Chapter 4: Winning Hearts

They were nothing more than humble palace maids without any status. Even outside the palace, they were at the lowest rung of society. Let alone solving their family troubles, it was likely that Cao Cao would never even spare them a glance. In these chaotic times, the deaths of people like them would go unnoticed by all.

“Cao Cao cannot solve your troubles, but I can,” the emperor said. “And even if you did something for Cao Cao, do you think you’d become a meritorious official at his side one day? What benefit would he grant you?”

He laughed softly. “You are palace maids now, and even if you accomplish a great deed for him, in his eyes you will remain nothing but palace maids, never to receive any reward.”

“Xiaoyun, Xiaoli, the struggle between warlords is their affair. What reason is there for ordinary people like you to meddle in their contests?”

“To put it bluntly, if you died, it would be in vain. You’d be better off spending your energy thinking for yourselves, for your parents and siblings.”

Liu Xie’s words struck the two deeply. They knew that everything he said was true.

“Well then, consider carefully what path you wish to take in the future,” he concluded, pushing them aside to continue indulging in his lavish life.

The two maids kept massaging his legs, but their hearts were full of reflection.

A few nights later, as Liu Xie and the empress were preparing to sleep, Xiaoyun and Xiaoli came to them. Without a word, they knelt before Liu Xie with a thud.

“Your Majesty’s great kindness, we are eternally grateful. From now on, we will no longer serve Lord Cao, but will devote ourselves wholly to Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty, we have transmitted your messages to Lord Cao many times. We are guilty and beg your forgiveness.”

“Henceforth, we will obey Your Majesty alone.”

The two maids, tearful and moved, knelt before Liu Xie, making their vows. The Empress Fushou watched with bewilderment, unable to comprehend what was happening.

What had Liu Xie done to make those who had been sent by Cao Cao to keep watch turn against their master voluntarily?

“How is your father’s leg, Xiaoyun?” Liu Xie asked with concern.

“It is much better. He wrote to say he’ll be able to walk in a few days,” Xiaoyun replied gratefully.

“And you, Xiaoli? Is your mother’s illness improving?” Liu Xie inquired again.

Xiaoli nodded quickly.

“Your Majesty, we—we realize our errors,” they said, bowing their heads again.

Liu Xie, ever considerate, helped them up.

“Do not worry. I won’t make things hard for you, nor do you need to act too obviously. Outwardly, you may still serve Cao Cao, but as for news from my side—?”

“Your Majesty, rest assured. From now on, Lord Cao will never receive any information about Your Majesty from us,” they promised sincerely.

Liu Xie nodded in satisfaction. “Good, I believe you.”

“There’s no need to worry about your families. Each month, someone will bring them money and food. All you need to do is serve me in peace.”

“Go now and rest.”

They bowed in thanks once again and left.

Empress Fushou stood stunned for a long while, unable to return to herself.

“Your Majesty, what—what is happening?” she asked in confusion.

“It’s simple. Their families had difficulties, and I helped resolve them. Naturally, they are grateful to me,” Liu Xie explained.

“But, Your Majesty, you helped them?” the empress was even more puzzled.

Liu Xie spent his days drinking and making merry in the palace, always watched by Cao Cao’s people—how could he have time or freedom to attend to such matters?

“Yes. Remember when I asked you to write to the Imperial Uncle, telling him to send people to Xuchang?” Liu Xie prompted.

The empress nodded in understanding.

“These days, I’ve had the twenty men the Imperial Uncle left here contact many palace maids and eunuchs. Most of their families are destitute, unable to afford food or medicine. Through various means, these twenty men contact the people the Imperial Uncle sent to Xuchang in secret.”

“They find the families of the palace maids and offer assistance.”

“I make sure they know these acts are done by my secret command. In this way, the attitude of the palace maids towards me naturally changes.”

This was Liu Xie’s method for winning over the palace maids and eunuchs.

“But Your Majesty, how can you be sure these people will be grateful?” the empress still felt uncertain.

After all, in her view, helping someone with an illness was too ordinary a thing.

Liu Xie smiled gently. “Zitong, you live in the palace and do not know the suffering outside. This year, the northern drought has caused grain prices to soar—even the wealthy struggle to fill their bellies, let alone the poor.”

“The families of these palace maids and eunuchs are all born in poverty. If their circumstances were any better, they would not be serving here.”

“Besides, I make sure they understand one thing.”

“In Cao Cao’s eyes, they are worthless. If they die, it is meaningless. The war between warlords is not their concern.”

“Cao Cao cannot give them any benefit, but I can care for their families and provide them a better life.”

“All they have to do is pretend they see nothing.”

At last, Empress Fushou nodded repeatedly, full of admiration for Liu Xie.

“So Your Majesty’s days of wine and pleasure are actually to deceive Cao Cao?”

Now she understood Liu Xie’s purpose.

Liu Xie smiled slightly. Yes, that was exactly his intention. Judging by the results, it was working; Cao Cao was paying less and less attention to him.

Next, Liu Xie used the same tactics.

He quietly combined kindness and authority with the palace maids and eunuchs, and within less than a month, he had won over most of them.

Just as Liu Xie had said, these were ordinary people, without status. As long as he made them understand that the war of the warlords had nothing to do with them, and that Cao Cao could give them nothing while he could offer much, he slowly took control of the palace from within.

But there is always an exception.

Among the palace maids and eunuchs, there were a dozen who were Cao Cao’s staunch loyalists.

On the high walls of the palace courtyard, Liu Xie stood with hands clasped behind his back, Empress Fushou at his side.

Outside the palace, a small, thin man hurried along a path.

It was a eunuch who had slipped out to report Liu Xie’s actions to Cao Cao.

“Your Majesty, will this really be alright?” the empress asked, worried.