Chapter 105 Settling Accounts After the Autumn Harvest
I calmly adjusted my posture, striking an even more handsome pose. The fox squinted and continued to stare at me.
Under that X-ray-like gaze, my mouth began to twitch.
"However, the lady was quite passionate that night..." The fox chuckled, stroking his chin.
Seeing his lecherous look, I immediately hugged the steamed bun tightly and glared at him warily.
I slowly walked to the bedside. Cao Cao looked down at me, still with that inscrutable, irritating expression.
I immediately curled up into a ball, clutching the steamed bun, looking like a submissive wife. I've heard that in this world, there's always someone who can subdue another.
I've finally met my match...
"Aman..." When people are nervous, they speak without thinking, and naturally, I blurted out.
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao raised his eyebrows high.
"Uh... Your Excellency..."
The eyebrows remain raised.
"Ahem...Master Cao..."
The eyebrows are raised too high.
I was furious. "Cao Mengde! What do you want?!"
Seeing that he had angered me, Cao Cao laughed instead, "Why have you come here to look for me again? Since you escaped, why did you come back?"
I was speechless for a moment. (23)
What should I say? I heard he's dying, and he brought steamed buns to see his father one last time? Thinking about it like that, I'm seething with hatred. Zhou Yu… such resentment…
"Why?" Cao Cao asked, sitting down on the couch.
"I heard you're dying," I answered so smoothly that I almost bit my tongue after I finished speaking.
"Oh?" Cao Cao continued to smile. "Who told you that?"
I was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on. I subconsciously looked up at him and met his eyes. "Did... my appearance cause you any trouble?"
"No, I was just curious," Cao Cao said, gently stroking my cheek. A hint of seduction in his smile played on his lips. "Who was it? Who told you I was dying?"
"Zhou Yu," I answered honestly, knowing in my heart that my appearance would definitely bring trouble.
"Yes, yes, I should pay a visit to express my gratitude another day. Thanks to him, I was able to obtain it without any effort," Cao Cao said with a smile, showing off his newfound knowledge.
I was completely speechless. (93)
Cao Cao gently stroked my face, "Did you come all this way just to see me one last time, my lady? I am truly moved."
I'm still speechless. (02)
The next day, I understood some of the reasons behind the events.
After thinking about it all night, I still couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Zhou Yu must have some ulterior motive for going to such lengths to coax me to find Cao Cao. So, at noon the next day, when I heard Cao Cao discussing matters in the tent opposite, I reluctantly got up, put on my outer robe, and slipped out of the tent opposite.
"Madam?" The soldiers guarding the camp looked surprised.
I quickly put my index finger to my lips, making a shushing gesture.
The guard stared in disbelief.
"My lord, news has arrived from Xuchang: Sun Ce intends to cross the river and attack Xuchang from the north!"
"My lord, Sun Ce has already conquered all of Jiangdong, and his strength should not be underestimated!"
Voices could be heard coming from inside the tent.
"With Yuan Shao in front and Sun Ce behind, what should we do..."
"Why not split our forces into two groups, leaving one group to return and reinforce Xuchang?"
"But...Madam's condition is not suitable for long-distance travel..."
Inside the tent, opinions were divided, and the situation was chaotic.
I paused for a moment, then immediately understood. Zhou Yu wanted to be absolutely certain of success. Although Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were locked in a stalemate at Guandu, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce's northward attack on Xuchang was intended to take advantage of Xuchang's weak defenses and seize the city in one fell swoop. In case Yuan Shao couldn't hold off Cao Cao, there was also me, a pregnant woman who was not fit to travel far...
My role was to become a stumbling block for Cao Cao.
In this way... Xuchang is powerless to defend, wouldn't it fall right into Sun Ce's hands?
And I am also one of the culprits.
But Zhou Yu really thought highly of me. He was so sure that Cao Cao wouldn't abandon me.
Cao Cao was a world-renowned warlord, so how could he possibly abandon his grand ambitions and vast empire for a woman? Perhaps he overestimated me; or perhaps he underestimated Cao Cao.
Just thinking about it like that makes me feel a little uneasy.
While I was in a daze, suddenly someone gently patted my shoulder. I turned my head and saw a long, pale, and slender hand.
Turning around, I looked at Guo Jia, who was dressed in a blue robe. He stood under the blazing sun, yet he still looked cool and composed, as if all the changes in the surrounding environment were irrelevant to him. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter were all static to him, and he remained the same.
Seeing me looking at him, Guo Jia smiled.
That simple, gentle smile seemed to possess a calming power. I looked at him, somewhat bewildered. Despite his frail appearance, as if even a gust of wind could blow him away, he somehow made me feel that he could be a reliable support.
"Ahem..." Guo Jia frowned slightly and coughed softly.
"Is the strategist outside?" someone inside the camp asked.
Guo Jiafu patted my shoulder again and went into the tent.
"The strategist must also know about Sun Ce's crossing of the river to attack Xuchang from the north, right?" someone asked.
"Hmm, cough cough..." Guo Jia's voice was punctuated by occasional coughs.
"This is really troublesome!" someone sighed.
"Fengxiao, do you have any good plans?" Cao Cao's voice rang out.
“Now that Yuan Shao is looming ahead, sending troops to reinforce Xuchang rashly would be detrimental to this battle.” Guo Jia’s clear voice said, “Ahem… In Fengxiao’s opinion, Prime Minister, you should just focus on fighting Yuan Shao and not pay attention to Sun Ce.”
"Ignore it?!" Everyone was shocked. "Xuchang is the capital. If Sun Ce takes it, even if we defeat Yuan Shao, it will be a net loss!"
"Hmm, what do you mean by that?" Cao Cao asked with interest.
“Sun Ce is reckless and unprepared. Even with a million troops, he is no different from a lone wolf in the Central Plains. If an assassin were to rise up, he would be no match for one man. In my opinion, he will surely die at the hands of a commoner.” Guo Jia spoke, his calm voice devoid of any emotion, yet it seemed as if he were making a prophecy.
"The strategist is saying... Sun Ce will die at the hands of an assassin on the way?" someone exclaimed in disbelief. "How can we believe such a baseless claim... What if something goes wrong? Wouldn't we be doomed?!"
“Ahem… When Sun Ce pacified Jiangdong, he killed Xu Gong, the governor of Wu Commandery.” Guo Jia coughed and continued, “Sun Ce must have died at the hands of assassins from Xu Gong’s family on the way.”
The voice was very soft, yet it carried an unwavering force.
Cao Cao pondered for a while, then said, "Let's follow the strategist's advice and not go back to provide reinforcements."
"Prime Minister!"
"Your Excellency, please reconsider!" the generals urged.
"We shall do as the strategist says," Cao Cao decided decisively.
I was secretly astonished, only then remembering that I had read about this scene in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, such a perfect and amazing deduction.
Guo Jia truly deserves the title of "genius".
Unfortunately, Zhou Yu's painstaking efforts were all wasted.
Just as I was feeling sentimental, the tent flap was suddenly opened, and I was caught red-handed by Cao Cao before I could hide.
The generals and soldiers dispersed and went about their duties, leaving only Cao Cao looking at me with a half-smile.
Almost instinctively, I grabbed Guo Jia's sleeve.
"Fengxiao, it's time for you to take your medicine," Cao Cao reminded him.
Guo Jia suppressed a laugh and gave me a helpless look.
I looked at him pitifully, really not wanting to outwit that big fox alone; it was too exhausting.
"Waaah... Waaah..." Just as I was hesitating, I suddenly heard the sound of a baby crying.
"Baozi is crying!" I yelled, and quickly tried to slip away.
My body felt lighter as Cao Cao swept me up in his arms and carried me straight into his tent.
After settling me on the couch, Cao Cao gently pinched my nose. "The army doctor said you cannot get off the couch for half a month."
"Half a month?" I groaned, wrinkling my nose.
"It was originally supposed to be a month, but the army doctor said that the lady is restless and would not be able to bear it, so he reluctantly allowed you to get out of bed and move around for half a month." Cao Cao said with a look of leniency.
I lowered my head and remained silent, but began to grin and fantasize about tormenting the guy who had put me in this situation.
Zhou Yu... Zhou Yu... Zhou Yu...
I gritted my teeth and muttered to myself.
I think Zhou Yu would sneeze until he cramped up.
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