If anything happened to Kong Rong, whether Yuan Shao would be finished was uncertain, but he certainly would not come to a good end.
Yuan Shao strode to the seat of honor and sat down. Glancing at Liu Xie, he said coolly, "Count yourself lucky. Kong Rong is unharmed. Otherwise, I would not have let you off lightly."
Hearing this, Liu Xie was overjoyed. He said with tremendous excitement, "That's good, that's good! This commoner was nearly scared to death!"
As he spoke, he raised his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, his face filled with lingering fear.
Seeing Liu Xie's timid, cowardly manner, a trace of contempt flashed through Yuan Shao's eyes.
The slightest trouble sent him into such panic and terror. How could someone like this ever accomplish anything great?
Although Yuan Shao looked down on Liu Xie in every possible way, two things about him pleased him greatly.
First, he looked exactly like the Son of Heaven. Second, his acting was excellent.
In Zhengyang Hall, he had portrayed quite well the imposing majesty of a Son of Heaven who stood high above others and readily erupted in thunderous fury. He had even fooled Kong Rong, leaving him unable to distinguish the real from the false.
But a lowborn wretch was still a lowborn wretch. However convincing his acting, he could only put on a show and bluff outsiders.
In Yuan Shao's presence, the slightest intimidation would expose his true colors.
A mocking smile curled Yuan Shao's lips. "You seem very afraid of me. Are you afraid I'll kill you, or afraid of losing the wealth and splendor you enjoy now?"
Liu Xie hurriedly shook his head. "This commoner fears neither. I feel only respect for you, Illustrious Lord."
Yuan Shao narrowed his eyes slightly.