"That's all?"
Liu Xie paused briefly, then patted Yuan Xi on the shoulder and smiled. "Use them as you please. Be bold and have no worries."
"Since I placed you among the Three Excellencies and gave you the right to establish your own office, I intended for you to inherit all the Yuan Clan's connections. Wouldn't it be a waste not to use them? How else could you build a new Yuan Clan?"
"I trust your loyalty."
The Yuan Clan's disciples and former subordinates were scattered throughout the realm. Using Yuan Xi as a link to gather that strength and put it to his own use had been his plan all along.
Yuan Xi nodded firmly. "I will not disappoint Your Majesty. From now on, whoever comes to join me, I will report it to Your Majesty immediately!"
Liu Xie smiled and was just about to offer Yuan Xi a few words of encouragement when Zhang He led Guo Jia and Jia Xu into the Xuan Room.
Yuan Xi knew how to read the situation. Seeing the two enter, he immediately said, "Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
"No need."
Liu Xie held Yuan Xi back, signaling for him to sit, then said to Jia Xu and Guo Jia, "Fengxiao, Wenhe, come and sit as well."
"As you command."
Jia Xu and Guo Jia glanced at Yuan Xi and smiled at him before taking their seats.
Yuan Xi was once again stunned.
Everyone at court and beyond knew that Jia Xu and Guo Jia were the Son of Heaven's most trusted confidants. Liu Xie must have had something important to discuss if he had summoned them privately.
Yet now the Son of Heaven was allowing him to stay too...
Yuan Xi's heart began pounding.
His mouth felt rather dry.