In truth, Li You and the others were well aware that if they truly provided Liu Bei with a life of indulgence and luxury, he wouldn't be able to handle it for long. The purpose of this extravagant mansion was to give emissaries from other lords a misleading impression. Combined with Li You's carefully crafted narrative, it would create a preconceived notion about Liu Bei.
Once these emissaries returned to their own lords, Liu Bei could act as he pleased. With the current rudimentary intelligence methods, Chen Xi could easily ensure that every intelligence report from rival lords painted Liu Bei as someone who indulged in luxury.
Of course, women were just accessories. There was no shortage of beautiful women in Qingzhou and Taishan. If Liu Bei wanted, he could easily gather a large number of them, and they would even be delivered to him by others, including Chen Xi. However, although Liu Bei had an appreciation for beauty, he had not added many women to his household. Most were there for aesthetic purposes, and the only one he truly favored was Lady Gan. The rest were little more than maidservants.
This created a conflict of opinion. Chen Xi didn't see any problem with Liu Bei's behavior, but everyone else thought it was an issue. For a powerful faction, relying on a single leader wasn't enough; there needed to be a capable heir. Even if the heir wasn't extraordinary, there had to be one. This was vital for maintaining the strength of a faction.
Therefore, when Li You spoke earlier, it wasn't just to mislead Ju Shou. He was genuinely trying to help Liu Bei by encouraging him to expand his household. Although it seemed a bit underhanded, it was sincerely intended to strengthen Liu Bei's position.
Of course, they wouldn't actually let Liu Bei indulge to the point of ruin. Not only would Chen Xi be unwilling, but they were also concerned about spoiling him. History had shown that such indulgence could weaken even the strongest leaders. For instance, Sun Quan used luxury and women to essentially keep Liu Bei captive in Eastern Wu, causing Liu Bei to lose the desire to leave. This method of pampering could truly ruin a person if taken too far.
The next day, Liu Bei continued his fast, and Li You specifically invited Ju Shou to join Liu Bei in this religious observance. This was a genuine fast, and it left Ju Shou somewhat surprised, prompting him to reassess Liu Bei's character. After all, Liu Bei was a formidable leader who had built his power from scratch. Despite his love for luxury and women, he hadn't forgotten the hardships of his earlier struggles.
Ju Shou participated in the incense burning and prayers with Liu Bei, but his mind was focused on how to win over Li You and find ways to weaken Liu Bei. He wasn't concerned with the sincerity of the ritual, as it wasn't a sacrifice for their soldiers, so he didn't feel the need to be devout.
Meanwhile, Li You observed Ju Shou, fully aware of his intentions. He pretended to pray devoutly, all the while ensuring that Ju Shou sensed a sense of urgency. Li You wanted Ju Shou to believe that Liu Bei still held onto the discipline and resolve from his early days but was slowly being pulled toward decadence, held back only by Chen Xi's presence. Li You portrayed himself as the sycophant encouraging Liu Bei's descent into indulgence.
After finishing his prayers, Li You secretly glanced at Ju Shou, who had opened his eyes. Li You then gave Ju Shou a greedy look, as if he were eyeing a fat sheep, before quickly turning away and waiting for Liu Bei and Ju Shou to finish.
Ju Shou wasn't devout, so after muttering a few half-hearted prayers, he opened his eyes and noticed that Li You had finished long before him. This led Ju Shou to assume that Li You had also skipped parts of the ritual, confirming his belief that Li You was not a devout man and likely a schemer under Liu Bei.
Li You, seeing Ju Shou had finished, gave a slightly embarrassed smile. He then stood up quietly from the soft lamb wool rug and silently retreated from the hall.
Ju Shou, following Li You's lead, rose quietly and exited the main hall, where he found Li You sitting and waiting for him in a chair.
As Ju Shou approached, Li You smiled warmly and said, "Ju Gong, please have a seat." He gestured for Ju Shou to sit. "Try this tea. It's top-quality from the Chen family."
Ju Shou, not being particularly knowledgeable about such things, offered the customary compliment. After taking a sip, he put the cup down and said, "I noticed you left the hall so quietly, Wenru. Was there something you wanted to discuss with me?"
"Forgive me, Ju Gong. There are too many ears inside, and I feared being overheard. Only this spacious hall is suitable for conversation. Ju Gong, you've spent a day here in Taishan. What is your impression of Chen Zichuan?" Li You asked cautiously, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping.
"Brilliant beyond compare, perhaps unmatched in our time," Ju Shou replied, carefully watching Li You's eyes. When he saw the hint of disdain in Li You's gaze, Ju Shou felt reassured.
Li You quickly concealed his disdain and continued, "Ju Gong, I fear you haven't spoken your full thoughts. Regardless of Chen Zichuan's brilliance, the true master of Qingzhou and Taishan should be Liu Xuande, no?"
Ju Shou remained silent as Li You continued, "Chen Zichuan holds all administrative power in Qingzhou and Taishan. Sometimes, Xuande himself must seek Chen Zichuan's approval before making decisions. Is this the behavior of a mere minister? Moreover, Chen Zichuan has built alliances with several generals. I fear he may have ill intentions toward Xuande."
Ju Shou inwardly scoffed. After hearing Li You's words, he was convinced that Li You was nothing more than a despicable schemer. But such a schemer could be incredibly valuable to him. What he needed was division within Taishan—anything that would cause discord between Liu Bei and his advisors. After all, the strongest fortresses were always the ones that crumbled from within.
If he could transplant Taishan's renowned strategists and generals to his side in Jizhou, Ju Shou believed that peace in the realm would be within reach. Chen Zichuan's capabilities were evident in the prosperity of Fenggao, the harmony in Taishan, and the strength of its military. If he could lure figures like Lu Zijing, Liu Ziyang, Guan Yunchang, and Zhao Zilong to Jizhou, the Yuan family's dominance would be assured!