03, Taishi

Madam Huo's lips twitched slightly, and the smile on her face appeared somewhat deflated. The thing she resented the most, despite her current esteemed status, was that there were still people who reminisced about her past as the "Prominent Lady," even though she had long since become the respectable "Madam Huo"

Yan Luofan sat in the seat to her south, as the position of honor was currently occupied by General Huo's wife. Yan Luofan had come with a sense of curiosity about this young empress dowager, who was even younger than herself, wanting to explore her further. To her surprise, there were actually other people present in the Changxin Hall, and Mrs. Huo clearly had no intention of yielding her seat. She sat calmly in the position of honor, only slightly leaning forward and making a gesture of acknowledgment when Yan Luofan entered.

The anger in Liu He’s eyes intensified, a pervasive hatred surged like a torrent breaching a dam, roaring and sweeping away all obstacles. Just when Xu Guanghan thought he would be buried under this hatred, Liu He released him, and he collapsed to the ground, rendered limp by the loss of gravity

Xu Guanghan's face was pale as he trembled incessantly, the pain in his eyes revealing the struggle within him. He allowed Liu He to grip his collar, yet he said not a word.

This is no secret; it is well known among the people of Chang'an. Haven't you heard the Empress Dowager refer to her as 'Lady Xian'? She was originally just a maidservant accompanying the former wife of General Huo, the Donglu clan, and even her surname was that of the lord's family—Huo Xian! You must have seen her enchanting appearance, haven't you? Any man would be captivated by her. It was only to be expected that she would catch the eye of Huo Guang. Perhaps Donglu intended to marry her into the Huo family, hoping to have her as a concubine to accompany her. However, no one could have anticipated that this concubine would possess such extraordinary fortune and capability, managing to enchant General Huo to the extent that he disregarded the customary principle of 'no concubine as wife' and took her as his legitimate wife. People praise Huo Guang for his adherence to propriety and his adherence to rules, possessing the virtues of the Duke of Zhou... Hmph, I see it differently; for the sake of power and beauty, he has cast aside etiquette and moral integrity, hasn't he?

Although Tianlu Pavilion and Shiqu Pavilion are both places for collecting books, the categories of the books they house are different. If the emperor seeks to advance his studies, he would naturally go to Shiqu Pavilion. Yan Luofan, being new to the environment, could hardly distinguish between the two pavilions; it would be understandable if he made a mistake in this regard. However, this error was pointed out by Madam Huo, who should belong to the outside world, which sounds like a stark and unembellished irony.

After the death of Emperor Xiaowu, the young Emperor Xiaozhao, who was inexperienced in worldly affairs, had all funeral arrangements dictated by the regent Huo Guang and others. In order to demonstrate his loyalty and dedication to the state, Huo Guang organized an extravagant burial for Emperor Xiaowu, while simultaneously issuing an edict in the name of Emperor Xiaozhao, commanding all of Emperor Xiaowu's concubines to leave the palace and serve at Maoling.

His voice was not loud, yet the person at the door could not suppress a shiver, kneeling on the ground with his hands covering his face

Three sets of sacrificial animals from the Chang'an kitchen were placed indoors, and Liu He knelt on the ground with his upper body upright, while nearly two hundred of his attendants summoned from Changyi lay prostrate behind him

Mrs. Huo... she, she is...

Ruyi was momentarily taken aback and had not yet opened her mouth to inquire, when Madam Huo beside her let out a nonchalant laugh: "Perhaps Lady Yan has made a mistake, Your Majesty often visits the Shiqu Pavilion, does she not"

The Shiqu Pavilion is located at the northwest corner of the Weiyang Palace, approximately two hundred zhang apart from the Tianlu Pavilion to the east and west. It was also built by Xiao He, but the pavilion houses a collection of various books and texts acquired since the Qin Dynasty, serving as a venue for scholars with doctoral degrees from this dynasty to conduct research and academic discussions.

"Who else could it be?" She glared with wide eyes, her voice sharp and piercing, "It's that shameless vixen. She really thinks that being the general's wife makes her seem so noble, strutting around with that condescending attitude, it's disgusting to behold. She's nothing but a lowly servant, what is there to boast about? Does she really think others are unaware?"

Xu Guanghan felt a slight tremor; Liu He's words made his humble heart, which had been subdued for over a decade, begin to beat with renewed vigor. He took a deep breath, and indeed, as this young new master had said, he straightened his back and faced the situation with composure.

Ruyi moved out of the Weiyang Palace and took up residence in the Changle Palace located to the east of Weiyang Palace, completely severing all ties to her ten years of memories in Weiyang Palace

However, none of these events are recorded in the "Records of the Grand Historian". Furthermore, there is no trace of any records regarding King Ai of Changyi, Liu Bo, who mysteriously died in Chang'an in the first month of the year following Li Guangli's death, among other matters.

When his father passed away, Liu He, although still young, kept this unresolved case in his heart for more than ten years

There were distinct footsteps approaching outside the door, but upon entering and seeing the room full of people, the newcomer halted. When he clearly saw the ancestral tablet of the Tai Lao sacrifice, he was so frightened that he stumbled and fell onto the threshold.

Liu He respectfully bowed his head to the ancestral tablet, and only then did he slowly stand up. With a swift turn, the coarse, rough hemp cloth dragged on the ground, forming a semi-circular arc, and his gaze shot towards the doorway with an unusual sharpness.

The maid was astonished and curious to ask, yet she did not dare to be too direct. Instead, she spoke in a roundabout way: "I find that Mrs. Huo is exceedingly beautiful, although she is somewhat older. However, when sitting together with the young Empress, she even outshines the Empress. I truly wonder what a stunning figure Mrs. Huo must have been in her youth..."

After Yan Luolan received the Empress Dowager's decree and took her leave, she stepped out of the Changxin Hall and immediately fell into a frown. Once she exited the gates of the Weiyang Palace and got into the carriage, the more she thought about it, the more she felt that she had just been humiliated. In a fit of anger, she clenched her fists and spat out in resentment: "Does she really think the Chang Le Palace is her own backyard!"

A figure entered the outer chamber and quietly reported: "Your Majesty, the person has arrived."

Madam Huo, however, remained completely unaware as she looked at her joyful laughter, seemingly quite pleased with her own kind reminder. Ruyi gazed back at her, ultimately succumbing to her radiant smile, lowering her head in dejection and weakly responding: "Madam Xian is absolutely right."

"My father, King Ai, how did he die?" He rushed to the door like an arrow and grabbed the beardless eunuch on the ground. "Don't play dumb; I am not a fool. Don't try to deceive me with the same tricks you used on Liu Fu. If you truly are my Changyi kin, then show your integrity. I want to know the truth—why did my father die in Chang'an?"

Liu He lifted the lid of the bamboo container, inside which were stacked over ten volumes of bamboo slips. He casually took one volume and weighed it in his palm: "It is said that the Tianlu Pavilion contains the complete volume of the 'Records of the Grand Historian' (https://www.hetushu.com), but I have searched through the entire collection and only found some records related to the Li family, the maternal relatives, in these few volumes, all of which are trivial matters.

Before Ruyi could finish her words, Yan Luofan had already unconsciously changed to a look of reverence. However, before she could respond, Madam Huo suddenly interjected: "Ruyi, your words are somewhat biased. Our ancestors had their own methods and reasoning, but it is better to handle the palace attendants of Emperor Xiao Zhao according to the old practices of Emperor Xiao Wu."

The chapters on the families of the imperial in-laws are few, only recording how Lady Li, of courtesan origin, received the emperor's favor, which also brought attention to her elder brother Li Yannian and Li Guangli. After Lady Li gave birth to her son Liu Bo, she passed away early, yet Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, still valued Li Guangli highly, appointing him as the General of the Second Division to campaign against the Dayuan Kingdom

Liu He had dozens of wives and concubines, not including those singing and dancing girls from the State of Changyi. These newly arrived women in the Weiyang Palace's inner court, under the leadership of Yan Luowan, immediately established a stark contrast with the original palace attendants.

The Weiyang Palace's Jiaofang Hall bid farewell to Empress Dowager Shangguan, while simultaneously welcoming the new mistress, Queen Yan Luofan of Changyi.

Yan Luohan disdainfully said: "If one does not possess sufficient beauty, how could a mere maid ascend to the position of the main wife?"

As the Grand Historian during the reign of Emperor Xuanwu, Sima Qian may not have recorded excessive details about the imperial relatives, but surely he would not have forgotten to document the "Annals of Emperor Xuanwu"? Liu He sneered, "It is well known that Sima Qian is a man of integrity, who, despite suffering castration and persecution, remained unyielding to the corrupt rewriting of historical facts. He devoted his entire life to writing this volume of the 'Records of the Grand Historian', which encompasses three thousand years of history, detailing the merits and faults of emperors throughout the ages, and can be considered a national treasure. Yet the court has hidden it away in the Hall of Heavenly Blessings, afraid to show it to the public... He devoted his entire life to writing this volume of the 'Records of the Grand Historian', which encompasses three thousand years of history, detailing the merits and faults of emperors throughout the ages, and can be considered a national treasure. Yet the court has hidden it away in the Hall of Heavenly Blessings, afraid to show it to the public..." He clenched his fingers in anger, the bamboo slips creaking in his grasp, like the agonized moans of a dying person. "Does Liu Fu think that by erasing the 'Annals of Emperor Xuanwu' from the 'Records of the Grand Historian', he can cover up the fact that he trampled upon the blood of countless innocents to ascend to the throne?"

Yan Luohan's expression was somewhat displeased, but she ultimately managed to restrain herself and asked Shangguan Ruyi, "There is a matter I do not dare to decide on my own, so I would like to inquire about the Empress Dowager's opinion. Regarding the palace maids of the late Emperor Xiaozhao in the Yeting... should they all be moved to Changle Palace to keep the Empress Dowager company, or should they be relocated to the Northern Palace or the Gui Palace?"

The Northern Palace is located to the north of the Weiyang Palace and the Changle Palace. When the number of people in the Weiyang Palace's inner court is large, some of the disheartened concubines are settled there to live. Among the women of the imperial harem who were relocated to the Northern Palace throughout the dynasties, the most famous is Empress Zhang of the Xiaohui, a young empress who also lost her husband at the age of fifteen. After the death of Empress Dowager Lü Zhi, the Lü faction was eliminated, and the Han dynasty welcomed Emperor Xiaowen back from the Dai state. She was subsequently deposed from her position as empress dowager and lived quietly in the Northern Palace, passing away at the age of thirty-six.

On the first day of the sixth month in the first year of the Yuanping era, Liu He, the King of Changyi, received the imperial seal and title, succeeding to the esteemed title of the Son of Heaven, thus becoming the seventh emperor to inherit the Han dynasty's great authority. At the same time, Empress Shangguan was honored as the Empress Dowager, and the posthumous title of the late emperor was conferred as "Zhao"—according to the rites of posthumous titles, "Shengwen Zhouda" is referred to as Zhao—thereby establishing the title of Emperor Xiaozhao.

Your Majesty has recently been busy with state affairs, working diligently through the night, and frequently visiting the Hall of Heavenly Records. The Hall of Heavenly Records was built by the Chancellor Xiao He during the early Han Dynasty, and it houses various secret documents and important classical texts related to the Han royal family.

Get up! I do not care what lowly status you currently hold, but you were once a minister of the King of Changyi, so straighten your back and respond to me!

Yan Luolan's visit from Weiyang Palace to Changle Palace today was not merely a formal homage to the Empress Dowager in her capacity as a junior, but clearly she had ulterior motives for her visit. Although Liu He has not yet conferred a title upon a consort, the selection of the primary consort in the harem of Weiyang Palace is evidently no longer in doubt. At the very least, Yan Luolan presented herself before the Empress Dowager with the dignity befitting an Empress.

Upon hearing the words "Beigong," Shangguan Ruyi's expression, which had been calm and unruffled, showed a subtle change that was not easily perceptible. She raised her head and spoke in a measured tone: "When Emperor Xiaowen ascended the throne, he sent away the beautiful women from Emperor Xiaohui's harem, instructing them to return home and remarry; after Emperor Xiaowen's death, he left behind a decree to send the consorts back home, at least for the wives; Emperor Xiaojing emulated the story of Xiaowen, thus issuing a decree for all palace women to return home, and exempting them from lifelong corvée labor and taxes..."

How did my father die

In his later years, Emperor Xiaowu became superstitious about immortality and harbored a deep hatred for witchcraft. Favoritism towards treacherous individuals led to the Crown Prince Liu Ju being implicated in witchcraft and forced to rebel. After Liu Ju's death, a new Crown Prince had yet to be selected. Before his expedition against the Xiongnu, Li Guangli privately discussed with his in-laws, Chancellor Liu Qumao, the proposal to nominate Liu Bo as the Crown Prince. Unexpectedly, as soon as Li Guangli left Chang'an, Liu Qumao's wife was reported for practicing witchcraft. Thus, the terrifying and effective shadow of witchcraft, more dreadful than a plague, once again engulfed the Li family after consuming the Wei clan, who were related by marriage. Liu Qumao's entire family was executed, and Li Guangli's wife and children were also captured. Upon hearing this tragic news on the battlefield against the Xiongnu, Li Guangli wished to achieve merit to atone for his sins but found himself powerless. After suffering a disastrous defeat, he surrendered and ultimately died at the hands of the Xiongnu

Xu Guanghan had once heard his third brother Xu Yanshou describe the various mischievous deeds of the young King of Changyi. He never expected that upon meeting the real person, the young emperor before him would possess such a resolute and decisive demeanor. Liu He’s words and actions unconsciously reminded him of the various accounts of Liu Che’s achievements that he had heard from the world. He silently praised, truly worthy of being the grandson of the Martial Emperor

The summer cicadas on the branches are chirping noisily, and despite being separated by two doors, their sound still carries the heat directly into the chamber

Liu He remained silent, and An Le behind him responded, "Then let him in quickly"

Ruyi's expression changed abruptly

"I am guilty of death!" He bowed down sincerely, his voice trembling slightly, but his body no longer shook. Liu He’s decisive and daring nature inexplicably filled him with a sense of exhilaration. This is the son of Liu Biao! A son who is even more outstanding than Liu Biao!

Due to the influence of Huo Guang, Liu Fu has already incurred the accusation of violating the virtues of his ancestors and compromising the dignity of the state. If he were to emulate the story of Emperor Xuanwu again, then all the consorts of Emperor Xiaozhao would be sent to Pingling to serve for the rest of their lives

On the 7th day of the 6th month, the coffin of Emperor Xiao Zhao was transported for burial and interred at Pingling.

The maidservant sitting in the carriage, not understanding the meaning, asked nervously: "Who is the queen referring to?"

Liu He smiled contentedly, but Xu Guanghan did not perceive the warmth of his smile. Liu He's smile merely skimmed the surface, appearing somewhat cynical at first glance. He waved his hand, and a Zhonghuangmen promptly approached, holding a bamboo container in his hands

How is Your Majesty's health? The tone of the inquiry was flat and devoid of any unnecessary sentiment. Although it was a question, anyone could tell that she was merely following the formalities with this inquiry