Chapter 127 Rouge's Visit

Sitting in the bumpy carriage, I held a steamed bun and looked at Cao Cao sitting opposite me, who was quite relaxed. He didn't ride a horse, but instead rode in the carriage with me.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you really scared?" Cao Cao looked at me for a long time before suddenly speaking.

"...When did you find out about Tuanzi's identity?"

"Hmm..." Cao Cao suddenly laughed, "You doubt me?"

I was speechless; I was filled with doubt.

Everything went so smoothly, and he was so confident. He didn't seem surprised at all by Liu Xie's actions. I even felt that it was all a premeditated performance, with all the actors having a great time, while I was kept in the dark.

"So you really do doubt me. I've come all this way from the battlefield to save you, a hero indeed," Cao Cao sighed, putting on airs.

“Yi ya yi…” Baozi chimed in.

"Shouldn't you be in Cangting right now?" I suddenly wondered. He should be fighting Yuan Shao in Cangting right now, so why is he here?

Cao Cao smiled but did not answer.

Seeing that he was being coy, I ignored him.

"What did you say when you gave me this?" Cao Cao suddenly asked.

I looked up at him curiously and saw him gently stroking a jade pendant, which looked very cheap and of poor quality.

But I recognized it; it was something I had given him, and he had always carried it with him.

That was when he was wrongly accused of being a thief by a vendor because of his amnesia. I, the real thief, was indignant and chivalrous, so I drew my sword to help him. Later, I bought this cheap jade pendant and gave it to him.

"Tell me, this is proof of my innocence," Cao Cao said with a smile.

I was stunned. He actually remembered?

The carriage jolted slightly, and Cao Cao took the opportunity to pull me into his arms. I shifted involuntarily, trying to shake him off.

“No matter what, I will never abandon you,” he whispered in my ear. “You have to believe me.”

These words seemed to strike at my Achilles' heel. I froze slightly, muttering repeatedly, "No matter what, you won't abandon me?"

"Hmm..." Cao Cao drawled in response, then chuckled softly, "Similarly... you won't escape from my grasp either..."

My lips started twitching. Sure enough, it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature.

When they returned to the Prime Minister's residence, Guo Jia and the others were waiting for them.

"Are you alright?" Guo Jia asked with a smile upon my return.

Seeing Guo Jia, I suddenly thought of that woman trapped in the deep palace. How much did he know about this?

I smiled and shook my head, saying nothing.

Since ancient times, those who are affectionate have always been troubled by those who are heartless; I dare not ask any more questions.

Regarding the war, everything became clear after half a month.

Half a month later, Cao Pi led his army back in triumph, and the young man in blue robes was already showing his talent.

In this battle, Cao Cao's army decisively defeated Yuan Shao's army at Cangting.

A hefty reward for the army is a given.

Winter goes and spring comes.

When a new branch sprouted from an ancient tree in Tongmeng Pavilion, Baozi was already able to take two unsteady steps.

"Mom..." came a soft, sweet voice.

I immediately rushed out of the room.

In the courtyard, Baozi was toddling along, holding onto a low stool.

That little stool was generously sponsored by Hua Yingxiong for Baozi to use when he was learning to walk.

"Half-Immortal..." Baozi pouted and mimicked my voice, calling out in a cutesy voice.

I shook off the goosebumps that covered my skin, and suspiciously turned around to see Guo Jia indeed standing at the door. Of course, behind him followed a certain famous hairless donkey. (Little Donkey: I'm a famous donkey too! I even have a professional fan club!)

After letting go of the small stool, Baozi wobbled towards Banxian, opened his chubby little arms, hugged Guo Jia's leg, and tried to climb up.

Guo Jia laughed, squatted down to be at eye level with Baozi, and asked, "What's wrong, little Baozi?"

"Half-immortal... Half-immortal..." Baozi clung to his leg, refusing to let go.

Guo Jia stood up, holding the steamed bun, and smiled as he took out a small paper packet from his pocket and handed it to the steamed bun.

Baozi held the steamed bun out with her little hands, then gave Guo Jia a quick kiss on the cheek, before taking a bite herself, making smacking noises as she ate.

I forgot to mention that this bun inherited its mother's fine tradition: she plucks feathers from every passing goose and exploits whoever she sees.

When I saw that Baozi was holding a Rouge Cake, my heart skipped a beat.

Holding the rouge cake, Baozi's eyes sparkled as she stared at a hairless little donkey, muttering, "Little Mao... Little Mao..."

I could almost see Xiao Mao trembling...

Guo Jia smiled and picked up Baozi, placing him on Xiao Mao's back.

Baozi giggled, wagging its chubby, white little arms and legs, and called out in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Hairless Little Mao, Hairless Little Mao..."

The hairless little donkey with a strong personality has become utterly enraged... Death is preferable to humiliation...

"Uh, fortune teller..." I suddenly had a pang of conscience and decided to save Xiao Mao. "Xiao Mao, it..."

"Yes, Xiao Mao really likes steamed buns, cough cough... they get along very well," Guo Jia nodded and smiled.

I felt ashamed, but we got along very well...

Just then, someone came to report that someone was requesting an audience with Lady Huan outside the Prime Minister's residence.

"Do you know who it is?" I asked curiously.

"It's a young woman who calls herself Rouge," the maidservant said respectfully.

"Rouge?!" My eyes lit up. I told Guo Jia and rushed out.

"Ridiculous! This Prime Minister's residence is not a place where just any lowlife can enter..." Just as they reached the entrance, they heard a mocking voice.

"Low-class? I can't accept that title. You can keep it for yourself." A familiar and straightforward voice said.

"You..." The voice trembled with anger.

I suppressed a laugh and walked forward, only to see Rouge raising her eyebrows and engaging in a battle of wits with Madam Yin.

When Madam Yin saw it was me, she muttered something under her breath and turned to leave.

"Madam Pei!" Rouge saw me, her eyes reddened, and she was about to kneel down.

I was startled and rushed forward to help her up. "Rouge, it really is you!" I exclaimed with joy and hugged her tightly.

Rouge laughed.

I led Rouge all the way back to Tongmeng Pavilion, where I saw Baozi waving his little hand at me. Guo Jia smiled and picked him up from Xiao Mao's back, freeing Xiao Mao.

As soon as Baozi's feet touched the ground, she broke free from Guo Jia's grasp, stuck out her little bottom, and flashed an irresistibly cute and sweet smile. She pounced on Yanzhi and uttered in her childish voice, "Beauty..."

I was sweating profusely.

"Baozi?" Rouge bent down and picked up Baozi, exclaiming, "Baozi is so big already? He was still in her womb when Madam Pei passed away."

Baozi nestled obediently in his beauty's arms, beaming with joy.

“Her temperament is exactly like Madam Pei’s,” Rouge said with a smile.

I'm ashamed... I'm not that lewd, am I...?

"Since you have guests, Fengxiao will take his leave first," Guo Jia said with a light cough and a smile, pulling Xiao Mao away.

I pulled Rouge back to her room.

"How did you end up here?" I asked curiously.

“The bright moon returned to the spring breeze pavilion, and that’s what they told me.”

"Oh, I see," I nodded.

"But... why are you the Prime Minister's wife?" Rouge seemed to have a lot of questions.

"Well, it's a long story..." I chuckled.

"Then, Lord Gongjin..." Rouge said, glancing at me cautiously.

"Zhou Gongjin!" I gritted my teeth, a wicked thought rising in my mind. If he hadn't lied to me, I would still be living a carefree life in Danyang.

"Lord Gongjin often came to Chunfeng Tower and took good care of us. Even before he left Danyang, he still thought of Madam Pei."

My lips twitched a few times, and I couldn't help but slam my hand on the table and stand up. "That liar!"

Rouge's arrival reignited my will to escape.

However, Cao Cao was no pushover. He simply said, "Since Miss Rouge is acquainted with the lady, then she shall stay in the manor to serve the lady..."

Thus, the seventh year of Jian'an passed peacefully amidst Cao Cao's campaigns and my battles of wits.

Cao Cao was adept at both conquering and capturing people, handling the situation with ease.

I played the game of catch and escape with Cao Cao for two years, enjoying it immensely. However, I never escaped his grasp. Through repeated reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, Baozi gradually grew up.

My resentment towards Zhou Yu grew deeper with each failed escape attempt. If resentment could truly cause sneezing, Zhou Yu must have died from sneezing too much...

In front of me, Rouge has also wisely learned not to mention words like "Zhou Gongjin" or "Zhou Yu," otherwise I would definitely go crazy...