Guo Jia acknowledged the command and bowed as he left the Xuan Room.
A short while later, he returned with a young man.
The man looked no more than twenty or so, with striking features and a tall, straight figure. His gaze was an eagle's, his backward glance a wolf's, and his appearance was quite extraordinary.
He followed Guo Jia into the center of the hall and immediately made a formal obeisance to Liu Xie, saying with utmost respect, "Your subject Sima Yi pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Liu Xie narrowed his eyes at Sima Yi without a word.
He was considering how to deal with this fellow.
Kill him, or use him?
According to historical records, Sima Yi had actually been loyal to the Great Han in his early years. It was only because Cao Cao was Holding the Son of Heaven Hostage that he initially refused to serve him, feigning illness to evade recruitment.
Only a dozen or so years later had Cao Cao forcibly recruited him into his service.
In other words, Sima Yi, still a young man now, remained loyal to the Great Han and had yet to undergo his ultimate evolution into that villain condemned through the ages, the old scoundrel Sima.
But... was there any need to take this risk?
Who could guarantee that Sima Yi would not harbor rebellious intentions someday and once again steal the realm?
That old bastard had lived an exceptionally long life, outlasting three generations of the Cao family. What if he outlived Liu Xie too?
Liu Xie wavered between killing him and sparing him.
Meanwhile, Sima Yi stood in the center of the hall with his head lowered, feeling wave after wave of creeping dread, as though a blade hung over his neck and might fall at