With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 53, Princess Qinghe

Liu Xie shook his head and said to Ma Kui, "You don't need to be so stubborn. What do these patrons want from here?"

"I'm here because there are lots of pretty women," Ma Kui replied without hesitation.

Liu Xie shook his head. "Not entirely. To be more precise, it's about novelty and excitement. In Tianxiang Pavilion, you can see different women every day, with different outfits and different looks. If there are no women from the Western Regions, wouldn't you have someone dress up and pretend to be a woman from the Western Regions?"

"Oh? That works too?" Ma Kui was taken aback.

"Don't even mention dressing up as a woman from the Western Regions. You can dress up as a beggar, a maid, or a noblewoman, anything is fine. You have to keep changing your look. If it's all the same, it'll be boring."

In later bars and nightclubs, holding auditions and uniform shows is a perfectly normal practice.

Ma Kui has a strong learning spirit; he kept everything in mind, saying, "I'll improve immediately later."

Leaving Tianxiang Pavilion, Zhao Yun let out a long sigh of relief. "Your Majesty, this is a place of pleasure, why are you so concerned about it?"

Zhao Yun couldn't understand it at all. The emperor had no shortage of women, and he had never touched a single woman here.

For Zhao Yun, such a place would be decadent and corrupting, not a place he should be.

Liu Xie pointed and said, "See? The people who come here to spend money every day are all from prominent families in Xudu City. Even the Cao family comes here."

Zhao Yun soon saw Cao Anmin walk in.

Zhao Yun sighed, "Cao Anmin's injuries haven't healed yet, and he's already in such a hurry to come to a place like this to indulge in debauchery."

As Liu Xie continued walking, he said in a low voice, "This kind of place can help us obtain a lot of useful intelligence, because intelligence itself is in the hands of high-ranking officials and nobles. Of course, there are many other benefits as well. For example, if you want to win someone over, or if you want to corrupt someone, there are many ways to do it here."

“Wang Yue comes here often, and I’ve waived all his expenses.”

Zhao Yun nodded secretly, "I said that at the beginning, Wang Yue was a bit cold to His Majesty, but now he is very devoted."

Liu Xie said, "Everyone has their weaknesses. Wang Yue is indeed capable. In terms of swordsmanship alone, Zilong, you probably can't compare to him. However, he is vain and greedy for enjoyment, so fame, fortune, money, and women are all his weaknesses."

Every time Wang Yue came to Tianxiang Pavilion, he didn't have to spend a penny. Of course, all of this was arranged in advance by Liu Xie.

"Your Majesty, I've always had a question. Wang Cai and the others still don't know Your Majesty's true identity. Once they do, what will happen? Will they still be devoted to Your Majesty?"

"hehe!"

Liu Xie smiled meaningfully, "Zilong, from the very beginning, I have been bound to them. Even if they knew my identity, they would not betray me."

"Cao Cao is very suspicious. If he finds out that they have been secretly communicating with me, he will never let them off easily."

"Besides, they are ordinary people, and they would probably be more motivated to serve the emperor."

"Your Majesty, both Hongyun Restaurant and Tianxiang Pavilion are making a fortune every day. They've earned so much money, why don't you want it?"

“I don’t lack money. Having so much money would be a problem for me. Besides, only in this way will they continue to work for me willingly, because no one in this world is more generous to them than I am.”

The two chatted casually on the street, and Liu Xie didn't have to constantly refer to himself as "I".

"It looks like Princess Qinghe up ahead." Liu Xie suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

Not far ahead, a woman in white was strolling through the streets with a maid.

Liu Xie had no interest in getting close to her, especially since they were on the street. "It's almost noon, let's go to Wang Cai's restaurant."

Feeling a bit hungry, Liu Xie walked towards the restaurant across the street.

Just as Liu Xie was about to enter the restaurant, a carriage appeared in the distance. The horses were startled and suddenly bolted, charging straight towards Princess Qinghe. Chaos erupted on the road as pedestrians scrambled to avoid it, and several vendors were knocked over, their goods scattered haphazardly across the ground.

"Zilong, go and help him."

Zhao Yun shook his head, his expression somewhat stubborn, "I have to protect you at all times."

Zhao Yun was worried because Liu Xie had no other guards around him.

As the carriage drew closer, Princess Qinghe was so frightened that she fell to the ground and remained there for a long time.

Liu Xie rushed over, and Zhao Yun followed, his eyes fixed on Liu Xie to prevent anyone from harming the emperor.

Liu Xie was no longer the same as before. After studying swordsmanship for several months, he became swift and agile. He approached the horse, leaped onto its back, and immediately tightened the reins.

The horse galloped wildly for a while, but its neck became sore from the constriction that it quickly calmed down and stopped safely in front of Princess Qinghe.

The onlookers couldn't help but applaud and cheer. Liu Xie hurriedly jumped down, wanting to get away as quickly as possible.

Princess Qinghe stood up from the ground and limped after her, shouting as she ran, "Stop! I haven't thanked you yet!"

Liu Xie didn't turn around, but waved his hand behind him, "It's just a small matter, don't worry about it."

Pulling Zhao Yun along, Liu Xie quickly entered the restaurant.

"Ouch..." Princess Qinghe chased after her for a few steps, her expression extremely painful, her brows furrowed, and she gritted her teeth in pain.

"Miss, what's wrong with you?"

"I sprained my ankle. That bastard dared to run away. I'm going to catch him no matter what."

Princess Qinghe was always willful and capricious, and she was helped into the restaurant by her maid, limping along.

Liu Xie had already gone up to the second floor. Looking down from there, he saw her follow him in and couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.

He hurriedly took out a letter, handed it to Wang Cai, and instructed him: "Send someone to deliver it to the State of Chen and give it to the King of Chen."

Without asking any questions, Wang Cai immediately put the letter away. He always regarded Liu Xie's identity as a deity.

"Where is he? I clearly saw him come in."

The hall was packed with guests. Princess Qinghe frowned, her eyes glazed over, and she sulked with anger.

Seeing that she was in a lot of pain and was being watched by so many people in public, Liu Xie shook his head and said, "Wang Cai, go and call her up."

"Yes!"

Before long, Princess Qinghe stormed upstairs, fuming, "Why are you running away...?"

As soon as she entered, just as she was about to loudly question Liu Xie, Princess Qinghe blinked and her eyes widened. "You are... His Majesty..."

Liu Xie had just visited the Cao family last night, and Princess Qinghe recognized him immediately, instantly dispelling all her resentment.

Princess Qinghe is named Cao Ying. She is sixteen years old this year. She and Cao Ang are born of the same mother, Lady Liu. Lady Liu died early, and both siblings were raised by Lady Ding.

It's not surprising that Cao Cao's daughter was somewhat willful and capricious, but she was also quite beautiful. Cao Ang was handsome and dashing, and she had delicate eyebrows, an oval face, fair skin, and a pair of large, watery eyes.

(End of this chapter)