Boom!
Luo Xin's words exploded like a thunderclap beside Zhang Yan's ears, leaving her dizzy. However much she disliked taking part in politics, she had been born into Marquis Liu's family, after all, and understood the political symbolism of bearing a king on one's back.
Of all arrangements for entrusting an orphaned ruler to another's care, the highest was the Sage King's: bearing the king on his back, acting fully in the king's stead, and governing as regent and Acting Son of Heaven.
Zhang Yan had long guessed that if anything happened to the emperor, he would certainly have Grand Chancellor Luo Xin assist Liu Heng, just as Empress Gao had had Luo Xin assist Liu Ying.
But she had never imagined that Liu Ying would directly appoint Luo Xin as regent.
Who was His Majesty guarding against?
Liu Ying had many considerations. He remembered how his mother had held sole power for more than a decade. His mother had indeed done very well, and he truly had no talent for being emperor.
But he did not want his son to experience the same thing, especially since Zhang Yan was so young. In the name of the Empress Dowager, she could leave Liu Heng depressed and joyless for his entire life.
He therefore had to choose a good guardian for Liu Heng until he came of age, someone who would receive the title of regent outright. Only then could he completely block Zhang Yan from assuming the regency.
Liu Ying did not dislike Zhang Yan. On the contrary, he liked her very much.
But he knew Zhang Yan was the same sort of person he was. Unlike his mother, she had no talent for being emperor. Her serving as regent would be no good for the court, for Liu Heng,