Three Reconstructions of the Han Dynasty: I Helped Zhuge Liang Perfect the Longzhong Plan

Liu Bei straightened his robes, took a deep breath, and strode towards the bridal chamber.

The door was gently pushed open, revealing flickering candlelight and a red curtain hanging low inside. Madam Sun sat upright on the edge of the bed, her hair ornaments still in place, a round fan covering her face. Her aura was cool and aloof, still carrying a sense of detachment and scrutiny.

She sneered inwardly.

Lu Su sought her out the day before yesterday, telling her that her brother wanted her to feign gentleness and flattery while staying here, using her tenderness to soften Liu Bei's mind and help Jiangdong completely stabilize him.

But she is the daughter of the Sun family of Jiangdong, and she has practiced martial arts since childhood. She is proud and unyielding. How could she possibly be a gentle woman who seduces people with her beauty and traps them with her love?

The tactic of controlling and subjugating is inherently despicable, and feigning gentleness is even more shameful.

Just then, Liu Bei showed no sign of frivolity or fear. He stepped forward slowly, bowed respectfully to her, and said in a calm and frank tone, "My lady has worked hard today. This marriage is for the sake of the alliance between Sun and Liu. I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you."

Lady Sun slowly raised her eyes and her gaze fell on Liu Bei.

She originally thought that Liu Bei was just putting on an act, harboring suspicion, and at most coveting appearances.

But the person before me was respectful but not humble, open but not ostentatious, with no greed or fear in his eyes, only the composure honed by half a lifetime of hardship.

Her cool, aloof brows twitched almost imperceptibly. Her tense defenses didn't falter, but she was no longer as unstoppable as before.

"Uncle, you certainly know how to talk," Lady Sun said, her voice clear and melodious, like shattered jade falling on ice. "Today in the main hall, Uncle praised the prosperity of Nanxu and the tranquility of Jiangdong, even expressing his gratitude for my brother's kindness. Why are you speaking such polite words in this bridal chamber?"

Her words had a double meaning, directly referring to Liu Bei's behavior at the banquet, while also seemingly implying that the dignified hero Liu Bei was nothing special.

In the past, Liu Bei might have panicked and tried to cover it up or make excuses upon hearing this. But things were different now. He had already received the message from Gu Sulin and knew that any hypocritical flattery would be futile in the face of the strong-willed Lady Sun.

Liu Bei smiled slightly, his expression calm and composed: "The ceremony in the hall is for entertaining guests, and we must follow the good wishes of Lord Wu to show the harmony of the alliance; this is between husband and wife, so we should be frank with each other and there is no need for pretense."

Lady Sun's eyes flickered slightly; she clearly hadn't expected Liu Bei to be so frank with her. She had prepared her words to test Liu Bei's true intentions, but she hadn't anticipated that he would be so straightforward and assertive in his manner.

"What you say, Imperial Uncle, is quite different from what others say." Lady Sun put down her fan, smoothed her skirt, and kept her gaze fixed on Liu Bei. "Many men in Jiangdong, once married, only want to indulge in tenderness and forget their ambitions. What about you, Imperial Uncle?"

Liu Bei walked to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, but did not drink it; he merely used it to warm his hands. He looked up at Lady Sun, his gaze sincere and firm: "I have spent half my life in hardship to have this small piece of land today, all thanks to the soldiers and the people who entrusted their lives to me."

The prosperity of Jiangdong was the foundation of Wu's rule; while Nanxu was indeed prosperous, it was only a temporary phenomenon. If Liu Bei indulges in comfort and forgets his roots and ambitions, how can he face the world?

He paused, took a sip of tea, and continued, "My current position is indeed for the good of the entire alliance, so that Jiangdong has no worries about the future. But this is only a temporary measure, not my true intention."

"A temporary measure?" Lady Sun repeated softly, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Then when does Imperial Uncle plan to end this temporary measure and return to your Jingzhou?"

Liu Bei put down his teacup and bowed deeply: "This is my personal wish, and also the greater good of Jiangdong. Once the alliance is stable and the borders are secure, I will naturally return to Jingzhou to assume my duties. However, for now, we must proceed cautiously and observe the situation."

Lady Sun remained silent. She gazed at Liu Bei, silently assessing the situation.

How could she not know that this magnificent mansion before her, seemingly prestigious, was in fact a cage set up by her brother for Liu Bei?

Liu Bei wanted to leave, but whether he could leave was not up to him.

Although his words just now did not directly address the predicament, every sentence contained forbearance and clear-headedness.

All his actions today were merely a pretense for the people of Jiangdong.

He was not unaware of the danger before him, but because she was Sun Quan's sister, he could not speak too bluntly and could only hint at it.

Such composure and forbearance, remaining unperturbed even when in the midst of a situation, are qualities that only a mediocre person indulging in comfort could possess.

Despite being constantly on his guard against by his elder brother, Liu Bei, the Imperial Uncle, indeed possessed some heroic qualities.

While she acknowledged his feelings, she wouldn't easily fall for him. As the Princess of Jiangdong, her allegiance lay with the Sun family, and her mind was focused on the bigger picture. She wouldn't be easily swayed by a single night's words.

Lady Sun remained silent for a moment, then slowly stood up. Her tone remained aloof and distant, devoid of any shyness or intimacy: "Since you have something on your mind, Your Highness, please make your own arrangements. I am accustomed to sleeping alone and cannot accompany you tonight. Please rest outside, Your Highness. We can discuss the proper conduct between husband and wife another day."

She spoke crisply and without any hesitation, giving Liu Bei face while maintaining her own distance.

Seeing this, Liu Bei did not insist, but bowed again and said, "It is entirely up to you, Madam."

After speaking, he turned and walked slowly towards the outer room, his demeanor respectful and measured.

Madam Sun stood motionless for a long time, watching his departing figure.

She didn't truly sleep that night. Liu Bei's words echoed repeatedly in her mind, and the previously impenetrable defenses in her heart only loosened slightly, nothing more.

This person is worth a look.

The next morning, as dawn broke, the Nanxu residence was already in perfect order.

The servants swept and cleaned, and the kitchen prepared meals. They seemed ordinary and well-behaved, but the Jiangdong secret guards in the shadows never relaxed their vigilance in the slightest.

After getting up, Liu Bei followed Gu Sulin's instructions and strolled leisurely around the mansion. Sometimes he would stop to admire the spring flowers and trees, and sometimes he would chat with the servants about the scenery of Nanxu. He looked relaxed and calm, without any anxiety or urgency, and seemed content with the status quo.

Those seemingly ordinary servants were all Sun Quan's spies, secretly keeping Liu Bei's every move in mind, waiting for the right moment to quickly relay the information back to the Marquis of Wu's residence.

Gu Sulin and Zhao Yun stood not far away, seemingly relaxed, but in reality, their eyes were sharp, and they had memorized the defenses, entry and exit routes, and the positions of the sentries in the mansion.

"Sir, it must be quite tiring for our lord to act like this every day," Zhao Yun said in a low voice, his tone tinged with emotion.

Gu Sulin chuckled softly, "It's not my lord's body that's suffering, but his heart. However, the more this is the case, the more at ease Sun Quan is. My lord is currently outwardly appearing at ease while inwardly concealing his sharpness, waiting for an opportunity to leave Jiangdong legitimately. But this matter cannot be rushed, and it will take some time to gradually win over Lady Sun."

"Last night in the bridal chamber, the conversation between my lord and his wife was relatively peaceful, and there was no argument." Zhao Yun recalled the events of last night, still somewhat worried. "However, his wife has a strong personality and is also the younger sister of the Marquis of Wu. If my lord were to be frank with her in private and reveal his feelings, wouldn't Sun Quan possibly find out?"

Gu Sulin shook his head and said calmly, "Last night was merely the first glimpse of her true character. Lady Sun is intelligent and insightful, and deeply understands righteousness. Although she knows about Lord Wu's scheme to control us and sees that you are pretending, she has her own scales and will not favor either side. Reporting to Lord Wu will only harm the Sun-Liu alliance and will not benefit the overall situation. In the days to come, you only need to continue to be open and honest with her, and she will observe you secretly. Only when she truly recognizes you as a person will she truly become your ally."