Chapter 6: The True and False Sons of Heaven (Emperor)

At the Yuan Manor’s study.

“Bang!”

Yuan Shao slammed his palm heavily on the desk, staring grimly at Ju Shou as he thundered, “Ju Shou! How audacious of you! You dared to find someone to impersonate the Emperor?!”

Just moments ago, he had received a shocking revelation.

The Emperor was actually a fraud!

It turned out to be a random refugee Ju Shou had picked up from the roadside, yet Yuan Shao had believed it wholeheartedly!

Initially, he felt something was amiss, but the imposter’s acting skills were so convincing that he fell for it. Upon closer reflection, however, the “Emperor’s” claims did not hold up under scrutiny.

Firstly, there was the issue of escape. Aside from questioning how Cao Cao could allow the Emperor to flee, even if he managed to do so, having been raised in luxury all his life, he wouldn’t have survived such a long journey.

Most importantly, once the true Emperor reached Ji Province’s territory, revealing his identity would prompt immediate personal reception by Yuan Shao himself. There would be no need for him to specifically travel all the way to Yecheng.

Facing Yuan Shao’s rebuke, Ju Shou remained composed and replied, “My lord, truthfully, I too now harbor doubts about his identity.”

“But does it matter whether he is genuine or not? As long as my lord declares him the true Emperor, then he becomes just that.”

“He is still not the real one!” Yuan Shao seethed with anger, grinding his teeth. “If word gets out that we’re using an impostor to pose as the Emperor, can you fathom the grave consequences?”

“I’ll lose credibility with all under heaven and face eternal scorn!” Yuan Shao was seething with anger at Ju Shou’s actions. Without consulting him, he had brought this imposter back to Yecheng and even revealed him before so many people.

Now everyone believed that the “Emperor” resided in Yecheng, leaving Yuan Shao trapped in a precarious situation.

Ju Shou calmly responded, “My lord, aside from himself, only you and I know his true identity as a fake.”

“He bears an exact resemblance to the Emperor, my lord; even you couldn’t tell he was an impostor, correct?”

“With their identical appearance and your esteemed reputation, we can confidently proclaim this Emperor is genuine, while the one in Cao Cao’s hands is the fraud.”

“Tell me, whom would the world believe—my lord or Cao Cao?”

Having witnessed Liu Xie’s remarkable acting skills, which deceived even Yuan Shao, Ju Shou felt highly confident. This plan could truly work!

“Do you think everyone is a fool?” Yuan Shao retorted impatiently. “Luo Yang has fallen, and news of the Emperor being escorted to Xu County by Cao Cao has spread far and wide. If I claim now that the Emperor is with me, who would believe it?”

“Moreover, there will always be differences between the real and fake Emperor. Familiar attendants and concubines would undoubtedly recognize the deception; it cannot be hidden!”

Ju Shou smiled faintly. “My lord is overthinking this. We don’t actually need to prove that our Emperor is genuine; we merely have to sow doubt about the authenticity of the one held by Cao Cao.”

“What do you mean?” Yuan Shao furrowed his brow and turned towards Ju Shou.

Ju Shou chuckled, “With the Emperor under his control, Cao Cao can reestablish the imperial court, command the nobles nationwide in the Son’s name, and attract talented individuals.”

“However, now with two Sons of Heaven emerging, even if Cao Cao holds the true heir, suspicions will still arise among the people.”

“As a result, the effectiveness of having the Emperor in Cao Cao’s hands would be significantly diminished. Fewer people would trust him outright. This gives us legitimate grounds for future military campaigns against him.”

“Holding onto this Emperor grants my lord the moral high ground!”

Although Ju Shou conceived this plan on the spot, he had meticulously considered its advantages and potential pitfalls from all angles.

As he explained, convincing the entire realm of their Emperor’s legitimacy might be challenging, but why was it necessary? All they needed was the claim to authority while casting doubt on the authenticity of the Emperor controlled by Cao Cao. Amidst truth and deception, confusion could work in their favor.

After hearing Ju Shou’s proposal, Yuan Shao frowned deeply, pacing back and forth in his study as he pondered carefully.

“Have you determined this person’s true identity?” Yuan Shao finally looked up at Ju Shou and asked solemnly.

Naturally, he was referring to Liu Xie’s status.

Ju Shou harbored deep suspicions about Liu Xie’s actual background. Considering his mannerisms, ability to address both himself and Yuan Shao by their courtesy names, and the appearance of someone pampered, it seemed highly unlikely that he could be a common peasant or vagrant.

However, he understood Yuan Shao’s concerns; they couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity to control the Emperor and command the nobles. Thus, he replied, “My lord, as instructed, I have thoroughly investigated. He is indeed just an ordinary vagrant. If not for encountering me today, he would likely starve to death within days.”

“This individual is quite clever and astute. Moreover, since we know his fake identity, eliminating him would be as easy as turning one’s hand.”

Seeing Yuan Shao still hesitant, Ju Shou earnestly added, “My lord, we missed our chance to welcome the Emperor before, and we cannot let this opportunity slip away again. The reason I acted without consulting you first was out of concern that you might not agree.

“Now that Cao Cao has seized the initiative, we can no longer afford to sit idly by.”

Yuan Shao leaned on the desk with one hand, his brows deeply furrowed in thought. After a prolonged moment, he finally sighed.

“All right, let us proceed as you suggest.”

At this point, there was no better alternative than to follow Ju Shou’s plan since news of the Emperor arriving in Yecheng had already spread.

They couldn’t suddenly claim now that it was a fake; doing so would make them a laughingstock.

Moreover, Ju Shou’s proposal indeed held significant advantages, allowing them to counter Cao Cao effectively.

“My lord is truly wise!” Overjoyed, Ju Shou bowed deeply.

Yuan Shao let out a cold snort. “This time, your unauthorized actions will be overlooked, but there won’t be a next!”

As a leader, he detested his subordinates taking matters into their own hands, even if done with good intentions—it invariably left a sour taste.

Ju Shou repeatedly acknowledged Yuan Shao’s words, internally sighing in relief. He had mentally prepared himself for punishment.

After finalizing the plan, Yuan Shao said, “Regarding this fake Emperor, we must ensure others do not discover his true identity. Work on creating more credibility around him.”

Ju Shou smiled. “Rest assured, my lord. Upon returning, I will promptly ‘find’ evidence and witnesses to substantiate the Emperor’s escape.”

“Additionally, I’ll arrange for specialists to train him in proper etiquette and demeanor, ensuring he closely resembles the genuine Emperor.”

These tasks were relatively minor and easy to organize.

“I leave it all in your hands.”

Yuan Shao showed little interest in such minute details and turned to exit the study. “For now, accompany me to meet our esteemed Emperor.”

He still harbored some unease about the fake Emperor and felt the need to personally assess him.

Deep within the Yuan Manor, in a secluded courtyard.

This area was originally Yuan Shao’s residence and considered the finest part of the estate. Liu Xie was brought here to rest.

Under the attentive care of several maidservants, Liu Xie bathed amidst fragrant incense, cleansing himself of dirt and grime before changing into fresh clothing. Finally, he retired to his room for some respite.

“Pure bliss…”

Lying on a soft three-layered brocade bed, surrounded by elegantly antique furnishings, with the faint aroma of ambergris lingering in the air, Liu Xie felt overwhelmed with gratitude.

Just yesterday, he had been sleeping rough in a dilapidated temple; today, he found himself luxuriating in this high-end presidential suite. The unpredictability of fate truly knows no bounds.

As Liu Xie was about to drift off contentedly, he suddenly heard the door creak open.