Chapter 17: It Would Not Be Good If Word Got Out

Guan Yu sat upright on the long bench, donned in a crisp new official robe. Though he held no weapon, his presence alone made it clear he was no common man. Such palpable talent was plain to see—no wonder Cao Cao was so keen to bring Guan Yu under his command.

Liu Xie pondered this silently as he strode to the main seat, taking his place with an air of authority.

“I wonder, for what reason has the Minister of Works sent the General of the Left to see me?” he asked.

Guan Yu had risked invoking Cao Cao’s name to gain this audience, which could only mean he had a request. Liu Xie had worked this out on the way. Since Guan Yu was the petitioner, it was only right for him to maintain an air of dignity. If he wanted others to respect him, he must first be worthy of respect.

Aura was something Liu Xie believed he’d carried from his previous life. As a narcotics officer accustomed to blood and sacrifice, he considered his presence second to none, even among the generals of this era. Yet before Cao Cao, he could not reveal this side of himself.

“Your Majesty, forgive me. I have not come at the Minister of Works’ bidding—I merely feared Your Majesty would not see me otherwise, so I invoked his name.”

As soon as Liu Xie was seated, Guan Yu rose and offered a deep bow. Although he did not kneel, it was a gesture of considerable deference; at least half the current court officials would not show Liu Xie such courtesy.

After Guan Yu’s salute, Liu Xie fixed his gaze upon him, studying him intently for some time. For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Guan Yu was puzzled. On the court, Liu Xie appeared a dullard, a puppet who echoed others’ words with little understanding. Yet now, the aura around him was that of one who had faced life and death.

Before Guan Yu could unravel the mystery, Liu Xie resumed his seat, a smile returning to his face.

“General, you jest. At a time like this, any request you have, you need only ask the Minister of Works. So long as it is not to return to your sworn brother, he will grant it. As for me? Best not to mention it!”

The Liu Xie who spoke now was a far cry from the one seen in court, and this made Guan Yu’s heart stir. Whether from what he’d heard from Liu Bei in Xuchang or what he’d seen in court, Liu Xie was a mere puppet. But the young man before him did not seem so at all.

“Since Your Majesty sees clearly, I will speak frankly. The reason I have come to Xuchang with the Minister of Works is that my elder brother’s two wives have also fallen into his hands. If I were to leave, the ladies would surely come to harm. Now that I have been granted a rank, and with a battle against Yuan Shao looming, I cannot avoid going. I am uneasy leaving the ladies here. Thus, I boldly beg Your Majesty, for the sake of my elder brother, the Imperial Uncle, to shelter the two ladies in the palace for now. I doubt the Minister of Works would object.”

Guan Yu seldom begged anyone for favors, and he had not expected much from this audience. But after Liu Xie’s last two remarks, he felt perhaps he had come to the right place, and so he spoke with sincerity.

Hearing this, Liu Xie finally understood. Until now, he had not grasped Guan Yu’s purpose, but it was clear at last. To Liu Bei, Guan Yu was like a kite, and Lady Gan and Lady Mi were the strings holding the kite. Once cut, Guan Yu could never return.

He had come to Liu Xie purely because of the latter’s status as Imperial Uncle.

All this made sense, but Liu Xie knew that if he agreed to help Guan Yu, it would be hard to explain to Cao Cao. After all, both Guan Yu and Liu Bei’s wives were people Cao Cao had once threatened to kill before they’d even reached Xuchang.

It would be safe to dismiss Guan Yu outright, but Liu Xie realized that doing so would mean missing an opportunity. Even if the value was not apparent now, it might prove crucial in the future.

Guan Yu watched as Liu Xie fell silent, waiting, breath held, for his answer.

“This matter is not beyond me, but it does carry some risk. General, come closer.”

Liu Xie gestured for Guan Yu to approach, his manner slightly conspiratorial. Though surprised, Guan Yu stepped forward as bidden.

A short while later, Guan Yu emerged from Liu Xie’s residence, walking slowly. Outside the gates, a watcher had been waiting. Seeing Guan Yu leave, the spy hurried to a carriage in the corner and whispered, “Minister of Works, Guan Yu has left. He didn’t stay long in the palace. The first time, he wasn’t admitted; after some words, a maid let him in.”

“Very well. Take me to the palace,” Cao Cao replied with a laugh, waving his hand. The guards whisked him away toward the residence.

Meanwhile, Liu Xie had barely returned to his chamber and was about to lie down when the urgent voice of a palace maid rang out once more.

“Your Majesty, the Minister of Works requests an audience at the palace gates. He says it’s a matter of importance!”

When the maid uttered “Minister of Works,” her tone brimmed with confidence, as though he were part of her own household.

“The Minister of Works? I shall await him in the great hall.”

Liu Xie understood that both Cao Cao and the maids needed this sense of security. In such circumstances, showing deference was not weakness; sometimes, yielding first was the wise choice.

Since Cao Cao had come, he could not be left standing in the cold. By the time Liu Xie dressed and reached the great hall, Cao Cao was already waiting.

“Minister of Works, what brings you here?” Liu Xie asked.

“Your Majesty, General Guan has just visited the palace. I assume Your Majesty received him?” Cao Cao’s tone was calm, as if Guan Yu truly was his envoy.

Liu Xie could not expose him. It would be easy enough to embarrass Cao Cao before others, but after such humiliation, Cao Cao might well let him taste true death. That was the terror of the man.

Thus, Liu Xie chose the most effective course.

“General Guan said he was to follow you into battle but was uneasy about Liu Bei’s two wives. You sent him to ask me to shelter them in the palace as the Imperial Uncle’s family. Since it was your wish, I have agreed. He may bring them at any time.”

Liu Xie’s tone made it seem a trivial matter.

But Cao Cao’s expression revealed satisfaction, as if he had expected as much. He glanced at Liu Xie and said in a low voice, “Indeed, this matter troubles Your Majesty. The reason I have those two women placed in the palace is that I have further use for them. Though they are not young, their beauty is notable. Your Majesty, take a look if you wish, but do not let the order of the harem be disrupted—such rumors would not sound well.”