7. Game

Let me teach you to recognize a fact, you—Yin Lihua—regardless of your mindset in marrying Liu Xiu, you will always be merely a pawn in their calculation of advantages and disadvantages

He waved at me, a smile playing on his lips, with a hint of hazy intoxication in his eyes: "Let me give you another lesson today..."

But you certainly did not tell the whole truth

A dull pain lingers in my heart and chest, and I strive to ignore it. However, this wound has been brutally torn open by Liu Xuan right before my eyes, making it impossible to escape the tangible sensation of pain it brings.

Liu Xiu may not love me, but Yin Shi cannot betray me

He paused for a moment and sighed: "This is the whole truth!"

It is unexpected that Wang Mang, a once-great hero, ultimately met a fate where his body was left unrecognizable

Wang Mang, evading the fire, fled to the front hall of the Xuan Room with the imperial seals. As a result, he was pursued and killed by the merchant Du Wu, who seized the seals. Gong Bin, a colonel from Donghai, beheaded Wang Mang. Others, eager for credit, fought over the corpse, dismembering it, and the number of those who participated in the killing exceeded several dozen.

"Lihua..." A soft and gentle call brought my wandering thoughts back. Suddenly looking up, I saw Liu Xiu approaching me with a smile, saying, "We can go back now"

He waved his hand, his cheekbones slightly flushed, and his breath reeked of alcohol: "I come to ask you, if I were to enter Chang'an and establish the capital, would the world submit?"

These words were spoken with such gravity that I was startled, causing a chill to run down my back. I hurriedly knelt and said: "My brother has no ulterior motives towards Your Majesty, I hope Your Majesty will see this clearly."

He is indeed the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler of the Nine-Five, and his image and dignity are of utmost importance. If someone were to see him in this state, it would be disastrous

Certainly, her title of "Madam" cannot be equated with my title of "Madam Liu" in terms of rank and status. According to the classification of ranks in the imperial harem during the Qin and Han dynasties, there are eight levels: Empress, Madam, Beauty, Good Lady, Eight Sons, Seven Sons, Senior Attendant, and Junior Attendant. The Empress is the primary wife, and in my personal understanding, her title of "Madam Han" is at least of the rank of a noble consort.

I experienced a chill, and as a gust of wind blew by, the sweat on my back evaporated in the breeze, making me feel even colder all over.

He was not angry; on the contrary, he appeared unusually excited as if he had just won a jackpot. As he walked out into the corridor, he occasionally turned back to wave goodbye to me.

I was left speechless, my thoughts came to a halt in an instant, petrified.

I was left speechless, slowly sipping water from the cup. Suddenly, I recalled the words Liu Boji said to me before her marriage: "... you possess a heart as delicate as a finely crafted piece, yet I would rather you be a bit muddled at times, thinking of things more simply. That way, your relationship with San Ge would be much happier than it is now. ..."

I suddenly rose on my tiptoes, tugging at his topknot, causing his long, black hair to cascade down like a waterfall, as Liu Xiu turned around with a smile once more

The act of taking hostages is indeed a common practice in this era. For instance, vassal states would regularly send princes to the capital as hostages; generals who obtained the tiger talisman and led troops into battle would detain their families in the capital as hostages to demonstrate their absolute refusal to usurp military power and incite rebellion.

The people of Wancheng not only cut off his tongue, but also divided it among themselves to eat

To speak or not to speak

Although Madam Han cannot be described as exceptionally beautiful, she is indeed a straightforward speaker and a decisive, capable woman. Watching her drink alcohol as if it were plain water is truly impressive, and she is in no way inferior to men

He cast another helpless glance at me; my stubbornness must truly be giving him a headache. Yet, I remain so obstinate that I will not rest until I get to the bottom of it.

Liu Xiu poured a glass of water and handed it to me, his gaze a mix of pity and helplessness: "Sometimes, why must one know so clearly?"

Liu Xuan fell silent for a moment, then chuckled, "Indeed, there has been progress."

However, according to the marriage system of one husband and one wife during the Han Dynasty, no matter how noble the favored concubine is, she is merely a concubine. If we consider it solely from the perspective of the definition of a typical marital relationship, she, as Lady Han, is far less dignified than I, as Lady Liu.

He chuckled softly and said, "Your elder brother has keen insight; I intend to promote him. What position do you think I should grant him to truly make the best use of his talents?"

Uh ... ...

"Hehe, you are still too inexperienced." He smiled with his lips pressed together, as if he were an audience member watching a circus performance. "Your claws are not sharp enough, so you must polish them well. Only with time can you truly become a wild wolf capable of tearing apart others!"

Of course, you can privately disclose our game to him, but in that case, you may not see the results you desire

You need not respond to me now; whether or not to play this game is entirely up to you. In due time, Liu Xiucai will receive the imperial edict, and you will have ample time to slowly explain my game rules to him

Why bother

The gaze shifted slightly, landing on the desk piled high with documents—among the materials sent by Yin Shi, the details were also downplayed and not written in depth, merely touched upon vaguely.

Yin Shi formed connections with the generals of the Green Forest Army and Liu Xiu's subordinates. He found a seemingly non-interfering yet strategically advantageous balance point amidst the conflict between Liu Xiu and Liu Xuan, ensuring that both sides retained a path for retreat.

The Xin Dynasty has fallen. Gong Bin presented the head of Wang Mang to the Colonel Wang Xian. As a result, taking advantage of the fact that the majority of the Han army had not yet arrived, Wang Xian audaciously declared himself the Grand General of the Han, openly moved into the Eastern Palace, donned Wang Mang's clothing, rode in Wang Mang's carriage, and even took to entertaining Wang Mang's women, seemingly considering himself the successor to a new generation of Wang Mang

I was at a loss for words, furrowing my brow in silence

Indeed, if Yin Shi wishes to prevent me from marrying Liu Xiu, the most effective method would be to provide him with no opportunity to see me. Liu Xiu's smooth and unobstructed appearance at my doorstep to propose to me raises the question of whether it was not Yin Shi who intentionally allowed him to enter

I gasped in surprise, laughing in anger: "I see you are nothing but a madman!" I raised my foot and kicked forcefully at his knee, causing him to release my hand and take a large step back.

Let Liu Xiu take his troops and leave Wan City to head towards the Three Auxiliaries. What an enticing opportunity this is! This is not a mere "small" test; it is clearly an alluring trap.

You are talking nonsense! I could no longer contain my excitement and shouted loudly in rebuttal, "Nonsense! It is your own dark heart that makes you think everyone is as insidious and vicious as you are. You measure the hearts of gentlemen with the mind of a petty person!" I angrily shook off his hand, forgetting the proper etiquette, forgetting that he was a ruler of a nation, finally provoked to the point of losing my temper, feeling an indescribable annoyance and anger in my heart

These little tricks may fool others. He stood up from the stone, brushing off the fallen leaves from his garments. "If he truly insists on opposing, why bother to strike you? He only needs to firmly close the gates of the Yin family, preventing Liu Xiu from stepping over the threshold of the Yin family even once. Such pretentious behavior is merely for my benefit, so that I understand his apparent discord with Liu Xiu!"

The Han soldiers launched a fierce attack on Chang'an, breaching the gates of Xuanping City and entering. The citizens of Chang'an, Zhu Di and Zhang Yu, seized the opportunity to rally the people within the city, brandishing weapons in response, and advanced towards the imperial palace, setting fire to the Nine Halls Ming Hall where Wang Mang resided, with the flames spreading to the Weiyang Palace

The elder brother comes from humble beginnings, having not yet gained admission to the Imperial Academy in literature, nor has he been able to excel in the martial fields. Your Majesty has shown such favor towards my humble family, and I am already overwhelmed with gratitude. How could I dare to vie for an official position with Your Majesty?

"Tsk tsk, the tone of this speech... is indeed strikingly similar to Yin Shi's. Truly, they are worthy of being siblings." He paused, looked up at the sky, "What scheme is Yin Shi concocting? Don't think that I am unaware. You say that I am the one whom the people expect, but I fear that may not be the case. To speak of nothing far away, just consider your elder brother; in his heart, he may not be entirely devoted to me."

Well ... let's go back

In the fourth year of the Xin Dynasty and the first year of the Gengshi era in September, the Han army advanced directly towards the capital, Chang'an. The Xin Dynasty had no soldiers left to send out, so Wang Mang had no choice but to grant a general amnesty to the prisoners in the city, distribute weapons, and swear an oath of blood. He then ordered his father-in-law, Shi Zhan, to lead this ragtag army composed of prisoners into battle. Upon reaching the Wei River, before the two armies could engage in combat, the soldiers of prisoner origin scattered in panic, leaving not a single person behind. Shi Zhan became a commander without troops and had to turn back. Upon reaching the Wei River, before the two armies could engage in combat, the soldiers of prisoner origin scattered in panic, leaving not a single person behind. Shi Zhan became a commander without troops and had to turn back.

This is a matter of course

The outcome of such arrogance is naturally predictable. When Li Song, Deng Ye, Zhao Meng, and Shen Tu Jian arrived in Chang'an, they immediately charged Wang Xian with the crime of great disrespect for failing to present the imperial seal and executed him on the spot.

I raised my hand, and just as my hand was halfway through the air, he suddenly grabbed my wrist. He leaned in closer, his handsome and wicked face almost touching mine without any obstruction: "You clearly are a little wolf cub, yet you insist on retracting your claws and pretending to be a well-behaved and harmless little cat. Don't you find it rather ridiculous to do so?"

I struggle, glaring with anger: "So, according to Your Majesty's intention, this repeated coercion and provocation is meant to turn me from a cat into a wolf, to once again extend my claws towards you?"

Liu Xiu appeared to be in high spirits: "Dingguo Shanggong captured the Grand Tutor Wang Mang and General Wang Kuang alive in Luoyang, and executed them. Your Majesty was extremely pleased upon hearing the news, which is why a banquet was held in the evening to celebrate this great victory."

In fact, I also enjoy drinking, but in the presence of so many people, I still know how to restrain myself. Therefore, I only had a couple of symbolic drinks before seizing the opportunity to find an excuse to leave the table

He smiled as he reached out to take my hand, his calloused palm warm and strong. Although he appeared fragile, those broad shoulders were my favorite place to lean on.

I stumbled back a step, feeling a wave of nausea in my stomach. Struggling to suppress the turmoil within, I held my breath and pursed my lips in silence

A chill ran through my heart, and I lowered my head even further, wishing I could press my forehead against the toes of his shoes

Startled, I immediately became aware of my sitting posture. In this era, there are hardly any who would dare to sit on a stone; not to mention women, even among men, one would be hard-pressed to find a few. I quickly stood up, straightened my back, and respectfully bowed, saying: "This humble servant pays her respects to Your Majesty"

I raised my eyebrows, completely unaware of what tricks he was up to, but I remained vigilant, keeping a close watch on him

It is the ungraciousness of this humble servant

When speaking, I try to control my emotions and maintain a very steady tone, yet I greatly despise such vindictive acts of venting one's anger. Liu Xuan ordered Wang Mang's head to be hung in a crowded marketplace, merely to flaunt his victory to the world and simultaneously establish his imperial authority.

In fact, their intentions are no different from Liu Xiu's, so why must I stubbornly insist on asking for the specifics?

The night is cool as water, and the autumn breeze gently caresses my face. This year's autumn is also about to pass, and soon the cold winter will arrive. However, the journey back home is still distant and long... I do not know which year it will be...

Soon, I will send him to the Three Fuz to arrange matters concerning the capital. If he shows any unusual behavior after leaving Wan City, then..." He smiled, leaving his words unfinished.

I married Liu Xiu without hesitation to save him! But what about him? Is he truly just using me? Besides love, does he have even a trace of familial affection, gratitude, or friendship for me?

The men went to the hall to feast, while the women remained below in the hall. The leading figure among the women was Han Ji, the wife of Liu Xuan. Although Liu Xuan had declared himself emperor, he did not elevate this original wife to the position of empress, and now throughout the Han dynasty, everyone refers to her as "Madam Han".

I absolutely do not allow him to betray me

Your Majesty

Why did you come back so early today

Yin Lihua, you have paid such a great price merely to save Liu Xiu's life. Why not play a game with me and see if your beloved husband can pass this small test this time

A warning bell rang loudly in my heart, yet I could not confront him directly, so I could only respond with a smile: "Your Majesty, please feel free to instruct me, this humble servant shall certainly listen attentively"

To be honest! You promised me that you would tell the truth!

He gently responded with a sound, his eyelids drooping, casually removing the crown from his head

I was taken aback by his unusual gaze—although there seemed to be no significant difference in appearance, having spent a long time together, I had already discerned some of Liu Xiu's subtle habits. Whenever he fell silent and fixed his gaze on someone without moving his eyes, even if his face wore an innocent smile, it was certain that something was amiss

This is a conspiracy, a dark scheme laid out by Liu Xuan

I do not mean to say that I do not understand, nor that I do not comprehend, I simply... want to try to numb my sensitive nerves using the method suggested by Liu Boji. Just as Liu Xiucai mentioned earlier today, I do not necessarily have to scrutinize every matter. Whether it is Yin Shi or Liu Xiu, they are all genuinely good to me, and they are my family in this lifetime. Even if they indeed have ulterior motives towards me, they would never harm me

I did not lie to you

Did Yin Shi really hit you

Haha, hahaha... I indeed consider myself a true scoundrel, but your husband is a genuine hypocrite!

With a tight grip on my elbow, Liu Xuan supported me, preventing me from kneeling down: "I have deliberately slowed my pace, yet I still disturbed you."

I am unclear about the extent of my role in the scheme of the shadowy figure, but I would rather believe that he did not initially plan this arrangement with the intention of plotting against me; it was merely an opportunity that arose, which he took advantage of.

A sudden faint sound emerged from behind me, and I turned around alertly, unexpectedly meeting a pair of dull black eyes.

Wang Mang's head will soon be delivered to Wan City, and Liu Xuan within the government office must be overjoyed. The ministers of the Xin Han dynasty are likely already envisioning how to take up residence in Chang'an.

I shook my head violently, trying to shake off the chaotic thoughts in my mind. However, the devilish man in front of me clearly had no intention of letting me go; he firmly pressed down on my shoulder, laughing in a sinister manner. Under the bright moonlight, that face, half illuminated and half shrouded in shadow, appeared so grotesque and terrifying.

Throughout history, no emperor has appeared normal in the eyes of ordinary people His strange smile leaves one wondering whether it is a form of self-mockery or self-satisfaction

I involuntarily straightened my back and coldly said: "Your Majesty means for this humble servant to remain in Wancheng as a hostage?"

Why be so persistent

I shivered slightly

He walked past me and suddenly sat down on the stone where I had just been sitting, his imposing appearance nearly made my eyes pop out of their sockets

With the father absent, the eldest brother assumes the role of the father. Marriage should originally be decided by the elder brother. It is the lowly concubine who is disrespectful and does not dare to harbor resentment! What kind of gossip is this? When it reaches Liu Xuan's ears, how does the version escalate further, turning into the shadowy figure beating the unworthy younger sister?

During the Han Dynasty, the Duke of State was Wang Kuang, and Wang Mang, the Grand Tutor, was also named Wang Kuang. I wonder what it must have felt like for someone to be beheaded by a person who shares the same name and surname. With a sigh, I felt a sense of empathy and couldn't help but curiously ask: "It is said that Wang Mang's head was hung in the circular courtyard, and the common people gathered to watch, spitting and cursing, and even pulled out his tongue... Is this true?"

Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, having established the capital in Chang'an, restoring the Han dynasty and its territory, with the people's hearts aligned and the hopes of the masses directed towards you I lowered my head, striving to make my tone sound one hundred percent sincere

I gasped for breath, striving to dispel the gloom within my chest

Liu Xiu did not answer me immediately; he untied the tassel from his chin while turning around to face me

This is my bottom line; my bottom line allows me to accept only the latter explanation and not the former speculation

I want to know! There is a strong desire for knowledge within me! However, reason tells me that this desire is inappropriate, that I should not easily trust this man before me, nor should I heed any of his temptations. I should trust Liu Xiu and my own judgment; this tedious test is a double-edged sword that could undermine the trust we have built through our shared hardships.

Although the residence of the government office is not large, after Liu Xuan and his wife moved in, they renovated the garden. On autumn nights, as the leaves fall in abundance, strolling on the thick carpet of leaves offers a unique charm

Emperor Liu Xuan has increasingly become more impressive in his role, although the government office in Wancheng, serving as a temporary palace, is somewhat small and lacks grandeur. However, the officials awarded by the Han Dynasty are all present according to their ranks.

I find myself in a dilemma, my mind seemingly split in two, with angels and demons fiercely battling within me—I am unable to make a choice

What keen insight!

I casually picked up a large stone and sat down in the corridor, contemplating that after Liu Xiu finished his gathering, I would return home with him

The shadowy figure is a talent, and I cherish talent; I would not indiscriminately kill the innocent. Otherwise, if this precedent is set, capable hermits like Deng Yu and Zhuang Guang would be even less willing to align themselves with me. Your elder brother is merely playing petty tricks with me; he does not dare to openly oppose me. " He shot me a cold glance, his eyes sharp as ice, sending chills down my spine. "I have heard that you insisted on marrying Liu Xiu, but your elder brother did not allow it and even beat you at home? Do you harbor resentment towards him?"