The Great Han Dynasty: From Crown Prince Li to Emperor of All Ages!

Chapter 38: Unraveling the mystery, a terrifying giant web!

"The emperor's words carry the weight of the heavens; a single word can determine the life and death of countless people."

"Having attained the supreme position, how could one possibly have worldly emotions?"

Liu Ju sighed deeply and said desolately, "I once heard Master Yan, the Master of the Lord, make a judgment about my cousin: If a knife is sharpened too quickly and too sharply, although it is easy to use, it is easy to break and not easy to preserve for long."

"For His Majesty, the champion, Marquis Jingheng, is his most outstanding work, embodying his aspirations."

"At eighteen, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Champion; at twenty, he became General of Chariots and Cavalry, driving the Xiongnu north and expanding the Hexi Corridor."

"After the battle in the northern desert, the Xiongnu fled far away, and there was no royal court south of the desert."

"Nearly 100,000 people surrendered to the Xiongnu and were relocated to five commanderies, namely Longxi, Beidi, Shangjun, Shuofang, and Yunzhong, to form five dependent states. Commanders of these dependent states were dispatched to govern the troops and protect the empire. There was no longer any threat north of Chang'an."

"The champion, Marquis Jingheng, was at the height of his power, and Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were of one mind and controlled the Han army."

"Anyone would feel like they have a thorn in their side, let alone the current emperor."

'Thump!'

Zhang He, the Crown Prince's steward, was filled with apprehension and unease.

"My cousin's killing of Li Gan showed His Majesty the uncontrollable nature of the power of the maternal relatives."

"As I grow older, Your Majesty's worries increase day by day."

"This is why His Majesty banished his cousin to Shuofang, far from Chang'an, after he shot and killed Li Gan."

"Unfortunately, he forgot about the wickedness of human nature, or perhaps he simply didn't want to pay attention to that aspect."

"Therefore, the champion Jing Henghou, who had made great military achievements, met with an accident and died young."

Liu Ju's gaze seemed to pierce through a heavy curtain, revealing the lights of Weiyang Palace and the evil dragon coiled above the empire.

"Is His Majesty worried that His Highness might threaten him?"

Zhang He couldn't believe that this was the truth. A father's suspicion of his son was truly unbelievable!

"Suppress the uncle and promote the cousin."

"And now, the saying that a son is unlike his father has spread throughout Chang'an."

"What do you think His Majesty is doing?"

"The relationship between him and me can only end when one of us is completely defeated."

"I cannot lose, because if I lose, the Empress Dowager, the Wei family, and the world will all be finished."

This was the first time Liu Ju had fully revealed his true feelings to someone else, something he had never done even when meeting Wei Zifu.

"Your Highness, I am willing to serve you as my vanguard, even at the cost of my life!"

Upon hearing these words, Zhang He was not afraid, but rather overwhelmed with emotion. He knelt on one knee to pledge his loyalty.

From the moment Zhang Tang died, all of Zhang He's illusions about Emperor Wu of Han vanished, leaving only endless hatred. When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; this is the way of the world. Who can still be loyal to Emperor Wu of Han?

"Your younger brother, Zhang Anshi, is also of school age."

"Tomorrow, let him enter the palace to serve as a tutor to the imperial grandson, and he will be raised in the Crown Prince's palace along with Marquis Pingyang (Cao Zong), Marquis Guanjun (Huo Shan), and Shi Xuan."

Liu Ju glanced at him and said indifferently.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhang He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with admiration and surprise.

Once the Crown Prince succeeds, his eldest son Liu Jin will become the future Emperor of the Han Dynasty. The so-called "Imperial Grandson's Study Companion" is the future emperor's confidant.

Currently, there are only three candidates for the Crown Prince's study companion: Marquis Pingyang Cao Zong, the only son of Princess Wei Chang; Marquis Guanjun Huo Shan, the only son of Marquis Guanjun Jingheng Huo Qubing; and Shi Xuan, the younger brother of the Crown Prince's concubine Shi, who is from Liu Jin's maternal family. The fact that Zhang Anshi is able to accompany them shows the Crown Prince's trust in the Zhang family.

"Um!"

Liu Ju took in all the changes in his expression.

Making Zhang Anshi a tutor to the emperor's grandson was not only to win over the Zhang family, but also to cultivate some talents for Liu Jin.

Zhang Anshi was the second among the eleven meritorious officials of the Qilin Pavilion, second only to Huo Guang.

Historically, the eleven meritorious officials of the Qilin Pavilion are often listed alongside the twenty-eight generals of the Yuntai Pavilion and the twenty-four meritorious officials of the Lingyan Pavilion, which shows their outstanding talents.

"Your Highness."

"There is one thing I do not understand."

Zhang He quickly snapped out of his surprise and focused his attention back on Huo Qubing's death.

"explain."

Liu Ju gave him a look, indicating something.

"Among Your Majesty's sons, Liu Hong, the Prince of Qi, and Liu Dan, the Prince of Yan, are the most likely candidates to succeed as Crown Prince."

"Therefore, eliminating the champion, Marquis Jingheng, is a good opportunity for them to weaken His Highness."

"Princess Pingyang married Marquis Changping (Wei Qing) precisely because the rise of Marquis Jingheng, the champion, led to Marquis Changping losing His Majesty's favor."

"I am not surprised that Princess Pingyang, harboring resentment, participated in this."

"But Your Highness just said that others were involved in this matter, which I do not understand."

Zhang He's face was full of doubt. The champion, Marquis Jingheng, was the Grand Marshal of the Han Dynasty and the General of the Cavalry. Who would dare to attack him?

"His Majesty has reigned for twenty-nine years, and the Imperial Censors in Embroidered Robes have been able to travel throughout the land."

"Do you really think he didn't know the details of his cousin's death?"

Liu Ju said coldly.

"Your Highness."

Zhang He's pupils dilated instantly, and his face showed surprise.

"If it weren't for so many people involved, how could it be impossible to punish them?"

"The rumors circulating outside that my cousin has contracted the plague are just a cover-up."

"My aunt is not bold enough to take the initiative. I suspect that Princess Pingyang was the one who tipped me off."

"One Li family, one King of Qi, one King of Yan—that's not enough."

"This must involve many people; a small change here can have far-reaching consequences."

"Go and arrange for people to keep a close watch on the Li family for me, and don't let go of even the slightest clue."

"I want to see who exactly is working on my cousin, trying to bring me, the crown prince, down from my throne."

At this point, Liu Ju's eyes flashed with a cold light, and his words were filled with an invisible killing intent.

"promise."

Zhang He immediately responded, his expression more serious than ever before.

"System, start monthly check-in!"

After Zhang He left, Liu Ju silently recited something to himself.

His golden finger is divided into daily, monthly, and yearly check-ins. Undoubtedly, the rewards are also related to the check-ins. A monthly check-in and a yearly check-in will definitely be extraordinary. What he is most eager to do now is to enhance his strength.

Behind Huo Qubing's untimely death was a vast network that shrouded the Han Dynasty, even Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, feared it.

These people dared to target Huo Qubing; if their interests were threatened, who could guarantee they wouldn't target Crown Prince Liu Ju?

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully checking in! Reward: Viper Blood!]

"Viper's Precious Blood!"

Liu Ju's eyes shone brightly.

In the world of The Condor Heroes, the ginseng immortal Liang Ziweng raised a viper for twenty years, feeding it countless spiritual herbs. Guo Jing drank its blood, which gave him a constitution that made him immune to all poisons and able to repel insects and toxins, thus greatly improving his martial arts skills.

*Whoosh!*

Immediately, Liu Ju extracted the viper's precious blood. A large basin of crimson blood appeared before him, emitting a foul odor that made one want to vomit.

"Glug! Glug!"

Liu Ju suppressed his nausea and swallowed hard with his eyes closed.

This viper's blood is spicy, bitter, and extremely unpalatable. If it weren't for its effects of making one immune to all poisons and repelling insects and toxins, he would never drink it, even if you beat him to death.

PS: The five vassal states were: Wuyuan (located near Chenggeliang Village, Bainiijing Town, Dalad Banner, Inner Mongolia), Xihe (located in Yushuhao Ancient City, Nuanshui Township, Jungar Banner, Inner Mongolia), Shangjun (located in Angbainaoer Ancient City, Galutu Town, Uxin Banner, Inner Mongolia), Anding (located in Hongchengshui Ancient City, Xiamaguan Town, Tongxin County, Ningxia), and Tianshui (located in Shanggucheng, Jinya Township, Yuzhong County, Gansu Province).