Chapter 29: The Yuan Clan's Scheme (Part 1)

  Lü Bu is essentially a family man, and his family often influences the emotions of this world's number one fierce general. So after hearing the news personally delivered by Hebei Governor Zhang Yang, Lü Bu lost his composure and directly snatched a horse to rush to Zhang Yang's governor's mansion.

  Qin Xu felt great after giving Xu Huan the pear, and with Cao Hong's death, a huge weight that had been pressing on his mind for a long time finally disappeared. Although he still didn't have much strength in his body, he was already able to get out of bed and walk around slowly with the support of Cai Yan and Lü Linggui.

  "Madam, Cicada, Ling!"

  When he heard Fei Yang's urgent and excited shout, Qin Xiang felt amused and saw Wen Hou lose his composure, which also gave Qin Xiang a bold idea.

  After arriving in this era, the three kingdoms characters who were familiar with the previous life's knowledge of loyalty and treachery have become ordinary people with flesh and blood. Heroes or chaotic thieves, they also have joys and sorrows, and emotional ups and downs that are not known to ordinary people, such as Cai Yong, Cai Yan, Gao Shun, and Lv Bu.

  Unlike the cruel, brave and changeable Lü Bu in history books, at least Lü Bu gave Qin Xu an impression of being overbearing, family-loving, and even gentle, which is contradictory to his personality.

  No wonder Lü Bu, despite being scolded by many, still had so many followers, such as Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and Chen Gong. If Lü Bu hadn't made mistakes in his decisions throughout history, and if he had a place to rely on for survival, with his abilities and charisma, it's unlikely that he would have been killed by Liu Bei's single remark at the White Gate Tower.

  Now that Cai Yan's fate has changed, Cai Yong did not commit suicide due to Wang Yun's coercion, but can Lü Bu also escape the final tragic ending? Qin Xu dared not imagine.

  "Father? Mother? Sister Diao Chan? How did you all come here?" Just as Lü Linggui was quietly accompanying Cai Yan with Qin Xu, Lü Bu, who had just returned not long ago, didn't spend too much time being affectionate with his two wives and came to the room arranged by Zhang Yang for Qin Xu. A small main bookkeeper like Qin Xu could make Lü Bu attach such importance to him, making Qin Xu feel somewhat honored and surprised. Does Boss Lü dare not do so?

  "Qin Xu, how are you feeling now? Do you have any energy left in your body? Zhang Taishou has already helped to call for a doctor, don't worry too much." Lü Bu didn't wait for Qin Xu to pay his respects before pushing him down onto the low couch, his concerned expression evident on his face, making it difficult for Qin Xu to adjust for a moment.

  "Yes, Qin Zhubu. From now on, let the soldiers handle these bloody matters. You're just a weak and timid child, how dare you be so bold? Don't do this again in the future." Yan Shi, who followed Lü Bu into the room, glanced suspiciously at Qin Xu and Lü Lingqi with an air of doubt and spoke in a strange tone.

  "My lord! The two ladies, I am no longer seriously ill. It's a bother for you to come and visit me in person, but my heart is uneasy." Qin Xu said with a bitter smile. What else could be said? Except for Diao Chan asking Cai Yan to verify Qin Xu's "illness" without being too out of line, the concern from Lü Bu and Yan Shi made it difficult for Qin Xu to adapt for a while.

  "It's all right." Lü Bu let out a sigh and said with a smile: "These few times I've heard the scouts report, Chang'an is indeed as you expected that day. The Emperor and his ministers are safe and sound, Li Jue and Guo Si, those two villains, didn't dare to be too overbearing, only Wang...

  Obviously, although Old Wang did something not quite right in dealing with Lü Bu, after all, he was Diao Chan's adoptive father and had a common bond with Lü Bu in killing Dong Zhuo. Hearing that Wang Yun died by throwing himself off the city wall made Lü Bu feel somewhat melancholy, and Diao Chan's expression also looked somewhat gloomy.

  "Wang Situ Zhongyi died for the country, although he is dead, his name will be remembered for thousands of years!" In front of Lü Bu and Diao Chan, Qin Xu didn't want to say anything more about the already deceased Wang Yun, but instead gave him a high hat.

  Lü Bu seemed unwilling to dwell on the issue, nodded and showed a satisfied expression. He said to Qin Xu: "I've learned about your beheading of Cao Hong, well done. As for Cao Cao, I have had dealings with him before, he's a timid and incompetent person, his subordinates are all these petty people, not worth worrying about."

  Lü Bu's words were undoubtedly good news for Qin Xu, who was still considering how to explain his offense against Cao Cao. However, Lü Bu's contemptuous tone towards Cao Cao left Qin Xu speechless and torn between laughter and tears.

  It's no wonder that Lü Bu underestimated Cao Cao. Before the incident at Baimenlou, Cao was under Lü Bu's command and had suffered a lot, being discovered by Lü Bu when he assassinated Dong Zhuo, and being defeated and humiliated during the pursuit of Dong Zhuo after the coalition against him. If it weren't for Qin Yi killing Cao Hong and giving his horse to Cao Cao, Cao might have already been killed by Lü Bu. Even later, when Lü Bu was in a precarious situation and Cao's army surrounded Xiapi, if not for Guo Jia and Xun Yu's strategies, the outcome would still be uncertain.

  "Thank you, sir!" In response to Lü Bu's attitude towards Cao Cao, Qin Xu could only smile wryly and respond.

  "Dad! Qin Xu is not feeling well yet!" Seeing Lü Bu and Qin Xu chatting enthusiastically, Lü Lingqi, who was being stared at by Yan Shi's strange gaze, could only use her old dad Lü Bu as a shield, interrupting his conversation with Qin Xu, and said in a soft voice.

  "It's all right, it's my fault." Lü Bu smiled brightly and stopped talking to Qin Xu. He said to Yan Shi and Diao Chan: "Madam, Diao'er, since Ling'er and Cai are here, let's go. I borrowed Uncle Chi's horse and left him at the training grounds. Who knows, he might come looking for me to settle accounts later."

  "Hmph! The bill is nothing, if you don't treat me to a few cups of wine properly, don't blame me for not giving you face in front of your brothers and sisters!" Just as the words left his mouth, Zhang Yang arrived with a panting doctor, coincidentally catching up with Lü Bu's words.

  "Uncle Zhang!" Lü Bu was extremely close to Zhang Yang, and since Zhang Yang's personality was very easy-going, it also made Lü Lingqi very familiar with him.

  "Xiao Ling... has grown up so much, hasn't she promised someone?" Zhang Yang smiled.

  "Uncle Zhang will tease you!" Lü Linggui said disapprovingly. Although she was saying this, when she saw Qin Xu see Zhang Yang and want to get up, she quickly pulled Qin Xu's arm and said with a hint of blame: "Uncle Zhang Yang is not an outsider, your body has not fully recovered, don't be so polite."

  “……”

  Lü Bu seemed nonchalant, but Yan and Zhang Yang had identical strange expressions.

  Lü Bu's emphasis on Qin Xu, this small Zhongshu, as well as Lü Lingji's subconscious actions, made Zhang Yang's originally somewhat careless thoughts also produce a hint of curiosity about Qin Xu's identity.

  Lü Bu treated his subordinates very well and was deeply loved by them, which Zhang Yang knew. However, Lü Bu's behavior towards Qin Xu was unusual, as he had never seen Lü Bu show such affection to any of his other subordinates, not even to Gao Shun who had been with him through thick and thin. When he heard that Qin Xu was injured, Lü Bu became extremely agitated, which made Zhang Yang suspicious. If he hadn't known that Lü Bu only had one daughter, Lü Lingqi, and was very protective of his family, Zhang Yang would have almost thought that Qin Xu was Lü Bu's illegitimate son.

  "Lü Bu's words made Zhang Yang sweat. Today, Zhang Yang will follow Lü Bu's brother to drink heavily, and only stop when drunk." Lü Bu laughed loudly, not caring about Zhang Yang's teasing.

  "Lord Lü, you... " Zhang Yang seemed to have long been accustomed to Lü Bu's laziness and sighed: "It has been a long time since I met the two of you, so I should spend more time with my siblings. Besides... Alas! The matter of heavy drinking is probably going to be postponed."

  "It seems that Young Master has something difficult to say? Just speak plainly." Lü Bu waved his hand grandly and said: "To still be so cautious with me, it's really not like your usual style, Brother."

  "This... let me borrow a step to speak!" Zhang Yang looked at Qin Xu, who was being taken care of by Lü Linggui on the bed, and said with a strange expression.

  What would make Zhang Yang difficult? What could it be? Qin Xu watched as Lü Bu and Zhang Yang went out, silently thinking about what might happen.

  Due to Qin Xu's interference, history took a turn after Dong Zhuo's death, and many things are still unclear to Qin Xu even now. Just like Lü Bu didn't leave Chang'an in such a hurry as he did in history, preserving the military strength and most of the grain and fodder obtained from Dong Zhuo's treasury, making it so that Lü Bu doesn't have to rely too heavily on Zhang Yang to a large extent.

  The solemnity with which Zhang Yang called Lü Bu out earlier could make the Taishou of Hebei treat him so seriously, and it's probably not a trivial matter. Otherwise, given the relationship between Zhang Yang and Lü Bu, there was no need to be so serious. Moreover, history only briefly mentions Lü Bu's surrender to Zhang Yang, saying that after his defeat in Chang'an, he failed to join forces with Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, and eventually joined forces with Zhang Yang, who was welcomed by Zhang Miao and Chen Gong, among others, into Dongjun, occupying Puyang.

  But history has changed, Lü Bu did not go to Puyang Yuan Shu and Bohai Yuan Shao after leaving Chang'an, but went straight to Henan, what happened? Qin Xu frowned and thought hard.

  Right! The two Yuan brothers!

  How could I have forgotten about the two poor souls from Old Yuan's family, whose hearts were as high as the sky but their lives were as thin as paper?

  The chaos in Chang'an has been going on for nearly a month, and it must have spread throughout the land. The ambitious princes must be making their moves.

  As the vassal closest to Chang'an and having been suppressed by Yuan Shao for a long time, Yuan Shu could not have remained inactive. With Yuan Shu taking action, Yuan Shao would naturally not just be an onlooker.

  Due to Lü Bu's strategic retreat, he did not suffer much loss, and his name as the Flying General shook the world. Such a powerful team was naturally an object of contention for various lords to form alliances with.

  Is it Yuan Shu or Yuan Shao?

  "Hey, Qinxu! What are you spacing out for? Diao Chan is talking to you!" Lü Lingqi saw that after Lü Bu and Zhang Yang left, Qinxu had been in a daze, not even seeming to hear Diao Chan's words, so she couldn't help but scold him.

  "Ah? Oh!" Qin Xu regained his composure after hearing Lü Linggui's words and felt somewhat embarrassed.

  "Fine, I'll give it to you!" Lü Linggui rolled her eyes and, imitating Qin Xu's usual tone, pouted and said: "With Sister Diao Chan's great charm, you don't even notice, are you still a man?"

  “……”