Chapter 150 "The World Is of Paramount Importance (Part 2)"

Warm water slid over my shoulders and back, which felt very comfortable. I slowly opened my eyes and saw a bronze mirror directly in front of me. After seeing the image in the mirror clearly, I couldn't help but blush slightly.

I sat in the bathtub, my long hair half-submerged in the water, and Cao Cao sat behind me, gently combing my hair with a wooden comb in his hand.

"It's so hot, it's better to take a shower and rest."

I shifted uncomfortably, my face flushed.

"Could it be that you're shy?" Cao Cao raised his eyebrows and whispered in my ear.

I was slightly annoyed, and blushing, I stood up abruptly. "I didn't!"

Cao Cao stroked his chin, looking him up and down.

It was only then that I belatedly realized I was completely naked, and I quickly shrank back into the water.

"We're an old married couple, what's there to be afraid of?" Cao Cao's voice carried a hint of mockery.

I was extremely embarrassed. "Who said we're an old married couple!"

Then I thought of steamed buns, and the flush on my face turned deathly pale.

"What's wrong?" Cao Cao frowned when he noticed my strange expression.

"Baozi... is dead." I said with some difficulty, my voice terribly dry.

Cao Cao didn't speak, but simply bent down and hugged me tightly.

"It was Cao Pi! If Cao Pi hadn't poisoned him, Baozi wouldn't have died from the entrapment!" I gritted my teeth, my body trembling slightly.

I can't forget the pained look on Baozi's face when he died...

He died in excruciating pain...

"I will find out the truth," Cao Cao whispered in my ear.

I lowered my head, tears falling into the water, creating tiny ripples, as if within each ripple, there was a steamed bun's smiling face...

After a series of ordeals, I finally fell ill.

The Prime Minister's residence was as bustling as ever, but all that bustle was irrelevant to me. I spent my days quietly recuperating in Tongmeng Pavilion, waiting for Cao Cao to give me an explanation.

Cao Cao treated me better than ever before.

That man, who had dominated the battlefield and looked down upon the world, even personally fed me porridge.

In my sleep, someone gently stroked my cheek, it felt warm. I slowly opened my eyes and looked into a pair of gentle eyes.

It was Cao Cao.

Without asking anyone else, he carefully dressed me, led me to the mirror, and combed my long hair.

He looked at me in the bronze mirror.

This feeling is so familiar, as if he treated me like this a long, long time ago... How long ago?

Perhaps... it was in a past life.

After lunch, I left Tongmeng Pavilion, carrying the pastries made by Rouge in my hand, and went to find Cao Cao.

Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks. Standing before me was the source of all my nightmares—a young man in a blue robe!

Cao Pi!

“Mrs. Huan.” He looked at me and smiled, but his eyes remained cold.

I looked at him, clenched my fist slightly, and tried to control myself from punching him in the face.

"I didn't expect you to come back," Cao Pi sneered. "What are you waiting for? For my father to give you an explanation? Or perhaps... you think your father wants to kill me?"

I bit my lip slightly and remained silent.

“In my heart, nothing is more important than the world,” Cao Pi laughed. “You’ve been by my side for so long, I thought you would know that.”

I was slightly taken aback, and a sudden discomfort began to well up inside me.

Because... I couldn't refute his words.

“Father said that Chong’er’s death was his misfortune and my great fortune,” Cao Pi raised his hand, revealing a long and deep scar on his left arm. “This is the punishment Father gave me.”

“Chong’er’s intelligence is indeed superior to mine. Although Father is furious about Chong’er’s death, he can do nothing about it. Although Zijian is intelligent, he is kind-hearted, while none of the other brothers have such courage. For the sake of the Cao family’s rule, Father will never kill me.”

My mind was buzzing. I didn't want to believe what he said was true, but knowing Cao Cao's character, I knew Cao Pi wasn't lying.

The pastry in my hand fell to the ground. I turned around and stepped on it as I left.

"Chong'er's death was not my wish, and I loved him very much. If anyone is to blame, it's him for blocking my way."

"If you truly love Zhou Buyi, then advise him to leave the mansion as soon as possible."

Cao Pi's voice came from behind.

I froze, slowly turned around, and looked at him. "What do you want?"

“It’s not me, it’s my father.” Cao Pi smiled faintly as he looked at me.

"Why?"

"Because Zhou Buyi is too smart, in Father's eyes, no one but Chong'er can control him."

"What do you mean?" I asked in a trembling voice, feeling my heart grow colder and colder.

“Father said that if Chong’er were alive and Zhou Buyi were to assist him, there would be no fear of losing the world. But now that Chong’er is dead, with my talent and virtue, I am not capable of controlling Zhou Buyi. Keeping him alive would be a disaster, not a blessing.”

The world...

His empire...

It turns out that he knew Cao Pi was responsible for Baozi's death, but he remained silent.

For the sake of his empire, he even became an accomplice of Cao Pi, and didn't even spare Zhou Buyi...

His punishment for Cao Pi was simply to leave a scar on his arm.

That's all?

But my Baozi... my Baozi lost his life. He died in agony in my arms... my Baozi, he was only thirteen years old...

Is this all the steamed buns mean to him?

...Perhaps, Baozi is just one of his many offspring, but Baozi is my everything!

“I cherish Zhou Buyi’s talent and cannot bear to see him die young. I advise you to send him out of the mansion as soon as possible, or it will be too late,” Cao Pi said with a cold laugh.

I was startled and hurriedly turned to leave.

That boy with delicate features did everything Baozi always did, making me happy and calling me "Mom".

Yuanzhi, we can't let even Yuanzhi leave...

"Yuanzhi! Yuanzhi!" I ran all the way back to Tongmeng Pavilion.

"Madam, what's wrong?" Rouge asked, seeing my flustered expression.

"Rouge, Rouge, has Yuanzhi returned yet?" I grabbed him and asked anxiously.

"Madam, please don't rush, sit down first." Rouge came to help me.

I shook my head. "Go find Yuanzhi for me!"

Not in Tongmeng Pavilion, I turned and ran out again.

"Yuanzhi! Yuanzhi!"

“Yuanzhi…”

"Yuanzhi!"

I shouted and searched garden by garden, every corridor, every passageway, every corner.

"Madam Bian, have you seen Yuanzhi?" I grabbed Madam Bian and asked anxiously.

Madam Bian gently pulled back her sleeve and shook her head, "I have never seen it."

"Madam Yin, have you seen my son Yuanzhi?" I asked urgently, grabbing Madam Yin who was passing by.

"What's wrong with you!" Madam Yin shook me off, frowning.

I asked everyone I met.

I was like a headless fly, bumping around everywhere.

"Look at her, has she gone mad?"

"Looks like he really has gone mad..."

"How pitiful..."

"Yes, Cao Chong is so clever, he was hoping to rise in status through his son... Now everything has fallen through..."

"How could a perfectly healthy person suddenly go crazy..."

"He's clearly gone mad..."

The ladies and gentlemen, guards and maids of the Prime Minister's mansion all came to watch the spectacle, looking at me with pity and whispering among themselves.