Chapter 26

Chapter 660: Lü Bu's Counterintelligence (3)

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Lü Bu became anxious. While he didn't know much about Cao Cao, he knew that Zhegao was more than capable of such a thing.

"Didn't you say it was for the greater cause? You mustn't touch that woman."

When Lü Bu pleaded earnestly, Zhegao took off her mask.

"Is it not infuriating that you can't wait to take another woman into your arms just because I'm pregnant? And you're taking her side?"

"I'm not taking her side... "

Lü Bu felt a sense of crisis as he was caught between the two women's fierce attacks. If this continued, Zhang Xi might really be torn to pieces, and he could be implicated.

It was also entirely possible that Zhegao and Chaoxian might leave him.

'Is this why they say you shouldn't chase two rabbits at once?'

Lü Bu sought a way out of this situation. Though his mind wasn't the best, he came up with a decent solution in such a critical moment.

'In times like this, I need to change the subject.'

Lü Bu decided to change the topic. He needed a subject that could calm both of them down simultaneously.

"But why did the two of you come to see me together? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable for both of you?"

Zhegao answered as if she had been waiting for this question.

"In our Gao Shi Xiongnu tribe, it's not uncommon for several women to fight over one man. There's only one beautiful flower, but many want to pick it, so it's natural for them to fight. But one person can't fight everyone else alone."

Chaoxian chimed in.

"It's better to have a one-on-one competition than to have five. Isn't it natural to team up to eliminate the competition?"

Their logic was simple.

Instead of five women fighting over Lü Bu, Chaoxian and Zhegao wanted to be the last two standing. To achieve this, they decided to team up to eliminate the other women.

At the same time, they had an unspoken agreement not to fight each other first.

"So, are the two of you on good terms now?"

In response to Lü Bu's question, Chaoxian and Zhegao glared at him and said in unison.

"No way!"

"You have big dreams!"

* * *

"Let me repeat, it's all for the greater cause. I had no choice but to play along."

Lü Bu couldn't reveal the details because Guo Jia had strictly warned him. Otherwise, he would have confessed everything to get out of this crisis.

"Shut up! How can anyone believe you when you can't even give a reason?"

"That's right. Sister, you're right!"

"Since when have you two been like sisters?"

"Don't try to change the subject!"

Chaoxian glared at Lü Bu, and then her eyes welled up with tears. Zhegao stroked Chaoxian's head to comfort her.

"A woman shouldn't cry like a man."

Although Zhegao tried to comfort her, Chaoxian fiercely pushed her hand away. She glared at Zhegao and then turned her gaze to Lü Bu.

"Lord, how did we end up like this?"

"I'm sorry. I just want you to trust me. Trust me, it's not what you think."

Despite Lü Bu's earnest plea, Chaoxian shook her head.

"If you can't explain, I will leave your side, my lord."

Lü Bu sensed that Chaoxian wasn't bluffing. Sure enough, she bowed to Lü Bu, a gesture that clearly indicated she was leaving for good.

Now Lü Bu had to make a decision: either keep the secret from Chaoxian for the greater cause or confess everything to avoid a disaster.

What would he choose?

There was no need to think long. Lü Bu was a man who would never trade Chaoxian for anything in the world, a rare lover in this era.

Lü Bu raised his hands as if surrendering and began to speak.

"Actually... "

A moment later, laughter erupted from Zhegao in Lü Bu's room.

"Ha ha ha! What? So that's what happened?"

Zhegao couldn't stop laughing after hearing Lü Bu's explanation of the situation.

On the other hand, Chaoxian's expression remained dark. The only difference was that she no longer looked at Lü Bu with resentment.

"I don't like it."

This was Chaoxian's first reaction after hearing Lü Bu's explanation.

"You don't like it? I didn't ask you to do anything."

Lü Bu's response made Chaoxian glance at Zhegao.

"Everyone makes mistakes. I know what happened. But this isn't a mistake, is it? What will you do with the woman you took into your arms? Kill her or let her live?"

Chaoxian was concerned that if Lü Bu slept with Zhang Xi, she might become a concubine too. Given Lü Bu's character, he wouldn't just ignore a woman he had taken into his arms.

Lü Bu couldn't be too forceful, but Zhegao seemed to understand his situation. She grabbed Chaoxian's wrist and made her look at her.

"Listen, girl. In our Gao Shi Xiongnu tribe, it's common to send capable men to the enemy as a strategy."

"This isn't the Gao Shi Xiongnu tribe."

As Chaoxian became excited like a child, Zhegao's hand struck her. Although she controlled her strength, Chaoxian's cheek still swelled up.

"Snap out of it. If you want to kill those women, you can do it after the mission is over. If you show your claws now, you'll ruin everything. Are you going to ruin Lü Bu's great cause just because you're his concubine?"

"What can I do if I can't tolerate it?"

"Men are like flowers. It's natural for bees to be attracted to fragrant flowers. Many women will still flirt with Lü Bu in the future. Are you going to throw a tantrum like a child every time?"

Chaoxian tilted her head.

"So, do you mean you can tolerate Lord taking other women into his arms?"

"Hmph! You're still young. Lü Bu isn't taking her because he likes her, is he?"

Zhegao tapped Chaoxian's forehead with her finger and continued.

"Think about it. Calm down... You can't find the right answer when you're angry."

"So what? What's your answer, sister?"

"Me? Why should I worry about such things? I can take Lü Bu into my arms whenever I want. It's your problem, not mine."

Chaoxian felt frustrated by Zhegao's words. But they were back to square one. They had only formed a temporary alliance, and fundamentally, they were still rivals.

The heavy silence suffocated Lü Bu.

In Han Dynasty, women were considered equivalent to property. Women could only hold official positions in extremely limited cases. Men could have multiple concubines, but women couldn't have multiple husbands, and their voices were low both at home and outside.

So, Lü Bu could have ignored Chaoxian's feelings and done as he pleased, but he was now waiting for her decision.

The dice had been thrown, and now he could only leave the outcome to fate...

After a long silence, Chaoxian gave her answer.

"I can give my body, but not my heart. I want Lord's heart to be solely mine."

Lü Bu thought Chaoxian's words were strange, but now wasn't the time to argue. He grabbed her hand and hugged her deeply.

"Trust me. I'm not taking women into my arms to satisfy my desires. Luoyang is just beginning to stabilize. If the Guanxi army crosses the passes now, the empire will fall into chaos."

Chaoxian understood what Lü Bu was trying to say, but she could only cry. Her small hand hit Lü Bu's chest, but it felt like a soft touch, and Lü Bu felt the pain in her touch.

Lü Bu's hand stroked Chaoxian's back up and down.

"Was my ambition to end the chaos too much to bear? If achieving my great cause meant making my women cry, I wouldn't have pursued it... But we've come too far. If I don't gain the empire, I won't have a happy future with you."

"My lord, I was foolish. I shouldn't have been just a commoner's wife..."

"Thank you for understanding."

Chaoxian wiped her tears and forced a smile.

"My lord, I will help you."

* * *

That night, Lü Bu called Guo Jia again. Guo Jia, sensing something was wrong, felt heavy-hearted as he walked to meet Lü Bu.

Sure enough, Lü Bu wasn't alone. He wasn't with Zhang Xi either. Instead, Chaoxian and Zhegao were by his side.

'Could it be... '

Guo Jia noticed Chaoxian's swollen, red eyes and guessed she had been crying. The problem was that her expression wasn't as dark as he expected.

Guo Jia suspected that Lü Bu had confessed everything to Chaoxian, and indeed, that was what happened.

"Master Guo, I'm sorry. I can't follow your advice."

Guo J