Early the next morning, Liu Cong and Liu Yao went to the palace and went straight to Liu Yuan's bedroom. Liu Yuan was very different from what they had seen a few months ago, he was lying on the bed weakly, his eye sockets were deep, and he had lost his shape.

Liu Cong and Liu Yao hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down in front of Liu Yuan's bed, cried and shouted "Father", and then they couldn't speak, so they knelt there and sobbed. Liu He stood aside and looked at the two of them coldly, he was already impatient at this time, he said coldly: "What are you crying for?" My father hasn't left yet. ”

"What did you say?" Liu Cong raised his head and glared at Liu He.

"I said you were crying a little early." Liu He said, there was not the slightest awe of Liu Yuan in his words, he didn't take his terminally ill father in his eyes, he was arrogant before he left, it seemed that he had endured enough in the past few years, and he couldn't wait to show his power.

Liu Cong got up angrily, stepped forward and grabbed Liu He's clothes, and swung them with a punch. Liu He was unprepared, he was punched in the face, he didn't expect Liu Cong to dare to do anything with him at this time, so he also pounced, the two pinched each other, and no one refused to give in.

Seeing this, Liu Yao hurriedly stepped forward and wanted to pull the two apart, but the two stared at each other with red eyes, both of them looked like they were going to kill each other, Liu Yao could only hold Liu Cong and said in a low voice: "Fourth brother, father is driving, don't be impulsive." ”

Liu Cong heard Liu Yao's words and let go angrily, so Liu He seized the opportunity and waved Liu Cong to give him a circle, which was strong, and Liu Cong's left cheek quickly swelled. Liu Cong caught fire again, and was about to rush up, but was tightly protected by Liu Yao.

"Calm down." Liu Yao whispered in Liu Cong's ear: "The time has not yet come." ”

Liu He shook his right hand, which was aching from the beating, smiled contemptuously, and said, "In the end, the younger brother is smart and knows the situation, are you against me now, will you lose?" ”

Liu Cong forced himself to calm down, he no longer looked at Liu He, but turned his eyes to Liu Yuan, only to find that Liu Yuan woke up at some point, his lips moving, as if he was saying something. Liu Cong hurriedly stepped forward and attached his ear to Liu Yuan's mouth, but only heard him say, "Don't fight." ”

Liu Cong's eyes turned red instantly, and he responded in a low voice: "What my father taught me is that my sons and daughters will not fight." ”

Liu Yao also came to him, helped Liu Yuan up, let him lean on him, and said, "Father, son-in-law and fourth brother have won the battle, come to report the good news to my father." ”

Liu Yuan smiled weakly and said, "Very good, very good." After that, he called Liu He and said: "You are the eldest brother, you must love your younger brother, don't do it, brothers are harmonious, in order to achieve great things, what your father said, you have to keep it in mind." ”

Liu He said "um" absentmindedly and stopped talking.

"You go out first, I have something to say to your two younger brothers." Liu Yuan said again.

Hearing this, Liu Hecai looked at Liu Yao and Liu Cong vigilantly, and said, "What can't my father say in front of me?" I'm afraid it's not good for you to favor one over the other like this. Liu He's words no longer have any respect for Liu Yuan, as if he was just facing an insignificant dying person.

Liu Yuan coughed heavily, obviously also angry by Liu He, he tried hard to stand up, stretched out his finger and pointed to the door, and said, "I'm not dead yet, won't you listen to me?" Get out. ”

Liu He frowned and looked at Liu Yuan, his body still not moving.

Liu Yuan sighed; "At this point, is there anything you can't rest assured?"

What can Liu He not worry about? Now the situation in the Han Kingdom is in his hands, but he has always been jealous of Liu Cong, and if Liu Yuan leaves them any secret decrees, it will also be detrimental to his future.

"I don't have anything left for them, just a few words to explain, just a few words, what do you have to worry about?" Liu Yuan gasped, glanced at Liu He, and said disdainfully: "You are so cowardly, how can I trust you with the peace of mind of this Han Kingdom?" ”

Liu He couldn't be excited, he was not happy when he heard this, and walked out of the dormitory with a "hum", but he still left two people to guard the door of the dormitory, and when Liu Cong and Liu Yao came out, the body search was a must.

"If my father has something to say, my sons will do what I am told." Liu Cong knelt beside Liu Yuan's bed and took his hand, only to find that Liu Yuan's hands had become dry, but it was these hands that opened up the country of Han.

"Father, I'm sorry for you." Liu Yuan looked at Liu Cong, two lines of tears flowed in his eyes, he had fought in the north and south in his life, and he had long forgotten the feeling of crying, but people were dying, everything was so reluctant, especially in the face of his two favorite sons, he couldn't let go. "The road after that depends on your brothers."

"Father......" Liu Yao couldn't hear such words, he hugged Liu Yuan tightly, choked up, and said: "Father's kindness to us, Yao will never forget in this life." ”

Liu Yuan smiled and looked at Liu Yao: "You are my Liu family's thousand-mile horse." He breathed a sigh of relief before he said: "It is also a helpless move for my father to leave the throne to Liu He, and if he is given to him, he will be disadvantageous to you, and if he is not given to him, he will also be unfavorable to you." I thought about it again and again, always thinking that he could take care of the overall situation a little, even if he wanted to fight, he would wait a few years later for the situation in my Han Kingdom to be settled, but who knows, he can't even wait for me to die, he can't wait. ”

"Father," Liu Cong said, "how dare the sons complain about their fathers. ”

"Hey, you are the most trusted and relied on son for your father, and you are also the most promising and promising of these sons for your father." Liu Yuan stretched out his other hand, patted Liu Cong's hand, and said, "What do you want to do, don't worry about doing it boldly, your father won't embarrass you, let alone blame you." It is better to take the initiative than to passively die, and I have only one word, to let the Han Kingdom dominate the world. This is my last wish. This, relying on you, relying on your eldest brother, is far away. ”

Liu Cong was stunned for a moment, first looked at Liu Yuan, and then at Liu Yao, a little at a loss. It is one thing for him to have the heart to fight with Liu He, and it is another thing for Liu Yuan to let him fight, this is Liu Yuan's last trust in him.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Yuan said several names from his mouth, all of them were famous generals of the Han Kingdom, and they were born and died with Liu Yuan, Liu Cong knew Liu Yuan's intention in saying these names, and he must have instructed them to protect themselves and compete for the throne.

"Father." Liu Cong burst into tears, except for calling for a "father", but he couldn't speak anymore.

"And your sister." Liu Yuan hadn't said so many words for a long time, he was very tired, but now he didn't have a chance to explain these words, and what he was most worried about was his little daughter. "It's not easy for Ling Er to take care of a child alone, if she wants to remarry in the future, you must choose a reliable person, if she doesn't want to marry again, you will treat her well, so that she will have no worries about food and clothing in the second half of her life, and be happy."

"Father, rest assured, Ling'er has us and will not wronged her." Liu Yao said: "If my father wants to see her, my son will send someone to invite her." ”

"No, she came yesterday and cried very sadly, because my father didn't want to see her so sad." Liu Yuan took a few more breaths, and then said to Liu Yao: "Jian'er is very smart, he must be cultivated well and let him become a talent." ”

"Yes." Liu Yao replied with tears in his eyes.

"Okay, I'm tired, kneel down, I want to rest." After Liu Yuan finished speaking, he shook Liu Cong's hand tightly, looked at him deeply, and saw that he nodded solemnly to himself, finally relieved his heart, waved his hand, and let the two leave.

Liu Cong and Liu Yao reluctantly withdrew from Liu Yuan's dormitory, they both had new things in their hearts, so they didn't care about the rude search of them by the people guarding the door, and then strode out of the palace.

That night, Liu Yuan died of illness, and Pingyang City was full of mourning.

After Liu Yuan's death, he was succeeded by the crown prince Liu He. According to the edict left by Liu Yuan, Liu Cong was appointed as the Great Sima, the Great Shan Yu, and recorded the Shangshu with Dazai Liu Huanhuan and the Taifu Liu Yang, and placed the single in the west of the capital Pingyang.

Of course, this is Liu Yuan's last grace to Liu Cong, and it is also his last protection for Liu Cong, he has the protection of Dadanyu's identity, even if Liu He moves him, he doesn't dare to act rashly, he leaves Liu Cong time to prepare.

Liu Yuan died of illness, gathered to mourn, Liu Ling cried several times in front of Liu Yuan's spirit, for her father, she had both reverence and remorse, in order to be with Sima Zun, she almost fell into danger for her father, but when she needed help the most, Liu Yuan accepted her without any doubts, and regarded her son as a descendant of the Liu family, and did not treat her slowly, this is where Liu Ling is most grateful to Liu Yuan.

Liu Yao took Liu Ling back to his mansion and persuaded him with good words: "My father has been ill for a long time, and it can be regarded as a relief if he leaves." ”

"Father is gone." Liu Ling looked at Liu Yao with swollen eyes: "What should you do?" What about the fourth brother? ”

"Don't worry, we won't let Liu He slaughter, he can't tolerate us, and we won't give him any chance." Liu Yao wiped away Liu Ling's tears and said softly: "Even my father is on our side. ”

Liu Ling seemed to understand something, didn't ask any more, and nodded.

"Daddy." Xiao Tong's crisp voice came from the door, and the two looked back to see that Liu Jian and Liu Lin were standing at the door, looking in with curiosity. Liu Jian asked, "What's wrong with Grandpa?" Didn't you go to the palace today to see Grandpa? Why can't you see him? ”

Liu Yao picked up Liu Jian and asked, "Why can't you see it?" He pointed to his son's chest and said, "Isn't he right here?" Will always be here. ”

Liu Jian blinked in confusion, and then looked at Liu Lin, who was also unknown, "Huh? ”

Liu Ling smiled and also pointed to Liu Jian's chest: "Your father is right, he will always be here with us." ”