22. A New Era Dawns (1)
The emperor, who would later be reviled alongside Emperor Huan as Huan-Ling—the epitome of tyrannical rulers—met his untimely end at just thirty-four years of age.
The imperial physicians hurried out of the Chongde Hall. They rushed to inform the political factions secretly allied with him, the powers backing his throne, of the emperor's death.
This mad tyrant, who had committed every excess and atrocity imaginable from his exalted position above all men for a full twenty-one years, was gone. His passing was no mere trifle; it could upend the fates of the political elite and high officials alike. Word spread like wildfire with utmost speed.
The emperor is dead.
Lee Seong-hwi pieced it together from the frantic eunuchs of the Chongde Hall darting between the palace halls.
Damn that bastard. He ground his teeth, cursing the emperor who had breathed his last that day. The man had never cared for his people, thinking only of his own glory and luxury. He made no attempt to be a sage ruler and now shuffled off irresponsibly into death.
Recalling Liu Xie's pitiful state, Lee Seong-hwi let out a bitter, hollow laugh.
"Hurry up!"
"Secure the palace halls and control the gates!"
The Yellow Turban Rebellion that had threatened the capital had been quelled, but large-scale revolts still raged in the provinces, eroding central control. An emergency decree was immediately issued for the palace. All the Imperial Guard were mobilized, and the Five Elite Battalions responsible for defending Luoyang and the surrounding commanderies rushed to assemble at the palace.
"Search anyone showing suspicious signs, regardless of rank!"
"It's an order from the Grand General's office—be wary of the eunuchs!"
The Imperial Guard swiftly seized control of the palace, and the capital's defense forces occupied Luoyang just as quickly. This meant the Grand General's office now held sway over both the imperial palace and the city.
True to his reputation as the colossal powerbroker gripping the central authority, He Jin responded with lightning speed. He moved to minimize the chaos from Emperor Liu Hong's death while hastening to enthrone the crown prince as the new sovereign.
"First the assault on the Exian Hall, now the emperor's death... Chaos upon chaos."
Cao Cao spoke. As the Xiaqi Colonel of the Five Elite Battalions, she had been summoned to the Grand General's office and had only just returned. Ordered to lock down the palace completely, she mobilized her entire command, fortifying the gates and scrutinizing every entrant with ironclad vigilance. She even shut some palace gates entirely and restricted passage through others—actions that bordered on overreach.
"You handle the Gede Hall... No, take charge of the Yutang Hall and the Lingtai Hall. And I'm counting on you for the defenses at the Pingshi Gate, as you did during your time as Gate Captain."
"Understood, Lady Mengde."
Cao Cao had initially assigned the Gede Hall to Lee Seong-hwi but reconsidered, giving him other halls instead. The Gede Hall was the empress's bedchamber. No doubt she viewed him as an enemy for thwarting the assassins at the Exian Hall. So Cao Cao placed him far from both the Gede Hall and Liu Xie's Exian Hall, at the Yutang and Lingtai Halls. It was a clear intent to keep him away from them.
"Sister, aren't you showing too much favor to that prayer captain? You nearly got hurt because of him."
Cao Hong spoke up. Watching Lee Seong-hwi lead his troops out the gate, she worried that her sister—who should issue stern commands—was being led around too easily by that man. Of course, she didn't doubt her sister. Her orders were always right, her choices and decisions impeccable. But... seeing her sister blindly support Lee Seong-hwi stirred unease.
"Jiam, I understand your concern for me. But Lee Seong-hwi shares my greater cause, and he's essential to me. Though he acted rashly and nearly brought disaster, I see it as a risk I must bear."
Even so, Cao Cao affirmed she would embrace the danger and keep him close. He was indispensable to her—irreplaceable.
At her sister's steadfast resolve, Cao Hong pursed her lips in displeasure. The sister who always showed cold precision and sharp decisiveness softened only for that man. Was this jealousy? She resented him a little for seeing sides of her sister she didn't know.
"Jiam, then you watch the aide. Make sure he doesn't act alone again—stand in for me."
"Yes! I'll ensure he never harms you again!"
Cao Hong nodded solemnly at the order. It was what she wanted. She'd long thought that reckless man needed watching after causing trouble. And with her sister entrusting it to her, there was no reason to refuse.
"You could've just assigned me directly. Why give it to Jiam?"
The red-haired woman, her locks reaching her waist, grumbled in dissatisfaction. She chafed at the task of surveilling Lee Seong-hwi being handed to Cao Hong instead of her. More precisely, at Cao Cao trusting Jiam more than her.
For reasons unknown, Cao Cao often delegated Lee Seong-hwi-related duties to Cao Hong.
"Yuanyang, you guard me."
"Fine, fine. I see you're handing it to Jiam on purpose, but I'll let it slide."
Seeing Cao Cao unlikely to revisit her decision, Xiahou Dun nodded reluctantly. Though irked, she figured there must be a reason her cousin kept giving such tasks to Cao Hong.
Yuanyang's shown interest in the aide from the start. She even lent him the family heirloom, the Qinggang Sword, and turned a blind eye to his actions at the Exian Hall. No doubt she harbors feelings for him.
It was natural for Cao Cao to wary of Xiahou Dun's favoritism toward him. That's why she assigned the surveillance to Cao Hong, who bristled with suspicion. Close watch meant much time together—something she couldn't risk with the friendly Xiahou Dun.
Jealous Jiam is trustworthy.
Cao Cao murmured to herself, then inspected the Imperial Guard units deployed across the palace, awaiting orders from the Grand General's office.
A new emperor would ascend soon. Commands related to the enthronement were sure to come. His rise heralded a new era, a seismic shift in the political landscape. Great turmoil loomed. The old guard, burdened by the past, would surely rebel against this birth of change.
Laments of grief echoed from the Chongde Hall, the emperor's bedchamber. Imperial clansmen and high officials crowded in, mourning his death with great show. Of course, among the throng, few grieved sincerely—they had to pretend, shedding even crocodile tears to prove their loyalty.
"Father...! Father!! How could you leave me behind like this!!"
Crown Prince Liu Bian wailed at the forefront, tears streaming as he grieved his father's passing. The Ten Attendants, jealous of him, sneered inwardly at his "crocodile tears," but Liu Bian wept and sobbed in genuine sorrow. Though his father had never acknowledged him in life, he mourned all the same. He was still his father, bound by blood, even if never warmed by a kind word.
Where's Xie? Could it be... no one told her of Father's death?!
After prolonged weeping, Liu Bian scanned the crowd for Liu Xie. She was nowhere—unlike the officials, all present despite the news.
"I must briefly visit my little sister."
He informed his mother, then rose. Dressed in mourning white, the crown prince headed to the Exian Hall, Liu Xie's residence, with his guards.
The assassins' brutal corpses had been cleared, but the stench of blood lingered. Inhaling it, Liu Bian lamented his half-sister abandoned in such horror.
"Y-Your Highness, Crown Prince...!!"
As he neared the gate, the Exian Hall's maids rushed out to greet him, faces etched with confusion. Cut off from the outside, they knew nothing of the emperor's sudden death. They eyed the white-clad crown prince with bewilderment.
"Is Xie here?"
"Y-Yes, she's inside, but..."
A maid emerged hastily, trailing off. The crown prince's guard captain boomed like thunder in rebuke.
"His Highness has come in person—why hasn't the Princess of Bohai come out to greet him?!"
He was the next Heavenly Sovereign. The long-serving guards swelled with pride. Thus, they took issue with Liu Xie not emerging upon his arrival. It wasn't ostentatious tyranny but the etiquette due from imperial kin—the palace protocol.
Reprimanding the maids was entirely proper.
"No, I came unannounced—I've been the first to breach decorum."
Liu Bian gestured to the stern-faced guard captain to hold back. Hoping she'd come out willingly, he waited in the courtyard with his escorts.
How much time passed? The little golden-haired princess, hair to her waist, emerged from her chamber, head bowed low.
"Y-Your Highness... C-Crown Prince... y-you've come..."
Had she heard the scolding? Or feared her sudden half-brother? Liu Xie trembled pitifully, as if facing the grim reaper. Liu Bian couldn't hide his shock.
"Wh-what... b-brings you... h-here..."
He knew his mother treated her harshly, making harmony impossible, but he hadn't expected such terror.
"Father passed from illness today. I've come to bring you the news."
"Wh-what?! F-Father...!!"
At the news from her half-brother, Liu Xie cried out, eyes wide in horror. Seeing her shock, Liu Bian nodded with a bitter smile, his own heart heavy with loss. If he grieved, how must she feel, once the object of Father's favor? The sky must be falling for her.
"D-don't worry...!! Your brother is here! I'll protect you—no one will harm you. Don't be so scared."
Like soothing a child, he reached out to calm the quaking girl on the verge of collapse. I'll protect you. I'll become emperor after Father. Once enthroned safely, Mother won't be cruel to you anymore. He promised her safety.
"And that officer who guarded you... he asked me to look after you."
Granting his wish—speak freely. Lee Seong-hwi had earnestly begged him to protect his half-sister at the Exian Hall. Hearing it filled Liu Bian with shame so deep he couldn't lift his head. His indifference to her plight, his powerlessness against his mother's glaring enmity—unbearable humiliation.
"I'm sorry... for ignoring you until now..."
The crown prince bowed his head to his half-sister, truly contrite for his past neglect.