Liu Bei glanced sideways at Cao Cao beside him, then remained silent, adopting a demeanor of calm and indifference, standing by and gazing at the high heavens.

"The Emperor, I believe, can serve as a symbol of the nation," Chen Xi said with a smile, leaving the interpretation of this symbol to others.

"A symbol of the nation?" Cao Cao repeated, then nodded silently.

"So, Cao Sikong, what do you think of the relationship between the nobility and the Emperor?" Chen Xi asked with a sly grin, believing that Liu Bei was also curious about this question. Furthermore, Chen Xi could guarantee that Liu Bei hadn’t considered this aspect before.

"Just call me Mengde. The relationship between the nobility and the Emperor?" Cao Cao asked with a slight frown.

"Yes, the relationship between the nobility and the Emperor." Chen Xi responded with a smile, although his gaze also fell on Liu Bei, who was clearly in contemplation.

"For the Emperor to rule the realm, he must limit the nobility, who have been usurping the Emperor’s power," Cao Cao said resolutely, clearly expressing his conviction.

"Lord Xuande?" Chen Xi looked at Liu Bei with a mischievous expression.

"I think it’s better for you to answer this, Zichuan." Liu Bei hesitated, feeling somewhat unsure about Cao Cao’s answer, but refrained from speaking.

"In my view..." Chen Xi drew out his words, capturing the attention of both Liu Bei and Cao Cao.

"The Emperor is also a member of the nobility, but with a dual identity among them." Chen Xi said as he looked at Cao Cao and Liu Bei, "This is my answer, although it may not necessarily fit."

Cao Cao was momentarily stunned, while Liu Bei frowned, both pondering Chen Xi’s words. By the time they grasped the meaning, Chen Xi had already vanished.

[The Emperor is also a member of the nobility.] Cao Cao silently repeated the phrase, suddenly enlightened about many previously perplexing matters. As someone born into nobility, he could readily understand this notion, and he unexpectedly sensed the emergence of something called class.

[I wasn’t born into nobility, though I am now among them, I still remember the life of the lower classes. I’ve entered a different class, but I’m still the same person, still striving for the people’s benefit...] Liu Bei pondered quietly.

Suddenly, Liu Bei was startled, [The Emperor’s dual identity, so that’s what it means, the Emperor is the noblest among the nobility, yet the Emperor is vastly different from other nobles. As a noble, the Emperor’s significance is to limit other nobles, to fight for the people’s benefit.]

[When the Emperor stands entirely with the nobility, it signifies the complete appropriation of the people’s interests, heralding the end of the dynasty.]

Having understood all this, Liu Bei felt a bitterness at the corner of his mouth. He realized that the position he had taken was the Emperor’s position, and today the Emperor stood from a noble’s perspective; both had taken the wrong stance.

"Mengde, what are you fighting for?" Liu Bei asked, looking at Cao Cao.

"What for?" Cao Cao pondered, "To bring glory to my ancestors, to honor the Cao Family, to restore the glory of our predecessors. Xuande, what about you?"

"Me, perhaps it’s also for the glory of my ancestors." Liu Bei said with a hint of bitterness, unexpectedly discovering that his intentions were flawed from the start, that his position was wrong from the beginning, and later when he could have changed his viewpoint, he didn’t.

He, Liu Bei, was standing in a position that the Emperor should have been in, doing things the Emperor should do, unknowingly overstepping his bounds.

"Xuande, what’s wrong?" Cao Cao asked, seeing Liu Bei’s somewhat gloomy expression.

"Just suddenly feeling a bit tired. So many years have passed in a flash, I still remember our times suppressing the Yellow Turbans, time flies." Liu Bei diverted the topic, finally understanding clearly where the Emperor had erred.

"Hahaha, we’re still young, at least we can fight for another thirty years." Cao Cao said boldly, "Though there’s an unresolved tension between you and me, our goals, our ideals are not mistaken."

"Indeed, our goals and ideals are indeed correct. Brother Mengde, this era will be a time of change, far surpassing any previous era, a flourishing age. Remember, always hold steadfast to your core values." Liu Bei said with a touch of authority, looking at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao, feeling the weight of Liu Bei’s authority, squinted his eyes slightly, his expression turning grave, "If Xuande seeks the Emperor’s position, I fear I must contend with you." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"What use is the Emperor’s position to me!" Liu Bei said proudly, "Someday you will understand that the Emperor’s position is of no use to me, the Emperor has taken the wrong path."

Liu Bei’s frank words left Cao Cao visibly troubled, "To openly criticize the Emperor’s mistake is not something a minister should do."

"A mistake is a mistake, unfortunately he still doesn’t realize he’s wrong." Liu Bei sighed, "Besides being Grand Commandant, I am also part of the Imperial Clan, so I can speak."

Cao Cao swallowed back the words he had wanted to say.

Just before the Han and Huns war ended, Liu Xie and others were finally resolute, making the final decision, one that was extremely foolish.

"Indeed, thinking he was smart was my own oversight." Sima Yi said with frustration, feeling choked by his anger as he spoke to Zhong Yao. Previously buried in reading, Zhong Yao now paused in his writing, his expression sorrowful.

"Shenn Sheng perished within due to foolishness!" Zhong Yao said with suppressed anger in his calm tone.

"Shut the doors and refuse visitors." Yang Biao sighed deeply, "Dezu, you should seek refuge with your brother-in-law, Yuan Gonglu. He will give you status, remember it’s Yuan Gonglu, not Sunx Bofu."

"I shall follow Lord Cao, who is a hero. I once thought him a tyrant, but when he abandoned all to lead troops north, I realized he was a hero, not a mistake following him." Yang Xiu said with a smile, "I will not partake in factional disputes, there will be no issues."

Yang Biao remained silent for a moment, "The young eagle has grown, has formed its views, but Cao Mengde is not a hero, he is a tyrant. He may seem so, but not as you think. If you follow him, you may not have a good ending."

"My Spiritual Talent is unaffected by anyone, and it can prevent me from being swayed by external matters. Although I cannot jump out of the chessboard like Kuai Yidu and observe the world’s situation from an outsider’s perspective, being in the game allows me to see more." Yang Xiu said with a confident smile.

"Dezu, listen to my counsel; your intellect is outstanding, but your temperament is poor. If one day you disagree on principles with Cao Mengde?" Yang Biao looked at Yang Xiu.

"I would honestly inform him!" Yang Xiu said after a pause.

"Son, heed a father’s advice, if that day comes, say nothing. Cao Mengde will cherish your talent and with my connections, you will be safe; if you contend with him, he won’t tolerate you. You’re not a figure like Chen Zichuan who can dominate a whole era. And even Chen Zichuan would face concealment after victory if challenged by Cao Mengde." Yang Biao said, sitting up and looking at Yang Xiu.

Yang Xiu hesitated, disliking to keep words buried, yet seeing his father speak to such extent, if he didn’t acquiesce, Yang Biao might send him off to Yuan Gonglu rather than let him stay here.

If he went to Yuan Shu, unless the realm united, he would have no chance to emerge again. Yuan Shu had extricated himself from the struggle for domination, as long as he refrained from creating chaos, once unified, the Yuan Clan of Runan would remain.

"Fine then." Yang Xiu sighed, conforming to his father’s wishes.

"Stay at home for now, wait until Liu Cao Sunx return to Chang’an to sacrifice at the Grand Ancestral Temple before coming out." Yang Biao said approvingly, nodding in satisfaction, relieved that his son didn’t become obstinate and maintain silence.