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

In the following months, the winds in Luoyang quietly shifted.

Everyone says the new prince is capable and is favored by His Majesty. Everyone is speculating when His Majesty will establish an heir apparent.

Meanwhile, at Yong'an Palace, because all her food and medicine were properly documented, Consort Wang was well taken care of every day, and Empress He's reputation for kindness and benevolence gradually spread. The former "daughter of Butcher He" also disappeared without a trace.

In the Zhangde Hall, Emperor Ling of Han summoned Liu Bian more and more frequently.

He stopped asking only "What scriptures did you memorize?" and began to ask:

"What people are saying," "How to view the Xianbei," "How should the victims of the Jiuquan earthquake be resettled," and so on.

The clerk whom Guo Sheng sent to the secretariat also observed and remembered all of this. His daily reports to Guo Sheng were divided into what should be said and what should not be said.

Yong'an Palace.

It was late at night, but the lights were on, and the sounds of footsteps, curtains being lifted, and the soft clinking of brass plates could be heard constantly.

Looking inside, palace servants were moving back and forth, carrying hot water, medicine, and clean cloths. There was no joy on their faces, only seriousness.

If anything goes wrong at this time, you could lose your head.

The news quickly reached the Zhangde Hall. Emperor Ling of Han stood up from his desk and walked away without even fastening his outer robe.

Zhang Rang followed closely behind, whispering as he walked:

"Your Majesty, please do not worry. The Imperial Medical Bureau and midwives are here, and the pulse is still stable."

Emperor Ling of Han hummed in agreement and continued walking at a brisk pace.

Inside Chang Le Palace.

"Your Majesty, what's happening at Yong'an Palace..."

"Is the day approaching?"

Before Chunjuan could finish speaking, Empress He interrupted her.

She had already calculated the date; it would be in the next few days.

"Where is Bian'er?"

Before Chunjuan could reply, Empress He stood up and said:

"Take him with you."

She was going to take Liu Bian to his position.

When Liu Bian was led by the hand to Yong'an Palace, there were already many people standing in front of the palace gate.

Everyone is waiting, waiting for the cry from inside to fall to the ground, and waiting to see who will speak first and who will reach out first.

Liu Bian saw Emperor Ling of Han pacing in the corridor, his face slightly pale; Zhang Rang stood to one side, head down, saying nothing.

"A messenger from the Northern Palace—Empress Dowager Dong has sent a eunuch to inquire about the imperial heir and wish to personally bestow blessings."

At this moment, Emperor Ling of Han had only the sound of weeping in the room on his mind, and waved his hand, saying:

"No rush, let's wait."

The eunuch outside the door did not retreat, but instead bowed and said:

"The Empress Dowager is worried about the imperial heir and fears that Consort Wang will be overworked, so she wishes to take the young prince to the North Palace to recuperate."

A cold glint flashed in Empress He's eyes.

Empress Dowager Dong acted too quickly.

She doesn't manage the inner palace, yet she wields more power than anyone else. If a prince were added to the mix—it would be hard to say who would be the heir to the throne.

Suddenly, a clear cry broke the silence from the inner palace.

"It's born! It's born!"

The midwife rushed out carrying the swaddled baby, knelt down, and cried out:

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! May the Prince be well!"

Emperor Ling of Han hurriedly stepped forward, took the swaddled baby into his arms, his hands trembling slightly: "Good, good!"

A chorus of congratulations immediately filled the hall.

Amidst the congratulations, the eunuch was about to speak again.

Liu Bian stepped forward first and spoke:

"Your son congratulates Your Majesty on the birth of a son, ensuring the continuation of the ancestr

After he finished speaking, he turned to Lady Wang on the couch and added politely:

"I also congratulate Consort Wang on her hard work and hope she is safe and sound."

Emperor Ling of Han looked at Liu Bian, smiled, and asked as if casually:

"Bian'er, you have a younger brother now. Aren't you happy?"

The hall fell silent instantly.

Zhang Rang is watching.

Empress Dowager Dong's people are watching.

Consort Wang was also watching, but a trace of fear could not be hidden in her eyes: Liu Bian had been back in the palace for less than a year and had already received the emperor's favor. His words, to a certain extent, determined the fate of her child.

Liu Bian knew in his heart that this was yet another test.

He was put to the test to choose between power and kinship.

Without much thought, he raised his head, looked at Emperor Ling of Han, and said:

"This is my father's child, and also my younger brother, so of course I am happy for him."

He paused, then, as if remembering something, added earnestly:

"I also hope that if my younger brother falls while learning to walk, I can help him up; and if someone bullies him, I can protect him."

"Because the Emperor's children cannot be bullied."

This statement sounds childish, but it had a different meaning to Emperor Ling of Han.

He was neither jealous nor disorderly. He could protect his own family as well as the larger family. More importantly, he always put "the Emperor's children" at the forefront.

A smile flickered in Emperor Ling's eyes: "Good!"

He looked at the swaddled baby in his arms, and once he did, he couldn't look away:

"picture."

Emperor Ling of Han smiled more and more as he looked at them: "His eyebrows, his expression... they are just like mine."

He straightened up, flicked his sleeve, and spoke in a tone that was not harsh, yet carried an undeniable authority:

"This child's name is Xie."

"He agrees with me. From now on, the Imperial Medical Bureau shall carefully protect him and prevent any loss."

The officials in charge of ceremonies and the eunuchs all prostrated themselves and offered their congratulations: "Congratulations on Your Majesty's bestowal of this name."

Consort Wang's eyes reddened, and she tried to get up, but the imperial physician quickly pressed her down. She could only lean on the table and choke out:

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Emperor Ling of Han glanced at her sideways, his expression unusually gentle:

"Take good care of him; you'll need to look after Xie'er in the future."

Then, his gaze turned to the eunuch outside the hall:

"Xie'er is still young and should be raised by his birth mother. I will remember Empress Dowager Dong's kindness."

The eunuchs still wanted to compete for a share, but Emperor Ling of Han spoke calmly:

"Does my word no longer carry any weight?"

Upon hearing this, the eunuch immediately knelt down, prostrated himself on the ground, and his voice trembled:

"It is entirely up to Your Majesty to decide."

Liu Bian breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu Xie was born, Consort Wang was safe and sound, and Empress Dowager Dong did not win custody.

We've passed this hurdle.

In the days that followed, Prince Xie was born, and the whole country celebrated.

Strangely, Emperor Ling of Han did not reduce his affection for Liu Bian; on the contrary, he summoned him even more frequently.

Sometimes it was in Zhangde Hall, sometimes in Wenshi Hall, and sometimes they would simply be invited to take a walk together in the corridor.

The wind direction became clearer and clearer, and the news gradually spread throughout Luoyang.

"The prince is virtuous and capable; the position of crown prince is surely his."

"A son should be like a prince."

Similar words spread throughout Luoyang.

Zhang Rang understood it even better.

He disliked Empress He and those relatives of the empress, but he knew that if he didn't take action, the next emperor would purge him as soon as he took office.

He has to place a bet.

On this day, Emperor Ling of Han was reviewing memorials. He looked at one of the memorials and his brows furrowed as if they were knotted together.

Suddenly, he seemed to see something that made him extremely angry, and he slammed the memorial in his hand to the ground.

"What a fine example of a national foundation!" he sneered. "My family affairs have become their gossip."

Zhang Rang hurriedly brought over tea, his eyes quickly glancing at the memorial lying scattered on the ground:

...The Crown Prince has not yet been established, and his status is still up for debate...The students of the Imperial Academy gathered at night beneath the palace gates to discuss the "foundation of the state"...

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Zhang Rang placed the tea on the table and said in a low voice, "This man is using the matter of the national foundation as a pretext; he must have something to gain."

Emperor Ling of Han raised an eyelid: "Hmm?"

Zhang Rang took a step back, lowered his head, and his gaze fell on the memorial, but he immediately looked away:

"This servant dares not presume to discuss state affairs."

"Speak, I grant your permission."

Upon seeing this, Zhang Rang devised a plan.

"Your Majesty, I only request that you issue an imperial edict: those in the capital who speak recklessly about the palace are all spreading false rumors. If the students of the Imperial Academy gather again, the Sili (the Censorate) shall disperse them in accordance with the law."

Emperor Ling of Han curled his lip in disdain: "Do I need to tell you this? It's impossible to stop it."

Zhang Rang remained calm and instead continued the conversation, focusing on the matter he couldn't help:

"Nature cannot withstand it for a lifetime."

"Rumors spread because people are in suspense. When people are in suspense, they are easily provoked."

"To stop false rumors, punishment alone is not enough. Punishment can only silence the voice, not the mind."

He paused, seemingly considering whether he should continue.

Emperor Ling of Han waved his hand impatiently:

"Speak your mind, don't keep us in suspense."

Zhang Rang knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "The only way to quell people's anger is through propriety."

"Once the rites are established and the proper titles are set, all dissent will naturally be silenced."

"If Your Majesty wishes to rectify names with propriety, then one thing must be determined first: who is the foundation of the world?"

Silence fell over the hall.

Emperor Ling of Han remained silent for a moment, then asked in return:

"Then who do you think is worthy of the position?"

Zhang Rang said, "Since ancient times, it has been the norm to establish the eldest son as heir."

He then added, "Your Majesty is wise and I believe you have already made up your mind."

Emperor Ling of Han looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Very well, then I will grant your wish."

He raised his hand and gently tapped the table:

"Summon the Grand Master of Ceremonies, the Grand Master of the Palace, and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat—tomorrow's court assembly will discuss the heir apparent."

Zhang Rang lay prone on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles, but a slight smile played on his lips when no one was around.

Emperor Ling of Han did not mention establishing Prince Bian as his successor.

However, he knew that the most suitable candidate had already been chosen for the position of crown prince.

Most importantly, this crown prince already owes him a favor.