Chapter 2: The Sovereign at the End of the Han Dynasty

In the chaotic memories, Liu Hong gazed at the fleeting images, as if he had experienced everything of the boy who shared his name.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed. Liu Hong, accustomed to life after returning to the Han Dynasty, has resumed his usual coldness and indifference. The passing of the Dong family has left him with no attachments in this era, and no one can bind his will.

Looking at the darkening sky, Liu Hong let out a long sigh. His current life is strikingly similar to his childhood, as plain as water, and it does not matter whether he adapts or not

Half an hour later, Liu Hong slowly ceased his movements. As a former underground boxing fighter, he could not tolerate being a person without strength. Although his current body was still unable to withstand heavy training loads, he continued to cultivate his internal energy through the practice of internal martial arts, strengthening his organs and laying a solid foundation for future training.

As the sun sets in the west, a youthful figure moves among the verdant bamboo forest, following the rustling bamboo leaves stirred by the wind, performing a set of internal martial arts. The movements are remarkably skilled; if not for the lack of strength, one might almost believe that a grandmaster had come in person.

Regarding the matter of becoming emperor, Liu Hong did not feel much joy. Since the latter part of Emperor Xian of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the power of the imperial relatives began to be indulged, the entire empire gradually moved towards decline. Initially, the empress dowager held power, followed by the imperial relatives who long dominated the court. By the time of Empress Dowager Liang, her brother, General Liang Yi, known for his notorious tyranny, even poisoned the young emperor and conspired to establish three emperors in succession. It was not until the current emperor, Liu Zhi, allied with the eunuchs to execute his entire family that the imperial relatives were suppressed. However, the eunuch faction, supported by the emperor, inflicted damage on the empire that was no less severe than that caused by the arrogant imperial relatives, and in some respects, even exceeded it.

"Just do as instructed." Liu Hong glanced at the puzzled Liu Fu and said in a deep voice, the light in his eyes causing Liu Fu's heart to tremble. At that moment, Liu Fu was reminded of the marquis who had passed away many years ago, and he dared not ask any further questions.

"Young Master." Liu Hong's voice startled the servants outside. The elderly steward, over fifty, and Liu Hong's wet nurse, Zhao, pushed the door open. Upon seeing Liu Hong lying on the floor and the fallen Dong, they were both taken aback. They hurriedly helped Dong to her feet and carried Liu Hong back to bed.

"Young Master, it is time to return." Liu Fu, the old steward who had served in the household for forty years, looked at Liu Hong's silhouette, which had been silent for a long time before the grave, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. Ever since the mistress fell seriously ill, the young master seemed to have grown up all at once, and his face no longer bore a smile.

In order to maintain a low profile while also gaining a certain level of reputation, Liu Hong could not be certain whether his actions, if too abrupt, would still allow him to ascend to the throne. The Book of the Later Han and other historical records only briefly mention the ascension of Emperor Ling, noting the general Dou Wu, who held dual identities as both a maternal relative and a scholar. There is no mention of the eunuch faction at that time. However, to be on the safe side, it is most prudent to conceal one's talents and bide one's time, as it is likely that the eunuchs would be unwilling to see a capable and astute young emperor rise to power.

Silently removing the wild grass that had grown on the grave, Liu Hong's youthful face bore an unexpected coldness for his age. His father in this life, the late Duke of Xiedu, Liu Chang, was a cousin of the current Emperor Liu Zhi, who posthumously received the title of Emperor Xiaohuan. In less than three years, this Emperor Xiaohuan would pass away, and he would be welcomed as the new emperor, who would later become known as Emperor Xiaoling, favored by the Ten Attendants, leading to the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

"Uncle Fu, are you crying?" Turning around to see Liu Fu wiping the corner of his eyes, Liu Hong's voice carried a hint of warmth. Among the remaining people by his side, only this loyal old steward could evoke a sense of familial connection in him.

The death of Dong has left the people of Anguo County in deep lament. This resolute daughter of a humble family, after the death of her husband, sold off her possessions to preserve her son's title of Marquis of Ting, safeguarding the fief left by her husband, rendering the local powerful families helpless for many years. She can be regarded as a remarkable woman among her peers.

In his past life, having presided over a financial conglomerate instilled in Liu Hong an extraordinary desire for control; for him, mastering the entire empire is the only thing in this era that allows him to feel a sense of value in his existence

After the forty-nine days of mourning for the Dong family, when the funeral was finally held, Liu Hong instructed the old steward to lock up the Tinghou residence in Anguo County and moved to a thatched cottage beside the cemetery. He observed a three-year period of mourning for the Dong family in accordance with the rites of Zhou. This action immediately stirred the entire Anguo County. The Eastern Han Dynasty not only inherited the Western Han tradition of governing the world through filial piety but also placed great emphasis on Confucianism. However, the three-year mourning period prescribed by the Zhou rites was still not something everyone could achieve, let alone a six-year-old boy like Liu Hong. In no time, Liu Hong's reputation for filial piety spread from Anguo County throughout the entire Hanoi Commandery, causing the local powerful families to refrain from coveting the lands under the title of the Tinghou Marquis, as the fear of public opinion was significant.

"It’s nothing with the book, just some sand got into my eyes." Liu Fu quickly waved his hand, a few traces of a smile emerging on his wrinkled face. He did not want to be comforted by the son of his parents, who, in the end, would still have to console this useless person.

However, Liu Hong did not pay much attention to all of this, for he was no longer the naive boy who would later ascend to the throne at the age of twelve. No one could treat him as a pawn to be manipulated at will, especially since the empire had not yet reached a state of terminal decline.

After the early death of his father, his impoverished mother sold off most of the family assets to preserve his youthful title of Marquis of Ting, living frugally and carefully managing the small amount of land they had, raising him to this day

Mother! Perhaps it was the lingering affection of youth within him for the Dong family that caused Liu Hong to shout out.

Amidst the anxiety of the people, Liu Hong, who was able to move about, remained by the side of the Dong family, serving day and night, entrusting all matters to the old steward. For over a month, Liu Hong attended to the sickbed of the Dong family, yet in the end, the one who was supposed to become the Empress Dowager did not recover and passed away.

Before dawn, the youth on the sickbed opened his eyes, yet his originally youthful face suddenly conveyed a subtle sense of depth.

As Liu Hong gazed at the green waves of rice swaying along the roadside in the summer breeze, his worries eased somewhat. For someone like him, who was not financially well-off, a good harvest in a year could enable him to accomplish many things. Although his current landholdings were not extensive compared to those of the local gentry, they were all high-quality arable land. If it were not for the Dong family’s previous need to maintain the dignity of the Tinghou residence within the city and instead had moved to their estate on the outskirts of the county, life would not have been so strained.

"Quick, please call the doctor, hurry!" Liu Hong's voice was weak; after all, he was merely a six-year-old boy at this moment. Moreover, having just recovered from a serious illness, the sudden chill from the breeze had left his frail body feeling cold again. After just half a sentence, he fainted once more.

In the fifth year of Yanxi, early spring

In the mourning hall of the Liu family, Liu Hong knelt beside the altar. His body, still not fully recovered, appeared pale, and he looked thin and haggard, evoking deep sympathy from those who came to pay their respects, all remarking that the Dong family had raised a filial son

Entering the sparsely furnished dwelling, Liu Hong looked at Liu Fu who followed him and pondered for a moment before saying, "Uncle Fu, have all the boys aged six to twelve in the village come here to study tomorrow"

With the illness of the Dong family head, the previously improving Xiedu Pavilion Marquisate has fallen into a state of gloom and despair. Both the young master and the matriarch are gravely ill, and for the servants, it seems as if the sky is about to collapse.

Fortunately for the servants, just three days later, the unconscious young master awoke, and his health showed signs of improvement during the recuperation, which caused some hesitation among the powerful families who originally intended to take advantage of the situation to annex the land of the Tinghou residence. However, Madam Dong's condition remained serious, leaving the servants still uneasy; once the capable and astute matriarch were to pass, how would the young master, still in his youth, contend with those predatory powerful families.

The snow began to gradually melt, yet the chill remained piercing. Within a somewhat dilapidated residence in the northern part of Anguo County, the lights were bright. The head of the household, Mrs. Dong, kept a sleepless vigil by her six-year-old son's side, overwhelmed with sorrow. Having lost her husband at a young age, she could not bear the thought of her son facing any misfortune; if anything were to happen to him, she would not wish to live any longer.

After harboring his calculations, Liu Hong decided to refrain from taking any action for the time being. He would first cultivate a group of young confidants of similar age, as they would be the foundation for his survival and establishment in the unfamiliar imperial palace in the future. Eunuchs are detestable, and the imperial relatives are equally untrustworthy; in this world, he only trusts himself.

As Liu Hong surveyed the ancient room, his gaze finally settled on Dong Shi, who was leaning against the edge of the couch. Perhaps it was the bond between mother and son; the drowsy Dong Shi awoke and, seeing her pale-faced son, was both startled and overjoyed. "Hong'er, Mother..." Before she could finish her words, Dong Shi, who had been overexerting herself in recent days, stood up only to collapse onto the cold floor.

"Young Master, how can this be?" Liu Fu said, dumbfounded. Although he felt in his heart that this was a good thing, the long-standing notion of hierarchy still made him somewhat resistant.

After Liu Fu left, Liu Hong walked into the bamboo forest in the backyard of the thatched cottage, caressing the crisp and cool green bamboo, pondering whether to produce bamboo paper now. He had put considerable effort into studying "Tiangong Kaiwu," a Chinese encyclopedia of science and technology published during the Ming Dynasty, and remembered most of the paper-making processes. However, he did not intend to attract too much attention before ascending to the throne; the reputation of a filial son was sufficient.

Liu Hong's decision to observe a three-year mourning period was to avoid unnecessary expenditures and also to gain prestige. In this era, to earn the respect of others, one must either travel to study and associate with renowned scholars or cultivate virtue to become a role model. Although few achieve the latter, those who do are invariably esteemed scholars, highly revered by people across the world.