My Three Kingdoms is not right

The day after the victory banquet, Cao Cao recommended Wei Zhong as the governor of Hanoi and led his army back to the capital.

Liu Xun left Xu Huang and Zhao Yun to lead the Imperial Guards, while he himself, along with the Sun sisters, rode swiftly and returned to Xuchang ahead of schedule.

After entering the city, he did not return to the Wannian Villa, nor did he even have time to change out of his dusty clothes from the journey, and headed straight for the imperial city.

Upon hearing that his younger brother had entered the palace overnight, Liu Xie had already gotten up from his bed.

Upon seeing Liu Xun's travel-worn appearance, she was startled and reached out to pull her younger brother's arm to check: "A-Xun, has the battle gone badly? Are you injured?"

Liu Xun shook his head, bowed with a cold face, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a question to ask you."

The girl was stunned.

She had never seen her brother so serious.

The person who always called her "Royal Sister" with a smile and always spoke gently to make her happy now stood in front of her like a sword drawn from its sheath.

"You...you tell me."

"Dong Cheng has been appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry," Liu Xun raised his head, looking directly into her eyes, "was this the Empress's wish, or Dong Cheng's idea?"

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze.

The eunuchs had already tactfully withdrawn, and the heavy palace doors slowly closed behind them, cutting off any outside noise.

The concern on Liu Xie's face gradually faded, and a hint of stubbornness flashed in his eyes:

"It is my will."

She turned around, walked back to the couch and sat down. "Cao Cao has taken sole control of the military and is becoming increasingly arrogant. I think it is necessary to separate power and check each other."

"If Cao Cao leads tens of thousands of troops abroad and harbors rebellious intentions, and leads his troops back to Xuchang, does Your Majesty have any contingency plans to deal with him?" Liu Xun asked bluntly.

The girl proudly raised her chin: "She dares!"

Liu Xun retorted sharply: "Dong Zhuo dared, Li Jue and Guo Si dared, so why is it certain that Cao Cao wouldn't dare?"

"Liu Xun!" The emperor slammed his hand on the table, his long, slender fingers almost poking his beloved younger brother's forehead. "Why do you always speak up for Cao Cao? I appointed Dong Cheng, and you questioned me; Cao Cao disobeyed the imperial edict, and you defended her! Whose side are you on?"

Liu Xun looked at the girl in front of him, her eyes red-rimmed, her fingers trembling, and her biting her lip hard, and sighed helplessly.

"Of course I stand with my elder sister, and with the Han Dynasty." He softened his voice and explained patiently:

"Yuan Shao has defeated Gongsun Zan and could march south at any moment. If Cao Cao weren't there to stop him, could they hold out for even a few more days?"

"The situation is critical right now, and the court should support Cao Cao as much as possible. Even if it wants to check and balance Cao Cao, it shouldn't be done in this way."

Hearing his brother's softened tone, Liu Xie finally relaxed: "Yuan Shao is also a Han official. His coming to Xuchang may not necessarily be a bad thing for us."

"Han minister?" Liu Xun shook his head slightly. "Does Your Majesty know that Yuan Shao had his chief clerk, Geng Bao, secretly spread the prophecy in Hebei that 'the red virtue is waning, and Yuan will become the offspring of the Yellow Emperor'?"

Liu Xie clenched his fist.

Yuan Shao's actions were clearly intended to create public opinion in preparation for his ascension to the throne.

Although she had long known that Yuan Shao was arrogant and disrespectful, that he privately forged official seals and even appointed officials of the rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measurement), she never expected that he would become so rampant after unifying Hebei.

First Yuan Shu declared himself emperor, and then Yuan Shao so openly expressed his rebellious intentions.

The imperial family treated the Yuan family with the utmost favor, but they never expected that the Yuan family, which had held high office for four generations, would turn out to be a bunch of wolves with ulterior motives.

She now understood what Liu Xun meant.

Although Cao Cao wielded power, he at least maintained the proper decorum between ruler and subject.

If Yuan Shao were to capture Xuchang, the person sitting on the dragon throne would probably not be a person with the surname Liu.

After a moment of silence, Liu Xie's tone softened: "A-Xun, I just want the ability to protect you. I don't want to have to consider others' opinions even when issuing decrees. I don't want to be a puppet for the rest of my life."

"I understand, I will help my elder sister," Liu Xun said, looking into her eyes. "But this is not the way to go. Besides, Dong Cheng is not someone we can rely on."

"Dong Cheng is, after all, a member of the imperial family..." Liu Xie hesitated for a moment, but his trust in his younger brother prevailed.

"She said she felt sorry for you. She said only if the imperial power is restored will you not be allowed to take risks again and again."

Liu Xun was slightly taken aback, then gave a wry smile.

Dong Cheng actually used himself to sow discord between Liu Xie and Liu Xie.

"Your Majesty, Dong Cheng said these words not for your sake or for ours, but to gain your support and to seek his own power."

"This..." Liu Xie frowned.

Liu Xun sat down next to the girl and counted on his fingers:

"In Chang'an, Dong Cheng ordered his generals to plunder the palace's valuables; in Luoyang, she refused to provide food to the court; faced with Cao Cao's tyranny, she never confronted him directly, but instead urged her elder sister to grant her higher official positions and authority..."

"How can such a person be loyal in the slightest? Your Majesty, please don't be deceived by her."

Liu Xie pursed his lips, unable to utter another word in rebuttal.

Liu Xun grasped the girl's cold fist and said gently, "If you trust me, please don't listen to any more of Dong Cheng's requests, okay?"

Liu Xie looked into his eyes and nodded: "I understand."

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Two days later, Cao Cao's army returned to the capital.

The procession stretched far and wide, its banners blotting out the sky. Cao Cao sat astride his horse, clad in military attire, his phoenix eyes slightly closed, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Upon arriving at the south gate of Xudu, one could see a large group of people standing in front of the city gate from afar.

The person at the front, dressed in a crimson robe and wearing a nine-tasseled crown, was none other than Emperor Liu Xie.

Behind him stood civil and military officials led by Xun Yu, as well as Princess Liu Xun of Wannian.

Cao Cao reined in his horse, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"His Majesty personally came out to greet us?" Xiahou Yuan exclaimed in a low voice beside him.

The soldiers behind him also straightened their chests without realizing it.

Cao Cao remained calm until he was near the city gate, then dismounted and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects: "Your subject Cao Cao has returned victorious from his campaign against Hanoi and pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

The emperor's voice was clear and resonant:

"Minister Cao, you have worked hard! This great victory in Hanoi, with the slaying of Sui Gu and the capture of Shequan, fills me with great satisfaction!"

As she spoke, she gestured to the eunuch beside her to read the imperial edict:

"General Cao Cao, of whom loyalty and bravery are commendable and whose contributions to the state are immense, is hereby granted an additional 1,800 households in his fiefdom, a reward of 1,000 catties of gold, and 500 bolts of brocade, to commemorate his achievements!"

Cao Cao was slightly taken aback, then prostrated himself in gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

She raised her head, her gaze passing over the emperor's shoulder to the young man standing behind him.

Liu Xun was looking at her with a smile.

Without saying a word, he simply extended his right hand and quietly made a victory sign that only the two of them knew.

A fleeting smile crossed the girl's eyes.

She turned to the emperor again, her tone respectful: "Your subject will do his utmost to be loyal and righteous, to eliminate the disloyal subjects for Your Majesty, and to repay Your Majesty's grace."

"Hearing Cao Qing's words, I am very pleased." Liu Xie nodded, then turned to the officials and said, "Return to the palace and hold a banquet to celebrate our victory."

All the officials offered their congratulations in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Dong Cheng bowed along with the others, his gaze shifting between Liu Xun and Cao Cao, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

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Thank you so much for the generous donation, Greatsword Saint! (bows~)

Thank you everyone for your votes!

A new week begins, and I'll continue with this unrecommended reading. If it's convenient for you, my lords, please try to read it every day.

I think I can still be saved (tears)