Can I Make It to the Other Shore?

"Are you truly not tempted, Your Majesty? This girl from the Zhen Clan is quite famous, and extraordinarily beautiful. Even if you don't make her empress, you could take her into your harem as a consort."

Gao Lan cracked sunflower seeds as he asked curiously.

Liu Xie curled his lip and shook his head. "She's only fourteen. That's illegal, you know? I'd be doing hard time. I like them more mature."

Zhen Mi was Zhen Ji. Of course he knew who she was.

But Zhen Ji was only fourteen now, still just a little girl. She was nowhere near becoming the "Goddess of the Luo River" who would one day enthrall the Cao brothers. He simply couldn't muster any interest.

"Illegal? The Great Han has a law against that?"

Gao Lan was startled. He had never heard of such a law.

Although women generally married around sixteen, marrying at fourteen was hardly uncommon.

"Anyway, I don't like young girls."

Liu Xie brushed the matter aside with an offhand reply.

Gao Lan seemed to reach a sudden understanding. "Could Your Majesty have a taste for married women? Hmm... married women certainly do have more flavor. As expected of Your Majesty-your tastes are truly different."

The moment those words left his mouth, Zhang He slapped him on the head again.

Before Gao Lan could turn around and lash out, Zhang He kicked him away and snapped, "Go patrol!"

"Fine, Zhang Junyi. You've got guts."

Gao Lan shot Zhang He a resentful glare and left, cursing under his breath.

Liu Xie watched the spectacle with a smile. Leaning back on his little folding stool, he stretched and squinted up at the clear sky, though his mind was on something else.

Guo Jia hadn't visited the Imperial Palace these past few days. Liu Xie suspected that this whole business with Zhen Mi had probably been stirred up by him. That fellow was a sly one.

He was getting curious. How would it all turn out?

The main hall of the Yuan Residence.

Still not recovered from his serious illness, Yuan Shao stood supported by Madam Liu, ranting in a towering fury. "Who? Who spread these rumors?"

He had only just heard his subordinates' reports about the rumors and news today, and had nearly coughed up blood from sheer anger!

Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Guo Tu, and the other advisers were all in the hall.

The brothers Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were there as well.

Faced with Yuan Shao's fury, none of them dared speak.

Yuan Xi's expression was especially foul, as though he had swallowed a mouthful of shit.

What had been a perfectly ordinary marriage alliance with the Zhen Clan had grown increasingly outrageous in the telling. Some were even saying that the Yuan Clan had set their sights on Zhen Mi's empress destiny and, like Yuan Shu, were plotting to seize the imperial throne!

Suppressing his anger, Yuan Xi glanced at Yuan Shang beside him, then said gravely to Yuan Shao, "Father, someone must be pushing this from behind the scenes. Otherwise, why would anyone suddenly connect that supposed prophecy with the marriage alliance?"

"I suggest we investigate this thoroughly!"

No sooner had Yuan Xi finished than Yuan Shang said solemnly, "Father, I've already sent men to investigate thoroughly. I've also ordered patrols throughout the city, and everyone who dared discuss it has been arrested and imprisoned!"

"We cannot allow those petty villains to sully the Yuan Clan's reputation!"

But Yuan Shao frowned at this. He struck the floor hard with his cane and rebuked him. "Nonsense! Who told you to arrest people?"

"Arresting people now only makes us look guilty. Doesn't that lend those rumors credence? Go release everyone you arrested, immediately!"

Looking somewhat flustered, Yuan Shang hastily bowed. "I failed to think it through. I know I was wrong! Please punish me, Father!"

His face was filled with guilt and self-reproach.

Seeing this, Yuan Shao could no longer bring himself to continue the scolding. At last, he heaved a long sigh and sat down in the Grand Tutor's Chair beside him.

"Calm yourself, husband."

Madam Liu offered him a cup of tea.

Yuan Shao took it and drank a mouthful before saying to Yuan Shang, "Never mind. Your intentions were good, but you acted too rashly."

With that, he looked up at the advisers in the hall.

"Our immediate priority is to find a way to quell these rumors."

"Let me hear your thoughts."

If he left the rumors unresolved and they spread, they would deal another heavy blow to his already damaged reputation. He could not afford such consequences.

Chapter 60: Yuan Shao Rides a Tiger He Cannot Dismount

Yuan Shao's words left the advisers deep in thought.

The rumor that Yuan Shao wanted to proclaim himself emperor had already spread, and dispelling it would undoubtedly be difficult. After all, the marriage alliance between the Yuan and Zhen Clans was real. Someone with an agenda had simply gone out of their way to link the marriage to the prophecy.

In the past, no one would have paid any attention to such things.

Nor would anyone have believed Yuan Shao harbored such ambitions.

His reputation, built over many years, would have spoken for itself.

But these were sensitive times. Yuan Shu had proclaimed himself emperor, and the Son of Heaven was in Ye City. If Yuan Shao had his son marry a girl prophesied to become empress at a time like this, people could hardly help suspecting disloyal intentions.

At a time like this, the best way to dispel the rumors was undoubtedly to cancel the betrothal. Then no one would have anything more to say. Only...

The advisers stole glances at Yuan Xi, whose calm expression betrayed neither joy nor anger.

None of them voiced that solution.

But there was one exception.

Tian Feng said bluntly, "My lord, dispelling the rumors is simple. You need only cancel the betrothal, and the rumors will collapse without a blow."

At his words, Yuan Xi's face visibly darkened.

The other advisers secretly breathed sighs of relief.

Brother Feng, we can always count on you when it matters.

But Yuan Shao replied displeasedly, "Do you think I don't know that would dispel the rumors? What I want is a way to preserve the marriage alliance with the Zhen Clan while also dispelling them!"

The Zhen Clan was a powerful local family in Ji Province, possessed of immense wealth.

A marriage alliance with them would give his forces another strong arm of support. Yuan Shao did not want to abandon it.

At this point, Yuan Shang also nodded in agreement. "I too believe we cannot cancel the marriage alliance. To outsiders, doing so would look like a sign of guilt."

Everyone cast him surprised looks at those words.

Even Yuan Xi's eyes flashed with astonishment.

He had previously heard from the household servants that his third brother, Yuan Shang, was deeply unhappy about his marriage alliance with the Zhen Clan. Thus, when rumors had run rampant these past few days, Yuan Shang had been his first suspect.

Yet now Yuan Shang was actually volunteering that the marriage alliance should not be canceled?

What medicine is he hiding in his gourd? Could I have misunderstood him? Wasn't he the one spreading the rumors?

Yuan Xi's gaze flickered slightly as these thoughts passed through his mind.

If he were Yuan Shang, he would surely be eager to see the marriage alliance with the Zhen Clan canceled. How could he possibly oppose it?

"Xianfu, what do you have in mind?"

Yuan Shao was also somewhat surprised, and asked him.

But Yuan Shang's face took on a hesitant look. "Father, I have indeed thought of a plan, but..."

He glanced at his second brother, Yuan Xi, and said with apparent guilt, "My second brother might be unhappy with it. I dare not speak rashly."

Yuan Xi was immediately alarmed, then hastily forced a smile. "Of course not. If there's a way to dispel the rumors without harming Father's reputation, I would be more than happy."

"Speak freely, Third Brother. You needn't worry about me."

At this point, the uncertainty that had just arisen in Yuan Xi's mind vanished completely.

Although he did not know what plan his third brother had devised, Yuan Shang had already saddled him with a lofty expectation. Even if he wanted to refuse, he couldn't!

He was definitely up to no good!

"Since you say so, Second Brother, I'll speak plainly."

Yuan Shang breathed a sigh of relief, then said to Yuan Shao, "Father, since the Zhen girl is prophesied to bear the destiny of a phoenix, why not present her directly to the Son of Heaven?"

"That would both win over the Zhen Clan and dispel the rumors, killing two birds with one stone. Only, my second brother would have to suffer a little."

The map had unrolled to its end, and the dagger was revealed.

Yuan Shang! You bastard-!

Yuan Xi clenched his teeth, longing to rush forward and slap that hateful face!

But reason told him he could not.

Suppressing his anger, Yuan Xi smiled at Yuan Shao. "Father, I believe Third Brother's plan is sound. It could not be more suitable."

Yuan Shao said nothing. His fathomless gaze first settled on Yuan Xi's face, then shifted to Yuan Shang. He studied them for a long while before turning to the advisers in the hall.

"What do you all think?"

The advisers remained silent. Only Tian Feng spoke first. "The third young master's plan could not be more suitable. Presenting the Zhen girl to the Son of Heaven is the best solution."

"We concur."

Only after Tian Feng took the lead did the other advisers speak in agreement.

Finally, Yuan Shao looked at Yuan Xi again and asked, "Xianyi, do you truly have no objection? This marriage was originally arranged for you."

"I..."

Yuan Xi instinctively wanted to reply that he had no objection. Yet, for some reason, his intuition told him that his answer now mattered a great deal.

But after only a moment's hesitation, he continued, "I have no objection. I leave everything to your judgment, Father."

Yuan Shao withdrew his gaze, a trace of disappointment flashing deep in his eyes. Then he said flatly, "Gongyu, stay. Everyone else may leave."

"Yes, my lord." "Yes, Father."

Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang, and the advisers all departed.