50Chapter 50 Liu Chen's oath, Emperor Jing ascends the throne
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Hearing Liu Heng's words, Chen Xi, standing behind him, quietly rolled his eyes.
Why did those words sound so familiar?
When Liu Bang died, he asked himself the same question, and then when he died, Liu Heng asked him the same question. Now that Liu Heng was dying... he was asking his grandson, right?
The style of the Liu family truly ran in the blood.
At this moment, Chen Yun, facing Liu Heng's question, was quite composed. He knew the Emperor's suspicion, and he knew that the Emperor's probing at this time was not necessarily a bad thing.
It would be a bad thing if he didn't probe.
After all...
A person who was always suspicious, ruthless, and cunning, at the last moments of his life, when his rationality had almost completely disappeared, yet he didn't suspect you, didn't probe you...
What do you think he had prepared behind your back?
He must have already prepared to deal with you! He might even have prepared to uproot you!
This suspicious person already knew your fate, so why would he still probe you?
At this time, he would definitely appease you, make you not afraid, make you the frog in the warm water that was about to be boiled without realizing it.
Therefore, Chen Yun stepped forward calmly, with a peaceful expression on his face.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, in the past, when the Grandfather and my Grandfather were still alive, they made an oath."
He smiled as he looked at Liu Heng, as if to soothe his mind, then looked at Zhou Shengzhi and others and said, "All of you should know this."
"In the past, the Grandfather Emperor and everyone swore an oath that if anyone not of the Liu clan claimed the King, they would be attacked together. Such an oath was witnessed by the Chen clan's ancestors. How could the Chen clan betray its own promise and claim the King for themselves?"
"Even those without a fief cannot."
Chen Yun's expression was solemn: "The Liu clan will not abandon the Chen clan, and the Chen clan will not betray the Liu clan. This was also an oath made by our ancestors! Unless one day a Liu clan Emperor abandons or betrays the Chen clan, the Chen clan will absolutely not betray the Liu clan!"
"Today, in Your Majesty's current state, I will repeat these words."
"The Chen clan will uphold the oath of our ancestors and the Grandfather Emperor, heaven and earth bear witness!"
The resounding words perhaps soothed Liu Heng's fading soul. A slightly apologetic smile appeared on his face, and then he looked at the many ministers: "Since that is the case, then I shall leave an imperial edict."
"Henceforth, for generations of Chen clan members and at the passing of each family head, the honorary title of King shall be bestowed upon the Chen clan!"
"The Chen clan shall not betray the Liu clan; this shall be an ancestral instruction!"
"And if, in the future, a Liu clan Emperor abandons this ancestral instruction, it shall be considered the Liu clan betraying the Chen clan! The Chen clan will then no longer need to follow the ancient promise!"
There was a glint in Liu Heng's eyes.
These words were not something a Liu clan Emperor could say, as it was equivalent to adding a 'patch' to the promise between Liu and Chen.
But Liu Heng knew in his heart that for everything gained, something would be lost. When heaven bestowed something upon you, it had already secretly marked a price!
In fact, this wasn't a "patch" for the Chen clan, but a patch for the Liu clan!
Because the original "betrayal" was too broad!
What did betrayal mean? Was not giving the Chen clan important positions considered betrayal? If the Chen clan committed a crime and the Liu clan Emperor punished them, was that considered betrayal?
This was too broad!
Therefore, Liu Heng said: "Upon the death of the Chen clan head, the honorary title of King shall be bestowed." If "this ancestral instruction is not followed, then it is the Liu clan betraying the Chen clan!" The meaning in these words was equivalent to saying that as long as the Liu clan Emperor continued to bestow the honorary title of King upon the Chen clan, the Liu clan would not be considered to have betrayed the Chen clan!
The Chen clan could not betray the Liu clan!
As for the honorary title...
To put it unpleasantly, what was an honorary title of King?
Could it give the Chen clan power?
No.
This was just a casual remark from the Emperor; the biggest cost was some money—when a person with the honorary title of King passed away, the Emperor had to bestow posthumous honors and rewards.
But what were these?
Nothing.
After Liu Heng finished speaking, his eyes fixed on Chen Yun. He wanted to know if Chen Yun would accept such a promise.
If Chen Yun accepted... then it meant the Chen clan truly had no ulterior motives!
Chen Yun hesitated slightly, then felt "Chen Xi" behind him subtly tug his sleeve when no one was looking, so he slowly exhaled.
"I... thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
Upon seeing this, Liu Heng finally broke into a smile.
All his strength seemed to dissipate at this moment, but he didn't care. He just slowly lay down on the bed and then spoke again: "After I die, grant the Chen clan... the authority to supervise the state and assist in governance!"
Liu Heng waved his hand, and an Inner Attendant beside him came over, holding something, with a respectful expression on his face.
"Bestow upon the successive heads of the Chen clan the Imperial Sword. Under this sword, all treacherous villains can be executed!"
Liu Heng emphasized "all" and his gaze drifted slightly as he looked at Chen Yun, his eyes fixed on Dou Yifang, the Empress, who stood weeping sadly at the side!
How could he not guard against Dou Yifang?
The Han dynasty had two Grand Empresses so far: Lu Hou and his own mother, Grand Empress Dowager Bo. Neither of these Grand Empresses was an honest person, and Lu Hou even almost incited the Rebellion of the Lü Clan!
Liu Heng himself had experienced the Rebellion of the Lü Clan; how could he not be on guard?
Thus, he gave Chen Yun this power, just as Chen Xi had done back then! Liu Heng even deliberately added a patch, giving this power not to Chen Yun alone, but to the Chen clan!
Even if Chen Yun's health failed, or he died before Dou Empress... wasn't there still Chen Xi, Chen Yun's son?
He could still deal with Dou Yifang, who would become Grand Empress Dowager in the future!
This was Liu Heng's ultimate goal.
Chen Yun again received the decree and thanked him. Liu Heng, the Chen clan, had no strength left. He simply lay on the bed, wanting to speak very weakly, but he couldn't utter a single word.
The arrangements just now had exhausted all his strength.
He slowly looked at the canopy above, and in his mind, everything he had experienced over the years appeared, all things seemed like... a dream bubble.
Before Liu Heng's death, the last thing he thought of was...
"Imperial Father, do you still think the King of Zhao resembles you the most?"
It was as if endless cries reached his ears, but at this moment, Liu Heng no longer cared. His consciousness slowly faded...
In the twenty-sixth year of Emperor Wen, in spring, on the first day of the first month.
Liu Heng, the third Emperor of the Han dynasty, passed away in Weiyang Palace.
The whole world mourned.
Everyone remembered this benevolent Emperor, especially the Qian Shou of the realm, who fell into extreme sorrow.
Amidst such sorrow, the fourth Emperor of the Han dynasty...
Liu Qi ascended the throne!