Empress He smiled and gracefully bowed to Liu Hua.

"Oh dear, Your Majesty is too kind. I am not worthy of such hospitality!" Liu Hua stepped forward to help Empress He.

"Could this pretty young lady be Shou'er, whom His Majesty often mentions?"

After exchanging a few polite words with Liu Hua, Empress He began to praise Liu Hua's daughter, Fu Shou.

"Shou'er greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed!" Fu Shou was very obedient and immediately bowed to Empress He.

Empress He was overjoyed: "What a well-mannered young lady!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Empress He invited Liu Hua and her daughter into the palace and served them a pile of exquisite dried fruit and other delicacies.

"Does the Princess send her greetings to His Majesty?"

"Yes, His Majesty looks increasingly haggard, which is indeed a cause for concern. However, with Your Majesty's meticulous care, he will surely recover in the future."

Liu Hua said absentmindedly.

After meeting Liu Hong during her visit to the palace, she knew that her time was up and it was only a matter of time.

However, He Hui, the birth mother of Liu Bian, the Prince of Hongnong, had already announced to the court officials that she would rule the harem, serve as the mother of the nation, and become the empress.

But his son is not yet the crown prince.

However, with Liu Hong falling ill, this issue has been put on the agenda and must be resolved.

The crown prince has not yet been chosen. Wouldn't this make the already precarious Han Dynasty even more chaotic?

The current situation is that Empress He is in charge of the inner palace, and He Jin is a Grand General, holding a high position and great power, controlling the military, and all the important officials in the court are obedient to him.

The power of the two siblings had far surpassed that of Empress Dowager Dong and the Ten Attendants.

Even though there were still a group of old ministers who had a past relationship with Empress Dowager Dong, they all switched sides after the death of Empress Dowager Dong's younger brother, Dong Zhongyi.

Moreover, the vacant position of General of Chariots and Cavalry also fell into the hands of the He family, and He Miao took over the post.

With a plethora of strategists at his disposal, He Jin also effectively controlled the army in the capital region.

Everyone agreed that Liu Bian was the only one fit to be the crown prince.

Even if Liu Hong wanted to pass the throne to Liu Xie, the He family would absolutely not agree.

Princess Liu Hua witnessed He Hui's meteoric rise from the time her elder brother Liu Hong began to favor her, transforming her from the sister of a butcher into the empress in less than two years!

Liu Hua's heart was already stirred.

Seeing his daughter grow up and become more and more beautiful, Liu Hua was determined to make her an empress as well.

This time, in addition to visiting Liu Hong's illness, he also wanted to visit Empress He to arrange a marriage between his daughter and Liu Bian, the Prince of Hongnong.

In her view, this was the perfect way for her, as the eldest princess, to climb back to the pinnacle of power.

If He Jin, a butcher, could become a great general, then his six sons must have been even more capable.

Once Fu Shou becomes empress, all of this will be within her grasp.

"Your Highness, there is something I must say. It is said that a mother's status rises with her son's. I am already the Empress, so Bian'er should be the Crown Prince."

"But His Majesty has yet to appoint an heir, which makes the country unstable!"

This matter had always been a thorn in Empress He's side, a constant source of anxiety for her.

Based on Yu Ji's previous divination, if Liu Hong never establishes a crown prince, could it be that the illegitimate son Liu Wei will seize the throne?

This is something Empress He absolutely did not want to see.

Now that the eldest princess was by her side, Empress He began to complain, intentionally or unintentionally.

"That's absolutely right!"

Liu Hua ate some dried fruit and said, "Only by establishing an heir apparent as soon as possible can the country remain stable!"

Immediately afterwards, Liu Hua said, "I heard that the Prince of Hongnong is not yet married or engaged. I do have a marriage proposal, and I would like to hear the Empress's opinion."

Empress He was slightly taken aback. She glanced at Fu Shou, who was sitting properly to the side, and immediately understood what was going on:

"Could it be that the Princess wishes to arrange a marriage between my son and your daughter?"

"hehe!"

Liu Hua smiled broadly, "Your Majesty's words are spot on. The Prince of Hongnong is already of marriageable age and should consider taking a concubine."

“My daughter is ten years old this year. When the Prince of Hongnong comes of age, we can marry her. It will be just the right time.”

"If Your Majesty agrees to this marriage, in a couple of days, I, along with my two younger sisters and a group of members of the royal family, will go and persuade my elder brother."

"Your Majesty will surely listen to what my three sisters say."

"The royal family also supported the succession of the Prince of Hongnong."

After listening, Empress He understood.

Although the eldest princess held a noble position, she did not wield much real power.

But things will be different once her daughter becomes empress.

As the empress's mother, the eldest princess could easily become a maternal relative like the He family.

At that time, even though Empress He had become Empress Dowager He, her power would be divided among the eldest princesses.

Given that the eldest princess is a member of the royal family, she could even replace the He family.

Empress He still thought that since her son was young and had ascended the throne, she could rule from behind the curtain, and even emulate Empress Lü to control the government.

The eldest princess has a clever plan!

But now that the eldest princess has come knocking, if we don't agree, it will definitely anger her.

If he were to say something bad about Liu Hong, wouldn't that affect Liu Bian's chances of becoming the crown prince and succeeding to the throne?

Empress He hesitated for a moment.

It's a real dilemma!

Yu Ji interpreted the dream as a sign of good fortune; could it be this kind of good fortune?

Empress He would rather not have it!

However, Liu Hua's displeasure immediately grew upon seeing Empress He's hesitation:

You were just an ordinary woman who rose to prominence, transforming from a nobody into a phoenix.

But I, Liu Hua, am a princess, born of noble birth. My daughter's background is much better than yours.

Moreover, with the help of our imperial family, we can surely make Liu Bian the crown prince.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!