Chapter 49 Yuan Shao's envoy has not been seen for several years; the lady's temperament is just like Guo Feng's...
Deng Jie sat alone under the corridor until midnight, letting his thoughts wander and his tears flow freely, feeling utterly lonely.
She rummaged through Guo Jia's clothes and went to the study. She lit some calming incense for herself, lay down on the soft couch, and buried her face in his scent to find a sense of security.
At this moment, she longed to have someone to confide in. Her thoughts drifted, and she drifted off to sleep.
In her dream, she vaguely found herself at the entrance of the Deng residence in Wancheng.
She looked up at her familiar front door, just like always. Delighted, she stepped forward to push it open, but it wouldn't budge. Frustrated, she gripped the door knocker and pounded on it.
The dilapidated, charred wood still held a lingering warmth, and inside lay loved ones lying haphazardly.
The familiar scene made her uneasy. She wanted to escape, but her feet still unconsciously stepped inside, searching for something.
When she caught up with the old locust tree, she indeed saw Deng Zhao standing with his back turned.
"Brother! I've finally received your letter! Come back to Xuchang with me, I've brewed some wine and am waiting for you..."
He held a broken blade in one hand and a spear in the other, with a piece of halberd still stuck in his chest. Blood was dripping from his mouth. He smiled and tried to speak, but what he said was inaudible.
"Brother!" Deng Jie suddenly woke up, tears and sweat streaming down his face.
In the past, when she woke up from nightmares, Guo Jia would always be there to comfort her with gentle words. But today, she was all alone, burdened by the guilt of scheming against Xu Ta last night, while also sinking into the quagmire of missing her family.
A voice inside her asked herself, "Are I really myself, acting so sinisterly?" If Fengxiao knew, how would he see it? Would he think she had lost her original intentions and become repulsive? Perhaps... he would even despise her?
Chaotic thoughts are like a tangled mess; if you try to unravel them all by yourself, the tangles will only tighten.
She forced herself to get up and walked unsteadily to the altar in the backyard, silently lighting new incense for each memorial tablet.
This place of remembrance became the only place where she could find redemption.
It wasn't until the morning bell rang that she mustered her energy, went to the front yard, squatted in front of the herb basket, and mechanically began sorting.
Ayu and Huai Niang came out of the side room and saw Deng Jie already busy. They greeted him, "Madam, you're up so early."
"Hmm, good morning," Deng Jie replied softly, forcing a smile. Seeing the two of them busy, he continued with his own work.
"Madam." A deep, unfamiliar voice came from the top of the wall.
Deng Jie looked up and saw Shi A standing quietly on the wall.
"Madam, please do not go out for the time being. I have an appointment with Young Master Pi and will return in an hour."
Deng Jie nodded, "Okay, thank you for your trouble, sir."
Not long after Shi A left, Deng Jie overheard A Yu and his wife discussing going to the market to buy a new wooden frame.
As Deng Jie watched their departing figures, a thought flashed through his mind.
She took out a small box of face powder from the room and stopped Huai Niang: "Could you please take this to Madam Xun on my way? Tell her... it's a new prescription of mine, and ask her to taste it."
Huai Niang smiled and accepted it: "Alright, Madam, don't worry."
After seeing her parents off, Ah Xiang skipped and hopped along with Deng Jie to help out at the herb garden.
Xun Wei took the incense box presented by the maid and twirled it in his hand, then snorted, "What appreciating new incense? I think she just misses Guo Fengxiao and is asking me about the situation at the front."
The maidservant beside her stood respectfully, holding a lacquer tray in her hands. "Is Madam still going to Lord Ling's residence?"
Xun Wei put the incense box down. "Never mind, let's go to her house first and tidy up for me."
Deng Jie was weaving grasshoppers for A Xiang in the front yard. The two were laughing and joking when they suddenly heard a steady knock on the door.
Deng Jie was overjoyed and instructed Ah Xiang, "You sit here, I'll go open the door."
“Shen Ge…” she said with a smile as she opened the door.
But as soon as the door opened, the smile on her face froze instantly.
"Mr. Xu... Ziyuan?!" In an instant, a chill ran through him. The Yuan Shao envoy who had met with the emperor and persuaded Xu Ta to defect was actually Xu You himself?!
Yesterday's assassination attempt in the alley, Xu's farewell... she instinctively slammed the door shut.
"Madam, how have you been?" Xu You reacted quickly, forcefully wedging one of his arms and legs in the doorway. As he pushed and shoved, he said with difficulty, "I am, after all, a renowned scholar. In broad daylight... what... what could I possibly do to Madam? If word got out, wouldn't people laugh at me...!"
Deng Jie leaned against the door and said, "Sir, your presence here... is dangerous... You'd better leave quickly!"
Xu You nudged him further away with his shoulder: "It would be dangerous if we didn't come here! Madam, why don't you invite me inside for a seat first!"
Deng Jie thought to himself that Xun Wei would arrive soon, which was a good opportunity to stall him. He suddenly withdrew his strength, and Xu You stumbled into the door.
Xu You was a little embarrassed by the fall. He got up, dusted off his clothes, and snorted disdainfully, "Such rudeness, you really are one of Guo Fengxiao's kind."
Deng Jie clenched her small fists lightly, and as he entered the room, she pouted and mentally attacked him.
She left the door slightly ajar, thinking that if Xun Wei could find out sooner, he might be able to bring reinforcements directly.
Xu You swaggered into the courtyard, his eyes scrutinizing the surroundings with a critical look. He clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "Guo Fengxiao is all talk and no action. It turns out his affection for the lady is nothing more than this. How stingy."
Deng Jie retorted without hesitation, "That can't compare to how you, sir, enjoy the deep trust of Lord Yuan, with all the gold and silver going into your own pocket."
Deng Jie walked past him, sat down next to A Xiang, and continued weaving grasshoppers for her without looking up. He said coldly, "My humble abode is small and there is no place for you to sit, sir. If you feel uncomfortable, you may leave now, so that I won't have to call someone, and you might not be able to return alive."
Deng Jie frowned and met his eyes: "It really is you. You dare to stand in front of me so blatantly. Do you intend to take action yourself, sir?"
Xu You shook his empty hands. "How could I do such a despicable thing? It was just that Xun Wenruo led his men to search Yang Wenxian's residence early this morning. Luckily, I escaped quickly. I was just wondering where to go when I saw Shi A jump down from a wall. I guessed it was your house, so I came to hide!"
Deng Jie then realized that Yang Biao and Yuan Shao were related by marriage, and Xu You had originally met the emperor through Yang Tai. No wonder Xun Yu hadn't noticed immediately. However, since he believed this place was safe, he could continue to stall him.
"Hmph, sir, you certainly know how to find a place. How dare you say I'll take you in?" She thought that the more she pushed him away, the less suspicious he would become, and she continued to talk calmly.
Seeing Deng Jie's livid face, he smiled and continued, "At least it's safe!"
Deng Jie tossed an empty cup onto the table. “Sir, you’ve said so much, yet you’re still thirsty. Even though it’s broken, you still need water.”
As he spoke, he pushed the earthenware jar filled with water forward.
Xu You extended a finger and disdainfully hooked it over the mouth of the jar to take a look, then continued pacing back and forth in the front yard, saying, "At least serve some tea."
Deng Jie's heart stirred slightly, and he deliberately said, "Sir, you are more precious than the Empress. The other day, Your Highness drank the well water here without complaining."
She casually continued weaving grasshoppers, deliberately steer the conversation toward the palace, hoping to glean some information from them.
Xu You paused sharply in his pacing, glancing at Deng Jie. "Oh? Your Highness is so frugal? But..."
Deng Jie snorted lightly, "The resources in Yuzhou are naturally not as abundant as those in Jizhou."
Xu You waved his hand smugly, his tone arrogant: "Madam does not know, Mengde is only seemingly powerful, but in reality his foundation is shallow."
He governed only two types of people: first, his group of Cao and Xiahou clan relatives, mostly brutes with limited abilities; second, those rootless, adrift generals who had surrendered, but unfortunately, he dared not easily trust them.
He scoffed, "Xun Wenruo holds sway over the gentry of Yingchuan, yet Mengde cannot shake him. Don't be fooled by your seemingly close husband's apparent affinity with Mengde; when the moment of truth arrives, which side will he take? Such a situation cannot last."
Emperor Guangwu?!
Deng Jie felt a chill run down his spine. So Yuan Shao wanted to follow the old path of Emperor Guangwu.
Emperor Guangwu received the assistance of powerful clans in Runan, and many responded to his call. He established his base in Hebei and revived the Han Dynasty...
Yuan Shao's power base is in Runan. If Xu You receives a secret edict from the emperor during his audience with him and calls upon his former officials in Runan to respond, thus creating a pincer movement from the north and south, wouldn't that be...?
Upon thinking of this, Deng Jie's expression turned serious.
Xu You was speaking passionately when he suddenly turned around and saw Deng Jie's drastically changed expression. He was shocked; this woman was much more perceptive than he had thought!
He gradually suppressed his smugness, then stared at Deng Jie's face, forcing a stiff smile, "Madam must be quite knowledgeable about the previous dynasty, and is well-versed in books..."
He then looked at the study with its door open. "Guo Fengxiao is also a book lover, and his collection must be extensive. I wonder if Madam would be so kind as to show it to you?"
Deng Jie realized something was wrong. There were many confidential documents of Guo Jia in the study. How could he easily show them to the enemy?
She strode forward to stop him: "Sir, please forgive me, but the study is a private place and outsiders should not be allowed in! You should leave now!"
Xu You quickly stepped forward and darted into the study, and Deng Guoran followed him in and pulled him away.
When Xu You saw her enter, he stopped pretending and his eyes flashed with malice. He pulled Deng Jie inside, slammed the door shut with a bang, and reached out to strangle her.
Without thinking much, Deng Jie pulled out a short blade from her sleeve and stabbed. Xu You didn't expect her to carry a sharp weapon. He reached out to block it, but his arm was instantly cut open and bleeding profusely. He cried out in pain and was then freed by Deng Jie.
Deng Jie rushed outside and heard Ah Xiang crying and calling, "Madam! Madam!"
She was about to open the door when she exposed her back to Xu You.
Xu You seized the opportunity and swung the incense burner, smashing it against the back of her head.
Deng Jie was stunned by the blow and, before he could retaliate, cried out, "Ah Xiang! Go find your father..."
With another "bang," Xu You knocked her unconscious.
Xu You was so frightened that his hands trembled, and he quickly tore off a piece of cloth to wrap the wound on his arm.
He hurriedly picked up the short knife that Deng had dropped, wanting to strike but not daring to.
He scanned the room, closed the doors and windows tightly, lit a candle in the incense burner, then kicked it to the ground. Seeing the flames gradually ignite the curtains, he hurriedly pushed open the door and went out.
He paused as he stepped outside, then saw the girl still sitting in the front yard crying. He simply knocked her unconscious, threw her into the house, and fled in a panic.
Not long after he fled, Xun Wei arrived at the gate of the Guo residence with his maid.
However, the open door and the strong smell of smoke made her expression change drastically.
She rushed into the yard and saw that the flames were already spilling out of the window. She exclaimed, "Oh no! Quickly, call for help to put out the fire!"
The maid dropped the wooden box she was holding and hurriedly ran out of the courtyard.
Meanwhile, in the command tent far away at the Guandu front, Guo Jia was holding a bamboo scroll and standing in front of a map, explaining his thoughts to Cao Cao and others.
Just as he finished saying he was going back to his seat, he suddenly felt dizzy. The bamboo slip slipped from his hand, his legs went weak, and he fell straight to the ground. The silver ball sachet at his waist was knocked open, and the incense burner burst open, scattering the incense paste all over the ground.
"Fengxiao!" Cao Cao rushed out from the banquet and helped him up. Xun You, Jia Xu and others were also startled by his sudden fall and surrounded him.
"Fengxiao..." Cao Cao saw that his face was pale and he was sweating profusely. He asked with concern, "The wind has been strong these past few days. Has your old illness relapsed?"
He shouted at Jia Xu and the others, "Summon Yuanhua! Quickly, summon Yuanhua!"
"Yes, yes!" The crowd pushed and shoved their way out of the tent.
"Perhaps you are a little tired... Please do not worry, my lord..."
Although he said this, he felt dizzy and restless.
Say it's good...
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