New Three Kingdoms Tales: Starting as the expressionless Liu Bei

The curtain was lifted from the outside, and a man dressed in palace attire with a fair complexion walked in.

He stood at the door for a moment, glanced at all the generals inside the tent, and then quickly walked up to Sun Jian, smiling and cupping his hands in greeting.

This man was frail and looked like a stranger among a group of armored and sword-wielding warriors.

"I am Li Ru, a court attendant, paying my respects to General Sun."

Sun Jian remained seated in the main seat without rising, merely raising his hand casually to indicate that he should dispense with the formalities.

"Li Ru, what brings you here? Tell me the truth, or I'll make sure you don't leave this tent alive!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of swords being drawn filled the tent. More than a dozen swords were drawn in unison, their blades gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

Li Ru glanced around and noticed that all the generals had raised their heads, their eyes were scarlet, and they were all staring straight at him.

The look in his eyes wasn't like he was looking at a living person, but rather like he was looking at a piece of meat that had just been served.

Anyone else would have collapsed in fear in this situation. But Li Ru simply straightened up unhurriedly, tucked his hands back into his sleeves, and the smile on his face didn't even falter.

"I have come here specifically to congratulate General Sun."

Sun Jian picked up the wine bowl on the table, lowered his head and took a sip, without even lifting his eyelids.

"Congratulations on what? Congratulations on my victory in battle, defeating your Xiliang army?"

Li Ru's smile seemed to be permanently etched on his face, completely disregarding the barb in Sun Jian's words. He bowed slightly again, his tone even more respectful than before.

"That's only one thing. As for the second congratulations, General Sun, you have even more to congratulate."

Sun Jian slowly put down his wine bowl and finally raised his eyes. His eyes were also scarlet, glowing faintly in the dim candlelight.

"I'm all ears."

"Prime Minister Dong has a beloved daughter, who is in the prime of her life but has not yet reached marriageable age." Li Ru stretched out two fingers and gently pinched them in the air, his tone becoming increasingly solicitous.

"General Sun also has a beloved son named Sun Quan. Chancellor Dong has always admired the General and wishes to marry his daughter to the General's son. Let our two families become in-laws and work together for a great cause!"

When he finished speaking, he made a heart shape with his fingertips in front of his chest, his face beaming with a sincere smile.

Sun Jian frowned slightly, as if he doubted that he had misheard. He paused, then asked again to confirm.

"Which of my sons will you marry?"

Li Ru smiled slightly, thinking that Sun Jian was interested, so he emphasized his words and answered slowly and deliberately.

Sun Quan.

"Pfft."

Someone in the tent burst into laughter first. Immediately afterward, several generals turned their faces away, their shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Li Ru was stunned for a moment, then looked in the direction of the sound, puzzled as to what the group of warriors were laughing about.

But he quickly regained his composure, turned back to Sun Jian, and continued speaking with a smile.

"Chancellor Dong also said that if the general agrees to this marriage, the Chancellor will immediately report to the Emperor and appoint General Sun as Grand Marshal, ranking him among the Three Dukes!"

He spoke faster and faster, his tone becoming increasingly impassioned, as if the marriage was already a done deal. "Furthermore, Chancellor Dong is willing to recommend you, General, to be appointed Governor of Jingzhou, commanding all the cities within its borders!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Sun Jian suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter. The laughter was loud and unrestrained, echoing throughout the tent. Upon seeing this, Li Ru's eyes flashed with a hint of barely perceptible smugness.

He assumed that the offers he had just made had moved Sun Jian, so he said no more and simply smiled at the other party, patiently waiting for General Sun to nod in agreement.

The laughter stopped abruptly. Sun Jian withdrew his smile and beckoned to the guards beside him.

"Go and call Quan'er in."

Before long, the tent flap was lifted, and a child about half a person's height walked in. He had a fair complexion, delicate features, and was not even as tall as the waist of the generals standing next to him.

What's most striking about him are his eyes, clean and clear, like a pool of water that hasn't been stirred.

Surrounded by a tent full of scarlet gazes, those eyes actually sent chills down one's spine, like suddenly spotting a living person amidst a horde of demons.

Sun Jian beckoned to Sun Quan and called him to his side. He looked down at his young son, then looked up at Li Ru, and suddenly spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"Quan'er, Dong Zhuo has sent someone to propose marriage for you."

Li Ru's smile froze on his face instantly.

He stared wide-eyed at Sun Quan, then at Sun Jian, then back at Sun Quan, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly before finally extending a trembling finger to point at the child who was barely waist-high.

"He...he's Sun Quan? Everyone says Sun Quan was exceptional in both literature and martial arts, possessing both wisdom and courage, how come..." His voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of discomposure after being tricked, "How come he's just a child!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

The laughter that had been building up inside the tent finally erupted. Several burly generals slapped their thighs, laughing so hard that tears streamed down their faces. Their loud, rough laughter shook the dust off the tent ceiling.

Amidst the laughter, Sun Ce couldn't hold it in any longer. He turned his face away, covered his mouth with the back of his hand, and his shoulders trembled.

The crimson eyes of everyone in the tent were narrowed to slits; the scene was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Sun Jian raised his hand and pressed it down. The laughter filling the tent was instantly choked back, as if it had been choked.

He slowly rose from his seat, looking down at Li Ru. His bloodshot eyes held no trace of mockery, only two cold, sharp blades.

"My sons are all intelligent and brave, outstanding in both literature and martial arts." He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, making the candlelight in the tent flicker. "Li Ru, do you think I'm stupid? This is clearly your scheme to sow discord!"

Before he could finish speaking, Sun Jian's bloodshot eyes widened suddenly, and a golden shadow darted out from behind him.

The thing landed silently, as fast as a beam of light, and rushed straight to Li Ru's back.

It was a fierce tiger! Half a person's height, its stripes gleamed darkly in the candlelight, and its tiger eyes swirled with the same scarlet color as Sun Jian's.

It stood upright from behind, its two thick tiger claws wrapping around to Li Ru's front, the sharp claw tips pressing against his throat.

The claws were icy cold, and when they touched my skin, I could even feel my pulse thumping underneath.

With just a thought from Sun Jian, Li Ru's head would roll to the ground like a ripe fruit with a gentle swipe of his claw.

Li Ru shuddered violently, and the last trace of color drained from his face. His legs went weak, and he slid halfway down, only managing to stay upright thanks to the tiger's claws.

He quickly raised his hand and slapped himself twice across the face, the blows sharp and forceful. His previous composed and attentive demeanor vanished, leaving only a deathly pale face and eyes filled with terror.

"I misspoke! I apologize!"

His voice trembled violently, his jaw chattered, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his trembling teeth.

Sun Jian snorted coldly, strode up to Li Ru, bent down, and said in a deep voice, word by word.

"Li Ru, get back here." He raised his hand, pointed towards the tent entrance, and said in a chilling tone, "Tell Dong Zhuo to wash his neck clean and wait for my sword."

Li Ru felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet and staggered toward the tent entrance.

As he stepped out of the tent, his forehead slammed solidly against the doorframe with a dull thud. Ignoring the pain, he clutched his head and disappeared outside the tent.

There was a moment of silence inside the tent, followed by an even more unrestrained burst of laughter.

Outside Chang Le Palace in Luoyang.

Dong Zhuo, clad in heavy armor, strode out of the palace. The iron plates on his armor rattled with each step, and a large troop of personal guards followed behind him.

A procession had already been set up outside the palace gates. On the left, Yuan Kui and his entire family were kneeling, held tightly by executioners.

Standing on the right were the officials, led by Wang Yun, all with their heads bowed, not daring to even lift their eyelids.

Dong Zhuo glanced at the scene and a smug grin spread across his face.

He strode up to Wang Yun, and patted Wang Yun's shoulder twice with his thick palm, making Wang Yun look half a head shorter.

"Wang Yun! Minister Wang! Come here!"

Wang Yun cursed the traitor in his heart, but forced a respectful smile on his face, stepped forward, and bowed.

Dong Zhuo looked down at him, a mocking smile on his lips.

"I am about to depart to fight the traitors for the country. Minister Wang, do you have any words of congratulations to offer?"

Wang Yun's Adam's apple bobbed. Having spent decades in the imperial court, he was a cunning old fox. He quickly composed himself, put on a grateful expression, and bowed to Wang Yun in flattery.

"Your Excellency, having sworn an oath of allegiance to the emperor, will command respect throughout the land! Your Majesty, I humbly wish you swift victory and eternal fame!"

"Hahahaha!" Dong Zhuo threw his head back and laughed loudly, the sound of his laughter seemed to make the tiles on the palace walls vibrate. He stretched out a carrot-thick finger and poked Wang Yun's face.

"Well said, well said! You old codger, you've got a good tongue!"

The smile on Dong Zhuo's face was suddenly ripped off, and his eyes, which had been narrowed and smiling just moments before, snapped open, coldly sweeping across the kneeling crowd on his left.

He raised a thick finger and poked it in the direction of Yuan Wei's family.

"Wang Yun, do you see? This is the fate of treacherous officials."

Wang Yun bent over even more deeply, his head almost touching the ground, his voice thin and trembling.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty saw it."

Dong Zhuo took half a step forward, his fleshy face almost touching Wang Yun's forehead, his voice low and playful, like a cat playing with a mouse.

Are you scared?

Wang Yun shuddered, his teeth chattering, his voice trembling like a leaf.

"I'm afraid, I'm terrified. I'm trembling with fear."

"Good that you're afraid!" Dong Zhuo stretched out his thick palm and patted Wang Yun's face lightly twice. With each pat, Wang Yun's shoulder shrank back. "You just stay obediently in the city. Don't have any wicked thoughts. Do you understand?"

Wang Yun dared not raise his head, his voice trembling.

"Your subject obeys."

Dong Zhuo straightened up, his cold eyes sweeping past Wang Yun and across the sea of ​​officials behind him. Wherever his gaze fell, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Did you all hear me clearly?!"

"Yes, sir!" the officials responded in unison, their voices echoing against the palace walls, yet they could not conceal the slight tremor beneath their tones.

"Within ten days, I will surely destroy Yuan Shao!" Dong Zhuo suddenly turned around, his back to the officials, his voice echoing like thunder across the square. "On the day of our triumphant return to the capital, you will all be waiting to drink victory wine!"

He was laughing when he suddenly stopped. His laughter seemed to be cut off by a knife, and the smile on his face instantly turned to frost.

He glanced coldly at Yuan Kui kneeling not far away, his gaze not that of someone looking at a living person, but rather as if he were looking at a pile of severed heads. Then his lips moved, and he uttered a single word.

"cut."

The lead axe-wielder raised his demon-headed sword high, its blade reflecting the sunlight in a blinding, ghastly white light. He roared at the top of his lungs.

"Execute the entire family of the traitor Yuan Wei! This will honor the Prime Minister!"

The ghost-headed blade fell, and the screams stopped abruptly. Wang Yun knelt on the spot, his back already soaked with cold sweat. The strong smell of blood wafted into his nostrils, making his stomach churn.

He slowly raised his head, gazing at Dong Zhuo's departing figure, surrounded by armored soldiers. Those eyes, which had just been trembling with humility, now burned with a terrifyingly intense fire.