In a second-floor teahouse on Chang'an Street, Liu Bingyi was still wearing his faded blue robe and cradling a bald-feathered fighting cock. Although he looked every bit the idle commoner, Lei Zhen and Han Zeng, who were standing beside him, stared intently down at the street below.
"Boss, is that the Prince of Changyi?" With that display, anyone unaware of the truth would think he had already ascended the throne,' Han Zeng sneered, curling his lips in disdain. In the centre of the street, Liu He sat in an extravagantly decorated carriage. Far from exercising restraint, he ordered his attendants to gallop wildly through the thoroughfare, knocking over several stalls in the process. He even lifted the curtain to whistle at the women lining the street, his fleshy face twitching like a spoilt giant baby.[Insight's Eye: Target Locked — Liu He
Intelligence: 45 (Classic good-for-nothing)
Arrogance: 120%
Current state: Extremely excited; believes the throne is already his.
On the mandatory route into the city, the renowned Han minister and Grand Steward, Du Yannian, had been dispatched by imperial decree to escort him.
By protocol, a feudal prince entering the capital should perform the junior-senior courtesy. However, Liu He's carriage did not stop, and he did not fully lift the curtain. Instead, he flung a half-eaten chicken leg from the carriage, landing it squarely on Du Yannian's official robe.
Liu He burst into a brazen laugh that echoed down the entire street: "Old man, don't block this prince's path! Once I enter the Weiyang Palace, your position will be taken by my tutor!"
Du Yannian's beard quivered with fury, but he could only endure in silence.
From the second floor, Liu Bingyi witnessed the scene and took a small sip of bitter tea. 'A man who wears all his "evil" on his sleeve isn't an opponent — he's a sacrificial offering.
[Ding! Imperial rival detected engaging in self-destructive behaviour. Activating side quest: Pouring Oil on the Fire.
[Objective: Provoke Liu He into taking more reckless actions and exhausting Huo Guang's patience entirely.
[Unlocked item: Bad Luck Powder (colourless and odourless; slightly increases the target's frequency of irrational behaviour).
"Lei Zhen, go." Liu Bingyi flicked his finger, sending an invisible speck of powder into Lei Zhen's palm. 'Spice up the wine for our Prince of Changyi. He's not crazy enough yet. I want him to be the craziest person in Chang'an."
That night, Liu He was staying in the guest quarters. Instead of observing the customary fasting and prayers, he brought dozens of musicians from his fiefdom and revelled in wine and revelry throughout the night.
Under the combined effects of alcohol and the 'Bad Luck Powder', he committed an act that left all of Chang'an speechless — he instructed his men to use the palace wall facing the Weiyang Palace as a target for a 'pissing contest'.[System feedback: Hou Guang's anger has reached critical levels.]
Hou Guang's inner voice raged: 'I thought propping up a fool would be easier to control, but this isn't mere stupidity — it's dancing on my ancestors' graves! This boy must not be spared!'Just as Liu He's antics reached their peak, Liu Bingyi emerged from the shadows of the guesthouse. Watching the grotesque spectacle of Liu He under the moonlight, a cold sneer flashed across Liu Bingyi's face. Liu He was the 'spare tyre' chosen by Huo Guang, a pawn to test the court's reaction. Liu Bingyi's task was to make this 'spare tyre' blow out and, in the process, 'bleed' Huo Guang dry.
"Your Majesty, when shall we strike?" The crimson-robed figure materialised.
'No need for action.' Liu Bingyi stroked the imperial edict. 'Such a fool — letting him destroy himself is the greatest humiliation for Huo Guang. Once he has utterly disgraced the imperial house, I, the 'devoted and patient' legitimate imperial grandson, shall be the obvious choice for the throne
He turned his gaze towards the depths of Weiyang Palace. There, the life lamp of Emperor Zhao flickered ever dimmer.'Liu He, your 27-day countdown has begun.'At dawn, the bulletin board in Chang'an's Western Market was crowded with ordinary people. "Have you heard? Last night at the guesthouse, Prince Changyi gave the imperial wine, bestowed by the late emperor, to his guard dog. He even said..." Han Zeng mingled in the crowd, delivering his speech with vivid exaggeration. This was the 'viral spread of rumours' technique that Liu Bingyi had taught him.
"What else did he say? Hurry up and tell us!" The onlookers stamped their feet impatiently.'He said that the dragon throne in Weiyang Palace was uncomfortable, so he insisted on having his golden-threaded nanmu recliner shipped from his fiefdom. He even claimed that he would carve a gambling board onto the throne!"
"Your Highness, show some restraint!" Huo Chengjun retreated, her face icy.
"Restraint? I'll soon be the Son of Heaven! Does the Son of Heaven need restraint when kissing his own wife?" Liu He reached out to touch Huo Chengjun's face.A teacup struck his wrist with pinpoint accuracy. "Prince of Changyi," a voice said. "It seems you haven't quite grasped the rules of Chang'an yet." Liu Bingyi had appeared at the entrance to the garden corridor without anyone noticing. He was still wearing his simple, plain robe and his complexion had a hint of sickly pallor. Yet his presence instantly silenced the noisy rear garden.
[System Divine Skill: Emperor's Sword Qi (Minor Pressure Form) — Activated!
Liu He shivered at the sudden chill and whirled around to snarl, 'Who the hell are you? How dare you interfere with this prince's affairs?""My identity matters not." Liu Bingyi advanced slowly, his gaze growing more piercing with each step. 'What matters is that the Hou residence threshold is not a playground for a pig like you to run amok.'"You dare call me a pig? Guards! Kill him!" Liu He screamed. But before his attendants could move, Lei Zhen and Han Zeng lurking in the shadows struck their knees with pebbles, sending them crashing to the ground in unison.
Huo Guang sat at the head of the table, coldly observing it all. He had once considered Liu Bingyi a threat, but witnessing Liu He's behaviour now, he suddenly felt that, even if Liu Bingyi was scheming and calculating, he was preferable to supporting a fool who publicly harassed his own daughter.[Insight Eye: Real-time monitoring of Huo Guang
Psychological state: Liu He must not be spared. Although Liu Bingyi is difficult to control, he at least preserves the last shred of dignity for the Han dynasty and the Huo clan.
Affinity Conversion: Huo Guang's resolve to eliminate Liu He is absolute.
After the banquet, as Liu Bingyi was preparing to leave, he was intercepted by Huo Chengjun.
"Why did you help me?" Huo Chengjun bit her lip, her gaze intensely complex.
Liu Bingyi stopped, tilting his head to reveal half of his perfect profile. Without meeting her gaze, he spoke in a seductive tone: "I did not aid you. I merely deemed that swine's hands unworthy of touching the prey I've claimed." With that, he strode away without looking back, leaving Huo Chengjun rooted to the spot with a pounding heart.
[Ding! Chapter 18, Part 2, Settlement: Reputation +2500.]
[Side Quest Reward: Huo Mansion Internal Guard Deployment Order (Replica).]
[System Notice: The countdown to Liu He's deposition has entered the final 10 days.]
It was late at night in the guesthouse where the Prince of Changyi was staying.
Liu He was smashing porcelain in his room to vent his rage. Suddenly, a masked secret envoy, dressed in the dark, form-fitting attire of the Dark Fragrance Pavilion, appeared in his private room.
'Your Highness, Liu Bingyi is merely a fallen imperial grandson. He dares to humiliate you because he relies on Huo Guang's covert support.' Liu Bingyi had used Advanced Voice Disguise, altering his tone to mimic that of one of Liu He's closest courtiers."Huo Guang? That old traitor dares to look down on this prince?" Liu He's eyes blazed crimson. 'Your Highness, if you wish to secure your throne, you must demonstrate iron-fisted resolve. I've learned that Liu Bingyi cherishes the peasant girl Xu Pingjun above all else. If you could seize her..." [System Divine Skill: Advanced Psychological Induction Technique — Full Power]
Liu He's sanity had plummeted to 5%, triggering his desperate abduction plan.
The next day, he mobilised the last three hundred elite cavalrymen he had brought with him from his fiefdom to the capital. In broad daylight, they charged towards Shangguanli.
He intended to snatch Xu Pingjun in full view of the crowd, thereby proclaiming his 'power' to all of Chang'an. However, when he stormed into the dilapidated courtyard, he saw Liu Bingyi seated on a bamboo chair with a simple ancient sword resting across his lap, not the trembling peasant girl he had expected.
'Liu He, you're later than I expected.' Liu Bingyi slowly raised his head; his eyes held no anger, only pity for the doomed. 'Seize him for this prince!
'Kill.' Liu Bingyi's thin lips parted. In an instant, the Crimson Serpent and thirty-six elite assassins from the Fragrant Pavilion descended from the sky. This was not combat, but a slaughter that could be called 'art'. Liu He's prized cavalry fell like wheat before these top-tier killers, collapsing in waves.
[System Feedback: Eliminated remnants of hostile faction. Reputation +5000.][Unlocked reward: Dark Gold Equipment — Scarlet Sky's Residual Intent (releases faint dragon might during combat to suppress officials).
Just as Liu He lay trampled beneath Chilian's feet, terrified to the point of wetting himself, the rhythmic clang of armour echoed from the end of the street. Huo Guang, leading the Han Feather Forest Guards, had finally arrived — though belatedly.
Seeing the corpses strewn across the ground, Liu He's utterly pathetic and grotesque state and Liu Bingyi sitting calmly as if none of this concerned him, Huo Guang made his decision.
'Liu He, Prince of Changyi, has violated mourning rites, indulged in debauchery and tyranny, openly abducted commoners' daughters and slaughtered members of the imperial clan. This old man shall petition the Empress Dowager to depose him from the throne and banish him back to his fiefdom!' Huo Guang took a deep breath, his voice echoing down the long street.Liu He was dragged away like a dog, destined to become history's most infamous 'Twenty-Seven-Day Emperor'.
Liu Bingyi rose slowly and walked to Xu Pingjun's side. In front of Huo Guang and the powerful nobles of Chang'an, he addressed his wife.
"Pingjun, are you frightened?"
Xu Pingjun clutched her short sword and shook her head, her eyes brimming with dependence.Hiding in the distance, Huo Chengjun witnessed this scene, her heart torn apart. Huo Guang also observed it, his expression filled with complex emotions.
[Ding]
[Core Settlement: King of Changyi eliminated. The host becomes the sole candidate for the throne.