Didn't Empress He hate him to the core?

Why did she suddenly issue an imperial decree summoning Liu Wei to the palace to see her?

It's definitely not going to be anything good.

Liu Wei returned to the hall and summoned Shen Lian, Wang Fangyi, Yang Lian, and Yan Da to discuss the matter.

"My lord, everyone knows that Empress He wants your life. If you go there, she will definitely plot against you."

Shen Lian immediately objected.

Although they were able to enter the palace quietly, Empress He was unable to control her actions in order to kill Liu Wei inside the palace.

“If my lord is going, I, Wang Fangyi, swear to stay by your side with my life. If it is to your detriment, may you step over my dead body first.”

Wang Fangyi will not comment on this; he only knows to stay by Liu Wei's side and ensure his safety.

"Me too!" Yanda quickly echoed.

The Eighteen Riders of Yanyun should be fighting on the battlefield, not becoming Liu Wei's bodyguards.

Yenching University knew even better that their lord, Liu Wei, was already unfathomably skilled.

"Zijing, what do you think?"

After hearing what Shen Lian and the other two said, Liu Wei remained noncommittal and turned to look at Yang Lian beside him.

"Your Highness...should I also speak?"

Yang Lian was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Liu Wei to like to gather people together to discuss many things, calling it a brainstorming session.

Liu Wei also said, "Listening to both sides leads to enlightenment, while believing only one side leads to darkness."

"It's okay, speak freely!" Liu Wei encouraged.

Although he said he wanted Yang Lian to stay by his side and run errands and deliver messages.

But Liu Wei didn't want Yang Lian to be just a tool for summoning people, but a person capable of independent thinking.

"Your Highness!"

Yang Lian swallowed hard, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "I believe that even if Empress He wants to kill you, everyone now knows that you have come to Luoyang by imperial decree. If she were to harm you in the palace, it would only incur His Majesty's wrath."

"This also provides His Majesty with ample reason to appoint the Prince of Chenliu as Crown Prince!"

Liu Wei's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed, "What do you mean by that?"

"If Empress He dares to openly attack you, it means that if the Prince of Hongnong ascends the throne, he will also attack the Prince of Chenliu!"

"His Majesty already has few sons, so he certainly doesn't want to see brothers kill each other."

"The people on the side of the Prince of Chenliu were naturally also feeling the pain of losing their ally, and they tried to prevent all of this from happening."

Yang Lian then shared his analysis.

Although Yang Lian had always lived in Yangjiazhuang in Hongnong and had never traveled far, he had learned about some things in the world through his surroundings.

"Perhaps Empress He wants to ask you, my lord, to return He Miao! He Miao is in our hands!" Shen Lian added.

“Your analysis makes a lot of sense! I know what to do! She’ll have to pay a price if she wants He Miao back.”

Liu Wei smirked, "It's settled then. You guys keep an eye on this place."

“Chen Lian, you will be my attendant and come with me to the palace.”

Liu Wei made a quick decision. He and his stepmother, who was stunningly beautiful in the capital but had always wanted to kill him, had never met before.

Since Empress He wants to see him, then let's go and see just how beautiful and venomous this Empress He really is.

Shen Lian said in a deep voice, "Then I will go and prepare now."

He disagreed with Liu Wei going to see Empress He, but since Liu Wei had already made up his mind, there was nothing to question.

After Chen Lian finished packing, Wang Fangyi took out a set of soft armor for Liu Wei.

Liu Wei waved his hand, saying no, and walked straight out of the hall into the courtyard.

"Lead the way! Take me to see the Empress right now!"

Liu Wei spoke to the eunuch who delivered the message.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

......

The distance from Beiman Mountain to Luoyang City is only ten li, which can be reached quickly on horseback.

After entering the city, Liu Wei followed the eunuch to the palace, but Shen Lian was stopped outside the high walls of the palace.

However, Shen Lian remained calm. He had already bribed several eunuchs to act as his inside agents. He only needed a code to activate them so that they could appear and await his orders.

Shen Lian not only wanted to know Liu Wei's situation in the palace, but also wanted to find out the whereabouts of Zhao Zhong, who was being held captive, so that he could secretly get him out of the palace.

"Why have we been walking for so long and still not arrived?"

Liu Wei followed behind the young eunuch, making several turns, seemingly going further and further astray.

He remembered that when he came yesterday, Liu Hua and Wang Chengen had told him the general location of the palace.

Liu Hua and Wang Chengen specifically asked where Ganquan Palace, Yongle Palace, and Yong'an Palace were located.

But the direction this little eunuch is heading is not towards Yong'an Palace at all.

Liu Wei grabbed the eunuch and questioned him loudly.

"Your Highness, the Empress is going to the West Garden to accompany His Majesty to sell goods, so she is there today!"

The young eunuch hurriedly explained.

West Garden?

"Isn't His Majesty recuperating at Ganquan Palace?"

"I heard that His Majesty was in great spirits yesterday, ate two bowls of rice, and slept soundly. He set off early this morning to go to the West Garden to sell things."

"His Majesty also issued an edict ordering all the concubines and palace women to attend the event."

It turns out that Liu Hong's reign as emperor was also filled with helplessness. His power was taken away by his relatives and eunuchs, so he lost interest in politics and developed other hobbies.

Besides the beautiful scenery, delicious food, and beautiful women that emperors usually enjoy, Liu Hong especially loved making money.

This may be related to his impoverished childhood.

His father died early, and after the family lost its main source of income, Liu Hong lived a very frugal life during his childhood.

After he became emperor, he found that his treasury was empty and that as emperor, he was not free to spend money.

So he set up a market in the West Garden, where he displayed and sold rare items from the palace, and invited the palace maids and concubines to come out and stroll around and enjoy the spectacle.

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