The video takes us to ancient times; Li Er transforms into the Tongtian Emperor of Shu Han.

The lips are dead and the teeth are cold.

Once the rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked.

Once the birds are all gone, the bow is put away.

Each sentence seems to address the questions that arose while reading, yet each sentence goes beyond what is in the book.

How could Empress Dowager Guo not know?

She was the lackey, the bow.

Having killed the emperor, what fate awaited her as the empress dowager, rendering her useless?

So straightforward.

Even a fool would understand what he meant, let alone her!

"What on earth do you want to do?"

As she spoke, she gave the old eunuch another wink.

The old eunuch looked somewhat bewildered and confused.

He seemed to be asking, "Are you going to kill me again?"

These palace maids are all counted; if we keep killing them, we won't be able to keep up the numbers!

However, Empress Dowager Guo didn't care about all that. After just one glance, she lowered her eyes.

Left with no other option, the old eunuch coughed twice.

Several guards rushed in from outside the palace and swiftly took away the few remaining palace maids.

After all the palace maids, guards, and old eunuchs had left, Empress Dowager Guo asked the question again.

"Emperor, what exactly do you want to do?"

"Are you trying to drag me down with you? Or are you trying to drag the Guo family down with you?"

The fact that she was able to gain Cao Rui's favor and secure her position as empress in the past shows that Empress Dowager Guo was no ordinary person.

She had pondered this matter since Liu Bang's last visit.

But the final conclusion was...

Even if it were truly a case of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold," she would be powerless to do anything about it.

Right now, the Guo family behind her is completely dependent on the Sima family.

Even if the loss of the Cao family's throne meant she would lose her position as Empress Dowager, there was nothing she could do.

Obediently submitting to the Sima family is the only way out for the Guo family.

"Whatever you want to do, don't come looking for me, and don't drag the Guo family into this."

"Your Majesty is joking. You are the Empress Dowager of our Great Wei. Who could drag you down with them? Who would dare?"

"As for the Guo family..."

"hehe."

Liu Bang smiled meaningfully.

"Mother, you consider yourself a member of the Guo family, but do they consider you one of their own?"

"The Guo family is dependent on the Sima clan, but what about you? As the Empress Dowager of my Great Wei, I am indeed a sacrifice when the Sima usurped the throne, but what good will come of it for you, Mother?"

"Or is it that you, Mother, are going to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the Guo family? That's probably what my uncles and maternal uncles are thinking, but for you, Mother, such an ending wouldn't be good, would it?"

The Guo family were lackeys of the Sima clan; Zhang Liang didn't even need to deliberately inquire about this.

Getting a lackey to turn around and bite its master is as difficult as climbing to heaven.

In their minds, the Sima clan was unmatched.

Therefore, from beginning to end, the only person Liu Bang wanted to bring behind him was Empress Guo!

"..."

"What can I do even if things are bad? What can an old woman like me, with one foot in the grave, do?"

The Empress Dowager's eyes held an incredibly complex expression.

She must have considered these pros and cons that Liu Bang described when she was alone in the harem.

But even if you've thought about it, what can you do?

Sima clan was able to depose and install emperors by virtue of her imperial edict.

Outsiders might think that since the emperor was incompetent, it was reasonable for the empress dowager to issue an imperial edict to depose him.

But all she could feel was the terrifying power of the Sima family, which terrified her!

She only issued an imperial edict to depose and install emperors; everything else was handled by the Sima clan.

She watched helplessly as Cao Fang was deposed, and not a single person in the court raised the slightest objection!

"Mother, there's a lot you can do before things really come to a head."

"Have you forgotten? In the past, Sima Shi originally wanted to honor the Prince of Pengcheng as emperor, but the Empress Dowager forced him to change his mind by threatening him with an imperial edict."

"Now that I have ascended the throne, isn't that enough to demonstrate your importance, Mother?"

After finding out the general situation, Liu Bang was certain that Empress Dowager Guo was no ordinary person.

If the Prince of Pengcheng were to be honored as emperor, it would mean that Cao Rui's lineage would be completely extinguished, and her position as Empress Dowager would become very awkward.

This matter concerned her own interests, so she exerted pressure.

Even if the Sima clan was powerful, if they wanted to depose the emperor and usurp the throne, they still needed the Empress Dowager's imperial edict!

Without an imperial edict, one's actions would be illegitimate and constitute treason!

So whether they were forced into it or not, at least they compromised.

Empress Dowager Guo's true strength never lay in the Guo family, who were lackeys of the Sima clan, but in her own position as Empress Dowager!

As he spoke, Liu Bang noticed that both of her hands were trembling.

Clearly, she was aware of these words and their consequences.

Can……

“My brother and my father promised me that they would protect me once the Sima family ascended to the throne.”

"As long as I can obediently cooperate with them."

"Am I to betray my own people and choose to support someone as weak and pathetic as you?"

Empress Dowager Guo was still prepared to refuse.

However, Liu Bang scoffed dismissively.

"Relatives? They are not your relatives. They are nothing but the dogs of the Sima family. If a dog tells you that it can save your life, how can Mother believe it?"

"If Mother is so easily trusting of people, then I have truly come to the wrong place today!"

"Besides, I am not weak."

"I have the support of the Chen family of Yingchuan within the country, and most of the other aristocratic families are also watching and waiting. Guanqiu Jian holds military power outside the country. They can come to the capital to defend the emperor as soon as I issue an edict."

"Do you really think that the Guo family, which belongs to your father and brothers, is stronger than me?"

These words stirred up a storm in Empress Dowager Guo's heart.

The Chen family of Yingchuan?

"When did you get in touch with Chen Tai and Guanqiu Jian?"

Seeing her surprised expression, Liu Bang simply smiled and remained silent.

when?

If we calculate it now, we should be able to contact Chen Tai in two days.

As for Guanqiu Jian, he will most likely be there someday in the future.

But he certainly wouldn't say those words.

Faced with Liu Bang's meaningful smile, Empress Dowager Guo truly hesitated.

The Chen family of Yingchuan was already a top-tier family. If Guanqiu Jian, who was leading troops in the field, were added to the mix, one inside and one outside, along with the title of the emperor.

She dared not imagine what kind of turmoil would erupt when such an emperor clashed with the powerful Sima family!

"The Sima clan is indeed powerful, and Sima Shi is indeed firmly in the position of Grand General, with the power to mobilize troops throughout the land, which makes him a fearsome figure."

"However, Mother, have you forgotten that the Sima clan's power stems from their compromises with prominent aristocratic families, which earned them the support of these families?"

"But what if I had enough trump cards and was willing to give them even more?"

"Can the Sima family really still control everything?"

Empress Dowager Guo: "..."

Every word Liu Bang spoke caused her to waver.

In the end, she had to admit that she was tempted.

"Mother, as long as I am the Emperor, you will be the Empress Dowager."

"What will you do once the Sima family comes to power?"