My Three Kingdoms is not right

Faced with Dong Cheng's blatant and almost naked attempt to win him over, Liu Bei did not react much:

"I am deeply grateful for General Dong's kindness. However, I believe that although Minister Cao is sometimes arbitrary, he is also an indispensable pillar of the court at present."

"Moreover, Cao Cao has shown me kindness and recommended me. I dare not hear anything more about what you have said, General."

Dong Cheng's face darkened.

"Kindness?"

Her voice was laced with undisguised sarcasm. "The kindness and righteousness that Xuande speaks of is simply keeping you under his nose every day? Interfering in the affairs of the Left General's mansion? Letting you have the title of Left General but be confined to the home weaving shoes and growing vegetables?"

Liu Bei remained silent.

Her fingers tightened slightly, gripping the robe on her knees.

Dong Cheng stood up, took two steps in the hall, and his voice grew louder:

"Emperor Gaozu rose from humble beginnings as a village head in Sishui. With a three-foot sword, he slew a white serpent in the Mangdang Mountains, raised an army, and roamed the four seas. In three years, he destroyed the Qin Dynasty; in five years, he conquered the Chu Dynasty, establishing the Han Dynasty, which lasted for four hundred years and laid the foundation for an everlasting dynasty!"

She turned around and stared intently at Liu Bei:

"Xuande has the blood of Emperor Gaozu flowing in his veins. Now, treacherous officials are in power, and the country is on the verge of collapse, yet you stand here, hesitant and indecisive. When you die, will you have the face to meet your ancestors?!"

Liu Bei's face turned slightly pale.

Her lips moved a few times, but she couldn't utter a word.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Dong Cheng took out a roll of yellow silk from his sleeve, held it up with both hands, and his expression became solemn and dignified:

"The Emperor has a secret edict here!"

Liu Bei suddenly raised his head.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also changed color at the same time, their eyes fixed on the rolled-up yellow silk.

Dong Cheng slowly unfurled the silk scroll. Dark red characters came into view—it was blood.

Each stroke, powerful and penetrating, seems to evoke the image of the writer biting their finger and carving each word in blood.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"I have heard that among the great human relationships, the relationship between father and son comes first; among the distinctions of rank, the relationship between ruler and subject is of utmost importance."

Upon seeing the first line of text, Liu Bei knelt down.

It was actually the Emperor's blood edict!!

Upon seeing this, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also knelt on one knee, their expressions solemn.

"Recently, the traitor has been abusing his power, oppressing the emperor and father; forming cliques, corrupting the court; and issuing edicts of reward and punishment without my consent. I am deeply worried day and night, fearing that the empire is in peril. You are a minister of the state and a close relative of mine. You should remember the hardships Emperor Gaozu endured to establish the dynasty, gather loyal and righteous heroes, annihilate the treacherous clique, and restore peace to the nation. Our ancestors would be fortunate indeed! I have drawn blood from my finger to write this edict and entrust it to you. Please heed it carefully and do not fail my trust!"

After reading the imperial edict, Liu Bei couldn't help but tremble slightly.

It felt as if a thousand-pound burden was pressing down on her shoulders, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

Dong Cheng put away the imperial edict and looked down at Liu Bei:

"Xuande, you have two paths before you. Either take this imperial edict and my head to Cao Cao to claim your reward, or join us in punishing the traitor!"

Without further hesitation, Liu Bei prostrated himself deeply.

"Now that you have received the imperial edict to quell the rebellion, how could I, Liu Bei, dare not offer my humble service?"

A hint of joy flashed in Dong Cheng's eyes, and he quickly helped Liu Bei up: "Xuande is deeply righteous, daring to stand on behalf of the Emperor and the Han Dynasty. Thank you, Xuande!"

"With Xuande's help, our great undertaking can be accomplished!"

The four people sat down in the hall again, and the atmosphere was completely different from before.

"Yuan Shao is about to march south, and Cao Cao will soon lead his army north to meet him. At that time, Xuchang will be empty, which will be the time for us to rise up. Xuande only needs to respond in the city, and I will take care of the rest."

After Dong Cheng finished explaining the arrangements, he solemnly instructed, "Cao Cao's Office of Investigation and Statistics has many spies in the palace. Xuande must never mention the matter of rebelling against Cao Cao in front of His Majesty, lest Cao Cao find out."

"This concerns the safety of the Emperor; remember this! Remember this!"

"Furthermore, His Majesty pities his younger brother and does not want Princess to be in danger, so this matter should not be told to Princess either."

Liu Bei nodded in agreement, his expression respectful.

After agreeing on a method for communication and cooperation, Dong Cheng gave a few more instructions before taking his leave.

After seeing Dong Cheng off, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei excitedly surrounded him.

"Elder sister!" Zhang Fei's eyes were filled with excitement. "The Emperor has issued a decree; this time we can't hesitate any longer!"

Although Guan Yu was usually composed, his phoenix eyes couldn't hide his excitement: "Now is the time to eliminate the traitor Cao Cao and restore the Han Dynasty!"

Liu Bei raised his head, his face no longer showing the anger he had just displayed.

"Yun Chang, Yi De, if this is truly His Majesty's will, we will serve our country with utmost loyalty, even unto death."

"But what if it isn't?"

Guan and Zhang looked at each other, both stunned.

"Does my elder sister mean that this blood edict can't possibly be fake?" Guan Yu asked.

"I don't know," Liu Bei said softly, "but judging from Dong Cheng's appearance, he is greedy for power and position, and is not a kind person."

"In any case, this matter concerns not only our lives and deaths, but also the survival of the Han Dynasty. We cannot listen to only her side of the story."

Having said that, she made up her mind, stood up and said, "I'll go to Wannian Villa right now."

"We must first ask His Highness's opinion on this matter."

……

Liu Bei hurriedly arrived at Wannian Villa and was about to present his visiting card when he suddenly heard the rumbling of wheels behind him.

She instinctively turned around and saw a vermilion-painted car slowly driving along the long street.

Although the carriage curtains were lowered, the four glossy chestnut horses in front of the carriage and the fiercely armored guards beside it were enough to identify the visitor.

Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat.

The carriage came to a steady stop in front of the Wannian Villa. The curtain was lifted, revealing a beautiful face with fair skin and smiling phoenix eyes.

Cao Cao.

Liu Bei felt a chill run down his neck.

She had just left Dong Cheng's place, the blood-stained words on the imperial edict still vivid in her mind's eye, and the vow to rebel against Cao Cao still echoing in her ears. Now, the person in question was standing right in front of her, and although there was a gentle smile on his face, she still felt as if she had been stripped naked and stood in the freezing cold.

But no matter how turbulent her heart was, she dared not show the slightest sign of her inner turmoil. She quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed, saying, "I pay my respects to Your Excellency."

Cao Cao, supporting himself on the carriage railing, lightly jumped down from the carriage, shook his head and laughed, "Xuande, you've done a great job!"

Liu Bei's heart leaped into his throat.

That's a great achievement.

These five words were like an invisible sword, pressed straight against her heart.

What did Cao Cao discover?

But I haven't done anything yet!

A hundred thoughts raced through my mind in an instant.

But Cao Cao looked at her with a smile and said, "I heard that Xuande has set aside a vegetable patch in his residence and is cultivating it himself. Such leisurely and carefree life truly envies me!"

Only then did Liu Bei realize that his back was covered in cold sweat. He lowered his eyes to hide his embarrassment and said, "Your Excellency is so busy with state affairs that you have no time for such things. I am unambitious and have made Your Excellency laugh at me."

Just then, footsteps came from the courtyard gate.

The two looked up at the same time and saw Liu Xun coming out from inside the door to greet them.

"Mengde? Xuande? How did you two run into each other?"

The boy, his face beaming with delight, saw the two of them. "Please come in!"