Shuhan

Inside the hall, the flickering candlelight illuminated the lofty dragon throne. The Han emperor, Liu Chan, sat on it with deep eyes, as if examining everything below.

The hall seemed quiet, and Sun Lu, who had received the promise from the Han emperor, felt a little uneasy.

If I want to be the new King of Wu, I need your support!
Now, he is just waiting for the emperor's words.

Sun Lu, Marquis of Jianchang, stood in front of the hall with his head bowed, his expression respectful, his eyes flashing with unknown complex emotions.

Liu Chan spoke slowly, his voice echoing in the hall: "King Sun Deng of Wu should have been a pillar of the Han Dynasty, guarding Jiangdong and protecting the country and the people. However, in recent years, he has indulged in wine and women and neglected government affairs. He has failed my high hopes and is even more ashamed of the millions of people in Wu. In addition, his health is getting weaker and weaker, and I am afraid that he may not be able to survive any day. I have to make other plans for the stability of Wu and the interests of the country."

At this point, Liu Chan paused for a moment, glanced at Sun Lu, and continued, "I have heard that Sun Lu, the Marquis of Jianchang, is both talented and virtuous, loyal and filial, and is indeed a good choice to inherit the throne of the King of Wu.

Therefore, I hereby issue an edict to appoint Sun Lu as the crown prince of the King of Wu, so that when the time is right, he can inherit the throne of Wu and bring peace to the world."

As soon as the content of the edict was announced, a whisper was heard in the hall. Fei Yi, Huo Yi and others were surprised that Liu Chan actually issued an edict on the spot. For a moment, they looked at each other in surprise.

Sun Lu was struck by lightning. He stood there in a daze, with an indescribable excitement and ecstasy in his heart.

He never imagined that one day he would be favored by the Emperor of the Han Dynasty and become the crown prince of the Wu Kingdom. What an honor it was!

After a moment, Sun Lu suddenly came to his senses, knelt down quickly, and kowtowed like crazy, each time as if he would break his forehead, to express his inner gratitude and loyalty.

"Your Majesty, I, Sun Lu, am deeply grateful for your kindness! I am willing to swear my loyalty to the Han Dynasty until my death, even if it means sacrificing my life for the country!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and there were even tears in his eyes.

Brother Wang, Brother Wang!
If he becomes the crown prince, can Sun Deng still hold on to the throne of King of Wu?

Seeing this, Liu Chan curled up a barely perceptible smile and waved his hand, signaling Sun Lu to stand up.

"Marquis Jianchang does not need to be so polite. As long as you are loyal to the Han Dynasty, even if you are of a different surname, you can be crowned king and appointed prime minister, and share the glory.

What I value is your ability and loyalty. I hope you will live up to my expectations and those of the people of Wu in the future."

Sun Lu stood up, his face still showing an irrepressible joy, but his eyes had a bit more determination and resoluteness.

From this moment on, his fate was closely linked to the Han Dynasty and the Wu Kingdom. He had to prove with his actions that he was worthy of this honor and the trust of the Han emperor.

The news spread quickly from the palace to every corner of Jianye like a spring breeze.

Especially with the instigation of the Military Affairs Bureau, the speed of news transmission was even faster.

In the streets of Jianye, people gathered together and discussed the major event that Sun Lu was named Prince Crown Prince by the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

There were crowds of people and a lot of noise everywhere, beside the tea stalls and in front of the cloth shops.

"Hey, have you heard? King Sun Deng of Wu has been deposed, and now his younger brother Sun Lu has become the crown prince." An old man stroked his beard and shook his head and said.

"Yes, I've heard that Sun Deng is addicted to wine and women and doesn't care about state affairs at all. How can such a person be worthy of being our King of Wu?" a young man replied indignantly.

"Hmph, what about indulging in alcohol and sex? These are just false accusations." A middle-aged man in gorgeous clothes sneered.

"I think the Emperor of Han must be behind this. Maybe he was attracted by the beauty of our Princess Wu and deliberately made trouble to force Sun Deng to step down."

There have been too many romantic scandals involving Liu Gongsi recently.

Whenever a family lost their daughter, they would say that the daughter was abducted to the Han emperor's palace.

"Oh, don't say that." A woman next to him quickly covered his mouth.

"How can we discuss the emperor's affairs so casually? Be careful not to cause trouble."

"What are you afraid of? Even the emperor can't cover up everything, right?" Someone else interrupted.

"I heard that the reason why Sun Lu was named the crown prince was because he agreed to some conditions of the Han emperor. Otherwise, how could a Jianchang Marquis be named the crown prince?"

"Well, no matter what, Sun Lu seems to be a capable man. If he can really bring stability to Jiangdong and reduce the war, then I am willing to acknowledge him as the crown prince." An old man sighed, seeming helpless about the current situation.

People were talking about the matter in the streets. Some were amazed at the emperor's decision, while others were worried about the future of the State of Wu.

For Sun Lu, this was not just a change of identity, but also a turning point in his life.

He began to prepare, learning how to govern the country and consolidating his position in Wu, while also dealing with doubts and challenges from all sides.

The news that Sun Lu became the crown prince was like a sudden storm that quickly swept across the entire Jianye City and quietly blew into the deep courtyard of the Prince of Wu's Palace.

At this time, King Sun Deng of Wu was immersed in playing with a group of beauties. He had his eyes blindfolded, with an obscene and satisfied smile on his face, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a hint of greed.

His hands were grabbing at the air randomly, as if he could catch those lightly dodging figures in this way. Every time he grabbed at nothing, he let out a low and lascivious laugh.

All around, beauties in thin, revealing clothes were laughing and making noises. Their voices were charming and moving, like the sounds of nature, which made people intoxicated.

Their bodies glow alluringly in the sun, their skin is as white as snow, smooth and delicate, as if it would melt with the slightest touch.

The clothes of these beauties are thin and transparent, like cicada wings, vaguely revealing their graceful figures inside, which makes people imagine endlessly.

"My king, come and catch me!" A beautiful woman called out in a tender voice. Her voice was clear and pleasant, like an oriole flying out of a valley, making people want to chase her.

She was wearing a light pink chiffon dress, the hem of which fluttered in the wind, like a fairy descending to earth.

"Haha, beauty, don't run!"

Sun Deng became even more excited when he heard this. He pounced forward suddenly, but missed, causing the beauties to laugh.

He did not feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he pursued those beauties even more wantonly, as if this was the greatest pleasure in his life.

Seeing this, another beauty also laughed and shouted: "My lord, you can't catch us! We can fly!"

She was wearing a turquoise long skirt with lifelike blooming lotus flowers embroidered on it. Her figure was graceful and charming, like a fairy who walked out of a painting, making people yearn for her.

Sun Deng was attracted by their words and chased them even harder.

He was like a hungry beast chasing its prey.

And those beauties, like nimble rabbits, evaded his capture nimbly.

The entire Wu Wang Mansion was filled with laughter and charming shouts.

These erotic scenes are like moving paintings, which make people intoxicated and unable to extricate themselves.

For Sun Deng, such scenes have become a part of his daily life. He is addicted to them and never gets tired of them.

However, at this joyous moment, Gu Tan and Zhang Xiu rushed into the Prince of Wu's palace.

They looked anxious and their eyes revealed uneasiness.

However, when they stepped into Sun Deng's play area, they were mistaken for new beauties and were embraced by Sun Deng.

"Eh? Beauty, why do you have a stick hidden under you?" Zhang Xiu was angry and anxious. He struggled to get out of Sun Deng's arms and shouted, "My king, it's already this late, and you still have the leisure to do this! His Majesty is very dissatisfied with you and has appointed the Marquis of Jianchang as the crown prince. Your position as the King of Wu is no longer stable!"

When Sun Deng heard this, the smile on his face froze instantly. He suddenly took off his blindfold, revealing a pair of shocked eyes.

He looked around, as if trying to find a trace of reality on the faces of those smiling beauties, but everything seemed so unreal.

"What are you talking about?" Sun Deng's voice trembled a little, he couldn't believe his ears.

He has always been the ruler of the kingdom, even if only in name.

Although he has been addicted to alcohol and women lately, he has never thought that his position would be threatened.

I am so addicted to wine and women, shouldn't you, Liu Gongsi, be more at ease?

How can you use this as an excuse to deprive me of my title as King of Wu?
Is this appropriate?

Gu Tan sighed, walked to Sun Deng and whispered, "Your Majesty, you can't go on like this. His Majesty has lost patience with you. He appointed the Marquis of Jianchang as the crown prince as a warning to you. If you don't pull yourself together, your position as King of Wu will really be lost!"

Sun Deng was stunned. He stared at Gu Tan blankly, as if he was looking at a stranger.

An unprecedented panic and anxiety surged in his heart.

Is it really for your own enjoyment?

Maybe it's because of other reasons.

Why bother to accuse someone?

Or is it because of that bitch?

That bitch, having sex with Liu Gongsi, may have put herself in an irreversible situation.

Damn Zhuge Ke, you’ve caused me so much harm!

Sun Deng looked around. The beauties who had once fascinated him had now become quiet, with expressions of worry and fear on their faces.

He suddenly felt nauseous and bored. He had been pretending to be living such an empty and meaningless life.

But it is of no use wasting precious lives.

hateful!

hateful!

He stood up suddenly, pushed away the beauty beside him, and strode towards the study.

His heart was filled with regret and anger, and he knew he had to make changes, otherwise he would really be overwhelmed by the torrent of history.

just
How to change?

If he cheered up, wouldn't the Han Emperor want to kill him as soon as possible?

too difficult!
This question is too difficult!

The New Year's Day court meeting has always been the largest court meeting of the year.

It was originally scheduled to be held on New Year's Day, but because Liu Chan was in Eastern Wu and people from all over the country had not yet arrived in Jianye, it was not held on New Year's Day. Instead, the 15th day of the first lunar month was chosen to hold the New Year's Day court meeting.

At dawn, the sky turns a gentle blue. Above the palace, it is magnificent and golden. The morning light and the glazed tiles complement each other, creating a glorious scene.

On the eve of the court meeting, civil and military officials, and envoys from all directions had arrived one after another. They were dressed in gorgeous clothes and lined up in order according to their rank. Their clothes fluttered in the wind and were colorful, like a flowing painting.

The air was filled with a faint scent of incense, intertwined with the occasional sound of stringed instruments coming from afar.

When the time came, Emperor Liu Chan, wearing a royal robe and a crown with twelve tassels on his head, walked slowly and steadily into the court, sat in the porch, and exuded majesty.

The crown was glittering with pearls and jade, shining brightly, making his face look even more majestic and sacred.

All the officials and envoys saluted and shouted "Long live the emperor" so loud that the roof tiles shook.

The court meeting officially began, and the etiquette officer read out the congratulatory message loudly:
On the New Year's Day, the world is bright and clear, all officials are solemn, and all nations come to pay homage. I am honored to attend the grand ceremony in accordance with the will of heaven. I am grateful for the prosperity of the times and would like to encourage you all.

The old year has passed, and the new year has begun. Everything is renewed, and a hundred blessings have come. I am a virtuous man, and I have inherited the great cause. I work day and night to think about how to repay the gift of heaven and improve people's livelihood. I hope that my people can live and work in peace, have enough food and clothing, and share the blessing of peace.

Today, all the wise men and women are here, young and old. I hope that all of you will express your loyalty and contribute to the country, and celebrate this auspicious day with the joy of the wise. I will also work hard to govern the country, be diligent in government and love the people, so that our country will prosper, the world will be unified, and the benefits will be spread all over the world for thousands of years.

New Year's Day is the beginning of the year; the court meeting is the key to politics. I hope that starting from this day, the monarch and his subjects will work together to achieve great things, so that our country will have long-term peace and stability, and its foundation will be forever solid.

All of you should work hard! Let us celebrate the new year and pray for peace and prosperity for our country and our people!
Afterwards, Emperor Liu Chan raised his cup, saluted the four directions, and announced the start of the banquet. Music suddenly sounded, singing and dancing were in full swing, and the palace maids danced lightly, like colorful clouds, adding a touch of softness and joy to this solemn occasion.

At the banquet, there was a dazzling array of fine wines and delicacies, which was dizzying.

The golden cup is filled with clear and delicious wine with an attractive color. With just a sniff, you can feel the mellow aroma of the wine, as if it can wash away a year's worth of dust.

There are all kinds of delicacies on the table, including roasted lamb legs from the grassland, with tender meat and fragrant aroma; steamed fish from the south, with delicate meat and delicious taste; and Western wines and exotic fruits. Every bite is an ultimate temptation to the taste buds.

After tasting the food, everyone praised it highly and laughed happily.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the atmosphere became more and more lively.

However, just as everyone was immersed in joy, a sudden incident broke the tranquility.

A seemingly ordinary waiter, with a barely perceptible flash of determination in his eyes, silently pulled out a sharp dagger from the bottom of the plate, his movements were so fast that people were caught off guard.

His target was directly aimed at the lofty dragon throne, the Han emperor Liu Chan!
At this critical moment, the guards on the side had already noticed something was wrong. They were well-trained and reacted quickly. Almost at the same time as the waiter took action, they rushed out like an arrow and captured the assassin firmly.

The whole process was clean and neat, without any panic, as if it had been prepared in advance.

There was a moment of silence in the court, and everyone was stunned by this sudden change.

Liu Chan's expression became extremely solemn at that moment, but then he regained his usual composure. His eyes were as sharp as torches, scanning the entire room, as if looking for some answer.

After being subdued, the assassin's eyes showed no fear, but instead a look of determination and heroism.

The court meeting was interrupted as a result, and a sudden storm cast a shadow over the originally celebratory atmosphere.

All the officials and envoys looked at each other, each with their own speculations in their minds, but no one dared to speak easily.

After a moment's silence, Liu Chan announced the temporary end of the court meeting and ordered his men to arrest the assassin and take further action after the truth was revealed.

As the crowd dispersed, the palace returned to peace again, but the assassination was like a huge rock thrown into the originally calm lake, causing ripples.

Everyone is full of questions: who did it? Why? What kind of conspiracy and calculation is hidden behind this assassination?

Among the crowd, the expression of Wu Wang Sun Deng has changed drastically! (End of this chapter)