I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 431 Want to Lie Down?
Yecheng.

Now that Yuan Shao has led the officials of Northern Zhao on an expedition, even though the government institutions of Northern Zhao are still operating smoothly under the leadership of Shen Pei in the Secretariat, there is a strange feeling that something has been lost in this city.

Inside the Hall of Martial Virtue, Yuan Shang was the one who understood it most deeply.

With disheveled hair and unkempt clothes, Yuan Shang had completely lost the dignity of a member of the Yuan family. From a distance, he looked like some good-for-nothing playboy who indulged in drinking and merrymaking all day long.

Yuan Shang stared dazedly at the porcelain cup in his hand, which was no more than five inches tall and had thin, translucent walls.

"The jujubes are piled up here, but glory and wealth each have their time."

"When summer is just beginning to turn red, people come from all directions."

"The jujubes are bestowed upon us today; who will look up to them?"

The Ancient Dui Song.

As Yuan Shang recited this Han Dynasty folk song, his words were filled with uncontrollable loneliness and sorrow.

The jujube tree is laden with fruit, and crowds gather beneath it, but the blooming of jujube blossoms has its own season. When the jujubes are about to turn red and ripen, people flock from all directions for those sweet and crisp dates. Once the dates are gone and the tree is bare, who will remember the gift the jujube tree once bestowed and cherish it?
After Yuan Shang finished reading, a self-deprecating smile curled up at the corners of his mouth.

Overnight.

The political climate in the Northern Zhao court has completely shifted.

Since Yuan Shao tacitly protected Yuan Tan, most people have come to understand the new landscape of the Northern Zhao court.

Most of the powerful families in Hebei who used to associate with Yuan Shang have now disappeared. Some of them were manipulated by Yuan Tan because they were involved in smuggling in Guanzhong; others gradually changed their stance from supporting Yuan Shang to hedging their bets because they saw the current shift in the political climate. In short, Yuan Shang has now fallen out of favor and is no longer respected.

It's clear to everyone that if Yuan Shao wins this battle and defeats Liu Miao, then Yuan Tan will inevitably become the heir apparent!

It was only at this moment that Yuan Shang realized what was happening.

"What a chaotic world!"

Yuan Shang was so moved that he almost didn't hear the people around him calling out to him.

"Your Highness!"

Shen Rong couldn't bear to see Yuan Shang so dejected, so he quickly came to dissuade him.

"We are not at our wits' end yet! Why does Your Highness act this way?"

Yuan Shang glanced at Shen Rong with his squinty eyes, but didn't say anything.

Shen Rong, as Shen Pei's nephew, stood on Yuan Shang's side from beginning to end.

Everyone else may serve a new master in the future, but there is absolutely no possibility of that happening to the judge!

Shen Rong asked anxiously, "If Yuan Tan really succeeds to the throne in the future, has Your Highness considered your own situation?"

"Situation? Ha!"

Yuan Shang naturally knew: "It's nothing more than putting me under house arrest in a fiefdom and sending someone to keep an eye on me!"

Although Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan were at odds, they were still brothers after all, and they maintained a semblance of civility, making it impossible for them to truly kill each other.

It is precisely because of this backup plan that Yuan Shang is only in a state of dejection, rather than collapsing.

Shen Rong is getting anxious!

You, Yuan Shang, may be able to live out your remaining years peacefully in your fiefdom, but what about the Shen family? And what about the staunch supporters who have supported you all these years? Will they just offer their necks to be slaughtered?
Even if Yuan Tan doesn't ruthlessly eliminate the Shen family, once Yuan Tan ascends the throne and removes Shen Pei from his position as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, countless people will surely retaliate! All the other aristocratic families who were previously on friendly terms will pounce on the Shen family like hungry wolves and tear them apart!
Shen Rong frowned.

No!

Yuan Shang, you can't give up!
Since we've decided to fight for the position, why would we give up halfway?
In the struggle for the crown prince position, there is never a saying that surrendering means losing half the stakes!
Shen Rong suddenly remembered a rumor.

If used properly, it might reignite Yuan Shang's ambition!

"Your Highness, the day after tomorrow is your birthday. Even if Your Highness has no ambition to seize the throne, as a prince, you should still treat your officials with proper etiquette! It would be better to summon the families of high-ranking officials to appease them."

Yuan Shang did not refute this point.

"You shall handle this matter."

"promise!"

After accepting his assignment, Shen Rong did not first invite Empress Liu, nor did he inform Shen Pei. Instead, he went to Yuan Tan's residence to deliver a visiting card.

The person in charge of Yuan Tan's household was naturally Yuan Tan's new legal wife, who was also Cao Cao's eldest daughter, Princess Qinghe.

"Did His Highness order me to go?"

"Exactly!"

After receiving permission, Princess Qinghe instantly shed her previous gloom and became radiant!
Princess Qinghe was Cao Cao's daughter, but she resembled her birth mother, Lady Liu.

But Princess Qinghe had hands as soft as tender shoots, skin as smooth as cream, a neck as delicate as a cicada's, teeth as white as melon seeds, and a beautiful forehead and arched eyebrows, seemingly radiating a subtle glow. However, the ashen gray at the corners of her eyebrows reduced her appearance to that of an average person.

But upon hearing news of Yuan Shao, Princess Qinghe immediately perked up!
Her smile is enchanting, her eyes are bright and beautiful!
With a nimble step, her slender waist swayed gracefully, and her long dress fluttered, as if she were about to soar into the clouds at any moment, ascending to heaven like a goddess!

When Yuan Shang's birthday arrived, Princess Qinghe personally did her makeup and chose the most beautiful gold hairpin with a magpie carrying a flower from her dowry to wear on her head. Every smile and frown was captivating!
When Princess Qinghe arrived at Yuan Shang's residence, she was praised by the guests one after another!
Even Yuan Shang was drawn to Princess Qinghe, but upon hearing that she was actually his sister-in-law, all interest vanished instantly.

A gentle breeze carries away the dark clouds, while the bright sun shines with its pure light.

A good friend invited me to a visit, and we held a grand banquet in the inner chamber.

Black cranes float on clear springs, and beautiful trees flourish with verdant green.

Yuan Shang had hosted countless banquets of this caliber! He could do it flawlessly even with his eyes closed!

Aristocratic demeanor was ingrained in Yuan Shang's very being.

But looking at these guests, Yuan Shang still felt somewhat disappointed.

If he could, Yuan Shang probably wouldn't want his current position as the center of attention, surrounded by admirers. His ideal position would be for Yuan Shao to sit in the main seat, and him to sit closest to Yuan Shao. After a few rounds of drinks, he imagined being able to rest his head on Yuan Shao's lap, enjoying the gentle caress of Yuan Shao's large hand on his back…

However, Yuan Shang knew that as the war progressed, this position would become increasingly distant from him.

This position will belong to Yuan Tan.

Yuan Shang did not understand.

Clearly, Yuan Tan had already been adopted out.

Clearly, during his years in Hebei, every time Yuan Tan returned to Yuan Shao's residence, he wasn't even given a bedroom; clearly, Yuan Tan left very few traces of himself with Yuan Shao. So why was it that Yuan Tan ultimately emerged victorious?
The more Yuan Shang thought about it, the more upset he became.

What can dispel sorrow? Only wine!
Just then, the musicians at the banquet began to play a joyful tune.

"Let us revel together today, and stroll hand in hand across the clouds!"

"Heaven provides fine wine, and the River God provides carp!"

"A green dragon lays out a mat before him, a white tiger holds a wine flask!"

"The Southern Dipper plays the zither, the Northern Dipper plays the sheng and yu!"

"..."

As the music began, Yuan Shang also got up and started singing and dancing!
With Yuan Shang, the host, personally performing songs and dances, the entire banquet instantly reached its climax!
It's all joy! It's all carefree!
Sleeves flutter! Skirt billows!
The guqin plays a melodious tune! The pipa bursts with vibrant energy!
My lord, do not worry! My lord, have no worries!
……

But amidst the excitement, there are always some calmer moments.

Princess Qinghe gazed at Yuan Shang's graceful dance and handsome face, her eyes glued to him for a moment, as if she were a stone turned to stone amidst the crowd, quietly watching the swaying immortal herbs.
The music gradually came to an end.

The dance gradually came to an end.

Yuan Shang navigated seven perilous paths, his movements swift and agile, earning rounds of cheers!
But at the very last moment, Yuan Shang's mind suddenly became heavy, and his movements slowed down.

Seeing this, Shen Rong quickly helped Yuan Shang up and said with a smile, "Your Highness is drunk."

The guests tactfully left one after another, but some people were still watching Yuan Shang with worried expressions, concerned about his hands and feet, his health, and his mood.

Just then, an unfamiliar maid came to Princess Qinghe's side and whispered something in her ear.

Princess Qinghe looked surprised: "Really?"

"nature."

The maid, emboldened by who-knows-where, dared to provoke Princess Qinghe with her words: "If you dare not go, then do not go."

"joke!"

As Cao Cao's eldest daughter, what in this world wouldn't she dare to do?
Princess Qinghe followed the other person into a room.

The room contained only a few items, but just enough.

A couch, a table, and a screen with side panels.

Princess Qinghe was about to sit at the table.

But somehow, she found herself sitting behind the screen, on the bed, clutching her sleeve, her fingers wedged in the seam of her skirt, gently caressing it.

A moment later, the door opened softly.

Princess Qinghe stood up and looked at it, and was immediately moved to tears.

Yuan Shang was in a daze at this moment.

Although he couldn't see the person's face clearly, his years of experience told him that it must be a woman.

And this woman must be quite good-looking.

Because some parts of the body recognize the other person even before the eyes do.

I managed to capture a lot of things from the unclear view.

Bright yellow, pink, and bright white.

Smiling face, crying face, smiling face.

Chest, thighs, back.

Just before regaining consciousness, these fragmented things slowly filled out to form a human figure.

It was this figure that made Yuan Shang fully awake!

Yuan Shangmeng roused himself and looked in disbelief at the Princess Qinghe lying next to him!
His neck and body were covered in marks!

The smile on his face made Yuan Shang feel extremely nauseous!
He got up in a panic.

But her toes happened to snag on a pink undergarment.

Yuan Shang retreated in a chaotic manner, as if as long as he retreated fast enough, everything happening here would be none of his concern.

As Yuan Shang retreated to the table, he immediately saw his sword!

Yuan Shang drew his longsword immediately!
Kill her!

Only by killing her can I save myself!
Fear and ruthlessness flashed in Yuan Shang's eyes!
If this matter gets out, there will be no more brotherhood between me and Yuan Tan!

In other words...

He will definitely die!

(End of this chapter)