Volume 1: Kyoto Winds Chapter 8: Continued Brothers in Weiyang Palace

  Under the leadership of Xiao Huangmen, Madam Liu Yan and her entourage arrived at Weiyang Palace. In fact, the imperial palace of the Han Dynasty was not as particular as that of later dynasties. Whether it was Weiyang Palace or Jianzhang Palace, they were all places where the emperor lived and worked daily, and only Changle Palace and Gui Palace were where the empresses and concubines lived. Of course, a palace included many rooms, such as Weiyang Palace, which included Xuan Shi, Qilin, Jinhua, Chengming, Wutai, Diao Yi, and other halls, with 32 temples, including Shoucheng, Wansui, Guangming, Jiangfang, Qingliang, Wenshi, Yongyan, Yutang, Shou'an, Pingjiu, Xuande, Dongming, Feiyu, Fenghuang, Tongguang, Qutai, and Baihu. There were also Tianlu Pavilion, Zhuque Hall, Huatang, Jiaoguan, and other buildings. The place where the Han emperor held court meetings and received his ministers was generally in Weiyang Palace, but which hall it was depended on the emperor's mood!

  Entering the main hall of Weiyang Palace, it was Xuan Shi. Liu Zhang saw his father chatting with a young man, who was about 17 or 18 years old, wearing black clothes and a crown on his head. Without asking, this must be the current Emperor Liu Hong! Of course, he is also Han Lingdi. However, he is not called Han Lingdi now, because Lingdi is Liu Hong's posthumous title, given by the next emperor after his death! If he were to be called Han Lingdi now, it would probably get Liu Zhang dragged out and executed!

  When meeting the emperor, of course, you have to pay homage. This ceremony is not a kneeling ceremony. What three kneels and nine knocks are generally used for sacrifices or court meetings, even if it's just common people seeing the emperor, they only need to kneel down and lower their heads. It's just that Han Dynasty people all sat on their knees, so when paying homage, it looked a bit like kowtowing. Actually, in the Han Dynasty, it was called "顿首" (ton shou), which is taken from a seated posture!

  After finishing the ceremony, Liu Zhang raised his head and began to study the emperor. If this were done during the Ming or Qing dynasties, it would be extremely rude and even punishable by beheading. However, in the Han dynasty, there was no such strict etiquette. Ministers could make eye contact with the emperor, but commoners could not! Even children of high-ranking officials would tremble with fear when seeing the emperor for the first time. Never had a child like Liu Zhang dared to stare at the emperor.

  Liu Hong was only seventeen or eighteen years old, and when he saw Ji Yu staring at him with his eyes rolling around, he couldn't help but tease: "Aren't you afraid of me?"

  Afraid! He is an emperor after all, and we must give him face. Otherwise, before Liu Hong's fart, Liu Zhang would be finished!

  "I have also seen children from other families, they see me and most of them start sweating. I ask them why, and they all say that seeing me makes them feel terrified, so they sweat profusely!" Liu Hong laughed: "Why are you afraid too, but not sweating?"

  Liu Zhang secretly laughed to himself. From his past life, he was almost middle-aged now. If he were afraid of a 17 or 18-year-old youth, what would he be doing? It's easy for him to pretend to be afraid, but it's harder than making Liu Bei cry to make him sweat with fear! Although he wasn't afraid in his heart, he still had to put on a show. Liu Zhang pretended to tremble and said: "I'm so scared, I don't dare to break a sweat!"

  "Imperial uncle, this little one is a must-have!" Liu Hong laughed loudly and said: "What's your name, how old are you this year?"

  "The little boy's surname is Liu, his name is Zhang, and his courtesy name is Jiyu, he is five years old this year!"

  Liu Hong was even more delighted, and at the age of five, he already had such audacity. If he was properly trained, he would surely become a hero. Although many members of the imperial family during the Han dynasty had rebelled, the emperor still believed that the imperial family was the most reliable. After all, even if they succeeded in their rebellion, this world would still be under the rule of the House of Liu, and the emperor would still be surnamed Liu! Take Liu Hong and Liu Zhi for example - originally, they were just members of the imperial family, but due to a combination of circumstances, they ended up becoming emperors!

  "You're a good kid!" Liu Hong thought of a practical question and asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

  "Of course, I want to be an emperor!" Liu Zhang immediately replied in his heart, but he only dared to think about it and didn't dare say it out loud. Otherwise, today wouldn't be the Emperor's treat for dinner, but rather him waiting to be imprisoned and executed! After some thought, Liu Zhang said: "Your Majesty, when I grow up, I want to be like Huo Qubing, expanding the territory of the great Han Dynasty and driving out foreign tribes!"

  "Good!" Liu Hong was really delighted! To know, he also only had the age of seventeen or eighteen, yearning for the golden armor and iron horse's majestic years. Of course, this is after eating well. In those years, Liu Hong hadn't entered the palace yet and was poor and destitute, it was already good to have a hot meal! If not for being afraid of poverty since childhood, he wouldn't have worked hard to make money! Liu Hong looked at Liu Zhang with satisfaction: "Since you want to be Huo Qubing, I'll leave the Duke of Guangping for you!"

  "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Liu Zhang didn't show any courtesy at all, as if he was already the Duke of Champion! It's worth noting that the title of Duke of Champion wasn't particularly noble in the Han Dynasty, but it represented great significance - the crown of the Great Han. Not only did it symbolize bravery and military prowess, but also the emperor's trusted confidant and right-hand man!

  Watching his youngest son and the Emperor conversing fluently, Liu Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. Looking at his other three sons, the eldest and second sons were fine, appearing very calm, after all they were already grown men. But Liu Yan's third son was exactly as Liu Hong had said earlier, trembling with fear, sweating profusely. And Liu Yan's three sons were also shocked to see Liu Zhang and the Emperor conversing, because just over a dozen days ago, Liu Zhang was still being ridiculed by people as a deaf and mute fool!

  "Your Majesty, the banquet is ready!" A small eunuch came in and said: "The Empress asks Your Majesty to move to Ganquan Palace!"

  The empress should have lived in the Changle Palace, but due to the experience of Empress Chen Ajiao during the Han Wu Emperor period, the Changle Palace seemed like a cold palace, and almost all the concubines living inside were not favored by the emperor. The empress then moved to the Gui Palace. The Ganquan Palace was second only to the Weiyang Palace in terms of grandeur, it was where the emperor would go to escape the heat and relax, some important political activities also took place there. Now, hosting a banquet for Liu Yan, this imperial uncle, at the Ganquan Palace is most appropriate!

  "Rumble!" Hearing the sound of eating, Liu Zhang's stomach let out a rather unmanly growl. He usually ate three meals a day, but now it was almost time for afternoon tea and he was starving. Liu Zhang rubbed his head somewhat embarrassed and said: "I was just about to have dinner with my mother when Your Majesty summoned me, and now I'm quite hungry!"

  "Since the imperial brother is hungry, let's go to Ganquan Palace!" Liu Hong originally liked Liu Zhang very much, and now seeing him so simple and innocent made him even more fond of him. However, Liu Hong was somewhat dissatisfied with Liu Zhang's self-proclaimed title, saying: "Zhang'er is the son of the imperial uncle, that is, my brother, from now on you should call yourself 'ministerial younger brother'!"

  "Yes! I understand!" Liu Zhang bowed his head and said: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

  Liu Hong nodded in great satisfaction upon hearing this, and Liu Yan and Liu Zhang's three older brothers were moved! It must be known that Liu Yan being called the Imperial Uncle was not just a blood relationship, but also included his achievements and Cao Jie's contributions. To say nothing of Liu Zhang's other three older brothers, they did not dare to call themselves younger brothers, let alone address Liu Hong as Imperial Older Brother. Being the same Han imperial relatives, the form of address could reflect their closeness or distance. Liu Zhang calling out "Imperial Older Brother" meant that even if he was incompetent in the future and had no achievements, he would still enjoy wealth and honor for a lifetime; if he had some ability and did not rebel, even if he couldn't be enfeoffed as a king, he could still easily become a duke! Of course, this was under the condition that the emperor remained unchanged.