Han family achievements

Chapter 374 The Truth

At noon the next day, Chen stayed at the palace.

"Is this the first time I've come here?"

Liu Bian braved the snow and walked leisurely in the yard, smiling with Liu Xie beside him.

Regarding Liu Bian's sudden arrival, Liu Xie was extremely nervous. He kept his face still and said with a smile: "It should be the third time. The first time was when my younger brother gave birth to a child. The second time was when my grandmother was sick. This is the third time." .”

Liu Bian nodded, glanced at him, and said, "Am I not qualified as an elder brother?"

Liu Xie said quickly: "Your Majesty, who is busy with everything, can still think of my brother. This is my great blessing. How can I be unqualified?"

Liu Bian didn't really care about this, and said, "I remember that little guy in your family asked the princess to take the child into the palace if nothing happened. The queen mother likes children. They are also brothers, so don't want to be separated."

There were actually many children in the palace. In addition to Liu Bian's three children, there were also He Xian's son He Yan, Cao Cao's son Cao Pi, Xun Yu's son Xun Yun, etc.

"Yes." Liu Xie was quietly alert and responded calmly.

Until now, Liu Xie still didn't know the purpose of Liu Bian's sudden visit.

After spending so many years together, Liu Xie has lost his immaturity and has learned enough about His Majesty the Imperial Brother.

This brother of his has always been unwilling to do anything early. When he suddenly does something, there must be some purpose, and he will never waste time for no reason.

Liu Bian somewhat guessed what Liu Xie was thinking. He looked around and said, "Your place is quite clean."

Halfway through, Liu Bian only saw a dozen servants, and the huge courtyard seemed very deserted.

Liu Xiedao: "My grandmother likes to be clean, and I don't need so many servants, so there are only thirty servants in total."

These Liu Bian naturally knew that Liu Xie had been careful at all times since he became sensible, for fear of giving Liu Bian an excuse to kill him.

Thinking about the difficulty of this younger brother, Liu Bian also lamented his tolerance. Some people in history would have been killed long ago.

Liu Bian went all the way north, passing through the walls and houses, chatting with Liu Xie from time to time.

The yard was very big, and after walking for a long time, Liu Xie was already worried, but now he was gradually panicking.

Because they were going around and around, Liu Bian was heading towards the courtyard of their grandmother, Empress Dowager Dong!

Ever since Empress Dowager Dong moved into Prince Chenliu's palace, she has been living in seclusion and not seeing anyone. Apart from the occasional serious illness over the years, almost no one knew she was still alive.

"My brother, I heard that your Majesty has recently hired two new envoys?" Liu Xie tried to change the subject and calm his inner panic.

Liu Bian snorted, then smiled and said: "Yes. Sun Ce collected them for me. I saw that they were beautiful, so I accepted them."

Liu Xie bowed, but his eyes were fixed on Liu Bian's profile.

How could he believe Liu Bian's words? He had not accepted the harem for so many years, but he accepted the two girls sent by Sun Ce. There must be some relationship that they didn't understand!

Just as Liu Xie was thinking about answering, Liu Bian had already said, "She is the daughter of the Qiao family. Although she is from a small family, she is well-educated and well-known. She is a famous beauty."

Liu Xie couldn't guess the key, so he smiled in agreement and said, "Since His Majesty values ​​her so much, I think she must be as beautiful as a fairy."

Liu Bian smiled and waved his hands, with a humble expression on his face. He slowly stopped and arrived in front of a courtyard.

Compared with other places in Chenliu Prince's Mansion, this courtyard is not exquisite, but it is clean and tidy everywhere. It is obvious that someone is taking care of it at all times and is taking care of it.

The maids and servants at the door have already come to greet him, their movements and expressions are full of fear.

The competition between King Chenliu and His Majesty in front of them made them panic.

Liu Bian glanced at Liu Xie and strode in.

Liu Xie secretly took a breath and followed closely. Just as he was about to step through the door, he saw Fu Shi not far away holding the child in his arms and hurriedly approaching with a look of fear on his face.

Liu Xie's eyes widened and he immediately stopped her with his eyes.

Fu Shi pursed her lips, hesitated again and again, and did not come over again.

Liu Xie took a deep breath, pretended that nothing happened, and quickly followed Liu Bian.

The tall Dian Wei had a panoramic view of everything, but he turned a blind eye.

Liu Bian walked into the courtyard of Empress Dowager Dong and went straight to the Xiangtang.

When he came to the door, he smelled a strong aroma. Liu Bian couldn't tell what it was. After walking a few steps, he saw Empress Dowager Dong with her back to him, kneeling in front of a golden statue, worshiping devoutly. .

Liu Bian had always known that Empress Dowager Dong believed in ghosts and gods, so he was not surprised at all to see her like this.

Up and down the Han Dynasty, I don’t know how many people believed in this or that. It was so complicated that they were countless.

"Liu Bian has met his grandmother."

Liu Bian walked in quite carelessly, raised his hand and said loudly.

Empress Dowager Dong paused visibly, then ignored it and quietly faced the golden statue, as if praying for something.

Liu Xie watched from the side and opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Liu Bian didn't care about his grandmother's prejudice against him. He took off his shoes and cotton-padded clothes, sat down at the small table, and poured tea by himself.

Liu Xie didn't dare to sit down, so he stayed with him cautiously.

Liu Bian drank tea and waited patiently.

I don't know how long it took, but Empress Dowager Dong finally turned around, with long eyebrows and narrow eyes, looking at Liu Bian with contempt and indifference, and said in an indifferent tone: "I thought you would wait until the day I die before you come to see me. .”

Liu Bian raised his eyebrows, a little surprised. This cheap grandmother was a little angry.

"What did grandma say?"

With a smile on his face, Liu Bian said: "As long as grandma is willing, I will take grandma into the palace and see her every day."

Empress Dowager Dong immediately snorted coldly and said, "You think I am too slow to die."

The corners of Liu Xie's mouth moved. The two men started sarcastic when they met, which made him even more uneasy.

Liu Bian held the tea cup with both hands and said, "Grandma has misunderstood my filial piety. Today or tomorrow?"

Empress Dowager Dong's expression became increasingly cold as she stood up and sat across from Liu Bian.

"Tell me, why did His Majesty come to see me, an old woman who is dying, in person on the snowy day?" Empress Dowager Dong's tone became more and more unkind.

Empress Dowager Dong didn't care at all about Liu Bian's 'threat'.

Their 'grandfather and grandson' pair have never had the slightest feeling of grandfather and grandson. In the eyes of Empress Dowager Dong, only Liu Xie, who was raised by her, was the only one, and Liu Bian, the son of Empress Dowager He, was an evil obstacle - just as vicious!

Liu Bian looked at Empress Dowager Dong's expression, thought over and over again, and suddenly realized the key.

Dong Zhuo has always pretended to be the Queen Mother Dong's family, and has had many relationships with the Dong family. After Dong Zhuo's death, the imperial court settled accounts and executed many members of the Dong family.

Empress Dowager Dong was probably angry because of this.

What a disaster...

Liu Bian shook his head inwardly. He really didn't deliberately target him and simply didn't beat around the bush. He said, "I heard that my grandmother also joined the Five Pecks of Rice Cult?"

Mrs. Dong didn't change her expression, she looked at her coldly and said, "So what?"

She didn't notice that Liu Xie's face was pale and his lips were trembling. Liu Xie is in charge of Yushitai, one of the three major power agencies in the imperial court today. How could he not know that Shangshutai is plotting to eradicate the Five Pecks of Rice Sect!

Liu Bian sat up straight with a smile and said: "First, my grandmother never knew about the Five Pecks of Rice Sect. Second, I know that some people have joined the Five Pecks of Rice Sect in order to cling to my grandmother. I want a list. Third..."

Liu Bian said, turned his head, looked directly at Liu Xie, and said: "If the emperor brother can't take care of my grandmother, please send her to the palace."

"His Majesty!"

Liu Xie knelt down with a bang, his head covered in cold sweat, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, grandmother, grandmother..."

Liu Xie, who had always been thinking very hard, could not find anything to say and was extremely flustered.

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Dong looked at Liu Xie again and instantly realized the seriousness of the matter. He immediately sat upright and said anxiously: "I joined the Five Pecks of Rice Sect to pray and eliminate evil. It has nothing to do with anything else. Those people, those people, have no other intentions... The list, I will write the list to you, you Don't get me wrong, Xie'er doesn't know at all..."

Liu Xie knocked his head on the ground, feeling cold all over.

It’s okay if you don’t explain it. This explanation is simply solid!

"Write." Liu Bian calmly took another sip of tea.

Empress Dowager Dong was even more frightened than Liu Xie, and kept saying: "I'll write, I'll write! Bring me a pen and paper!"

The servant held the Four Treasures of the Study, arranged them with trembling hands, and quickly retreated.

Empress Dowager Dong finished writing carefully, and then argued with Liu with chapped lips, saying in a trembling voice: "Believe me, I don't know those things, and neither does Xie'er. You, don't misunderstand..."

Liu Bian took it over and looked at the list carefully. He suddenly looked up at Empress Dowager Dong and said, "I have one more question."

"Say." Empress Dowager Dong said while suppressing her panic. She was actually not afraid of death. She was almost seventy, but she couldn't just watch Liu Xie being killed by Liu Bian who found an excuse.

Liu Bian put down the list, with a strange look on his face, and said, "Where did my grandmother get the money? This year, my grandmother donated tens of millions to the Five Pecks of Rice Sect. Adding in the money given to the Dong family over the years, it is at least hundreds of thousands." Min, how can grandma have more money than my treasury?"

Empress Dowager Dong was startled for a moment, her expression a little stiff, but seeing Liu Xie still kneeling on the ground tremblingly, she could only say: "Late Emperor, I have received a lot of filial piety. Most of this money is in the imperial garden outside the palace. After you succeed to the throne, None of the major chaos was affected."

"Oh~"

Liu Bian's eyes widened and he nodded in surprise.

Empress Dowager Dong is the same as his cheap father Ling Emperor, or Ling Emperor was taught by Empress Dowager Dong - extremely greedy for money.

In order to be greedy for money, Emperor Ling did everything possible, including selling his official position and winning titles. He even went so far as to force officials from both the government and the public to bribe him, which was simply ridiculous to the extreme.

And this Empress Dowager Dong is not bad either, she has many ways to make money.

Compared with Emperor Ling who built gardens everywhere, indulged in wine, sex, and money, and spent money like water, Empress Dowager Dong never plucked a dime, and accumulated a lot of money over the years.

And she put the money in the imperial garden outside Luoyang City, which was not affected by the chaos in Luoyang. Unlike the imperial palace which was robbed and torn apart, it was spared and preserved.

Then, Liu Bian's eyes were half-closed and his eyes were beating.

He thought of another thing, another person-Cao Cao!

At that time, Cao Cao was also the captain of Xiyuan School. When Yuan Shao led his troops into the palace, Cao Cao disappeared.

During this great chaos, Cao Cao remained secretive. No one knew what he had done. He only came to the fore after the fact.

If he took the opportunity to steal a large amount of money and food and hid it silently, would it explain the source of the mysterious money and food he had used to support his troops in recent years?

Liu Bian's face suddenly filled with emotion, and he said in a long voice: "Sure enough, the end of the dynasty, people's hearts are scattered..."

Empress Dowager Dong couldn't understand why Liu Bian suddenly sighed. She stared at Liu Bian and said, "I have already written to you. You must promise me that this matter cannot involve Xier."

Liu Bian came back to his senses and saw Liu Xie still kneeling on the ground. He smiled and said, "Okay, get up. I know you didn't participate."

Liu Xie quietly wiped the cold sweat on his head and said, "Your Majesty has learned from this."

He stood up tremblingly, his face still pale.

Liu Bian looked at him for a moment and said, "How about I leave the case of the Five Dou Rice Cult to you to investigate?"

"Wei Chen accepts the order!" Liu Xie raised his hand and said almost without thinking.

Liu Bian hummed, took another sip of tea, stood up, patted his butt, and said, "Let's go."

Empress Dowager Dong looked at Liu Bian's back and hesitated to speak.

She never believed in this grandson, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Liu Xie wanted to ask Empress Dowager Dong something, but when he saw Liu Bian was leaving, he quickly saw him off in person.

Liu Bian left the Chenliu Palace, gave the list written by Empress Dowager Dong to Zuo Li, and then got on the carriage.

Inside the carriage, there was warm jade and soft fragrance, not only charcoal, but also two beauties - Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.

The two women quickly took off Liu Bian's cotton-padded clothes and handed him a hot water bottle.

Liu Bian sat between the two of them and breathed out comfortably.

"Your Majesty, is everything going well?" Xiao Qiao pressed Liu Bian's shoulder and asked softly.

Da Qiao opened the hot water bottle in his hand and handed it to Liu Bian.

Liu Bian glanced at them from side to side and said with a smile, "It went well."

"That's good." Xiao Qiao said playfully.

Xiao Qiao speaks playfully, but her appearance is mature and elegant. She looks more like an older sister than her age. She has a baby face and looks delicate and innocent.

It's quite a contrast.

The two of them didn't say much, and just stayed with Liu Bian quietly.

Liu Bian left relaxedly and contentedly, but Prince Chenliu's palace was not quiet.

Liu Xie and his wife talked to Empress Dowager Dong for a long time, and they actually started crying.

On the other side, Zuo Li, who got the list from Liu Bian, has returned to Huangmen Beisi Prison.

A group of cruel officials from the Huangmen North Temple Prison were studying the list. One of the military lords said: "Noble sir, there are some discrepancies in this list. Some of them are unknown to us, and some are not on the list yet."

Zuo Li sat in the middle, with a cold smile on his snow-white face, and said: "It's not that important whether you are there or not, we'll catch them all together."

The military marquis was startled and said in a low voice: "My lord, if we arrest so many people this time, won't something happen?"

Zuo Li glanced at him and then turned to the others. They all looked worried and couldn't help but sneered, "Don't you understand yet? Is Shangshutai cleaning up the Five Pecks of Rice Cult? It's just Zhang Lu who can use it." Such a big battle? Even His Majesty came out of the palace in person?"

The military prince who spoke suddenly understood, but for a moment he didn't dare to express his anger.

"Understood?" Zuo Li had a smile on his face, but his tone was neither salty nor light.

"Understood!" All the cool officials nodded heavily, all looking at Zuo Li.

Zuo Li sneered and said: "Then what are you waiting for? Get rid of all your people. What we need to catch now is what we couldn't catch in the past. This time, it's all in one pot!"

"General, take your orders!" Everyone raised their hands and responded in a low voice.

(End of this chapter)