Three Kingdoms, Myth

Chen Xi led Xu Chu through a few streets and arrived at a restaurant owned by the Mi family. As soon as the waiter saw Chen Xi, he quickly went to inform the manager.

"Greetings, Lord Chen, General Xu. What would you like to eat? We have a private room upstairs," the manager said with a respectful bow.

"Hmm, Lord Xu and I will wait for Lord Liu Bei, who should be arriving shortly. Prepare a couple of extra dishes. Oh, and boil a tub of water to wash this little rascal clean," Chen Xi instructed, pointing to the boy Xu Chu was holding.

The young boy, who had been hanging limply in Xu Chu's grip, had given up struggling. Realizing that he couldn't escape Xu Chu's grasp, he hung his head in defeat.

"Understood," the manager nodded as he eyed the mud-covered street urchin. "Waiter, take him to wash up and get him some clean clothes."

"Forget the clothes. Turn up the heat and make a stew out of him. Don't forget the spices!" Chen Xi said, glaring at the boy.

"No! No, please don't turn me into stew! I taste terrible!" the boy, who had been resigned to his fate, suddenly screamed in terror, flailing his arms and legs in Chen Xi's direction.

"Um, Lord Chen, we don't offer that service here," the manager said nervously, dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief. Joking about boiling someone alive wasn't exactly good for business, even if everyone knew it was just a joke. After all, they weren't running a shady establishment.

"Just kidding," Chen Xi said, giving the boy a light flick on the forehead, which quieted him down. "This little rascal is tough. My three or four personal guards couldn't catch him. If I leave him with you, he'll slip away for sure. Xu Chu, keep an eye on him and make sure he gets clean. I've never seen a twelve or thirteen-year-old kid this skilled."

"Understood," the manager said, relieved that he wouldn't have to deal with the morbid task. As long as it wasn't boiling someone alive, he figured his restaurant could handle it.

The boy, who had been hanging in Xu Chu's grip, finally relaxed when he heard Chen Xi's words. He stopped struggling and looked at Chen Xi with pitiful eyes. "Lord Chen, please let me go. I didn't mean to cause trouble. I have many younger siblings to take care of. I'll pay you back when I have money, I promise. Just let me go, okay?"

"Who said anything about paying me back? Xu Chu, make sure you use a metal brush to scrub him clean," Chen Xi said sternly.

The young street urchin had learned to read people's expressions after years of living on the streets. He could tell that Chen Xi wasn't truly angry, just a bit harsh with his words. However, Xu Chu's next comment sent him spiraling into despair. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to use a metal brush to scrub him clean."

"No! Please, no! I'll wash myself, I swear…" the boy's voice trailed off into a wail as Xu Chu carried him to the back courtyard. His cries sounded just like those of any other ten-year-old boy being forced to bathe after a long day of running around in the dirt. Whether they were beggars or not, they all seemed to have the same aversion to getting cleaned up.

"Sorry to disturb your business," Chen Xi apologized to the manager after Xu Chu had taken the boy away.

"There's no need for that, Lord Chen. Please, this way." The manager gestured politely, leading Chen Xi upstairs.

Chen Xi sat by the window on the second floor, casually eating some boiled meat—whether it was lamb or something else, he wasn't quite sure. Liu Bei might or might not show up, but that didn't stop him from enjoying his meal.

The door to the second floor suddenly opened with a creak, and Liu Bei stepped inside, followed closely by Li You, who wore an expression of mild resignation as he watched Chen Xi gazing out the window.

"Lord Liu," Chen Xi said with a smile, placing his chopsticks on the table and bowing politely.

"Zi Chuan, why did you make my residence so extravagant?" Liu Bei didn't bother with pleasantries. As soon as he entered, he immediately questioned Chen Xi in a tone that was far from friendly.

"Spending my own money to build someone else's home, and I still get scolded? Now that's what I call bad news—talk about flattering the wrong person," Chen Xi responded casually, completely unfazed by Liu Bei's tone.

"Lord Liu, please take a seat. It's easier to discuss things while sitting down," Li You said with a smile, gently guiding Liu Bei to the seat of honor on the left-hand side.

Once seated, Liu Bei continued to fume, glaring at Chen Xi. "Zi Chuan, can't you be a bit more frugal? That mansion is so grand that people will think I, Liu Bei, am living a life of luxury and excess. What are you laughing at? You're just as guilty as he is."

"Fine, fine. We're all in this together," Chen Xi replied nonchalantly. "Lord Liu, just live in your residence without worrying about it. You're a symbol of Fenggao, and living in such a landmark building is only fitting. As for the cost, let me ask you this: hasn't your governance improved compared to before?"

"That's just sophistry!" Liu Bei shot back, glaring at Chen Xi. After spending so much time with Chen Xi, he had learned how to deal with his tendency to twist words.

"Then let me put it another way. I built that residence to record your great achievements, Lord Liu. Living in such a grand building is fitting for someone who embodies virtue and benevolence, right?" Chen Xi said, casually using another excuse to deflect the argument.

He scooped a piece of meat into his small dish and gestured to Li You that they should eat and drink while he convinced Liu Bei. Liu Bei's problem wasn't that he didn't want to live in the mansion; it was just that his sense of morality was overriding his desires. In this case, it was Liu Bei's moral standards suppressing his indulgence, which spoke well of his character.

"But the people of the world haven't all been saved yet. Not to mention, we still have much work to do in Qingzhou," Liu Bei protested. He was far from being a benevolent ruler with achievements worthy of such grandeur.

"Which is why I built that palace for you, Lord Liu—to remind you of your responsibilities. Living in such a residence should serve as a constant reminder that only by embodying virtue can you truly feel at peace there. The more luxury you experience, the broader your perspective will become. Just like how a poor man might dream of the emperor eating plain buns and using a golden hoe. The more wealth you experience, the heavier the burden you must bear. Providing all people with peace and prosperity is a nearly impossible task, one that only a few wise rulers and ministers have ever achieved throughout the ages." Chen Xi continued to twist the argument, knowing full well that Liu Bei wouldn't be able to out-debate him.

"But…" Liu Bei tried to argue, struggling to keep up with Chen Xi's convoluted logic.

"No buts. The more wealth you experience, the broader your horizons will become. A poor man might dream of the emperor eating plain buns and using a golden hoe, but the more you experience, the greater the responsibility you bear. Providing for all people is one of the most difficult tasks, something that few wise rulers throughout history have ever managed to achieve." Chen Xi continued to twist the conversation, successfully shifting the topic from Liu Bei's personal luxury to the grander issue of governing the world.