The Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty: The Competition in the Central Plains

"I’ve met my father!"Jin Yueqing paid tribute to her father again. Jin Zhun said with a smile:"She is already a queen, and she still looks like a child. Don’t be polite to your father and sister!"

The two daughters took Jin Zhun and sat down inside. The two palace maids served tea and went out.

"We are all a family, no need for polite words, sister, please sit down!"Jin Yuehua said with a smile:"Sister, you are not here to have fun with me, are you?"

"My sister is smart and witty, so of course she can guess right."Jin Yueqing said

"Yes, we should use our status to let His Majesty give our father the power to decide on military and state affairs. The more dissolute and immoral His Majesty is, the greater his father's power will be, and the more Liu Cong's sons will fight for power. When the time comes, it will be easy to completely eradicate the Liu clan."Jin Yuehua said. Jin Zhun said somewhat seriously:"It is said that 'accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger', and this is absolutely true. Recently, many ministers are secretly plotting to depose the emperor and install the King of Jinan and the Grand Sima Liu Ji as emperor. If this is the case, our Jin family, including father, you sisters, Jin Ming, Jin Kang, etc., as well as our little children of the Jin family, will all be killed. You two must convince His Majesty to strike first."

Jin Yuehua and Jin Yueqing were horrified when they heard this. Jin Yuehua calmed down and then said:"In order to compete for the position of prince, your majesty once killed his uncle Liu Yi, and more than 10,000 people were killed. Now in order to keep his throne, Your Majesty will not be merciful."

Jin Yueqing and Liu Can were lying on the bed, and Jin Yueqing deliberately faced outward. Liu Can said with a smile,"I haven't been to the queen these days. Is the queen angry?"

"How dare I, my concubine, be angry with His Majesty! Your Majesty only loves the queens who favored the late emperor. He has forgotten me, the real queen, a long time ago, right?"Jin Yueqing turned over and said face to face with Liu Can. Liu Can continued to smile at Jin Yueqing and said:"The late emperor had so many queens, and they were all widowed in their twenties. It's so pitiful. Let them live alone all day, why not take care of them so that they can catch the rain and dew. Besides, your sister is the Queen Mother, so don't be jealous. My thoughts are all on your sister"

"That's pretty much it."Jin Yueqing said, and took the initiative to kiss Liu Can, making Liu Can drunkenly. Jin Yueqing added:"We sisters have no other extravagant hopes, we just hope to grow old with His Majesty. But this wish may be difficult to achieve"

"what happened? Is something big going to happen?"Liu Can turned sideways and asked a little anxiously. Jin Yueqing was a little pretentious and hesitated on purpose. Liu Can scratched Jin Yueqing's armpits, and Jin Yueqing laughed. After the laughter, Jin Yueqing said seriously:"Since your Majesty ascended the throne, During the day, they drank wine and got drunk; at night, they took turns pampering the queens and other concubines of the late emperor. Your Majesty is living and drinking, but a group of ministers are plotting to depose your Majesty and replace him with the King of Jinan and Grand Sima Liu Ji."

Jin Yueqing said leisurely, and Liu Can asked in horror:"Is this true?"

"Your Majesty, do you dare to make up such a big thing? Even my father, a great Sikong, is afraid every day. I am afraid that if His Majesty is deposed and killed, a disaster will come."Jin Yueqing said in a conspiratorial manner:"Every day when my father gets up, he touches his head first."

"If I can't keep my throne and your Jin family, how can I have the dignity to be the emperor!"Liu Can said and sat up, thought for a while and continued:"From now on, all major matters in the court and military affairs will be decided by Da Sikong alone, who will act on my behalf!"

"Your Majesty said this, our sisters and father are relieved!"After Jin Yueqing finished speaking, he took the initiative to hug, kiss and touch Liu Can...

In Da Sikong Mansion, Jin Zhun said to Jin Ming and Jin Kang with a smile:"Two brothers, Your Majesty has given me the power of government. From today on, Jin Ming is appointed as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Jin Kang is appointed as the General of Guards. They are in charge of the imperial army in the capital and are responsible for protecting the palace and the capital Pingyang."

"Thank you brother for your grace!"Jin Ming and Jin Kang quickly knelt down and kowtowed. The two stood up, and Jin Ming said with some worry:"My brother can take charge of the government. This is only the first step in the uprising. Liu Yao, who was guarding Chang'an, and Shi Le, who was guarding Xiang State, both had tens of thousands of troops. There are also more than ten princes of the Liu family, all of whom have tens of thousands of troops."

"Brother Ming is right, our power is somewhat weak, so we can't act rashly yet."Jin Kang reminded. Jin Zhun laughed and said:"As long as I use a little trick, I can make Liu Cong's sons jealous of each other, kill each other, and make rivers of blood flow!"

The next day, in the living room of Da Sikong Mansion, Wang Shen and Xuan Huai, the chief maids, were changing glasses with Jin Zhun, Jin Ming and Jin Kang. There were all kinds of delicacies on the table. The two maids poured the wine and went out. Jin Zhun said :"Both of you, sir, were highly valued people by the late emperor and have a high status in the court. No matter in the past or now, our loyalty to the late Emperor and His Majesty remains unchanged. My two daughters, one is the empress dowager and the other is the empress. The adopted daughter of the two adults is also the queen of the late emperor. Lord Wang's adopted daughter is also revered as Queen Hongxiao. So for us, we are both prosperous and disadvantaged!"

"What Da Sikong said is absolutely true, we must not let those rebellious officials and traitors who endanger the government go unchecked!"Wang Chen said. Xuanhuai continued:"The emperor's younger brother Liu Yi is an example of a family being exterminated because of rebellion. In the face of power, there is no family affection!"

"Then we three brothers, each toast two adults a glass of wine!"Jin Zhun said, stood up, held the wine bottle, and toasted Wang Chen first, then Xuan Huai, and all three of them drank it in one gulp. Then came Jin Ming and Jin Kang, who toasted Wang Chen and Xuan Huai respectively. A glass of wine.

A few days later, Liu Can summoned Wang Shen and Xuanhuai in his imperial study. Liu Can said:"As important ministers of the late emperor, the two adults have made outstanding contributions and worked hard. If some people weren't ready to take action, I wouldn't be willing to trouble you two."

"Your Majesty, if you need anything, please just say it. Wang Chen said, and Xuan Huai also nodded. Liu Can paused and whispered:"King Liu Jing of Shangluo, King Liu Mai of Qi, Duke Liu Kai of Chang Kingdom, King Liu Qi of Wu and other members of the royal family often gather at King Liu Ji of Jinan." In the palace, there is a conspiracy to surround the palace, intending to depose me and kill the concubine. The situation is extremely urgent. Please, sir, lead the imperial guards to surround their mansion at midnight tonight and kill all these rebellious officials, traitors, their families, and cronies. No one will be spared!"