My Three Kingdoms is not right

Liu Xun couldn't stop Sun Ce, and only after seeing her kowtow three more times did he get up.

The girl in front of me had red eyes and a red nose. Where was the "little tyrant"'s arrogance?

Liu Xun reached out and patted her shoulder, laughing, "Bo Fu, there's no need for that. Since we'll be fighting side by side later, don't be so formal."

Sun Ce nodded vigorously, wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve, and said in a somewhat muffled voice, "Your Highness is right. I lost my composure."

Liu Xun looked at her, a thought flashing through his mind.

This trip to Shouchun is fraught with uncertainty; our fate is unknown, and the future is uncertain. Since we're going to cooperate, we might as well strengthen our bond.

"Bo Fu," he began, "I have a request, and I wonder if you can grant it?"

Sun Ce immediately straightened his back, his expression solemn: "Your Highness, whatever you request, I will do my utmost if it is within my power!"

Liu Xun smiled slightly: "Bo Fu and I hit it off immediately and get along very well. I would like to become sworn brothers with the General. I wonder if Bo Fu would be willing to acknowledge me as his younger brother?"

Sun Ce was taken aback at first, then felt a warm current surge into his heart.

She was a person of strong emotions and valued loyalty above all else. Liu Xun, as a princess, not only risked his life for her but also proposed to become sworn brothers with her, which undoubtedly showed her the utmost trust.

A burning light shone from those eyes, still streaked with tears.

"I am of humble status, what merit or ability do I possess to deserve such favor from Your Highness?"

Liu Xun grasped her hand: "Bo Fu, are you saying you look down on me?"

Sun Ce blushed and shook his head vigorously: "To be able to become sworn brothers with Your Highness would be the greatest honor of my life! How could I possibly refuse?"

……

That night.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the river surface shimmers with light.

In the center of the courtyard stood an altar, upon which were offered sacrifices, yellow wine, and an incense burner. Three sticks of incense were already lit, their wisps of smoke rising into the night sky.

Liu Xun and Sun Ce washed their hands, straightened their clothes, and knelt before the incense table.

The two held incense sticks and made a vow to the moon.

"Heaven above and Earth below bear witness. Sun Ce and Liu Xun, today we swear brotherhood."

From this day forward, we will share both good and bad fortune, and never abandon each other in life or death.

"If I break this oath, may I incur the wrath of both gods and men, and be condemned by Heaven and Earth!"

After bowing three times, the two stood up, looked at each other, and smiled.

After the sworn brotherhood ceremony was completed, Sun Ce felt all his pent-up emotions dissipate, and his heart was filled with boundless pride. He felt that although the road ahead was treacherous, he was no longer afraid.

Liu Xun knew that after tonight, he would have taken a big step toward restoring the Han Dynasty.

-----------------

The following day, Sun Ce wrote a letter to Yuan Shu.

He claimed that the Han court had dispatched Princess Wannian and Liu Xun, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, to secretly lead an envoy across the river in an attempt to instigate his rebellion. He asserted his unwavering loyalty to the Yuan family and claimed to have already captured them all. He requested permission to personally escort Liu Xun to the capital (Shouchun).

Yuan Shu was overjoyed and issued an imperial decree to commend him.

Firstly, she was satisfied with Sun Ce's loyalty; secondly, she had heard some of Liu Xun's deeds and knew that he held an extraordinary position in the court.

Thus, Sun Ce led a 400-man escort team and left Wu Commandery.

After entering Huainan territory, the escort team moved slowly, stopping frequently.

Because the captured princess "caught a cold" and could not withstand the bumpy journey.

Yuan Shu sent someone from Shouchun to check, but found Liu Xun in the carriage, barely breathing and looking frail and sickly. He had no choice but to report the truth.

It wasn't that Liu Xun was a good actor; it was just that he got seasick again while crossing the river.

Hearing that both the doctors sent before and after the princess said that she was "unaccustomed to the local environment and urgently needed treatment," Yuan Shu's doubts were dispelled.

Liu Xun himself knew that the number of people accompanying his team had been quietly decreasing since they entered Yuan Shu's territory.

Clearly, Sun Ce had already arranged for them to infiltrate Shouchun in batches, as planned, to prepare for the upcoming rescue operation.

After much dawdling, the group finally arrived at Changfeng, near Shouchun.

As night deepened, Sun Ce ordered his troops to leave the camp near the main road and hide in a dense forest nearby.

Liu Xun was impressed to see that several inconspicuous covered wagons had been prepared in the forest, and were even fully stocked with food and clothing.

"Your Highness," Sun Ce said in a low voice, bowing to Liu Xun in the flickering torchlight, "I will take men to meet your family. Leave thirty men here to protect Your Highness."

She paused, then solemnly grasped Liu Xun's hand: "If everything goes smoothly, we will return before 3 AM. If we haven't seen you by 5 AM..."

"Please do not wait for me any longer, Your Highness. Head south and someone will come to meet you."

Liu Xun nodded: "Take care, Bofu. I'll be waiting for your good news."

Sun Ce gave him a deep look, said nothing more, and quietly disappeared into the depths of the woods with his men.

The waiting time felt exceptionally long.

The forest was quiet, with only the rustling of the night wind through the treetops.

They couldn't light a fire for fear of being exposed, and it got a bit cold in the latter half of the night.

"Zilong, come up and warm up!" Liu Xun lifted the curtain and once again called out to Zhao Yun, who was sitting outside.

"No need," Zhao Yun shook his head. "I'll be outside the carriage; I'll be able to spot any movement sooner."

Liu Xun had no choice but to get out of the carriage, sit down close to her, open the fur coat that Sun Ce had given him, and hang one of the collars on Zhao Yun's shoulder.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I... I'm not cold." Zhao Yun's usually calm and pretty face was filled with panic as she struggled to get away.

Seeing her shyness, Liu Xun laughed and said, "Don't move around! Otherwise, the heating will all run out!"

Helpless, Zhao Yun could only sit up straight and dared not move again.

Feeling the boy's body temperature against his shoulder in the fox fur coat, his arm touching the boy's body through the clothes, and hearing his even breathing... Zhao Yun felt a surge of heat throughout his body, and his heart pounded wildly.

Time passed little by little.

The hour of Yin had passed, and the eastern sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. The light in the forest gradually brightened.

Sun Ce did not return.

Liu Xun's heart sank. He glanced at Zhao Yun beside him, whose expression was equally grave, and whispered, "Wait a little longer."

The hour of Mao (5-7 AM) is almost over.

At this moment, the Sun family assassins protecting them on the perimeter also showed signs of unease.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the edge of the woods.

"The patriarch has arrived!" the guards on the perimeter cheered in hushed tones.

Sun Ce dismounted, his outfit dusty and his hair slightly disheveled: "I've kept Your Highness waiting!"

"How is it?" Liu Xun looked at her expectantly.

"They're out! Father and my sisters are all out!" Her voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

The dark cloud that had been hanging over her head for so long was finally dispelled by the sunshine.

At this moment, Liu Xu also saw the entourage following behind her. Soldiers were guarding several covered wagons, which must have been Sun Ce's family.

Sun Quan, the future emperor of Eastern Wu, should also be in there.

Before Sun Ce could introduce his family, he said nervously, "The rescue went smoothly, but there was an accident when we left the city. Yan Xiang saw us."

Yan Xiang was Yuan Shu's chief strategist. He was extremely resourceful and Yuan Shu relied on him as a confidant.

"You recognized me?" Liu Xun asked.

Sun Ce gritted his teeth: "She saw my face. But she didn't say anything on the spot."

"She only had a few attendants with her at the time, probably because she was worried that I would kill her at all costs."

"We hadn't been out of the city long when the pursuers caught up. I left a hundred men to cover our retreat, but I don't think we can hold them off for long."

Zhao Yun frowned: "How many pursuers are there?"

"Qiao Rui is leading an army of approximately one thousand cavalry..."

Before she could finish speaking, a flock of birds suddenly took flight in the woods, and the faint sounds of horses' hooves and shouts could be heard in the distance.

Sun Ce's expression changed: "We cannot stay here any longer! Everyone, mount your horses and carriages immediately and retreat south!"

……