Chapter 87

"Oh, what is it?" Liu Hong asked curiously. It was the first time he had seen his son, who was as mature as an adult, actually showing an embarrassed expression.

"This... Your son... Your son still wishes for Your Majesty to grant a marriage." Liu Yao bit his lip and said firmly.

Liu Hong was stunned, silent for a long time. Liu Yao was so anxious that he was sweating profusely.

After a long while, Liu Hong finally reacted, looking incredulous. "Your Highness, did you just say 'grant a marriage'?"

"Yes, I hope Your Majesty will grant it." Liu Yao clasped his hands and said.

"Ha ha ha!!! Grant a marriage, very well, very well." Liu Hong suddenly burst into wild laughter, then said half-jokingly, "Your Highness, which family's daughter has caught your eye? Tell me quickly. If she is not outstanding, I will not agree."

"Hehe." Liu Yao laughed awkwardly. After all, in such a situation, Liu Yao, a virgin in two lifetimes, had no experience at all. Blushing, he said, "Your Majesty, she is the beloved daughter of my teacher, Cai Yan."

"Oh, you mean Cai Bojie's daughter, the little talent from Luoyang." Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction, as if he had known all along.

Liu Yao was taken aback. He didn't expect Cai Yan's reputation to have reached Liu Hong. In fact, Cai Yan didn't have such a great reputation. After all, a young lady who never left her home couldn't have much of a reputation. In reality, Liu Hong had sent people to investigate. Since Liu Yao had lived in Cai Yong's house for so long when he was young, Liu Hong naturally wanted to know everything about the people in Cai Yong's household to feel at ease.

"Yes. I hope Your Majesty will grant it." Liu Yao pleaded.

Liu Hong squinted and said, "Although Cai Bojie is not from a major clan, since Your Highness likes her, I will not oppose it." Liu Hong knew a lot about Cai Yan's talent and virtue. As Liu Yao's wife, she was perfect. Moreover, he trusted Liu Yao's judgment, believing that the person Liu Yao liked must have something special about her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Liu Yao exclaimed excitedly. In fact, Liu Yao should be grateful that the rules of social status were not so strict in this era. After all, Empress He, the current empress of Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, was from a butcher's family, far below Cai Yan in status.

"Very well, very well. Your Highness, you can propose this at the morning court tomorrow. I want all the officials to know this good news." Liu Hong laughed heartily.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Liu Hong looked at Liu Yao's face and sighed, full of emotion. "Sigh, I don't know if I will live to see the day when Your Highness marries and has children." After all, Liu Yao was only fourteen, and Cai Yan was only twelve. They could only get engaged for now. They would have to wait until they were both adults to get married. Liu Hong was very clear about his own health, which was getting worse every year. He didn't know how much longer he would live.

"Your Majesty, it will definitely happen." Liu Yao bit his lip, holding back tears, and said firmly. He knew that Liu Hong would die in 189 AD. But he couldn't tell Liu Hong outright. The pain of knowing when a loved one will die but being unable to prevent it and unable to confide in anyone, only to keep it buried in one's heart, was unimaginable.

Liu Hong chuckled and said casually, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so serious. Birth, aging, illness, and death are natural. I have no regrets in my life with a son as outstanding as you."

Then Liu Hong changed the subject. "However, Your Highness, among the concubines, there are two people you must protect at all costs."

"Who are they?" Liu Yao asked.

Liu Hong took a few steps and said, "One is my mother, your Empress Dowager Dong. The other is your sister, Princess Wannian, Liu Xin. Although I have three sons, I only have one daughter. I don't want her to be hurt. If I die, I'm afraid that He Lingxi, that woman, might harm them."

"He Lingxi." Liu Yao thought of this woman again. The incident of her poisoning him was still fresh in his mind. If it weren't for the ancient texts that saved him, Liu Yao would have been dead long ago. But Liu Yao quickly suppressed his anger. After all, it wasn't the right time to kill her, and there would be others to deal with her in the future. There was no need to ruin his plans for such a minor character.

Two figures then appeared in Liu Yao's mind. Empress Dowager Dong, who had been the closest to him in his childhood, naturally didn't need to be mentioned. His mother had died early, and only Empress Dowager Dong had cared for him for years.

As for Princess Wannian, Liu Xin, Liu Yao thought of the little girl who had always followed him around when they were young. Princess Wannian, Liu Xin, was born to one of Liu Hong's concubines and was two years younger than Liu Yao. Therefore, Liu Yao and her had a very good relationship. When they were young, Liu Xin loved to stick to her big brother, Liu Yao.

However, as he grew older and busier, their time together became less. Liu Yao didn't know how Liu Xin had grown up. Thinking of her, Liu Yao missed her a bit.

"Your Majesty, I will take good care of them and ensure they are not harmed in any way." Liu Yao said firmly. "However, Your Majesty, if possible, I would like to take them to Youzhou. In Youzhou, I can guarantee that no one will harm them in the slightest."

"Hmm." Liu Hong was moved. Going to Youzhou would be safer than staying in Luoyang. "Very well, Your Highness, I grant it. Go, and also pay respects to your mother."

"Your son understands. I will take my leave." Liu Yao bowed to Liu Hong and left the Southern Palace, leading Shi A and a eunuch towards Empress Dowager Dong's palace. He also ordered a eunuch to invite Princess Wannian to join them.

Liu Yao didn't know how large the entire palace of Luoyang was. After all, he wasn't idle enough to walk through the entire palace. However, the Southern Palace where Liu Hong resided and Empress Dowager Dong's residence were in the south and east, respectively, occupying two parts of the palace.

As Liu Yao walked to a smaller, unknown palace, he suddenly heard a genderless angry voice and a woman's cry of pain.

Liu Yao, puzzled, asked the eunuch beside him, "What is that place ahead, and why is such a thing happening?"

The eunuch, who was very familiar with the palace, quickly replied respectfully, "Your Highness, that is where the Ten Attendants store their ornaments and crowns."

"Hmph." Liu Yao snorted disdainfully. "The Ten Attendants even have a special place to store their ornaments. They are truly parasites. Shi A, follow me to see what's happening." He then strode forward.

Shi A naturally followed obediently. The eunuch, however, was sweating profusely. The Ten Attendants were his superiors, and he suspected that only Liu Yao dared to insult them. Seeing Liu Yao walking ahead, already a considerable distance away, the eunuch hurried to catch up.

Before long, Liu Yao arrived at the unknown palace and saw the scene in front of him. Two eunuchs were surrounding a palace maid, constantly insulting and striking her face, while the maid was trying to block the attacks with her hands.

"Stop!!!" Liu Yao shouted when he saw this.

The two eunuchs heard the voice, turned around, and looked at Liu Yao, asking discontentedly, "Whose subordinate are you?" They probably mistook Liu Yao for one of their own. However, they didn't notice that Liu Yao and his companion were dressed differently.

At the same time, the palace maid also looked at Liu Yao. Liu Yao couldn't help but look at her.

For a moment, Liu Yao was completely stunned, his breathing becoming rapid. What he saw was a face of a girl around thirteen or fourteen, so beautiful that he was at a loss for words. Perhaps only the common phrases "sinking fish, falling geese, closing the moon, and shaming the flowers" could describe her.