Chapter 133 The Fate of Baozi
The steamed buns grew bigger day by day.
As time went by, Baozi's identity kept me up at night. If he was indeed Cao Chong, then his short life would have ended in the thirteenth year of Jian'an...
The twelfth year of Jian'an arrived quickly.
I must help Baozi escape his fate.
With Bingzhou pacified, Cao Cao led his army west to attack the Wuhuan, preparing to eliminate the remaining forces of the Yuan clan and unify the north.
“Madam Huan, look how gloomy the sky is, it’s going to rain soon.” Zhen Mi leaned against the window, tilting her head slightly to reveal the porcelain-white skin on her neck.
"Mmm." I sat down next to her and ate some snacks.
The rain in early spring always carries a slight chill.
For some reason, I felt an extraordinary connection with Zhen Mi. She was a quiet and elegant woman, just like her stunning beauty.
Cao Pi followed his father on his campaigns, and I became close friends with Zhen Mi, sharing everything with her.
When I returned to Tongmeng Pavilion from Zhen Mi's place, I saw Baozi sitting on the bed, looking down at something.
Seeing him frowning slightly and looking at it so seriously, I couldn't help but have a mischievous thought and decided to go up and scare him.
I tiptoed up behind him, about to scare him with a shout, but I inadvertently caught sight of what he was looking at. I froze, startled myself.
It's the Romance of the Three Kingdoms that I kept in my shoulder bag!
At that moment, the page he was turning to was the very page I feared, yet knew by heart: Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 20, Book of Wei, Chapter 20, Biographies of Kings and Dukes of Wu and Wen.
To make matters worse, I taught him simplified Chinese characters!
I practically jumped up and snatched the book from his hands.
Baozi turned around, her clear black and white eyes looking at me.
"Where did you find this?!" I asked, my heart racing and my face darkening.
"Mommy, what kind of book is this?" Baozi tilted his head slightly and asked softly, "Why... does this book have everything in it? Daddy, Brother Zihuan, Brother Zijian... they're all written in it..."
It's all written on it...
Yes, their fates are written on it...
It was as if it were a script, and they... these flesh-and-blood characters living in my life... they were all just faithfully performing a play according to the script...
No matter how magnificent or moving the play may be...
Those bloody battles and fierce competitions... have already been written in history books and cannot be changed.
My heart skipped a beat. "How much did you watch?"
"...At the age of thirteen, he fell ill in the thirteenth year of Jian'an, and Emperor Taizu personally pleaded for his life. Upon his death, we were deeply grieved." Baozi obediently read aloud, his obsidian-like eyes fixed on me. Then he blinked and asked, "Mommy, is this Cao Chong referring to me?"
"No!" I shook my head, answering decisively.
“But what’s written in that book is exactly the same as what I’ve read,” Baozi said earnestly, tilting his head slightly as he looked at me.
I was speechless.
"According to what the book says, I will die next year?" Baozi suddenly asked.
My heart skipped a beat, and I rushed forward to pull him into my arms. "No, you won't die! When you were born, your mother made a promise to you: you would be healthy and live a long life!"
Baozi obediently let me hold her tightly in my arms, without struggling.
"Okay, I won't die." After a while, the little hand gently patted my back, and Baozi obediently answered me.
That tone...it almost sounded like comforting...
My nose suddenly stung, as if I was about to cry, but I quickly gritted my teeth to stop it.
The "Records of the Three Kingdoms" that I had tossed aside was open, and on that page... it seemed like a fatal curse.
In the afternoon, Baozi went to school, but my mind was in turmoil. Just thinking about that thin page made me restless. That meager page contained the entirety of my son's life! How could I possibly be at peace?
In the thirteenth year of Jian'an... Baozi was only nine years old...
Such a small child...
I was suddenly taken aback, a thought flashing through my mind: historical records say Cao Chong died in the thirteenth year of Jian'an, at the age of thirteen. But my son, he'll only be nine next year!
Could it be a butterfly effect caused by my appearance?
So, can steamed buns... escape the entanglement of history?
The more I thought about it, the more confused I became, so I decided to go out of the mansion to find Hua Yingxiong.
He has been living in Xuchang for years and has opened a medicine shop there to treat people's illnesses, saying that he does so in order to accumulate merit for his next life.
Hua Yingxiong's medicine shop was bustling with activity. Ignoring the four guards from the Prime Minister's residence following behind me, I strode into the courtyard and saw several girls chattering away, asking all sorts of questions.
"Sir, you are truly skilled!"
"Sir, can this 'Five Animal Frolics' really improve health? Could you demonstrate it for us again?"
Hua Yingxiong, amidst a profusion of flowers, was so overwhelmed that he lost all sense of direction.
He was dressed in a cloth robe, and at first glance, he did have a somewhat otherworldly air about him. After gesturing with his hands and feet, he really did look quite convincing.
"The five animals are tiger, deer, bear, ape, and bird. By imitating the movements, shapes, and expressions of these five animals, you can stretch your muscles and bones and unblock your meridians!" Hua Yingxiong said with great seriousness, attracting admiring glances from a group of girls.
Hua Yingxiong turned around, saw me, smiled, and stopped. "That's enough for today. I have a guest visiting."
After the girls left, Hua Yingxiong walked up to me and asked, "What's wrong? You look so pale."
“Baozi…he saw the Records of the Three Kingdoms.” I said, feeling a chill run down my spine.
Hua Yingxiong looked at me for a long time, sighed, and pulled me into the house.
That's when I realized I was trembling slightly.
He pressed me down to sit and poured me a cup of tea.
I held the teacup, still trembling uncontrollably.
“Historically, Chong’er died of illness, but reality is different from history. Besides, you’re here. Your medical skills are so good, Baozi will be fine, right?” I looked up at him, as if seeking reassurance.
Hua Yingxiong looked at me but did not answer.
"Why won't you answer me? You told me that Baozi is my family, that he would never abandon me, and that he would never leave me!" I said sharply, my voice so loud that even I was startled.
"The thirteenth year of Jian'an was a turbulent time," Hua Yingxiong said, his voice carrying an ambiguous sense of desolation.
Seeing his unusually serious expression, I was stunned and couldn't react for a moment.
Hua Yingxiong suddenly laughed, raised his hand and patted my head, "With me here, what are you afraid of?"
"Really?" I asked, eager for reassurance.
"Really," Hua Yingxiong assured him.
I finally felt a little relieved.
"Madam Pei!" Just as I was drinking tea, Rouge's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
I turned around and saw Rouge hurriedly jump off the carriage.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
“Madam Pei, Empress Fu…” Rouge hesitated for a moment, then said, “She’s in the carriage.”
I was surprised. What was Empress Fu doing out of the palace?
Hua Yingxiong glanced at me, then raised his voice to the carriage road, "Your Majesty, if you do not mind, you may borrow my humble abode."
After a while, the carriage curtain was slowly lifted, and Empress Fu stepped down from the carriage.
She wore extremely simple clothes, just like when she pretended to be "selling herself to bury her father" in the market. However, after a few years, she had grown into a charming and graceful woman.
Hua Yingxiong led us into the house, glanced at me, turned around, closed the door, and left.
There were only the two of us left in the house.
"When I went to the Prime Minister's residence to look for you, Rouge said you weren't there, so I had her bring me here," Empress Fu said, breaking the silence.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Young Master Guo is seriously ill..." Empress Fu said, lowering her eyes.
A fortune teller?
The image of the man in blue robes leading Xiao Mao flashed through my mind. When Cao Cao led his army to attack the Wuhuan, he insisted on going on the expedition. I still remember him saying before the expedition, "I am deeply grateful for the Prime Minister's great kindness. Even if I die, I cannot repay even a fraction of it..."
"I'll send you out of Xuchang to visit the young master...how about that?" Empress Fu looked at me and said.
I stared at her for a while, then suddenly laughed. "You're trying to fool me again? What's your scheme this time?"
"I'm not lying to you!" Empress Fu looked up at me and assured me.
"Why should I believe you?" I looked at her calmly.
"The happiest time of my life was when I was outside the palace, by your side, young master."
As she said this, there was a faint warmth in her eyes.
"A lifetime?" I scoffed. How old was she to use "a lifetime" to describe her short life? But then my smile froze on my lips, because I suddenly remembered the fate of the woman in front of me.
Historical records state that she attempted to help Liu Xie regain power, but ultimately failed and her entire clan was exterminated by Cao Cao…
"I'll send you out of Xuchang to visit the young master... okay?" Empress Fu looked at me, her eyes pleading.
"Remember the story of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' that I told you? I won't believe you anymore."
"I have received news that the remnants of Yuan's army have fled to the desert, and Cao Cao has led his troops westward to attack. Young Master Guo is unable to endure the long journey and has fallen seriously ill, so he has stayed in Yizhou to recuperate!" Empress Fu said anxiously.
"You have quite a few spies." I was somewhat surprised that she would tell me that she had planted spies around Cao Cao.
"Young Master Guo's illness is quite serious this time. I'll send you to Yizhou, okay?" Empress Fu asked earnestly.
Historically, Guo Jia did indeed die in the twelfth year of Jian'an... She didn't lie to me.
“If it were Tuanzi, she would definitely rush to Yizhou without hesitation,” I suddenly said.
Empress Fu paused slightly, then smiled bitterly, "I also wish I were Tuanzi... just Tuanzi..."
I looked at her, and I didn't know what to feel.
"But even if I were Tuanzi, I would still ask you to see the young master one last time..." Empress Fu looked at me and said softly.
"Why?"
"All I see in your eyes, young master..."
“He wasn’t looking at me, perhaps… he just saw a familiar shadow in me,” I understood the mark that woman had left on his heart.
"I have prepared a carriage at the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence. Someone will take you directly to Yizhou."
Without saying anything more, Empress Fu stood up and said, "I cannot leave the palace for too long."
I watched her walk to the door.
She paused slightly, "If you see the young master, please tell him that even though Tuanzi lied to everyone else, she only lied to the young master..." Before she could finish, she lowered her head and hurried away.
In that instant when I looked down, I saw a crystal tear... fall.
Knowing full well that that person's life is about to end, knowing full well that you will never see him again, yet not being able to even see him one last time—what kind of pain must that be?
Falling in love with someone you can never be with means being destined for loneliness... This is true for Banxian, and it is true for Tuanzi.
Am I... like that?
"What did she say to you?" Hua Yingxiong pushed the door open and came in. Seeing me in a daze, he nudged me.
"She said that the fortune teller was seriously ill in Yizhou..."
Hua Yingxiong pursed his lips and remained silent.
"Will you come with me to Yizhou?" I stood up and tugged at his sleeve. "Is the Immortal's illness... really incurable?"
Hua Yingxiong looked down at me and said, "Fengxiao is physically weak, yet he is skilled at scheming and manipulating people's hearts. It is said that the wise do not live long... However, let's wait until we have seen him before we can talk about anything."
"You want to come along?!"
"Yes." Hua Yingxiong nodded seriously. "Doctors have the heart of parents; how can they stand by and watch someone die?"
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