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Xuchang City. Hua Tuo’s Medical Hall
The medical hall sat on the busiest street in Xuchang, boasting a prime location and spacious grounds, with a shop front and residence in the back. Guo Jia was sitting in an inner chamber at the back of the hall, staring with a grimace at a steaming, black, bitter medicine on the table.
“Drink it quickly, good medicine is bitter but effective. It won’t be as good once it cools.”
A sturdy, upright-looking man with many scars on his face lifted the curtain and entered.
Guo Jia looked at him and, seeing the man empty-handed, frowned, “Dr. Hua, you were gone for so long—I thought you went to fetch some candied fruit to help me swallow the medicine.”
“Fengxiao, you’re bold and daring, never one to shirk from anything. How could a mere bowl of bitter medicine stump you?” Hua Tuo replied with a gentle smile.
After meeting Xiao Meng that night and returning from outside the city, Guo Jia had caught a cold. Not daring to delay, he had come straight to Hua Tuo’s clinic for treatment.
For half a month, Xuchang had been shrouded in thick clouds and persistent rain, with the weather growing ever colder. Guo Jia, who despised damp cold, had simply chosen to stay at the Hua residence. After all, the person he was waiting for had agreed to meet him here.
Though it was only dusk, a fierce wind suddenly swept in, bringing torrential rain and thunder that raged across the capital, making night fall early. Guo Jia felt ever more certain he had made the right decision to remain at the Hua residence.
At last, he mustered the courage and gulped down the medicine in one go, so bitter his face twisted with every swallow.
“Are you sure the person you’re waiting for will come?” Once he finished, Hua Tuo finally voiced his doubt. “After all, he has no obligation to help you.”
“Even if he doesn’t come, I lose nothing; but if he does, it will be greatly to my advantage. With odds like that, why not take the gamble?” Guo Jia poured himself a cup of tea to wash away the lingering bitterness, then continued, “Besides, I have great faith in him. I know I’ll wait him out.”
“So sure?” Hua Tuo was puzzled.
“Though he’s a eunuch, he’s also a man of loyalty. He knows what I entrusted him with is a great favor. If he were to betray me, his conscience would never be at ease.”
Thinking of Xiao Meng, an image of his extraordinary beauty and grace naturally floated up in Guo Jia’s mind. Fearing Hua Tuo might see through his thoughts, he quickly composed himself, putting on the face of a master strategist.
“What’s more… the letter I gave the Emperor makes my intentions clear. His teacher was killed by Cao Cao, and now someone is offering to check Cao Cao at the right moment. He’ll find it hard to refuse.”
Boom—!
Lightning suddenly flashed outside, followed by a deafening clap of thunder. But the two in the room, being adults, remained calm.
Guo Jia even rather enjoyed this kind of weather—it was far more invigorating than the dreary, endless rain of recent days.
“Tonight is truly uncanny, as if the sky were about to collapse…” But Hua Tuo couldn’t help glancing out the window.
Guo Jia had already climbed into bed, hugging a thick quilt, and laughed, “So, the days when the rain clears and the skies are bright must be near.”
He slept soundly that night.
Early the next morning, news began to arrive—of the Xiahou brothers, Xu Huang, Hou Cheng, Wei Xu, and Song Xian all having been executed. At last, the sky had cleared.
No wonder Guo Jia felt especially spirited today.
Before noon, a young woman wearing a veiled hat came to seek treatment.
Hua Tuo brought her into the inner hall, where a refined scholar was waiting. When the young woman lifted her veil, he exclaimed happily, “I knew you’d come.”
“Today is the day palace staff go out shopping—let’s slip into the palace today.” Xiao Meng wasted no words, already prepared for their disguise.
“Alright,” Guo Jia replied.
Before leaving, Guo Jia asked, in front of Xiao Meng, “How is the lord’s health?”
“Recently, the weather has been poor, and the lord has a minor illness, but it is nothing serious,” Hua Tuo answered honestly.
“That’s good, a slight illness is a blessing! In these days, I’ll trouble you to look after the lord,” Guo Jia said earnestly.
Hua Tuo understood and smiled, “Don’t worry, leave it to me.”
Xiao Meng seemed to catch the underlying meaning, but said nothing more.
That afternoon, Guo Jia and Xiao Meng, both disguised as palace servants, successfully entered the palace.
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The Imperial Palace. The Imperial Study
After the rain, the dusk sunlight was especially bright, shining into the already grand imperial study and making the whole space seem cast in gold.
In a side hall of the study, Emperor Xian sat at the center. Guo Jia, having changed back into his scholar’s attire, wore a white robe with black feathered trim. After bowing to the Emperor, he sat at the guests’ seats to the right. Xiao Meng, now dressed as a maid, stood by the Emperor’s side.
This was the first meeting between Emperor Xian and Guo Jia.
The Emperor saw before him a scholar, well-dressed and refined. Not quite as handsome as Pan An, but with delicate features. Most notable were his clever, fox-like eyes, gleaming with intelligence and cunning, suggesting a depth far beyond his appearance.
Guo Jia, for his part, saw that the young Emperor, not yet twenty, was mature and steady, with dragon brows and phoenix eyes, exuding a sharp and resilient aura. He felt deeply gratified.
Once Guo Jia confirmed Xiao Meng’s entry into the palace, he knew that if the Emperor were mediocre, Lü Bu would never have entrusted Xiao Meng to the palace. Now, seeing the young emperor’s bearing, he was sure he had made the right move.
The Emperor spoke first, cutting to the chase: “Everything Fengxiao entrusted to Xiao Meng for me, I have read. I have long hated that scoundrel Jia Xu! Rest assured, I will help Lord Wen deal with him and ensure Jia Xu’s demise!”
Guo Jia immediately rose and bowed deeply. “Your Majesty is wise—Fengxiao thanks you!”
“No need for courtesy! What surprises me is that, though you serve the Chancellor, you maintain a clear mind and act with great righteousness. But…” The Emperor’s tone shifted, and he smiled at Guo Jia, eyes full of meaning. “Fengxiao risked coming to the palace today, saying it was to make your intentions clear. Then let me, indeed, wash my ears and listen to the ambitions of the Four Marvels of the Water Mirror.”
At these words, Guo Jia stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “Your Majesty, ever since the chaos of Dong Zhuo, the warlords have risen, each holding their own power and ruling independently. Yuan Shao, Sun Ce, Liu Biao, and even Lord Cao—all claim to ‘serve the Emperor and command the disloyal’, whether by recruiting talent or raising armies, all declaring ‘to restore the Han and safeguard the realm’, while in truth seeking to seize the throne.”
Seeing Guo Jia include his own lord among the would-be usurpers, the Emperor smiled without comment, waiting for him to continue.
“Each warlord speaks of ‘uniting the realm for peace, saving the people of the Six Directions’, but I believe—even if the world is unified, it will no longer be the world of the Han; and even if the people are saved, they will no longer be Your Majesty’s people.”
At these words, both Emperor Xian and Xiao Meng’s faces changed.
A flash of light appeared in the Emperor’s eyes. “What do you mean by that?”
“In the days when the Zhou Dynasty waned, even the likes of Huan and Wen respected its name—only because the situation forced them.” Guo Jia smiled, hands clasped behind his back. “Today is the same. The warlords all uphold the Han’s legitimacy, for if they do not, they would be attacked by all the others, none wishing to be the first to break ranks. But…”
Guo Jia’s tone deepened. “If a powerful one sweeps away the rivals and becomes the sole hegemon, the next step will be—to usurp the Han and claim the throne.” He looked steadily at the young Emperor. “So, in these troubled times, the Han Dynasty and Your Majesty’s person are the very talismans of survival!”
The Emperor shuddered, and Xiao Meng’s heart was also shaken.
Though Xiao Meng was involved in these events, he had never possessed such a grand perspective. Now, listening to this elegant scholar’s few words, it was like unfurling a thousand-mile scroll of mountains and rivers—the great tides of the world laid bare before him. He thought: The Four Marvels of the Water Mirror… truly extraordinary.
No… the story isn’t over, and the dagger isn’t drawn yet.
Such was the Emperor’s thought. So he smiled and said to Guo Jia, “So Fengxiao believes your lord is also a potential usurper of the Han?”
Guo Jia laughed. “Your Majesty, people call Lord Cao a wise minister in times of peace, a cunning hero in times of chaos. I believe the opposite.”
The Emperor raised his eyebrows. “Please elaborate.”
“Lord Cao is a man of rare talent, recruiting many exceptional people and commanding vast armies. What he lacks is reputation and legitimacy. As a eunuch’s descendant, he’s not accepted by the gentry. But Your Majesty, you are his source of legitimacy. If Lord Cao seeks to dominate the chaotic world, he must uphold the Han and serve the Emperor. Thus, he can only ever be a capable minister in troubled times.”
Guo Jia looked at the Emperor, cupping his hands. “Understanding this, I serve Lord Cao and reject Yuan Shao!”
The Emperor lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Ha ha! What a capable minister for troubled times! Fengxiao’s plan to support the Han is to ensure Lord Cao remains forever such a minister. Am I right?”
“I am but a humble servant. As Lord Cao’s trusted adviser, I offer myself as Your Majesty’s eyes and ears, reporting all from within Cao’s camp, including his thoughts and movements. May Lord Cao remain a tiger to drive away the other warlords, not a wolf to turn on Your Majesty.” Guo Jia bowed solemnly.
“So that’s it, but…”
The Emperor slowly raised his cup. Xiao Meng poured him wine.
The Emperor drank and said, “I thought the Eight Marvels of the Water Mirror were exceptional talents, each with grand ambitions. Having found a wise lord, they should help pacify the world and save the people, or perhaps…”
The Emperor fixed his gaze on Guo Jia. “Fengxiao, should you not help me sweep away the warlords and restore the Han Dynasty, thus achieving immortal glory?”
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Guo Jia did not answer immediately, but gazed at the Emperor with his cunning fox eyes, his amusement growing until he truly laughed.
He sat down, taking the cup of wine Xiao Meng had poured, and drank it in one gulp.
“To tell the truth, Your Majesty, I prefer Lord Wen Hou (Lü Bu) far more than Lord Cao. Wen Hou is talented both in strategy and in battle, bold and resolute. He never compromises, willing to defy the heavens to achieve his aims. But we all see how he ended up.”
Guo Jia toyed with his cup and continued, “What I truly serve is not Lord Cao, but this chaotic world itself! For only in such a world can a strategist have a true stage, and a place to call home. The reason I risked my life to come to the palace and speak these words is because this troubled world, the Han Dynasty, Your Majesty, and myself—all share the same fate. The only one who can truly share this understanding with me is not Lord Cao, nor the Yuan clan, but Your Majesty alone!”
By now, the sun had slanted even more, the golden light in the imperial study fading to a bronze hue.
For a moment, all three were silent; the quiet was so deep that a pin drop could be heard.
“Outrageous, Guo Jia!” Suddenly the Emperor slammed the table, pointing at Guo Jia and shouting, “You dare say the Han Dynasty can only survive in chaos? By your logic, is the Han not the root of the people’s suffering?”
Xiao Meng was startled. He hadn’t expected the Emperor to explode, and hurriedly said, “Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger! Guo Jia, he…”
Before he could finish, a cool yet playful voice rang out, “No, I believe the people don’t need the Han, only a well-ordered world; and the warlords only need the Han in times of chaos. Only Your Majesty…”
Guo Jia looked straight at the Emperor, not blinking, tone calm. “Is the only one who always needs the Han. So, if you say the root of suffering is the Han, in truth, it is Your Majesty.”
“You—!” The Emperor was enraged, eyes wide, collapsing back into his throne.
“If Your Majesty wishes, Xiao Meng can kill him on your behalf right now!” Xiao Meng bowed, voice grave.
He felt deep regret, knowing he had acted on his own, causing a situation almost out of control. If this affected Lü Bu…
Cold sweat broke out on Xiao Meng’s back—he dared not think further.
At that moment, he truly wanted to kill Guo Jia and kneel to beg the Emperor’s forgiveness.
But the young Emperor raised his hand, signaling Xiao Meng to stop.
He took several deep breaths to steady himself, then turned to Xiao Meng and said gently, “Xiao Meng, you need not blame yourself. This has nothing to do with Wen Hou or you.”
Guo Jia was moved, looking at the Emperor with a complicated expression.
But the Emperor paid him no heed, continuing, “If not for you, I would never have met this world’s most audacious strategist! How interesting!”
The young Emperor’s mood was entirely calm now. He looked at Guo Jia, eyes bright. “Since I am Emperor, unable to give purpose to the people but instead becoming the source of chaos—are you saying, then, that I should die?”
Guo Jia smiled again—a rare smile, warm and gentle, his eyes now soft as a tranquil lake.
He spoke quietly, “Your Majesty, heaven gives life to all beings. Wisdom, beauty, wealth, poverty, fortune, and disaster are all thus. But the question you just asked—only you can answer.”
Guo Jia stood again, pacing slowly, hands behind his back.
“You are the true Son of Heaven, the Han Dynasty’s lifeline. Yet even if you lost every title, you would still be a person.”
Guo Jia gazed out the window—at pavilions, bridges, and flowing water, a poetic scene. But in truth, he looked into the void, his voice seeming to come from afar. “Only you can feel your own life—its joys, sorrows, desires, and fears. No one else can feel it for you; no one can bear it for you.”
By now, the sky had grown even darker. The imperial study was tinged with a purplish-red hue, ethereal and dreamlike. Guo Jia turned to look at the Emperor, his gaze shining like the stars.
“All people have their reasons to live—why not Your Majesty? As long as you wish to feel all that life brings, your desire to live is reason enough.”
No one spoke. Silence filled the space. Xiao Meng took the opportunity to light the candles, making the large study bright again, restoring it to normal.
The Emperor remained silent, for as he listened to Guo Jia, his mind involuntarily thought of that man—
Lü Bu, kneeling to beg for his life in Xiapi city.
Xiao Meng had only briefly mentioned that episode before. But now, listening to Guo Jia, the young Emperor felt as if he were experiencing it himself.
Amidst falling snow, beneath the ruined White Gate Tower, Lü Bu knelt in the snow, thinly dressed.
“Lü Bu does not want to die!”
“I don’t want to die!”
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A man despised as a slave with three surnames, a selfish man who killed his benefactor for gain.
All the world believed he deserved to die.
But even if you killed him a hundred times over, this stubborn man would still believe he deserved life more than anyone.
In this alone, neither the world nor even the heavens could do anything to him.
Thinking of this, the Emperor couldn’t help but laugh.
“Heh… heh… ha! Haha—!” The Emperor laughed out loud, freely and joyfully.
“Fengxiao, have you met Wen Hou? I think you two could be kindred spirits!” The Emperor blurted out, out of nowhere.
Xiao Meng was stunned, but Guo Jia glanced at Xiao Meng with a knowing smile and replied, “Your Majesty, I met him once at Puyang, and again at Xiapi. But Wen Hou has his own ambitions—he may not share ours. However…”
Guo Jia knelt on one knee, looking up solemnly. “If Your Majesty will accept me, your humble servant wishes to be your companion in this troubled world!”
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“Rise! Fengxiao, there’s no need for such formality. You’re right—since we all rely on chaos to survive, we can be the most reliable allies.” The Emperor waved his hand grandly.
“Whether we live is up to Heaven. But whether I should live—that’s for me to decide!”
“Just now, even in your anger, you first consoled Xiao Meng—that alone shows your breadth of mind. I dare say, destiny still rests in Your Majesty’s hands.”
Guo Jia bowed again. “I swear to Heaven—as long as I live, Your Majesty will surely grasp your destiny!”
“Today, I have truly witnessed Guo Fengxiao’s dark righteousness!” the Emperor sighed.
Thus, a bond of fate was forged in the imperial study.
Xiao Meng escorted Guo Jia out of the palace before returning to the study. The Emperor was playing chess alone. Seeing Xiao Meng return, he gifted him more than ten exquisite pieces of gold and silver jewelry.
Each piece could support an ordinary family for half a lifetime.
Xiao Meng declined, “Your Majesty, you’ve already given me so much. I cannot accept any more.”
“Those were meeting gifts. These are thanks. If not for you, I would not have met Wen Hou, nor have had the chance to see such a genius as Guo Jia.” The Emperor explained kindly.
Mentioning Guo Jia made Xiao Meng even more uneasy, still shaken from before.
“Don’t say that, Your Majesty! You don’t know how scared I just was!”
The Emperor stretched lazily. “If I didn’t have even this much tolerance, would Lü Bu have dared let you into the palace? Even if you don’t trust me, you must trust him!”
Seeing the Emperor’s meaningful glance, Xiao Meng’s cheeks reddened, and he changed the subject. “Hmph, just wait till I get out of the palace—I’ll find a chance to deal with that fellow!”
Seeing Xiao Meng so flustered, the Emperor laughed and told him to rest, then turned back to his chessboard.
He felt that after tonight, he was a changed man.
He was grateful to have met Lü Bu and Guo Jia in this life—not just to know of them, but to truly see them.
Though he knew, his fate, like his life, belonged to himself alone, and must be borne alone.
But whenever he thought of Lü Bu and Guo Jia, this young man, fated to be shackled by destiny, would feel a surge of heroic spirit, making him face all life’s fortunes and misfortunes with a smile.
—Not for all under heaven, but for the soul that burns to feel the heat of life.
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End of Chapter 33
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Chapter 33 “The Dark Righteousness” of “The Record of Burning Dreams”11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAAwXWSzAe
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