Chapter Sixteen: Wei Xun's Ambition (Part 2)

  Small people often change history.

  Wei Xiu's sudden return made Qin Xu tense up all at once.

  Yan's family also discovered something and used a secret language to inform Lü Bu through Lü Lingqi.

  It's not hard to find from Lv Linggui's words that Wei Xu was also not treated with courtesy at Wang Yun's place.

  It's also fitting that Wei Xu is so unlucky. Anyone with discerning eyes can see that the literary and military factions represented by Wang Yun and Lü Bu have become increasingly at odds since Dong Zhuo's death, but this hidden conflict cannot be exposed before Dong Zhuo's remaining party is eliminated. If Wei Xu had secretly defected to Wang Yun, he might have become a trump card for Wang Yun to counterbalance Lü Bu, and Lü Bu would have been unable to do anything about it. But to do such a thing so openly at the banquet where Wang Yun's daughter was marrying into a political alliance with Lü Bu, did he really think that all the officials were blind?

  Wei Xiu's sudden betrayal made the already ambiguous relationship between Old Wang and Lao Boss even more obscure.

  What puzzles Qin Xu is why Wei Xiu wants to betray Lü Bu. Although historically, Wei Xiu was indeed the culprit who buried Lü Bu's family, but now, as Lü Bu's younger brother-in-law, he has a very good relationship with Yan Shi, and every time he gets into trouble, Yan Shi speaks up for him. Lü Bu is also a person who attaches great importance to kinship, so he usually lets it go. Even if Wei Xiu coveted Cai Yan's beauty and was severely punished by Cai Yan and Qin Xu, it wouldn't lead to transferring his hatred to Lü Bu and taking the action of directly going to surrender to Wang Yun. What unrecorded historical events happened in between?

  When Qin Xu followed Lü Bu and others to the backyard, only Yan Shi was left in the large room, with a dull expression and an incredulous face.

  "What about Wei Xu?" Lü Bu shouted in anger.

  "Husband, I was wrong, I didn't realize this evil thief's ulterior motives earlier... He..." Yan Shi's lips trembled as if she had been frightened by something.

  Before that, when Lü Bu was "interrogating" Qin Xu, Yan Shi was also pulling Lü Linggui to attack Qin Xu from the side. Although Cai Yun had already testified that it was Lü Linggui who accidentally injured Qin Xu and led to the scene seen by Yan Shi, Yan Shi still had a hint of suspicion. After hearing about Lü Linggui following Cai Yun and Qin Xu out, Yan Shi's worries became even more serious.

  Moreover, Lord Lü Bu's exceptionally tolerant attitude towards this young man named Qin Xu was noticeable to everyone around him. Lü Bu had no children, which had always been a source of worry for Lady Yan. And Qin Xu's demeanor, neither arrogant nor humble, was completely different from how others in Lü Bu's army treated him. If not for Lady Yan's deep understanding of Lü Bu, she might have even suspected that this young man named Qin Xu was actually Lü Bu's illegitimate child.

  However, the more it was like this, the more Qin Xu's shadow in Yan's heart couldn't be shaken off. As her daughter grew older, if a young man recognized by her husband were to suddenly appear, then...

  After several rounds of probing and attacking, it was unclear whether the daughter had hidden too deeply or was simply young and ignorant. Back and forth, she kept saying that Qin Xu was a big bad egg, and also said that Qin Xu was so "cunning" and "brave", which made Yan Shi's heart tremble with fear.

  What a big bad egg? How bad is he? You are Lü Bu's only daughter, and he is Lü Bu's subordinate. How dare he be so bad? As for the "wisdom" and "bravery" that Lü Lingqi mentioned, Yan Shi didn't take it to heart at all. Being a 15-year-old Yulin Riding Secretary is enough to explain many things.

  Yan's family had always told Lv Bu to let Lv Lingqi stop dancing with swords and guns all day, and spend more time learning women's red skills, in case she couldn't get married in the future. But when it really came time to consider it, looking at her drowsy daughter who was about to fall asleep, Yan's family suddenly felt a little distracted.

  "Knock knock!"

  "Older sister! Older sister?"

  Just as Yan's mother was complaining that her daughter had grown up and become more thoughtful, not like before when she would tell her everything, and on the other hand, blaming Lü Bu for being busy with military affairs and ignoring his daughter's "psychological problems", a voice that Yan's mother was very familiar with and worried about, but also hated to death, came from the window.

  "You! You dare to come back?" Yan's family gritted their teeth and said to the comer: "The evil things you did behind my back, your brother-in-law has known them all. This time, don't think I'll help you speak a word again! Go by yourself!"

  "Big Sister!" It was Wei Xu, who at this time was completely different from the Wei Xu who had tried to take advantage of Cai Yan in the pavilion that evening. At that time, Wei Xu was still one of Lü Bu's most trusted advisors, rumored to be the next leader of the camp, and a general who could freely enter and exit Lü Bu's inner palace!

  At this moment, the usual crown and belt were nowhere to be found. A head of hair like a messy chicken's nest was mixed with some mud, and on the forehead, a white cloth strip was tied up like mourning, faintly showing bloodstains. The clothes on his body were also tattered and torn, making Yan Shi's heart ache so much that she almost couldn't help but shed tears.

  "Big sister!" Wei Xiu's slightly ferocious face revealed a hint of a bitter smile as he said, "Does my appearance scare you?"

  "Axu, what's wrong with you?" Yan Shi didn't know much about what had happened in the afternoon, and now seeing Wei Xu like this, she quickly pulled him over, her face full of concern.

  "Huh, it's all because of my niece and her accomplices that I've ended up like this!" Wei Xu said with a self-deprecating smile.

  "What are you going to do with Ling'er?" Yan Shi's eyes suddenly rose with a hint of vigilance when she heard Wei Xun mention Lü Lingjuan, and she tightly grasped Wei Xun's hand, asking.

  "Eldest sister!!" Wei Xiu struggled free from Yan Shi's grasp, and said with a bitter smile: "Eldest sister, I admit that I've done all sorts of bad things, but have I ever done anything to wrong you and Ling'er? I know Ling'er is in the inner room, if I wanted to cause trouble, you couldn't stop me."

  "Axu, why did you do those things?" Yan Shi said: "Feng Xian treated you with great kindness..."

  "That's enough!" Wei Xu cut off Yan Shi's words coarsely and said, "Lü Bu is a petty person, fickle and ungrateful. He orders me around like a house slave, and you say he's being generous? What a joke!"

  "Feng Xian's temper is somewhat violent, but how can you say such things about him, and still have dealings with that old traitor Wang Yun behind his back?" Madam Yan angrily said.

  "King Yon?" Wei Xu's mouth corner revealed a mocking smile: "The old thief King Yon is also nothing, Lü Bu in his eyes is just a tool, if I really serve King Yon, does that Lü Bu dare to treat me like this?"

  "Axu, I didn't hear what you just said. You go find a place to rest, and when Feng Xian comes back, I'll...". Yan Shi couldn't help but feel affection for Wei Xu, gritted her teeth and said.

  "Older sister!" Wei Xiu stopped Yan Shi from continuing, raised his hand to touch the wound on his forehead and said with hatred: "I, Wei Xiu, am a great man who stands tall and proud, I must do something big or else my life would be in vain, how can I stay here and suffer?"

  "What are you going to do?" Yan's eyes suddenly widened as she stared at Wei Xiu in front of her, who seemed somewhat unfamiliar, and exclaimed.

  "I am not a small person with the wild ambition of Lü Bu, I am Wei Xu, a good man who must repay kindness and revenge. Wei Xu's eyes flashed with a crazy look, saying to Yan Shi: "Sister, if you still believe in me, this younger brother, now quickly pack up things and take Ling'er away from Chang'an City, it can also be considered as me, Wei Xu, repaying the kindness you have shown me over the years."

  "What? Leaving Chang'an?" Yan Shi, although having been in the inner house for a long time, also understood Wei Xiu's meaning. Today, the family was about to discuss the war that had been rumored among the servants and the alarm that echoed through the night sky, causing Yan Shi to be startled and say: "Ah Xiu, what do you mean by this?"

  "It doesn't make sense, sister. Don't think that just because the common folk say Lü Bu is matchless in the world, he actually thinks he's matchless in the world! In Mr. Jia's eyes, Lü Bu is no different from a child!" Wei Xun said disapprovingly.

  "Mr. Jia? Who is Mr. Jia?" Mrs. Yan suddenly heard this unfamiliar title and asked in doubt.

  Wei Xiu didn't respond, instead he took a moment to survey the interior of Yan's room, a complex smile of bitter unease mixed with excitement and ambition spreading across his face before turning to leave.

  "Ah Xun! You're running around like this, I suppose you haven't eaten yet?" Yan Shi hesitated for a moment, then said: "There's still some of our Five Origins' sour porridge and meat dishes left in the mansion, I'll get Ling'er to bring some over for you to eat."

  At this time, Yan Shi didn't care about Wei Xiu's reaction, and only pulled on Wei Xiu's sleeve, saying to the room: "Ling'er, you're not asleep yet, are you? Quickly go get some sour porridge and meat dishes."

  "Mrs. Yan, you said Wei Xun said it was Mr. Jia at the time?"

  After hearing Wei Xu's account, the several people present all fell into silence. Even Lü Bu was unusually calm at this time, and instead had a thoughtful expression. It was Qin Xu who reacted first, asking Yan Shi:

  "Yes! Wei Xun was talking about Mr. Jia at the time, and when I asked him again, he seemed to be very afraid of Mr. Jia and didn't continue speaking. What's going on?" Yan Shi asked in confusion.

  Lü Bu and Gao Shun exchanged a glance, then Gao Shun spoke up: "Does the Qin steward suspect that the Mr. Jia mentioned by Wei Xu is actually Jia Xu? But how could Jia Xu be in contact with Wei Xu...?"

  "Hmph!" Qin Xu shrugged and said, "Gao Yan was the Colonel of the Western Regions at that time, but he was not well-known. He took the position of Discussing Barbarian Commandant under Niu Fu's command, can't this explain the problem?"

  "Qin Xu, you mean that Jia Xu has actually been in contact with Wei Xu all along?" Lü Bu asked in surprise.

  "General Lü has been by Dong Zhuo's side for a long time, so he must be quite familiar with Dong Zhuo's generals?" Qin Xu didn't answer Lü Bu, but instead asked: "Compared to the Eastern Wu's fierce general Sun Jian, who is stronger or weaker, Niu Fu, Dong Zhuo's son-in-law?"

  "Cao Cao's subordinate. Although I have never had any dealings with Sun Jian, the name of the fierce tiger of Jiangdong is also known to me. Could it be...?" Lü Bu's eyes suddenly lit up and he said: "At that time, Jia Xu was in Niu Fu's army, what do you mean?"

  "Who are Li Jue and Guo Si? General Lü must know them very well?" Qin Xu continued to ask.

  "Lü Bu hesitated for a moment before saying, 'Although I and the two thieves were once under Dong Zhuo's command... but our relationship was not deep.'"

  "What are the temperaments of these two?" Qin Xu roughly knew the reason for Lü Bu's hesitation. At that time, Lü Bu was a surrendered general and had rapidly risen to a high position as soon as he entered Dong Zhuo's sphere of influence, so it was natural that he would be excluded by the other generals below him. Dong Zhuo naturally took pleasure in this situation, and besides, sowing discord among the troops was always a means used by those in power to control their subordinates, which wasn't unusual. What Qin Xu suspected was that at that time, the one who had done this thing was actually Jia Xu.

  "The two thieves were originally under Dong Zhuo's command and were quite trusted. They took turns commanding nearly half of the troops, and were deeply trusted by Dong Zhuo, so they became arrogant. Could this be Jia Xu?" Lü Bu replied. It can be seen that although Lü Bu was Dong Zhuo's adopted son at the time, in terms of Dong Zhuo's trust, he was still not as trusted as Li Jue and Guo Si."

  "Can they rely on these two people? Does Lord still think that Jia Yu is just an ordinary strategist?" Qin Xu said.

  "What now?" Lü Bu asked subconsciously, having already truly regarded Qin Xu as the army's chief clerk, even a strategist.

  "Wei Xu has gone, and the fall of Chang'an is imminent. My lord should think about how to preserve his strength in order to rise again." Qin Xiang's long-awaited opportunity to leave Lü Bu's army was finally coming, but for some reason, he felt a pang of reluctance in his heart. He only responded to Lü Bu's words with a perfunctory sentence.

  "Hmm..."

  "Kill..."

  Report...

  Lü Bu still had some doubts about Qin Xu's words, but as soon as Qin Xu finished speaking, a sudden shout and the sound of clashing weapons came from the west of Chang'an City. This abrupt sound of golden armor was like a confirmation of Qin Xu's words, and it shook the sky in an instant.

  "Report to the master!"

  "What has happened in the city? Why have weapons been raised?"

  "Wei Xu falsely claimed that the main general's military order was to open the west gate and let in the remnants of the Western Liang army, while General Zhang Liao was leading his troops to attack."

  "Wei Xu deserves to die!" Lü Bu angrily shouted: "Gao Shun! Quickly mobilize troops and go with me to resist the enemy!!"

  "Ah!"

  "Wait!"