My Three Kingdoms is not right

In Xu Huang's camp.

The night breeze, carrying the dampness of the Ying River, slipped in through the gaps in the tent curtains, causing the lamplight to flicker.

Xu Huang sat behind the desk, holding a dry biscuit in her hand, but hesitated to put it in her mouth.

"My lord."

The voice of a personal guard came from outside the tent, interrupting her thoughts.

"What is it?"

"Outside the camp gate, someone claimed to be an envoy from the imperial court, requesting an audience with the lord."

Xu Huang frowned slightly: "When two armies are facing each other, it is against protocol for her to privately meet with the enemy envoy. Please ask her to return."

The guard responded, and the sound of his footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Xu Huang picked up the dry biscuit again, broke off a piece and put it in his mouth. He chewed it a couple of times, but it tasted like nothing at all.

"My lord!"

A moment later, the guard's voice rang out again outside the tent: "The messenger says he is an old acquaintance of the lord and requests that the lord grant him an audience."

Xu Huang pondered for a moment, then finally sighed, "Fine, let him in."

The guards obeyed and left.

Before long, the curtain was lifted, and a figure walked in.

The tent was dimly lit, and Xu Huang could only vaguely make out that the person was tall and slender, wearing a plain dark robe with a cloak over it, the hood pulled low to cover most of his face.

"I wonder which old friend is visiting so late at night? What brings you here?" Xu Huang sat upright without moving.

"How have you been, Xu Qi?" The voice was clear and bright, with the unique brightness of a young man.

Xu Huang's hand suddenly froze.

Looking up closely, one could see that the man had taken off his hood, revealing a strikingly handsome face.

Under the lamplight, it was smiling at itself.

"Your Highness!!"

Xu Huang suddenly stood up, knocking over the water bag on the table and spilling water all over the table, but she was completely unaware.

She had seen this Princess Wannian during the journey of escorting the emperor back to the east.

When the emperor was attacked by Guo Si's pursuing troops in Huayin, Liu Xun led the imperial guards and worked together with her to repel the enemy and protect the emperor from danger.

However, after the imperial court arrived in Luoyang, Yang Feng was stationed in Liang County, and she went with him, never having the chance to see him again.

But the image of that brave young man was deeply imprinted in her heart.

And at this very moment, Princess Wannian came to find her all alone?

This is the enemy camp!

Xu Huang snapped out of his daze, quickly walked around the table, and bowed respectfully:

"Xu Huang greets Your Highness!"

"Yang Feng's men are mostly reckless and ignorant of righteousness. Your Highness, you are of noble birth; how could you risk coming here like this? If anything goes wrong, I will be held accountable even with ten thousand deaths!"

She had a very good impression of the princess, and now, overcome with concern, her usually composed face was filled with anxiety: "I will send someone to escort Your Highness back immediately."

Seeing her genuine emotions, Liu Xun smiled slightly and said gently:

"It's alright. If we can find a pillar of the Han Dynasty, it will be worth the risk."

Xu Huang was startled.

Pillars of the Han Dynasty...

These four words struck her heart like a hammer.

She followed Yang Feng for many years, risking her life and making countless contributions in battle. Yang Feng also valued her highly and never hesitated to reward her.

But there are some things she cares about that Yang Feng can't give her.

Xu Huang suppressed his inner turmoil and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Your Highness flatters me. I am but a mere warrior and do not deserve such high praise."

"You deserve it." Liu Xun looked into her eyes. "From Chang'an to Luoyang, the Xu cavalry bravely protected you. Their discipline was strict, and they committed no offenses against the emperor. I witnessed it all."

Xu Huang pursed his lips, unable to utter a word for a moment.

Seeing that the time was right, Liu Xun changed the subject: "I have come here today because I have something I would like to ask you in person."

Xu Huang quickly bowed: "Your Highness, please speak."

Liu Xun looked into her eyes and solemnly asked, "Yang Feng has betrayed the greater good and disrespected the court. Does Commander Xu intend to join her in becoming a rebel?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over my head.

The color drained from Xu Huang's face instantly.

She opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but found that her throat felt blocked.

After a long silence, she finally spoke with difficulty: "General Yang does not intend to rebel against the court. She is simply... simply dissatisfied with Cao Cao. Cao Cao has the emperor hostage and harbors treacherous intentions. General Yang wants to purge the court of corrupt officials and rescue His Majesty from the clutches of this traitor Cao..."

"Purge the court of corrupt officials?" Liu Xun's smile held a hint of mockery. "Xu Qidu, are you lying to me, or to yourself?"

Xu Huang froze.

Liu Xun stood with his hands behind his back, leaned down and said to her:

"Is it not clear to the people of the world that Yang Fengzhong is disloyal?"

"Where was she when the court needed her most? Instead of protecting the court in Luoyang, she occupied Liang County, amassed troops, and disobeyed the court's orders!"

"The imperial court is short of food, and officials are emaciated and pale. The emperor even has to send officials below the rank of Minister to dig for wild vegetables to fill their stomachs. And what about Yang Feng? She and Han Xian feast on fish and meat every day, yet they refuse to offer a single grain of rice to the court!"

"Her army, while posing as government troops, engaged in banditry. They plundered the people, looted villages, and treated the common folk like fish on a chopping block!"

Liu Xun walked up to Xu Huang and looked directly into her eyes:

"Can such a person be considered loyal to the court and the country?"

"If you continue to serve her, wouldn't that be aiding and abetting evil, becoming complicit in her wrongdoing?"

Every word was like a knife, stabbing deeply into Xu Huang's heart.

Her forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Every word Liu Xun said was true.

She had witnessed all of those things firsthand.

In truth, how could she possibly tolerate the bandit-like habits of the generals in her camp? How could she not have the ambition to achieve great deeds and bring glory to her family?

She just deliberately avoided thinking about it and pretended not to see it.

Now that Liu Xun had directly pointed out her weakness, she felt unbearably ashamed and lowered her head to whisper:

"Your Highness is right, I am utterly ashamed."

Liu Xun quickly stepped forward and helped her up with both hands:

"It is never too late to turn back from the wrong path. If Gongming can abandon darkness and embrace the light, it will be a blessing for the court and the nation."

He grasped Xu Huang's arm, his tone softening:

"The court is in dire need of capable people right now—I have been ordered by the emperor to take charge of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and to re-establish the Tiger Guard and Feathered Forest Guard armies, but the cavalry is especially lacking in good generals to lead them."

"If Gongming is willing to abandon darkness and embrace light, the position of General of the Imperial Guards will be vacant. At that time, you can lead your troops to stand upright in the Imperial Guards, both to protect the emperor and the state, and to live up to the hard-won loyalty of your brave warriors."

Xu Huang was completely stunned.

General of the Imperial Guard.

He commanded the emperor's personal guards and served as the palace guards.

That was a position that only the emperor's most trusted confidants could hold, and it was the highest honor among military generals.

Does she, a former White Wave bandit, really deserve it?

"Your Highness," Xu Huang's voice was somewhat hoarse, "I come from a humble background, I'm afraid..."

"Han Xin, a commoner from Huaiyin, ascended the altar and was appointed a great general; Wei Qing, a stable boy from Pingyang, was enfeoffed as a marquis across the desert." Liu Xun interrupted her, "Does Gongming not have such ambitions?"

He patted Xu Huang on the shoulder and sighed softly:

"I am determined to restore the Han Dynasty, but the road ahead is long and arduous, fraught with difficulties. Would you be willing to assist me, Gongming?"

These words completely shattered the last shred of hesitation in Xu Huang's heart.

Looking at the boy in front of her, at his bright eyes and sincere smile, she felt a burning sensation in her chest.

She straightened her armor and knelt down in reverence.

"From this day forward, I, Huang, am willing to serve Your Highness, even unto death!"