AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
Chen Cheng smiled and sighed, tapping Chen Yun's head, his face filled with helplessness: "You were right after all; the Emperor is not as simple as I once thought, and may even be more calculating than Emperor Gaozu."
"This matter was orchestrated by the Emperor Himself."
He sighed silently, looking at the distant palace standing in Chang'an City and said, "I wonder if this choice is right or wrong."
Chen Yun shook his head slightly, looking at Chen Cheng and said, "Grandfather, this matter, in fact, has no right or wrong; there are only calculations of interests within it."
"The Emperor's health probably won't last much longer. Before long, the Emperor will discuss with you who should be chosen as the next Emperor."
Chen Cheng sighed again.
The situation at this moment was extremely complex; even he didn't know who the Emperor in the palace would choose as His successor.
"Hopefully... the Emperor will be clearer-headed."
.... ....
In Weiyang Palace,
Liu Ying looked at the memorial in his hand, his expression serene, so much so that one might feel he was the ultimate victor, not the 'loser' who needed to choose his successor here.
The Inner Attendant serving beside him tried to speak many times but ultimately remained silent, just standing there.
"Your Majesty."
An Inner Attendant hurried over, presenting the last report of these days.
This was a report from the Emissaries in Embroidered Uniforms, who were stationed everywhere, even beside the various princes for a long time. The last message they reported was about the Dai Prince.
Liu Ying picked up the memorial on the table, squinting his eyes and carefully reading it, a hint of contemplation on his face.
"The Dai Prince... has done quite well, not disappointing Emperor Gaozu's expectations."
Before Liu Bang's death, he actually gave many instructions, but some things were known only to Liu Ying and Liu Bang themselves; everyone else was unaware.
When Liu Bang passed the throne to Liu Ying before his death, he analyzed the situations of all his sons for him and told him how to restrain his other sons.
This was for the stability of the Great Han. Liu Bang was unwilling to let the stable Great Han fall into turmoil and chaos like this, so he tried his best to help his eldest son.
In these instructions, he had repeatedly mentioned the Dai Prince's character and ability.
At the time, Liu Ying had merely thought Liu Bang was speaking casually, but now seeing these findings... he felt that what Liu Bang had said back then seemed to make some sense.
He chuckled softly, tossing the item in his hand aside, his expression turning somewhat solemn.
"Issue My decree, ordering the Dai Prince... to enter the capital."
.... .....
In Dai,
Liu Heng was busy dealing with miscellaneous affairs in his private residence. He had opened up a small plot of land specifically for farming and labor, aiming to truly experience the lives of the Qian Shou.
And among all the regions in the world, only the Qian Shou in Dai had recovered the best.
Liu Heng firmly implemented the policy of recuperation left by his Grandfather in Dai, even proactively reducing taxes for the Qian Shou in his fiefdom on multiple occasions.
The governance in Dai was incredibly incorruptible, unmatched by any other place in the Great Han today.
And the living standards of the Qian Shou in Dai were also incomparable to those in other parts of the Great Han. This was the Dai Prince's achievement over several years in Dai; he had transformed this not-so-wealthy place into a relatively prosperous one.
"Your Highness."
A servant hurried over from a distance, a hint of fear on his face. He wasn't afraid of the Dai Prince, but rather of the news he carried.
He lowered his head and stood before the Dai Prince, saying, "The Emperor has issued an edict, ordering you to return to the capital as soon as possible, saying there is an important matter."
An important matter?
The Dai Prince's expression instantly turned bewildered: "Did the envoy reveal what the matter is?"
The servant shook his head slightly: "The envoy did not reveal the specific matter, but he did indicate that it should not be bad news—the Guandu Marquis also sent an envoy, likewise telling Your Highness to enter the capital as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Liu Heng frowned slightly, his face showing confusion and bewilderment.
If it were just Liu Ying alone, it would be fine, but... the Guandu Marquis also sent a letter telling him to enter the capital as soon as possible? Could something have happened in the capital?
As he got into the carriage, he asked the driver, "Has anything happened in the capital recently?"
The servant shook his head slightly: "I haven't heard anything."
Dai was very far from the capital. After the Dai Prince returned to the capital, he began to govern his fiefdom, working diligently and reviewing state affairs every day to ensure the Qian Shou in his fiefdom lived prosperous lives.
He had never thought about that position in the capital, so he hadn't left any personnel there.
Naturally, he knew nothing at this time.
However, out of pure enthusiasm and trust, Liu Heng said nothing and did not hesitate. Upon returning to the Dai Prince's residence, he immediately had someone inform the princess consort of his departure for the capital, and then set off for the capital immediately.
.... .....
Han Xin looked at the leisurely Guandu Marquis before him, gritting his teeth, and almost squeezed out a sentence: "Did you call me here just to invite me for tea?"
"If so, then I must excuse myself!"
His voice was somewhat low, clearly angry because Chen Cheng had called him over and then left him there without any attention.
"Why is the Huaiyin Marquis in such a hurry?"
In this world, Lu Hou had no opportunity to interfere in politics, nor to control the court. Xiao He and Lü Zhi's connection was not yet so deep—most importantly, Han Xin had a way out this time and had long since abandoned the honor of the Qi King.
Moreover, there was a very 'pressure-resistant' Chen Cheng in front, so Lu Hou had no opportunity, nor had she thought of eliminating Han Xin. Therefore, Han Xin still existed.
He was still the Grand General of the Great Han, the person with the most appeal among the soldiers in the entire Great Han, besides Chen Cheng.
Looking at the anxious Huaiyin Marquis, Chen Cheng finally put down the teacup in his hand and said with a smile, "I came to find the Huaiyin Marquis just to tell him one thing."
Chen Cheng looked at Han Xin and said, "What do you think of Zhou Bo and the others?"
Zhou Bo?
Han Xin frowned slightly, then looked at Chen Cheng with some wariness, speaking with a hint of sarcasm in his tone: "Zhou Bo? I say, Guandu Marquis, you're not trying to drag me into your struggles, are you?"
Recently, whether in court affairs or military matters, Zhou Bo, Xiao He, and others had inexplicably united and began to oppose Chen Cheng.
And Chen Cheng, as the Prime Minister and the head of all officials, as well as the head of the marquises and nobles, naturally could not be easily controlled by these few people. So, the two sides went back and forth in court, making quite a lively scene.
At this moment, Han Xin mistakenly thought that Chen Cheng had come to ask him to "stand with him."
He waved his hand: "You should fight your fights, and I should do my own things. I don't want to get involved in your affairs!"
Chen Cheng, however, smiled and said, "But Huaiyin Marquis, if you don't want to get involved in this matter, will they let you go?"
"I didn't come here to ask you to join my faction. After all, my faction is the Imperial Party—I am in the same faction as the Emperor. Zan Marquis and the others just don't know what the Emperor wants to do, so they mistakenly think the Emperor is on their side."
Chen Cheng looked at the Huaiyin Marquis and said, "This is a rare opportunity to target Zan Marquis. Doesn't the Huaiyin Marquis want to do it?"
Han Xin hesitated slightly upon hearing this, but then immediately said, "Of course!"
He stood up, looking at Chen Cheng with some disappointment: "I originally thought Brother Le Zhi was a man of noble character, but I never expected him to be such a vulgar person who vies for power and profit!"
"Never mind, never mind, I, Han Xin, misjudged him!"
Saying that, he was about to leave, but at this moment, a burst of laughter sounded not far away, followed by a voice: "Teacher, this time you guessed right."
"I will have someone deliver the 'prize' to your residence later."
The man who appeared with this voice had a faint smile on his face, and he seemed very weak, reclining softly on the couch.
"Huaiyin Marquis, don't blame Teacher. It was I... who made him do this."
"Only in this way can I feel at ease entrusting that matter to the Huaiyin Marquis."
The moment that man appeared, Han Xin immediately stood up, a bewildered expression on his face: "Your Majesty?"
"Why are you here?"
.... .....
In the autumn of the third year of Emperor Hui's reign, great winds arose and clouds soared.
Outside the Chang'an city wall, a carriage slowly approached. Seated inside the carriage was naturally the Dai Prince, Liu Heng. He lifted the curtain in front of him and looked towards the distant direction.
"Is this return right or wrong?"
The Dai Prince gave a bitter laugh.
The closer they got to Chang'an, the more the Qian Shou on both sides thanked the Emperor for His grace, wishing they could donate their bodies to the Emperor, allowing the Emperor to do whatever He wished.
This was the Emperor's benevolence!
And looking at these excited, joyful common people, the Dai Prince's resolve grew even stronger.
How could someone who protected the Qian Shou so well and thought so much for them be a tyrant or a corrupt ruler?
"I just don't know why Big Brother is looking for me."
.... ....
"Clack—"
Chen Yun placed a chess piece on the board, then looked at the somewhat aged Chen Cheng, and said with a smile: "Grandfather, the Dai Prince is returning to the capital soon. Just you wait and see—"
Chen Yun whispered, "This child is no ordinary person!"
Listening to Chen Yun's judgment, Chen Cheng also clicked his tongue.
No ordinary person?
Isn't that obvious?
This is Emperor Wen of Han, who was praised as the strongest land-based carbon-based life form in Asia in the seventh century, and was even envied and proud of by Emperor Taizong of Tang!
Among benevolent feudal emperors, Emperor Wen of the Wen-Jing era is the foremost!
He was also the founder of the Rule of Wen and Jing, and equally the creator of the Great Han's peak.
How could such a person be an ordinary person?
Chen Cheng smiled slightly: "Once he encounters the wind and clouds, he transforms into a dragon?"
P.S. I have a bit of a fever, so there's only one update today, totaling six thousand words.