Chapter 141: Diao Chan

After seeing Liu Bian's incredible methods, the five no longer had any doubts in their hearts.

With such a powerful monarch and officials, one might ask, who in this world could resist Liu Bian's footsteps.

The five felt somewhat fortunate in their hearts to have chosen Liu Bian.

Seeing that the five had put away the spirit stones, Liu Bian said to them again:

"Zilong, Hansheng, I shall not arrange your positions for now."

"Three days later, there will be a Grand Court Assembly; you shall also come to attend."

The five, upon hearing this, instantly felt their expressions shake.

"We ministers obey the decree!"

Seeing this, Liu Bian nodded with satisfaction and said to Lu Zhi again:

"Minister Lu, arrange for Zilong and the others to have residences in Luoyang City, and bestow a mansion upon each of them."

"Follow the standard for fourth-rank officials."

Thinking that Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and the others had no place to live in Luoyang, Liu Bian said to Lu Zhi.

"This old minister obeys the decree!"

Lu Zhi, upon hearing this, responded respectfully.

"We ministers thank Your Majesty!"

At this moment, Zhao Yun and the other four were truly almost knocked dizzy by Liu Bian's series of rewards, and they thanked Liu Bian immediately.

You must know, they had only just joined Liu Bian's command and had not yet made any contributions, yet Liu Bian had already bestowed so many things.

He even thought of the fact that they had no place to live in Luoyang.

This moved the five deeply.

If Liu Bian were to check the loyalty of the five at this time, he would find that their loyalty had already reached one hundred percent.

"No need for formalities; with your abilities, you are fully worthy of these things."

"I am merely bestowing them upon you in advance."

Looking at the five who were moved, Liu Bian waved his hand slightly and said.

The five, after thanking Liu Bian, accepted them.

To tell the truth, they had to admire his grand gestures.

What was even rarer was his trust in them.

The five all silently swore in their hearts that they would serve Liu Bian well in the future.

"Wenhe, can those two, Wenyuan and the others, make it to the Grand Court Assembly in three days?"

Suddenly, Liu Bian thought of Zhang Liao, who had not yet arrived, and was somewhat worried that he would not make it to the Grand Court Assembly in three days, so he inquired of Jia Xu.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, General Zhang and the others should have no problem; they will return to Chang'an by this evening at the latest."

"And with the speed of General Zhang and Strategist Xi, it is no problem for them to rush from Chang'an to Luoyang in two days."

"I will use the jade token communication function to contact the Shadow Guards in Chang'an City and tell General Zhang and the others about the Grand Court Assembly in three days; in this way, they should be able to make it."

Jia Xu introduced the news of Zhang Liao and the others to Liu Bian and the crowd in detail.

"That is very good."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian also breathed a sigh of relief and nodded to Jia Xu.

Afterward, the crowd chatted in Liu Bian's imperial study for quite a while before leaving.

And Liu Bian, ever since returning to the capital, had been dealing with affairs all day and had not yet gone to see the Empress Dowager and Diao Chan.

Now that the crowd had left, Liu Bian wanted to go see the Empress Dowager and Diao Chan.

During the long time he was on the expedition, to tell the truth, he did miss Diao Chan somewhat.

Immediately, Liu Bian led Li Liangcheng and Dian Wei and the others to the Changqiu Palace of Empress Dowager He Lian.

And at this moment, inside the Changqiu Palace, the Empress Dowager and Diao Chan were waiting for Liu Bian.

Although the two of them also missed Liu Bian very much, they knew that after Liu Bian returned, there were many matters waiting for him to handle.

"Empress Dowager, Consort, His Majesty is here!"

Just as Diao Chan and the Empress Dowager were chatting, the Empress Dowager's personal maid, Lan'er, suddenly burst in and said happily to the two women.

Upon hearing this, Diao Chan and the Empress Dowager instantly stood up and hurriedly looked toward the entrance of the Changqiu Palace.

"E'lai, go find Zhongkang; I only need Li Liangcheng here."

After arriving at the entrance of the Changqiu Palace, Liu Bian said to Dian Wei.

The inner palace was a place where males other than the Emperor were forbidden to enter; Dian Wei could not enter the inner palace.

Currently, the defense of the inner palace was the responsibility of the palace maids and the eunuchs trained by Li Liangcheng.

These people were temporarily managed by Li Liangcheng; Liu Bian intended to hand this matter over to the Empress Diao Chan in the future.

After all, as the mistress of the inner palace, it was most appropriate for her to manage it.

"This general obeys the decree!"

Dian Wei cupped his hands respectfully to Liu Bian and turned to leave.

In this Imperial Palace, he did not worry about Liu Bian's safety; after all, the guard of this Imperial Palace was the responsibility of his Huben Army.

Outsiders would absolutely not be able to sneak in, and as for the eunuchs and palace maids in the Imperial Palace.

When the Imperial Palace was cleared back then, Liu Bian had personally checked them to ensure there were no problems before keeping them in the palace.

Moreover, with Liu Bian's strength, no one could currently cause him harm; this was the important reason Dian Wei could leave with peace of mind.

The moment Liu Bian stepped into the Changqiu Palace, he felt two gazes fall upon him.

Liu Bian looked up and saw Diao Chan and the Empress Dowager both looking at him with misty eyes.

"This son pays respects to Mother!"

Liu Bian first bowed to the Empress Dowager and then said to Diao Chan:

"Mother, Chan'er, I have made you worry!"

Upon hearing this, both women had tears in their eyes; Empress Dowager He Lian said to him with heartache:

"It is good that you have returned!"

And Diao Chan also forcibly suppressed the urge to throw herself into Liu Bian's arms and said to him full of love:

"This consort congratulates His Majesty on pacifying the rebellion and returning in triumph!"

To tell the truth, not having seen Diao Chan for so long, looking at her pitiful appearance at this moment, it was truly lovable.

"Chan'er!"

Liu Bian stepped forward and helped Diao Chan up, calling out to her affectionately.

Afterward, Liu Bian stayed in the Changqiu Palace until evening, and after having dinner, he left with Diao Chan.

During this time, Liu Bian briefly told the two women about his experiences during this period and also gave each of them an identity jade token.

After the three added each other as friends, both were shocked by the powerful functions of the identity jade token.

For a time, the two women played with them until they were inseparable.

And Liu Bian also told the two women about his plan to marry Diao Chan as Empress.

The Empress Dowager, after getting along with Diao Chan during this period, naturally loved her very much and, of course, had no objections to this.

And Diao Chan, hearing that Liu Bian was going to make her Empress, was also moved.

You must know, she was just a palace maid by origin; she had truly never thought that one day she could sit in the position of Empress.

After Liu Bian led Diao Chan out of the Changqiu Palace, he headed straight for his sleeping palace.

That night, the two exchanged deeply until midnight.

Looking at Diao Chan, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, Liu Bian still felt somewhat unsatisfied.

However, thinking that Diao Chan, to thank him, had unlocked several positions she had not done before, Liu Bian felt secretly delighted.

Looking lovingly at the sleeping Diao Chan, Liu Bian also held her soft body and slowly fell asleep. ===== CHAPTER 142 =====