Entering the Palace
Year 189, Luoyang, Zhuque Avenue, Drunken Immortal Tavern.
Since the year 183, Yuan Xi felt as though time itself had accelerated, passing swiftly—though he wasn’t sure if it was merely an illusion.
Countless events had unfolded during this period, leaving him overwhelmed.
At the same time, Yuan Xi had encountered another girl.
...
In the year 183 AD, Yuan Xi was just seven years old.
For him, it was a momentous occasion: by his father’s command, he entered the imperial palace to serve as a companion reader to the prince. Of course, this was a political maneuver.
That same year, the Yellow Turban Rebellion erupted.
Emperor Ling needed the Yuan family’s cooperation to dispatch troops against the rebels but did not fully trust them. Thus, the emperor and the Yuan family reached an agreement—Yuan Xi would enter the palace to serve as a companion reader, essentially a hostage to assure the emperor’s peace of mind.
Emperor Ling was pleased; the Yuan family was satisfied.
Yuan Xi was decidedly not.
The Princess of Wannian was very pleased.
That year, Yuan Xi first met the Princess of Wannian, Liu Yan, who also gained a little tagalong.
...
“Who are you? I don’t recall ever seeing you,” the Princess of Wannian asked curiously, eyeing the newcomer, young Yuan Xi.
“I’m Yuan Xi. And you?” Yuan Xi countered.
“You can call me Liu Yan,” she said graciously.
“Hello, Liu Yan. Pleased to meet you,” Yuan Xi responded without affectation.
“By the way, Yuan Xi, where are you from?” Liu Yan suddenly asked.
“Well, I’m from outside the palace,” Yuan Xi answered, nearly slipping into a different thought.
“Outside the palace? Yuan Xi, is it fun outside?” Liu Yan asked happily once she ruled out that other possibility.
“Hmm, it’s okay. Pretty good,” Yuan Xi replied evasively.
“Then, can you take me there?” Liu Yan tugged at Yuan Xi’s clothes, looking pitiful.
“I’m afraid not,” Yuan Xi groaned, feeling overwhelmed.
“No, Yuan Xi, you have to take me,” Liu Yan said stubbornly, hands on her hips.
“Hmph, I won’t,” Yuan Xi huffed, showing a rare temper.
“Then I’ll cry for you,” Liu Yan began to gather her emotions.
“Huh? Uh!” Yuan Xi was already at a loss.
That year, Yuan Xi was threatened by the Princess of Wannian’s tears, which seemed endless and free-flowing. Eventually, he gave in.
Yet, whether Liu Yan cried because Yuan Xi refused to take her outside the palace or for some other reason—perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn’t—who could say?
...
Such things are never easy to discern. Sigh!
In truth, they had actually met the previous year, though Liu Yan was a Pisces.
Yuan Xi’s entry into the palace came with a mission.
He was to play the double agent, constantly feeding intelligence to the Yuan family. Accompanied by Liu Yan, Yuan Xi moved about the palace largely unhindered.
Moreover, as the second son of the Yuan family, others showed him a measure of respect.
During this time, Yuan Xi obtained critical intelligence: the Ten Eunuchs were colluding with the Yellow Turbans—a matter of utmost secrecy.
Naturally, the Princess of Wannian, Liu Yan, was involved as well, though she was unaware. She was merely a pawn whom Yuan Xi exploited, even counting money for him.
Soon after, Yuan Xi secretly returned to the Yuan household to report to the family head, Yuan Wei.
Thus, the Yuan family launched an impeachment against the eunuch faction.
Upon learning this, Emperor Ling was furious and dealt with a few minor eunuchs as a compromise. He also pardoned the conspirators.
To protect Zhang Rang and the other eunuchs and to appease the Yuan family, Emperor Ling arranged the betrothal of the Princess of Wannian to Yuan Xi, with marriage to be consummated upon his coming of age.
The Princess of Wannian, Liu Yan, was delighted—she finally had a playmate for their make-believe games.
Yuan Xi, however, was frustrated, as this was difficult to explain to Gao Yue.
...
Twenty-three years later, Jizhou, Yecheng.
“Why?” the Princess of Wannian, Liu Yan, was devastated.
Faced with her accusation, Yuan Xi remained silent.
“Yuan Xi, I hate you,” tears blurred Liu Yan’s vision.
Yuan Xi could not bear to look into her eyes, fearing his heart would soften.
“May we meet in the next life as cat and mouse, forever strangling each other’s throats,” Liu Yan whispered, glancing at the poisoned wine on the table, then staring intently at Yuan Xi.
“Farewell,” he said, turning away, though his shoulders trembled slightly as he struggled to contain his impending collapse.
That year, when Yuan Xi and the Princess of Wannian first met in the palace, perhaps it was a mistake.
A princess by birthright, and a noble scion of the Yuan clan—since the moment they were born, their fates had been beyond their control.
...
Because of Yuan Xi, the butterfly’s wings finally triggered a chain reaction.
Yuan Shao betrayed Tang Zhou, causing the Yellow Turban Rebellion to erupt three months ahead of schedule.
The Han court also made preparations five months earlier.
Yuan Shao was dispatched by Emperor Ling to Puyang to supply provisions and equipment for the campaign against the Yellow Turbans—considered a favorable assignment.
His childhood friend, Cao Cao, was not so fortunate.
He followed the veteran general Huangfu Song to the frontline in Nanyang.
As for our protagonist, Yuan Xi, he could only helplessly watch events unfold, powerless and unheard.
Despite being the second son of the Yuan family, he had no authority to command the realm.
The key players were Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, Liu Bei, Dong Zhuo, among others.
When the time is not ripe, a hidden dragon must not act; one only acts when compelled.
The year 184 marked the year the Han court confronted the Yellow Turban army.
The Yuan family’s involvement centered on the northern front, around Jizhou, their sphere of influence.
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The campaign was led by the great scholar Lu Zhi, who defeated Zhang Jiao at Guangzong.
The Yuan family supplied food and military supplies from Puyang to Lu Zhi’s forces.
However, Zuo Feng planned to return to the capital to lodge a complaint because Lu Zhi refused bribes.
Young Yuan Xi, through Xu You, warned Yuan Shao of the implications.
Consequently, Yuan Shao dispatched loyal assassins to kill Zuo Feng on his way back.
Lu Zhi held out until reinforcements arrived under veteran general Huangfu Song.
Together, they surrounded and crushed the Yellow Turban forces.
Zhang Jiao attempted to break through but was ambushed and killed by Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo.
However, Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo clashed over credit, sowing enmity.
In the ensuing years, the Eastern aristocratic clans, led by the Yuan family, and the Western warlords, headed by Dong Zhuo, engaged in fierce political struggles.
Dong Zhuo was the early “big boss” and the Yuan family’s chief adversary.
Without the strong foundation of the Yuan clan, victory would have been uncertain.
The Dong Zhuo chapter in this story is an insurmountable hurdle.
The rivalry between Dong Zhuo and the Yuan family was a matter of life and death; neither side would relent, each determined to annihilate the other.
But later, under attack from the Yuan family, the strategist Li Ru cleverly helped Dong Zhuo to escape disaster—truly a masterful tactician.
...
Yuan Shao, styled Benchu, rose to the rank of Grand General and became the overlord of Hebei.
After his death, he was posthumously honored as Jin’s Progenitor, Martial Emperor.
His sons were Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang.
Early in his career, he served in the Grand General’s headquarters, leading the aristocratic clans against the eunuch faction.
After Emperor Ling’s death, he avenged him by exterminating the eunuchs and saving the court at Beimang.
He staunchly resisted Dong Zhuo at court, later fleeing to Bohai and issuing forged edicts to raise righteous armies.
He was proclaimed the leader of the coalition against Dong Zhuo.
When Dong Zhuo moved the capital to avoid confrontation, Yuan Shao’s coalition fractured.
He retreated to Hebei, strategizing to seize Jizhou, pacify Qingzhou, capture Youzhou, and control Bingzhou.
He united Hebei, supported Emperor Xian, purged the court of treacheries, and launched a southern campaign against Cao Cao.
He fought battles at Baima and Liyang but ultimately fell short.
On his deathbed, he passed leadership to Yuan Xi.
This formidable hero died suddenly, laying a solid foundation for Emperor Xuanwu to pacify the realm.
He left three enduring regrets: Cao Cao unvanquished, the northern steppes unrestful, and Liaodong unsettled—all of which Yuan Xi was to fulfill.
Following his father’s will, Yuan Xi set three major goals: first, to defeat Cao Cao; second, to conquer the Wuhuan in the north; third, to secure control over Liaodong.
Yuan Xi achieved these in sequence without repeating Li Cunxu’s mistakes.
Though Yuan Shao once doubted Yuan Xi, at the end he decisively passed the mantle to him, accomplishing the Yuan family’s second transfer of power.
Thus, the Yuan family became the Yuan clan, the precursor to transforming family into nation.