Chapter 55 The Cao brothers, only you and I are truly connected by blood...
The banquet at the Sikong Mansion was bustling with noise, the clinking of glasses, and a lively atmosphere.
Cao Cao was in high spirits. After praising each of the young men who had just spoken, he turned his attention to the young man beside Xiahou Yuan.
"Shang'er, their debate just now was quite brilliant. Although you didn't participate, you must have some insights as well. Why don't you share them with us?"
Xiahou Shang stood up and bowed respectfully. Knowing that there would be nothing new to discuss in the case, he calmly smiled and said, "Minister, please forgive my intrusion. I believe that Young Master Chong is exceptionally gifted and naturally intelligent. Today, having such a fine companion as Young Master Wenzhi is truly a blessing to him. This is a good fortune for the Cao family and a blessing for the Han Dynasty! I, Xiahou Shang, offer my congratulations to Young Master Chong and Young Master Wenzhi!"
This compliment was both appropriate and avoided further discussion of the case, while also elevating Cao Chong and Zhou Buyi, which made Cao Cao laugh heartily: "Shang'er speaks very well! It is indeed a blessing for the Han Dynasty!"
Thinking to himself, Xiahou Shang is much more quick-witted than Miao Cai, so he changed the subject: "I've heard that Shang'er has recently been studying Guanzi, which is similar to what Pi'er has been learning. What are your thoughts on 'When the granaries are full, people know etiquette'?"
Xiahou Shang was slightly pleased. He composed himself and explained the background, implications, and understanding of Guanzi's words regarding his governance philosophy in a concise and to-the-point manner.
Cao Cao nodded repeatedly, quite satisfied: "Good, very good! Shang'er is insightful and composed! In that case, you shall stay in the manor and study with Pi'er, what do you say?"
Xiahou Shang was overjoyed. He glanced at Xiahou Yuan and finally revealed a youthful smile, loudly expressing his gratitude.
Xiahou Shang looked at Cao Pi, who was smiling at him, raised his hand slightly in greeting, and sat back down.
Cao Zhi shifted his body, leaned closer to Cao Pi, and whispered, "Brother, Young Master Shang can also enter the manor to study with you!"
Cao Pi forced a smile at Cao Zhi and gave a perfunctory reply, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at Cao Chong and Zhou Buyi, who were having a pleasant conversation.
Although he knew that his father's move was to value Xiahou Shang and to solidify the relationship between the Xiahou and Cao families, and even to groom him as a future helper, he preferred to associate with someone as talented and of a different background as Zhou Buyi, rather than someone with a stable family relationship.
The banquet atmosphere remained warm and lively. As everyone toasted and exchanged drinks, the topic was brought back to Zhou Buyi.
Cao Cao put down his wine cup and asked Xun Yu with a smile, "Wenruo, what do you think of Wenzhi?"
Xun Yu stroked his beard and smiled, "Young Master Wenzhi is mature for his age and has a keen eye for people's hearts. Given time, he will surely achieve great things. Such talent reminds me of Fengxiao when he was young."
"Oh?" Cao Cao's smile deepened as he looked at Guo Jia: "Wenruo's words are quite interesting! Fengxiao, what do you think?"
Guo Jia raised his cup and smiled slightly: "Wenzhi is intelligent and meticulous, and I like him very much. As for whether we are similar or not, Wenruo knows best. I only say that our personalities are compatible!"
Cao Cao laughed and then looked at Deng Jie: "Lady Deng, what do you think of Wenzhi?"
Deng Jie was startled and quickly stood up to bow. "Your Excellency, I share the same opinion as Mr. Wenruo! Young Master Wenzhi has clear vision and sharp insight, able to see what others cannot. He truly has some of the qualities of Fengxiao!"
"Haha! Well said!" Cao Cao clapped his hands in praise, clearly satisfied with Deng Jie's assessment.
He turned to Zhou Buyi and said loudly, "Wenzhi, I know you have lofty aspirations and wish to study under a renowned teacher. What do you think of... Fengxiao... Guo Jijiu? He is willing to take you as his disciple. If you are willing, I will make the decision for you two today!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Buyi's spirits lifted. He had long heard that Guo Jia was Cao Cao's confidant, with whom he had a deep friendship, and whose wisdom and strategies were infallible, earning him the deep trust of Cao Cao.
He immediately rose from his seat, bowed deeply to Cao Cao, and said in a clear voice, yet with a hint of excitement, "Of course I'm willing!"
He then bowed again to Guo Jia: "I, Zhou Buyi, have long admired your talent and strategy, sir. If you would not despise me, I would gladly serve you as your disciple for life! Please accept me!"
Looking at the young talent before him, whose brilliance was just beginning to emerge yet whose attitude was so earnest, Guo Jia was truly reminded of his own past carefree days. A thought stirred within him, and he rose from his seat, helping Zhou Buyi to his feet: "Wenzhi, please rise. You possess exceptional talent and a pure heart. I, Jia, am also willing to explore the classics and study strategy with you. To have such a disciple today is truly a great fortune for me!"
Cao Cao was overjoyed and raised a cup to the two men: "Excellent! Excellent! Today is a day of double happiness! Chong'er has made a good friend, and Fengxiao has gained a worthy disciple. Let us drink this cup to the brim!"
Everyone raised their glasses in congratulations.
Deng Jie suddenly realized that Guo Jia's earlier statement that Zhou Buyi would have some interaction with him if he stayed was actually a premeditated attempt to take him as a disciple. It seemed that Cao Cao had deliberately put on this show with Xun Yu, and the three of them had tricked Zhou Buyi into coming with a combination of coaxing and deception.
She was secretly laughing at the group's deep thoughts when her gaze inadvertently swept across the table and caught the moment when Cao Pi's smile turned to sorrow.
He silently finished his drink, glanced at his mother, Lady Bian, who was in the back of the hall giving instructions to the maids, and his eyes showed even more despondency.
After several more rounds, as the banquet grew more lively, Cao Cao, out of consideration for the women and young princes, allowed them to take their leave.
Just as Deng Jie was about to leave with the crowd, Madam Huan called out softly, "Sister, please wait."
Lady Huan waved to Cao Chong, who then happily pulled Zhou Buyi and ran off to the backyard.
"I have some high-quality medicinal herbs that I'm thinking of using for Chong'er's daily nourishment. You're an expert in pharmacology, could you help me figure out how to combine them?"
"Yes!" Deng Jie readily agreed.
In fact, Deng Jie had always wondered why Hua Tuo never told her about Cao Chong's condition, nor did he allow her to interfere with the preparation of Cao Chong's medicines. It was only occasionally that Lady Huan would pull her along to collect some tonics.
As Deng Jie left Madam Huan's courtyard and was about to leave the mansion along the corridor, he heard a low, youthful voice coming from a corner ahead.
“…Brother, please don’t say that. In today’s debate, I would say that your answer was the most prudent and comprehensive!” This was Cao Zhi’s voice.
"Stop trying to comfort me. Didn't you see everyone's attention is on Chong'er and Zhou Wenzhi?" Cao Pi's voice was clearly tinged with disappointment.
Cao Zhi hurriedly said, "Brother, you are mistaken! Father clearly praised you as well! Chong'er and Wenzhi's answers were merely clever tricks. When it comes to the way to govern the world and bring peace to the country, what you said is the right path!"
Cao Pi seemed amused by his persistence and gave a wry smile, "So you know now? But your answer just now wasn't very good either."
"I can't, but my brother can!"
Deng Jie secretly turned around the corner and saw Cao Zhi reach out and grab Cao Pi's sleeve. "I've read in history books that those wise rulers and virtuous ministers were all like you, brother, who understood the law and respected rules! Father is strict with you because you are the eldest brother and have to shoulder heavy responsibilities! Look, didn't he give you the young master today?"
These words seemed to touch Cao Pi. He was silent for a moment, then his voice lowered, "But...but Mother just watched..."
“Mother’s eyes lit up when she saw you! She must have been so proud of her brother!” Cao Zhi quickly defended Bian Shi, “It’s just…it’s just that Mother has so many things to take care of on a daily basis, and the other ladies and children in the courtyard…it’s inevitable that she has limited energy…but, but!”
Cao Zhi's voice suddenly rose, and he stood on tiptoe, looking up at him, "You still have me! You still have A-Zhen! And in the future, you'll have A-Shang... Unlike me, Brother Zhang and I can't see eye to eye, and A-Xiong is always with Brother Zhang. In this huge mansion, I only have you..."
Looking at Cao Zhi's reddened eyes, Cao Pi's gaze suddenly hardened, and he grabbed Cao Zhi's arms: "You're right! A-Zhen is my man, and you are my own brother! This household is full of complicated people, but only you and I are truly blood-related and of one mind with each other! Brother... Brother will always protect you! I will never let you suffer the slightest grievance!"
This scene warmed Deng Jie's heart, and his eyes welled up with tears.
She remembered that when Deng Zhao bid farewell to her and her mother before heading to Lujiang, he had also held her hand and promised that once he achieved something, he would definitely come to pick them up and would no longer let them suffer.
Unexpectedly, this feeling of emotion caused my toe to kick a grassy stone, making a sound.
"Who goes there?!" Cao Pi reacted quickly, shielding Cao Zhi behind him and turning warily toward the source of the voice.
Realizing her rudeness, Deng Jie quickly stepped out from behind the wall and bowed to the two young masters: "I was impolite and did not mean to disturb you. However... seeing the deep brotherly affection between you, I couldn't help but think of my deceased brother and felt saddened, hence my rudeness. Please forgive me."
Upon recognizing Deng Jie, Cao Pi's tense body immediately relaxed, and he returned the greeting: "So it is Lady Deng."
Cao Zhi peeked out from behind Cao Pi and asked curiously, "Does the lady also have an elder brother?"
Deng Jie nodded, tears still glistening in his eyes: "Yes, seeing how Young Master Pi protects Young Master Zhi reminds me of how my elder brother protected me back then... It's so good to have an elder brother."
Cao Zhi nodded in agreement: "Yes! It's so good to have an older brother!"
"Are you happy?" Guo Jia stood at the other end of the corridor.
He walked slowly towards this direction, and upon seeing Cao Pi and his brothers, he first bowed to them.
When Cao Pi saw Guo Jia arrive, he quickly returned the greeting and then left with Cao Zhi.
"What's wrong?" Guo Jia approached and noticed that her eyes were still red. He gently put his hand on her shoulder.
Deng Jie watched the two brothers' departing figures and said softly, "Not only does Young Master Pi protect Young Master Zhi, but Young Master Zhi also feels sorry for Young Master Pi... Looking at them, I miss my brother again."
Guo Jia sighed and looked at her, "Not bad, you used to feel sorry for Brother Yuanming. Looking at you, I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I had a younger sister."
Deng Jie gently pushed his hand away: "When did you start thinking like that?"
Guo Jia took her hand, his eyes darkening slightly, and slowly said, "Actually... I really did have a younger sister."
"What?!" Deng Jie looked up abruptly, his eyes widening in surprise. "How come I've never heard you mention this before?"
Guo Jia smiled wryly: "That's natural, I've never been an elder brother for even a day."
He took Deng Jie's hand and strolled leisurely into the courtyard, raising his head to recount his distant memories: "My parents died when I was five years old, originally for my newborn sister. I never imagined that when they left, it would be a family of three, leaving me all alone."
"But you never set up a memorial tablet for her?" Deng Jie recalled that when they returned to their old house in Yangdi, they only brought back their parents' memorial tablets.
Guo Jia sighed softly, "That's because I heard that her body couldn't be found, so I thought that maybe someone had picked it up and I might see it again someday, so I didn't set up a memorial tablet."
"Then...does she have a name?"
Guo Jia nodded, a gentle light appearing in his eyes, "My father once wrote our birth dates, so of course there are."
"What's your name?"
"Guo Yi, Guo Fengchun."
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