The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

The sun is shining brightly.

Inside Liu Chen's small palace.

The eunuchs and palace maids were all beaming with joy. Since Liu Chen had been enfeoffed as a king, they too wanted to share in the glory and were to leave the palace to live outside.

Not only Liu Chen complained that the residence was too cramped, but so did they.

Moreover, there were many rules in the palace. These eunuchs and palace maids who served the princes were under the control of many superiors.

Leaving the palace is like a fish entering the sea or a bird soaring into the blue sky.

Inside the main hall.

Liu Chen spread his arms, allowing the palace maids and eunuchs to help him change his clothes.

Consort Li, standing to the side, couldn't stop smiling. She wanted to come up and help, but she couldn't do much.

Palace maids and eunuchs kept dressing Liu Chen in clothes and accessories, putting on a crown and shoes.

Han Dynasty.

The emperor wore a twelve-tassel crown, which consisted of twelve strings of beads.

The princes and kings wore nine-tasseled crowns.

When traveling, they would ride in golden carts, and the procession would include carts for thieves, carts for axes, and carts for drums.

The riders carried halberds, and Wu Bo held a whip to clear the way.

The procession was very grand.

They enjoyed the same treatment as a monarch, but without real power.

After the eunuchs and palace maids had finished serving her, the prince of the North came into Li Guiren's view.

Consort Li burst into tears and almost couldn't resist rushing forward to embrace the prince and shower him with affection.

"Waaah." Consort Li took out an embroidered handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears.

Liu Chen smiled and said, "Today is a joyous occasion, why is Mother shedding tears?"

Consort Li nodded, stopped crying, and smiled.

Liu Chen placed his left hand on his sword, while his right hand hung naturally, concealed within his sleeve. He slightly turned his neck, trying to remain still.

The so-called "mianliu" was a special crown created to regulate the appearance of monarchs and feudal lords.

Whether the king walks or sits, as long as the crown and tassels in front of him remain still, that is considered a good appearance.

If the king walks or sits with his crown swaying wildly, what kind of decorum is that? His ministers will surely criticize him.

A eunuch entered, bowed, and said, "Young master, Mi Huqi has come to offer his congratulations."

Consort Li immediately left the main hall through a side door.

Seeing that his mother had left on her own, Liu Chen said to the eunuch, "Please come in."

"Yes," the eunuch bowed and replied.

Liu Chen knelt down, his demeanor befitting a king.

Mi Zhao walked in wearing socks. After seeing Liu Chen's appearance, he took a deep breath, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

The day finally arrived. He was happy for Liu Chen, but also felt sad.

From then on, the king became a bulwark, and I could no longer associate with him.

"No need for formalities, please sit down," Liu Chen said with a smile.

"Thank you for offering me a seat, Your Highness." Mi Zhao bowed and sat down to the side. His posture was upright and extremely elegant.

The two talked for a while. Liu Chen brought up the old matter again, smiling, and said, "Zhao, you really aren't coming to see me?"

Mi Zhao shook his head.

Liu Chen smiled, narrowing his eyes, and didn't mention the matter again.

After a while, a physician arrived with an imperial edict, summoning Liu Chen to the court.

As Mi Zhao knelt, he turned to face the gate and bowed respectfully.

Liu Chen nodded, stood up, and walked towards the main entrance with his hand on his sword. His lower body moved, while his upper body remained as still as possible to maintain his composure.

The imperial carriage is right outside the main hall.

Liu Chen stepped onto a small stool, boarded the carriage, and followed the angel's chariot to the outside of the palace hall.

Liu Xun and Liu Qian were with him.

After the three brothers met, they greeted each other but did not speak.

Liu Xun and Liu Qian could not hide their joy.

The three brothers alighted from the carriage and waited for a while. Then, amidst the eunuch's shrill voice, they drew their swords and ascended the west steps into the main hall.

Inside the main hall.

The emperor sat in the northern seat of honor, while the ministers sat facing north.

The Crown Prince and other members of the imperial family were ranked higher.

The ranks of ministers were headed by General Jiang Wei.

All the ministers knelt upright, their eyes fixed straight ahead. Only Liu Zan, the Prince of Xinping, turned his head and smiled at Liu Chen.

Liu Chen saw it and nodded in response.

The three kings first went to the former emperor.

The emperor ordered his ministers to read the imperial edict.

The minister, holding the imperial edict, said: "I have inherited the throne of the Han Dynasty and continue to safeguard the ancestral temple. I have been diligent and conscientious day and night, striving to promote the virtuous legacy of my late emperor. My late Emperor Gaozu established a great foundation by enfeoffing his sons and brothers to protect the state and ensure its perpetual stability... I hereby command you, the King of Beidi... to proclaim this throughout the land, so that all may know."

After reading the lengthy edict, Liu Chen thanked the emperor according to protocol.

The emperor nodded slightly.

The eunuch then handed another imperial edict to the minister.

Liu Xun and Liu Qian received the imperial edict one after the other.

After the imperial edict was issued, an official in charge of ceremonies presented the imperial seal.

The three Liu brothers received the official seal.

Liu Chen, King of the North.

Liu Xun, the Prince of Xinxing.

Liu Qian, King of Shangdang.

The emperor's enfeoffment of his sons as vassals was a joyous occasion for the Han dynasty. However, General Jiang Wei and the civil and military officials, though seated solemnly, showed no sign of joy.

Many people even showed signs of worry. Prince Chen had already been arrogant and domineering while he was in the palace.

After leaving the palace, wouldn't they become lawless?

Jiang Wei glanced at Liu Chen, recalling the scene of their encounter yesterday, and sighed inwardly.

After receiving the seals of office, Liu Chen and the other two kings immediately bid farewell to the emperor and left the main hall.

They descended the western steps as before.

By this time, the carriage they had used to arrive had been replaced with a golden carriage.

The three brothers each got into their carriages. Once the king was settled, the driver immediately drove away from the palace.

Upon exiting the palace gates, a large procession of attendants, drummers, mounted guards, and officials gathered.

The officials of the King of the North escorted Liu Chen's golden carriage as it headed north.

The prince was a powerful and influential figure. Although Chengdu was bustling with activity wherever he went, the crowds and carriages seemed to part like waves to let the prince go first.

"Today the emperor has established three kingdoms, and this is Prince Chen."

"Truly the grandson of Zhaolie, what a magnificent presence!"

"But Young Master Chen is stingy and greedy..."

Among these people were many scholars who rode in imperial carriages. They all praised Liu Chen's appearance, but when they remembered that Liu Chen was greedy for money, they all shook their heads.

The procession marched out of the north gate of Chengdu in a grand procession and arrived at Liu Chen's kingdom along the main road.

That is, the manor.

"It is the king."

"It is Your Majesty."

Because Liu Chen prevented the Meng households from being split up and sold, the Meng households were extremely grateful to Liu Chen. When they saw King Liu Chen, they immediately put down their farming work and knelt down to greet him with great courtesy.

"Your Majesty!!!!"

Liu Chen sat upright, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

The procession stopped in front of the palace, where officials came out to greet them. Liu Chen rode into the palace in his carriage, disembarked in front of the main hall, and led his entourage into the hall to take their seats.

Once Liu Chen was seated, the officials paid homage and addressed him as "Your Majesty".

Liu Chen said, "I have received the Emperor's decree to uphold the legacy of Emperor Gaozu and to fulfill my duty as a vassal state..."

After he gave his remarks, Liu Chen was given wine and food.

After the meal was finished, Liu Chen ordered all the officials to leave. He then rose and led his attendants to sit down in the rear hall.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Chen said to the eunuch, "Send men to appoint Yang Yong, a former official under the Prime Minister, as the new Prime Minister. Also appoint Zhang Sheng as the Commandant."

The faces of the three heartbroken old men in the tavern that day flashed through Liu Chen's mind.

In addition to giving him this estate, Liu Shan also provided him with a salary of five thousand shi (a unit of grain). He allowed him to appoint his own officials and have a guard of no more than six hundred men.

In feudal kingdoms, the prime minister was the highest administrative official.

Lieutenant is the highest-ranking military officer.

Zhang Sheng was a military general he discovered himself.

Yang Yong was a former official of Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, and this was an important legacy that he should inherit.