Chapter 45: A Person of Virtue and Grace

On his first night in the palace at Wu Commandery, Liu Xie did not suffer from insomnia; in fact, he slept more soundly than he had on most nights in Xuchang. When he opened his eyes the next morning, Fu Shou had already left the bed, though he couldn’t tell exactly when she had done so.

Liu Xie donned his long robe and pushed open the door, finding two rather attractive maids already waiting outside. At a glance, Liu Xie could tell these maids were nothing like the palace women who used to stand guard by his door in Xuchang—those had been assigned solely to keep watch over him, never showing him the respect due an emperor. These two, on the other hand, were clearly unaware of his true identity, but their reverence for him was unmistakable.

“Were two women brought here last night?” he asked.

Though he had spent the entire evening with Fu Shou, Liu Xie had not forgotten what Sun Ce had promised him.

The two Qiao sisters, beauties so renowned that even Cao Cao—who usually preferred mature women—was said to be captivated by them, despite the considerable age difference. Their fame alone warranted a closer acquaintance; as emperor, Liu Xie felt it was only right to experience their grace for himself.

“Master, two women were indeed brought in last night. They’ve been settled in the residence adjoining your sleeping quarters. Would you like me to summon them?”

“Very well… Actually, there’s no need for now. It’s broad daylight, after all.”

As soon as he finished speaking and noticed the two young maids' faces flush a bright red, Liu Xie smiled, keeping his composure, and turned away, concealing his satisfaction.

He wandered the palace for a while, but the serendipitous encounter with the Qiao sisters that he had imagined—and that legend had promised—failed to materialize. It made sense, really; having just been transferred by Sun Ce without warning, they would hardly be in any mood to stroll the gardens.

By the time he returned to his quarters, half an hour had passed. Breakfast had already been laid out. Fu Shou, idly tending a lush potted plant, looked up as her stomach rumbled faintly.

“Your Majesty, it seems Sun Ce takes your presence quite seriously here. When I visited the kitchens early this morning, they were already preparing all sorts of delicacies from Jiangdong. You’ll have nothing more to complain about compared to the fare at the Xuchang palace.”

Hearing this, Liu Xie felt a subtle, unexpected warmth rise within him. The cuisine of this era was generally bland, and he’d had neither the time nor the means to experiment back in Xuchang, so he’d often grumbled about his meals. He hadn’t thought Fu Shou would notice his idle complaints, but on the very first day in Wu Commandery, she’d gone to inspect the food arrangements herself. After all, with several meals a day, such things were not insignificant.

“Come, let us taste these dishes of Jiangdong and see how they compare to those of Xuchang!”

Moved, Liu Xie pulled Fu Shou over to the table, seating her before taking his own place.

Truth be told, the variety of dishes in Jiangdong could not compare to those of the Central Plains. Still, the logistical support in Xuchang had always been perfunctory; Cao Cao’s men never regarded Liu Xie as important, resulting in a situation where not even the emperor’s cooks were top-tier.

But here in Wu Commandery, though he had yet to make a public appearance or declare a move of the capital, Sun Ce’s regard for him was evident. Liu Xie knew, however, that this did not mean Sun Ce was a good man—rather, Liu Xie still served a purpose for both Sun Ce and Jiangdong, and besides, he had after all saved Sun Ce’s life.

Even if he’d seized the opportunity to acquire the Qiao sisters for himself, Liu Xie did not see Sun Ce—an ambitious young man roughly his own age—as petty or vindictive.

Both of them, having exhausted themselves the previous night, found this meal especially satisfying, barely exchanging a word as they ate.

When they had nearly finished, Liu Xie took a deep breath and said to Fu Shou, “The reason I dared come to Wu Commandery so boldly is that I possess certain secrets concerning Sun Ce, and with these secrets, I managed to save his life.”

“You saved Sun Ce’s life? Is that why he treats Your Majesty and me with such favor?”

“That is part of it. Before arriving in Wu Commandery, I also left some back-up plans behind—though for now, no one is aware of them. Moreover, after saving Sun Ce, I won two women from him—women he intended to marry himself, but had not yet done so.”

“Women?”

“Yes. My harem may appear to number three, but apart from the empress, there is not a single soul I can truly trust. If Lady Dong were not carrying my child, I wouldn’t even have brought her here. The palace is sorely lacking in loyal companions!”

“Does Your Majesty intend to make them concubines? Are you certain of their virtue?”

At that, Liu Xie realized Fu Shou’s focus was quite different from his own. But it made sense—her father, Fu Wan, was timid, but his reputation as a renowned scholar of the age was unimpeachable.

“Of course—they are absolutely pure. Think about it: Sun Ce wished to wed them himself. Would he want them if they were otherwise? I can promise you, not even a finger has touched them.”

“In that case, all is well, Your Majesty. If you wish to grant them status, just let me know and I’ll see to it.”

What greater virtue could a woman possess? Liu Xie thought. If a man in later generations were fortunate enough to marry such a woman, it would be a blessing earned over countless lifetimes—a stroke of fortune so rare, it would make his ancestors' tombs smoke with pride.

“No rush, no rush. There’s no need to hurry over titles. I must first see if their abilities and reputations truly match their renown. You needn’t trouble yourself, Empress.”

“In that case, Your Majesty should go and see them. If you need my help with anything, you have only to ask.”

Clearly, Fu Shou was quite supportive in such matters.

“That won’t be necessary. There may be two of them, but Empress, you know my constitution well. Dealing with two inexperienced girls will be no trouble at all.”

It was only now, hearing his words, that Fu Shou seemed to understand—there had been a double meaning to Liu Xie’s earlier comments! Even the dignified empress could not help but blush at this.

“By the way, I truly haven’t had the chance to learn these two’s temperaments. And for now, I cannot reveal my identity. If things do not go well, I may need your help to keep an eye on one of them—otherwise, I won’t be able to act with ease!”