Three Kingdoms: Mistakenly Becoming Liu Bei's Adoptive Father at the Start

Madam Liu met Liu Liang in the back hall.

Incense burned inside the hall, its smoke curling upwards.

When Liu Liang entered, Yuan Shao's second wife was sitting in the main seat, holding a celadon teacup in her hands.

Two maids stood behind him, one holding a whisk, the other standing with her hands at her sides, not even lifting her eyelids.

Lady Liu was dressed in a deep crimson robe, with gold trim on the collar and cuffs. A jade belt cinched her waist, its buckle adorned with openwork dragon patterns, revealing an apricot-yellow undergarment beneath. Her hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a gold hairpin, the dangling beads swaying gently with her movements as she held a bowl, the dazzling lightness of the hairpin.

Liu Liang stepped forward and bowed: "Liu Liang, Liu Zishan of Dai Commandery, greets Madam."

Madam Liu did not offer him a seat. Her gaze slowly swept across his face, then fell on the hem of his robe, and returned to his face.

He glanced at it very slowly, as if he were assessing the quality of an object.

"Please sit down." Madam Liu smiled politely, but the smile was short-lived, only twitching at the corners of her mouth, her eyes remaining still.

Liu Liang took his seat.

Madam Liu handed the teacup to the maid and took another freshly brewed teacup.

Liu Liang then took a closer look at this "ruthless man".

The reason she is considered ruthless is because she displayed an extremely cruel side after Yuan Shao's death.

Before Yuan Shao's body was placed in the coffin, all five of Yuan Shao's favorite concubines were killed, their hair was shaved off, and their faces were smeared with ink to prevent them from meeting Yuan Shao in the afterlife.

"Mr. Zishan is quite young. I thought he was an old scholar of considerable age, but he is only in his early thirties."

Madam Liu's voice was bright and clear, and when she said this, there was a hint of teasing in it.

Liu Liang said, "Madam doesn't look as old as you, young master. When she came in just now, I mistook her for your sister and almost greeted her incorrectly."

Madam Liu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and covered her mouth with her handkerchief.

"Is Mr. Zishan's mouth coated with honey?"

Liu Liang said, "I'm just telling the truth. With your complexion and figure, you could easily be mistaken for someone in their early twenties."

Madam Liu put down the handkerchief, the smile still lingering in the corner of her eye.

She picked up the teacup, took a sip, and put it back, her fingers lightly rubbing the rim of the bowl.

"The gifts you sent, sir, are far too valuable. I am unworthy to accept them."

Liu Liang said, "My wife and I are of the same clan; we are both surnamed Liu. This is just a small token of my respect. If you don't mind, I will offer you even better gifts in the future."

Madam Liu glanced at him, her bright eyes flashing: "Sir, why does it sound like you have ulterior motives?"

Liu Liang picked up his teacup and calmly took a sip: "Madam, you are wise. I do indeed have something to ask of you."

Madam Liu also picked up her teacup, blew on it, and changed her posture.

Tell me about it.

Liu Liang said, "Dong Zhuo has turned his attention back to Chang'an, and Lü Bu is leading his troops eastward. Luoyang is in imminent danger. If Lü Bu breaks through Luoyang, his next move will be to cross Mengjin and attack Hanoi. The Yellow River, a natural barrier, cannot stop his iron cavalry. At that time, Yuan Shu will be the first to bear the brunt. Rather than waiting for Lü Bu to come to our door, we should strike first. With a pincer attack from the north and south, Lü Bu can be defeated."

Madam Liu frowned slightly: "Sir, you should speak these words to Ju Shou and Tian Feng. Why are you coming to a woman like me?"

Liu Liang bowed and said, "Ju Shou and Tian Feng are good ministers, but they cannot persuade Lord Yuan. There are some things that only you, Madam, can say."

"Really?" Madam Liu raised an eyebrow. "You seem to know me quite well?"

Liu Liang said, "Madam gave birth to Prince Xianfu for Lord Yuan. The prince is intelligent and handsome, and Lord Yuan favors him, as everyone knows. However, the prince is still young and has no achievements to back him up. In the future..."

Liu Liang stopped at the right moment and did not continue.

Madam Liu's finger paused on the teacup, and she pressed for an answer: "What will happen in the future?"

Liu Liang said, "If anything changes in the future, should we choose the eldest son or the most virtuous? What will it depend on? It will depend on the young master's abilities and whether he has any notable achievements. Lord Yuan dotes on the young master, but the old ministers under Lord Yuan follow the rules."

Madam Liu asked in astonishment, "You mean, send Shang'er to fight in the war?"

Liu Liang said, "This is the time for you, young master, to make your mark and achieve great things."

Madam Liu said, "But Shang'er is still young. If we send him to supervise the battle, what if something goes wrong..."

Liu Liang continued, "Madam's concerns are indeed reasonable. However, consider this: Gan Luo became an envoy at the age of twelve, and Huo Qubing was ennobled at seventeen. Heroes have always emerged from among the young. With your exceptional talent and the protection of Lord Yuan, why should we worry about the success of the war?"

Madam Liu still hadn't completely dispelled her concerns, clutching her handkerchief tightly as her thoughts raced.

Liu Liang, having discerned Lady Liu's thoughts, said, "Young Master is of noble birth; how can he personally lead the troops into battle? With Ju Shou and Tian Feng strategizing and planning, and Yan Liang and Wen Chou charging into battle, Young Master only needs to sit firmly in the central army and oversee the battle. If the battle is won, the credit will be yours. If the battle is lost... the civil and military officials will bear the blame; it will not fall on your shoulders."

Madam Liu didn't reply, but just stared at the teacup in a daze.

The room was so quiet you could hear the wind outside.

Liu Liang suddenly spoke up: "Does Madam know the story of Lady Huayang?"

Madam Liu shook her head slightly: "What's the story?"

Liu Liang said, "King Xiaowen of Qin had a favorite concubine named Lady Huayang. She was beautiful and favored, but unfortunately she had no son. King Xiaowen liked her and wanted to make her his queen, but the court officials disagreed, as there was no precedent for making a queen without a son."

At this point, Madam Liu awkwardly picked up her teacup and took a sip.

Liu Liang continued, "Later, there was a merchant named Lü Buwei who met a prince from Qin named Yiren in Zhao. Yiren was his father's illegitimate son, and his mother was not favored and was sent to Zhao as a hostage, where they lived a very frugal life. Lü Buwei spent a large sum of money to go to Qin, find Lady Huayang, and said one thing."

Madam Liu put down her teacup and asked, "What did you say?"

Liu Liang said, "He said that the lady is favored now, but what about when she gets old? Without a son, who will support her in her old age? It would be better to adopt a son and support him to ascend the throne. When he becomes the King of Qin, the lady will be the Empress Dowager. No one will dare to bully the Empress Dowager then."

Madam Liu nodded almost imperceptibly, then asked, "Did Madam Huayang hear that?"

Liu Liang said, "I heard. She adopted Yiren as her son and praised him to King Xiaowen every day. Later, Yiren returned to his country and was made crown prince, and later became King of Qin. Lady Huayang then became Empress Dowager Huayang."

Madam Liu laughed, "Excellent! Excellent!"

Liu Liang said, "The saying 'a mother's status rises with her son' applies here. Madam has a son, which makes her far superior to Lady Huayang. But if the son has no achievements, and the court officials bring up the issue of 'order of seniority,' what will Madam have to fight for?"

The room was quiet for a moment.

Madam Liu said, "What you said is quite comprehensive, sir. Shen Pei, Guo Tu, and those people really think that way."

Liu Liang said, "I'm only thinking of Madam's best interests. Young Master is getting older and will eventually need to take charge. While Lord Yuan is still alive and the veteran officials are supporting him, he should go out and see the world, accumulate some merit and reputation. In the future..."

Madam Liu said, "Sir, you gave me a mirror, gold and silver, and went through all this trouble, just to get me to persuade Lord Yuan to send troops?"

Liu Liang answered bluntly: "Yes."

Madam Liu smiled and said, "Sir, you are quite frank. I will speak to Master Yuan tomorrow. Whether it will be successful or not, I cannot guarantee."

Liu Liang said, "It is already a great favor that Madam is willing to speak."

Madam Liu waved her hand, then suddenly asked, "How old is the gentleman?"

Liu Liang was taken aback, then replied, "Thirty-two."

Madam Liu asked, "Thirty-two, that's a good age. Are you married?"

Liu Liang said, "I am not yet married, but I have two concubines."

Madam Liu's eyebrows twitched, whether from surprise or not was unclear.

"It's rare to find a man of such talent as you with only two concubines."

Liu Liang smiled and returned the greeting, then rose to take his leave.