xymnovel Chapter 89 Mosquitoes of Zhuoxian
Chapter 89 Mosquitoes of Zhuoxian
After those words were spoken, the air in the room seemed to freeze.
Liu Bei knew that when seeking out talented people, different strategies should be used for different people, especially for those great talents.
And Cheng Yu just happened to believe in this!
The fact that he changed his name because of a dream shows that he believes in metaphysics.
Of course, Liu Bei dared to say this because Cheng Yu was not a blindly loyalist, and his attitude towards the Han Dynasty was not like Xun Yu's.
Therefore, even if Liu Bei openly declared his intention to rebel, Liu Bei would probably not only not be worried, but would be delighted.
Because his dreams reveal that he yearns for the glory of serving the emperor, so much so that he dreams about it.
Therefore, Liu Bei told Cheng Yu about his dream, which he had never told anyone before.
As for Jian Yong, who was pretending to be asleep, Liu Bei ignored him completely. He was one of his own, so there was no harm in speaking to him!
Cheng Yu sat motionless.
His hands were on his knees, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure.
It wasn't out of fear, but rather a kind of almost trembling excitement—a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
He has traveled all over the world and met many people.
Some are ambitious, some are muddle-headed, some are shrewd and capable, and some are good at empty talk and ruin the country.
But no one else could see the world situation so clearly or think so clearly about the path he was going to take, like this seventeen-year-old.
Then, in an almost indifferent tone, he said it all.
It's not about showing off, nor is it a test.
It's just a statement.
It was as if he wasn't talking about grand ambitions for the future, but rather something he had already seen before.
Cheng Yu suddenly remembered Jian Yong's words.
"My lord, may it be for that day."
He thought at the time that it was the wild talk of a madman.
At that moment, he suddenly realized that Jian Yong was not a madman.
He simply saw the fire within this person sooner than anyone else.
"Captain." Cheng Yu's voice was a little hoarse. He cleared his throat and spoke again, "Lord Xuande."
The way we address each other has changed.
Liu Bei's eyes flickered.
Cheng Yu stood up, straightened his clothes, then took a step back and knelt down solemnly.
This kneeling carries more weight than any words.
"Zhongde." Liu Bei reached out to help him up, but Cheng Yu did not get up.
"My lord!"
He lowered his head, his voice steady, enunciating each word clearly: "I have traveled through three prefectures and fourteen counties, and met prefects, governors, famous scholars, and heroes."
"Some people are exceptionally talented, some command large armies, and some are incredibly wealthy, but I have never seen anyone like you, my lord."
He raised his head and met Liu Bei's gaze.
"It's not that our lord needs Cheng Yu."
"It's Cheng Yu. After waiting for so many years, I've finally found someone I can entrust my life to."
Liu Bei's hand froze in mid-air.
The lamplight flickered, casting the shadows of the two people onto the wall.
Cheng Yu knelt, while Liu Bei sat; one was tall and the other short, yet their shadows overlapped.
After a long while, Liu Bei's hand landed on Cheng Yu's arm and gripped it tightly.
"Zhongde!" He only said two words, his voice three degrees lower and deeper than before.
No further words were spoken.
There were no clichés like "I'm perfectly at home with my husband."
She simply gripped his arm and called his name.
Cheng Yu's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
He rarely had such moments in his life.
He was used to keeping everything buried in his heart, used to remaining silent.
But at this moment, in the cool breeze of a summer night, in the council hall of a seventeen-year-old captain.
He suddenly felt that he had traveled thousands of miles just to get to this room.
A soft sound came from the corner of the wall.
Jian Yong removed the bamboo slip covering his face.
He sat up straight, looked at Cheng Yu kneeling, then at Liu Bei holding Cheng Yu's arm, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved up.
That smile was more genuine than any during the day, yet she deliberately pretended to be half asleep.
He rubbed his eyes and mumbled, "Is it dawn?"
Liu Bei and Cheng Yu both looked at him.
Jian Yong yawned, slowly stood up, walked to Cheng Yu's side, bent down and patted him on the shoulder.
Mr. Cheng.
He said with a grin, "The mosquitoes in Zhuoxian are indeed more ferocious than those in the Central Plains; one bite can cause swelling for three days."
"but--"
He straightened up, glanced at Liu Bei, and then at Cheng Yu.
"From now on, we'll share mosquito nets, swat mosquitoes together, and even if we get swollen, we'll all get swollen together."
Cheng Yu paused for a moment, then smiled.
This was the first time he had truly laughed since he stepped into the official residence yesterday.
"Xianhe," he began, "that's a question I've always wanted to ask you."
"What did you say?"
"My Lord can be that day!"
"When did you start thinking this way?"
Jian Yong tilted his head, as if he was trying to recall something.
Then he held up a finger and tapped his eye.
"From the very first moment we met again."
Liu Bei listened from the side, his ears burning almost imperceptibly.
He released Cheng Yu's arm, turned around to get the teapot, and used this to conceal his expression.
The teapot was empty. He picked it up, shook it, and then put it down, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
Jian Yong saw this and burst out laughing.
"My lord," he drawled, "the tea is gone, I'll go brew some."
"I'll go." Liu Bei practically jumped up, picked up the teapot, and strode out.
They reached the doorway and then stopped.
He turned around and looked at Cheng Yu and Jian Yong under the lamp.
One was kneeling and hadn't gotten up, while the other was standing crookedly.
The lamplight cast distinct light and shadow on their faces, yet both of them possessed the same light in their eyes.
Liu Bei opened his mouth, as if to say something.
In the end, he only said two words.
"wait for me."
Then he carried the teapot and strode into the night.
Cheng Yu watched the figure disappear through the moon gate, then suddenly whispered, "Xianhe."
"Um?"
"You're right, our lord is that great sun!"
Cheng Yu's gaze remained fixed on the direction where Liu Bei had disappeared.
Jian Yong remained silent.
He simply picked up a blade of grass again, squatted down by the wall, and gazed at the few dark jujube trees in the yard, the smile on his lips lingering.
The night breeze passed through the moon gate, causing the lamp flame to sway gently.
The summer nights in Zhuoxian are cool, but inside this council hall, it's as if an invisible fire is burning.
Cheng Yu stood up from the ground and patted the dust off his robes.
He walked to the window and looked in the direction Liu Bei had left.
The night was dark and nothing could be seen clearly except for a faint light in the distance, moving towards the kitchen.
He suddenly remembered that dream.
Holding the sun in both hands.
The sun was so heavy that it made my bones crack.
But he didn't let go.
Cheng Yu lowered his eyes and looked at his hands.
My palm is empty, and the light reflected on it flickers.
It's not empty anymore.
He slowly closed his five fingers, as if he were grasping something.
A lazy voice came from behind: "Mr. Cheng, don't stand by the window, the mosquitoes in Zhuoxian are swarming—"
"I understand," Cheng Yu interrupted him, but did not leave the window.
The corners of his mouth gradually curved upwards.