Chapter 9: Time is Running Out

  Yuan Shu was tongue-tied and didn't know how to respond for a moment. Burning the Zhuque Temple was just his temporary anger, not because there were powerful enemies. But if I said I wanted to burn it, then I would have burned it, wouldn't that be too arrogant? Since that's the case, let's say there are enemies, but what kind of enemies could there be in Luoyang City? A few eunuchs were scared and panicked, burning the Zhuque Temple, isn't that too humiliating?

  Yellow Turban? That's even more impossible, anyone can tell that this is the Emperor humiliating him.

  In Liu Bian's predetermined two choices, Yuan Shu was in a dilemma, his face flushed bright red, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer. His temper flared up, he choked back his neck, just about to retort, the crowd parted like a tide to both sides, countless people involuntarily lowered their heads.

  Yuan Wei walked step by step towards the crowd.

  As soon as Yuan Yi arrived, the atmosphere changed immediately. Not only did Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu come forward to pay their respects, but even Dong Zhuo and Lu Zhi's expressions changed. Liu Bian clearly felt that Dong Zhuo's originally raised head lowered, while Lu Zhi's straight waist also bent slightly, and even Yang Bi, who rarely smiled, relaxed his expression, as if he had been refreshed by a spring breeze.

  The momentum Liu Bian had just built up vanished into thin air.

  "Your humble servant Yuan Yi, paying respects to Your Majesty." Yuan Yi stepped forward and greeted with the proper etiquette, his voice clear as a bell, each word entering the ear, even more pleasant than Yuan Shao's voice.

  Liu Bian felt a kind of charm different from that of Yuan Shao. If Yuan Shao was like an eagle swooping down with its wings closed, then the majestic and elegant Yuan Wei was like a phoenix that could make all birds pay homage to it, without any intimidating force, but with a warm and gentle light, between the opening and closing of his eyes, making people feel an urge to bow their heads in reverence.

  Facing Yuan Shao, Liu Bei could still use his identity to seize the loopholes in Yuan Shao's words and counterattack, leaving Yuan Shao speechless. Facing Yuan Xu, he could also set traps with his words, making Yuan Xu unable to respond. However, facing Yuan Wei, who had not yet spoken a word, he couldn't find any weakness and was powerless to fight back.

  "Your Majesty, the eunuchs have created chaos and taken you out of the palace, nearly toppling it. Fortunately, Your Majesty is safe and sound, which is a blessing from heaven. Although the Zhuque Temple is important, it cannot compare to Your Majesty's safety. I request that Your Majesty return to the palace to rest, allowing me to thoroughly investigate, and I will not let any treacherous officials escape. At that time, we can rebuild the Zhuque Temple and restore the imperial dignity."

  Yuan Wei's expression was warm and his words were humble, but Liu Bian detected a hint of cold sweat. He heard the threat in Yuan Wei's tone. It's chaotic here, hurry back to the palace and rest, don't stir up trouble. If something happens, no one can guarantee that last night's incident won't happen again. You might not have died by the Yellow River, but you could die under Zhuque Gate.

  Look at the surrounding evil-eyed Jìn military officers, Liu Bian knew that Yuan Yi was not talking nonsense. Although he had Zhang Xiu, Jia Xu and other 500 elite Western Liang cavalrymen by his side, they were no match for Yuan Shao's brothers. As long as Yuan Shao closed the city gate, he would be dead for sure.

  A few words of ingenuity, the entire situation was firmly grasped by Yuan Wei, and in just a few words, the matter was settled. Neither Lu Zhi's uprightness nor Dong Zhuo's savagery had any power to resist.

  Liu Bian furrowed his brow, neither affirming nor denying, and left Zhuque Temple to enter the Rear Palace.

  The situation in the palace is even more shocking and alarming.

  After a day of cleanup and clearing, the palace still reeked of blood, with stains and unremoved corpses everywhere. Every living person's face was etched with terror, their eyes wide with fear like rabbits. They were busy, not daring to rest, only in the non-stop bustle could they temporarily forget the nightmare that had just ended.

  Looking at those hurrying palace maids and officials, Liu Bian could no longer feel the warmth emanating from Yuan Shu's body.

  The majestic imperial palace has become a place where anyone can commit murder, with corpses scattered all over the ground and blood flowing everywhere. Is this still an imperial palace? Is this still an emperor? Liu Bian, you are truly incompetent, will you be poisoned to death by a cup of poisonous wine, dying in such a miserable way?

  Looking at the palace that was emitting an ominous aura everywhere, Liu Bian's heart rose with a surge of anger. Want to fight? Then I'll fight you all.

  He turned around and came to Changle Palace where Empress He was.

  The situation of Empress He was even more dire. Overnight, she had lost almost all her reliance: General-in-Chief He Jin was dead, Colonel of the Imperial Guards He Miao was also dead, and the military power of both the Northern and Southern Armies fell into the hands of the Yuan brothers. The eunuchs she relied on were also dead, and there was no one left in the palace who could help her devise strategies.

  She herself was also injured. Yesterday she jumped off the overpass and broke a leg, now unable to move.

  The Empress Dowager's face was ashen, her eyes dull and lifeless. Even when she saw Liu Bian standing in front of her, she only trembled and couldn't utter a word. Her face no longer showed any hint of jealousy or suspicion towards the young man before her. Looking at the Empress Dowager who had been frightened out of her wits, Liu Bian was momentarily at a loss for words. At this moment, he couldn't think of anything to comfort this mother who was both familiar and yet a stranger to him. Because he knew that their hardships were only just beginning, and if they couldn't turn things around, it wouldn't be long before they would follow in the footsteps of He Jin and He Miao.

  Liu Bian turned and left the Changle Palace, arriving at the Tuyuan Garden outside the west gate of the Beigong. The pool water was clear and sparkling, with a small waterfall cascading down from the artificial hill, pouring into the pool, stirring up a layer of white foam. The pool water churned, like a dragon playing in the water.

  Listening to the sound of water, Liu Bian unknowingly calmed down. He sat by the pool, took off his shoes and socks, and let his feet dangle in the water. The cool pool water swirled around his feet, refreshing him to the bone, causing Liu Bian's whole body to shiver with delight.

  "Damn it, I'll fight them to the end. Fighting one will be enough, fighting two will make a profit." Liu Bian thought for a moment, but couldn't think of anything good, so he cursed viciously and kicked the water in the pool, splashing up a wave of water.

  "Your Majesty, although this is a rash act, it is not unworthy of a man."

  A crisp sound came from behind, Liu Bian was startled, just about to turn around, suddenly understood who the comer was, and then relaxed again.

  Tang Ying was his wife in this life - to be precise, a princess. Before he ascended the throne, Tang Ying was already his queen. They could be considered a match made in heaven - his mother came from a butcher's family, while Tang Ying's uncle was once a powerful eunuch named Tang Heng, both of whom were looked down upon by society. Tang Ying was one year younger than him and was at the prime age of 28, but she didn't read many books; however, her strong personality made her more manly than "him", who had a weak personality.

  Many times, it was Tang Ying protecting him, rather than the other way around. Tang Ying had never said he was weak, but today, giving him a "husband" compliment, was also a first in their relationship.

  "You... are you okay?" Liu Bian turned around and looked at Tang Ying, saying somewhat unnaturally.

  "There's nothing wrong." Tang Ying sat down beside Liu Bian, sitting shoulder to shoulder with him. She turned her face, took a glance at Liu Bian, and slightly raised an eyebrow: "Your Majesty... is not quite the same as usual."