Volume 1: Kyoto Winds and Clouds Chapter 54: Imperial Palace Banquet Liu Zhang Takes a Stand

  Liu Zhang's question made Liu Hong extremely embarrassed. Although Wang Mei Ren is also considered Liu Zhang's imperial sister-in-law, she is just a beauty! In an ordinary family, she is just a concubine, no different from pigs and dogs, the "imperial sister-in-law" in Liu Zhang's mouth can only be He Ling Si, unless Liu Hong makes Wang Mei Ren legitimate. Unfortunately, Liu Hong did want to do so, but the civil and military officials would not agree, let alone Liu Zhang! Moreover, Liu Zhang knew that Wang Mei Ren had not yet threatened He Ling Si, otherwise she would already be a dead person!

  Liu Hong stared at Liu Zhang for a long time, then suddenly ordered Zhang Rang: "Go and bring Empress He and Bian'er here!"

  "Yes!" Zhang Rang knew that during this period, He Ling thought and Liu Hong had some estrangement. After investigation, it was because He Jin leaned towards the aristocratic families. Now that Liu Xiang entered Beijing, he ignored Wang Meiren, and Liu Hong didn't have any opinion on it. Zhang Rang suddenly understood that with Liu Xiang's support, He Ling would turn over a new leaf. Unless Liu Xiang is also like He Jin, stupidly leaning towards the aristocratic families. Unfortunately, this will never be possible!

  Liu Zhang saw Liu Hong's reaction and understood that he had gambled correctly. He smiled and said: "Imperial brother, you also know that I was very close to the empress since childhood. Now that I've finally returned this time, you actually want me to say it before inviting the empress over, which really hurts my heart!"

  Liu Hong stood up with his wine cup and said: "Whether it's mine or not, come on, I'll toast you a glass, and make amends!"

  "Slow down! Slow down!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Imperial brother, if you want to toast me a cup, I won't refuse. After all, I made our imperial family's reputation in Youzhou. If you say apologize, I dare not accept it. Not to mention that you are the emperor, even if you were my elder brother, I couldn't accept your apology!"

  Liu Hong laughed and said: "Then I'll toast you a cup, hoping that you young man will win a few more victories for me!"

  Liu Zhang said in a serious tone: "Whenever the Emperor has an order, and the Great Han is in a time of chaos, I, as a minister, should not shirk from my duty!"

  "Good! This is indeed a good son of the Liu family!" Liu Hong said with joy: "Imperial brother, I have something to discuss with you!"

  "Brother, if you have something to say, just give the order, why bother discussing it?" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "When I was training soldiers, I once said that a soldier's first priority is to unconditionally obey orders. Brother's orders, I naturally obey without condition!"

  "It's not that serious!" Liu Hong smiled and said: "I just want you to stay in Luoyang to help me train the troops! The useless people in the Imperial Guard can't even form a fighting force with the Feathered Forest Army. I want to appoint you as the Five Officials Middle General, responsible for training the Feathered Forest Army, what do you think?"

  Liu Zhang smiled and said, "The Imperial Guard is the Emperor's personal bodyguard. The Emperor is giving me face! How can I not comply? However, I am worried that the aristocratic families will cause trouble. Your Majesty also knows that currently, most of the officers in the Imperial Guard are from aristocratic families. If you want me to train an elite army, these people will definitely be a problem!"

  "These people are no good at fighting, but they're experts at stirring up trouble!" Liu Hong hesitated for a moment before saying; "Go ahead and do it, I'll back you up on everything!"

  "My brother has been waiting for these words!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "As long as the emperor supports me, I will be at ease!"

  "What arrangements do you plan to make?"

  "Brother, I'm planning to send Huang Zhong with his father to Youzhou. After all, there's no great general defending Youzhou, and if the Wuhuan come seeking revenge, it'll be troublesome!" Liu Zhang smiled: "As for me, with Zhang Ren, Huang Xu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Shi Alang assisting me, commanding over 10,000 elite soldiers, that's just a small matter."

  "Really?" Liu Hong still didn't quite believe it, although Liu Zhang had won against the Wuhuan, but in Liu Hong's heart, Huang Zhong and Yan Yan's merits were probably greater. To know that Liu Zhang was only thirteen or fourteen years old. If it was said that a great Han general like Huo Qubing had emerged, Liu Hong could accept it. But if four or five Huo Qubings had emerged, wouldn't the emperors of past dynasties have been blind? However, what Liu Hong didn't know was that Huang Zhong's merits in defeating the Wuhuan were not small, but Yan Yan had nothing to do with it!

  Facts speak louder than words. Liu Zhang shook his head and smiled, "Imperial brother, no matter how much you say, it's not as good as actual results. Let's wait and see!" Liu Zhang was so confident that Liu Hong wouldn't pour cold water on him. Besides, Liu Hong really hoped Liu Zhang would succeed, after all, in Liu Hong's heart, Liu Zhang was his trusted aide.

  Just as Liu Hong and Liu Zhang were studying the issue of going or staying, He Lingsi arrived at Xuan Shi under the leadership of Zhang Rang. In He Lingsi's hand, a five- or six-year-old doll was still being held. The empress came, and everyone naturally got up to pay their respects. When He Lingsi saw Liu Zhang, her eyes lit up and said: "The Crown Prince of our dynasty has returned?"

  "I've seen the Empress!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "I just arrived in the capital today and was summoned by my imperial brother! I didn't see the Empress, so I took the liberty of asking."

  "Now you're the only one who still remembers me!" He Ling thought with a hint of resentment, looking at Liu Hong, whose scalp suddenly felt numb.

  Liu Zhang couldn't bear to see Liu Hong in a difficult situation, and he also knew that men's preference for novelty was very common. As the emperor's woman, one had to endure loneliness. Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Imperial sister is joking! How could imperial brother not miss you? Imperial sister, that little child by your side, isn't that my imperial nephew?"

  "Little brother, are you still going to pay respects to the emperor's uncle?" He Ling thought that Liu Zhang couldn't say anything wrong about the emperor, and very cleverly changed the subject. However, this put Little Liu Bian in a difficult position.

  Liu Bian was born timid and rarely saw so many outsiders, he had already hidden behind He Lingsi. Now being pulled out by He Lingsi to pay respects, Little Liu trembled with fear, stuttering as he bowed: "I... I greet... Imperial Uncle!"

  "Empress, oh! My nephew's courage is not up to par. We Liu family must stand tall and proud!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "It's just as well that the Emperor wants me to stay in the capital, so I can spend more time with my little nephew. When I was five years old, I was already reckless and daring!"

  "That's natural, if the Emperor Uncle stays in Luoyang, Ben'er will naturally be closer to you!" He Ling thought was very clever, she immediately understood Liu Zhang's intention, her beautiful big eyes kept shining on the side, almost catching up with the flashlight!

  "Shua, Huang Xu! Go get the gift I prepared for my little imperial nephew!" Since he wanted to support He Lingsi, he had to put pressure on Liu Hong. To be honest, Liu Zhang didn't have a good impression of Wang Meiren. In his opinion, He Lingsi was clever but not the kind of person who would kill someone over jealousy. Palace struggles were always dark, and Liu Zhang naturally chose the beneficial side. Familiar with history, he wouldn't choose Wang Meiren.

  Shi Ah and Huang Xu brought up a pile of things, many of which were looted by Liu Zhang from Wuhuan Mountain. Liu Bian had seen many good things in the palace, but those foreign objects were very rare. He looked at the toys in front of Liu Zhang, wanting to go over but also feeling a bit timid. He Ling thought: "Bian'er, that's your royal uncle, don't you hurry up and go over? If your royal uncle gets angry, he won't give it to you!"

  Liu Bian looked at his mother, then at Liu Zhang, and plucked up the courage to move step by step. Before he could even take anything, Liu Zhang had already pulled him into a hug. Originally very timid, Liu Bian should have cried, but unexpectedly he smiled sweetly at Liu Zhang and called out: "Imperial Uncle!"

  Liu Zhang was overjoyed, and he put down Liu Bian saying: "Alright! Everything there is yours, go play with it!" After finishing speaking, Liu Zhang used the corner of his eye to glance at Wang Mei Ren, only to see that her eyes were filled with malice as she looked at Liu Bian. In his heart, Liu Zhang secretly cursed: What a woman who doesn't know life or death!

  Liu Hong, who was sitting in the first place, had not spoken a word. Seeing Liu Bian and Liu Zhang being affectionate, he suddenly felt a bit sour in his heart. Indeed, in terms of age and background, Wang Meiren was far superior to He Lingsi, but if it came to beauty, they were not that different. For the sake of a beautiful woman, things had gotten to the point where his son was closer to others than to himself, Liu Hong decided that he would have to pay more attention to Liu Bian from now on.

  A palace feast ended with Liu Zhang and others being full of food and drink. If one were to say that there were other thoughts in their minds, it would only be Liu Hong and Wang Mei Ren. One felt neglected by his wife and children, the other thought it was time to take action against Liu Bian, while He Ling Si was carefree and relaxed.

  Back at the Zhongzheng Mansion, now renamed Liu Mansion, Liu Zhang's three elder brothers had been waiting at home. After paying their respects to Liu Yan and his wife, Liu Mao and Liu Yi smiled and said: "We thought that our eldest brother would inherit our father's title and be the first among us to be enfeoffed as a marquis, but unexpectedly our fourth brother was made Crown Prince at just thirteen years old. Now only the two of us have no titles!"

  "Second Brother, Third Brother wanting a noble title isn't easy?" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "In the future when I have merits, I'll try to bestow them on you two. Marquis is out of the question, but at least we can mix in a Viscount!"

  "Is this true? Can't you take a joke, Fourth Brother?" Liu Mao and Liu Dan's eyes sparkled as they stared at Liu Zhang without blinking.

  Liu Zhang smiled and said, "Of course it's true! As the saying goes: 'The fat water doesn't flow into someone else's field.' Now my merits are already great, if they get any greater, I'll be overshadowing the lord! Since you want to give the merits to others, I ask you brothers, who else is worthy of me giving them the merits? As for Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, as long as I achieve merit, can I not have them?"

  Not only did Liu Dan and Liu Mao laugh, but even Liu Yan laughed. As the saying goes: "Tigers are brothers in battle, fathers and sons on the battlefield!" If Liu Zhang can take care of his brother like this, then even if he dies, he will be able to close his eyes in peace.

  After sending Liu Zhen, Liu Mao and Liu Fan away, Liu Yan called Liu Zhang to the study room. He was quite puzzled by Liu Zhang's behavior in the palace today. In Liu Yan's view, even if Liu Zhang wanted to support Liu Bian and Empress He, there was no need for him to be at odds with Wang Meiren.

  Looking at Liu Yan's puzzled face, Liu Zhang suddenly smiled and said: "Father, in politics, you are much more experienced than me, but in reading people, you are not as good as me. Today, it is not that I want to be on bad terms with Wang Meiren, but rather I must get along well with Empress He! If I don't make my position clear, my status in the emperor's heart will drop a lot!"

  "What's the point of saying this?" Liu Yan was an old fox in politics, and his forte was being cautious and self-preserving. With his personality, he was more than enough to defend himself, but not enough to take the initiative. At this time, Liu Zhang needed to keep taking the initiative.

  Only then did Liu Zhan say, "Don't just look at how much the Emperor dotes on Wang Meiren, that's just a temporary infatuation. In reality, the Emperor is still a person who values emotions deeply. If I were to distance myself from Empress He because she has fallen out of favor, then the Emperor would worry that if he saw an advantage in it, I would forget even this sense of righteousness!"