NOVPUB"Oh, how come you’re back?" Chen Xi was about to drink some tea before going to see the dogs with Jia Xu when, after gulping down a couple of sips, he saw Liu Bei, who had rushed off earlier, returning.
"Aren’t I allowed to come back?" Liu Bei retorted with a laugh and a scold. He was ecstatic today. Previously, he had kept up appearances, but now he couldn’t hide his true feelings. What noble demeanor, what broad-mindedness of the Feudal Lords, what ability to Conceal Emotions—all of that was less important than a son, or, well, perhaps a daughter...
"Sure, sure, you’re impressive. Mi Zhen, add some tea for Lord Xuande," Chen Xi hurriedly agreed with both hands up, then instructed Mi Zhen, who went over with a teapot upon seeing Liu Bei. Feeling guilty about bumping into Liu Bei, Mi Zhen was quite apologetic, though if she had bumped into Chen Xi, it wouldn’t have mattered at all.
"The thing is, I wanted to ask how much surplus grain we have. I’d like to distribute some to the citizens to make them happy," Liu Bei cheerfully said, apparently so delighted at having an heir that he’d lost all sense of direction.
"Oh, that’s easy. Just exempt them from part of the tax," Chen Xi said nonchalantly. Their grain tax was a fixed amount, so if it was waived, so be it. After all, their main source of grain storage was through regulated fields.
"That makes sense. In that case, let’s exempt every citizen from a dou of grain tax," Liu Bei excitedly proposed and then, as if something occurred to him, resolutely said, "Let’s consider it an early blessing for my son. From now on, we won’t collect that dou of grain tax anymore. It’s just a per capita tax exemption."
Chen Xi sipped his tea and began to ponder the impact of Liu Bei’s action. But before he could figure it out, Liu Bei continued.
"This dou of grain won’t be collected," Liu Bei happily repeated. "Hmm, my wife mentioned that she dreamed of the Big Dipper entering her embrace during pregnancy. Since we have a dou here, and I’ve just cut a dou of grain tax, why not call the child Adou for his milk name!"
"Pfft!" Chen Xi spat out his tea in shock, and Liu Bei was momentarily stunned, asking foolishly, "Zichuan, what’s wrong with you?"
"The Big Dipper entering one’s embrace is a good omen! The Big Dipper is eternally fixed, with all stars revolving around it—that’s a good sign," Li Youu laughed heartily while stroking his beard. The moment Liu Bei mentioned the Big Dipper’s embrace, Li Youu knew it had to be a boy.
"Zhongtian North Star presages unspeakable nobility, unspeakable nobility," Jia Xu picked up the thread and continued to sell the idea. His skill at physiognomy, Numerology, and dream interpretation was mediocre at best, but Li Youu was versed in them all. Naturally, as Li Youu took the lead, Jia Xu followed suit. The two of them were well aware of each other’s strengths and naturally propped each other up.
The Big Dipper itself implies the emperor, a connection Liu Bei had not considered before. He just wanted a son and excitedly ran with the idea. However, after Li Youu and Jia Xu’s interpretation, he suddenly caught on.
Suddenly, Liu Bei felt an indescribable sensation. The Zhongtian North Star entering one’s embrace— this was the Imperial Star! But Liu Bei knew his own affairs best; he had no interest in the throne at the moment.
Liu Bei had made a vow to the heavens initially to shackle himself, not wanting his heart to change. He used that impossible mission to curb any longing for the throne. But now that his own son was born under the Imperial Star, did this mean he had changed after all?
This dampened the previously enthusiastic Liu Bei’s spirits. With a wave of his hand at Li Youu and Jia Xu, he said, "Forget it, don’t talk about it anymore. It might still be a girl."
Li Youu and Jia Xu exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness in the other’s eyes. Liu Bei actually remained unmoved, was this some kind of joke?
"Zichuan, accompany me for a walk," Liu Bei said, somewhat dispiritedly. The excitement he had felt was extinguished by just one sentence from Li Youu, so he didn’t bother to ask why Chen Xi had just sprayed his tea.
"Oh, alright." Chen Xi understood the situation with just one glance at Liu Bei. He began to wonder if he made a mistake somewhere. Liu Bei, who was now completely indifferent to the throne, seemed more inclined toward becoming like Duke Zhou, leaving Chen Xi at a loss for words.
Walking along the road, the two were silent, eventually turning towards Chen Xi’s house. Seated at the stone table, Liu Bei watched a tree shedding its dry leaves and said, "Zichuan, why do you think people change?"
"It would be strange if they didn’t," Chen Xi said dryly. "Everything is changing all the time; some quickly, some slowly, some with boundaries, some without any decency. As long as people have desires, they will continue to change."
"When I say I want to restore the Han Dynasty, I mean it, not for that throne," Liu Bei said with a wry smile. "I suppose no one but you believes that, not even Yunchang and Yide, who have gradually come to recognize a hierarchy as my power has grown."
"Second Brother and Third Brother have their own considerations," Chen Xi said with a forced smile. He couldn’t help but recall the time at Hulao Pass when their group could sit and drink wherever they wished. But now, aside from him and Liu Bei, it seemed no one dared to take a seat without first offering a bow of respect.
"No need to comfort me, I know what I should. Sigh, the higher the position, the lonelier it becomes. In truth, I am quite fond of that girl, Mi Zhen." Liu Bei said with a lonely smile, and then expressed a thought that had Chen Xi bursting with laughter.
"Hahaha…" Chen Xi laughed heartily. Liu Bei saying he liked Mi Zhen was truly amusing news. "Take your chance while you can, Lord Xuande, do it quickly. You will certainly be ennobled in the future, and it is acceptable for Mi Zhen to become Concubine. Go ahead and take her."
"Zichuan, you rascal…" Liu Bei said with dissatisfaction, "What I meant is that I like her spirited character, not that sort of rigid sense of hierarchy. But marrying her would ruin her, so it’s better to just watch from afar. Besides, marrying a niece is a scandal to be avoided."
"Let me laugh a bit more." Chen Xi turned his head and continued to laugh loudly. He knew it would be something like this.
Now at Mount Tai, there were hardly any who did not show deference to Liu Bei and Chen Xi, even high officials like Lub Su, Jia Xu, and Li Youu would bow unintentionally in their presence. Despite Lub Su daring to pester Chen Xi to work, those people would never dare to defy an order from Chen Xi; such was the authority he had built up.
Cai Zhaoji, Cai Zhenji, and others would bow upon seeing Chen Xi or Liu Bei. As for Mi Zhen, her conception of hierarchy was not so defined, sometimes even arrogantly so, though at heart she was extremely kind. Thus, Chen Xi turned a blind eye to Mi Zhen’s mischief and accidents. Otherwise, could anyone really laugh off the burning of a library?
"Keep laughing, and once you’re done, I think it’s time I play matchmaker for Zizhong," Liu Bei said, glancing at Chen Xi and abruptly cutting off his laughter. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)
