Chapter 40 Serving a Ruler is Like a Tiger
"Okay, I'll go." I grinned, laughing fearlessly, since I couldn't escape anyway. Ignorance is bliss, I've always believed in that saying.
Liu Bei looked at me and smiled, "I'm very curious, what is the relationship between Miss Pei and Prime Minister Cao?"
I shrugged. "We're friends, you could say."
“Miss Pei is a delicate woman; it would be best if she did not interfere in this matter,” Liu Bei said calmly, then looked at He Yan standing beside me, “This gentleman… could he be the son of Prime Minister Cao?”
I instinctively pulled He Yan behind me. "No."
He Yan tightened his grip on my hand slightly, as if he was about to rush out, but I forcefully pulled him back.
"Oh?" Liu Bei looked at me with a half-smile.
"Are you taking me or not?" I frowned and said irritably. I'm an impatient person and can't stand such lukewarm attitudes.
When they turned around, the coachman, fearing being implicated, had already distanced himself completely and driven the carriage far away.
"Young master, shall we ride together?" Zhang Fei said casually.
He Yan glanced at me, walked forward to Zhang Fei's side, stepped onto the horse using the stirrups, and sat behind Zhang Fei.
"Miss Pei, are you riding the same horse with me?" Liu Bei looked at me and smiled faintly.
Without saying a word, I walked straight to Guan Yu's side, grabbed his sleeve, and tried to climb onto his horse.
Guan Yu's expression turned slightly cold, and he raised his hand to throw me off my horse.
I clung to his arm tightly, half of my body hanging off him.
"Get down." He said coldly, looking at me.
I scoffed, "This deputy general is really unprofessional."
He raised an eyebrow, a rare look of confusion on his face. "What?"
“I’m a dangerous element, so of course you have to lead me. Do you want to put your lord in danger?” I said, holding his arm tightly with one hand and shaking my head.
He stared at me for a long time before silently allowing me to climb onto the horse and sit behind him.
Sitting on Guan Yu's back, I looked at Liu Bei and made a face at him.
Liu Bei was slightly taken aback, then mounted his horse, whipped it, and laughed heartily, a stark contrast to his previous tepid demeanor.
Sitting behind Guan Yu, I stared at his broad back as the vivid expression on his face gradually faded. I frowned slightly; the journey must have been extremely dangerous.
Back in Xuchang, standing before the palace gates, I frowned.
"Are you scared?" Liu Bei's voice rang softly in my ear.
I snapped out of my daze and laughed frankly, "Of course I'm scared."
"The Emperor wishes to see you."
Looking at him, I suddenly realized that it was the emperor who wanted to see me, which was why he had gone to such great lengths to coax me into the palace.
This cunning fellow remained so calm and collected.
But why does the emperor want to see me? To silence me? Now that Cao Cao is in his hands, there's no need to silence me anymore.
As I entered the main hall, I immediately noticed Liu Xie sitting on the throne.
He was still wearing a wide-sleeved dragon robe with a black background and red trim. The golden dragon that seemed to be about to rise from the clouds was embroidered on the robe with lifelike detail. He had an extremely beautiful face with deep features and a slightly pale complexion. His beautiful eyes seemed to be veiled by a layer of mist that would never dissipate, making them hazy and indistinct.
His striking features, though sharp, were softened by his eyes, making him appear as docile as a deer.
But I can't forget that rainy night, his disheveled and ruthless appearance.
After kowtowing and paying my respects, I stood quietly to the side, waiting to see what tricks he was going to pull next.
"Smile." He looked at me and actually smiled, a smile that looked completely harmless.
I looked at him with a smile.
"So you've finally come." He slowly walked down from the main hall, looked at me, and completely disregarded Liu Bei and the others.
"How dare I not come when the Emperor summons me?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?" He smiled more and more dreamily. "Alright, it's perfect that you dine with me. I haven't had much of an appetite these past few days."
I gritted my teeth inwardly. What tricks is this kid playing? Where exactly is Aman being imprisoned by him?
He slowly stepped forward, took my hand affectionately, and led me away from the main hall, completely ignoring everyone else.
I turned around and winked at He Yan, ignoring the astonished looks on Liu Bei's and the others' faces.
The exquisite meal tasted like cardboard to me. Looking up at Liu Xie, who was enjoying his meal immensely, I felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Is it delicious?" He took the silk handkerchief handed to him by a maid, wiped his mouth elegantly, looked at me, and smiled warmly.
I grinned and nodded, "It's delicious," as I wolfed down my food in an extremely unladylike manner, feeling utterly nauseous.
He just watched me eat with a smile on his face, without saying a word.
Seeing him staring intently at me, I felt a slight tremor run through me, remembering how pathetic he looked that day, afraid of the dark. "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger," is an age-old adage, and at least for now, I have absolutely no idea what this capricious young emperor is thinking.
"It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a meal this much," Liu Xie said with a smile.
I looked at his pale face and remained silent.
He clenched his fist, slowly raised his hand, and extended it in front of me.
"Guess what this is?"
I stared at him and shook my head.
He slowly opened his palm, revealing a jade pendant on his fair and slender hand. The jade was entirely green, but it looked cheap.
This is the jade pendant I gave to Cao Cao.
"What did you do to him?!" But I'm so impatient, I gritted my teeth, and I wanted to slam my fist on the table and stand up.
Pretend! Keep pretending! Let's see how long you can keep up this act! She's clearly a sharp-tongued person, but she pretends to be elegant and harmless.
"So you came to see me because of him?" He smiled slightly, his misty eyes shrouded in a hazy light. "Why?"
Why? I raised my eyebrows.
"Xiaoxiao, why do you always help those who are my enemies? Why am I always alone?" He looked at me, his eyes growing increasingly misty, as if they might well up with tears at any moment.
I pursed my lips and remained silent, clenching my fist slightly before relaxing it.
"Do you know? If Cao Cao isn't eliminated, I'll just be a glorious puppet, a puppet in a dragon robe," he chuckled softly. "But I don't want to be a puppet. This throne was bought with the lives of my elder brother and sister; I can't lose it... It's the only thing they left me..."
"Where is he?" I asked, biting my lip.
"Would you like to stay in the palace and keep me company?" He asked softly, his misty eyes looking at me.
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