shxntong
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              At such warring times, there was a good possibility of making changes when you are a son of an influential officer, let alone rumors having you are the favored one. Cao Chong never used this to his advantage unless it was for the sake of people, poor and weak ones, wronged ones, to save lives that would be wasted for the strictness of his father- this situation didn’t seem to differ very much, except that he probably won’t be able to do anything about it; his words won’t remove the bullseye off Cao Cao’s target.
   It pains him; to know that whatever he does won’t save someone in need, to feel so useless when a friend, a very valued one, is in his weakest and most vulnerable moment. It makes his chest burn, his eyes water, and his heart ache to be only a watcher. of course, he could try, hell he will try, but he knows where it all leads: nowhere either he or his friend would like to be.
   ❛ Your Highness, please!❜ He stops the young man, there was no need to plead, a plain forward sentence is enough, but he knows the man, so he doesn’t discuss the matter, it’s not the best time for that now anyway, isn’t it? ❛ I- ❜No, he can’t tell the truth now, but he also can’t swallow giving the Emperor false hope. He thinks and searches for the right choice of words; in his mind, it took long, but in actuality, it was mere seconds before he finally replies; ❛ I will do my best. I promise. Please, hold yourself together for the time being, Your Highness. ❜
   Liu Xie hears the pause, hears the promise, and he knows. But he had known all along, hadn’t he?Â
  “You are right.”
   He recoils, back into himself - a frightened young turtle snapped at by predatory birds. He swallows hard, and nods. Numb. There was only so much that could be done. He was weak - the boy he looked, dressed in borrowed robes and having to sneak about to talk to his friend.
   Which of them was in greater danger here -- when neither was so disposable as Dowager Dong? Did it matter? He had never known human life to have any permanence - except that which others allowed it.
  “I wish I had never been born--” he realises, then, how those words must sound, and holds up a hand to silence Chong before he can speak. “The house of Liu has lost the mandate.” Of that he was certain, and now the fate of the land lay with a conqueror some compared to the tyrant of Qin. He knew the land would fare better in Cao’s hands - he truly did. “I only wish-- I only wish for you to be safe. Chong, I ask that this be the last day we speak as friends.”
