I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 217 Jia Xu: Do you think I believe you?

Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, Cai Mao, and their group eventually crossed the Han River before the soldiers found them.

We set off from Fancheng and traveled all the way to Xinye before we finally had time to catch our breath.

Suddenly, cavalry attacked from the north. The group was terrified, unsure whether they were friend or foe. They only felt relieved when they saw the banners bearing the name Zhang Xiu.

"Liu Miao attacked the city amidst the chaos, and we had no choice but to come and seek refuge with you, General!"

The cavalry scouts on patrol dared not delay and immediately rushed back to Wancheng to inform Zhang Xiu of the news.

Upon hearing of this, Zhang Xiu first consulted with Jia Xu, and then led his troops to bring Kuai Liang and the others back to Wancheng, where he prepared a banquet to entertain them.

The group left Xiangyang in a hurry and did not carry much wealth or food. Therefore, they could only eat millet, the kind of food that ordinary people eat, and could not eat the rice, pickled vegetables, and meat sauce that were specially supplied in Xiangyang. In the end, they didn't even have any salt. Today, when they saw the food prepared by Zhang Xiu, some people were so happy that they cried after taking a bite.

"Those were the tough days I spent on the road the other day!"

No one cares that the hardships these wealthy and powerful people cannot endure are actually the daily lives of 99% of ordinary people.

The songs, dances, wine, meat, musicians, and delicacies at the banquet are scenes that most people will never witness in their lifetime.

Zhang Xiu couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the Jingzhou nobles wolfing down their food.

At the same time, Zhang Xiu asked, "Where is Liu Jingzhou?"

Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and the others paused.

Zhang Xiu continued, "Back then, I fled from Guanzhong to Nanyang with my uncle. If it weren't for Liu Jingzhou taking us in, we would be nothing but stray dogs now. Liu Jingzhou has done me a great favor, and I should repay him!"

Seeing Kuai Liang's troubled expression, Kuai Yue quickly said to Zhang Xiu, "It was Liu Miao who killed Liu Jingzhou!"

"Liu Miao?"

Zhang Xiu flew into a rage: "Is this true?"

"It is absolutely true! We saw with our own eyes Liu Miao's soldiers rush up to Liu Jingzhou and plunge their swords directly into his abdomen! Before he died, Liu Jingzhou instructed us to protect Prince Liu Cong!"

Zhang Xiu looked at Liu Cong, who was also staring at Zhang Xiu with a fierce and adorable expression, which made Zhang Xiu's heart ache.

"Liu Miao's cruelty towards his own clan and his usurpation of their property is truly an outrage against heaven and earth!"

"..."

The banquet suddenly became somber. Apart from the brothers Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue, who knew the truth, the other scholars from Jingzhou who had fled Xiangyang actually began to mourn Liu Biao, and their sorrowful cries were endless.

Only a seemingly unremarkable scholar, sitting to Zhang Xiu's right, squinted his eyes, not joining in with the others.

After the banquet ended, Zhang Xiu came to the scholar and said indignantly, "You told me that if I surrendered to Liu Miao, I could be guaranteed a life of wealth and honor. But I have received kindness from Liu Jingzhou, and to surrender to a lord who killed my benefactor is something I simply cannot do!"

The scholar is none other than Jia Xu.

Upon hearing Zhang Xiu's words, Jia Xu smiled slightly and said, "There are few people in the world as grateful as you, General."

"But has the general considered why Liu Miao wanted to kill Liu Biao?"

"Liu Biao has always enjoyed a high reputation among the Liu clan. Liu Miao didn't even kill Liu Yao before him, so why would he kill Liu Biao, who is even more virtuous and respected?"

"and……"

Jia Xu seemed to have seen through everything.

Why is Liu Qi, the eldest son of Liu Biao, not here?

"Even if there are rumors that Liu Biao dislikes Liu Qi, shouldn't he at least mention Liu Qi at a time like this?"

"Also, where is Wen Ping, who fought alongside you against Cao Cao in Nanyang?"

"Whether you call Wen Ping loyal or dull-witted, he only obeys Liu Biao's orders. Would such a person not come to escort Liu Cong and the others, but instead surrender to Liu Miao?"

"Furthermore, it's strange that Yi Ji, a fellow townsman and confidant of Liu Biao, is not here. Doesn't the general find that odd?"

Zhang Xiu then realized with alarm: "Kuai Yue actually lied to me?"

"If the general does not believe it, he can ask his own uncle and aunt, and the truth will come out."

In order to verify this, Zhang Xiu went to find Zou Shi.

These days, Zou has been feeling uneasy, often sharing a carriage and sleeping with Madam Cai, not daring to leave her side for even a moment.

Even when they arrived in Nanyang, Zou timidly approached Madam Cai's bed and shared a pillow with her.

Madam Cai was wearing trousers on her lower body, the soft silk clinging perfectly to the contours of her hips and legs, as if nothing were covering her. As for her upper body, she was wearing a bellyband held up only by thin ropes, covering her front... It was just a pity that Madam Cai was too plump. Sitting was fine, but when she lay down on her side, most of her breasts were exposed, dazzling to behold.

However, since they were all women, Madam Cai had nothing to hide.

With the goose neck resting on the back of her hand, Madam Cai comforted Zou Shi, saying, "Now that we've arrived in Nanyang, in your nephew's place, there's nothing to worry about."

The styles of Madam Zou and Madam Cai were completely different.

Although her figure was not much worse than Madam Cai's, her eyes and brows exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.

Although she was wearing trousers and a bellyband, she also wore a thin veil over them, making her appear mysterious and untouchable.

Zou's personality was similar, completely unlike Madam Cai's free and easy spirit; she was only filled with sorrow and melancholy.

"Madam, please don't say such things."

"Although I am a woman, I know that the world is in chaos and there is no peace to be found."

"Even a warlord like Liu Jingzhou, who controls an entire province, couldn't protect us, let alone my nephew Zhang Xiu?"

"I became a widow just two years after marrying Zhang Ji, and now I don't even have a peaceful place to rest... Waaah." Zou Shi even burst into tears when she spoke of her sorrow.

Madam Cai actually harbored a deep sorrow in her heart.

Hearing Zou's weeping, Madam Cai couldn't help but shed tears as well: "You silly sister, you don't know how lucky you are."

“Even if you’re having a hard time, you still have a nephew who loves you. But my brother killed my husband, and now I don’t even know how to be a human being anymore…”

Zou was sobbing against Madam Cai's chest when she heard Madam Cai say this. She looked up with tears streaming down her face and stared at Madam Cai in astonishment.

"Isn't it said that Liu Jingzhou was killed by Liu Miao?"

"Silly girl, if Liu Miao really catches up with us and kills Liu Biao, how will I have time to look for you?"

Lady Cai said with tears in her eyes, "They think I don't know, but I know everything in my heart. Although I don't like Liu Biao either, now that he's dead, I'm afraid I'll have no one to rely on at all."

Madam Zou quickly and sensibly wiped away the tears from Madam Cai's eyes: "Madam, please don't say such things. With your beauty, you often attract many men to spy on you. Won't it be easy for you to find someone to rely on in the future?"

Madam Cai smiled bitterly and said, "How can an ordinary man be a reliable support?"

Ms. Zou: "Yes! Yes!"

“When I was in Wancheng, my nephew had an advisor named Jia Xu, who once mentioned that Liu Miao of Jiangdong had a reputation for being fond of beautiful women…”

Why is he saying this while he's next to you?

"Jia Xu probably didn't know that I could hear what he was saying, so he probably didn't say it to me on purpose."

Zou Shi already felt miserable, but upon hearing about Madam Cai's plight, she was so preoccupied with feeling sorry for Madam Cai that she temporarily forgot her own misery and even started joking and making crude remarks with Madam Cai.

Madam Cai was also surprised by Zou's unexpected behavior: "How come you, who looks like a fairy, know so much?"

Madam Zou's face flushed: "I only act like this in front of Madam. How could I dare to act like this in front of a man?"

"Silly girl, if you don't act like this in front of men, then all this learning will have been for nothing."

"It's not a waste of time to learn."

Just as the two were about to joke and play around, a maid gently knocked on the door, saying that Zhang Xiu was requesting an audience.

What is your nephew doing here so late?

Madam Cai and Madam Zou, both covered by blankets, had some doubts.

"But since he's come now, it must be something important."

Madam Cai helped Zou up and dressed her, saying, "It would be best to go see him."

When Zou came out and saw Zhang Xiu, she saw him angrily slamming his fist into a pillar: "What happened? Why are you so angry?"

Zhang Xiu noticed that Zou's complexion was rosy and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

But considering that she had come from Madam Cai's room, he didn't dwell on it and went straight to the point, asking the question that had been bothering him: "Please tell me, Uncle and Aunt, how exactly did Liu Jingzhou die?"

Ms. Zou's heart tightened.

But after glancing inside the house, Zou told Zhang Xiu the truth.

"How dare this villain bully me!!!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiu shouted and immediately rushed out the door!

"Send troops! Capture all those people who came from Jingzhou today!"

"Furthermore, send someone to Xiangyang again to invite General Liu to come here!"

After enjoying the banquet, Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, Cai Mao, and the others were about to get a good night's rest to relieve the fatigue of their journey, but a few moments later, soldiers rushed in and shattered their not-so-ambitious wish.

When Cai Mao was brought out bound and saw Zhang Xiu, he immediately shouted at Zhang Xiu, "Why are you so untrustworthy?"

"Breaking your word?"

Zhang Xiu drew his sword and held it to Cai Mao's neck: "Who deceived me first?"

"I ask you now! How exactly did Liu Jingzhou die!"

"He was... killed by Liu Miao!"

"fart!"

Seeing that Cai Mao was about to die but still dared to talk back, Zhang Xiu immediately kicked him to the ground!

"You still dare to lie to me at a time like this? Do you want me to go and ask Madam Cai to come out and confront you face to face?"

Only then did Cai Mao realize that it was Madam Cai who had leaked the information to Zhang Xiu. He immediately cried out in the direction of Madam Cai's house, "Sister! What are you doing! Sister!! I'm your brother! Your own brother! You've ruined me!!!"

Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue were soon roughly bound and taken outside by Zhang Xiu's Xiliang soldiers, and made to kneel with Cai Mao.

"Oh~~~"

At this moment, Kuai Liang finally looked up to the sky and sighed.

"Women and petty men are the most difficult to deal with; if you get too close to them, they become disrespectful, and if you keep your distance, they resent you."

"If we had known this would happen, we should have let her die in Xiangyang with Liu Biao, right?"

(End of this chapter)