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

Empress Guo gave a helpless wink.

Eunuch Guo quickly waved his hand and hurriedly left with the palace servants who were attending to him.

After everyone around had left, Empress Guo's voice, tinged with helplessness, finally rang out.

"Your Majesty, if you really need to come to me next time, you should at least send your servant Jiao Bo to inform me first. Why are you being so sudden?"

"It has to be sudden. If I don't come now, your entire Guo family will be killed by those two bastards from the Sima family."

Liu Bang looked anxious.

This level of acting skill is something he can easily master.

"What did you say?"

Although she decided to side with the emperor, Empress Dowager Guo never truly abandoned her own people.

After all, they are blood relatives, and it is impossible to completely sever ties with them.

Hearing Liu Bang's words, she was so anxious that she stood up from her chair.

"What makes you say that? Why do you say that my entire Guo family will be killed by the Sima family?"

"The number of imperial guards in the palace has suddenly increased. Your two younger brothers should have already told you the reason, right?"

"Not long ago, Chen Tai came to the palace and told me that not only were the Imperial Guards on the move, but the city defense forces in the capital were also on high alert. Who do you think the Sima family is targeting with this kind of force?"

When Liu Bang asked her question, Empress Dowager Guo was taken aback.

She was adept at the intrigues and power struggles within the imperial harem. While she wasn't exactly stupid, she wasn't particularly clever when it came to matters outside the harem.

Upon hearing this question, she couldn't immediately think of any connection between them.

As for who to deal with...

"Could it be that they're going to deal with you?"

Liu Bang: “…”

Seeing her bewildered look, Liu Bang knew he was flirting with a blind woman.

But that's fine too, the less someone understands, the easier it is to fool them!

"To deal with me, he only needs to mobilize the palace guards, so why would he need to use thousands of city defense troops?"

"Moreover, the Imperial Guards only strengthened the defenses within the palace, while the city defense troops seemed to be on high alert. Could they be planning to deal with me?"

After listening to Liu Bang's patient explanation, Empress Dowager Guo finally began to understand.

"Could it be that the Sima family is going to target a certain powerful clan? Is it the Wang family?"

The fact that she knew about the Wang family meant that her information was at least not completely uninformed, and that she was aware of the current conflict between the aristocratic families and the Sima family.

That makes things even easier!

"If it were just to deal with the Wang family, there would be no need for such a large force. Has Your Majesty forgotten that when the Gao family was wiped out, it was only Sima Zhao who led a small group of men?"

"And now, thousands of the city's defense troops are eager to fight. Is this to deal with the Wang family?"

At this point, Empress Dowager Guo finally understood.

This is not about dealing with the young emperor, nor is it just about dealing with the royal family.

This is directly targeting all the powerful clans and aristocratic families in the capital!

but……

"What does that have to do with me, Guo? My father and two younger brothers are all from the Sima family. There's no way they could be implicated, right?"

"Or does Your Majesty believe the Sima family will fall?"

The latter was so improbable that Empress Dowager Guo laughed at herself as soon as she uttered the words.

The influence of powerful clans and aristocratic families was indeed significant, but that was based on giving them time to prepare and plan.

If they were to strike suddenly, let alone the thousands of patrol troops, the sheer number of imperial guards in the palace would be enough to wipe out most of the powerful clans.

Those who still keep their own private armies can at most break through the encirclement themselves. If they want to fight back, that's just wishful thinking!

"Mother, if the powerful clans were so easy to deal with, how could my grandfather have been willing to compromise so much just to gain their support in order to ascend the throne?"

"The terror of the aristocratic families has never been in terms of military strength. While the Sima family may be able to easily wipe out their branch in the capital, what about outside the capital?"

"Some of them have connections, some have money and supplies, and some have troops. Once they are united in their hatred of the enemy, the Sima family will definitely not be able to withstand it!"

"Mother, who do you think is most likely to be thrown out to take the blame at that time?"

who?

Is it Jia Chong?

He doesn't deserve it!

If it were just the slaughter of the Gao family or the Wang family, then Jia Chong's actions would be sufficient.

But if he were to slaughter all the powerful clans in the capital, let alone one Jia Chong, even ten of them, he wouldn't be able to bear the blame!

Seeing that Empress Dowager Guo had not yet reacted, Liu Bang simply stopped keeping her in suspense.

"Whether there are others, I cannot be sure, but I am certain that your entire Guo family, Mother, is among them!"

"The main blame might even be placed on you, Mother, and your two younger brothers!"

"what?!"

Empress Dowager Guo was taken aback, but the look in her eyes clearly showed that she was not quite willing to believe it.

"Mother, you still don't believe me? Most of the city's garrison are Sima family's loyalists. Would they really abandon their own men?"

"Comparatively speaking, the Imperial Guards are outsiders to them. If you were in their shoes, would you be willing to abandon your own loyal followers or the Imperial Guards?"

"If the Sima family chooses to abandon the Imperial Guards, how can you, Mother, and your two younger brothers possibly escape unscathed?"

After a series of analyses, Liu Bang picked up the tea beside him and drank it all in one gulp, then said nothing more.

He has made everything that needed to be said extremely clear and understandable.

I believe that as long as Empress Dowager Guo isn't a fool, she should be able to understand what he was trying to say.

During this process, Empress Dowager Guo's expression changed from initial indifference to utter horror.

She understood, and was once again fooled by Liu Bang.

"Then, Your Majesty, what should I do? How can I save myself and the Guo family?"

She panicked completely.

If you panic, everything will be fine!

"Mother, please answer me honestly for now. Does your younger brother, my uncle, know about the Sima family mobilizing the city's defense forces?"

At this moment, Liu Bang's tone was less hurried and more composed.

"Yes, I know. Just this morning, he came to remind me not to do anything I shouldn't during this period, because the Sima family might be planning something big."

He was also very proud of himself, saying that after this major event, the Guo family would be able to rise to prominence.

Become!

Upon receiving this answer, Liu Bang knew that he had achieved his goal for this trip.

"Mother, I have a way to help you stop this turmoil, prevent the downfall of the Guo family, and also help me in the process."

"But perhaps you and your uncle will have to endure some hardship, is that alright?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Guo nodded repeatedly.

May I?

Your Majesty, have some confidence, just remove the "ma" at the end!

It's wonderful that enduring some hardship can prevent these disasters from happening!

"Your Majesty, you say it, as long as I can do it, I will not hesitate!"

"Very well, Mother, issue an imperial edict immediately to summon Sima Zhao to the palace!"