Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

Chapter 126 Jia Xu Leaves the City

"Who is that person behind you?"

Upon hearing this, a faint flicker of emotion finally appeared in Yuan Shao's eyes, but it lasted only for a moment.

"I do not understand what Attendant Xun is saying."

Xun looked at him, neither anxious nor angry.

"Is it that you don't understand, or that you're afraid to speak?"

Yuan Shao cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his tone unchanged: "Behind me, there is only the court, only Your Majesty. Where is there any 'person behind me'?"

"If what Xun Shijiang is referring to are his staff, retainers, and old friends, then there are many people coming and going in the Yuan household. I cannot possibly summon them all for Your Highness and Shijiang to identify one by one."

Xun's eyes were slightly cold.

"Commander Yuan is a clever talker."

"Likewise," Yuan Shao replied calmly. "I have always admired Xun Shijiang's ability to judge people's hearts."

This intensified the invisible pull within the Chengde Hall.

Liu Bian sat at the head of the table, without uttering a word.

But he knew better than anyone that he wouldn't get any more information by asking further.

The fact that Yuan Shao dared to come today shows that he had already covered his tracks completely. This meeting isn't about determining victory or defeat, but about each other taking a look—

Let's see if you dare touch me.

Let's see if I dare to stand in front of you.

Xun Huo suddenly stopped asking questions and said softly, "I was somewhat surprised that Commandant Yuan could come today."

Yuan Shao smiled.

"Since I am innocent, why do you not come?"

"Your Highness is in charge of the state, and I, as your subject, should obey your summons."

The more grand and dignified these words are, the more disgusting they become.

Liu Bian finally spoke slowly, his voice cold and devoid of any inflection: "Yuan Benchu."

"You are standing here today not because you are innocent."

"It's because you've hidden yourself too well."

Yuan Shao looked up and met his gaze, his eyes showing no sign of flinching.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness."

The moment those five words were uttered, even Wang Ming, who was standing nearby, felt a chill run down his spine.

"Get lost."

Yuan Shao remained unmoved and still bowed respectfully.

"Your subject takes his leave."

As he turned, his steps remained unhurried, without the slightest hint of panic. Only after that figure had completely disappeared outside the palace gates did the air in the hall seem to begin to flow again.

Liu Bian sat in the same spot, remaining silent for a long time.

After a while, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups jump.

"Shameless!"

This was the first time he had truly lost his temper that day.

It wasn't because Yuan Shao said anything harsh.

It's because, having reached this point, he clearly knows the person is right in front of him, and he clearly knows that Yuan Shao's hand must be behind those layers of dirty deeds, yet he just can't do anything about it.

This sense of helplessness is even more infuriating than openly losing a game.

Xun Huo stood aside, not immediately offering advice, but waiting for the anger to subside before slowly saying, "Your Highness, it was the right thing to do not take action against him today."

Liu Bian raised his eyes.

Xun Yu calmly said, "If we forcefully attack Yuan Shao today, we will be giving the Yuan family an opportunity to publicly humiliate him."

"He dared to come today because he had anticipated this."

"What he wants may not be to escape unscathed. What he might want even more is for His Highness to be unable to resist taking action against the Yuan family on the very first day of his regency."

Liu Bian's eyes darkened.

He understood that, of course.

Understanding doesn't mean not being angry.

Seeing that he remained silent, Xun Huo's gaze lingered on his face for a moment before he suddenly said softly, "Your Highness is truly anxious this time."

Xun paused, but his voice remained steady: "I have followed Your Highness until now, and I have seen Your Highness use power to your advantage, seen Your Highness suppress your anger, and seen Your Highness knowingly choose not to kill."

But today is different.

"Your Highness is not only angry with Yuan Shao today."

"His Majesty fell ill, blood was spilled in Zhangde Palace, and Liangzhou was out of control. All these pressures, from within and without, have put His Highness under immense strain."

After a moment, Xun Huo slowly added, "That is precisely why Your Highness cannot follow his wishes today."

"Yuan Shao dared to stand before Your Highness not because he was not afraid of death."

"He knows that the most urgent time for His Highness is right now, and that's precisely when he shouldn't be killed."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian's anger did not dissipate immediately; instead, it subsided.

Because he knew that Xun was right.

Seeing that his expression had eased slightly, Xun Yu continued, "Yuan Shao's ability to advance and retreat so freely today precisely illustrates one thing."

"The person behind him is more stable than he is."

After those words were spoken, another silence fell over the hall.

After a long silence, Liu finally spoke.

"Sir, you are right."

He paused, his fingers slowly tightening on the edge of the table, then slowly loosening.

"I'm in a hurry."

Xun Huo didn't speak, he just looked at him.

Liu Bian stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

The morning wind blew in, making him feel a little cold.

"The moment my father coughed up blood, I had only one thought in my mind—I couldn't wait any longer."

"If we wait any longer, the person will be gone."

"If we wait any longer, those hands hidden in the shadows will reach everywhere they can."

He paused, his voice lowering even further: "But I only realized today that the more you rush, the easier it is to fall into a trap set by others."

Xun Huo walked half a step behind him and looked at his back.

"It's not too late for Your Highness to understand this."

Liu Bian did not turn around.

He simply looked out the window at the faint lights in the direction of Zhangde Hall in the distance, and stared for a long time.

"Wenruo, do you think we can find out who's behind this?"

Xun Huo did not answer immediately. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I can find out, but not now."

Why?

"Because this person was able to use Yuan Shao so smoothly, and also make all the connections break off with Yuan Shao at the same time, it shows that he never walked in Luoyang under his own name."

"A forceful investigation will only alert him and make him pull the remaining clues further in."

"Perhaps this person is no longer in Luoyang."

97

Liu Bian turned around and looked at him.

"The fact that Yuan Shao dared to come tonight shows that he has already taken what he needed to take and cut off what he needed to cut off. That person will not stay in the same place waiting for Your Highness to investigate."

The hall was silent for two breaths.

Liu Bian suddenly stood up, his voice turning cold.

"Pass on the order."

"Investigate the carriages, horses, messengers, post riders, caravans, and private boats that left Luoyang tonight."

"Especially those heading west."

"Anyone who leaves the pass within three days, let them through one by one!"

"promise!"

He responded to the call and left, his footsteps as swift as a sudden downpour.

Meanwhile, outside the west gate of Luoyang, an inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage slowly drove away into the night.

There were no lights in the car.

With only one hand, a half-inch of curtain was gently lifted, and a faint glance was cast at the city receding into the distance behind.

The walls of Luoyang were shrouded in night, resembling a crouching giant beast.

Jia Xu lowered the curtain, his expression calm and almost undisturbed.

The situation in Beijing has been pushed to the point where it should be pushed back.

Later on, it was no longer just a matter of playing a few moves of chess in the palace, the Eastern Palace, or the warm pavilion of the Yuan residence.

Next, the chessboard should be expanded to a larger area.

The wheels rolled over the official road, making a dull, rhythmic sound.

Heading west.

They headed towards Liangzhou.