"So Anyang and the King of Clouds have always been in contact?"

"Not only that, but a personal maid was also assigned to her side."

"Anyang, you've been doing this so secretly, even keeping it from me?"

Without hesitation, Liu Yu asked Liu Hua in a low voice.

"Zongzheng, it doesn't matter whether you know about this or not. When I received the news that the King of Yunzhong was going to come to Luoyang via Guanzhong, I sent my personal maid to make contact."

“I think he is also a member of our royal family, and he has troops in the Hetao region. Isn’t that the same as you governors? Of course, we should also bring him into our ranks.”

"This is also a way to plan ahead and seize the initiative!"

Liu Yu thought about it and realized that this made sense.

Liu Hua also actively contacted several other governors in his capacity as a ***.

In modern terms, if Liu Yu is the president of this royal family association, then Liu Hua is the secretary-general.

With the existence of the powerful relatives of the empress and the eunuchs, the living space of the royal family was increasingly compressed, and their fiefdoms were becoming smaller and smaller.

Through their coordination and cooperation, and by leveraging their prestige and power, the two were able to initially unite these members of the royal family.

Behind this, there must have been some hints from Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong.

After all, it was Liu Hong who issued the decree ordering members of the imperial clan to assume the positions of governors, and turned a blind eye to Liu Wei's growing military power in the border regions.

Not only did they not blame him for his unauthorized military command, but they also restored his throne and appointed him as the Grand Protector of the Northern Desert, granting him the authority to establish his own government.

Anyone with a modicum of sense can see that Empress He's faction is now far too powerful.

The military power of the five battalions in the capital was in the hands of the Grand General's Mansion, and the mobilization of troops throughout the country was also subject to the Grand General's Mansion's orders. The Grand Commandant became a subordinate.

After the war to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the eight colonels of the Western Garden established by Liu Hong, except for the Colonel Sai Shuo of the Upper Army, all became frequent visitors to the General's mansion.

The eunuchs could supposedly check and balance them, but this was limited to the imperial palace and their influence did not extend beyond Luoyang.

Without military power, everything is in vain.

It seems Liu Hong intends to support the imperial family to counter the influence of the maternal relatives.

“Anyang, please discuss such matters with me in advance in the future, so that I don’t misunderstand your good intentions.”

Hearing Liu Hua's explanation, Liu Yu nodded, considering it a closed chapter.

At his age, he has a clear understanding of the changing political landscape in the court.

In Liu Yu's view, as long as the Han Dynasty stands tall and its reign lasts, that's all that matters.

Isn't their royal mission to strive to maintain the Liu family's rule?

If even a married woman from Anyang is so concerned, then he, as the head of the imperial clan, should certainly work even harder.

Thinking that the Youzhou he was in charge of was still in a mess.

Gongsun Zan's policies were at odds with Liu Yu's, Gongsun Yue held military power and became arrogant, Zhang Chun of Yuyang incited the Wuhuan cavalry to rebel, and there were also signs of rebellion among the Xianbei tribes of Kebineng, Suli, Mijia, and Jueji.

Even the Fuyu people of Liaodong were thinking of invading Youzhou.

I've been in Luoyang for almost half a month now, and thankfully it's freezing cold in Youzhou right now.

When spring arrives and the weather is fine, the Xianbei people and the rebels will be active on a large scale.

Liu Yu's son, Liu He, as well as his subordinates Yan Rou, Qi Zhou, Xianyu Fu, and Xianyu Yin, all needed him to take charge of the overall situation.

Once things are settled in Luoyang and after the grand court assembly, I must hurry back to Youzhou to take charge of the overall situation.

Liu Yu was preoccupied with worries.

Meanwhile, seeing Liu Yu and Liu Hua whispering to each other, Liu Wei asked, "What are you two talking about?"

"They're talking about your accommodations and travel arrangements!"

Liu Hua said repeatedly, "You have traveled a long way and are covered in dust. I discussed with the Imperial Clan Court whether you should go to the palace to see His Majesty first, or take a bath and change clothes first, and be welcomed and cleansed."

"I thought it was something serious!" Liu Wei laughed. "Of course, it's more important to see His Majesty first. Please make arrangements for my entourage."

"Don't rush, His Majesty has also sent someone with an oral decree. Let's hear what His Majesty has to say!" Liu Yu said loudly.

At this moment, the trembling eunuch behind Liu Yu finally calmed down and stepped forward:

"By imperial decree, the Prince of Yunzhong and his guards shall stay at the villa in Beiman Mountain and be treated with the courtesy due to princes."

Upon hearing this, Liu Wei thought that Emperor Ling of Han was indeed good at handling things.

The villa in Beiman Mountain was allocated to Liu Wei by Liu Hong when he brought Liu Wei back from the countryside.

Six months ago, an imperial edict demoted him to the Marquis of Yinshan and ordered him to take up his fief in Shuofang.

Now that Liu Wei has achieved great success in the border region, he has returned and moved into the Beiman Mountain Villa.

This world is just a cycle, damn it.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"

Liu Wei immediately bowed towards the direction of the Luoyang Imperial City, muttering incantations.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, the Imperial Clan Court! This servant has delivered His Majesty's edict and must hurry to the palace to report. I'll take my leave now."

The young eunuch bowed to the three men and prepared to mount his horse and leave.

"Wait! Eunuch, I will go with you to the palace to see His Majesty now."

"His Majesty didn't say that you need to enter the palace now!" Liu Hua said.

“Your Majesty, Father is unwell. As his subject and son, I should do my duty to visit him and not forget my responsibilities.”

"Besides, this time I came to serve my father when he was ill."

"The journey is long and we have been delayed on the way. Now that we have arrived in Luoyang, we must not delay any longer."

Liu Wei spoke righteously and loudly, as if he were a dutiful and filial son.

At first, she called him "***", but now she calls him "Imperial Aunt," which subtly brings the two of them closer.

Although Liu Hua was somewhat disdainful, if that were really the case, why did you go to the ancestral mausoleum when you were in Guanzhong?

But considering that he wanted his daughter to be empress, the paths with the Prince of Hongnong and the Prince of Chenliu were no longer viable, so this nephew in front of him was the best option.

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