Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 156 Suspicion Lingers, Ambitions Are Vast

In the side hall, the officials of the Crown Prince's residence originally intended to congratulate His Highness the Crown Prince, but when their eyes fell on the Crown Prince sitting upright, they saw that the Crown Prince's brows were furrowed and he was silent. They also kept quiet and dared not disperse to rest.

After seeing Yuan Wei off, Liu Bian felt not much joy, but rather a vague unease, as if his heart was shrouded in a gloom.

Human intuition often possesses an inexplicable and wondrous quality. Throughout history, many kings and generals, when faced with major life decisions, did not simply rely on meticulous analysis, extraordinary courage, and boldness to make the right choice, as is often portrayed in historical records and by later generations.

Sometimes, it is just a faint premonition in their hearts that can lead them onto the right path at crucial moments.

Of course, such premonitions do not always come true, but for Liu Bian, anything that can cause him unease is worth investigating in depth.

Liu Bian rested one hand on the armrest of the armrest and the other on his chin, pondering for a long time before slowly coming back to his senses. He was surprised to find that everyone was still sitting upright in their original positions, without moving an inch. He smiled gently and said, "My lords, please go and rest. In the afternoon, I will take my newly acquired family members and, together with my mother, go to the North Palace to pay our respects to my father. If any of you need food or drink, please go and find Zhong Chang."

"Your subject thanks the Crown Prince for his great kindness."

The officials of the Crown Prince's residence bowed and then dispersed in twos and threes toward their dormitories where they would take their afternoon nap.

Once everyone had completely disappeared from sight, Liu Bian's expression turned serious again.

After a moment's thought, Liu Bian picked up a brush and wrote on a piece of Caihou paper. He then instructed Gao Wang to place it under a candle flame until the ink was completely dry, and said, "A-Wang, at dinner time, have the kitchen prepare a meal and send it to Jia Wenhe's residence. Also, secretly give him this letter. Remember to burn it after reading it."

At present, Jia Xu's official position is only the Governor of Henan. However, after witnessing the Embroidered-Robed Envoy baring his fangs once again in the Han Dynasty, the officials in the court gradually learned the true identity of that Embroidered-Robed Imperial Censor.

With Jia Xu's identity now revealed, things are no longer as convenient and smooth as they used to be.

For example, if Yuan Wei had just stepped out of the palace gates and Liu Bian had immediately summoned Jia Xu, or sent someone to the government office to convey his orders to Jia Xu, it would have been somewhat undignified.

After all, Yuan Kui and Yuan Ji had completely lowered themselves and surrendered. If they truly surrendered sincerely, his actions would inevitably chill the hearts of some people and make them think that the Crown Prince had no tolerance for others.

How can this be made public?
However, if the Yuan family of Runan were to serve him faithfully from then on, Liu Bian would generously compensate them with prestige and rewards.

Just as he had promised Yuan Kui, he would give Yuan Ji a high position and build the Runan Yuan clan into a model of loyalty, helping the Runan Yuan clan achieve the great feat of five generations of three dukes in Yuan Ji's generation.

From then on, the Yuan family of Runan would also become a powerful banner for him to recruit other aristocratic families.

However, Liu Bian still could not fully trust Yuan Wei's surrender. Although he had not found any substantial flaws so far, there was still a question that was difficult to explain but could not be considered a doubt.

Everything seemed to be progressing too smoothly, too smoothly for the sake of it.

Yuan Wei's display of power was truly astonishing. How many clansmen were under the protection of the Runan Yuan clan, and how much land, servants, and money did they control? Even Yuan Wei, the head of the Runan Yuan clan, probably couldn't calculate this amount of money.

However, Yuan Wei was willing to retain only the land and grain necessary for the basic livelihood of his clan, handing over the rest to the imperial court. This almost desperate determination was beyond the reach of ordinary people. This was nearly no less than Emperor Jing's open declaration to reduce the power of the vassal states, and Liu Bian could almost foresee that such a decision would be utterly unacceptable to the remaining branches of the Yuan clan in Runan.

For the sake of the safety of your main branch, you, Yuan Wei, so easily and generously donated the property of our branches as well, is that right?
With the emergence of the first member of the Yuan clan to strongly protest, the opposition to the main lineage members such as Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji will quickly spread to the entire Yuan clan of Runan.

Even if Yuan Kui were to become one of the Three Dukes, holding a high position and great power in the court, with his protégés and former officials all over the country, such strong opposition would greatly impact and even shake the status of Yuan Kui as the head of the Runan Yuan clan and Yuan Ji as the heir of the Runan Yuan clan.

Even if you are a high-ranking official, you still have to bow respectfully to your elders in the clan and address them as uncles or even great-uncles.

Liu Bian did not believe that Yuan Wei could persuade the entire Yuan clan of Runan to cooperate with his actions simply by holding a gathering of the Yuan clan members in the capital, and that it was only for the future of the main branch of the Yuan clan of Runan.

Therefore, he had to keep a close eye on Yuan Wei's every move at all times, and could not afford to be negligent in the slightest.

Thinking about this, Liu Bian became increasingly uneasy about Yuan Wei's actions.

If you want to take it, you must give it first!
If Yuan Wei did not truly surrender, yet he possessed the courage to make such a drastic decision, it could only mean that he had grand ambitions.

It's so big that no one can imagine it!
"only!"

Gao Wang accepted the order, his expression solemn as he concealed the secret letter in his sleeve pocket and slowly withdrew.

Watching Gao Wang's departing figure, Liu Bian took a deep breath, his brows furrowed slightly, and tapped the table with his left index and middle fingers, striking out the melody of the music, but his heart was like a tangled mess that could not be untangled.

Today's events also reminded him.

He needed to find a Censor-in-Chief as soon as possible to act as a bridge between him and Jia Xu, thus avoiding the attention of the officials.

I recall that Guo Tu had previously recommended someone, Guo Cheng, the Imperial Censor of Xindu City, who seemed to be a rather quick-witted and capable person.

As for his mother being from the Dong clan of Hejian under Empress Dowager Dong?

He had sent his good younger brother to seek the true scriptures. If Guo Cheng was as clever as Guo Tu said, then Guo Cheng would definitely not choose to hand in a blank paper after he became the only option.

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P.S.: I'm taking a day off today. I had some drinks with clients tonight and my head is all muddled. I'll only be posting one chapter for now. I'll make up for the second chapter tomorrow when I'm sober.

(End of this chapter)