General He Jin was still somewhat unable to think clearly; he was still in a daze. If Liu Bian had relinquished his position as crown prince, then he should have been granted a title of king. But now it seemed not; instead, he was granted an official position.
What did this mean?
According to Han dynasty law, once a prince reached adulthood, he could not remain in the palace but was granted a title of king and sent to his fiefdom to take up his post.
This was called the enfeoffment system—establishing a state and building an altar—essentially working for the emperor.
However, this system was gradually dying out; the number of Han imperial relatives had decreased significantly.
Yet, it remained a powerful force. But when princes went out into the world, they were inevitably suppressed by the increasingly powerful aristocratic families. In conflicts, they might even be humiliated and driven to suicide through various intrigues and schemes!
Yuan Wei's eyes flickered. He was already old and frail, and his wife, Ma Lun, had also been invited to go to Liangzhou to obtain some medicine for him.
Ma Teng surrendered to Lu Ming. Ma Teng was also from a branch of the Ma clan, so his wife, Ma Lun, had some influence.
However, he was completely unaware that his wife's intention was simply to offer herself up for sex. Initially, Ma Lun hadn't wanted to, nor had she considered it.
It was only at the guild hall, when the Grand Commandant's wife, Liu Liu, mentioned this matter, that she became interested. Upon inquiry, she learned that the Empress's mother, Lady Wuyang, had also gone along, and her mind immediately began to stir.
Poor Yuan Wei, he had exhausted himself for the Yuan family, but despite all his precautions, he never imagined that Lu Ming would have such perverse tastes, seducing his wife, who was over fifty!
What kind of teenage man would sleep with a woman in her fifties? It's utterly absurd!
It's simply ridiculous!
If a man in his sixties or seventies were to rape a teenage girl, that would be considered normal, but the reverse is unacceptable!
No one would do such a thing, therefore Yuan Wei never imagined that his wife was going to offer herself up for sex, and not to seek medicine!
Men can be enemies with other men, while women can befriend each other, creating a messed-up situation where "I can bully you, and you have to accept it!"
Unfortunately, Lu Ming isn't that naive, so Yuan Wei's idea is wrong.
If Ma Lun really came, he could easily detain her, take her as a concubine, and use her every day, turning her into a sow and a breeding machine!
"Your Majesty, since Emperor Gaozu of Han, princes have always been granted titles and then taken to their fiefdoms. There is no precedent for granting an official position before being granted a title," said Liang Cheng, the Imperial Censor. As censors, they were supposed to speak their minds; in simple terms, they were just critics!
They had to stand up and speak out when something was wrong, to assert their existence.
"Ahem, what's wrong, Censor Liang? Is there anything wrong with what I'm doing now?" Emperor Ling's eyes flashed with anger, reminding him of how he had forced his former wife, Empress Song, to her death.
Now they were pressuring him again, which infuriated him!
"This empire belongs to His Majesty. His Majesty's word is law. This old minister agrees with His Majesty's words," Yuan Wei unusually stood up to support him, which surprised Emperor Ling. What was this old fox up to?
The court meeting ended, and the news spread like wildfire throughout Luoyang!
"Prince Bian is going to take up a post in Liangzhou?"
"Isn't only Prince Xie left? Could it be that Prince Xie is going to be made crown prince?"
"Shh! Don't discuss it, or you'll be beheaded!"
These rumors could be heard even in the streets and markets, let alone in the palace.
At this moment, in Changqiu Palace. The Empress, with her exquisite makeup, was angrily smashing a vase. Her full breasts, hidden beneath her clothes, rose and fell, making one want to peek inside!
"Damn it!" Empress He smashed things repeatedly. She was both shocked and furious to learn her son was to be sent to Liangzhou; she hadn't expected that old dog to actually make a move!
"The Grand General has arrived!" Grand Chamberlain Zhao Zhong shouted loudly from outside the door—a signal, a warning.
Empress He, still seething with anger, sat on her phoenix couch, her delicate face contorted with rage. Even an empress had emotions and desires.
Her greatest hope was for her son to become emperor, and now that he was being sent away, she had no power to stop it.
General He Jin entered and, seeing the broken ceramics scattered everywhere, was somewhat shocked. "This humble servant, He Jin, greets Your Majesty."
Even siblings, upon entering the palace, had different statuses and had to pay their respects. Even the Lady of Wuyang had to address her daughter as Empress; how much more so General He Jin?
"Hmm, General, please sit." Before He Jin could even sit down, Empress He said impatiently, "I'm sure you've heard that His Majesty intends to send Bian'er to Liangzhou. What is your opinion on this matter?"
The General looked around, while Empress He dismissed the maids, leaving only her confidante present. "General, please speak freely."
The Prince of Wuyang had already departed, so Empress He could only consult her half-brother. She would never have been so agitated if it weren't for her son's involvement.
"His Majesty's mind is made up, even the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Yuan Kui, agrees. Hmph, I was just about to go and confront Yuan Kui!" He Jin was nothing more than a butcher; even as a general, he lacked the foundation and was unwilling to learn, so he knew nothing of military deployment or Han Dynasty laws.
"But if Bian'er is sent to Liangzhou, what if His Majesty has something he can't bear to say? Wouldn't that benefit Liu Xie?" Empress He harbored no ill will towards Liu Xie, but if her son couldn't ascend the throne, she would certainly resort to poison.
Just then, Zhao Zhong shouted loudly, "Zhang Changshi has arrived!"
A short while later, Zhang Rang's old face appeared. He bowed to the Empress and Empress He, "Greetings, Your Majesty, greetings, General."
"Zhang Changshi, there's no need for such flattery. What brings you here, Zhang Changshi? Please sit." Empress He was very polite to Zhang Rang. She had obtained her position as Empress with their help, so they maintained a very good relationship.
"Your Majesty must still be worried about Prince Bian'er," Zhang Rang said with a smile. In truth, with Emperor Ling dead, his position was insecure.
To keep it under control, he needed to invest in the new emperor.
As for who the new emperor would be, that was a matter of debate.
"Please speak, Zhang Changshi, I will surely repay you in the future." Empress He was now confused by her concerns, and therefore wanted to find a suitable way, a way for her son to succeed as emperor.