Although the morning court session at Weiyang Palace had not yet begun, the 'final examination' of Liu Bingyi had already quietly started. Although Huo Guang had deposed Liu He, he still harboured some suspicion towards the emperor's grandson, who had grown up in poverty. Therefore, three of Huo Guang's closest confidants — the Grand Censor, the Supervisor of the Imperial Guard and the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Court — came to the side hall where Liu Bingyi was temporarily staying. They claimed to be there to teach him court etiquette, but instead conducted a comprehensive "basic interview" with him.
Inside the side hall, Liu Bingyi sat with his legs spread on a large nanmu chair, wearing a slightly oversized brocade robe — a recent gift from the Huo family. He held an extremely precious Western Region tribute cake in his hand and had crumbs in his mouth as he ate: 'Oh, gentlemen, this palace cake is much more filling than the steamed buns back home!'
Seeing the three men enter, Liu Bingyi seemed startled and stood up hastily. He knocked over a teacup in the process, spilling the emerald green tea all over himself. He wiped it with his sleeve, looking pained, but the more he wiped, the dirtier it became. Muttering to himself, he said, "What a waste of this fine silk; it's worth so much rice!"
[God-level Mimicry: A narrow-minded, petty imperial grandson who forgets the greater good.]
[System Monitoring: The contempt level of the Huo family confidants has risen to 95%.
The Imperial Censor coughed lightly and produced a blank register of official appointments. 'Your Majesty is about to ascend the throne. Are there any confidants you wish to promote? Whether they are old friends from the Imperial Censorate or wandering knights of the capital, as long as you speak, the Grand General will certainly grant their request.' This was a fatal trap because, if Liu Bingyi wrote down even one name, his own faction would be exposed.
'A trusted confidant?' Liu Bingyi scratched his head, his eyes becoming earnest. 'Yes! I really am! Wang Er, the tofu seller in Shangguan Lane, is my closest friend. Could you grant him an official position, sir? It doesn't have to be a high-ranking position; just enough to prevent him from being extorted for protection money.' The Censor's wife was displeased and wrote four characters on the roster: 'Lacking ambition.'
Sima Jian was a military officer. He suddenly drew his long sword and performed a sword dance in the hall. The blade nearly grazed Liu Bingyi's nose several times.
'Your Majesty, Weiyang Palace is not safe. Would you like to personally select a contingent of imperial guards?'
Liu Bingyi was so frightened that he fell to the ground, his face pale and his legs trembling uncontrollably. He shouted incoherently, 'Take it away! This thing will cut people! I'm afraid of blood; I'm squeamish about blood!" Where are the guards? Protect the Emperor!' Hiding in the shadows, Lei Zhen almost burst out laughing at the scene. He knew his eldest brother's heart was pounding at 150 beats per minute and that cold sweat was dripping down his forehead. Sima Jian sheathed his sword, his eyes filled with disdain. He wrote in the assessment report: 'Cowardly as a mouse; no threat whatsoever.'
[Ding! Due to the host's mediocre acting skills, the three Huo brothers have been successfully deceived.
[Reputation Value: +5000.]
[Unlock reward: Pseudo-Dragon's Might (Passive): When the host is feigning stupidity, any high-IQ unit will automatically fill in the host's 'stupid' logic, reducing suspicion.
'Your Majesty, you have worked hard.' The Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court finally stepped forward. He was actually Huo Guang's 'eyes', responsible for observing Liu Bingyi's behaviour when alone. However, after the three men left, he saw Liu Bingyi stuff the remaining pastries from the plate into his sleeve as if they were treasures. He looked around furtively, looking every bit like a poor, desperate commoner.
Only once the footsteps of the three men had completely faded at the end of the corridor did Liu Bingyi slowly straighten up. What he pulled from his sleeve wasn't pastries, but a secret letter that he had stolen using his 'divine-level theft technique' while the Imperial Censor was off guard. He casually brushed the pastry crumbs off his clothes, his eyes chillingly clear.
'The sow is in the pen; now it's the hunter's turn to reel in the net.' He turned to Bing Ji, his tone utterly flat. 'Tell those three that I'm making Xu Pingjun Empress. I've already thought of the reason: the palace cooks can't make tofu pudding as well as she can." Bing Ji's lips twitched, and he bowed and withdrew.
He knew that tomorrow's grand court assembly, with its 'deep affection for the old sword', would be the last chance for these self-righteous officials to display their 'confidence'.
'Lacking ambition, cowardly as a mouse, narrow-minded...' Huo Guang tapped the words on the report with his fingertip and whispered to the old servant beside him, 'It seems Bing Ji wasn't lying. This child has spent too much time among the common people; the royal arrogance in his bones has worn down into a smooth, worldly existence.' In his view, an emperor who would be excited by a few cakes from the Western Regions was far easier to control than the mad and tyrannical Liu He.
'Since he likes that tofu seller and the farm girl who cooks for him, let him be.' Huo Guang narrowed his eyes, revealing an air of absolute control. 'This "weakness" is precisely the rope we use to control him.'
Meanwhile, in a side hall of Weiyang Palace...
Liu Bingyi leaned lazily against a soft couch, idly playing with the censorate order he had stolen from the Grand Censor. Kneeling before him was none other than 'Wang Er, the tofu seller', whom he had casually mentioned. Although Wang Er's name sounded humble, beneath his greasy apron was a well-muscled physique and a pair of shrewd eyes.
'Boss, no, Your Majesty, your "recommendation" really shocked those high-ranking officials.' Wang Er chuckled.
[System Command: Activate the 'Shadow Transfer Station' Plan]
Mission Objective: Establish a Royal Tofu Workshop in the West Market of Chang'an under the guise of 'Imperial Grace and Care for Old Friends'.
True function: To establish the Chang'an headquarters of the Shadow Dragon Guard, which is responsible for receiving top-secret intelligence gathered from across the country.
'Wang Er, remember, you're not just a tofu seller now; you're also my "savior".' Liu Bingyi tossed Wang Er an Imperial Censor's token. 'Take this and go to the West Market to recruit those poor scholars and bankrupt merchants who have been oppressed by the Huo family. The tofu workshop will sell more than just tofu; it will sell 'the truth' too."
[Ding! Due to the host's successful use of 'mediocre behaviour' to conceal the expansion of power, the [Darkness Under the Lamp] achievement has been unlocked! Reputation +4000! Unlocked reward: Disguise Building Blueprint: Hidden in the City (can disguise any military stronghold as an ordinary civilian facility, evading the detection of powerful officials).
Liu Bingyi stood up, walked to the window and looked at the majestic Huo Mansion in the distance. A cold smile played on his lips. Huo Guang thought he had planted countless spies around him, but he was unaware that all the information they brought back was part of a carefully crafted script.
'Your Majesty, the Grand General has sent word that at tomorrow's grand court assembly, he will formally join all the officials in petitioning to establish Huo Chengjun as Empress.' The Chief Eunuch of the Inner Court entered, head bowed, his eyes filled with pity as he looked at Liu Bingyi, who seemed to him like a puppet about to lose its autonomy.
Liu Bingyi deliberately feigned a mixture of surprise, delight and helplessness. 'Really? Miss Huo is indeed as beautiful as a fairy... But I still haven't found my old sword. Pingjun said it was our token of love. I can't rest easy without it.'
As he spoke, he rummaged through chests and cabinets in the hall, breaking several valuable kiln vases in the process. He appeared extremely anxious.
After the head steward had left, he reported Liu Bingyi's behaviour to Huo Guang truthfully.
Huo Guang laughed heartily: 'Find the sword? Let him find it! As long as he doesn't vie for power, I'll allow him to turn Weiyang Palace upside down to fawn over that peasant girl." The tofu workshop will sell more than just tofu; it will sell 'the truth' too."
[Ding! Due to the host's successful use of 'mediocre behaviour' to conceal the expansion of power, the [Darkness Under the Lamp] achievement has been unlocked! Reputation +4000! Unlocked reward: Disguise Building Blueprint: Hidden in the City (can disguise any military stronghold as an ordinary civilian facility, evading the detection of powerful officials).
Liu Bingyi stood up, walked to the window and looked at the majestic Huo Mansion in the distance. A cold smile played on his lips. Huo Guang thought he had planted countless spies around him, but he was unaware that all the information they brought back was part of a carefully crafted script.
'Your Majesty, the Grand General has sent word that at tomorrow's grand court assembly, he will formally join all the officials in petitioning to establish Huo Chengjun as Empress.' The Chief Eunuch of the Inner Court entered, head bowed, his eyes filled with pity as he looked at Liu Bingyi, who seemed to him like a puppet about to lose its autonomy.
Liu Bingyi deliberately feigned a mixture of surprise, delight and helplessness. 'Really? Miss Huo is indeed as beautiful as a fairy... But I still haven't found my old sword. Pingjun said it was our token of love. I can't rest easy without it.'
As he spoke, he rummaged through chests and cabinets in the hall, breaking several valuable kiln vases in the process. He appeared extremely anxious.
After the head steward withdrew, he reported Liu Bingyi's behaviour to Huo Guang truthfully.
Huo Guang laughed heartily: 'Find the sword? Let him find it! As long as he doesn't vie for power, I'll allow him to turn Weiyang Palace upside down to fawn over that peasant girl." What he didn't know was that the 'sword' Liu Bingyi was looking for wasn't in Weiyang Palace, but in the hearts of all the loyal subjects of the Han dynasty.
That night, Liu Bingyi sat in the darkness, stroking the real Cicada Short Sword. His eyes were as sharp as lightning, piercing the night.
'Tomorrow, I'll show you what "deep affection" really means, and what a fatal throat wound truly is.'
'Your Majesty,' said Huo Guang, stepping forward with undeniable authority, 'a nation cannot be without an empress for a single day. Fifty-seven high-ranking officials and I jointly submit this petition, requesting that you establish Lady Huo as Empress to uphold the proper maternal virtues and ensure the stability of the state.'
As Huo Guang finished speaking, a large group of people knelt down behind him. 'We second that! Establish Empress Huo to secure the state!' The clamour surged towards Liu Bingyi like a tidal wave. Such a display would have terrified an ordinary puppet, causing them to tremble and hastily agree.
However, Liu Bingyi sat on the dragon throne, his hands twisting nervously in his sleeves and his face flushing red. He seemed not to have heard Huo Guang's proposal at all. His eyes darted around the hall before he finally broke into a sob and spoke: 'General, regarding the matter of choosing an empress, I also think Miss Huo is quite good, but... but my heart is so bitter!'
He suddenly slapped his thigh and stood up, like a child who had lost a beloved toy. "When I was wandering among the common people, I had an extremely simple old sword. Though it was worthless, it was my only support in times of hardship. Now the world is in my hands, yet I can't even find that old sword... What kind of emperor am I? I can't even be sentimental!"
[System Feedback: Emperor's Skill — 'Deep Affection for the Old Sword' — activated.
[Effect: Forcibly transforms political manoeuvring into emotional resonance. Huo Guang's 'righteousness' suppression effect is weakened by 70%.'
Huo Guang was stunned, as were all the officials. They had prepared countless arguments to counter any political pretexts that Liu Bingyi might use, but they hadn't anticipated him offering a reason such as 'finding the sword'.
"Your Majesty, it's just a broken sword! I'll have a thousand or ten thousand made and send them to you!" Huo Guang suppressed his anger, his tone tinged with contempt.
"That's different!" Liu Bingyi roared stubbornly. "That's my 'old sword'! Whoever can help me find it will be my loyal subject!"
Upon hearing this, the senior officials siding with Bing Ji exchanged glances, instantly understanding.
[System Monitoring: Public Opinion Shifts Dramatically]
The thoughts of officials from humble backgrounds: 'The emperor isn't even willing to discard a broken sword. This shows he's not only competent, but also loyal and righteous. Such an emperor would never 'discard his usefulness after the hunt'!"
Taking advantage of the stunned silence of the crowd, Liu Bingyi pulled out a roll of bright yellow silk that he had prepared beforehand — an imperial edict that he had written himself under the lamplight the previous night in somewhat crooked handwriting.
"Today, I will not issue an edict to establish an empress, but only this decree to retrieve the sword!" He ordered a eunuch to circulate the edict to all officials. Everyone looked at it and saw that the edict read: 'When I was poor and humble, I had an old sword which I now greatly miss. Can you, my ministers, help me find it?' This was hardly a search for a sword; it was a declaration to the world. 'I, Liu Bingyi, cannot even forget a broken sword, so how could I forget my wife, who shared my joys and sorrows?' Huo Guang's face turned pale, alternating between red and white.
His meticulously planned scheme to establish an empress and force abdication had been completely shattered by this elusive 'old sword'. He could sense that the previously hesitant mid-level officials now looked at Liu Bingyi with a new kind of 'admiration'.
[Ding! Mission complete.]
[You have successfully executed the famous scene of 'deep affection for the old sword', earning you an additional 12,000 reputation points.] [Unlock the unique achievement: 'Deep Affection (False)' (under this title, all your political manoeuvring will automatically be interpreted by the world as 'unavoidable deep affection').
'Court adjourned... I'm going to have a bowl of tofu pudding to calm down.' Liu Bingyi waved his hand and, under everyone's watchful gaze, slipped off the dragon throne like a wronged wife. In a corner, unnoticed by anyone, he exchanged a cold glance with Bing Ji. This game, ostensibly called 'Seeking the Sword', was actually called 'Seeking Talent'. Those willing to help him 'find the sword' would be the first group of people he was about to recruit to fight against Huo.