Zhang Hua did not speak, rely watching Liu Xuan silently.
The anger on Liu Xuan’s face grew even stronger.
But after all, Zhang Hua was the Chancellor; no matter how arrogant he was, Liu Xuan dared not act against Zhang Hua.
He rely fixed a cold gaze on Zhang Hua, snorted, and then turned away.
But how could this matter end just like that?
When a person is completely unbridled, the flaws in their character only beco more exposed.
Initially, there were still ministers supporting Liu Xuan.
But this only emboldened Liu Xuan, and his actions eventually led to increasing dissatisfaction among the people at court.
At its core, the current court of the Great Han remained righteous.
The courtiers would seek their own interests.
However, they all shared a common baseline.
Soone like Liu Xuan, a Crown Prince suppressed for too long and suddenly unleashed, was bound to provoke dissatisfaction from everyone.
Just three days later.
Liu Xuan committed an even more montous act.
He rode back from hunting and galloped through Luoyang, trampling a commoner to death.
The mont the grievance bell tolled beneath the "Wall of Sorrow,"
the incident inevitably reached the court!
The whole court was shaken!
Upon hearing the news, nearly all officials, both inside and outside the court, were enraged.
Of course, their anger was not solely for the deceased commoner.
The main issue was Liu Xuan’s actions.
Now, with Emperor Liu Shan still ill,
and Liu Xuan as the Crown Prince, to show such disregard for filial piety and defy imperial protocol by leaving the city to hunt, resulting in a commoner’s death—
how could they not be furious?
The courtiers still held feelings for Emperor Liu Shan.
At the very least—
Emperor Liu Shan was said to be the most amiable emperor, as long as his reverse scale was not touched, there would be no risk.
The current governance of the Great Han wasn’t collapsing like the Forr Han’s had.
The impact of this incident finally provoked public outrage.
Even Zhang Hua could no longer suppress the overwhelming flood of morials; the whole court was in an uproar.
Amidst this chaos.
Liu Xuan finally felt panic setting in.
He first went to see Zhang Hua, hoping he could help suppress all these morials.
But Zhang Hua refused to even see him.
Subsequently, Liu Xuan could only go to the Champion Marquis Mansion, hoping Gu Ye could help him through this calamity.
This was his first ti seeking an audience with Gu Ye.
Even Gu Yi hadn’t expected Liu Xuan to transform so drastically in such a short ti.
Though he had anticipated...
With Liu Xuan’s nature, without constraints, he was certain to cause trouble.
But wasn’t this trouble he caused far too severe?
It’s evident that Liu Xuan’s historical record was inferior to Liu Chen’s for a reason.
Although history had completely changed,
as far as personal character, that was hard to alter.
Gu Yi naturally would not see Liu Xuan.
His refusal was to completely detach the Gu Clan from all this.
Liu Xuan was utterly despondent.
He was rely the Crown Prince; he could not bear the anger of the entire court!
Especially now that Liu Shan still lived.
He could only pray that Liu Shan would not awaken again.
But there are so things that are predestined.
Two days later,
Liu Shan’s health finally improved; each day he beca more lucid, and eventually, he heard of the incident.
That very night—
A ssenger was dispatched imdiately to the Champion Marquis Mansion, summoning Gu Ye to the palace.
This ti, Gu Yi took action.
...
That night.
In the silent Imperial Palace, the atmosphere was extraordinarily heavy.
Gu Ye followed the palace official to the North Palace and imdiately saw Liu Shan on the bed.
For so reason—
Gu Yi suddenly felt that Liu Shan had changed sohow.
There was an unfamiliar emotion in his eyes.
Gu Yi wasn’t a stranger to that look.
It was a look of apprehension for the future.
"Your Majesty." Gu Yi imdiately orchestrated Gu Ye to pay his respects.
This ti, Liu Shan behaved with mature composure, not as lax as before, but earnestly asked Gu Ye, "Zhao De, how is your health?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. This minister is already well." Gu Yi quickly replied.
Hearing this, Liu Shan nodded gently: "It’s good that you are well."
His tone paused slightly.
A tear suddenly rolled down from his eye, his voice full of regret: "Zhao De.... I have been unfilial."
"Your Majesty!"
Without Gu Yi’s orchestration, Gu Ye’s expression changed sharply, and he hurriedly knelt down: "Why does Your Majesty speak like this?"
"Ha~"
Liu Shan laughed at himself, slightly raising his head to look at the sky: "I have failed the expectations of the late emperor and my ntor by raising such a Crown Prince."
"Am I not unfilial?"
As he spoke, more tears continued to slide down from his eyes.
He truly had neglected the education of the princes.
Perhaps it was because Liu Bei was excessively strict with him in the past, leaving a psychological shadow on Liu Shan.
Thus, his approach to his descendants’ education was more lenient.
He thought, at worst, they would turn out like him.
He hadn’t expected this harsh dose of reality.
"Your Majesty must not think this way." Gu Ye quickly intervened.
But before he could finish speaking.
Liu Shan waved his hand, looking again at Gu Ye: "Zhao De, I have grown old."
"I...."
"Perhaps I do not have much ti left."
"With the Crown Prince’s disposition, how can I be at ease?"
This was the first ti Liu Shan had worried about the state, and he couldn’t suppress the feeling.
This serious illness, together with Liu Xuan’s actions, had thoroughly unsettled him.
Looking at Liu Shan before him.
Gu Yi no longer hesitated, took a deep breath, and imdiately said: "Your Majesty, I request the abolition of the Crown Prince!"
"Abolish the Crown Prince?"
Liu Shan showed no dissatisfaction with Gu Ye, but looked at him and asked: "Abolish the elder, establish the younger... isn’t that a path to disaster?"
"If...."
"Your Majesty!" Gu Yi interrupted Liu Shan, bowing earnestly: "An incapable general leads to the army’s demise."
"An emperor without virtue endangers the state."
"With the Crown Prince’s character, he must not be permitted to rule."
"The Great Han state has co this far with the sacrifices of many heroic souls; I implore Your Majesty to reconsider."
As his words fell, the entire North Palace fell silent.
Liu Shan stared intently at Gu Ye.
After a long silence, he murmured: "Zhao De, whom do you think should be made the Crown Prince?"
"The King of the North—"
Gu Yi, without hesitation, replied: "Liu Chen!"
Hearing this, Liu Shan’s gaze sharpened, and he fell silent again.
He seed to be recalling Liu Chen’s character.
After a long while, he gently nodded.
.....
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