Can I Make It to the Other Shore?

Deeply moved, Liu Xie took Liu Bei's hand and sobbed, his eyes reddening. "Imperial Uncle, I trust you. You must take good care of yourself, too."

"You are my last hope."

Liu Bei nodded firmly, then left with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Once the three had left the vicinity of his sleeping quarters, Liu Xie raised a hand and hastily wiped his face. His expression returned to normal. Not a trace of his earlier sorrow or weakness remained.

"Finally managed to bluff my way through."

Liu Xie breathed a sigh of relief. He had pulled out every trick he knew to make himself look pitiful before Liu Bei, even forcing himself to cry.

He had no idea how much good that display would do, whether Liu Bei truly sympathized with him, or whether it would turn him against Yuan Shao. None of that was within his control.

After all, the human heart was hard to fathom. Whether Liu Bei was a loyal servant of the Han Dynasty or harbored ambitions of becoming emperor was difficult to say.

Liu Xie casually took off the robe draped over him and prepared to sleep.

But just then, someone suddenly pushed open the door to his sleeping quarters.

Chapter 35: Yuan Shao's Probe

Liu Xie felt that being this counterfeit Son of Heaven was a thoroughly miserable job.

He had only just seen Liu Bei off, and now someone else had come?

Would they let him get a decent night's sleep or not?

And this one had not even knocked!

Once again, for what felt like the umpteenth time, Liu Xie rolled out of bed and glared furiously at the newcomer. Then... then his anger vanished.

"Governor, what brings you here?"

The sight of his visitor drove every trace of sleepiness from Liu Xie.

Because the newcomer was none other than Yuan Shao!

Yuan Shao did not answer him. He strode into the sleeping quarters and looked around before finally resting his gaze on Liu Xie.

"Was Liu Bei here just now?"

Liu Xie's heart immediately skipped a beat. He felt rather like someone caught in bed with a mistress by his lawful wife.

Almost without hesitation, Liu Xie replied, "Reporting to you, Governor, the Liu, Guan, and Zhang Brothers did indeed come here just now."

The three had barely left before Yuan Shao arrived. What did that mean?

It meant he already knew!

Trying to hide it now would be courting death.

"What did he say to you?"

Yuan Shao pressed further, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized Liu Xie. An invisible pressure radiated from him.

Liu Xie lowered his head, sweat seeping into his palms.

Should I tell him the truth?

Did Yuan Shao hear my conversation with Liu Bei? Does he really not know, or is he testing me?

"Reporting to you, Governor."

After only a moment's thought, Liu Xie spoke again, his face filled with alarm. With a hint of fear, he said, "Liu Bei came to see this humble fellow just now. He said you had defied your sovereign and shown disrespect to the Son of Heaven. He wanted me to give him an edict so that, after leaving, he could rally the various lords against you and rescue me."

At this, Yuan Shao gave a cold laugh, seemingly unsurprised.

His deliberate disrespect toward Liu Xie at the banquet today had been a performance for Liu Bei's benefit. He wanted to see how Liu Bei would react.

And the outcome was just as he had expected. Liu Bei had indeed come to see Liu Xie.

"Ask the Son of Heaven for an edict? Rally the lords to campaign against me?"

"Hmph. Ridiculous."

Yuan Shao's heart was filled with disdain. He knew Liu Bei was an ambitious man unwilling to remain beneath others. He had not come merely to borrow troops.

What Liu Bei truly wanted was a legitimate cause!

As the saying went, an army must march under a rightful banner. Only with a legitimate cause could he recruit worthy men far and wide, expand his army, and draw the various powers to his side. Without one, he could never truly grow strong.

Unfortunately, the idea was sound, but it was useless.

Even this Son of Heaven was a fake, a pawn in his hands.

What could a mere Liu Bei amount to?

Liu Xie did not dare raise his head to look at Yuan Shao's expression. His answer had actually omitted a portion: the part where he had tearfully played on Liu Bei's sympathy.

That display of misery had been a little scheme of his own. Revealing it would only harm him, so he tried to conceal it.

If Yuan Shao had not discovered it, all would be well. If he had, Liu Xie could still explain it away afterward without much consequence.

"How did you answer Liu Bei?"

Fortunately, Yuan Shao did not ask for details and instead moved on to another question.

"I refused him, of course!"

Liu Xie spoke as though it were only natural. "Governor, your kindness to me is as weighty as a mountain. You give me food and drink and even let me live in such a large residence. How could I betray you?"

"I told him I was doing very well here and that he needn't worry, then sent him away."

Though he was lying, Liu Xie showed not the slightest trace of guilt.

Instead, he appeared entirely at ease and confident.

Yuan Shao could not help smiling. He reached out and patted Liu Xie's shoulder. "Good. You handled this very well."

"Tomorrow, I'll have two beauties sent over as your reward. Keep behaving well, and you won't lack benefits."

At the mention of beautiful women, Liu Xie could not help swallowing. Then he bowed slightly, rubbed his hands, and smiled ingratiatingly. "Well... Governor, could I have three?"

Yuan Shao froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Liu Xie hurriedly said, "Just joking, just joking! Please don't take offense, Governor. Two will be enough."

"No! You shall have three!"

Yuan Shao stopped laughing and granted Liu Xie's request outright.

To him, Liu Xie's petty greed made him the perfect puppet and pawn. Never mind three beauties-what would even three hundred matter?

"Thank you, Governor! Thank you, Governor!"

Overjoyed, Liu Xie thanked him again and again.

Yuan Shao smiled faintly, then turned and left the sleeping quarters.

Alone in the room, Liu Xie put away his ingratiating expression and grew solemn, his sword-shaped brows drawing tightly together.

Is Yuan Shao preparing to move against Liu Bei?

Liu Xie was deeply worried.

He had been forced to tell Yuan Shao the truth, which amounted to selling Liu Bei out, even if he had done it against his will to save his own life.

No, this won't do. Liu Bei has shown me goodwill. Even if he's the hypocritical scoundrel those short-video pundits claim he is, he still played the gentleman his entire life. If I can't escape Yuan Shao's control on my own someday, ending up in Liu Bei's hands would be much better than being controlled by anyone else.

After turning it over in his mind, Liu Xie decided he had to do something. He dressed and slipped secretly out of his sleeping quarters.

The palace was vast and empty at night, shrouded in darkness.

But Liu Xie had lived here for several months and knew the layout well. By moonlight, he wound his way through turn after turn and soon reached one of the palace exits.

Zhang He normally commanded the soldiers guarding this place.

"Your Majesty?"

Zhang He was rather surprised to see Liu Xie approaching.

What is His Majesty doing here so late?

Liu Xie pulled Zhang He into a corner and whispered, "There's something I need you to do. Quickly-you must be quick!"

Hearing the urgency and gravity in Liu Xie's voice, Zhang He grew alert and cupped his hands. "Please give your orders, Your Majesty!"

"Deliver this to Liu Bei's residence."

Liu Xie pressed a folded note into Zhang He's hand.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Without asking why, Zhang He took the note and hurried away.

Liu Xie watched Zhang He's figure recede and disappear into the night, and the heart suspended in his chest slowly settled. All he could do now was send Zhang He to warn Liu Bei and forge a bond of goodwill. How Liu Bei chose to act was beyond his control.

"It's hard being the Son of Heaven. Being a counterfeit one is harder still."

Liu Xie shook his head and turned back toward his sleeping quarters.

After leaving the palace, Liu Bei and his two brothers walked back to their residence, discussing what they should do next along the way.

"His Majesty is under another man's control now and doesn't dare issue me an edict."

"And Yuan Shao is unwilling to lend me troops."

"Must we really head to You Province and seek out Brother Gongsun?"

Liu Bei sighed, feeling that their current situation was truly difficult.

Such was the misery of having neither a backer nor resources of his own.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei looked at their elder brother's worried expression. Though they wanted to share his burden, they had no solution and could only accompany him in silence.

Before long, the three reached the vicinity of their residence.

Then they saw a figure lurking furtively outside their gate, doing who knew what.