Chapter 11

Upon returning to the Cai residence, Liu Yao immediately felt that today's events were truly bizarre. "Hehe, I never thought Father Emperor would be such a person, actually deceiving the entire world. But with Father Emperor's full support, I can act without restraint, no longer worrying about being stabbed in the back."

A month passed quickly. With Liu Hong's support, Liu Yao's power developed even better.

On this day, Liu Yao was still reading in his study.

"Lord, Tian Feng, Tai Shi Ci, and Huang Zhong are waiting at the inn," Shi A reported.

"Oh, they've arrived? Quickly, Shi A, take me to see them," Liu Yao said with joy, throwing down the bamboo slips in his hand.

"Lord, with your status, shouldn't they come to see you?" Shi A was puzzled.

"Shi A, you don't understand. For truly talented people, one must personally invite them to show sincerity. Lead the way," Liu Yao said with deep meaning.

"Understood!!"

The imperial inn, usually reserved for foreign guests, now had three ordinary-looking men sitting there drinking wine.

One of them was a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar, another looked like a young man, and the third was a middle-aged man in a sturdy outfit.

"I am Huang Zhong from Nanyang, also known as Huang Hansheng. I have yet to learn your names."

"I am Tian Feng from Jizhou, also known as Tian Yuanhao."

"I am Taishi Ci from Donglai, also known as Taishi Ziyi."

"Brother Yuanhao, and Brother Taishi, did you also receive the Emperor's edict to come to Luoyang?" Huang Zhong asked curiously.

"Yes, I was originally taking care of my old mother in Donglai. One day, an imperial edict arrived, summoning me to serve in Luoyang. I didn't want to come because of my mother, but she said a true man should have ambitions and insisted I come to achieve something," Taishi Ci said helplessly.

"Brother Taishi, what a filial son," Tian Feng stroked his beard and praised. "As for me, I was originally a censor in Luoyang, but I couldn't stand the eunuchs, so I wanted to resign and return home. However, I was summoned here by the imperial edict. What about you, Brother Hansheng?"

"I'm in a similar situation. I was a minor officer in Jingzhou, but I was also summoned here," Huang Zhong said helplessly, with a hint of worry.

"Ha ha ha ha, how are the three of you doing?!" A voice came from outside the door, and it was Liu Yao, who pushed the door open and walked in.

"Hmph, who are you, to be so impolite?" Taishi Ci, still young and hot-tempered, glared at Liu Yao fiercely.

Shi A stepped forward to block Liu Yao, and the two men's auras clashed, both showing surprise in their eyes.

"Are you...?" Tian Feng looked at Liu Yao, finding him familiar. "Ah, this humble servant, Tian Feng, pays respects to the Crown Prince." Tian Feng then remembered meeting the Crown Prince at a poetry gathering five years ago, and this person in front of him was indeed the Crown Prince.

"Crown Prince." Taishi Ci was shocked, his back drenched in cold sweat. He immediately knelt down and bowed, "This humble servant, Taishi Ci (Huang Zhong), pays respects to the Crown Prince."

"Ha ha ha, there's no need for such formality, please rise." Liu Yao smiled and helped the three men up one by one.

Seeing Liu Yao's respect for talent, the three men felt a warm feeling.

"Sit, let's chat." Liu Yao said, sitting down first.

Tian Feng sat down straightforwardly, while Huang Zhong and Taishi Ci looked at each other, hesitating before sitting down, still somewhat uneasy.

"Crown Prince, may I ask if it was you who summoned us?" Tian Feng, being straightforward, asked directly.

"Yes, it was."

"May I ask, Crown Prince, why did you summon us?" There was no trace of respect in his tone, which made Shi A frown.

Liu Yao, with his past life's memories, didn't care about such formalities. "To put it simply, I am preparing to serve as an official in Youzhou. I know the three of you are highly talented and hope you can assist me in contributing to our great Han. With your talents, achieving great accomplishments and becoming high-ranking officials will not be difficult."

To serve as an official far from home, there were usually two reasons: money and achieving great accomplishments. The three men clearly showed interest, especially with such an appreciative lord.

Tian Feng bit his lip and said, "Crown Prince, I have one last question."

"Please ask."

"May I ask, Crown Prince, what is your view of the current Han dynasty?" Tian Feng asked, gritting his teeth. Taishi Ci and Huang Zhong were surprised; such a question was taboo.

Liu Yao didn't mind. "Hehe, Yuanhao, are you testing me? I'll be straightforward. I know the Han dynasty is in decline, so my mission this time is to find a way to revitalize our great Han." Liu Yao didn't plan to tell them about Liu Hong; this secret was only known to him and his father.

A glint of insight flashed in Tian Feng's eyes. "This humble servant, Tian Feng, pays respects to the lord and is willing to serve you with all my heart."

"This humble servant, Taishi Ci, pays respects to the lord and is willing to serve you with all my heart." Taishi Ci followed suit.

"Excellent, with the two of you, I am fortunate." Liu Yao was delighted and helped them up. He then looked at Huang Zhong, who was still hesitant.

Tian Feng and Taishi Ci were also puzzled. "Brother Hansheng, what are you hesitating about? The lord is a true enlightened ruler."

Huang Zhong's hesitation deepened. He bit his lip and knelt down, saying, "Please, Crown Prince, grant me one request, or I cannot serve you."

"Bold, to dare threaten the lord." Shi A stepped forward, shouting loudly, his hand on his sword hilt.

Liu Yao waved his hand, signaling Shi A to step back.

"Brother Hansheng, speak your mind. If I can help, I will not refuse," Liu Yao said.

Huang Zhong, hearing this, was moved to tears. "Crown Prince, this humble servant is 37 years old and only has one son, who is 10 years old. He has been sickly since birth, and the doctors are helpless, saying he won't live past 15. I have sought medical help everywhere but to no avail. I humbly request that the Crown Prince save my son's life."

Hearing Huang Zhong's words, Liu Yao remembered that Huang Zhong indeed had a son named Huang Xu, who was frail. "Ha ha, Brother Hansheng, I thought it was something else. No problem, your son is here, I will immediately summon the imperial physician to treat him."

Huang Zhong was moved to tears, kneeling down. "Lord, I entrust my life to you."

"Excellent, rise. Let's go see your son now." Liu Yao said.

"Yes, yes, thank you, Lord." Huang Zhong wiped away his tears, repeatedly thanking him.

"Shi A, take my token and summon the imperial physician." Liu Yao handed Shi A a token.

"Understood."

Taishi Ci and Tian Feng, not wanting to intrude, returned to their rooms to rest. Liu Yao and Huang Zhong went to a side room where a woman was taking care of a child around 10 years old, who was coughing occasionally. This was Huang Zhong's wife and son.

"Husband, who are these people?" Huang's wife hurriedly greeted Huang Zhong when she saw him return.

"Wife, this is my lord, the current Crown Prince," Huang Zhong said.

Huang's wife was shocked and bowed to Liu Yao. "This humble servant pays respects to the Crown Prince."

Seeing Huang's wife's actions, Liu Yao understood she came from a scholarly family, though he didn't know why she married Huang Zhong. "There's no need for such formality."

"Wife, this time the lord has come to summon the imperial physician to treat our son," Huang Zhong said happily.

"Really?" Huang's wife asked, disbelieving.

"Rubbish, what kind of talk is that? Would the lord deceive me?" Huang Zhong scolded, and Huang's wife took a small step back in fear.

"No need to worry about it," Liu Yao said casually.

Huang's wife sighed in relief, fearing she might ruin Huang Zhong's future.

After a while, the imperial physician arrived with Shi A. Under Huang Zhong's anxious gaze, the physician began to diagnose Huang Xu.

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