Chapter 147: A Single Sword Strike Cuts My Loyalty

Chen Xi carried a stack of manuscripts, planning to head back and deal with them. Although his administrative duties were almost nonexistent, to promote harmony among the civil officials, Chen Xi decided to take a stack of manuscripts home. Being envied for no reason wasn’t pleasant. Even someone as carefree as Liu Yan, who drank and lazed around on public funds, was often extorted by Guo Jia. After all, brothels also cost money.

Chen Xi had only taken a couple of steps when he was blocked by a wall of a man. He moved left, then right, but couldn’t get around him. He jumped back and glared at Xu Chu, “Zhongkang, what are you doing? Don’t block my way if you have nothing to do!”

“The lord invites the military advisor to his residence,” Xu Chu said in his gruff voice.

“What’s it about?” Chen Xi asked curiously, though he quickly remembered that Xu Chu would never tell him.

“I don’t know,” Xu Chu replied honestly.

“Oh, Ruan Yuliang, come here,” Chen Xi called out to a familiar face. “Take these manuscripts to Fengxiao. I remember you’re his captain of personal guards. Tell him to drink less, and if he goes to the brothel, don’t let him stay the night. Just carry him back.”

“Yes, sir!” Ruan Yuliang replied loudly, surprised that Chen Xi knew his name. Taking the manuscripts, he quickly went to find Guo Jia, who was likely already lying in Guo’s mansion. As captain of Guo Jia’s guards, Ruan’s fate was tied to his superior. If Guo Jia did well, so would he. So he was happy to find Guo Jia more work.

“Let’s go and see,” Chen Xi said, waving as he followed Xu Chu, wondering what Liu Bei wanted. It was strange Liu Bei didn’t attend the recent important meeting about Qingzhou. Could he be eating barbecue with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei?

Xu Chu stopped at the main gate and stood to the side. Chen Xi walked to the inner courtyard, hesitating at Liu Bei’s door. He could sense the oppressive atmosphere inside before he even entered.

“Zi Chuan, come in!” Liu Bei called in a low voice, probably hearing Chen Xi’s footsteps.

Chen Xi pushed the door open to find the room in disarray. The bookshelves and furniture were overturned, ink and paper scattered everywhere. Liu Bei’s favorite white porcelain cup lay shattered, and his sword was broken, half embedded in a pillar and half on the floor.

“Sit anywhere, Zi Chuan. Look at this!” Liu Bei said, slumped against the wall, sitting on the floor.

Chen Xi saw Liu Bei’s despondent expression and was stunned. When had the usually resilient Liu Bei ever been like this? Had someone stolen his woman?

Glancing at the bamboo slip, Chen Xi covered his forehead. Liu Xie, could you be any more disappointing? This was a devastating blow to those loyal to the Han dynasty. It was like self-destruction.

While Cao Cao had senior informant Zhong Yao reporting, the merchants under Mi Zhu weren’t idle either. Although the distance was greater, they had only received the news a few hours later than Liu Bei.

Chen Xi remained silent, tossing the bamboo slip aside and sitting on the floor. He knew Liu Bei had something to say.

“The Han Emperor, this is the Han Emperor? Has he forgotten the dignity of the emperor? Has he forgotten that his every word and action sets an example for the world? Does he not realize how much damage his actions cause us?” Liu Bei roared, “How can a Liu of our lineage be such a heartless, ungrateful ruler? Would it have killed him to say one word? Li Jue and Guo Si wouldn’t dare harm him! I, Liu Xuande, would be the first to raise an army!”

Unlike Cao Cao, who dared not speak his thoughts openly, Liu Bei, verified as a royal clan member by the Court of the Imperial Clan, faced no such constraints. Criticizing the emperor wasn’t a big deal, especially when the emperor was at fault.

Chen Xi didn’t respond, letting Liu Bei vent. In this era, any member of the Liu clan had the potential to become emperor. Protecting the Han dynasty’s legitimacy and those loyal to it was, in essence, self-preservation. In simple terms, Liu Xie’s actions had infuriated Liu Bei.

Liu Bei had ambitions, but he was also a recognized member of the Han royal family. His status had elevated him from a nobody to a warlord. After conquering Qingzhou, he became a major power. While his own efforts and the support of his followers played significant roles, so did the legacy of the Han dynasty.

This is why Liu Bei remembered to make offerings to the emperor first when he became successful. When white porcelain appeared, he chose the best pieces to send to the emperor. It wasn’t that he lacked ambition, but Liu Bei felt he had already received great imperial favor. To ask for more would trouble his conscience. Besides, he had heard the emperor was wise. When Dong Zhuo was defeated, Liu Bei couldn’t sleep from excitement, feeling the Han dynasty’s restoration was imminent. Working hard to become the new Duke of Zhou seemed more feasible than anything else.

But just as Liu Bei solidified his image as a loyal Han clan member, the Han emperor’s actions were like a direct attack on his nascent loyalty. This wasn’t just a blow—it was a fatal strike to Liu Bei’s ideals.

Liu Bei was disoriented. His dreams shattered, he felt unworthy and deeply hurt by Liu Xie’s actions. He didn’t know what to do anymore. Restore the Han dynasty? Did Liu Xie still deserve his efforts? Liu Bei, having just transformed into a loyalist, couldn’t recover from the shock.

“Zi Chuan, tell me, what should I do?”

“Hah, what’s the big deal? Your goal is to restore the Han dynasty, and my goal is to make China strong and respected. Do we need to care about such things? Let’s just do what we need to do. The emperor doesn’t necessarily represent the Han dynasty or China. We should focus on our tasks, which are to stabilize the central plains and bring peace to the land,” Chen Xi said, glancing at Liu Bei, unfazed by the situation. Even if the emperor were incompetent, people still needed to live their lives.

Liu Bei stared at Chen Xi, then slumped back down, “Zi Chuan, you don’t understand. You don’t understand how I feel. Do you know, I once fantasized about becoming emperor? I am a descendant of the Han dynasty; I have the right. But as I climbed to this position, the imperial favor I received made me feel unworthy of coveting the throne!”

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