23. A New Era Dawns (2)
Without even knowing of her father's passing, Princess Liu Xie—practically confined to the palace—was able to make her way to the Chongde Hall in mourning garb, thanks to the help of her half-brother.
When Liu Xie appeared in her mourning clothes, the imperial clansmen and high officials, who had been shedding false tears over the emperor's death, showed great surprise. No one had expected the Bohai Princess, who was essentially under house arrest, to show up—let alone to arrive alongside the crown prince.
"Crown Prince!"
Empress He, soon to become Empress Dowager, cried out sharply. She glared at her son, reproaching him for summoning the child of Lady Wang—the greatest threat to the legitimacy of the throne's succession.
"Did not our late father cherish Xie above all others in his lifetime? Surely he would wish to see her here as well."
"……."
Empress He bit her lip hard at her son's resolute gaze and his invocation of righteous principle. She inwardly lamented, unable to fathom why he truly cared for that loathsome spawn of Lady Wang, treating her as a genuine sister.
If that wench had failed to attend Father's funeral, I could have used it as a political weapon forever! Why doesn't the crown prince understand his mother's heart? Everything is done for your sake—why can't you see that!
In the Han dynasty, where filial piety, righteousness, and benevolence were paramount, unfilial conduct was the gravest flaw. Thus, Empress He had deliberately kept the news from reaching the Eastern Palace until the end, maneuvering to prevent Liu Xie from attending the Chongde Hall. Had Liu Xie truly failed to appear, it would have branded her as unfilial—a perfect pretext to attack her once she gained political power. It was all a scheme for the crown prince's benefit: a trap to crush the greatest threat, Liu Xie, and ensure Lady Wang's child could never eye the throne.
Yet Liu Bian had rejected that scheme and ploy, which could have greatly bolstered the throne's legitimacy, all for the sake of his half-sister.
"F-Father…!! Why… why did you leave this girl behind!!"
The little princess collapsed to the floor as if struck down, tears streaming from her eyes. Her wail—heart-wrenching and raw, unbelievable from such a young girl—pierced the hearts of the gathered imperial clansmen and officials.
"So young… truly heartbreaking."
"As His Highness the Crown Prince said, the late emperor favored Princess Bohai above all."
The officials fell silent, clucking their tongues in pity at the sight of the eight-year-old princess sobbing as if she might faint at any moment.
Cunning little bitch…
Unlike the sympathetic officials, Empress He glared at Liu Xie's sobs with bulging eyes, seething with venomous contempt. It reminded her of Liu Xie's mother, Lady Wang. The girl was just like her dam—feigning pitifulness to garner sympathy and pity. That vixen had curried favor with coquettish wiles, using it to claw her way toward the empress's seat. Whether the tears were genuine grief or a ploy like her mother's, it mattered not; it could never look good in Empress He's eyes.
She couldn't understand why her sister was so obsessed with this man.
Cao Hong glanced sidelong at Lee Seong-hwi's profile, her face openly twisted in displeasure.
Of course, I admit his prowess defies imagination…
Recalling the scene of him mercilessly butchering enemies—wielding his spear-sword amid a blood-soaked hell of flesh and gore—she shuddered violently. Surely he wouldn't turn on me just because he doesn't like me or some such nonsense…
"What do you think will happen now? Once the crown prince ascends as the new emperor."
Cao Hong asked, probing his intentions and testing the insight he'd shown in aiding her sister thus far.
"The Ten Attendants and the Grand General's faction will clash in earnest."
Lee Seong-hwi replied. Cao Hong's eyes widened in shock.
"Pardon? Why? The Ten Attendants have lost all power and crumbled. What strength do those spineless eunuchs have to bare their fangs at the Grand General's faction, which holds the reins? They only know how to grovel before the powerful—they lack the guts to defy the tide."
She couldn't imagine those parasites, who had leeched wealth and power by fawning over the emperor, daring to challenge the Grand General's faction. Thus, Lee Seong-hwi's answer, so far from her expectations, sparked doubt.
What? He seemed clever enough when he coerced that minor eunuch Guo Sheng without evidence to extract proof of Jian Shi's rebellion plot… Is he completely off-base now?
That doubt soon morphed into suspicion of his abilities.
"You'll see soon enough."
As if reading her thoughts perfectly, Lee Seong-hwi added. Irked at having her mind laid bare, Cao Hong pouted and whipped her head away—like a child deprived of a favorite toy.
The real problem comes after…
Lee Seong-hwi lowered his gaze, lost in thought.
After Crown Prince Liu Bian's ascension, the Ten Attendants—crushed by the Grand General's faction—would plot in desperation and spark a rebellion. The Disturbance of the Ten Attendants. They would assassinate Grand General He Jin, turning the imperial palace into a wasteland of chaos unprecedented in history. Luoyang would descend into turmoil, and the Han central authority would spiral into total collapse.
To avert the age of strife, I must above all protect He Jin from the fate the Ten Attendants deal him. But if I do, Cao Cao will spend her life as the Grand General's mad dog, discarded once her usefulness ends…
He had once told Cao Cao: For the granddaughter of an eunuch lineage to reach the pinnacle, both old powers—the Ten Attendants and the Grand General's faction—must mutually destroy each other. She must shatter every force clutching wealth and power, then plant her banner amid the ashes and build anew.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
Cao Hong peeked at him, head bowed deep in contemplation. With her features so akin to Cao Cao's, her red eyes twinkled mischievously as she leaned in. Lee Seong-hwi snapped back to reality and jerked his head up.
"Did you hear what I just said?"
"Ah, my apologies…."
"Hmph."
What on earth was he pondering so intently that he ignored my words right beside him—the man who enjoys my sister's greatest favor! Cao Hong snorted, eyes blazing with fury. Seeing it as a slight, she looked thoroughly pissed.
Daring to daydream with a beauty as cute and lovely as me right here? You're getting too full of yourself. Must be sister's favor going to your head. But in the end, her affections will turn to me!
Already wary of him as a rival for the number-two spot, she greatly distrusted Lee Seong-hwi, who held Cao Cao's utmost trust and favor.
"The Grand General's faction will now officially announce the emperor's passing and accelerate preparations for the ascension ceremony. With all their plans realized, they'll have no further obstacles."
"Can you handle it? Once the crown prince becomes the new emperor, the empress becomes empress dowager. Who do you think she'll vent her rage on—the one who thoroughly irked her?"
"I… hadn't thought that far."
"Pardon? Wasn't that what you were brooding over just now?"
Chastened by her words, he realized he'd been fixated on distant threats while ignoring the fire at his feet. Saving Princess Bohai's life had landed his name on the hit lists of both the empress and the Grand General.
"Commandant of the Palace Guard!"
As Lee Seong-hwi patrolled the Jade Hall and Eternal Harmony Hall with Cao Hong, heading toward the Pingcheng Gate, one of his subordinates rushed up breathless.
"Captain of the Exemplary Cavalry requests an audience."
A golden-haired woman came to mind. Her lustrous locks, like molten gold spun into threads, cascaded to her waist. Captain of the Exemplary Cavalry, Yuan Shao. Having successfully quelled the Western Garden Army's rebellion alongside Cao Cao, she had been appointed by the Grand General's faction.
"…Captain of the Exemplary Cavalry?"
Cao Hong—whose specialty was flattery and hobby was snitching, serving as Cao Cao's eyes and ears—glanced at Lee Seong-hwi upon hearing the officer. What business could Yuan Shao have with this man? Her red eyes burned fiercely, eager to unearth the truth.
"So here you are."
As she endured Cao Hong's scorching glare, the golden-haired beauty approached Lee Seong-hwi with light, graceful steps.
Thus, under Cao Hong's watchful eye, Lee Seong-hwi met Yuan Shao.
The assembly before the Chongde Hall dispersed.
He Jin returned to the Grand General's office with a calm face, wiping away the tears he'd barely mustered with his sleeve—proving his earlier wails mere theater.
"Bring paper and ink."
Upon arriving, he immediately ordered paper and ink from an officer. Preparing couriers for distant missives, it seemed he had letters to send afar.
With the emperor dead and the crown prince set to ascend as the new Son of Heaven, stubborn old officials still oppose me in the court. To crush them, I need troops to encircle Luoyang and stage a show of force.
Toppling the Ten Attendants—who had clung to the emperor's robes for luxury—was easy. But court ministers were different. Unlike those corrupt emblem of vice, they were "pure stream" scholars revered by intellectuals. To leash the court ministers—who oversaw Han internal affairs—He Jin believed he needed the aid of generals commanding provincial armies.
"Are the couriers ready?"
"Yes, my lord. They've been standing by since early."
After finishing the letters, He Jin summoned the waiting couriers. He handed them two missives.
"Deliver this one to the Inspector of Bing Province in Liang Province's Longxi Commandery, and this to the Colonel Who Maintains the Walls in Taiyuan Commandery, Bing Province."
"Understood."
The couriers bowed, accepting the letters from Grand General He Jin.