Chapter 152 The Battle of Red Cliffs (Part 1)
After the funeral, I did not return to the Prime Minister's residence with the funeral procession. Instead, I quietly left first, because Rouge was already waiting for me outside the residence in her carriage.
This time, I didn't bring any gold or silver jewelry, not even a single blade of grass from the Prime Minister's residence. All I carried with me were two pairs of shoes.
One pair was obtained by Baozi from Kongming, and the other pair was bought by Yuanzhi and given to me.
"Madam Pei." Rouge greeted me upon my return. "Are you returning to Danyang Spring Breeze Pavilion?"
"Send me to Chibi."
"Red Cliff?" Rouge was slightly taken aback.
"Hmm," I said, looking up at the sky, where the setting sun cast a blood-red hue. Whether Zhou Yu was telling the truth or not, I wanted to give it a try.
Because... I can no longer find any reason to stay in this time and space.
Just as I was about to get into the carriage, a horse suddenly galloped towards me from not far away. Cao Cao pulled on the reins in front of me, his face showing displeasure.
"Where are you going?" Cao Cao asked, his thin lips slightly pursed as he looked at me.
"Go home." I looked at him, my eyes indifferent.
"Your home is in the Prime Minister's residence!"
"No." I shook my head.
Cao Cao leaped off his horse and strode up to me. "What's wrong with you?! You were perfectly fine just now!"
“Hua Yingxiong is dead, Baozi is dead, even Yuanzhi is dead,” I looked at him and laughed, “You actually think I’ll be alright?”
“I have already punished Zihuan,” Cao Cao said after a slight pause.
"I saw it, a very deep wound," I looked into his eyes, "but my Baozi, he's dead... he died in my arms, in excruciating pain!"
"What do you want? Do you want me to kill Zihuan to avenge Chong'er?"
I shook my head and chuckled, "I won't entertain such a delusion."
"You think I wasn't heartbroken when Chong'er died, is that it?" Cao Cao grabbed my shoulder and looked at me.
I was slightly stunned, because I had never seen him so angry before; his grip on my shoulder was so tight it hurt.
I slowly looked away; I didn't look at him.
"I told you, you can't escape from me," Cao Cao leaned close to me and whispered in my ear, "You are mine, and you will be mine forever."
He is asserting his sovereignty.
"You love me?" I smiled slightly.
Cao Cao gritted his teeth, "Why this damned question again!"
"This is the third time I'm asking you, and the last time," I said, looking at myself calmly, because this time, I had no expectations.
"What exactly do you want?" Cao Cao looked at me. "I have never seen a woman as stubborn as you!"
“I need a lover, someone who can give me so much love, but you can’t say those simple three words,” I looked up at him. “Because you’re different. You only need one woman, and one of many. I don’t want to be just your wife, I don’t want to be a pitiful woman who spends her whole life looking up to her husband. It’s not about a woman’s self-esteem, it’s just… I need a complete love, not a love that’s fragmented and can never be certain. Because love… is something I’ve never had since I was a child.”
"Do you expect me to abandon all the women because of you?" Cao Cao looked at me, his eyes slightly narrowed.
I chuckled. "No, they are innocent. I just want to tell you that you are not the person I'm looking for."
"You can only be mine," Cao Cao said, pinching my chin with one hand and looking into my eyes. "You can only be mine."
“I’m not,” I answered him calmly.
"Even if we lock you up, tie you up, and imprison you, you still can't escape," Cao Cao sneered.
“I will run and escape unless you cut off my feet.”
"You can't escape. I will chase you down to the ends of the earth."
"What if it's at the ends of the earth?" I casually glanced at the heartstrings on my wrist and smiled.
"Whether you go to heaven or hell, you can't escape," Cao Cao said with his usual smirk, his eyes full of arrogance.
“What if it’s a place you can never go to?” I stared at him, almost stubbornly.
Cao Cao frowned slightly, then burst into laughter, "Is there any place in this world that I cannot go?"
The man laughed loudly, as if he could look down on the world, so arrogant.
Such an arrogant man...
The almost joking questions and answers from that day are being discussed again in such a sharp tone today.
I lowered my eyes slightly and remained silent.
Cao Cao, one day I will go to a place you can never reach, even if you hold the power of the world and are above all others!
In August of the thirteenth year of Jian'an, Jingzhou was taken over by Cao Cao. Upon hearing the news, Liu Bei, who had originally been under the command of Liu Biao, led his troops south. In September, Cao Cao occupied Xinye and led his elite cavalry to pursue Liu Bei, who was fleeing south. He defeated Liu Bei's army at Changban Slope in Dangyang. Liu Bei retreated to Xiakou. Cao Cao continued to lead his troops south, occupied Jiangling, and marched towards Jiangdong, intending to unify the world.
As for me, I was placed under house arrest by Cao Cao in the Tongmeng Pavilion.
Every day I sit in Tongmeng Pavilion, gazing at that small corner of the courtyard.
As evening fell, I sat in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky. Suddenly, my thoughts became clearer than ever before. Where should I go from here? Was I destined to be imprisoned in this inexplicable place for the rest of my life?
Before I set out on the expedition, Cao Cao came to visit me several times, but each time he stopped outside the Tongmeng Pavilion and watched me from afar.
Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the courtyard, but it was not Cao Cao's footsteps. I had been by Cao Cao's side for so long that I could easily distinguish his footsteps.
“Sister.” Standing in front of me was Zhao’er.
I looked up at him and smiled, "Long time no see, Zhao'er has grown up."
"Sister, tell Zhao'er, what exactly happened?" Zhao'er knelt down in front of me, looking at me, and asked, her face covered in dust from her journey.
It was clear that he had rushed over.
I remained silent.
"Sister, did Cao Pi kill Baozi? Did he?" Zhao'er looked at me and said sadly, "Did Cao Pi do this to you?!"
I looked at him, still silent.
"Sister, you resent Zhao'er, resent that Zhao'er isn't by your side, don't you?" Under the moonlight, the beautiful child looked regretful and at a loss. "Zhao'er will never leave you again, sister. Wherever you are, Zhao'er will be with you..."
I sighed and helped him up. "It's none of your business."
"Sister!" Zhao'er helped me up. "Zhao'er will take you away right now, let's get out of here!"
I looked at him, confused, then nodded and smiled, "Okay, I'm leaving."
I said I... am not us.
Because you belong to this era.
"Yes." Zhao'er looked at me and nodded heavily.
Zhao'er pulled me along, and we slipped out of Tongmeng Pavilion, avoiding the guards.
Clutching two pairs of shoes, I didn't even have time to say goodbye to Yan Zhi before slipping out of Tongmeng Pavilion with Zhao'er. Just outside Tongmeng Pavilion, I accidentally stepped on a dry branch, making a slight sound.
"Who?!" Someone approached carrying a lantern.
Zhao'er pushed me into the shadows, gestured for me to be quiet, and then stood in front of them.
"Ah! It's Young Master Sima." The guards hurriedly bowed respectfully.
Zhao'er nodded. "I'll just wander around here. You guys continue your patrol."
"yes."
After watching them walk away, Zhao'er came back and helped me out. "Sister, are you alright?"
I shook my head.
They left the Prime Minister's residence without incident, and Zhao'er had already instructed people to prepare a carriage.
"Sister, where are we going?" Zhao'er helped me into the carriage, turned her head and asked me with a smile, as innocent as ever.
I smiled. "Red Cliff."
"Red Cliff?" Zhao'er looked surprised.
“Yes, Red Cliff.” I nodded.
Zhao'er glanced at it, nodded and smiled, "Okay, wherever you say we'll go, sister."
Traveling all the way to Jiangnan, eating, drinking, and having fun, it felt like returning to the carefree days of traveling the world with Zhao'er.
Zhao'er was as well-behaved as ever, and I laughed and joked as usual. I had no money and only carried those two pairs of shoes with me, so Zhao'er entrusted all her money and valuables to me for safekeeping.
Everything is the same as before.
But I know that some things are just different.
Just like... those two pairs of shoes I always keep with me...
"Sister, we've arrived in Dangyang. We'll stay the night and head up the river to Chibi early tomorrow morning," Zhao'er said with a smile as she jumped down from the carriage and lifted the curtain for me.
I smiled, nodded, and got out of the car.
"Give us some side dishes and some steamed buns," I said to the bartender who came to serve me after we found an inn and sat down.
The bartender responded and turned to prepare. Soon, all the dishes were served.
"Sister, what are we going to Chibi for?" Zhao'er asked, biting into a steamed bun.
"I want to go home." I sighed softly. Zhao'er hadn't dared to ask me why I was going to Chibi the whole way, but now that we've arrived in Dangyang, he finally couldn't help but ask.
Zhao'er was stunned, not even noticing the steamed bun in her hand fall onto the table.
"Go back...where?" Zhao'er looked at me and asked softly.
"It's quite far away," I laughed.
Will you bring Zhao'er along?
I looked at him, reached across the table and patted his head. "Zhao'er, you are now Sima Zhao, the son of Sima Yi. Just as your teacher, Mr. Shui Jing, said, you are by no means an ordinary person. You belong to this era. I cannot take you away."
Zhao'er grabbed my hand, "I am not Sima Yi's son, I am just my sister's Zhao'er!"
I gave a wry smile.
"My sister promised she wouldn't leave me alone!" Zhao'er looked at me, her face full of stubbornness.
"Whether we can go back is still unknown, you don't need to be so nervous, Zhao'er." I stroked his cheek and sighed softly.
Zhao'er turned her head away and remained silent.
After the meal, Zhao'er stopped the innkeeper and said, "Prepare a room for us."
"A room?" The innkeeper was slightly taken aback.
“We don’t have enough money,” Zhao’er glared at the shopkeeper and tossed down a bag of coins.
The innkeeper, both amused and exasperated, accepted the bag of money. "Young master, this money is enough to book three rooms..."
Zhao'er looked slightly embarrassed and glanced at me cautiously, as if afraid I would be angry.
I looked at him and smiled. This child just wanted to follow me and keep an eye on me.
"Let's book one room," I said with a smile, looking at the innkeeper.
The shopkeeper happily took the money and nodded.
I suddenly remembered the last time in Xuzhou, I shared a room with Zhao'er to save money, only to find out she wasn't a girl. (Student: Actually, you're the only one who's clueless and thought she was a girl...)
Once inside the room, Zhao'er glanced at me somewhat awkwardly.
I almost laughed, so I casually took off my outer robe and hung it aside, preparing to take a bath.
"Sister, you go wash first, I'll go outside." Zhao'er blushed immediately and almost jumped as she turned around.
I laughed. No matter how Zhao'er changes, her shy and blushing nature remains the same.
After taking a shower, I came out of the room and found Zhao'er wasn't there. I went outside and saw that the doorman standing guard was none other than Zhao'er. I was both annoyed and amused. "Come in and take a shower and rest. What are you doing at the door?"
Zhao'er nodded hurriedly and went to take a bath. She had taken off half of her clothes when she suddenly seemed to remember something and poked her head out. "Sister, you can't sneak away!"
I grinned and laughed, "A sudden glimpse of spring..."
Zhao'er blushed instantly and quickly shrank back.
I slightly suppressed my smile, leaned against the window, and looked out onto the street. Suddenly, a man on the street caught my attention.
She wore a pure white robe, with intricate patterns embroidered on the wide sleeves. The patterns were neither flowers nor flowers, but rather possessed an indescribable allure. Her long, black hair was casually tied up with a cotton handkerchief, making her look like a celestial being.
The man had exquisite features and unparalleled charm. I think he caught my attention more than just my eye; countless people turned to look at him along the way, especially women with spring-like eyes, who were full of admiration.
As if noticing my gaze, he suddenly turned his head and smiled slightly at me.
I froze. He knew where I was? He led me to Chibi!
What is his intention in luring me to Chibi?
I felt a sharp pain in my neck and then lost consciousness.
"I never imagined that Madam would actually heed Gongjin's words and come to Chibi alone." It was Zhou Gongjin's voice in my ear.
Zhou Gongjin, you wolf in sheep's clothing!
They tricked me again!
This is the second time I've willingly walked right into his trap because of something he said...
Last time, he told me that Cao Cao was trapped by Yuan Shao at Nanbanxia, seriously injured and critically ill. As a result, I rushed from Danyang to Guandu to see Cao Cao, only to find him alive and kicking...
This time, he told me that Chibi was connected to my time and space, so I once again eagerly traveled from Xuchang to Chibi and fell into the trap he had set...
Falling into the pit the first time was an accident, but falling into the same pit twice in a row makes me look like the biggest idiot ever! I can't help but despise myself.
I closed my eyes and secretly gritted my teeth, imagining him biting off a piece of my flesh.
“Madam, if I were you, I would definitely open my eyes and face the facts,” Zhou Yu chuckled softly in my ear.
I suddenly opened my eyes and glared at him.
What are you up to?
Zhou Yu smiled and said, “Cao Cao is heading south to unify Jiangnan. My lord has allied with Liu Bei to fight against him. My lord has appointed me as the Left Commander, leading an army of 30,000, and Lu Su as the Assistant Commandant to assist me. After we join forces with Liu Bei’s army, we will prepare to go up the river and fight Cao’s army at Chibi.”
The Battle of Red Cliffs...
I was stunned.
Is this big bad wolf trying to lure me into a trap for Cao Cao?
Do I look like an earthworm? Why does everyone like to use me as bait?
"Don't waste your time. Who is Cao Cao? Why would he give up his great cause for a woman?" I scoffed.
"Whether you can or not is not up to you, Madam," Zhou Yu said with a smile.
"Where is Zhao'er? How is he?" I asked with some worry, thinking of Zhao'er.
"Our target is the lady; Sima Zhao will naturally be unharmed."
I felt slightly relieved, secretly hoping that Zhao'er would return to Xuchang soon and not get involved in this mess.
"You should rest for a while. Our army will march up the river early tomorrow morning." With that, Zhou Yu turned and left.
I then realized that this was also an inn, but it was much more luxurious than the one I had stayed in before. I got up and looked around, and there were guards everywhere, and the defenses were very tight. It seemed that I had no way to escape.
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