Chapter 173 The Deposed Emperor 85
Although 'Han' said he was being ridiculous, did anyone present dare to laugh? No one did.
They couldn't even utter a word of objection, even though they knew the impact the phrase "Han" would have on Liu Ying.
Even knowing that the emperor would most likely be deposed after today.
They knew the relative importance of the emperor's position compared to their own lives and even the lives of their families.
Moreover, they also felt that the emperor's behavior was too rude. If the Han dynasty had not come today, they would have turned a blind eye to his behavior because of Liu Ying's legitimacy, and might even have praised the emperor for his benevolence and filial piety.
However, the Han people clearly disliked this behavior of prioritizing family over country. They believed that the emperor's actions were a transgression and that it was reasonable for the Han people to send down a bolt of lightning on the spot.
Those in positions of power should fulfill their duties. It's one thing for ordinary people to think this way, but for the emperor to think this way is simply ridiculous.
The imperial physician who was called almost couldn't suppress a smile that was about to break out. He frantically thought of sad things, and then shouted very loudly, "Yes, sir!"
Then he frantically winked at his apprentice, signaling for someone to come and help him take the insane emperor away.
The apprentice's legs were no longer weak and his mind was clear. He leaped up and took three steps in two to reach Liu Ying's side, still speaking respectfully: "Your Majesty, please."
The two of them left with the emperor. Lü Zhi seemed to have just recovered. She rubbed her temples wearily and said, "Take Prince Qi to the side hall to settle him in as well, and also summon an imperial physician to examine him."
"promise."
Liu Fei breathed a short sigh of relief. The fact that he wasn't killed on the spot meant there was still hope. Besides, it was the emperor's fault, and he was just implicated!
Based on his understanding of his mother over the years, he might suffer some punishment, but not enough to warrant death.
When Han uttered the words, "Let's disperse for today," the many ministers breathed a sigh of relief.
Great, I don't have to worry about losing my life if I stay here.
'Han' looked at the female official beside him: "Arrange for someone to escort them out of the palace."
"promise."
---
The ministers who went home after the event survived. Once they were out of the tense atmosphere, their brains began to function normally again, and gradually, they realized that something was wrong.
The Han people knew everything that happened within their territory, but they didn't concern themselves with people's private affairs or trivial matters.
But would she not pay attention to something like a palace banquet?
In other words, she knew about the seating arrangement from beginning to end. From the moment the emperor made the arrangement, she watched coldly from the sidelines. She did not choose to stop it, but waited quietly for him to speak out, and then dealt with the emperor with swift and decisive action.
Don't ask them how they knew the emperor had been dealt with; they only know that a carriage had just sped towards the National Temple, and it's no longer a question of who was on it.
Sure enough, when most people woke up the next morning, they received the news that Emperor Liu Ying had knelt all night in front of the memorial tablet of Emperor Gaozu in the National Temple.
Zhang Liang also stayed in the palace for a long time.
---
Returning to last night, after the ministers dispersed, 'Han' did not leave, but waited for Lü Zhi to enter.
She bowed deeply as soon as she entered, saying, "Thank you for your help, Mother."
She had just been banned from speaking for a long time, and doing things that might have been a stain on her reputation was done by 'Han' for her.
Han sighed, waved her sleeve, and lifted the person up out of thin air; she had no desire to speak.
"The last person to advocate for mutual protection among relatives was Fusu."
Lü Zhi: ...
That's really bad.
Zhang Liang, who just came in: ...
Why is it always him? He raised his voice slightly: "Your subject Zhang Liang pays respects to the ancestors and the Empress Dowager."
But Han wouldn't let him off the hook, specifically mentioning, "You should be able to understand me."
Zhang Liang: "I naturally understand your good intentions."
'Han': "You're getting better and better at talking."
There was no way around it; the events that followed his assassination attempt on the First Emperor in his youth were too deeply etched in his memory. He was drawn into a dream world by what was then the Qin dynasty's Han dynasty, experiencing countless cycles and countless endings. At this moment, he could truly empathize with the Han dynasty and understand the helplessness of all possible outcomes.
Even if all the possibilities of life were false, she managed to forge a path to survival, live to this day, and become a 'Han'.
To become the 'Han' that continues to care for the people of the world, to become the 'Han' that is at its zenith and incomparably powerful.
Perhaps it's because the path she took was different from that of Guo Ling before.
From the time the feudal system was abolished, the state was no longer the same as before.
"You flatter me, it's just a little bit of life experience."
They talked a lot of pointless things, and the two of them stood in the hall, neither of them bringing up the main topic.
"Han" continued, "People have a desire to live."
She was stating a fact, and then, countless voices rang out, as if millions of people were speaking: "Me too."
Zhang Liang was shocked. He heard many people speaking in his ear, hoping that the country would be stable and the granaries full, so that he could live a better life.
And it seems as if I can hear someone shouting back then: "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"
This is what she hears every day, this is what she thinks every day.
Liu Ying disregards his responsibilities today, behaving recklessly at the palace banquet and is incapable of shouldering great duties. Tomorrow he may shield the crimes of the imperial family, and the day after tomorrow it will be a case of "Are kings and nobles born with special privileges?"
He's been through so much, how could he not understand?
Zhang Liang knelt down, and he heard his own aged voice: "The current emperor has no filial piety to respect the country, nor virtue to love the people. I request that the emperor be deposed."
He slowly kowtowed. His body was still decaying, but when he looked up at the 'Han', his eyes became more and more determined. Over the years, he had long since identified himself as a Han Chinese.
He was just an ordinary person; he could grow old and die, but he hoped she would always be young and strong, and never perish.
Han nodded slightly, her expression softening. She unfastened the sword from her waist: "Take this sword and go to the national temple to announce it."
Zhang Liang lowered his head and accepted the dark gold sword with both hands. The sword had intricate patterns on its blade, yet its dark color scheme made it appear understated.
But the moment you see it, you will feel a sense of awe.
Zhang Liang carefully held it in both hands and replied, "Yes."
He took a few steps backward before turning around and quickly leaving.
---
What are your thoughts?
“Ya’er left a will, and I prefer her.”
The Han man asked, puzzled, "Why retreat now?"
Empress Lü hesitated for a moment: "My position is not legitimate... Ya'er received a secret edict from Liu Bang, which states that if Liu Ying is not capable of being of great use, he can be replaced."
"It was written by Liu Bang himself; I saw it."
Although she had some regrets, after years of hard work, that position was no longer her obsession. Seeing her mother prosper made her happier than anyone else.
"She was young, and I was content with ruling as regent for a period of time."
Han shook his head: "No, you must ascend the throne. What are the chances of a teenager succeeding smoothly?"
Empress Lü instantly grasped the meaning of 'Han' and understood the difficulty she and her daughter would face in seizing power.
Her daughter is intelligent, and for the future of 'Han', she decides to sacrifice her own reputation.
“I understand, I will take on this hardship for her.”
Han gently stroked the top of her head, just as he had comforted her when she was young: "You've worked hard."
Lü Zhi smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all for you. Besides, power is what I've been pursuing all my life. I should thank you for inviting so many famous teachers to teach me when I was young, and for supporting me now."
Han smiled helplessly: "You have to be outstanding yourself. If you're like Liu Ying, I wouldn't even consider you."
Being ruthless to the enemy is not a bad thing. In this era, if a country's leader is not ruthless enough, it is being ruthless to his own people.
Morality can only be demanded when civilization is highly developed, but now it's not wrong to try to survive.
---
Liu Ying knelt in the National Temple for a whole night, facing his father's memorial tablet. When he ascended the throne, he had also longed to be enshrined in the National Temple rather than the Imperial Ancestral Temple, so that he could be ranked below his father.
There's no chance now.
Liu Ying may have realized she was wrong, or she may not have.
But when he saw Zhang Liang come over and announce the abolition of his imperial throne, he actually breathed a sigh of relief.
He also felt immense fear, thinking that even after he died and went to the underworld, he would be severely reprimanded by his father.
At this time, he was unaware that the court assembly had not yet begun, and strictly speaking, he was still the emperor.
Regarding the matter of deposing the emperor, he simply bowed his head in agreement and did not object.
He knew during his years as crown prince that not only did his father not approve of him, but his mother did not approve of him either, and his sisters and cousins... probably didn't approve of him either.
Nobody had high hopes for him, and yet he was the least promising of all.
What he learned was truly wrong.
He remembered what his mother had told him: he could learn those things if he wanted, but he had to remember to think for himself and not just memorize them to control himself. But he didn't take it to heart.
The Empress Dowager must have foreseen this outcome long ago.
---
Liu Fei was carried back to his temporary residence in Xianyang City. When only his trusted confidants remained, he sprang into action and closed the door.
He pulled his trusted aide aside and whispered, "You've really put me in a terrible situation. I shouldn't have come!"
Liu Fei coldly announced, "You can forget about your salary this year."
Staff member: "?"
"Your Highness, what's wrong? What happened?"
King Qi, exasperated, explained the situation and sought approval from his advisors: "Tell me, is it possible that Liu Ruyi was poisoned by Liu Ying?"
Liu Fei: "This..."
An aide pulled Liu Fei back: "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. This is Xianyang."
Liu Fei silently swallowed the curse words.
The advisor felt a chill run down his spine and was also terrified: "But it's too late to leave Xianyang now, perhaps..."
The advisor whispered something in Liu Fei's ear, and Liu Fei's expression gradually turned to horror. He had to be a smart man. How come he hadn't thought of that?
The emperor was clearly on the verge of being deposed. Liu Ying had no children, Empress Lü had no second son, there were no other princes with the surname Liu in Xianyang, and all of the emperor's other children had been sent away. The heir to the throne... was only him...
He was anxious and tugged at his aide's sleeve, urging, "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up!"
Without further hesitation, the aide took a deep breath and shouted with all his might, "Help! Help! Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
Liu Fei gave his trusted apologetic look: "I won't punish you for losing your salary."
Then, he collapsed again with a thud, the sound of the massive object hitting the floor dull and muffled.
Staff: ...
He was doing it for his own good. Putting aside his salary, if he let the King of Qi wade through this mess, it was hard to say whether he could survive. His own life was more important.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Zhang Liang: I'm out of ideas. I really, really want to retire, really! [Cracks]
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