Reviled like this by his close friend, Ji Kang started to speak, then stopped.
But he soon realized his mistake and hurriedly lowered his head. "You're right. It was my fault. I shouldn't have divulged it so carelessly. I certainly won't do it again."
Lü An said earnestly, "Shuye, whatever His Majesty said, I hope you won't rush to act on it, and don't tell me what His Majesty wants you to do... I don't think you can accomplish any great undertaking for him."
"You've never done anything like this. If you act rashly, you might bring harm to His Majesty."
Ji Kang's head began to ache.
Such things required more than a heart full of hot blood. They required ability, too.
And plotting rebellion was clearly not Ji Kang's forte.
His Majesty had simply asked whether he was willing to serve him.
Of course Ji Kang was willing. He did not fear death, but the question was, how was he supposed to serve him?
His Majesty had not told him to do anything.
He wanted to ask Lü An, but remembering the reprimand he had just received, he held back.
"I understand. Please rest assured."
Lü An offered many more admonitions before leaving. From beginning to end, he never suggested that he wanted to see His Majesty's handwritten letter, and he urged Ji Kang to destroy it quickly rather than keep it.
Watching Lü An, Ji Kang suddenly felt that his friend seemed better suited to this sort of thing than he was.
After Lü An left, Ji Kang promptly burned the letter.
He did not know what His Majesty wanted him to do.
It seemed he could only wait until he next saw His Majesty and ask him in secret.
Meanwhile, after seeing Sima Yan off, Cao Mao