Chapter 75: Jia Xu Enters Yecheng

After delivering Zhen Mi to Yecheng, the Zhen family’s convoy departed within a few days.

Their visit was brief, as swift in departure as it had been in arrival.

When the Zhen entourage left, only Yuan Shang went to see them off. Yuan Xi claimed illness and stayed home, not joining the farewell.

In truth, he drowned his sorrows at home with copious amounts of wine.

“Chug, chug, chug, chug!” In his study, Yuan Xi clutched a wine jar, drinking deeply with each gulp.

Upon emptying the jar, he let out a satisfied exhale, casually tossing it aside where it shattered on the floor. Drunkenly, he shouted, “More wine! Bring me more wine!”

A servant heard his call from outside the study. Upon seeing the numerous empty jars strewn across the floor, the servant hesitated and gently advised, “Young master, perhaps you should drink less…”

“Bang!”

Before the servant could finish, Yuan Xi slammed his hand on the table, erupting in anger, “Am I not even allowed to have a drink now?! You dare to lecture this young master, a mere servant?!”

Faced with Yuan Xi’s fury, the servant dared not respond further. He bowed respectfully and hurried off to fetch more wine.

“You worthless wretch!” Yuan Xi cursed under his breath as he watched the servant leave, then slumped back in his chair, his expression darkening.

Watching the attendant depart, Yuan Xi cursed under his breath and slumped back onto his chair, his expression dark.

To maintain a dependable image before his father, he hadn’t indulged himself like this for quite some time. However, on this occasion, he simply couldn’t resist.

The proposed marriage to the Zhen family had seemed like an extraordinary opportunity for him. Not only would it strengthen ties with one of Jizhou’s prominent local clans, but also allow him to wed such a breathtakingly beautiful woman.

Yet, Yuan Shang had ruthlessly interfered, sabotaging the entire arrangement!

As these thoughts crossed Yuan Xi’s mind, the fleeting glimpse of her exquisite beauty outside Yecheng that day resurfaced vividly.

Moreover, over recent times, Yuan Shang had consistently undermined him in both military and administrative matters. This further deepened Yuan Xi’s growing hatred towards his brother.

Growing increasingly furious, Yuan Xi heard approaching footsteps and immediately barked out, “What takes so long just to fetch wine?! You useless…”

His tirade abruptly halted as he realized the newcomer was not the servant with the wine, but Xu You.

“Mr. Xu? What brings you here?” Sobering up slightly, Yuan Xi hastily rose to greet him. However, due to excessive drinking, he struggled momentarily to stand.

Xu You observed the scene and said, “No need for formalities, Second Prince; please remain seated. I merely came to check on you since you haven’t visited the official residence these past few days.”

Like Guo Tu and Xin Ping, Xu You favored Yuan Xi among Yuan Shao’s three sons.

Noticing Yuan Xi’s absence from the official residence recently, Xu You decided to visit and inquire about the situation.

“Please have a seat, sir.” Yuan Xi gestured for Xu You to sit down, then summoned servants to prepare tea and clear away the empty wine jars scattered around the room.

With a glance at the surroundings, Xu You turned towards Yuan Xi, who reeked of alcohol and appeared dispirited. He asked, “Why does the prince drown his sorrows in drink? Not only have you neglected your duties these past days, but you also failed to bid farewell to Lady Zhen when she left.

“If our lord were to find out, he might be displeased.”

Yuan Xi responded nonchalantly, “So be it. Father already disfavors me now; striving further would prove futile anyway.

“He has always shown preference for Xianfu.”

Previously, Yuan Xi had diligently managed logistics, only to receive rebukes instead of praise, leaving him demoralized.

Sensing Yuan Xi’s disappointment, Xu You smiled and asked, “Doesn’t the prince wonder why the Third Prince has been frequently praised by our lord lately?”

“What does Mr. Xu mean by that?” Yuan Xi raised his head towards Xu You with a slight frown, perplexed.

This situation indeed struck him as quite odd. Their father had assigned them each separate responsibilities, with advisors like Shen Pei and Xu You only allowed to assist and provide guidance but not directly manage affairs on their behalf. The purpose was for their father to assess their individual capabilities.

Despite being their first time handling such tasks, Yuan Shang’s performance far exceeded Yuan Xi’s, managing everything efficiently and systematically. Initially, Yuan Xi assumed it was due to Yuan Shang’s superior skills and innate talent.

However, now it seemed…there might be more to the story?

Xu You nodded slightly and said, “I have a decent relationship with Feng Yuantu, from whom I learned that a strategist named Guo Jia under the Third Prince has been consistently advising and assisting him in military and administrative matters.

“The spread of rumors last time, which thwarted your alliance with the Zhen family, Second Prince, also originated from this very Guo Jia.”

Xu You had recently discovered this information. After much deliberation, he decided to extend a favor by informing the Second Prince, Yuan Xi.

“What?!” Yuan Xi’s expression instantly darkened, and he gritted his teeth, muttering, “No wonder, no wonder! That cheat! He’s been playing foul!”

Yuan Xi was consumed with rage.

Now it made sense why Yuan Shang managed to handle military and administrative affairs so efficiently, and how he swiftly countered the rumors last time. It was all because someone had been secretly assisting him behind the scenes!

Realizing this, Yuan Xi wasted no time and stood up resolutely, declaring, “I must inform Father immediately!”

The rumor incident had been extremely perilous; any misstep could have dealt a severe blow to the Yuan clan’s reputation. If Yuan Shao were to learn about Guo Jia’s involvement, he would undoubtedly be furious.

“Please hold on, my lord!” Xu You hastily stepped forward to stop him and reasoned, “Even if you know, what good will it do without evidence? Without proof, your accusations will fall on deaf ears. How can the lord believe you?”

“Moreover, even if the lord does believe you, I fear he won’t blame the Third Prince. Instead, it might further diminish his favor towards you, Second Prince.”

Yuan Xi looked stunned. “Why not? He’s clearly cheating!”

Feeling quite helpless, Xu You sighed. “Cheating takes skill too. Although our lord forbade us from assisting either prince directly, he never explicitly stated or restricted you and your brother from seeking help from us or other talents.”

“Securing assistance from such individuals is also a capability. Do you understand, my lord?”

While this unwritten rule existed, it was not officially enforced. And even if it were, rules were meant to be broken.

If Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang could persuade their advisors to aid them, that would demonstrate their competence.

Xu You had long understood this principle, eagerly awaiting for Yuan Xi to seek his guidance. However, Yuan Xi surprisingly chose to diligently work on his own, so much so that Xu You found it hard to bear. That prompted him to specifically come forward and remind Yuan Xi of the situation.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xi was utterly speechless, deeply shaken.

So…this was another way to play the game?

For some reason, he suddenly recalled his father’s question and the profound gaze directed at him that day.

“Xianyi, do you truly have no objections?

“This marriage was originally arranged for you.”

In an instant, clarity dawned on Yuan Xi.

So…that’s how it was.

Now he understood the true meaning behind his father Yuan Shao’s words, but realizing this too late weighed heavily upon him.

No! Wait!

It’s not too late yet!

Yuan Xi abruptly raised his head towards Xu You, as if grasping onto his last lifeline, and pleaded, “Mr. Xu, you must help me!”

His only hope now lay with seeking Xu You’s assistance!

However, Xu You shook his head. “I apologize, Second Prince. Revealing these secrets already broke protocol; I cannot aid you further. You may seek Tian Yuanhao or Ju Gongyu to see if they can assist you. Farewell.”

With those words, Xu You turned and left.

Yuan Xi stood alone, disheartened, in the study.

Could there truly be no one willing to help him?

Outside Yecheng’s southern gate.

A carriage slowly approached the city along the wide imperial road.

Inside, a slightly portly scholar lifted the curtain and gazed upon Yecheng with a faint smile. “Finally arrived.”

This rotund scholar was none other than Jia Xu!

After parting ways with Zhang Xiu at Wancheng, he had journeyed directly to Jizhou, taking a month to reach Yecheng.

His trip served two purposes:

First, to pay respects to the Emperor, and second, to join Yuan Shao’s ranks.

He embarked on this journey primarily for the Emperor. If His Majesty proved worthy of support, Jia Wenhe might become a loyal subject aiding the dragon, striving to uphold the Great Han. However, if the Emperor fell short, he could still align himself with Yuan Shao.

In any case, both paths remained open to him.

“Don’t disappoint me now,” Jia Xu chuckled softly, lowering the carriage curtain as they entered the city.

The carriage came to a halt just outside the imperial palace.

“Restricted area around the imperial palace! Halt!” As soon as the carriage neared, imperial guards stepped forward to conduct their inspection.

The officer on duty today was Gao Luan. He approached with two imperial guards and asked, “Who goes there?”

Quickly, the carriage curtain lifted, and Jia Xu stepped out.

After straightening his attire and adjusting the crown atop his head, Jia Xu smiled and said, “I am Jia Xu, courtesy name Wenhe, serving as the Grand Commandant. Upon hearing that Your Majesty resides in Yecheng, I have specially come to pay my respects.”

“Grand Commandant? Jia Xu?” Gao Luan’s expression subtly shifted upon hearing this.

Although he had not heard of Jia Xu by name, the title ‘Grand Commandant’ resonated like thunder—it signified a position just below the Nine Ministers!

This unassuming, plump individual before him

was actually a high-ranking official with a salary equivalent to 2,000 pecks of grain?

Gao Luan couldn’t ascertain if it was true, but dared not show any disrespect. Respectfully, he stated, “Please wait here, sir. This humble general will inform His Majesty immediately.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Jia Xu replied cheerfully, displaying remarkable patience.

Thus, Gao Luan instructed the nearby guards to stay put and keep watch over Jia Xu while he entered the palace to report to Liu Xie.

At that moment, Liu Xie was taking a siesta in his private quarters. Upon receiving the news, all traces of sleepiness vanished instantly, and he promptly sat up from his bed.

“You said what? Jia Xu?!” Liu Xie stared at Gao Luan, shock written all over his face. He wondered if he had misheard or if Gao Luan had spoken incorrectly.

Gao Luan nodded firmly. “Yes, Your Majesty. He claimed to be the Grand Minister of Works, named Jia Xu, with the courtesy name Wenhe. I assure you, there was no mistake.”

With Gao Luan’s confirmation, Liu Xie swallowed hard, feeling uncertain and apprehensive.

He was well aware of Jia Xu’s reputation - this man was famously known as the most ruthless strategist of the Three Kingdoms era, rivaled only by the enigmatic Guo Jia!

“How could Jia Xu come to Yecheng? With Cao Cao fighting Zhang Xiu, wasn’t he supposed to join Cao Cao alongside Zhang Xiu? What is going on here?!”

Liu Xie felt like his brain was about to overload. Jia Xu’s arrival did not align with the historical events he knew so well.

After several expressions flickered across his face, Liu Xie got off the bed and instructed Gao Luan, “Bring him to the main hall; we shall meet him personally.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Gao Luan responded before departing to carry out the order.