With everything settled, it was already midnight. Inside the Emperor's bedchamber, torches blazed, and General He Jin, surrounded by Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, and Chunyu Qiong, strode into the palace, brimming with self-satisfaction.
The surrounding soldiers, upon seeing the General, excitedly shouted, "General! General!" as if to highlight their own contributions. He Jin, full of self-satisfaction, burst into laughter and arrogantly declared, "Rewards for all who have contributed, rewards for all who have contributed!" His voice was filled with conceit and arrogance.
His imperious demeanor made it seem as if he had trampled the entire palace underfoot, completely forgetting the difficulties and sacrifices behind it all. Yuan Shao and others beside him also catered to him, their faces showing fawning smiles.
Empress He and Liu Bian, upon seeing He Jin's arrival, also showed a relieved smile. The Ten Attendants, meanwhile, hid behind Empress He, looking at He Jin with both fear and relief in their eyes.
They were relieved that they had chosen to protect the Empress and the Imperial Prince, preventing He Jin from having an opportunity to act. Now, with the Empress and the Imperial Prince as their safeguard, they had become their protective charm, making it difficult for He Jin to easily lay hands on them. After all, within this Imperial Palace, the status of the Empress and the Imperial Prince was still crucial, and He Jin had to be cautious.
He Jin, however, was too lazy to bother with the Ten Attendants. Under the constant instigation of Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, he began to negotiate with Empress Dowager Dong and Dong Zhong, who had retreated into the hall.
The two sides argued endlessly during the negotiations, each with their own opinions. He Jin insisted on his proposal: no longer pursuing their rebellion and unrest today, supporting Liu Bian's ascension to the throne, while honoring Empress Dowager Dong as Empress Dowager, and Dong Zhong would have to recall his troops and authority, but could still retain the position of General of Cavalry.
Empress Dowager Dong and Dong Zhong were naturally unwilling to compromise easily. They believed He Jin's demands were too harsh. Empress Dowager Dong proposed to retain a certain amount of power, and Dong Zhong also expressed his unwillingness to easily hand over his troops. But under He Jin's assertiveness and the persuasion of Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, after a fierce debate, the two sides finally reached this agreement.
At this point, Empress He, instigated by the Ten Attendants, also put forward her opinion. She demanded that after Empress Dowager Dong was honored as Empress Dowager, she would no longer interfere with the affairs of the inner palace, and that Empress Dowager Dong would retreat to her own palace, with both sides not interfering with each other.
He Jin frowned slightly upon hearing Empress He's words and fell into contemplation. Empress Dowager Dong and Dong Zhong showed annoyance, but given the current situation, there seemed to be no better way to refute her.
Ultimately, the three parties reached an agreement on this matter, and the situation seemed to ease all at once. However, a tense atmosphere still permeated the air, and the power struggle among the various factions was still secretly ongoing.
He Jin narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of imperceptible calculation flashing in his gaze. He appeared calm while discussing with Empress Dowager Dong and Dong Zhong, but in reality, he was plotting his own schemes. Although Empress Dowager Dong outwardly agreed, her sharp eyes revealed unwillingness and resentment. Her fingers tightly gripped the armrest, as if secretly accumulating strength, waiting for the opportune moment to arrive. Dong Zhong stood to the side, his eyes flickering, weighing the interests of all parties, and secretly planning his countermeasures.
Empress He sat to the side, seemingly meekly obeying He Jin's arrangements, but in reality, she also had her own thoughts. She occasionally glanced at Empress Dowager Dong, a hint of vigilance and defensiveness in her eyes.
Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, appearing silent on the side, were actually closely monitoring the development of the situation. A hint of cunning occasionally flashed in their eyes, as they secretly calculated how to gain greater benefits in this power struggle.
Liu Bian looked at the absurd scene before him, his gaze passing over Lu Zhi and his group, who were ignored, and falling upon the figures earnestly discussing and bargaining on the field. He then looked at the Emperor, lying cold and lifeless on the dragon bed, and found everything so ridiculous.
A sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart. He was the future heir, yet he was completely ignored by these three factions, with no one asking for his opinion. He did not know how long this puppet-like life would continue, or where the future would lead...
Thus, the three parties were surprisingly able to sit together calmly to discuss the Emperor's funeral arrangements, but beneath this calm facade, the struggle among the various forces continued in secret, and no one knew what further changes would occur...
As dawn broke, in Luoyang City, the somber sound of a bell slowly tolled, its sound seemingly piercing every corner of the entire city, announcing the sorrowful news of the Han Emperor's demise. The bell reverberated through the streets and alleys, disturbing the peaceful lives of the city's inhabitants.
Inside the Imperial Palace, everything was draped in white, white drapes fluttering in the wind, as if narrating endless sorrow. The court officials, dressed in mourning attire, their faces solemn, respectfully lined both sides of the grand hall. In the mourning hall, the Han Emperor's coffin was placed in the center, covered with luxurious brocade, surrounded by countless offerings.
The imperial concubines wept mournfully, their cries like bleeding tears, expressing their longing and reluctance to part with the Emperor. The eunuchs and Imperial Maids also bowed their heads in silent mourning, and the entire Imperial Palace was immersed in a profound sorrow.
In the streets of Luoyang, the common people stopped, silently shedding tears, their hearts filled with respect and remembrance for the Han Emperor. Some shops also lowered their business signs, as a sign of mourning for the Emperor.
In this solemn and dignified atmosphere, the Han Emperor's funeral ceremony officially began, as if the entire city of Luoyang was silently mourning and seeing off the deceased emperor...
--- Dividing Line ---
With the Emperor's demise, Liu Bian ascended the throne. In this power struggle, He Jin and the aristocratic families undoubtedly became the biggest winners. He Jin, who was already immensely powerful, now fell into a state of frenzy, with power expanding wildly in his hands.
And the aristocratic families, under the swaggering display of He Jin, this incompetent, even more unscrupulously and blatantly extracted all resources of the Han Dynasty. Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, and others who participated were all rewarded for their respective "contributions."
The Ten Attendants, having presented their "pledge of allegiance" during the palace coup, gained the trust of Empress He. Empress He was also eager to rely on them to control everything in the palace, thereby consolidating her own position. In this vortex of power, they colluded with each other, acting in concert. Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and others, relying on this tacit understanding with Empress He, became increasingly rampant in the palace, their influence soaring. Empress He's trust in them ensured that their status remained unaffected, and even became more secure.
Although Empress Dowager Dong and Dong Zhong failed in this palace coup, relying on their identities and the powerful influence of the aristocratic families behind them, their status in the palace remained revered. Empress Dowager Dong was honored as Empress Dowager, still enjoying the supreme symbol of power.
And Dong Zhong, despite experiencing the setback of the palace coup, was not substantially affected. Not only was he promoted, but he also continued to serve as General of Cavalry, and his power and military authority were not completely weakened due to the machinations of the aristocratic families.
In this palace coup, Lu Zhi was indeed one of the most contributing individuals. However, he was ruthlessly excluded. Empress He, surrounded by the eunuch faction, harbored dissatisfaction towards Lu Zhi, while Empress Dowager Dong had always hated him to the bone.
Although He Jin outwardly respected Lu Zhi, he was actually quite wary of his reputation and prestige. These three factions were all powerful figures, and when they united to collectively exclude Lu Zhi, even with his great abilities, Lu Zhi was powerless to contend with them and could only be helplessly excluded from the core of power.
Behind this seemingly prosperous facade lay the gradual decline of the Han Dynasty, fraught with crises. And Liu Bian, this young man who had just ascended the throne, faced with this complex situation, was like a puppet on strings, powerless to change anything, and could only watch helplessly as the fate of the Han Dynasty gradually moved towards the unknown under the manipulation of others...
Lu Zhi watched this chaotic situation, yet was powerless to change it in the slightest, his heart filled with grief and helplessness. Although he had great enthusiasm and grand ambitions, he was excluded from this power struggle and unable to display his talents.
He looked at all this, knowing deeply that the wheels of history were rolling forward, and he could only become a speck of dust beneath these wheels, ruthlessly crushed. That feeling of powerlessness deeply pierced his heart, yet also made him feel immense sorrow and desolation.
Lu Zhi's heart was filled with indignation and resentment. These emotions festered in his heart, unable to be released for a long time, and ultimately caused him to fall ill.
He was physically and mentally exhausted, completely battered by this cruel reality. Every time he thought of this, his grief and indignation intensified, and his illness became more severe. He was powerless to change any of this, and could only watch the situation unfold while suffering from illness, and all of this made him feel immense pain and despair.