Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 43: Retrieving a Corpse from the River
The Ten Eunuchs committed suicide by jumping into the river, and Lu Zhi prepared to escort Liu Bian and Liu Xie back to the palace.

Liu Xie was worried that Lu Zhi would doubt his identity, so he pretended not to know how to ride a horse and rode on the same horse with Liu Bian.

Lu Zhi tightened the reins, waiting for Wei Xiaobao to catch up, then asked, "You've been in the palace all these years? How come I've never seen you before?"

Wei Xiaobao was still thinking about the imperial seal when he suddenly heard Lu Zhi's question. For a moment, he was at a loss for words. Recalling what had happened since he arrived at the palace from Guangzong County, he said, "Empress Dowager Dong and Empress He are fighting openly and secretly. Many things in the palace are done secretly, so it's not convenient for me to go find the teacher."

Lu Zhi nodded and said, "All things in the world are won by keeping secrets and lost by publicity. He Jin wanted to eliminate the Ten Eunuchs, and he should have done so in secret. However, he listened to Yuan Shao and his men, summoning Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo to the capital, causing a sensation and ultimately costing his life. Fortunately, you are here this time, otherwise His Majesty and the Prince of Chenliu would be in danger."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Even if Dong Zhuo and Ding Yuan hadn't come to the capital, Zhang Rang would have attacked He Jin sooner or later. After all, I instigated them a long time ago. Fortunately, Zhang Rang committed suicide by jumping into the river. With his death, there is no evidence to prove this, and you won't know about it anyway."

Lu Zhi continued, "The eunuchs' influence has been eradicated. While the Yellow Turban rebels still wreak havoc, they are no longer a threat. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, it's a golden opportunity for us to assist in governing the country, pacifying the people and saving the nation. I promised to take you in and recommend you for an official position. Today, you've even more meritorious than before. When Your Majesty returns to the North Palace, I will immediately submit a memorial to commend you for your service."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "The story will get even more complicated later, but you just don't know it yet. You should go to the Emperor to ask for credit for me, that's your business. I have to be busy looking for the imperial seal and get home. But thank you anyway."

Wei Xiaobao clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, teacher."

Lu Zhi said, "The Empress Dowager passed away in her fiefdom. Although the Prince of Chenliu was favored by the late emperor, he should no longer covet the throne. When you enter the court as an official, you must serve the emperor with all your heart and soul."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "So you thought I was in cahoots with the Grand Empress Dowager. You were worried that I would kidnap Liu Xie and seize Liu Bian's throne, so you bribed me with promises of an official position."

Lu Zhi added, "After you officially become my disciple, I will arrange your marriage. I think you are old enough to get married. After all, I promised you four years ago."

Wei Xiaobao's heart warmed. Ever since being sent here by Master Hong, no one had truly cared about him. Although He Lingsi had asked Wei Xiaobao if he was sincere, Wei Xiaobao felt that He Lingsi was only interested in her son's throne. Zhang Rang and the others were even more important; Wei Xiaobao had been using them.

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "This old man really cares about me as much as my master does. It's a pity that I can't stay here for many more days. Before I leave, should I tell him my identity?"

Just when Wei Xiaobao was at a loss, the sound of horse hooves and wheels came from the river bank ahead, and soon a group of people and horses came up to them.

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Could it be that Cao Cao and Yuan Shao have already cleared out the eunuchs in the palace and are coming out specifically to welcome the emperor?"

Someone has already gone to question him.

Wei Xiaobao saw a fat, bearded man kneel down in front of Liu Bian and Liu Xie's horses.

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "This guy is fatter than He Jin. Could he be He Jin's younger brother, He Lingsi's second brother? Why does he look older than He Jin?"

The man said, "Dong Zhuo, the governor of Xiliang, is here to see you."

Liu Xie asked, "Are you Dong Zhuo?"

Dong Zhuo replied, "I am Dong Zhuo."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Is this Dong Zhuo? You fat guy, it's a shame that you gave Diao Chan to be your concubine. If I snatch Diao Chan away, I wonder if Lu Bu will kill you? Forget it, I'd better not get involved in your affair. If it prevents Xiao Xuanzi from becoming the emperor, I will be sorry for my good friend. Even if it doesn't affect Xiao Xuanzi's becoming the emperor, what if I get killed by Lu Bu in your place? Wouldn't that be too unfair?"

Wei Xiaobao whispered, "Teacher, Dong Zhuo's arrival is such a coincidence! We just found the Emperor and he shows up right after."

Lu Zhi sneered and said, "Dong Zhuo has already arrived in Luoyang, but he's just stationed his troops by the river, waiting to see He Jin and the Ten Attendants fight, hoping to reap the benefits."

Wei Xiaobao said, "This old fellow is quite cunning. He lets others beat him up and then takes advantage of him." Lu Zhi said, "Did you see the man in the blue robe behind Dong Zhuo?"

Wei Xiaobao nodded.

Lu Zhi continued, "This man's name is Jia Xu, and he's Dong Zhuo's advisor. This strategy of watching the fire from the other side of the river must have come from him."

Wei Xiaobao remembered that the storyteller had once told the story of Jia Xu, praising his strategies as being no less clever than Zhuge Liang's. He said, "He's so clever. Wouldn't it be wonderful if he could serve the Emperor in the future?"

While Wei Xiaobao was talking to Lu Zhi, Liu Bian and Liu Xie had already arranged for Dong Zhuo to escort him back to the palace.

Lu Zhi sighed and said, "Jia Xu is from Xiliang and has a close relationship with Dong Zhuo. I'm afraid he will only help Dong Zhuo to embarrass the emperor."

Wei Xiaobao didn't have a chance to speak to Liu Xie alone along the way. After the group returned to the palace and settled down, and Liu Bian and Liu Xie returned to their respective bedrooms, Wei Xiaobao hurriedly inquired about the whereabouts of the jade seal.

Liu Xie said, "When Empress Dowager He summoned me to Yongle Palace, Zhang Ran was already there. I was so focused on leaving a mark for you along the way that I didn't care whether they mentioned the imperial seal or not."

Wei Xiaobao sat slumped on the bed, his heart already cold, and said, "It's all over now."

Liu Xie said, "If Zhang Rang didn't take the seal with him, then it should still be with He Jin."

Wei Xiaobao said, "When I was in Yongle Palace, I heard the soldiers say that Zhang Rang had found the imperial seal on He Jin. If Zhang Rang hadn't given it to Liu Bian, it could only be in their possession. Yes, maybe the seal is still in their possession. Shuang'er, come with me out of the city."

Liu Xie asked, "Are you planning to salvage Zhang Rang and his men's bodies from the river?"

Wei Xiaobao nodded and said, "I've seen rope nets in the palace these days. Although they're not as strong as fishing nets, they're enough to retrieve corpses. Besides, Shuang'er used to go fishing with Third Madam and the others in Huzhou, so this shouldn't be difficult."

The palace was full of soldiers, cleaning up the blood and dirt left by the previous fight. Wei Xiaobao, dressed in his military uniform, blended in with the crowd without anyone noticing him.

Wei Xiaobao found the rope net, and he and Shuang'er led two horses under the city wall outside the palace and galloped towards the city gate.

On the way, Wei Xiaobao saw many soldiers leaving the city, but these people were sneaking out. If Wei Xiaobao didn't also want to leave the city sneakily, it would be difficult to find them.

Shuang'er asked curiously, "What are these soldiers doing sneaking out of the city at night?"

Wei Xiaobao was greatly alarmed and asked, "Could it be that they are also going to the river to look for the jade seal like us?"

Thinking of this, Wei Xiaobao didn't dare to delay for a moment and rode straight to the river bank. When he arrived, he found that the place where Zhang Rang had jumped into the river was empty, and Wei Xiaobao felt relieved.

Wei Xiaobao and Shuang'er worked so hard all night to fish out two bodies, but Zhang Rang was not among them. They could only return to the palace at daybreak, and on the way they met soldiers entering the city.

Wei Xiaobao was only concerned about the imperial seal, and it took him four or five days to finally salvage all the eunuchs who had jumped into the river that day. However, the imperial seal was not found on Zhang Rang, nor on anyone else.

But there was one thing that made Wei Xiaobao feel more and more strange, that is, every night he would see soldiers leaving the city, and when they returned in the morning, he would see soldiers entering the city.

(End of this chapter)