Chapter 401

"The beautiful young lady of the Cai family is still waiting."

"Haha, that Eared Thief is truly ignorant of the situation; isn't this just adding to Liu Biao's troubles!"

After everyone had left,

Liu Qi explained the situation to them, and everyone praised Liu Bei for being truly benevolent and righteous!

Huang Zhong's eyes lit up; he also had a son at home, Huang Xu, whose health was frail and currently in a very poor state.

Liu Bei drank a few more rounds with everyone and said with a smile,

"I intend to disturb you all in Xiangyang for over a month; if anyone in your households has any difficult or strange illnesses, you may also come to find me."

Everyone praised him highly.

Huang Zhong cupped his hands and said,

"Lord Xuande, I have a son whose health is very poor. I hope…"

Liu Bei nodded.

"No problem, I will go take a look when the time comes."

"Many thanks, Lord Xuande!"

Everyone drank until late at night before gradually dispersing.

As Liu Bei stepped out of the main gate of the Governor's Mansion, Gan Ning hurried over.

"Lord Xuande, only after meeting you today did I realize what a true hero of the world looks like. I have always been like a frog at the bottom of a well."

Liu Bei patted him on the shoulder.

"Xingba, your personality is forthright, and you are brave and resolute. I also feel we met too late. How about coming to the guesthouse to drink with me tomorrow night?"

Gan Ning was almost moved to tears; Liu Biao treated him like dirt, yet Lord Xuande valued him so highly!

"I will certainly be there!"

Guo Jia watched Gan Ning's departing back and cupped his hands, saying,

"Congratulations to my lord for gaining a tiger-like general!"

Liu Bei laughed.

"Fengxiao, your judgment failed you this time; this Gan Xingba has both courage and strategy."

Lu Xun cupped his hands.

"My lord is absolutely right. This Gan Ning originally intended to use my lord to make a name for himself, but he simply didn't expect my lord to be this strong."

Guo Jia? Too competitive!

"This Lu Boyan is so good at bootlicking at sixteen; what will he be like in the future!"

Zhang Fei muttered,

"Impossible. I just think his martial arts are okay; he's sloppy and very reckless!"

Liu Bei laughed out loud.

"Alright, let's head back to the guesthouse."

Upon returning to the guesthouse, Liu Bei couldn't sleep, so he called for Chen Dao and left the guesthouse again.

At Huang Zhong's residence,

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Hearing the coughing from the next room, Huang Zhong was also burning with anxiety.

"Tomorrow, I will take Xu'er to find Lord Xuande."

Not long after,

Huang Xu's coughing grew more severe, and a maidservant came to report,

"Master, the young master is coughing up blood again!"

Huang Zhong sat up abruptly and hurried to check on Huang Xu's condition.

"Quick, go into the city and beg Physician Li!"

Liu Bei had just finished drinking at the Governor's Mansion and had also treated the Governor's wife; Huang Zhong felt too embarrassed to disturb him in the middle of the night.

Just then, the butler ran in.

"Master, there is a guest outside the residence."

Huang Zhong?

"Who has come so late?"

"It is Lord Xuande!"

Huang Zhong was startled!

He hurriedly went out to welcome Liu Bei.

"Brother Hansheng, I couldn't sleep after returning to the guesthouse, and thinking of your son's illness, I came to disturb you so late. Please do not take offense."

Huang Zhong's eyes welled up with tears; he was moved to the point of crying. He hadn't felt comfortable asking, yet Lord Xuande had come himself.

"I will not hide it from you, Lord Xuande, Huang Xu's condition worsened just now…"

Liu Bei didn't waste words; he let Huang Zhong lead the way and hurried to take a look.

Half an hour later,

Huang Xu stopped coughing and fell into a quiet sleep.

Liu Bei let out a breath, his forehead already covered in sweat.

After the two went outside,

Huang Zhong sighed.

"Lord Xuande, I have visited many famous physicians, and they all say my Xu'er won't make it past eighteen… I have prepared myself mentally."

Liu Bei smiled.

"Brother Hansheng, you underestimate me too much. Huang Xu's illness is serious, but as long as I treat him for a year, not to mention being able to wrestle a tiger, he will at least be able to live as a normal person."

Huang Zhong was stunned, then immediately overjoyed, becoming somewhat incoherent.

"Lord Xuande…"

"It is true; I, Liu Bei, never deceive people."

Huang Zhong was ecstatic. He had thought his line would end, but he never expected his son could still be saved and live as a normal person.

He rubbed his hands together.

"Lord Xuande, I don't know how to thank you."

Liu Bei smiled.

"Brother Hansheng, do you have any fine wine at home? I didn't drink enough at the Governor's Mansion just now."

Huang Zhong laughed heartily.

"Good, Lord Xuande, please wait a moment; I will have someone prepare it immediately."

The two drank quite a bit, cups clinking back and forth.

Huang Zhong cupped his hands.

"Lord Xuande, I have always thought my archery was not bad, but today, having seen your archery, I feel ashamed of my inferiority."

He let out a long sigh.

"I am fifty-three; I am already half-buried in the earth. I don't know how much longer I can campaign."

Liu Bei smiled.

"Brother Hansheng, your voice is like a booming bell, and your complexion is excellent. In my view, you can still campaign for at least another twenty-five years."

Huang Zhong stood up abruptly.

"Lord Xuande, you aren't just comforting me, are you?"

Liu Bei shook his head.

"I am looking at this from the perspective of a physician. Has your strength diminished at all in these past few years?"

Huang Zhong shook his head.

"That, I haven't."

Liu Bei added,

"Actually, since Huang Xu cannot inherit your martial prowess, you could consider having a few more sons."

Huang Zhong's eyes widened; Liu Bei's words had opened up a new world for him!