Chapter 36: I Covet Their Bodies (fixed)

The sudden appearance of a figure at their doorstep immediately caught the attention of the three Liu brothers.

“Hey! Who’s this little thief?!” Mistaking the silhouette for a burglar, Zhang Fei roared like thunder, ready to apprehend him. However, Liu Bei swiftly intervened.

“Third Brother, remain calm.”

Liu Bei then turned towards the shadowy figure standing outside. Although he couldn’t clearly see their face, something felt familiar about them. With a courteous gesture, he asked, “May I inquire what brings you here so late at night?”

This person was none other than Zhang He, sent to deliver a message.

After leaving the imperial palace, the three Liu brothers had leisurely strolled back home, while Zhang He, upon receiving Liu Xie’s command, rushed directly and arrived earlier than them.

Remaining hidden in the shadows, Zhang He did not reveal his true identity. Instead, he retrieved a letter from within his robes and placed it on the ground.

“This is a message His Majesty intended for Envoy Liu.”

“Farewell,” Zhang He said before hastily turning to leave.

He still had duties to attend to and could not linger long. Moreover, if others discovered that the commander of the Imperial Guard was meeting privately with Liu Bei here, it would lead to significant trouble. If not for Liu Xie’s orders, he wouldn’t have come at all.

“A message from His Majesty?”

Liu Bei frowned, his gaze falling on the letter lying on the ground. He swiftly picked it up and unfolded it to read.

At first glance, his expression shifted dramatically.

Guan Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Dage, what does the letter say?”

With a somber face, Liu Bei tucked the letter into his robes and whispered, “Let’s discuss this back at our residence!”

Without another word, he pushed open the door and entered.

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu closely followed him inside.

Once they reached the study room and secured the doors and windows, Liu Bei retrieved the letter and placed it under the oil lamp.

“Second Brother, Third Brother, take a look at this.”

Both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei focused their attention on the letter.

It contained only four words:

“Yuan Shao is aware.”

Instantly, their expressions changed, filled with shock and anger.

Zhang Fei’s eyes widened, gritting his teeth, exclaimed, “Dage wanted to help him, yet he betrayed us by informing Yuan Shao?!”

Instinctively, he assumed that Liu Xie had leaked the information to Yuan Shao.

Otherwise, how would Yuan Shao know? No one else was present during their meeting!

Guan Yu furrowed his brow, questioning, “If His Majesty indeed told Yuan Shao, why did he then send someone specifically to warn us?”

The act of betraying while also warning seemed contradictory. Guan Yu sensed something suspicious behind it.

“We were too careless,”

At this moment, Liu Bei, who had remained silent until now, spoke gravely, “As expected, our meeting with His Majesty today was likely orchestrated by Yuan Shao to provide us an opportunity.”

“After we left, Yuan Shao must have pressured His Majesty for information and discovered our purpose in visiting him.”

“The fact that His Majesty risked greatly to send someone to warn us shows his utmost benevolence; it is not His Majesty’s fault.”

Liu Bei’s thoughts delved deeper than others’. Upon reflection, everything had unfolded too smoothly today. Logically, why would Yuan Shao so easily allow him to meet privately with the Emperor? It simply hadn’t occurred to them at the time.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were immediately unsettled upon hearing this.

If Yuan Shao learned about their plan to seek an imperial decree from the Emperor, allowing them to raise troops and rally the lords under the banner of protecting the throne, he wouldn’t let it go lightly. They knew they’d be relentlessly pursued!

“Dage, we should quickly pack our belongings and leave the city!” exclaimed Zhang Fei anxiously. “Yuan Shao must already be gathering forces to come after us!”

No matter how skilled they were individually, being trapped amidst thousands of soldiers would inevitably lead to their demise! Personal valor paled before the might of an army.

Guan Yu shook his head, “The city gates are closed now, and since Yuan Shao is aware, he’ll undoubtedly have precautions in place. We won’t be able to escape.”

“Our only chance now is to storm the imperial palace and capture Yuan Shao,” Guan Yu said, his eyes narrowing as a palpable aura of killing intent emanated from him.

However, the final decision rested on Liu Bei’s shoulders.

“Dage!”

“Dage.”

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu both turned their gazes towards Liu Bei.

Liu Bei sat with closed eyes, gently tapping his fingers on the table as he pondered deeply. After a while, he reopened his eyes and stood up.

“Let’s go to the imperial palace and confront Yuan Shao!”

At the imperial palace, within the grand banquet hall.

The once bustling hall had emptied almost entirely, leaving only Yuan Shao and his closest advisors behind.

“My lord, Liu Bei harbors nefarious intentions! We must not let him linger!” Tian Feng spoke with utmost seriousness, filled with concern. “Today, with just a simple test, he revealed his true colors. It is evident that he is highly ambitious and cannot be controlled.”

“Such a dangerously ambitious individual, if not eliminated now, will undoubtedly become a grave threat in the future!”

Yuan Shao had already informed his strategists about the test he conducted on Liu Bei, causing immense shock among them.

No one anticipated Liu Bei’s audacity to secretly meet the Emperor, seeking an imperial decree to rally feudal lords for the defense of the throne!

Agreeing with Tian Feng, Shen Pei nodded, “Yuanhao is right; this is the opportune moment to eliminate Liu Bei. My lord, you must not hesitate out of compassion.”

Both Tian Feng and Shen Pei were adamant that Liu Bei should be killed.

Even Guo Tu and Feng Ji, who often disagreed with Tian Feng, remained silent this time, clearly sharing his viewpoint.

Yet Yuan Shao said nothing, despite repeated urging from his advisors to make a decision.

Ju Shou observed the situation and asked, “My lord, is there something concerning you?”

“Sigh…” Yuan Shao sighed and nodded. “Liu Bei can be killed, but executing Guan Yu and Zhang Fei would truly be regrettable.”

“They are formidable tiger generals of our age, comparable to Sun Jian and Sun Ce. If we could bring them under our command, it would greatly enhance our strength.”

“However, their brotherly bond is deep. If I were to kill Liu Bei, how could I possibly persuade Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to join me?”

This was the reason for Yuan Shao’s hesitation.

For Yuan Shao, killing Liu Bei alone wouldn’t bother him much; he didn’t care about that. But he highly valued the fierce warriors Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. He sought a way to eliminate Liu Bei while still securing the loyalty of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

“My lord,” Ju Shou began, unable to suppress a wry smile. “One cannot have both fish and bear paws; no matter how valiant Guan Yu and Zhang Fei may be, they will not be swayed to our side.”

Ju Shou couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly at this. “One cannot have both fish and bear paw, my lord. Although Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are valiant warriors, it is impossible to win them over.”

“Not eliminating Liu Bei now will surely lead to endless troubles later. I urge you, my lord, do not hesitate any longer.”

Yuan Shao rubbed his temples, feeling quite distressed.

He understood the reasoning, but deep down, he was unwilling to give up.

Before Guan Yu’s famed victory against Hua Xiong, Yuan Shao had held little regard for this mere archer. However, after witnessing Guan Yu slay Hua Xiong and then the Three Heroes’ fierce battle with Lu Bu, his perspective shifted dramatically. He became intensely envious of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s prowess.

It must be noted that while his own generals were competent, none could match up against Lu Bu. Yet, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei together managed to hold their ground evenly against him, showcasing their extraordinary martial abilities. How could Yuan Shao bear to kill such formidable warriors?!

In Yuan Shao’s view, Liu Bei was unworthy of possessing such mighty heroes! Only he deserved them!

As ministers continued their counsel amidst Yuan Shao’s indecision, a guard suddenly entered the Great Hall to report:

“My lord, Liu Bei and his companions request an audience outside the palace.”