Liu Xuande would never be a succubus of the Eastern Han Dynasty!

"……Ugh."

The old man sighed leisurely, "You've grown up and have enough judgment to solve any problem. But you must remember... remember the ancestral motto of our Gongsun family - never let your mind be obsessed with only one man."

"ridiculous."

Gongsun Zan, noticing his uncle's serious tone, scoffed, "Zan isn't a superficial person. How could he be the kind of loser who only thinks about men?"

"That's great, go ahead."

"Thank you, uncle."

-

"Hehehe, Zan is such a loser... Junior Brother, Junior Brother Xuande, I, Zan... only want to have you in my mind..."

"???"

In the bath.

After Gongsun Zan outside the window witnessed Liu Bei's true self, his eyes turned black and he fainted. Liu Bei had to use a lot of effort to drag him in without being discovered.

As a result, this guy has no gratitude and no sense of shame. He even said these dirty words when he was unconscious... I am really curious about what kind of garbage is in her little head.

But no matter what, when Liu Bei saw Gongsun Zan appear, his heart couldn't help but feel warm.

This silly girl wouldn't come to Luoyang for no reason. She must have heard the news that I was arrested, so she came here alone to check the situation. Although her method was a bit stupid... her starting point was still good.

He also noticed the sword at the girl's waist, wondering if this girl was planning to rob the execution ground... Well, given her personality, she really dared to do such a thing.

Liu Bei laughed in silence and gently carried Gongsun Zan to the bathing chair. He wanted to pull his hands away, but found that the girl was holding her hands as if she was holding some treasure and was unwilling to let go of his arms.

Is he pretending to be dizzy?

He looked down.

The girl was indeed extremely beautiful, with fair and rosy skin, a delicious face, and the fangs that were exposed when she opened her mouth unconsciously after fainting, as well as her short legs, which made her even more cute.

Such a girl would be loved by everyone wherever she goes - however, she is a senior sister.

Yes.

Although Gongsun Zan looks petite and cute, she became Liu Bei's apprentice five seconds earlier than him and is about three years older than him, so it is natural for her to become his senior sister.

In the eyes of outsiders, this senior sister is notoriously cold and cruel. Anyone who dares to provoke her has sunk to the bottom of the lake.

She even got a new nickname behind her back - 'the monster raised by the Gongsun family'.

But such a monster girl actually became so cute and delicate in front of Liu Bei... There are naturally many reasons for this.

When he first learned that she was the famous leader of the "White Horse Volunteers", White Horse General Gongsun Zan, he was shocked.

Even until today, before meeting Cao Cao, Liu Bei still thought that Gongsun Zan was either a person with the same name and surname as Gongsun, or a time traveler with slightly modified butterfly wings.

But Liu Bei didn't know the truth of the matter. He only knew one thing - she was like a follower. She took the initiative to stick to him when they met for the first time and couldn't be driven away.

If it were anyone else, it would be fine, but this girl is from the Gongsun family. Even though she is not very favored, she still belongs to one of the aristocratic families in Youzhou.

If you get involved with such a person, it will be easy to become famous, and once you become famous, many people will come to investigate.

This goes against the plan.

But Liu Bei was not a cold-blooded person. On the contrary, he was more passionate than anyone else. Therefore, even though it might affect his own plans, he still did not reject Gongsun Zan's friendship.

It’s just more friends anyway.

If others ask, he will say that they hit it off at first sight and became sworn brothers... cough cough cough, let's just settle this guy down first.

Liu Bei put away his thoughts and stood up, holding Gongsun Zan, who refused to let go. Just as he was about to go outside to put on his clothes, he looked up ahead before he even took a step...

"Squeak."

A white hand pushed open the door, and Cao Cao's voice sounded at the right time: "Sorry, sorry, Xuande, I forgot to prepare the bath beans for you, so I brought them to you specially... Hmm? Xuande, what are you doing?"

Kindness: Chapter 6: Miss Cao Has No Shame

The bath was surrounded by mist. I could vaguely see Liu Bei sitting alone on a chair with his back to Cao Cao. He spoke stiffly, "Well... Thank you, Lord Mengde, for your concern. I'll just put it back where it is..."

"That's right."

However, Cao Cao had already narrowed his eyes.

In her sight, Liu Bei was hugging his shoulders with his hands, slightly hunching his body, neither looking back nor turning around. It felt like... there was something hidden in his arms.

Cao Cao took a step forward, feigning concern as he said, "I'm so ill-prepared. How could I let Xuande condescend to pick it up? I'd rather I deliver it to you myself."

"Hahaha, there's no need for that..."

The water temperature was obviously very hot just now, but Liu Bei didn't feel much heat. But at this moment, sweat even seeped out of his back, and his heart was almost in his throat.

"Aiya, Xuande, there's no need to be polite with Cao."

Cao Cao continued to walk forward without saying a word. Due to some fog blocking his view, he could only widen his eyes slightly to see Liu Bei's back clearly.

Unlike the thinness imagined, there are obvious traces of muscles on its back, and it is full of scars of various sizes. Many of them are from very long ago, but there are also a few that are relatively new and look like they have only been there for a short time.

It's ferocious but manly at the same time.

Cao Cao's eyes were a little blurry, and her throat moved unconsciously, but she still maintained the demeanor of a daughter of the Cao family and pretended to be calm and asked, "What are these injuries?"

"…Since childhood, Bei had been dependent on his mother. Whenever she was weaving at home, Bei would go out to chop grass and trees. However, other children would always attack Bei, saying, 'You are a fatherless person,' in order to gain something for nothing."

"You didn't report it to the police?"

"I have reported it. I have been preparing to cut firewood for five years. I have also reported it 182 times, but there has been no response this time."

There was no trace of anger or pain in Liu Bei's tone, just calmness and indifference that came from being accustomed to it, as if he had been used to it for a long time.

That’s true.

If he doesn't get used to it, he will most likely not survive.

Cao Cao couldn't help but clench his fists. The long-lasting anxiety in his heart just disappeared, and a little fire ignited in his beautiful eyes, making him look like a powder keg about to explode.

She was indeed very angry.

When I was a child, I was determined to be an honest official so that I could serve my country. However, when I grew up, I found that the officials around me were all gray or black, and there was not a single white one. I guess they must have turned gray or black a long time ago, or they were ostracized, assassinated, etc. by others.

This is true everywhere.

Can such a country and such officials really be called the world of all people?

Cao Cao took several deep breaths before successfully suppressing his temper, but his voice was still trembling: "I'm sorry, I promise that something like this will never happen again."

"is it?"

Liu Bei turned his head and glanced at her in slight surprise, then raised the corner of his mouth: "Then, I will also be looking forward to seeing that day appear."

"Well, that day will come eventually."

No, that day will never come.

It was not because there would be chaos in the world in the future, but simply because he had long since conquered the group of young men who bullied him, and those officials who were indifferent to him had long since disappeared into the night.

Liu Bei never expected others to avenge him. He could avenge his grievances and hatred himself.

But it’s a good thing that Cao Cao has such an idea.

At the very least, many casualties will be reduced within her jurisdiction. Regardless of whether her original intention is to gain a good reputation for herself or to bring honor to her family, as long as her actions actually protect innocent people, that is completely enough.

"I appreciate Meng De's kindness, but..." Liu Bei's voice was somewhat helpless. "I am a young man full of vigor and vitality. Is it really okay for Meng De to be alone in a room with me like this?"

"Isn't it good?"

Cao Cao subconsciously asked back, but perhaps also realizing his own identity, he immediately smiled and said, "You are just a brat who hasn't even been crowned yet, what are you thinking about... Humph, I'm just here to pass bath beans to a junior, that's all."

Then you don’t need to emphasize it so many times!

Just hand over the thing honestly. It's very rude of you to stare at me without blinking!

Liu Bei imitated Cao Cao's behavior, took several deep breaths, and pretended to be embarrassed. He said, "No matter what, I am... a man after all, and I still feel a little ashamed..."

"Really? I thought that after Emperor Gaozu abolished slavery and made men and women equal, there would be fewer barriers between men and women."

“…These two things are completely unrelated.”

"Not at all related? Xuande's choice of words is really interesting, hahahaha..."

Emperor Gaozu abolished slavery and ordered that the status of men and women be equal, and women could also hold official positions and be granted titles of nobility, at least on the surface.

Liu Bei first learned about these two things from the bamboo slips left by his father. The Gaozu here refers to Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, who founded the Han Dynasty, but the situation seems to be somewhat different from that in history.

This great-grandfather was more... well, how should I put it, more modern?

Many of the things he did were based on the education of future generations, and his decisions were never wrong. Ultimately, these strategies led to a rise in the overall national strength of the Han Dynasty, and women were able to serve as officials and generals.

During his lifetime, Liu Bang even granted hereditary marquisate titles to many women.

It was like a time traveler... or maybe it was? Who knew? Perhaps it was just butterfly wings, or perhaps it was a giant from another timeline.

"Okay, little Liu, I'll get out of here first."

Cao Cao walked up to him with a smile, put the bath beans in his hand into Liu Bei's hand, and glanced at him lightly, but did not see any figure.

Is it an illusion?

"Thank you, Mengde."

"It should."

Cao Cao had no excuse left and couldn't stay any longer, so he turned around and walked out openly, but a thoughtful look appeared on his beautiful face.

My feeling is definitely not wrong.

There must be other people here.

However, there are definitely quite a few secret sentries and guards around Cao's mansion. Most of them are family guards directly provided by the Cao family, and some are official troops brought by the Northern Wei. It’s not said how powerful these people are in martial arts, but at least it’s impossible for anyone to have the chance to sneak in.

Then there are only two possibilities. One is that this person took advantage of the time when I was traveling and taking the guards away to wait here in advance. The other is... the force behind Liu Bei.

Among the intelligence handed over by the Cao family, there was a record: Liu Bei of Zhuo County seemed to control a group of private assassins who came and went without a trace, mostly composed of wanderers and beggars from Zhuo County.

Although there was no absolute proof, if the situation was true, then...how could Liu Bei have been so easily captured by Jian Shuo's men? Given the abilities of the assassins behind him, and even the strength he had just displayed, it was clearly impossible for him to make such a huge mistake.

Xuande, my good Xuande, I am becoming more and more curious about you.

On the other side, after Liu Bei confirmed that Cao Cao had completely left, he put Gongsun Zan in his arms back on the chair and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Scared, scared to death.

It was almost, just a little bit, and my reputation would be gone.

If it was just my reputation, it would be fine, but this girl is from the Gongsun family. Who knows if they would kill someone to restore their reputation...

Huh? As for where Gongsun Zan hid it?

Cao Cao's suspicion was correct. When she didn't look over, Gongsun Zan was indeed in Liu Bei's arms, but when she looked over, Gongsun Zan was hiding under the chair.

Liu Bei was betting that Cao Cao would not have been staring at him the entire time. With just a quick glance and the fog blocking his view, he would not have noticed.

Fortunately, the bet was successful.

"It's really not a good place to stay for long."

Liu Bei stood up again. At this time, the petite girl on the chair fluttered her eyelashes, opened her eyes in a daze, and then met his eyes.

So the girl blushed again.

Kindness: Chapter 7: Sister Gongsun Knows Shame

"How could you be so... shameless!?"

Gongsun Zan did not scream this time. He just covered his eyes with his hands and looked at her secretly through the gaps between his fingertips.

Damn it, why don’t you look at where we are before you talk... Are you not being shameless in the bathroom? Are you being shameless in public on the street?

Although Liu Bei was madly complaining in his heart, he still bowed and said, "I greet you, Senior Sister. I hope you won't mind me being so frank."

"Don't blame me? Me? Oh, right!"

Gongsun Zan finally remembered the purpose of his visit and exclaimed, "I remember now. I heard that Junior Brother was taken away by that Cao family member. I was worried that something might have happened to you, so I chased after you to find out..."

As she spoke, she actually burst into tears. Gritting her teeth, she said without looking away, "Brother, don't worry. Even if you... you have been humiliated by that thief Cao, as your senior sister, Zan will definitely not despise you!"

I? Was I humiliated by Cao?