He had accepted the Son of Heaven's overtures, rising from an obscure surrendered general to a trusted confidant of the Son of Heaven, and finally becoming the Great Han's current Marquis of Champion.
"This wasn't just where Zhen first met you. It was also where Zhen first met Fengxiao."
Liu Xie smiled and tipped his chin toward Guo Jia beside him. "When Zhen bared Zhen's heart to you that day, this fellow was hiding in the shadows, eavesdropping."
"What was even more infuriating was that a few days later, he actually came to Zhen of his own accord and brought it up. He gave Zhen quite a fright."
Guo Jia rubbed his nose and smiled wryly. "I wasn't deliberately eavesdropping. I just happened to be hiding in the garden, drinking."
"As for frights, Your Majesty gave me a greater one. Had I said the wrong thing then, Your Majesty would have finished me off with the dagger in your sleeve."
The breadth of mind and boldness the Son of Heaven had displayed then, along with that ruthlessness, were among the reasons he had willingly entered his service.
Hearing this, Jia Xu gave him an odd look. "So you learned that trick of hiding a dagger in your sleeve from His Majesty."
Guo Jia had threatened him with the same trick.
Liu Xie laughed heartily, shook his head, and continued striding forward, visiting every part of the palace while reminiscing with everyone about those years.
The group finally reached the Main Hall. Liu Xie climbed the steps to the Dragon Throne at the very top and gently ran his hand over its armrest.
Those below could not see Liu Xie's expression. They only felt that, for some reason, the Son of Heaven's back looked rather desolate and lonely.
"Let's go."
After