Rebirth of the Three Kingdoms: Da Qiao doesn't want to be a widow anymore

Chapter 356 Patricide and Brother Killing

Xu Shu knew very well that Jian Yong, Mi Zhu, and others were good at governing but not at military affairs, and were too smooth-talking to dissuade Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and others from their rashness on some military decisions.

As for Zhuge Liang... Xu Shu looked at his friend with expectant eyes, hoping he could give a positive answer.

However, Zhuge Liang said, "Yuan is extremely filial. It is only natural that he must be summoned to leave for his mother's sake."

"The same goes for me. My wife and Dr. Hua are both in Wancheng now, and I must go there too."

The light in Xu Shu's eyes gradually faded. Even though Zhuge Liang never mentioned it, Xu Shu knew in his heart that Zhuge Liang's departure was only because Liu Bei was unwilling to fully trust him.

Under the pretext of escorting the seriously ill Liu Qi back to Xiangyang, Liu Bei led his personal guards into the Xiangyang official residence late at night, massacred Liu Biao's confidants, placed Liu Biao, Lady Cai, and Liu Cong under house arrest, seized the official seal of the governor, and took control of the entire city of Xiangyang in Liu Qi's name.

This coup was both thrilling and intense. Neither Liu Biao nor Lady Cai could have imagined that Liu Bei, who was usually gentle and benevolent, would suddenly tear off all his hypocritical masks and, in the face of a formidable enemy in Jingzhou, would turn his spearhead and open his bloody maw to bite the neck of the person he had taken in.

The story of Mr. Dongguo is unfolding so vividly before my eyes.

After the coarse meal was overturned, Lady Cai held her youngest son, Liu Cong, and cried to the seriously ill Liu Biao by the bedside, "My brother said long ago that Liu Bei is like a wolf and a tiger, and will not stay under someone else's control for long."

Your husband didn't believe you and even let him lead troops to garrison Xinye. Now look what's happened! He's using the troops you gave him to turn around and kill you!

Liu Qi was older, and although he was a bit unruly before, he was still a good child. Now, following this scoundrel Liu Bei, he has abandoned all sense of propriety, righteousness, and shame, and is even learning to kill his father and brother.

These cries were like sharp thorns piercing Liu Biao's heart, making his already ashen face turn even more ashen, and his breathing become even heavier.

"Madam Cai should know better than I do the truth about Father's illness!"

Suddenly, the door was pushed open with a loud bang.

Liu Qi heard Madam Cai's sobbing outside. He pushed open the door with a cold smile on his lips. Madam Cai's tears were still in her eyes, and her aggrieved expression was frozen on her face.

Upon recognizing Liu Qi, Lady Cai shielded Liu Cong behind her, as if Liu Qi were some kind of monstrous threat.

Liu Qi bypassed Lady Cai and went straight to Liu Biao's bedside, holding a bowl of medicine in his hand. "Father, you have been ill ever since I left Xiangyang and arrived in Xinye. Isn't this strange?"

Although my father falls ill every autumn and winter due to old injuries, why is he so seriously ill this year, unable to even get out of bed?

Liu Biao's face darkened, and his gaze toward Lady Cai turned cold.

But he never took the medicine from Liu Qi's hand.

Lady Cai knew that Liu Biao had become suspicious. She lowered her head, and large tears fell to the ground. "How can you, my lord, still believe this boy's words? If he hadn't colluded with Liu Bei and intended to replace you, why would he have turned on everyone in the mansion with weapons?"

“Father is seriously ill because of the harm done by General Cai and Madam Cai. Now I just want to clear your name and let you see the true colors of the Cai siblings.”

After saying this, Liu Bei dragged the physician from his residence in and threw him in front of Liu Biao. "I have found out that this scoundrel tampered with the lord's medicine. Tell me, who ordered him to do this!" The physician trembled and knelt on the ground, not daring to answer. But Liu Bei had his family members with him, and finally, with trembling hands, he pointed to Lady Cai.

Liu Biao's eyes grew increasingly gloomy. He was not unaware of Cai Mao and Lady Cai's schemes, but he still needed the support of the local gentry to govern Jingzhou. Moreover, Cai Mao commanded troops, so there was no need for him to turn against the Cai family.

He sent Liu Qi to Xinye in the hope that Liu Qi could use the power of outsiders like Liu Bei to free Jingzhou from the constraints of powerful families. If Liu Qi failed, he could still sit comfortably in the position of governor of Jingzhou. If he succeeded, he would not mind making Liu Qi his successor.

It's like trying to drive away wolves and tigers; both sides suffer losses, and you end up becoming a prisoner yourself.

Madam Cai wept, her eyes filled with the sorrow of being distrusted. "Now that everyone in this manor is under the swords and axes of the eldest young master and General Zuo, everyone is naturally speaking ill of the eldest young master. With such a farce, the evidence is overwhelming, how can I possibly refute it?"

Liu Qi was annoyed by Madam Cai's constant crying. It was always the same. Even though he had done many bad things, as soon as he shed a tear, his father would naturally assume that he, as the stepson, did not respect Madam Cai, his stepmother.

This trick always worked. Whenever Lady Cai cried, Liu Biao would choose to believe Lady Cai over Liu Qi.

She has a gentle nature and a soft mind.

I don't know if they were too flattered by the Cai family's kind words, but the ambition they had when they first entered Jingzhou has long since disappeared.

But Cai Mao was by no means a loyalist to the emperor and a patriot. To him, it didn't matter how the Han Dynasty fell, or who sat in the position of governor of Jingzhou today, as long as the Cai family could remain a prominent family in Xiangyang, Jingzhou.

Sure enough, whenever Lady Cai cried, Liu Biao couldn't help but show a look of heartache, saying, "Alright, I didn't say I didn't believe you."

Moreover, the greatest threat to Liu Biao now is not Lady Cai, but Liu Qi and Liu Bei.

Madam Cai immediately pressed her advantage, weeping and kneeling on the ground.

"I know that the eldest young master has never liked me and my younger brother Cong'er, but I have never mistreated him in the slightest. Whether it is food, clothing, daily necessities, or tutors, everything is the best. Even things that Cong'er doesn't have are sent to the eldest young master first."

The eldest son is the legitimate heir, and Cong'er is still young. No matter what, she can't compete with the eldest son, and in the future, she will rely on the eldest son's protection.

If the eldest young master is dissatisfied with me, I am willing to die to prove my innocence. I only ask that the eldest young master spare Cong'er. He is your flesh and blood, and has always respected and loved you as his elder brother. He would never pose any threat to the eldest young master.

Besides, the magistrate is the eldest son's father. I urge the eldest son not to be easily swayed by outsiders and harm the bond between father and son!

After saying this, he knelt down and bowed to Liu Qi.

After all, Madam Cai was an elder, and this act of kneeling, both in terms of etiquette and human sentiment, was meant to completely nail Liu Qi to the pillar of shame for being disloyal and unfilial.

Liu Bei did not move, but Liu Qi immediately turned away, refusing the courtesy.

Seeing that Liu Qi remained unmoved, Lady Cai turned away and drew the sword from Liu Bei's side, as if to prove her innocence.

Liu Bei gripped his sword tightly, watching Lady Cai's commotion with cold eyes.