Chapter 1

In the early morning, in Xudu.

Inside the Crown Prince's Palace in the imperial palace.

A chorus of reading voices echoed, though the volume varied, and the ages of the readers were different, they were exceptionally orderly, evoking a sense of respect.

The eunuchs and palace maids passing by all showed expressions of reverence, bowing their heads and walking slowly, afraid that their clumsy movements might disturb the nobles inside.

This was the Crown Prince's Palace, the residence of the Han Crown Prince Liu Feng, and the current Han Emperor was Liu Xie.

Among those reading inside were the Crown Prince Liu Feng and the Crown Prince's attendants. The Crown Prince didn't need to be mentioned, and the other attendants were all sons of high-ranking officials, all important figures, not to be underestimated.

Therefore, the eunuchs and palace maids had to bow their heads as they passed, showing respect. However, the scene inside the main hall was quite different from what one might imagine.

Inside the main hall.

On the upper seat, Chen Feng, who was thirty-five years old and held the position of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, was kneeling. He was not only handsome and dignified but also highly learned.

Compared to Chen Feng's dignified demeanor, the Crown Prince Liu Feng, sitting in the first seat below, looked quite incapable.

Because Liu Feng was sleeping, snoring softly. He was almost snoring out loud.

On the other hand, the fifteen Crown Prince's attendants were reading diligently. Among them was Cao Pi, the eldest son of the current Grand Commandant Cao Cao.

Cao Pi had become accustomed to Liu Feng's behavior, so he read diligently without paying attention. However, many of the attendants lacked the self-control to keep their eyes off Liu Feng, occasionally glancing at him.

Some were disappointed, some were gleeful, and some even mocked him.

They had been attendants for some time, but every time they saw such an incompetent Crown Prince, they still showed these expressions.

Initially, after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the world gradually fell into chaos. Later, Dong Zhuo seized power, deposed the former Emperor Liu Bian, and installed the current Emperor Liu Xie.

Then came the war against Dong Zhuo by the warlords, followed by the chaos among the warlords.

After many years of chaos, there were signs of peace, and the one who brought peace was Cao Cao. Therefore, Cao Cao's power was immense, suppressing Emperor Liu Xie to the point of suffocation.

Of course, Emperor Liu Xie still retained some capital and power.

Thus, the two sides appeared to get along well on the surface, but they were like fire and water in secret. These fifteen attendants were a microcosm of the court, with some loyal to Liu Xie and others to the Cao family, clearly divided into two camps.

Those who were disappointed were naturally loyal to Emperor Liu Xie. Those who were gleeful or mocking were from the Cao family's side.

It wasn't that these people were petty or lacked character. On the contrary, they were all children of the nobility in Xudu, who had received excellent education from a young age.

Their tolerance and character were generally commendable.

The reason their thoughts were reflected on their faces was that the Crown Prince Liu Feng was truly a wimp. He slept during reading and was lively when not reading.

Just wait and see.

It was quite amusing that the Han heir was a wimp. Some of the attendants thought this, their eyes occasionally flashing with mockery.

The attendants were supposed to respect the Crown Prince, but now most of them disrespected him. As the Junior Tutor, Chen Feng pretended not to see and continued the lesson as usual.

"Alright, that's enough for today."

Chen Feng said after a while.

"Yes, Teacher."

The attendants, including Cao Pi, stood up and bowed to Chen Feng.

"Oh, class is over?" Liu Feng, the most unique one, stretched lazily, regained his energy, and left energetically.

What a wimp.

A misfortune for our Han dynasty.

The attendants watched and thought to themselves.

Even Chen Feng's gaze was somewhat unusual. This was truly an exceptional Crown Prince. However, Chen Feng did not stop him, allowing him to do as he pleased.

Crown Prince Liu Feng.

Born in the midst of chaos, he was now in the fourth year of Jian'an, having lived for eight years.

He was doted on by Empress Fu from a young age, with a mischievous nature and a dislike for learning.

This was the evaluation given by those who had interacted with Liu Feng. More directly, they called him a wimp.

But how could they know why Liu Feng was like this?

"These little brats' gazes are truly annoying, especially Cao Pi and his ilk. They are the future elites of the Cao Wei. I must take out a few of them while Cao Cao's power is not yet fully consolidated."

In a place where no one could see, Liu Feng thought uncharitably.

Liu Feng was no longer the historical Crown Prince Liu Xie, who died young. Instead, a modern soul had taken over Liu Feng's body, creating a new Liu Feng.

When Liu Feng was just born.

His past life was not worth mentioning. The Liu Feng living in the Three Kingdoms era was someone who had studied the history of the Three Kingdoms in depth, knowing the course of history and the talents involved.

Living in such a grand era, survival and development would be much easier.

In the past, Liu Feng often fantasized about what he would do if he were a powerful figure or a commoner, how he would rise to power and eventually overthrow the Cao Wei like Sima Yi.

His identity could change at will, whether joining Cao Cao, Sun Quan, or Liu Bei, he had advantages. The most important thing was to rise to power and be a ruler, not a subject.

This was what Liu Feng often thought about in the past. But reality was very frustrating.

He did come to this era, but as the Crown Prince, the direct descendant of Emperor Liu Xie and Empress Fu.

The eldest son, the Crown Prince.

His identity was fixed, destined to be part of the Han camp, unable to join the Wei, Shu, or Wu. The most frustrating part was that he was already deeply entrenched in Xudu. His father, Liu Xie, had become a tool for Cao Cao to command the warlords, and as the Crown Prince, he was even less significant.

If things continued like this, he would have no future unless he opposed Cao Cao.

However, Liu Feng was very disheartened by this. Cao Cao was at the height of his power, with the Cao and Xiahou families' Eight Tiger Generals, the Five Fine Generals, and the Five Great Strategists all gathered under his command, along with hundreds of thousands of elite troops.

Apart from not having fought the northern warlord Yuan Shao, he already had the momentum of a hegemon.

What about Emperor Liu Xie? He only had a few minor forces like Dong Cheng, many people, and high-ranking officials, but no real military power.

What could be done without military power?

So Liu Feng thought for eight years and came up with nothing.

Therefore, Liu Feng decided to endure, to be patient. Otherwise, with Cao Cao's immense power, he might become a victim. Death would mean the end of everything.

But being alive offered many possibilities.

In the main hall, Liu Feng pretended to sleep while reading. This was a way to leave himself a backup plan. On one hand, it was a disguise to make everyone in Xudu believe he was a wimp and let their guard down.

Then, he would strike with a thunderous blow. Although it seemed impossible given Liu Xie's current power, Liu Feng was determined to do it and had prepared for it.

This preparation lasted for eight years.

From the time he learned to speak, Liu Feng behaved very domineeringly, very spoiled, and very extravagant.

Because he was so young and had been doing this for eight years, everyone in Xudu, from Emperor Liu Xie, Empress Fu, and Grand Commandant Cao Cao to the palace maids and eunuchs, believed that Liu Feng was incapable and a wimp.

Liu Feng's disguise was quite successful, leaving him a backup plan. Historically, Emperor Liu Xie lived to a ripe old age, and Cao Pi, to show magnanimity, granted him the title of Duke of Shanyang after usurping the throne.

If Liu Feng continued to act extravagant, he would likely live a comfortable life after Liu Xie abdicated and became the Duke of Shanyang.

This was a backup plan, but only a small one.

Because Liu Feng had a burning goal in his heart, a basic goal for anyone who loved the Three Kingdoms: to be a ruler, not a subject.

The backup plan was just a small path. He would not lack for food, clothing, or women.

But he would not enjoy the supreme power, the thrill of competing with warlords, and the satisfaction of leading his ministers and generals to conquer territories. If he were a commoner in modern times, he might just go with the flow and live a simple life.

But since he was in the grand era of the Three Kingdoms, being a subject was out of the question. A man must fight to the death to be a true man.

In short, for the past eight years, Liu Feng had been pretending, waiting, and preparing to change the current dire situation.

All for the goal of not being a subject but a ruler.