Chapter 24

Chapter 658: Lü Bu's Counterintelligence (1)

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Zhang Xi unpacked her luggage at the governor's residence in Zhongtian.

Lü Bu specially arranged for Zhang Xi, An Xi, and Jin Xi to stay in a particular pavilion. Of course, it wasn't out of genuine consideration. The main reason was that it would be harder to monitor them if they were scattered.

Zhang Xi felt a strange sensation.

"Unpacking here gives me a strange feeling."

"Before I changed clothes, Jin Xi said the same thing. We never thought we'd be staying in the quarters that belonged to Zhong Xi..."

An Xi's words made Jin Xi tilt her head.

"This pavilion is the best in the governor's residence, so why did they let us stay here instead of giving it to the main consort? Sister, aren't you curious?"

This time, the quarters that belonged to Zhong Xi were occupied by Zhang Xi and her companions. Zhong Xi was the beloved concubine of Huang Bosun, so it was natural that the largest and best pavilion in the governor's residence was hers.

If Lü Bu had become the master of Zhongtian, his main consort should have taken over this pavilion.

However, this pavilion was assigned to them, not to Lü Bu's main consort. Zhang Xi didn't think much of it.

"There are three of us. Besides, we were offered as gifts by the Guanxi army, so they couldn't have put us in a camp full of men."

Zhang Xi's lips twitched. Although Lü Bu hadn't called them yet, she thought he wouldn't want them to be touched by other men.

Their conversation then shifted to Chaoxian.

"An Xi, Jin Xi, the young girl by Lü Bu's side must be his main consort, right? What do you think of her?"

"She's pretty. I can understand why Lü Bu only kept one main consort, right, Jin Xi?"

"Does Lü Bu like young girls? Ugh! I didn't see it that way..."

Zhang Xi shook her head.

"If he liked young girls, there would have been rumors by now. Good news doesn't spread quickly, but bad news does."

As Zhang Xi said, if Lü Bu had a penchant for young girls, they wouldn't have been sent to him.

"When do you think Lü Bu will call us, Sister?"

"An Xi, he'll call me, not us."

"Who knows? There are men who sleep with different women every night."

An Xi and Jin Xi were curious about when Lü Bu would call them. Although only a day had passed, they couldn't hide their anxiety.

"The later, the better."

"Are you going to wait until you're old and die before he finds you..."

In response to Zhang Xi's words, An Xi tickled her side. Zhang Xi leaned back and laughed. Her laughter echoed over the wall, and one of the Goumian warriors in a mask quietly disappeared.

* * *

"Playing so well, aren't you? How dare you..."

Zhe Gao, who had come to inspect Zhang Xi's pavilion, was furious. She was the Goushi Queen, capable of having multiple men, but the idea of sharing a man was unthinkable.

Even if she was ignorant of Han customs, she knew that the beauties sent by Huang Bosun were meant to charm Lü Bu. She pondered what to do and then abruptly stood up.

Was she going to confront Lü Bu? No. She headed not to Lü Bu's quarters but to Chaoxian's. Her steps were filled with determination.

Chaoxian's quarters.

Lü Bu hadn't visited Chaoxian. Despite the recent events, he hadn't shown up to apologize or soothe her anger.

Of course, this made her unhappy, but she could endure it. However, there was one thing she couldn't ignore: Lü Bu's gaze on Zhang Xi.

'It can't be... He's not the kind of person to do that...'

Chaoxian thought Lü Bu had changed. After all, he had refused a marriage alliance, saying that Chaoxian alone was enough. Now, he was looking at women with lustful eyes, which she found hard to believe.

'Should I have clung to him and cried?'

Chaoxian shook her head. Her pride wouldn't allow it. Though she had nothing, the less she had, the more important her pride became.

'Should I just leave?'

Again, Chaoxian shook her head. Love, it seemed, could trample even a woman's pride.

'Ah! What should I do now? Who can I ask in a situation like this?'

Chaoxian thought of Cai Yan. But that was impossible. Cai Yan was immersed in happiness between two men who adored her.

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the door.

"Move aside!"

"The commander has ordered that you not be allowed to see the two of them. I'm sorry, but you need to return to your quarters."

"I'll kill you if you don't move."

Zhe Gao was arguing with one of the guards outside Chaoxian's quarters.

"Tsk! Go back while I'm being nice. You're carrying the commander's child, so I don't want to hurt you."

"Ha! Don't make me laugh. A lowly guard like you trying to block my path? Remember, I'm one of Lü Bu's subordinates."

Zhe Gao's martial arts were such that even a guard of Lü Bu's couldn't match her. However, neither could do anything to each other because of Lü Bu.

But they couldn't keep arguing like this forever. If Zhe Gao's patience ran out, things would get ugly.

However, a terrible incident didn't occur. Chaoxian opened the door and appeared. She looked at the mask of the guard and asked.

"What's the commotion at this hour?"

"Commotion?"

"We're not the kind of people who meet at night, are we?"

In response to Chaoxian's words, Zhe Gao shrugged. Chaoxian then gestured for her to come inside.

"Ah! I shouldn't do this..."

"General, can you just pretend not to see this once?"

Chaoxian looked up at the guard with teary eyes. Despite the lethal charm that triggered a protective instinct, the guard hesitated to make a decision.

Then, Chaoxian, realizing she needed to be more assertive, met his gaze and said firmly.

"General, I am Lü General's main consort. Please help me with my affairs. I will certainly reward you appropriately."

"Madam Chao, it's awkward to say, but please send me away. If I follow the commander, I'll end up living alone until I die."

* * *

Chaoxian nodded as if she understood what he wanted and asked.

"Do you drink a lot?"

"Ah! When I was in Bingzhou, I got so drunk that the commander left me on the street. I almost froze to death. Since then, I've never drunk to the point of losing consciousness."

"What about your salary?"

"Let me meet a woman. Everything is prepared. I just need to show up. I have a house, land, and more than ten goats."

Chaoxian suddenly grabbed his hand.

"I've already found many brides for Lü General's guards in Bingzhou and Youzhou. I'll take responsibility as a matchmaker, so please help me, okay?"

"My name is Zhe Ji, Zhe Ji. Don't confuse me with someone else. And you must keep your promise."

After reaffirming the promise to act as a matchmaker, Chaoxian was finally alone with Zhe Gao in the room.

For a long time, neither spoke. They didn't want to acknowledge each other's presence. But now that they had a common enemy, they needed to work together to defeat them.

Chaoxian was the first to break the silence.

"My name is Chaoxian. I am a descendant of Wuliao and a member of the Lin family from Xiadong, one of the three families that observe the celestial phenomena for the Son of Heaven."

"My name is Zhe Gao, the ruler of the Goushi Xiongnu and a noble descendant of the Yan family. I am one of the 36 kings of the Xiongnu, the Goushi King."

This was the first time Chaoxian and Zhe Gao formally introduced themselves.

They were trying to assert their status, much like cats puffing up their fur to appear larger.

But that didn't last long. Both knew the reality they faced. Chaoxian was the first to extend an olive branch.

"Would you take off your mask? I want to see your face."

At Chaoxian's request, Zhe Gao took off her Fangxiangshi mask without hesitation. She looked different from the Han women, but her beauty was undeniable.

"I wanted to see you. How could Lord Lü be so captivated by you that he broke his promise and even slept with you..."

"I wanted to see you too. I've always wanted Lü Bu, but you kept avoiding me."

"What do you think now?"

"You have a reason to be. Are you angry with me?"

"Of course I am. If I had the strength, I'd tear you apart."

Chaoxian, uncharacteristically, spoke aggressively. But this pleased Zhe Gao.

"Han women are said to act like Goushi men, who are different on the outside and inside, but you're different. I also want to tear you apart, but now isn't the time."

"I agree. Let's put our fight on hold and work together to drive away the beauties trying to charm Lord Lü."

* * *

While Chaoxian and Zhe Gao were forming a secret pact, Lü Bu was discussing with Guo Jia how to handle the beauties sent by Huang Bosun.

"I absolutely refuse to increase my harem. Having many consorts is not a good thing. I feel ashamed to face Chaoxian after sleeping with Zhe Gao. If I take another woman, she might leave me."

"Heroes are said to have three consorts and four concubines without it being a bad thing."

"I hate that saying. How can having three consorts and four concubines not be a bad thing? It's all just talk to cover up faults."

Guo Jia looked puzzled.

"General, you are a man. How can you not be interested in women?"

"Are you telling me to rush into the pavilion where the beauties are staying and enjoy myself?"

"Not yet."

As Guo Jia waved his hand to dissuade him, Lü Bu was taken aback.

"Not yet...? When exactly should I do that? Master, did Huang Bosun really send these beauties to make peace with me?"

"Of course not. He must have sent these beauties to cloud your judgment. The pretext of peace is good. If you agree, he can worry less about the rear."

"Knowing that, you're telling me to keep the beauties?"

Guo Jia nodded firmly. Lü Bu's eyes widened in surprise.

"Really keep them? Master, why are you saying this?"

"It's necessary. We need to make Huang Bosun feel secure enough to fall into our trap."

Guo Jia, unable to contain his sense of mission, spoke passionately.

"General Jia has been preparing for a long time. I'm taking over his duties temporarily and want to ensure his reputation remains untarnished."

"Completing Master Jia's strategy is good, but I'm in a hurry. If I keep doing this, I'll lose Chaoxian. So, let's do this. I need to confess everything to Chaoxian."

Guo Jia waved his hand at Lü Bu.

"That's not a good idea."

"Why not? Why can't I do that? If I give her a heads-up, I'll have something to say later, right?"

"That won't work either. To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies."

"If I do that, I'll lose Chaoxian, and everything will be for nothing."

As Lü Bu kept talking about Chaoxian, Guo Jia felt a surge of annoyance. He couldn't hide his true feelings.

"General, now is the time to discuss the great affairs of the world. How can you worry about household matters while discussing the great cause?"

Lü Bu countered.

"Even if the world is given to me, I won't exchange it for my main consort."

Guo Jia decided to change his approach to persuade Lü Bu.

"If we don't capture Huang Bosun this time, there will be no happy future for you and Lady Chao."

"What do you mean?"

"If Huang Bosun becomes the regent, what will he do to you, who opposed him? He will declare you a public enemy in the name of the Son of Heaven. No matter how vast the world is, there will be no place for you and Lady Chao to live peacefully."

"Will I become a rebel?"

Lü Bu thought deeply. The reason he could act so freely now was that he could claim to be the Son of Heaven's army.

Although the Son of Heaven's edicts didn't reach the eight passes, his name still carried weight.

Seeing Lü Bu's reaction, Guo Jia pressed on.

"If Huang Bosun in Guanzhong allies with Yuan Shao in Guandong... and if the feudal lords, who receive the Son of Heaven's edicts, join them... can we still win? Even if we win, we can't defend against all fronts."

Lü Bu shook his head vigorously, as if the thought was terrifying.

"Fine. What should I do? Should I go now and act smitten when I see the beauties?"

"Not now. Don't visit the beauties today, tomorrow, or the day after. And..."