Chapter 142 Steamed Buns Are Invincible (Part 2)

"Why would you rather hide your jewels under your bed than wear them on your person, Madam?" A voice suddenly rang in my ears.

In broad daylight, under the bright sun, I shivered and froze...

Cao Cao slowly walked up to me from behind, scrutinized me for a long time, and asked, "Could it be that the lady still harbors thoughts of leaving the mansion?"

I shamelessly lowered my head and confessed my guilt.

Cao Cao laughed loudly, his voice surprisingly cheerful.

“Chong’er is a clever child,” Cao Cao said with a smile. “He will surely achieve great things in the future.”

"How do you know?" I quietly rolled my eyes.

"Do you know who Zhou Buyi is?" Cao Cao caught me rolling my eyes.

I shook my head blankly. How did I suddenly become so many people I absolutely had to know? It was as if I didn't realize I was such a country bumpkin...

“Zhou Buyi is renowned for his talent and wisdom at a young age. He is also proud and arrogant. The fact that he is willing to be subordinate to Chong’er shows that he knows Chong’er’s character and virtue,” Cao Cao said with a smile. “Moreover, Chong’er is also good at winning people’s hearts. He subdues his enemies without being aggressive, but wins people over with virtue. This is the highest strategy for employing people.”

I doubt whether steamed buns are really that magical.

"Chong'er is no ordinary child. With Zhou Buyi's assistance, his future is limitless," Cao Cao laughed heartily, his voice filled with a father's pride.

I was speechless and also a little worried. In my heart, I didn't want Baozi to be too outstanding. I just hoped that he would grow up ordinary and healthy and live a peaceful life.

Thinking with his head down, he returned to Tongmeng Pavilion. As soon as he reached the door, he heard a cacophony of voices inside, filled with the sounds of steamed buns.

"Yuanzhi, you're staying at my house. Don't you need to tell your parents?"

"My parents are deceased, and I am temporarily staying at my uncle's house. There is no need to inform him."

“Yuanzhi…” Baozi’s voice lowered slightly, then he added, “It’s alright, you can stay at my house from now on, and I’ll share everything with you!”

Standing outside the door, I couldn't help but smile. I could imagine Baozi's expression when she said those words; her beautiful eyes must have been wide open, trying her best to let the other person see the sincerity in them.

"I'll give you half of Dad and half of Mom," Baozi said sweetly. "My mom is amazing. She knows so many stories, and she's so gentle. She never scolds me..."

I raised my eyebrows slightly. Hearing Baozi's exaggerated embellishment, I realized that the cunning Baozi must have discovered that I was outside the door, which was why he was so ingratiating and flattering me in such a roundabout way.

Suppressing my laughter, I pushed open the door and entered the room with a straight face.

"Huh? Mom's back?" Baozi looked at me with a surprised expression, as if he was very astonished.

I rolled my eyes at him, then looked at Zhou Buyi's surprised expression, realizing that my appearance didn't match Baozi's description.

"Your name is Yuanzhi?"

“Yes, Madam.” Zhou Buyi stood respectfully to the side, his manners gentle and polite.

"Calling me 'Madam' is too formal. Why not just call me 'Mother' like I do?" Baozi smiled and leaned forward, trying to ingratiate himself.

A slight blush appeared on Zhou Buyi's face.

“Baozi…” I smiled gently.

Baozi shivered, stood obediently to the side, and shut her mouth.

Zhou Buyi remained respectfully bowing his head and stood aside. "Madam, let Yuanzhi stay by the young master's side. Yuanzhi will be careful and will not overstep his bounds."

What's the point?

I looked at the boy standing in front of me. He had delicate features and a fair complexion. He was only slightly bigger than a steamed bun, but he looked mature beyond his years. He was polite and sensible to others, which made my heart ache.

Just now, outside the door, I heard him say that he was staying at his uncle's house. I've also experienced the bitterness of being a dependent, and only I know the true bitterness of it.

I couldn't help but reach out and pat his head, feeling a pang of sympathy for his maturity and sense of propriety.

Zhou Buyi froze for a moment, then stared blankly up at me.

"Stay here. You don't need to stand on ceremony with me," I said with a smile, pulling him to sit down. "You'll share a room with Baozi, eat and live together, so you can look after each other."

My heart ached, and in a moment of impulsiveness, I asked him to stay. Heaven help me, I'm like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river, barely able to save myself. I don't even know how long I'll be able to stay in this Prime Minister's residence...

Zhou Buyi was still staring at me blankly, his expression somewhat dazed, which didn't match his reputation as a genius.

Baozi squinted and smiled, then hopped forward in a few steps. "See? I told you, my mom has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She's got sharper teeth than anyone else, but a softer heart than anyone else...hehehe..."

Seeing that certain steamed bun was so smug and laughing uncontrollably, my brow twitched slightly, and I called out in a sinister tone, "Steamed Bun..."

Baozi immediately perked up, pouting pitifully, and slowly moved to her original spot.

Zhou Buyi chuckled softly.

This is the first time I've seen him smile since we met. He really does look more like a child when he smiles.

"Stay." I patted his head and smiled.

"Thank you, Madam." Zhou Buyi looked at me, his eyes slightly red.

"Calling me 'Madam' is too formal! Yuanzhi, why don't we become sworn brothers? That way you'll have a father and a mother!" Baozi was restless again.

"Very good." Cao Cao walked in from outside the door at some point and said with a smile.

"Daddy!" Baozi's eyes lit up. "Daddy agreed?"

"Why do you disagree?" Cao Cao walked forward with a smile and looked at me.

I know what he's thinking; he simply wants to keep Zhou Buyi, this talented person.

In the courtyard of Tongmeng Pavilion, Baozi and Zhou Buyi knelt down and swore an oath to heaven.

"I, Cao Chong, am willing to become sworn brothers with Yuanzhi."

"I, Zhou Buyi, am willing to follow you for life."

Cao Chong turned his head to the side, pouting, "Aren't we brothers?"

“In Yuanzhi’s heart, the young master will always be the young master,” Zhou Buyi said, looking at Cao Chong with warm eyes. “He is the young master, and also a brother, but propriety must not be disregarded.”

Cao Chong smiled sweetly, his eyes crinkling.

"I would rather die on the same day, in the same month, in the same year than be born on the same day, in the same month, in the same year."

"I would rather die on the same day, in the same month, in the same year than be born on the same day, in the same month, in the same year."

The two spoke in unison, looked at each other, and smiled.

Those two young men laughed openly between heaven and earth.

For some reason, listening to their still immature vows, I felt a vague unease in my heart.

With Zhou Buyi around, Baozi became increasingly arrogant. He had people to play pranks with, people to help him cheat, and people to take the blame when he was punished. He was having a blast.

"Where's Baozi?" Baozi had disappeared without a trace early in the morning.

"Reporting to Madam, the young master has gone to the school," Zhou Buyi said politely.

I squinted and leaned closer to him. "Really?"

“Really?” Zhou Buyi nodded.

"As expected?" I narrowed my eyes again.

"As expected." Zhou Buyi nodded again.

In order to protect Baozi, this child had mastered the skill of lying without batting an eye. However, he looked so honest that no one had the heart to doubt him, so Baozi used him as the best cover.

“Yuanzhi… let me tell you a story…” I said earnestly, taking his hand, ready to launch into a long tale.

Zhou Buyi's eyebrows twitched slightly.

“A long, long time ago… there was a shepherd boy…” I began with a sigh. I had told him the story of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” countless times. From feeling guilty and ashamed when he first heard it, to now looking slightly scared when Zhou Buyi hears the story.

However... no matter what happens... whether he's ashamed or scared, in the end he'll still reveal Baozi's whereabouts... hehe, that's what they call the devil being one step ahead of the saint!

"Young Master has left the manor." Sure enough, Zhou Buyi admitted it as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Left the manor? Where did you go?" I raised my eyebrows and pressed for an answer.

"I went out of the mansion to see Hua Yingxiong."

"A long, long time ago... there was a shepherd boy..." I closed my eyes and continued the story.

"Young Master ordered a large bronze mirror and went out of the manor to pick it up," Zhou Buyi said, blushing.

"A bronze mirror?" I asked curiously.

"Sun Quan of Eastern Wu sent a beautiful pheasant, and the Prime Minister wanted to see it dance, but no matter what he tried, the rare bird neither sang nor danced..."

"So?" I raised my eyebrows high.

“Young Master said… he wants to keep another pet…” Zhou Buyi’s face grew redder and redder. “The Prime Minister promised that if he could make the pheasant dance, he would give it to Young Master.”

My lips started twitching.

"Yuanzhi... Yuanzhi..." Baozi's furtive voice rang out from outside the door.

Zhou Buyi began to wipe his sweat with his sleeve.

"Yuanzhi..." The bun outside was clearly unaware that its camp had been breached, and still called out in a low voice.

I raised my eyebrows, closed my eyes, strode out the door, and reached out to pick up Baozi, who was crouching and hiding under the steps.

“Mom…” Baozi smiled sweetly at me with her eyes crinkled, and with one hand she didn’t forget to hide a large bronze mirror behind her back.

That bronze mirror was half his height; where was he planning to hide it?

"You want to open a zoo?" I glared at him.

"Huh? What's a zoo?" Baozi's eyes widened, and he immediately looked at me with curiosity, his obsidian-like eyes seeming to sparkle.

I was stunned. If Baozi lived more than 1,800 years in the future... would I not have to worry about him so much, and not have to worry that he would be envied and harmed because he was too outstanding?

He was exceptionally intelligent and kind-hearted at a young age. Within the Prime Minister's residence, countless guards and maids doted on him. Even the ladies who disliked me were very fond of Baozi. In Xuchang, many people spoke highly of Young Master Cao Chong, knowing that he was intelligent and kind-hearted.

But because I was worried about being attacked from the shadows, I always hid his sharpness. Isn't that unfair to a child who is only twelve years old?

"Chong'er really likes that pheasant..." Baozi said pitifully, pouting slightly.

I chuckled. "You like it that much?"

"Mmm!" Baozi nodded vigorously. "That pheasant is all alone and so pitiful. I wanted to say that Long Nose and Squeak Squeak would keep it company..."

I was both amused and exasperated. (17)

"Father is waiting for me in the front hall to make the pheasants dance..." Baozi whispered again when I didn't respond.

"Is that pheasant really that beautiful?" I laughed.

Baozi nodded vigorously.

"Then I'll go take a look too."

When I arrived at the front hall and saw the densely packed group of court officials, I regretted agreeing to Baozi's request.

"Chong'er, are you ready?" Cao Cao asked with a smile as I came in with Baozi.

In the center of the hall, there was a pheasant, very beautiful, but hanging motionless.

Baozi carried the bronze mirror with some difficulty and placed it in front of the pheasant.

The hall was silent. Everyone knew about the story of the steamed bun weighing an elephant, so they felt a certain awe towards the little boy in front of them.

The pheasant, seeing its reflection in the bronze mirror, immediately began to dance and crow loudly.

Everyone stared in disbelief as the pheasant danced.

"Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know how you did it, young master?" someone stepped forward to ask for his advice.

Baozi laughed, “All living things have a competitive spirit. The more beautiful something is, the more it will naturally show its strongest side when it encounters a threatening opponent. And the pheasant will naturally sing and dance to show its beauty.”

These words caused an uproar among the crowd.

Cao Cao looked at the steamed buns with increasing satisfaction.

That look in my eyes made me uneasy.