HLCOB C65

Chapter 65

 

Cao Cao had never once moved for some lofty or sacred cause.

From the beginning, he moved only to claim Jaheon for himself—or, failing that, to provoke him. Just as he had sent that portrait. And this time, it was clearly the latter.

So, he wishes to see me bend, does he.

After all, Cao Cao had never truly desired Jaheon’s harm.

“Who would have thought the Commander of the Guards would so easily believe the words of one whose origins are unknown?”

“Was it not you who said there is no high or low in station? Why, then, are you so merciless?”

“How do you even know this fellow speaks the truth? And before that—have you even a shred of proof that those raising private troops are tied to me?”

Jaheon had left no trace. He was not a fool.

It was the same with relief efforts; even when selecting people, he left no mark. He deliberately chose boys without ties, boys who had come from distant places. This man was most likely someone Cao Cao had prepared, merely to test him.

“Will you not regret it?”

Cao Cao’s tone was languid.

“If you speak so, then this fellow’s words are proven false, and he will be put to death.”

At that, Jaheon asked, as though the thought itself was absurd.

“Do I look to you like someone who would be burdened by that?”

“Haha! I know well. You would not trouble yourself with such matters.”

Yet Cao Cao did not relent.

“Would your sister not be troubled?”

“……”

Jaheon’s face hardened.

“Ah. Does your sister, who so resembles you, also not trouble herself with such things?”

Cao Cao added softly,

“And what of those who follow you?”

Jaheon’s support lay with the common people, who believed him a transcendent immortal descended to save the Han, and with the incorruptible, stiff-necked Pure Stream faction. But what if rumor spread that Jaheon had allowed innocent lives to be taken merely to conceal his own crime? Then surely he would be branded no different from the eunuchs.

“So, what say you to speaking the truth to me instead?”

And now, with his unprecedented rise to Shizhong, there would be no way to refute such judgment. No matter how many spoke in his defense.

In other words, whatever Jaheon chose, Cao Cao would lose nothing. Either Jaheon’s influence would be diminished, or his weakness would be seized upon. Realizing that Cao Cao had gone to such lengths only for this, Jaheon gave a hollow laugh and asked,

“And if it is none of these things—what then?”

“How could that be?”

Like a hunter savoring his prey, Cao Cao replied with leisure.

“You, who entertain me so much, could never move so tediously.”

As Cao Cao spoke, he reached out, grasping the veil that concealed Jaheon’s face, ready to pull it away.

“……?”

But beyond the wavering fabric, Jaheon’s crimson lips curved upward. He was gazing at something afar.

“Aman.”

A faint smile spread across Jaheon’s face. A look never before seen. And at that, the mask of composure that covered Cao Cao’s face slipped away. His true intent was laid bare—his gaze sought only to possess Jaheon.

“Did I not tell you already?”

Even beneath such a gaze, Jaheon remained unshaken.

“That it was none of those things.”

And then—hooves thundered in the distance.

“……”

At the sight of who appeared, Cao Cao was suddenly reminded—this elusive beauty before him was not his alone to desire.

Jaheon passed through Cao Cao’s inspection unharmed.

It was thanks to Yuan Shao’s timely arrival. At the sight of Yuan, Cao Cao withdrew without protest. Political reasons played their part, as did the years of camaraderie. He could hardly corner Jaheon and Yuan Shao both before the eyes of all.

That could have been troublesome.

Jaheon exhaled, relieved that the worst had been averted. Had Yuan Shao arrived a little later, he might have been forced to rouse Cao Cao fully. And it was best that Cao Cao remained ignorant—for now.

As the carriage rattled, Jaheon sat deep in thought when Yuan Shao spoke.

“Were you truly caught, or did you let yourself be caught?”

“……?”

“Whichever it was, it hardly seems like you.”

The truth was, Jaheon had sought to use Cao Cao, but had not expected to be taken so instead. Yet he gave no such explanation, only turned the question back.

“Was it not Yuan Duwei who did something uncharacteristic?”

Yuan Shao had, as Jaheon intended, taken the seat of Colonel-Director, sharing command of the Imperial Guards with Cao Cao. Thus Yuan Shao knew in advance of any troop deployments Cao Cao made. Why, then, had he come here?

Will you not come to me?

Jaheon recalled the snow that day.

“And thus, I cannot help but be mistaken.”

That day he had spoken of usurpation to Yuan Shao.

“Yuan Duwei, it seems you now give me your answer.”

This time, Yuan Shao had moved to shield him, knowing full well the burdens he would have to bear.

“……”

At Jaheon’s words, Yuan Shao’s lips trembled.

It was these words. Such words made it impossible to keep his composure before Jaheon. He felt like the foolish boy again, running through Luoyang’s streets with Cao Cao.

Clench—

The resentment he had fought to suppress surged within him. No—perhaps his reason had already clouded from the moment Cao Cao had grasped Jaheon’s veil. Yuan Shao, fists tight, muttered bitterly,

“And you, who spoke of usurpation—did you not expect Aman to strike back?”

“…And if it means Yuan Duwei worries for me, is that such a bad thing?”

Yet Jaheon yielded nothing. Not even the smallest path to vent Yuan Shao’s storming heart. His every answer forced Yuan to admit, whatever his intent, that he had come for Jaheon’s sake.

“…You are altogether too untroubled. Did you not come here without even attendants?”

“…Had I brought them, I would have been seized long before meeting Yuan Duwei.”

It was well known that Jaheon treated high and low alike with dignity. Many servants wished to join his household for that very reason. And so, Jaheon’s attendants had become familiar faces to the public.

“…So this is why the Shizhong comes disguised in a woman’s veil? People will think you have strange tastes.”

“When death comes, man and woman alike are buried and return to dust. Why should dress matter? To survive, one must do anything.”

Had he not once donned women’s garb to meet Wang Yun? Compared to that, this was nothing. But Yuan Shao did not know this, and his face darkened with displeasure.

“Do you mean to fill my ears with sophistry, Shizhong?”

“If Yuan Duwei deems it sophistry, then so be it. I only speak what I believe.”

The more they spoke, the more Yuan Shao felt himself being led astray. Frustration mounting, he changed the subject.

“And now, what do you intend?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I mean Aman.”

Yuan Shao had been Cao Cao’s friend for more than a decade.

“He must have sensed it.”

“But he cannot be certain.”

“Yet he will make use of it.”

Yuan spoke from knowledge.

“It would be wise not to take Aman lightly.”

For all he was the son of a eunuch’s household, Cao Cao had been born into one of Luoyang’s wealthiest clans, raised as the eldest son without want. He seemed lacking, but in truth had never known lack. He had never needed to seize anything—save for Jaheon.

And so Yuan Shao knew what that gaze meant.

“…Do you know how far Aman will go?”

Born hollow and forever striving to fill his emptiness, Yuan Shao had become friends with Cao Cao for that very reason. Or perhaps, he thought, he only spoke of Aman as an excuse to say what he wished to Jaheon himself.

But Jaheon was unshaken.

“In that case, should I not beg Yuan Duwei’s aid? What else is there?”

“Ha.”

At the unexpected answer, Yuan Shao’s brows shot upward.

“So it was for this that you raised me to Colonel-Director?”

“…And if it were—what then?”

Jaheon was shameless.

“I have not known Aman as long as you. I cannot predict what extremes he may endure.”

It was brazen manipulation to draw Yuan Shao in.

Yet strangely, Yuan Shao’s lips felt parched. Thirst surged in his throat.

“You—”

He faltered, then lowered his eyes, asking the austere beauty before him:

“If I do aid you, do you know what price I might demand?”

For Yuan Shao already knew—control in this bond was not his. As with his clan, his yearning for the unattainable had come first.

And Jaheon knew it too.

“…Yuan Duwei.”

One look into those brown eyes fixed upon him was enough.

“Should you not first ask yourself what it is you desire of me—before you question me thus?”

Jaheon had no intention of yielding even a moment’s advantage.