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

Chapter 118 The Player

"The Yuan family?!"

As soon as those two words were uttered, the Chengde Hall fell silent.

Liu Bian did not speak again immediately, but slowly put down the military report in his hand, his fingertips still pressing on the seal, without moving it away.

The Yuan family.

If we only consider Dong Zhuo's victory, then these two words are a bit too far-fetched.

But once you put all these recent events on your desk and look back at them, you can't help but feel a heaviness in your heart.

On the day the Prince's mansion was moved, a sudden change occurred halfway through the journey. A barrage of arrows was fired by assassins, seemingly aimed at the Prince of Chenliu, but in reality, they were using the Prince of Chenliu's mansion to test the Crown Prince and probe the Chang Le Palace.

That time, the thread finally broke at the four words "former members of the Zhao family," a break that was too clever and too clean.

Later, the underworld re-emerged in the Prince of Chenliu's mansion, and the four characters "Wuwei" and "Dong Zhuo" were picked out from the interlayered paper, as if the wind from Liangzhou had blown into Luoyang first.

Then, the fire in the side courtyard burned not only confessions and living people, but also pushed Empress Dowager Dong, Liu Xie, and the Crown Prince into the Zhangde Hall.

The memorial to the emperor recommending Dong Zhuo arrived at the same opportune time.

If it's a little earlier, it might not be noticeable; if it's a little later, it won't be able to overshadow the achievements in Liangzhou.

If all of this is just a coincidence, then there are far too many "coincidences".

Cao Cao was the first to react, and his eyes gradually lit up.

"If it really involves the Yuan family—" he lowered his voice, "then it makes sense."

"What do you mean?" Xun Huo looked up at him.

"I understand why they're always one step ahead."

Cao Cao said, "When the Prince's Mansion was moved, they knew the way to the Chenliu Prince's Mansion; when the side courtyard caught fire, they knew how to spread the fire to the Zhangde Hall; now that Liangzhou has won, if Dong Zhuo had old ties with the high-ranking families in the court in his early years, then this letter of recommendation and these smooth sailing events did not come out of thin air."

He paused for a moment after saying this, and then took half a portion for himself.

"only--"

"But that's not enough," Liu Bian continued.

"We have no direct evidence pointing to Yuan."

Xun nodded.

"Your Highness is right."

"We cannot take the Yuan family's actions as a conclusion yet, but only as a direction."

"But once this direction is established, many previously scattered lines can be brought together for analysis."

Liu Bian looked up at the several scrolls piled on the table.

The register of the Prince's Mansion, the movement of former servants of Changle Palace, the testimonies of the first few who rushed to spread the word after the fire, and today's report of victory in Liangzhou.

He read through the pages one by one, and finally whispered, "Let's make the Yuan family the prime suspects for now."

"We're not just targeting Yuan Shao."

"It is to investigate whether they have any personal connections, secret correspondence, or old ties with Changle Palace, Chenliu Prince's Mansion, and Liangzhou recently."

Cao Cao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your subject will go and investigate the Prince's residence and the capital."

Xun Yu also said, "I have come to investigate the old connections within the court and the sources of the recommendations."

Liu Bian nodded.

"Don't alert anyone."

"What we need now is proof, not hype."

"If it really is them, they're in a tough spot right now and will only be more careful. We just need to dig out their least important secrets, one by one."

The lights in Chengde Hall stayed on very late that night.

The military reports on the table were changed three times, and the tea was refilled twice. The eunuchs on night duty outside dared not utter a sound.

As dawn broke outside the window, Cao Cao and Xun Yu each left with the copied lists and notes.

The new battle report from Liangzhou arrived half a month later.

It's still good news.

Dong Zhuo won again.

This time, the victory was even greater. Han Sui's troops were pursued to the border of Longxi, two colonels under Bian Zhang were dismissed, the unrest in several counties in the central part of Liangzhou was completely suppressed, and the supply lines were reopened.

In the Deyang Hall, the attendant finished reading the battle report, and it was even more lively than last time.

The weariness on Emperor Ling's face had mostly dissipated. He nodded repeatedly, ordered someone to bring the battle report to his desk, and read it again himself. After reading it, he put it down and said only one sentence: "Dong Zhongying has not disappointed me."

These seven words set the tone for the entire hall.

After that, no matter who stepped forward to speak, this underlying tone remained.

Liu Bian stood on the throne of the crown prince and read the battle report from beginning to end without making a sound.

He's not without something to say.

I talk too much, and I don't know which sentence to say first.

There were still three people inside the Chengde Hall.

The battle report was spread out on the table. Cao Cao read it from beginning to end, then lightly traced a few places with his fingernail before pushing it to Xun Yu: "Sir, take a look at these few places."

Xun took it, looked at it for a moment, and his brow twitched slightly.

Liu Bian, standing to the side, asked, "What do you all think?"

"6

Cao Cao spoke first: "There's a problem with this dispatch order."

"The imperial court ordered Dong Zhuo to divide his troops to guard a certain road pass to prevent the remaining forces from escaping. His military report was very brief, only stating that 'the rear guard has not yet arrived, so we will be delayed for a few days,' as if it were due to the treacherous road conditions."

"But if you look closely at the schedule, these 'several days' are clearly far too slow."

Xun Huo nodded, but pointed to another part of the battle report.

"And here too."

"It is written that the troops were stationed in separate camps to secure the various prefectures."

"Judging from the marching route, Dong Zhuo did not actually send out many troops. He kept the most capable and obedient troops firmly in his own hands."

"And the battle reports clearly detailed the number of victories, the number of surrenders, and the number of counties stabilized."

.

"But whenever there was a conflict with the imperial orders, a violation of the dispatch, or an act of acting first and reporting later, it was all dismissed with the excuse of 'military discretion'."

Xun paused for a moment before giving his evaluation.

"Dong Zhuo was not incapable of writing battle reports."

"He's incredibly good at writing battle reports."

Such people are more difficult to deal with than those who openly defy orders.

Because he has made contributions.

Moreover, its merits are growing ever greater.

Liu Bian finally spoke slowly: "He has begun to treat the border troops as his own personal pawn."

"We can't go any slower."

Xun looked at Liu Bian.

"What are Your Highness's plans?"

"I have to go to Chang Le Palace."

Xun looked up and immediately understood what he meant.

"Does Your Highness intend to ease tensions with the Empress Dowager first?"

"It's not just a wish, it's a necessity," Liu said. "She may not believe me now, but I have to let her know that I'm not the kind of person who only sticks his hands into the Chenliu Prince's Mansion."

Cao Cao frowned: "The Empress Dowager may not be willing to see me."

Liu Bian said calmly, "I have to go, even if I don't want to."

The first time I went there, the door wasn't even open.

The old nanny said through the door: "The Empress Dowager is unwell; please come another day."

On the second visit, after entering the gate, she waited in the side hall for an hour before the old nanny finally came out and said: "The Empress Dowager is tired."

On the third visit, it was drizzling. Liu Bian, accompanied by his eunuch, stood under the eaves with umbrellas for nearly two hours. The rain soaked the hem of his robe, and his legs were almost numb from standing.

The old nanny who was in charge of his studies stood at the door and said in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager said that if His Highness has only come to show filial piety, then he may go in."

Liu Bian didn't say much, he just straightened his cuffs and stepped inside.

The Chang Le Palace was warmly lit, yet quieter than before.

Empress Dowager Dong sat at the head of the table, and when she saw Liu Bian, she merely raised her eyes slightly.

"What brings you here, Your Highness?"

Liu Bian bowed as usual.

"It was my fault for frightening Grandmother earlier."

"I've come to pay my respects to my grandmother, and also to see Xie'er."

The hall fell silent for a moment after these words were spoken.

Empress Dowager Dong had expected him to begin by recounting the case, the fire, and how he had been framed, but to her surprise, his first words were an apology. Her eyes flickered slightly, but she maintained her cold voice, saying, "So the Crown Prince can speak such soft words now?"

"When it's time to speak, I will naturally speak." Liu Bian raised his head, his expression calm. "Regardless of who started the fire that day, Xie'er was killed in my care. It's not unjust for Grandmother to blame me."

Empress Dowager Dong tapped the table lightly with her fingers, and after a long while, she said calmly, "Didn't you want to see Xie'er? Go ahead."

In the side hall, Liu Xie was sitting on the couch looking at a thin picture book.

The wound on his forehead had scabbed over, leaving only a faint red mark. He was also much quieter than before, no longer hiding in Empress Dowager Dong's arms whenever he saw someone.

But that quietness wasn't all good; it seemed more like he had absorbed and remembered something over the past few days.

Upon seeing Liu Bian enter, he was taken aback at first, then slowly stood up.

"Brother Emperor."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was much more stable than it had been a few days ago.

Liu Bian walked over, first examining the wound on his forehead, before whispering, "Does it still hurt?"

Liu Xie shook his head.

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

At this point, he suddenly looked up at Liu Bian.

"Is Your Majesty still investigating that fire?"

Liu Bian looked at him, and his heart suddenly sank.

"check."

"But you don't need to worry about it."

Liu Xie pursed his lips, looked at him, and suddenly asked, "Then why do they all keep mentioning me?"

These words, like an extremely fine needle, pierced directly into Liu Bian's heart.

Because he suddenly realized exactly where his guilt lay these past few days.

He did manage to protect his frightened younger brother.

He made this younger brother, at a young age when he was still too young to understand, start to feel what others were doing to him.

Liu Bian did not answer immediately.

After a long while, he raised his hand and patted Liu Xie's shoulder, saying in a low voice, "Because someone wants to use you to cause trouble."

"Brother Xie, remember one thing."

"No matter what others say, you will always be the Emperor's younger brother."

Liu Xie stared at him blankly, then suddenly his eyes crinkled into a smile.

He stood up, patted Liu Xie's head again, and turned to walk out.

As he reached the door, Liu Xie's voice suddenly came from behind him, soft yet clear enough to reach his ears: "Brother, will you come to see me again next time?"

Liu Bian paused for a moment.

"Come."

When they came out of the side hall, Empress Dowager Dong was still sitting in the same place.

She glanced at Liu Bian, her tone slightly less warm than before.

"You saw him?"

"I saw him."

"Then let's go back," said Empress Dowager Dong. "Chang Le Palace is quiet and not suitable for frequent visits."

Liu Bian said nothing more, only bowed and withdrew.

Only after his footsteps had completely faded away did the expression on Empress Dowager Dong's face gradually fade, finally turning into a very complex and somber look.

She had seen everything that happened in the side hall.

They were kind and respectful to each other, spoke gently, and always knew how to maintain proper boundaries.

But precisely because of this, her heart sank even more.

Is this genuine, or just an act for her?

She couldn't tell for a moment.

She neither responded to Yuan Shao's request nor cut off the conversation. As for Liu Bian, she no longer completely blocked him from entering the house today.

One end is wind, the other is fire.

She wanted to hold on to Xie'er tighter, but the tighter she held on, the more she felt a strange sense of loss of control.

If Liu Bian's brotherly affection today is genuine, then what about all her previous reservations?

But if this crown prince was just an act for her to see, then he was even more terrifying than she had originally imagined.

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