Chapter 113

Liu Bei was naturally not invited, and was even met with a few cold stares.

Cao Mengde, a favorite in Dong Zhuo's inner circle, suffered the same fate.

The two exchanged a glance and both smiled with some embarrassment.

"Big Brother, that scoundrel Wang Yun is bullying us too much. I'll go take his mansion with my troops right now!"

Zhang Fei learned of this and immediately began to complain.

Liu Bei glared at him.

"You must have been hanging around the Western Liang soldiers too long lately; your bandit aura is truly heavy!"

Zhang Fei felt a bit sheepish.

"Big Brother, I just got a bit too into character..."

Liu Bei thought for a moment.

"I still have to make a trip to Wang Yun's residence today."

Zhang Fei couldn't understand why his big brother would still want to go to Wang Yun's place after being so clearly shunned.

As the lanterns were lit at dusk,

the gates of Wang Yun's residence were already tightly shut.

When Liu Bei arrived, he happened to see Cao Cao also there, calling for the gate to be opened.

"Brother Mengde, I didn't expect to run into you here again after drinking at Lord Dong's place this afternoon."

Cao Cao also found it strange.

"Xuande, what are you doing at Wang Yun's place?"

Liu Bei sighed.

"The Taiyuan Wang clan and I have a very good relationship. Even though I wasn't invited to Wang Yun's birthday banquet, I still have to attend."

"What about you, Brother Mengde?"

Cao Cao coughed.

"The Minister and I are friends across generations; our relationship is very good."

Wang Yun's steward happened to come out.

"General Cao, my master says the banquet is about to end, so please return."

Cao Cao:??

This slap to the face came too quickly!

Does Cao not have any face to save?

Liu Bei coughed.

"Steward, is it? I am the Inspector of Bingzhou, Liu Xuande. Brother Mengde and I have come with sincere intentions. Does the Minister really intend to turn people away from a thousand miles?"

"It's one thing not to invite Lord Dong to the Minister's birthday banquet, but to not invite the two of us as well—it's bound to make people suspicious!"

The steward's heart skipped a beat. This Liu Bei was truly shrewd. He bowed and scraped, returning to report the message while inwardly slandering,

"Sincere intentions? You didn't even bring a single bolt of cloth! This Liu Xuande is truly a great villain who looks like a loyalist!"

Cao Cao let out a long sigh.

"I didn't expect my popularity to have reached such a low point."

Liu Bei also sighed.

"Who hasn't?"

Cao Cao suddenly felt a sense of shared misery with Liu Bei.

He immediately thought,

"No, I am a righteous man enduring humiliation to assassinate Dong Zhuo!"

Soon, the steward came to invite them in.

Wang Yun was also afraid that Liu Bei might report him for secretly associating with ministers, holding illegal gatherings, and harboring ulterior motives; if that happened, he would be finished.

Liu Bei and Cao Cao walked in, and Wang Yun stood up.

"The two of you have graced me with your presence; I have failed to welcome you properly."

Liu Bei looked around, smiling yet not smiling.

"Everyone's eyes are red, and there are faint water stains on your clothes. Could it be that you were all crying together? Who were you crying for?"

Everyone's heart skipped a beat. This Liu Bei was too ruthless, and his observation skills were too sharp. They cursed inwardly,

"Do we not even have the freedom to cry now?"

"Liu Daer is going too far!"

Wang Yun hurriedly laughed.

"Haha, Xuande, you jest. It's just that the wine in my house is too strong, and we've had too much."

Liu Bei laughed.

"Is that so? Then I must drink more."

The ministers exchanged glances, thinking it best to get Liu Bei drunk and then kick him out!

Soon, everyone began to toast Liu Bei one after another!

Liu Bei refused no one, his spirit soaring, drinking until these ministers were swaying unsteadily. ===== CHAPTER 114 =====