the young emperor and Cai Yong left the palace together, and after many twists and turns, they finally arrived at Cai Yong's residence.

Early that morning, Lu Wan arrived at the Cai residence in a carriage. Ma Chao and Pang De vigilantly guarded the carriage. They had come under the guise of visiting Cai Wenji. Lu Zhi, however, cleverly slipped into Cai Wenji's carriage and slipped in unnoticed. After all, this was the Cai residence's courtyard, so when both factions rushed to seize control of the Cai residence, they didn't search Cai Wenji's residence. Instead, they deployed a large number of personnel around it, closely monitoring every corner.

General He Jin, leading a massive army, launched a comprehensive and meticulous sweep of the Cai residence. His nervousness and caution stemmed, on the one hand, from his deep concern for the safety of the young Emperor Liu Bian, fearing any misfortune might occur to him; on the other, from his fear that the young Emperor might come into contact with others within the Cai residence, potentially leading to his losing absolute control over him. In this complex and volatile situation, He Jin was forced to take such action to protect his power and position while also attempting to maintain control over the overall situation.

After arriving at Cai's residence, the young Emperor Liu Bian and Cai Yong repeatedly attempted to find a way to escape the surveillance. However, both sides deployed numerous surveillance agents, and the tight surveillance made it nearly impossible for them to find any opportunities. Even the resourceful Cai Yong felt helpless. Consequently, they resorted to stalling for time in the Cai residence's garden, hoping for a chance of success.