Chapter 93: Honey Water, Bring Me Honey Water

In Shouchun.

“Cough, cough, cough!”

Yuan Shu lay on his expansive imperial bed, wracked with painful coughs that left him increasingly pale with each bout.

After this intense episode subsided, it took him a long moment to regain his composure. Trembling, he raised his hand and weakly commanded, “Honey water, bring me honey water…”

A serving girl promptly picked up the jade bowl from the tray and approached to assist Yuan Shu in drinking.

He barely managed one sip before abruptly knocking over the jade bowl and spitting out the honey water, cursing furiously, “Why is this honey water cold?!”

Terrified, the servant’s face drained of color as she hastily knelt down, stammering, “This slave knows her fault! This slave knows her fault!”

“Guards!” In seething anger, Yuan Shu summoned them at once and bellowed, “Drag this wretched maid away and behead her!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Without hesitation, the guards seized the trembling servant, whose face had turned deathly pale from fear, and dragged her outside.

As her cries faded into the distance, dread filled the faces of the remaining palace maids within the chamber. This was already the ninth servant executed since Yuan Shu’s return.

Any misstep or displeasure could result in immediate execution.

“You despicable wretch!” Still seething with anger, Yuan Shu cursed viciously before directing his icy gaze at the remaining palace maids. “All of you, get out!”

The maids gratefully fled the chamber as if pardoned from death.

After dismissing them, dizziness overwhelmed Yuan Shu once more. He lay back down, unable to suppress a long sigh.

His illness had begun upon returning to Shouchun, often waking him terrified from sleep and leaving him progressively weaker. Coughing incessantly day and night, his condition worsened each passing day.

Despite repeated examinations by physicians, they failed to identify the cause. However, Yuan Shu knew the root of his ailment well.

“That damned traitor!” A flash of hatred crossed Yuan Shu’s eyes, but beneath it lurked profound fear.

During the battle at the Huai River, witnessing Lu Bu kill Lè Jiù with a single arrow had already traumatized him deeply. Later, narrowly escaping decapitation by Lu Bu’s halberd left an even darker shadow on his psyche.

Now, every time he closed his eyes, the gruesome image of Lè Jiù pinned to the ground, horse and rider impaled together, haunted him.

The image of Lu Bu, drenched in blood and wielding his double-bladed halberd like a demonic deity charging towards him, haunted Yuan Shu’s thoughts.

This was precisely why he had fallen ill, entirely due to terror instilled by Lu Bu. The only cure for this ailment lay in killing Lu Bu himself!

“One day, I shall personally behead that thrice-renamed slave myself,” Yuan Shu thought bitterly, finding some solace in the idea. “I will grind his bones to dust and scatter them, quenching my seething hatred!”

Suddenly, panicked shouts echoed outside his sleeping quarters:

“Your Majesty! It’s terrible news, Your Majesty! Lu Bu is advancing on us!”

“What?!” Yuan Shu paled with shock, leaping from his bed like a startled fish. He scrambled frantically, seeking refuge beneath it.

As the eunuch entered the chamber, witnessing Yuan Shu crawling under the bed, he stood utterly dumbfounded.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing?”

“Lu Bu is attacking—what do you think I’m doing?” Terrified, Yuan Shu remained hidden, unwilling to emerge.

Hearing this, the eunuch cautiously responded, “Y-Your Majesty, Lu Bu hasn’t reached the imperial palace yet. His army has merely set up camp about five miles outside the city.”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu froze momentarily before laboriously crawling out from under the bed, struggling somewhat.

As soon as he stood up, Yuan Shu slapped the eunuch across the face.

“If you can’t speak properly, we’ll cut out your tongue next time! It’s useless hanging there anyway!”

Yuan Shu’s face flushed bright red, feeling utterly embarrassed.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty! Forgive me…” The eunuch knelt and repeatedly banged his head on the floor.

With a cold snort, Yuan Shu asked, “When did this news arrive? Where is our Great General now?”

The Great General he referred to was Zhang Xiu.

After escaping from Lu Bu, Yuan Shu had appointed Zhang Xiu as the Great General, granting him command over all military forces of the Great Cheng Empire. Additionally, he bestowed upon Zhang Xiu the Nine Bestowments, allowing him privileges such as carrying sword and wearing boots in court, entering without haste, and being addressed by title rather than name.

The eunuch, with his head bowed, replied, “Your Majesty, the news just arrived moments ago. The Great General is currently leading troops for defense preparations.”

Hearing this, Yuan Shu’s expression slightly improved.

He had fortified Shouchun into an impregnable fortress, with ample supplies within its walls sufficient to sustain the army for a year. With Zhang Xiu guarding the city, even if Lu Bu were exceptionally fierce, it would be challenging for him to breach their defenses anytime soon.

However, Yuan Shu remained uneasy, plagued by a constant sense of unease.

“Convey Our Imperial Decree and summon the Great General to the palace!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” The eunuch turned and hurriedly left the imperial quarters.

After about an hour, accompanied by the clanking sound of armor, Zhang Xiu entered, fully armored.

“Subject Zhang Xiu greets Your Majesty!”

Seeing Zhang Xiu, a smile lit up Yuan Shu’s face. “The Great General has arrived! Attendants, quickly bring forth a seat for the Great General!”

Once seated, Zhang Xiu asked, “May I inquire why Your Majesty summoned me to the palace?”

He had been inspecting the city walls when he received Yuan Shu’s summons and rushed over without even removing his armor.

Yuan Shu eagerly questioned him, “Great General, we have heard that Lu Bu’s army is advancing on us. Do you have confidence in defending Shouchun?”

Shouchun was his last refuge; if it fell, he would truly be at the end of his road with nowhere else to go.

Zhang Xiu reassured him, “Fear not, Your Majesty. Although Lu Bu is formidable, considering Shouchun’s sturdy defenses, ample soldiers, and abundant supplies, I am confident we can hold out. At least for a year, Lu Bu will not breach our walls.”

This response brought a sigh of relief to Yuan Shu.

If Shouchun could withstand a siege for a year, Lu Bu couldn’t possibly sustain such a prolonged attack due to limited resources. By steadfastly guarding the city, once Lu Bu’s provisions ran out, the crisis would dissipate instantly.

However, Zhang Xiu’s next words drained all color from Yuan Shu’s face.

“But… my scouts have reported that Sun Ce and Cao Cao are also leading their armies here, each commanding tens of thousands of troops. Their forces will soon arrive at our gates.”