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Late at night.
Xiao Meng awoke from a deep sleep, feeling incredibly satisfied, for it seemed he had never slept so soundly in his life.
Candlelight flickered in the room. Lü Bu was nowhere to be seen, but Xiao Meng knew he would return soon.
Xiao Meng got out of bed and slowly walked to the table. Lying on it was a piece of cloth—an envelope from Guo Jia to Lü Bu. Xiao Meng raised an eyebrow as he recognized it.
Just as he was about to examine the contents, Lü Bu pushed open the door, holding a tray with two bowls of plain noodles, a small dish of pickles, a pot of wine, and two cups. The aroma of wine filled the air.
This private kitchen in Sima Lang’s house held many fine liquors, and Lü Bu never let good wine go to waste—he’d enjoyed plenty over the past two days.
Seeing Xiao Meng’s healthy color, Lü Bu smiled and said, "Awake, Xiao Meng? You look well-rested."
"Yes, I’ve never slept so well," Xiao Meng replied with a radiant smile.
"Good, you should always sleep this well from now on," Lü Bu said softly, gazing at him deeply.
Xiao Meng moved to help with the tray, but Lü Bu said, "Take it slow, sit down. Your wounds aren’t fully healed—you shouldn’t walk too much."
So Xiao Meng sat at the table, waited for Lü Bu to arrange everything, then poured him a cup of wine.
They began their midnight meal together.
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Xiao Meng, having not eaten all day, was tempted by the noodles before him. Lü Bu didn’t touch his chopsticks at first, instead sipping his wine and watching Xiao Meng eat.
"Bu, what did Guo Jia want?" Xiao Meng took a few bites and, for once, started the conversation.
Lü Bu took a sip of wine, picked up the cloth letter, and said, "This letter was brought to me by Hua Tuo when I called him to see you. Guo Jia says he has received a secret order from the emperor to help me eliminate Jia Xu. Zhang Liao is involved too—on the morning I was to see Cao Cao, Guo Jia had already had Zhang Liao detain Jia Xu at his mansion. Now, all that’s left is for me to kill him. But..."
Lü Bu frowned, "How did he get involved with the emperor?"
Xiao Meng set down his chopsticks, took a sip of wine, and explained, "Actually, it’s because of me. I saw him on the day I entered the city."
He then told Lü Bu in detail how he had met Guo Jia.
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On the morning Xiao Meng arrived in Xuchang, he went to a teahouse on the main street to rest and gather information. Disguised as a gentle-faced scholar, he sat by the window and soon noticed many patrons gathered before a white wall, discussing it animatedly.
This teahouse, elegantly decorated and in a prime location, was favored by scholars and poets, who would compose verses and debate literature here. The owner had a tradition: for a fee, patrons could write poetry on one wall. When the wall was full, it would be whitewashed for new verses.
But now, only a single poem occupied the wall, written in the center—nothing else.
That was what everyone was talking about.
Five days earlier, a nobleman in a veiled hat had paid enough to buy the entire teahouse for exclusive rights to the wall, writing a single poem and demanding that no other poetry be added for a month.
So for five days, only that poem was on display.
Because of this, poets flocked daily to discuss it and speculate about the mysterious, wealthy patron.
"Just another bored rich kid, showing off," most guests concluded.
But if it was meant not just for show, but to catch the attention of a specific person, it was a clever method of secret communication. Xiao Meng thought, then went to the wall and, upon reading the poem, his eyes flashed.
"Flourishing times welcome those from afar,20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPjS6K9BvD
Victory upon victory, waves rising high.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B3VMQrrYp
Let us meet beneath the city walls,20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3ksMkuneE
And pour out our hearts atop the parapet."
The last couplet clearly meant "let’s meet, I have something to tell you," especially after seeing the signature:
—"Jianxiong Gongzi, Chrysanthemum Moon 21st."
This odd detail puzzled the crowd as well. The Chrysanthemum Moon (ninth month) poem was written on the 16th; the 21st was still to come. A deliberate "mistake"—the meeting date hidden in plain sight.
"Jianxiong" (cut misfortune) means to "add fortune"—Jiā ("Jia").
Xiao Meng had already deduced what this meant.
Especially the phrase "pour out our hearts atop the parapet"—the one wishing to confide was Guo Jia.
Guo Jia—one of the Eight Geniuses, advisor to Cao Cao.
He was waiting for someone, but didn’t know exactly when that person would arrive, nor had a direct way to contact them. So he used this tactic, hoping it would be noticed. "The young lord who paid handsomely to write a poem at the teahouse" had become the latest city gossip.
And who was the intended recipient?
Hidden in the first lines, understood only by the person Guo Jia awaited:
"Flourishing times welcome those from afar,20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMsdpKaYnO
Victory upon victory, waves rising high."
Reversed, Xiao Meng immediately thought of the Remnants’ banner couplet:
"Survivors are doomed,20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkey84tGq3
Defeat as crushing as a mountain."
Guo Jia’s message was for the Remnants, and he was the only one likely to be in Xuchang at that time.
Xuchang City. Outside the South Gate. Chu Garden.
That night, the moon was bright, so that even in the desolate Chu Garden outside the southern gate, it was not too gloomy.
"Let us meet beneath the city walls" was a clue to the meeting place.
The tale of the "Covenant Under the City Walls": When Chu attacked Jiao, they camped outside the south gate, but Jiao’s defenders held firm.
Just so, outside Xuchang’s south gate, there was an old estate called Chu Garden.
Xiao Meng slipped into the estate. In the moonlit courtyard stood a slender, handsome young man.
He was dressed in a white brocade robe embroidered with black feathers, glimmering in the moonlight—a striking sight.
Xiao Meng had seen this man before, in Xiapi—it was Guo Jia.
On hearing movement, Guo Jia smiled, "I knew anyone who could win Wenhou’s heart must be not only beautiful but clever, and would understand the poem’s meaning. Now that you’re here, Xiao Meng, why not show yourself?"
"If your reason for seeing me is good enough, I will," came a gentle, elegant voice. Guo Jia, unskilled in martial arts, could not tell where it came from.
"No need for caution, Xiao Meng. I came alone, of my own will, not sent by Cao Cao to trick you. You can see I’m a mere scholar, here by myself—proof of my sincerity."
A pause, then the gentle voice spoke from behind Guo Jia, "How did you know I’d come to Xuchang?"
Guo Jia turned and saw a stunning beauty in black, hair long and slightly curled, simply tied back, with no makeup—yet every glance and smile was captivating.
Even Guo Jia, normally ascetic, was briefly moved. "First, Xun Yu and I have kept track of Wenhou and you, knowing you were near Yewang City recently."
Xiao Meng’s expression was calm, waiting for him to continue.
"Jia Xu set a trap for Lü Bu in Yewang City nine days ago—a doomed move. Wenhou, as always, would counterattack and then go on the offensive. So after Xu Chu’s death, Wenhou was sure to come to Xuchang within half a month."
Guo Jia gazed meaningfully at Xiao Meng.
"Before he acted, of course he would put you somewhere safe. As an imperial criminal, you’re safest either by his side or within the palace."
"And since I would enter the city before Lü Bu, you left a poem so I could find you," Xiao Meng finished. "Why did you want to see me?"
Perhaps influenced by Lü Bu, Xiao Meng had grown used to straightforward dealings.
"I know you’re about to enter the palace. I want you to act as a go-between and arrange for me to secretly meet the emperor." Guo Jia hugged himself against the chill.
"I don’t care about your reasons. You’re Cao Cao’s adviser—an enemy to us. I have no reason to help you. In fact, I could just ignore you and go to the palace myself." Xiao Meng exhaled and added, "I only came tonight to see if I needed to get rid of you right away."
Xiao Meng’s tone was cold.
As a trusted aide to Cao Cao, Guo Jia’s covert meeting with a Remnant could be a threat. If it was, Xiao Meng wanted to handle it at once. Guo Jia understood and knew Xiao Meng was thinking of Lü Bu’s safety.
"You’re a true comrade, Xiao Meng," Guo Jia praised sincerely. "Rest assured, I have no ill will toward Wenhou. I want to see the emperor to ensure Wenhou can eliminate the menace of Jia Xu without fail."
Xiao Meng smiled, his eyes flashing with intelligence, his voice light and distant, "Oh? You and Jia Xu share a school and have been colleagues, with no enmity—why do this?"
Guo Jia studied Xiao Meng.
Tonight, he finally understood what true beauty was.
This person, simply dressed in black, with loose hair and no makeup, not even disguised as a woman, still had a charm that could shake anyone’s heart.
No wonder Lü Bu, who’d known many beauties, was still conquered by him...
The thought passed quickly.
Guo Jia composed himself, drawing on all the calm of a military strategist, and answered firmly, "In terms of strategy, Jia Xu is the greatest of the Eight Geniuses. But he is perverse, vicious, and cruel. His presence in Cao’s camp is a threat to me and Xun Yu. More importantly..."
Guo Jia looked up at the endless moonlit sky, his tone grave. "Jia Xu is unmatched in warfare and has mastered secret tactics the rest of us cannot. If Cao Cao truly makes use of him, he could unify the realm in half the time!"
Xiao Meng’s face changed. As an assassin, he had little grasp of grand strategy, but he knew that even Lü Bu had been defeated by Jia Xu, so he must be formidable. Yet he had not realized just how terrifying.
"You mean one man can control the fate of the world?" Xiao Meng couldn’t hide his shock.
Guo Jia sighed, "One could say: with Jia Xu, you have the world! So when Wenhou drove him from Dong Zhuo’s side, it may have been for selfish reasons, but it was also an immense service to the people!"
Guo Jia glanced at Xiao Meng, smiling, "No need to ask how I know. I may not match Jia Xu in strategy, but I’m skilled in intelligence and, above all, in understanding people—"
He broke off with a sneeze—this autumn night was too cold for his frail body.
"So… Cao Cao treats Xun Yu and me well because he needs us. But ‘once the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the rabbits are dead, the hounds are cooked’—that’s human nature. Now you see why I can’t rest easy with Jia Xu in Cao Cao’s camp..."
Guo Jia rubbed his arms, regretting not wearing a heavier cloak.
"Now, since he’s brought ruin on himself by provoking Wenhou, this is our one chance to remove him!" Guo Jia took two steps forward, fixing Xiao Meng with his gaze.
"So, your interests and mine are fully aligned."
"Isn’t this betraying your lord?" Xiao Meng asked calmly, showing no emotion.
"You misunderstand, Xiao Meng. Wenhou has no intention of harming Cao Cao—he knows he can’t bring down the camp alone. He’s here to negotiate with Cao Cao, with the emperor’s backing, to get permission to kill Jia Xu and ultimately reconcile. How is that betrayal?"
Guo Jia’s bluntness left Xiao Meng speechless—he understood that Guo Jia had seen through Lü Bu’s true intentions.
"Xiao Meng, I’m more direct than other direct people. Good birds choose good trees, and Cao Cao is that tree—I need him. But as a strategist, what I need most is chaos. Even if Jia Xu doesn’t harm me, I don’t want to be sidelined as a minor official, always worrying about being purged!"
Guo Jia hurried to finish, shivering from the cold, only wanting to convince Xiao Meng quickly.
"In short, letting me see the emperor will do you only good, and I’ll use my skills to help Wenhou’s negotiations."
"Oh?" Xiao Meng raised an eyebrow.
"Don’t forget, your savior Hua Tuo is also a disciple of my master, Mister Water Mirror! To show you I mean Wenhou no harm, take this!" Guo Jia, now chattering from the cold, pulled a wooden box from his robe and handed it to Xiao Meng.
"Inside are documents proving Xu Chu, Xu Huang, the Xiahou brothers, and Jia Xu plotted against Wenhou, as well as my letter to the emperor, declaring my loyalty to Han and exposing Jia Xu’s treachery. Heaven and earth are witness!"
Seeing Guo Jia shivering, almost swearing an oath, Xiao Meng couldn’t help but laugh, "Young Master Guo, you know your body is frail—why dress so lightly? Well, can you give me some time to consider?"
Guo Jia was embarrassed but said, "Of course you can. Take these—presenting the evidence to the emperor will make him more likely to support Wenhou. You’ve only just arrived in Xuchang; Wenhou should be here in five days… Don’t look at me like that—if I couldn’t calculate this, I wouldn’t be one of Water Mirror’s Eight Geniuses!"
He wasn’t sure if it was the cold or Xiao Meng’s beauty, but Guo Jia felt a rare sense of panic.
Xiao Meng smiled, now much more at ease with Guo Jia.
He felt Guo Jia was trustworthy. From the start, Guo Jia had called Cao Cao by name, never "my lord," and when mentioning him, showed no respect or admiration. It was clear his "loyalty" to Cao Cao was a rational choice, not heartfelt allegiance. This was different from Zhang Liao or Gao Shun’s loyalty to Lü Bu, or his own former loyalty to Sima Yi.
At least, he’d seen how Zhang Liao looked when talking about Lü Bu, which was worlds apart from Guo Jia discussing Cao Cao.
"If I decide to help you, how should I contact you?" After a moment’s silence, Xiao Meng asked.
Guo Jia thought for a moment, then said, "I expect Wenhou will cause a stir when he enters the city. I’ll need to enter the palace the day after that. If you’re willing to help, find me at Hua Tuo’s clinic—I’ll be waiting."
Then, straightening up despite the cold, Guo Jia saluted respectfully, "If you choose not to help, I understand. But please convey to Wenhou: Guo Jia is grateful for his help in eliminating Jia Xu, a great enemy for myself and Xun Yu. I wish Wenhou every success!"
Xiao Meng studied Guo Jia, then returned the salute. "I understand, Young Master Guo. Farewell, and good night."
With that, he vanished into the night.
As Xiao Meng left, Guo Jia immediately curled up against the cold.
He drew two conclusions:
First, the man who could win Lü Bu’s heart was indeed unimaginably beautiful—a true match of hero and beauty.
Second, Xiao Meng was not to be underestimated.
In the bedroom, the soft candlelight and the faint crackle of the brazier filled the room with warmth.
Lü Bu and Xiao Meng finished their midnight meal and sat together by the window. Lü Bu leaned against the window, a small incense burner on the table before him, burning the finest agarwood sent by Hua Tuo. The gentle fragrance soothed the mind and soul.
Lü Bu sipped his wine, listening with great interest as Xiao Meng told him all about meeting Guo Jia.
"So that’s it… No wonder the emperor told Cao Cao he had evidence of Xu Chu, Xiahou and others conspiring with Jia Xu. I thought he was bluffing, but it was Guo Jia who supplied the evidence."
"Yes, I looked over the evidence and the letter to the emperor before entering the palace," Xiao Meng replied.
After parting with Guo Jia, he had hidden himself somewhere safe and examined the "evidence"—they were indeed Jia Xu’s secret orders to Xu Chu, and letters to the Xiahou brothers and Xu Huang, all in Jia Xu’s handwriting.
In Guo Jia’s letter to the emperor, he wrote that he served the prime minister out of duty to restore the Han, but that Jia Xu was a sinister, destructive man who had already caused chaos in Chang’an, and was now instigating generals to harm Wenhou. Clearly, Jia Xu was a deep threat to both the prime minister and the realm. Guo Jia begged the emperor to support Wenhou in eliminating him, and asked for a private audience to explain his devotion to the Han.
"Heh… isn’t Guo Jia clearly siding with me? If word gets out, he’s as good as dead," Lü Bu mused, surprised that such a cunning strategist would take the risk.
"Yes… He was willing to put himself in danger, which is why I… helped him see the emperor," Xiao Meng said, a little uneasy as he played with his sleeve. "Are you angry that I met him on my own, and even got him in to see the emperor?"
Indeed, Xiao Meng felt guilty about this, especially since he'd later left the palace without permission to rescue Sima Lang, and caused even more trouble.
Seeing his anxiety, Lü Bu took Xiao Meng’s fidgeting hand, gently reassuring him, "Xiao Meng, you’ve never been reckless—especially with things that concern me, you always think before acting. This time, your judgment was spot on. You’ve helped me, and it seems you also did the emperor a big favor."
Lü Bu took two objects from his robe and placed them on the table. Xiao Meng picked them up, his expression changing.
"Are these… Cao Cao’s letter of appointment to Jia Xu, and Jia Xu’s secret letter to Cao Cao?"
"Yes. Guo Jia not only had Hua Tuo deliver his secret message to me, but also this evidence of the connection between Cao Cao and Jia Xu." Lü Bu sipped his wine, his face thoughtful. "He could have presented this evidence to the emperor himself, but chose to give it to me first…"
"Isn’t he… leaving Cao Cao’s fate in your hands?" Xiao Meng realized that if Lü Bu passed these on to Emperor Xian, it could cause Cao Cao major trouble.
"If you hadn't helped him see the emperor, he probably wouldn't have given me this gift! Guo Jia really is a remarkable man!"
Hearing Lü Bu say this, Xiao Meng finally felt relieved, knowing he’d done nothing wrong.
Suddenly, Lü Bu reached out and pinched Xiao Meng’s cheek.
"No need to be so afraid, Xiao Meng! Even if you messed things up, so what? We could always just kill Cao Cao—there’s no one in the world I can’t kill," Lü Bu joked.
Xiao Meng felt strange, hearing such bloody words spoken with such affection in Lü Bu’s gaze, but the warmth in his heart made him smile and lower his head, saying no more.
Outside, Lü Bu heard birdsong in the empty mountains—dawn was near. He stood, carried Xiao Meng back to bed, tucked him in, and said, "It’s best to wait until you’re fully recovered before dealing with Jia Xu. He’s already been detained by Zhang Liao—he can’t escape." Then he kissed Xiao Meng’s pale cheek and said gently, "Let him wait a little longer."
Eight days later, after Xiao Meng’s course of medicated baths was complete, Lü Bu summoned Hua Tuo again. Confirming that Xiao Meng’s tendons were fully healed, they set out for the city, heading for Jia Xu’s mansion.
End of Chapter 31
Copyright Notice:
The Burning Dream Chronicle Chapter 31: "Candlelit Conversations"20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciJueaURWJ
Original work by Jing Xixian (Vampire L), all rights reserved.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZYzyLEz2k
No part of this work may be reproduced, adapted, copied, translated, or used commercially in any form without written permission from the author.
© Jing Xixian (Vampire L), All rights reserved.
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