Chapter 3 Section 10: Taifu Yang Bi (2)

  The eunuch saw Liu Xie's face sink, and his three souls were gone. He immediately fell to the ground, muttering: "General Yang is seeking an audience outside the palace!" Before entering the palace, Cao Cao had ordered people to train them. In addition to court etiquette, in order to steal intelligence, a list of officials was also trained for them. He knew that General Yang was a loyal and righteous man, with great weight in the imperial court, even Cao Cao was wary of him. Now, he hoped that the emperor would hear this news and be overjoyed, shouting "declare the edict to see him", then his life would be saved. But this opportunity was really slim.

  Indeed, Liu Xie's face sank even deeper after hearing this news. Yang Taizai? Liu Xie naturally knew who he was - the Grand Commandant Yang Bing, who had defended the capital during the Li Jue and Guo Si rebellion. He had been slandered by Cao Cao with a false accusation and nearly lost his life. Later, when Cao Pi ascended to the throne, he wanted to reappoint him as Grand Commandant, but was politely declined. He could not be called anything but a loyal subject of the Han dynasty. Liu Xie was overjoyed that he had come, but the attendants and eunuchs around him were probably all Cao Cao's spies, and he couldn't dismiss them from his side. If he met with Yang Bing alone, and this got to Cao Cao's ears, he feared for his own life. He fell into deep thought.

  The eunuch saw Liu Xie's face changing color and, to preserve his life, trembled and said: "Yang Gong said there was something important to report, so!"

  He understood Liu Xie's intention, and since the matter was urgent, he had intruded into the bedroom. After a long deliberation, a plan suddenly came to his mind, and he couldn't help but feel relieved. He told the eunuch: "Take him to the study first!"

  When the eunuch heard this, he was overjoyed and hastily took his leave. He was afraid that Emperor Xian might change his mind, so he quickly left the palace. After he had gone, Emperor Xian whispered to Empress Fu: "Empress, do you have a brush and ink in your chambers?"

  Empress Fu heard this and was about to have someone bring over a brush and ink, but Emperor Liu Xie covered her mouth with his hand. Empress Fu immediately understood, took a box of rouge, an eyebrow pencil, and a small piece of silk from the dressing table, and spread them out on the desk.

  Liu Xie secretly praised Empress Fu's intelligence, but in his heart he sneered repeatedly. Since he couldn't escape himself, he could let Yang Bing act on his behalf. Yang Bing was far more reliable than Dong Cheng. Today, I will bring about this "imperial edict" ahead of time. I reckon Cao Cao won't even notice, and there's a great chance of success. He couldn't help but feel somewhat pleased with himself.

  Empress Fu saw that Emperor Xian's mind was unsettled and he stared blankly at the silk in front of him. She quietly reminded him: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

  Liu Xie was shocked and suddenly came back to his senses from his distant thoughts, but then smiled slyly and said: "I say, the Empress is writing on my behalf!"

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