Liu Hong, who was lying on the couch, suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes, then sat up, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.

"Hong'er, you're finally awake...!"

Upon seeing Liu Hong suddenly sit up, Dong Shi and Dou Miao, who had been standing guard by his side, were not surprised but delighted, and approached him with concern.

"Mother....?"

Upon seeing Dong's tear-streaked face, Liu Hong was slightly taken aback.

Seeing the Empress Dowager looking at him with the same concern, Liu Hong finally came to his senses. He realized that he must have suddenly fainted, and that's why the Empress Dowager had taken his mother away.

"Mother, Mother, I'm alright. It's my fault for being unfilial and causing you worry..."

A faint smile appeared on Liu Hong's pale face as he looked sincerely at his two mothers. He then reached out to help Dong Shi wipe away the tears on her cheeks.

"It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright...!"

Feeling the warmth from her son's fingertips, Mrs. Dong nodded, a smile appearing on her face.

Watching the emperor and Dong Shi, mother and son, showing their deep affection, Dou Miao couldn't help but feel a slight sense of loss.

"Mother, you've had a hard time these past few days!"

Although Liu Hong didn't know how long he had been unconscious, seeing his mother appear before him, he figured it must have been quite a while, and it was clear that the Empress Dowager must have been under a lot of pressure these past few days.

"It's no trouble at all. You've worked tirelessly day and night, exhausting your energy, and it wasn't easy for the Han Dynasty to start to improve. As your mother, it's only right that I protect you..."

Hearing Liu Hong's sincere words and meeting his earnest gaze, the disappointment in Dou Miao's heart quietly dissipated. Seeing that the emperor, her birth mother, did not treat her with any distance, made Dou Miao very gratified, and she felt that all her efforts were worthwhile.

Chen Fan, Hu Guang, and others who were handling government affairs in the front hall were startled when they heard Liu Hong's loud shout. They quickly got up and went to the back hall.

Seeing the emperor, who had already sat up and was talking with the Empress Dowager and Lady Dong, everyone felt a mix of sorrow and joy, and the heavy weight in their hearts finally lifted.

"Your Majesty...you're finally awake...are you alright?"

Hu Guang, tears streaming down his face, went up to the young emperor before him, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"I am fine now, thank you all for your concern!"

Liu Hong smiled slightly, looking at the ministers in front of him who were all looking at him with concern, and couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

"His Majesty has just woken up and needs quiet. Gentlemen, please allow me to help His Majesty recover before we begin our conversation..."

Just as everyone was holding back their words and wanted to confide in someone, Hua Tuo suddenly walked over.

"Oh, yes, yes, Dr. Hua Tuo is right. His Majesty needs to rest. We should attend to state affairs first..."

Everyone then came to their senses and, led by Chen Fan, filed out, a relaxed smile on each of their faces.

After Hua Tuo, Zhang Zhongjing, and Dong Gan took turns examining Liu Hong and confirming that he was alright, and then watched him drink a bowl of thin porridge, Dong Shi and Dou Miao finally felt relieved.

Feeling a wave of weakness wash over him, Liu Hong, with Song Dian's help, got off the bed and stretched his legs.

Seeing Liu Hong pacing back and forth, Dou Miao smiled, then looked at Madam Dong and said with a smile, "Since Hong'er is alright, let's go now..."

Madam Dong nodded; she was quite familiar with the rules of the palace.

Then Dou Miao looked at Liu Hong and said, "Hong'er, your mother and I will be leaving now. Remember to come to Chang Le Palace for dinner tonight!"

"Yes, Mother, I respectfully see you off, Mother!!"

After Dou Miao and Madam Dong left, Liu Hong breathed a sigh of relief and then turned around and went into Deyang Palace.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

Upon seeing Liu Hong, everyone in the hall who was handling government affairs immediately put down their work and stood up to pay their respects.

"This is not a court assembly, so there's no need for such formalities!"

Looking at the people in the hall, there were not only veteran officials such as Chen Fan and Hu Guang, but also middle-aged men such as Yang Qiu and Xun Shuang, as well as young officials such as Xi Zhicai and Fa Zhen. The old and new were being replaced in an orderly manner, and the future of the Han Dynasty was promising. Thinking of this, Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction.

Afterwards, Liu Hong sat on the imperial throne, and everyone gathered around him. Then Liu Hong began to ask about what had happened while he was unconscious.

When Liu Hong learned that the Empress Dowager had issued an edict to arrest those lazy and negligent officials in the court, he simply nodded, glanced at Yang Qiu indifferently, and said nothing more.

The escort movement launched by the students of the Imperial Academy and the students of the three colleges made Liu Hong realize the importance of a sense of unity.

Liu Hong raised his head and looked outside, laughing as he said, "Now that I've awakened, why don't you all come with me to see them?!"

"promise!!"

Liu Hong then got up and walked outside, followed closely by Chen Fan and the others.

In front of Deyang Palace, on the square, the young men of the Imperial Guard still stood there in neat rows.

At the front of the procession, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, Sun Jian, Dian Wei, and others all stared resolutely at the gate of Deyang Palace.

Amidst the eager anticipation of the crowd, the palace doors slowly opened, causing everyone's expressions to shift and their breathing to quicken.

Finally, the figure they had been longing for reappeared before them.

In an instant, everyone's eyes shone with fervent light.

Seeing this, Liu Hong smiled slightly, then slowly walked down the steps towards the young men of the Imperial Guard.

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