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

"Huh? Can't we take it seriously? But that's His Majesty's promise! He even issued an imperial edict!"

In his haste, Chen Tan blurted out all the methods Liu Bang used to recruit him.

Upon hearing that there was even an imperial edict, Jia Yan finally understood.

It turns out that it wasn't that the Chen family had particularly good judgment; the real reason was that His Majesty's methods were exceptionally clever!

Or rather, they're willing to use bait!

However, if there really is an imperial edict, then perhaps the Chen family really has a chance!

"Where is the imperial edict? May I take a look?"

Jia Yan's eyes were full of envy.

Chen Tan was also afraid that there might be some problems, so he nodded after only a moment's hesitation.

"That is the biggest secret of the Chen family, but since I have decided to tell Brother Jia everything tonight, there is naturally nothing that I cannot show Brother Jia."

"The imperial edict is in my room. Don't laugh at me, but ever since my brother entrusted it to me for safekeeping, I've been afraid of losing it every night before I go to sleep, so I simply dug a hole under my bed and buried it there."

With that, he hurriedly led Jia Yan back to the room.

Seeing him lying under the bed, shifting around a few times, he pulled out a scroll of imperial edict from under the bed.

"His Majesty still favors my elder brother. Not only will he grant my Chen family a fiefdom, but he will also bestow upon my elder brother the title of Han."

When Jia Yan received the imperial edict from Chen Tan, he happened to hear these words, and his expression was quite interesting.

King of Han?

real or fake?

Has the emperor forgotten what kind of king Emperor Taizu of Han was appointed after he was driven to Shu by Xiang Yu?

If the emperor were to bestow any of the titles upon Chen Tai—Qi, Chu, Qin, Yan, Zhao, Han, or Wei—Jia Yan would not find it strange; he would simply offer his congratulations.

But this King of Han is quite intriguing.

“I can understand anything else, but this King of Han…”

"Besides saying that His Majesty would enfeoff my brother as the King of Han, he also said that he had guarded the border for many years without any mistakes, and was truly his Han Xin."

His Han Xin?

If before it was just suspicion, now the case is completely solved!

envious?

Jia Yan no longer felt envious; instead, he held Liu Bang's methods in even greater admiration.

What is this called?

Everything has been laid bare. If you can understand it, then understand it; if you can't, you can't blame him.

Seeing Chen Tan's sincere expression, he still chose to offer a word of advice.

"Brother Chen, I'll say it again: don't take His Majesty's words too seriously. Just pretend this edict never existed. Your Chen family's status will not be low in the future."

"Huh? Why? This is an edict written by His Majesty himself, why can't it be taken seriously?"

Chen Tan asked in a panic.

He's always dreamed of being made a king!

If the elder brother Chen Tai is enfeoffed as a king, then those of his collateral relatives will also be able to benefit from it.

Without going into too much detail, by then, both its scale and status will be hundreds of times greater than they are now!

The descendants of feudal lords were on a completely different level from ordinary officials.

Not to mention, it was because of his merit in following the emperor that His Majesty willingly bestowed this reward upon him, unlike those treacherous officials of the past!

"Let me make this clear beforehand: this is just my guess, and perhaps I'm being cynical. But Brother Chen, it's best to be mentally prepared for some things."

Do you remember what Han Xin's final fate was?

Hearing this, Chen Tan was stunned.

What was Han Xin's final fate?

He was first enfeoffed as the King of Qi, then stripped of his title and demoted to the Marquis of Huaiyin, and finally died in the palace.

"Whether Han Xin was killed by Emperor Gaozu of Han or Empress Lü is not important. What is important is that although he was made a king, he ultimately failed to keep his title. Do you understand what I mean, Brother Chen?"

The person who promised to bestow the title of king upon Chen Tai and compared him to Han Xin was practically making it an open secret.

If the Chen family insists on being granted the title of king, it will be nothing but a pipe dream, and it won't be long before it is stripped of its power.

However, Chen Tai, or rather the members of the Chen clan, were able to react in time and return the imperial edict, giving the emperor a way out, and thus gain even more benefits.

"So that's it?"

Chen Tan felt a sudden emptiness in his heart.

It turns out that the imperial edict he had been longing for for so long, the one he even wanted to hold in his arms while sleeping, was actually a false promise.

"In my opinion, Brother Chen, your elder brother should have already guessed His Majesty's plan, but since he has not changed his mind, it means that he has accepted the result, so you don't need to worry too much."

"Although the matter of being granted the title of king may not come to pass, I dare to guarantee that once that person returns to the capital and pacifies the world, your Chen family will surely become one of the most glorious clans in our Great Wei!"

"I'll stop here. You should know that greed is insatiable. The rest is up to you, Brother Chen."

"I will send someone to Chang'an to contact His Majesty tomorrow. If all goes well, we should receive news of your brother within half a month."

Having persuaded him to this extent, Jia Yan felt he had done everything he could.

Moreover, he had said beforehand that it might be his own petty thinking.

After all, the edict was for the Chen family, and the decision on how to choose in the future was up to Chen Tan and Chen Tai themselves.

"Understood, Brother Jia, then I won't see you off. I'm afraid I need to calm down tonight."

Chen Tai nodded listlessly.

After retrieving the imperial edict from Jia Yan, he became completely distracted.

Before tonight, he had considered many possibilities.

Perhaps the gentry will join forces to exterminate the Chen family, or perhaps when the elder brother returns, he will only see the Chen family's grave.

During this period, he deliberately reduced his presence in order to avoid attracting attention and to lie low until His Majesty and his brother returned to the capital.

At that time, His Majesty will be reinstated, his elder brother will be granted the title of King, and he and the Chen family will rise to prominence.

But no one expected that the edict bestowing the title of king would be fake.

Or rather, His Majesty was not sincere in wanting to grant the Chen family the title of king.

Is it possible that all this time and risk has been for nothing?

Jia Yan just said that his elder brother had already guessed His Majesty's intentions, so why would he still follow him loyally?

Was Jia Yan wrong, or was there another reason in his brother's mind?

Chen Tan had never felt so lost as he did today.

Even on the day his elder brother fled with the emperor in the dead of night, he felt only fear, not confusion.

……

"Chen Tai, you must have guessed it, right? The hint I gave you."

In Chang'an, Liu Bang, for reasons unknown, suddenly had the urge to summon Chen Tai.

When the two met, Chen Tai had not yet had a chance to greet them when he heard these words.

Upon hearing this, he was taken aback for a moment, and then he smiled.

"Your Majesty, what hints are you referring to? Isn't everything explicitly stated?"

"When His Majesty casually promised this matter to Gao Rou, Wang Xiang, and others, wasn't it already destined that no one would be granted the title of king in the future?"

"Even the Chen family cannot open this door, otherwise they will not be able to silence public opinion."

"I am just old, not senile, and I will not think about things I shouldn't think about."

"I stand here now only to serve Your Majesty and the Great Wei, and I ask for nothing else!"