Chapter 51 Unreserved (Part 1) Our marital bond should also—…
After everyone had left, Guo Jia slipped into Jia Xu's tent.
Hearing footsteps, Jia Xu glanced at them coldly and continued tidying up the bamboo slips on his desk.
Guo Jia sat down directly in front of him and spoke without any pretense: "Wenhe, you and General Zhang have been lingering in Wancheng for years. With your abilities, you must know the people, money, and old friends in Nanyang and even Yuzhou like the back of your hand, right?"
Jia Xu didn't even lift his eyelids. He stood the bamboo slip upright and tapped it lightly on the table, wrapped it in cloth, and replied calmly, "Fengxiao, we are now both under Cao Cao's command. We share the same fate, so speak frankly."
Jia Xu glanced at him, a helpless smile playing on his lips. "Your thoughts are all tied to your wife; I can't even be bothered to guess."
Guo Jia immediately straightened his face and said righteously, "That's not right! You saw it just now. It was clearly Xu You who plotted against you, spies on Runan, and undermined the foundation of our army, jeopardizing our great cause. I'm doing this for the greater good!"
Jia Xu sighed, rummaged through the bookshelf on the side, and tossed out three volumes. "Here you go. Xu Ziyuan, as Yuan Shao's chief strategist, is greedy and arrogant. He thinks Yuzhou is far from Jizhou and has accepted a lot of bribes. These are the details of his fields, shops, and residences in Nanyang. I thought I'd bring them with me before I came, just to be prepared."
Guo Jia quickly glanced at it, "Indeed, this is something Xu You would do! However..."
He put down the bamboo slips, stared at Jia Xu, and revealed a sly smile. "These alone are not enough. What I need is enough to completely ignite Yuan Shao's hatred towards him!"
Jia Xu narrowed his eyes slightly, "This is all his assets in Nanyang. As for the rest, I'm not a god, I can't conjure them up."
Guo Jia stepped closer and nudged him with his shoulder with a grin, "Why be so modest, sir? General Zhang listens to you without question. It's quite normal for you to have a few blank seals of the general, or even 'seals'!"
Jia Xu straightened up, raising an eyebrow slightly. "You plan to forge letters between him and Zhang Xiu?"
Guo Jia's eyes gleamed: "Ideally... we could also plot against Yuan Shao's home base together!"
Jia Xu stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "It's easy to fabricate evidence. But how do you plan to deliver this incriminating evidence to Yuan Shao?"
"That's easy!" Guo Jia stepped aside and shouted loudly towards the outside of the tent, "Shi Huan!"
Shi Huan was a retainer who had followed Cao Cao since he rose to power. He was highly skilled in martial arts and extremely loyal. After the establishment of the Imperial Academy, Cao Cao sent him to Ji Province for two years, so he was quite familiar with the Hebei area. Now he has returned as the leader of the scouts.
Guo Jia was confidently introducing the case when Jia Xu tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Since it's all fake anyway, why not add fuel to the fire and push him even further?"
"Oh? Wenhe, do you have any other insights? Speak quickly!"
"Hasn't he just 'returned in glory' from the Emperor's side? And he's an old friend of yours, why not let you go along with it and send him a 'greeting' that's been smeared on his face..."
Guo Jia was taken aback, then couldn't help but slap the table and exclaim in admiration, "Haha, brilliant, brilliant! Indeed, this is the kind of thing I should discuss with you!"
Jia Xu smiled calmly, as if these matters were as simple as breathing, "Since we are going to plan, we must be thorough."
Guo Jia suppressed his smile and solemnly cupped his hands to Jia Xu, "That's right, that makes sense! Then I'll have to trouble Wenhe! Shi Huan will cooperate."
We must then expose him completely to Yuan Shao and bring him to your command, my lord!
He turned to Shi Huan: "You should also gather men and make preparations. Judging by the time, Xu You should not have crossed the river yet. We must deliver Wenhe's things to Shen Pei before he does!"
From that day forward, time passed, and the Battle of Guandu finally came to an end with Xu You's defection to Cao Cao and the burning of Wuchao.
Guo Jia had just returned to Xuchang when he hurriedly followed Cao Cao into the Sikong Mansion and waited for Deng Jie to come out in a side hall.
Cao Cao watched him pace back and forth in the side hall with great interest, and teased, "What's there to worry about here? You'll be provided with good food and drink, so don't worry."
Guo Jia rubbed his hands together and looked out the door. "Of course, I'm not worried."
Just then, Bian's figure appeared at the other end of the courtyard, followed by a group of maids.
"Fengxiao!" Deng Jie also saw him and unconsciously quickened his pace.
Guo Jia rushed into the courtyard, ignoring the stares of those around him, and pulled her into his arms, saying, "You've suffered so much..."
Deng Jie was a little embarrassed and gently pushed him.
Cao Cao walked out of the side hall without any surprise and joked, "See, I told you it was good to recuperate here. Staying a couple more days won't hurt."
Upon hearing the suggestion to stay for two more days, Guo Jia blurted out without hesitation, "No!"
The women in the courtyard covered their faces and sneered, while Lady Bian looked at Cao Cao with a complicated expression.
Cao Cao was taken aback, then realized what he meant, "That's not what I meant! I meant that Lady Deng should rest and recuperate..."
His explanation only made everyone laugh even louder. Bian hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, saying, "Alright, stop explaining. You're only making things worse."
Cao Cao waved his hand helplessly: "Alright, alright, hurry up and leave, so as not to give me a headache."
Bian took his arm and said, "It just so happens that my sister taught me some massage techniques. Let me try them on you."
Guo Jia readily apologized and hurriedly left with Deng Jie.
The two returned to the Guo residence together. Ah Xiang seemed to have recovered and happily followed her parents to welcome them home.
Although the study has been repaired, some scorch marks are still visible.
Deng Jie followed behind him, clutching the hem of his clothes apologetically: "I'm sorry, I didn't protect the house well..."
Guo Jia suddenly turned around and stroked her face, "What nonsense are you talking about? It's my fault for not protecting you and causing you to get hurt."
He caught a glimpse of the bloodstains remaining on the incense burner out of the corner of his eye, gritted his teeth, and placed his hand on it. "But he's in Xudu now, so we're the ones in charge."
Deng Jie's expression changed as he stared at the incense burner, his face contorted with anger. "He even tried to kill you and harm my brother!"
Guo Jia grasped her hand and echoed, "They've already attacked you, ruining our family!"
He took out a jade disc with a black bird and valley pattern from his bosom; a sachet was still hanging from it.
“This item was given to him by the Lord Ming in the past, and now the Lord Ming has handed it over to me to deal with…” He looked at it meaningfully.
Deng Jie's heart suddenly relaxed and softened. He turned and walked out of the study.
"Say yes?" Guo Jia followed her.
Deng Jie lowered his head and sighed, his voice trembling slightly, "...He...in the end, still went."
Deng Jie suddenly stopped, a bitter feeling welling up inside him. "In the end, it was my fault that he was hurt."
Guo Jia caught up with her, cupped her face in his hands, and looked her into his eyes. He said firmly, "No, you saved us!"
"But I... I've unknowingly taken so many lives on my shoulders..." The pent-up emotions of the past few months finally found their outlet, and tears streamed down her face. "Scheming, manipulating... I've become so cunning... Fengxiao, will you despise me for this...?"
Guo Jia felt as if a needle had been plunged into his heart. Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms. "What nonsense are you spouting? If anyone should be disgusted, it's you who should be disgusted with me. It's my fault for not protecting you properly, leaving you to face all this alone..."
He tightened his arms around her head and rubbed it against her head. "If a pearl is covered in dust, the pearl itself is innocent; the fault lies with the one who holds it."
Deng Jie sniffed and looked up at him. "But I... would rather it be like this, where I can be with you without reservation. I don't want to be abandoned by you, nor do I want you to bear everything alone."
She knew in her heart that Guo Jia must have been in great pain for the past five years, living in fear and keeping the secret that Deng Zhao could leave at any moment.
Guo Jia clearly understood her thoughts, and felt a mixture of pain and joy. "That's right, Jia thinks so too! It's actually more relaxing now. We're 'comrades in troubled times,' so we can be completely open with each other!"
"Without...holding back?" Deng Jie wrapped his arms around his neck, tilted his head back, and looked up at him with a glint in his eyes.
That look, that tone, made Guo Jia's throat tighten, and his eyes darken.
As Xu Du reveled in the atmosphere of victory, Xu You's arrogance also swelled.
He became increasingly arrogant in front of Cao Cao and others, relying on his plan to burn down Wuchao. Not only did he nitpick over Cao Cao's rewards, but he also repeatedly mocked Xun Yu in court, relying on his merit in offering the plan and his tacit understanding with the emperor, regarding him as a conservative and pedantic person.
Xun Yu was unwilling to get entangled with him, but Cao Cao privately comforted Xun Yu, saying, "Let him be smug for a few more days."
Cao Cao and Guo Jia plotted to continue feeding Xu You's insatiable desires.
Gold, silver, land, houses, antiques, treasures... Cao Cao granted almost every request. Even when Xu You complained that the newly acquired dancers were not as elegant as the maids in the Sikong Mansion, Cao Cao simply laughed it off.
This indulgence emboldened Xu You, and he finally remembered Guo Jia and his wife, with whom he had a grudge.
On this day, at a small celebration banquet held at the Sikong Mansion, Xu You, fueled by alcohol, became increasingly outspoken.
Guo Jia held his wine cup and sighed softly, "I mustn't drink too much today. These days I've been preoccupied with military affairs, leaving my wife to have a lot of free time at home."
Upon hearing about Deng Jie, Xu You was reminded of the past when she and Guo Jia had caused him to be suspected by Yuan Shao, as well as the embarrassing situation when she deliberately let him fall into the door. He immediately seized the opportunity and said with a mocking tone, "Oh? Madam Deng? She is a disciple of the divine physician. Her miraculous healing of Yuan Shao in Ye City was truly amazing!"
The room fell silent the moment these words were spoken.
This wasn't seeking medical help; it was blatant humiliation. To make Guo Jia's wife come in person, and with such fanfare, was clearly an attempt to show off to everyone that Xu You was Cao Cao's most favored person.
But today, Guo Jia's smile remained unchanged, and instead became even more gentle.
He raised his wine cup and toasted Xu You: "Mr. Ziyuan, you flatter me. My wife is somewhat knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine, and I am also half a disciple. If you don't mind, I can personally accompany you to visit! This is our honor. If you don't mind, we will naturally... give our all without reservation."
He spoke the last eight words slowly and clearly, and it was probably only the drunken Xu You who failed to understand the hidden meaning in his words.
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