"Summon the King of Wei to the palace? At a time like this?"
The Inner Attendants around looked at each other, their faces filled with hesitation, but they still dared not defy Liu Bang's command.
They immediately left the palace for the King of Wei's residence.
At this moment, both Liu Ying and Lü Zhi, as well as Liu Ruyi and Consort Qi, had received the news that Liu Bang was nearing his end, and they all headed towards Weiyang Palace.
The residence of Liu Ying and Lü Zhi was where the Empress and Crown Prince resided, naturally closer to Weiyang Palace, and thus they arrived before Liu Bang faster than Liu Ruyi and Consort Qi.
"Your Majesty—"
A rare look of bitterness and sorrow appeared in Lü Zhi's eyes; such expressions had become exceedingly rare for her over the years.
She glared fiercely around her: "Where is the Tai Yi Ling?!"
"Quickly summon them! If they cannot cure His Majesty, I will execute their entire clan!"
Such fierce words naturally made the surrounding Inner Attendants fearful, but they dared not say anything, as it was the Emperor who had just ordered the Tai Yi Lings to flee for their lives.
Liu Bang smiled as he looked at Lü Zhi: "You, how many years has it been since you showed such an expression?"
He whispered: "I know my own body well. The Red Emperor gave me my destiny and time, allowing me to experience the hardships of the world, then overthrowing the Qin dynasty, establishing the second imperial dynasty, and becoming the third Emperor."
"I came down to achieve great deeds and enjoy prosperity. A few days ago, I dreamt that the Red Emperor told me in my dream that my mission was complete and wished for me to return to heaven."
"This is the destiny of Heaven, what does it have to do with those Tai Yi Lings?"
"No matter how skilled their medicine, they cannot change the destiny set by Heaven, so I have already let them flee for their lives!"
Liu Bang said humorously: "Now I should return to heaven to enjoy peace, and you should be happy!"
Lü Zhi knelt before the bed, listening to Liu Bang's carefree words, yet her heart was filled with pain and helplessness.
As Liu Bang's wife for many years, how could she not know that the so-called "Son of the Red Emperor" was merely a story to deceive the Qian Shou?
But now she also understood that Liu Bang did not want her to be too sad.
Immediately, she feigned being deceived by Liu Bang, her face breaking into a tearful smile, but the sorrow in her eyes was as heavy as the darkest night sky.
Liu Ying, however, was unaware of many things between his imperial father and mother. Hearing Liu Bang's words now, he believed them, and thus the sadness on his face diminished somewhat.
Liu Bang continued: "I have already summoned the King of Wei to the palace; you all wait outside!"
"An hour later, have someone summon Xiao He, Zhou Bo, and others into the palace."
Lü Zhi nodded slightly. At this moment, she had reverted to her former appearance as the "Black Phoenix Empress," her face stern and dignified.
She understood Liu Bang's true intention in doing this.
She immediately took Liu Ying to wait outside the palace.
As for what Liu Bang would say to the King of Wei? That was not something she could control.
Half an incense stick later.
Chen Cheng rushed back from outside the palace, his steps hurried, not even bothering with etiquette within the palace.
He rode on horseback, holding the Emperor's imperial decree.
He quickly dismounted at the gates of Weiyang Palace and then ran towards the distant Weiyang Palace.
Liu Bang was going to die!
This was not surprising news to Chen Cheng; in original history, Liu Bang also died at this time.
Inside Weiyang Palace.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Chen Cheng walked in hastily, his face serious.
At this moment, he was prepared to face all trials and everything that might happen.
When people of later generations rank the greatest Emperors of all time, they often overlook a very important figure from the Han Dynasty: Liu Bang.
People believe that Emperor Wen is a model for Emperors throughout history, that Emperor Wu represents the peak of the entire Han Dynasty's prosperity, that Emperor Guangwu is a hero of the Han restoration, and that Emperor Lie during the Eastern Han period was a regrettable and formidable figure.
When ranking the greatest Emperors, Emperor Wu is often considered among the top three, and sometimes Emperor Wen is placed within the top ten, but Liu Bang is always subconsciously overlooked.
However, in Chen Cheng's view, the most dangerous Emperor of the Han Dynasty was not Emperor Wen, who appeared refined and gentle but was in fact ruthless and cunning, nor was it Emperor Wu, who was majestic and incredibly powerful, making his subjects tremble and dare not speak.
The most dangerous Emperor in the entire Han Dynasty was precisely Taizu Gao Emperor, who lay before him at this moment!
Because everyone overlooked one thing—whether it was Emperor Wen or Emperor Wu, or even later Guangwu, and that Emperor Lie, everyone around them, when describing them, would sigh with a single phrase.
"He has much of the spirit of Gao Emperor."
What does "has much of the spirit of Gao Emperor" mean? It means this young man seems to have some of the demeanor of Taizu Gao Emperor back in the day.
Merely having some demeanor could make one a hero, let alone this Taizu Gao Emperor who truly started from scratch and established this vast empire in a chaotic world?
During the late Qin era, the world was in turmoil.
Were Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, who rose in rebellion, not heroes? Were the nobles of the Six States who fished in troubled waters not quite resourceful and well-connected? Was Xiang Yu, the unrivaled Hegemon-King of Western Chu, not invincible?
But did these people win?
No, they didn't.
Everyone turned to dust, vanishing into thin air. Only Liu Bang, who seemed like a commoner, a scoundrel, and was even called a "thug Emperor" in some historical records, had the last laugh.
He established this vast empire.
All the "charms" of the Han Dynasty, whether it was Guangwu or Emperor Lie, their "charismatic" talent all came from Liu Bang!
Even a modern teacher once praised Liu Bang, saying he "was the most formidable among feudal Emperors." This statement, coming from the teacher, is beyond doubt.
What kind of person was the teacher?
He was someone who could say, "Alas, Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi, slightly lacking in literary grace; Tang Taizong and Song Taizu, a bit inferior in romantic flair. A generation's proud son of heaven, Genghis Khan, only knew how to shoot eagles with a bent bow."
Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi, Tang Taizong and Song Taizu, a generation's proud son of heaven—in the teacher's heart, one was slightly lacking in literary grace, one was a bit inferior in romantic flair, and one "only knew how to shoot eagles with a bent bow." It is clear that the teacher believed these people all had flaws, even significant shortcomings.
But his praise for Liu Bang was "the most formidable one," which is enough to show Liu Bang's greatness.
Such an astonishingly talented person, such a "most formidable among feudal Emperors," his life was about to reach its final journey. What would he do?
No one could be sure.
Chen Cheng sat there, his expression solemn and resolute.
Liu Bang, however, appeared very carefree. First, he had his attendants help him up, and like a final burst of energy, he sat before Chen Cheng, then dismissed all the attendants around him.
When only the two of them remained in Weiyang Palace, the scent of agarwood slowly wafted between their noses.
Liu Bang finally spoke after a long while, his voice playful: "Le Zhi, you still dare to come alone at this time? Aren't you afraid that I, before my death, worried that you would bring chaos to the court, so I tricked you here to kill you?"
There was a hint of aggression in his words, but Chen Cheng did not care.
In fact, he felt a subtle sense of relief.
If Liu Bang wanted to kill him, he naturally wouldn't say such words. Saying this could only mean that Liu Bang had no murderous intent towards him at this moment.
He merely chuckled: "Your Majesty possesses great talent and strategy, what worries do I have?"
Chen Cheng looked directly into Liu Bang's eyes, his voice solemn, saying word by word: "Your subject has no covetous desires whatsoever for either bringing chaos to the court or for the esteemed position of Emperor."
If it were any other time, if it were any other person, Chen Cheng would not have been so candid with him.
But this was Liu Bang.
It was not an exaggeration to call him the ancestor of the Han people—after all, before him, there was no concept of "Han people," only "Central Plains people."
Given Liu Bang's magnanimity, speaking plainly to him was more suitable than playing mind games.
Upon hearing this, Liu Bang burst into laughter. He clapped his hands and sighed: "In my decades of life, only today do I truly feel like I have found a soulmate."
He poured himself a cup of wine and then drank it in one gulp.
"In the past, Xiang Yu called himself the Hegemon-King of Chu, but what kind of hero was he? Just a brute."
Liu Bang looked at Chen Cheng with a smile: "I know what you're thinking, and you know what I'm thinking. This is the mutual appreciation between heroes."
"Le Zhi, tell me."
He looked directly into Chen Cheng's eyes. At this moment, he changed his self-address from "I" to "I" (zhen, the imperial 'I'), symbolizing his seriousness and earnestness.
"Tell me!"
"You rose from poverty to the esteemed name of King of Wei today. You saved me twice, and you even made your son restrain the clan's younger generation, forbidding them from being arrogant and reckless."
"You disdain the position of King of Wei; it is even dispensable to you."
Liu Bang held the wine goblet in his hand, then stared intently at Chen Cheng, as if if Chen Cheng's next words did not align with his wishes, he would suddenly erupt with murderous intent.
"Tell me, why!"
"Tell me! What is it for!"
Outside Weiyang Palace at this moment, Lü Zhi, Liu Ying, the hastily arrived Liu Ruyi and Consort Qi, and the attendants standing by, all looked at each other, listening to the conversation coming from inside Weiyang Palace, exchanging glances.
An attendant even whispered to Lü Zhi, asking: "Empress… this…"
Lü Zhi waved her hand, saying calmly: "Don't worry about it. His Majesty has instructed us not to enter, so we shall not enter!"
Meanwhile, inside Weiyang Palace.
Chen Cheng looked at the almost roaring Liu Bang, at this Liu Bang who had revealed his true "Dragon's Aura," his expression unchanged.
He poured himself a cup of wine and said softly: "Your Majesty, your subject is for the Qian Shou of the world, and also for the Chen clan."
He knew that if he did not speak clearly today, this Emperor would likely die worrying about this matter.
There was no need for that—his intentions were not something to be hidden, and he himself greatly admired Liu Bang, so he was willing to be frank with him.
"Your subject believes that the position of King, or even the position of Emperor, is merely about ensuring the continuation of power and family."
Chen Cheng looked at Liu Bang: "With Your Majesty's wisdom, how many years do you think the Great Han, or rather, the Liu family's Great Han, can endure?"
Liu Bang looked at the incredibly calm Chen Cheng, and also sat there, having reined in his previous "fury," or rather, that "fury" was merely an act.
He stroked his chin: "The Zhou Dynasty lasted for eight hundred years, but the Qin only lasted two generations. How can the change of dynasties be decided by humans?"
"Even if the descendants of the Liu family are capable, it would probably be around six or seven hundred years, right?"
Chen Cheng smiled slightly. He looked at Liu Bang and asked again: "Then, Your Majesty, how long do you think the Kong clan of Qufu can endure?"
The Kong clan of Qufu?
Liu Bang was startled. He seemed to vaguely guess Chen Cheng's meaning.
He looked at Chen Cheng and said: "The Kong clan? That smooth Kong clan? Confucius's Kong clan?"
After receiving Chen Cheng's nod, Liu Bang mumbled to himself, then said: "Their family, if nothing unexpected happens, will last much longer than my Great Han, I suppose."
"It's possible they could truly become a great aristocratic family that endures for a thousand years, with their wealth unchanged by the rise and fall of dynasties."
Chen Cheng looked at Liu Bang, smiling slightly: "That is your subject's goal."