Chapter 76 Very Moist

“Your Majesty, if this matter truly succeeds, surely a share of the merit will belong to you as well! I, Bofu, thank you in advance!”

After confirming the details several times, Liu Xie knew that the rest depended on Sun Ce and Zhou Yu working together with him; all he had to do was continue enduring this dull, tedious life in the imperial residence.

“There’s no need for such formality between us from now on. By the way, the Qiao sisters have been in the palace for some time now—I think it’s time to grant them proper titles. At the next court assembly, I shall make an announcement before all civil and military officials. What do you think, Bofu?”

“These are Your Majesty’s private affairs; there’s no need to consult me. But the Qiao sisters—are you satisfied with them?”

Sun Ce only blurted out this question instinctively, but before Zhou Yu or he could react, Liu Xie’s expression changed instantly, and he replied, “The Qiao sisters… they are most delightful!”

Most delightful?

A moment later, Sun Ce’s face had darkened considerably. He saluted Liu Xie and said, “I’ll take my leave. May Your Majesty find tomorrow’s court session less troublesome.”

With these words, Sun Ce led Zhou Yu briskly out of Liu Xie’s side hall.

“It’s getting late. Why don’t you both dine with me tonight?”

“We appreciate Your Majesty’s kindness, but we must decline.”

Without looking back, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu left. Watching their retreating figures, Liu Xie wore an unfeigned smile.

“Bofu, the plan His Majesty proposed—I observed him closely—he seems quite confident. Why are you not pleased?” Zhou Yu asked, puzzled, as they left the palace.

“The plan is sound, but my heart aches for the Qiao sisters. Didn’t I tell you before? They were meant to be our beauties, one for each of us, to wed and bring as our wives. Had he not demanded them, how would he know whether the Qiao sisters are delightful or not? Every time I think of this, I can hardly contain my anger!”

Indeed, Zhou Yu had never witnessed the Qiao sisters’ beauty, but Sun Ce had.

Now, whenever he looked at the beauties in his own mansion, he felt nothing but disappointment after a shudder of unease.

When he heard Liu Xie, with a mischievous glint, say those words—“most delightful”—Sun Ce felt that if he didn’t leave at once, he might not restrain himself from challenging Liu Xie again.

“Bofu, your heart should be set upon all the Central Plains. Today, His Majesty’s assessment of the grand situation in the land matched mine in many respects. To rule the realm within ten years will require unimaginable luck. If the Qiao sisters had remained with us, perhaps they would have brought us misfortune. It is well they are with His Majesty. He has great wisdom, but it is precisely because of his fondness for women that you can keep him under your control. This is a good thing.”

Hearing his sworn brother’s earnest advice, Sun Ce could only sigh deeply. Perhaps, he thought, all those destined for the throne are doomed to loneliness.

But such self-consolation could not truly calm the young Sun Ce’s heart. His mind was filled with those two words from Liu Xie—most delightful!

Damn it, am I, the Lord of Jiangdong, unable to find women more delightful than the Qiao sisters? But how delightful is “most delightful,” truly?

That night, Sun Ce did not sleep a wink.

And he was not alone in his sleeplessness—one such soul was Guan Yu, who was constantly on Liu Xie’s mind in Wu County.

After returning to Xuchang with Cao Hong, Guan Yu immediately sought out Xun Yu to inquire about the circumstances under which Liu Xie had disappeared.

Xun Yu had nothing to hide. He told Guan Yu plainly that all the servants in the imperial residence had been drugged unconscious, and when they awoke, anyone of consequence had vanished—including Liu Bei’s two wives.

For days, Xun Yu and Cao Ren had scoured nearly every corner of Xuchang with their men.

When news came from Jiangdong of the relocation of the capital and the official proclamation, they were almost certain that Liu Bei’s wives had been taken to Wu County by Zhang Hong and his men.

Cao Hong had learned of this in advance, and so he was unable to carry out Cao Cao’s previous order—to kill Liu Bei’s wives if they were found.

He could not fathom why Zhang Hong would trouble himself with such minor figures, nor did he believe Guan Yu would take any drastic action over the two women.

At most, he supposed, Guan Yu would weep a bit, complain to Yuan Shao in Ye City, and then find Liu Bei two new wives, after which Guan Yu would return to being his Deputy General of the Han.

But they all underestimated the stubbornness in Guan Yu’s character.

Or perhaps it was pride, or a solitary arrogance—but the result was that after a sleepless night, Guan Yu quietly slipped away from Xuchang, alone and armed.

As Xun Yu and the others were preoccupied with awaiting Cao Cao’s return, no one noticed Guan Yu’s departure until Cao Cao himself returned, weary and covered in dust, and summoned his generals to discuss the next move against Yuan Shao, only to discover his Deputy General was missing.

“Where has Yunchang gone?”

Cao Cao looked to Cao Hong, who had returned with Guan Yu, but Cao Hong shook his head, saying nothing—he had paid no attention to Guan Yu at all.

“You are all well aware of Yunchang’s abilities! Now you simply sit by as he departs—are you jealous of his talents?”

Cao Cao was truly enraged. Had those at fault not been his own kin, he might have executed a couple to vent his anger.

But he could not kill either Cao Hong or Cao Ren, so he contented himself with a furious tongue-lashing and sent several hundred cavalrymen to search for Guan Yu. Only then did he let the matter rest.

Guan Yu had gone, and the one truly responsible—Liu Bei—was faring no better.

After Yuan Shao fainted, he was carried back to Ye City by Guo Tu and the others. His anger did not subside; though he found that Cao Cao had not pursued him, Yuan Shao nonetheless took to his bed, unable to rise.

Everyone knew Yuan Shao’s end was near; he had simply failed to draw his last breath.

And the fate of his vast domain was now uncertain.

To make matters worse, Yuan Shao had committed a mistake common to many emperors in later generations: indecision in choosing an heir. Unable to settle the matter, he had stationed his three sons in different places, each with trusted followers and troops, and each aspiring to be his successor.

Given the heavy losses Yuan Shao had already sustained, this situation could only hasten his downfall.

This was obvious to any clear-eyed observer—including Liu Bei, who waited there in trepidation.