Three Kingdoms, Myth

Chen Xi left Liu Bei's house feeling utterly disoriented. When did he become so melodramatic? Is it true that if you aren't dramatic, you aren't young? What a joke! Chen Xi was depressed.

"Damn it, Liu Bei, you lunatic! You dragged me into your madness and infected me with it. You bastard!" Chen Xi's face was dark, emitting an aura that kept people at bay as he cursed Liu Bei furiously in his heart.

On the other side, Liu Bei felt rather good about himself. He thought his earlier display of grandeur was enough to make his current self tremble. Saying he would surpass his ancestors—heroes truly needed to have moments of hotheadedness to achieve greatness!

"Indeed, Zichuan is not a man to be underestimated. How could a genius settle for just being the head of a family? If his ambition were so small, wouldn't it waste his talents? Like-minded! Truly like-minded!" Liu Bei laughed heartily. Bringing Chen Xi into his madness today was a pleasant surprise. No matter how lazy Chen Xi appeared, his ambition, his vision, and his scale of thinking were unparalleled. Even the idea of surpassing their ancestors was something Chen Xi could shoulder!

Chen Xi had no idea about Liu Bei's expectations for him. Even if he did, he'd feel conflicted. Right now, he still felt uncomfortable. Every time he recalled Liu Bei holding his hand, enveloped in a dramatic aura, he thought he should just rest and recover.

Chen Zichuan fell ill. Although the exact illness was unknown, he stayed home every day, lying in bed motionless, even when Fan Jian came over. He would just cover his head and continue lying there, mumbling that his laziness was acting up.

"Husband, get up. You've been lying in bed for many days," Fan Jian, this middle schooler, pulled on Chen Xi's arm, trying to drag him out, but to no avail. Chen Xi remained motionless, stubbornly clinging to the bed.

"Zichuan, big brother ordered me to take you out of the city!" Zhang Fei's loud voice shook the dust off the beams.

"I'm so tired. If third brother needs something, find Zijing." Chen Xi's weak voice emerged from under the blanket. Initially, he felt embarrassed, but now he simply felt that resting was comfortable. Lazing in bed all day was also a way of life—a very good one.

"Madam," Zhang Fei said, bowing to Fan Jian, "please excuse me. There is an important matter today, so I must ask Zichuan to come with me. I hope you understand."

"General, there's no need for such courtesy. I've been trying to get my husband to go out more as well, but..." Fan Jian sighed as she spoke.

"Leave it to me, old Zhang. It's just some sunbathing, right? I'll make sure to take Zichuan out every day from now on." Zhang Fei pounded his chest like a drum.

"Thank you, General Zhang. Oh, by the way, I have some wine at home. I'll fetch it for you." Fan Jian smiled and turned to leave, giving Zhang Fei the chance to take Chen Xi away.

"Hey, third brother, what's the matter? I was sleeping. Disturbing someone's dream is not a good thing." Chen Xi pulled off the covers and poked his head out. He wouldn't give Zhang Fei the excuse to roll him up in his bedding and carry him off, nor would he give him the chance to carry both the bed and him. He'd been caught off guard before when Zhang Fei carried him and the bed out together, still moving swiftly.

"Zijing is back," Zhang Fei said excitedly. Hua Xiong, a guy he liked to spar with, had returned, giving him another opponent.

"Oh, he arrived at the Taishan border ten days ago. The ceremony seems off," Chen Xi said, getting up.

Chen Xi knew what was going on. Liu Bei had been fuming recently. Though Chen Xi had calmed him down, Liu Bei had heard about the imperial envoy's arrival, which reignited his anger. He declared that he and his officials would fast for nine days to honor the imperial decree.

Liu Bei felt he couldn't control his anger with the envoy's arrival. He hadn't faced many hardships and was far from hiding his emotions. Rather than letting the world see his displeasure with Liu Xie, he chose to stall, hoping to calm down before meeting the envoy.

This fasting was just for show. Liu Ye, a Han clan member, understood Liu Bei's feelings after hearing about Wang Yun's situation. The angrier a person was, the more loyal they were. Those who remained silent were either disillusioned or had turned rebellious.

Zhang Fei patted Chen Xi's shoulder. Sometimes he was careless, but other times he was incredibly perceptive. He knew what was going on but didn't question Liu Bei because Liu Bei's choices always represented him.

"Let's go. Since Zijing is back, let's welcome him. Have the accommodations for Miss Cai and those two friends been prepared? Are the furniture and decorations all set?" Chen Xi asked as he got dressed.

"Everything is ready," Zhang Fei nodded.

"Good. Inform the others. I'll fix my hair and join you. As for the strong wine, drink less of it. I'm not joking; too much could be deadly," Chen Xi said, signaling Zhang Fei to leave, assuring him he'd be ready soon.

After Zhang Fei left, Chen Lan helped Chen Xi with his hair. Chen Xi then took a carriage to the city gates to welcome Hua Xiong and his party. He already knew his official position and title; he just needed to make an appearance and receive his seal.

The announcement of the imperial decree was brief. Everyone's thoughts were elsewhere. The Han Dynasty was unstable, unable to pay salaries. Official positions meant nothing if you couldn't assume office.

Liu Bei showed respect for the decree, but his true feelings were unknown. Chen Xi knew Liu Bei's loyalty to the Han Dynasty was genuine, but his loyalty to the current emperor was unreliable. Liu Bei's recent dramatic declarations revealed his dissatisfaction with the emperor. The hurt was too deep.

This time, Liu Bei wasn't here to welcome the envoy or Miss Cai but to meet Chen Xi's friends.

Liu Bei had realized that to achieve his grand vision, he needed talented people, the higher their caliber, the better. Each additional talent brought him closer to his goal. Chen Xi was already extraordinary, so his friends couldn't be weak. Welcoming them was a duty for a hero like Liu Xuande!

So, he understood now. To fulfill his lofty ambitions, Liu Bei needed the best people, and Chen Xi's friends fit that bill.