"Is Liu Bei truly capable?"
This question, one suspects, could set keyboard historians into a furious debate.
But...
If one were truly presented with the chance to enter this chaotic era, at the very moment Liu Bei pledged allegiance to Cao Cao? Would Liu Bei be killed? This question, one imagines, could once again send keyboard historians into a furious debate.
At this moment, Lu Yu's eyes darted around. Even with the benefit of hindsight, he couldn't make up his mind.
If you say, don't kill him?
Wouldn't that be creating trouble for oneself, raising a great threat for no reason?
But if you say, kill him?
Liu Bei, after all, came to pledge allegiance to Cao Cao, to help the Emperor suppress rebels. He was a descendant of the Han Dynasty, with aspirations to restore order to the realm. If Cao Cao killed him, what would that signify?
Wouldn't that be clearly making an enemy of the entire world, and even of the imperial court!
In the future, who else would dare pledge allegiance to Cao Cao?
This is a classic case of "killing one person and losing the hearts of the world."
Therefore... Lu Yu pondered. Even if he were to be killed, it would have to be through subtle means, by using a knife borrowed from someone else, by employing a proper method...
How could one be so straightforward and kill him?
Lu Yu was still lost in thought.
Cao Cao had already begun to furrow his brows in contemplation. Clearly, he had also considered this point. He lowered his voice and proactively asked Lu Yu, "Lu Sinong, Liu Bei has come to pledge his allegiance. In your opinion, should I utilize him, or kill him?"
This...
Lu Yu smacked his lips, then shook his head. "I cannot say for sure."
"Are there things you cannot say for sure?" Cao Cao continued to ask...
"Cannot say for sure, cannot say for sure!" Lu Yu lamented again, but finally added, "If I must say, then at least for now, he can be utilized. As for the future... we cannot kill him, but that doesn't mean others cannot, does it, Cao Sikong? Is that not so?"
*Phew...*
Lu Yu's words caused Cao Cao to exhale, as if finding them quite profound.
"Alright, you may return and rest. Have Wenruo come in."
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed once more...
Lu Yu slowly rose and bowed to Cao Cao, then strode away.
As he walked out the door, he happened to encounter Xun Yu...
"Lu Sinong." Xun Yu paused his steps and bowed.
"Greetings, Xun Lingjun." Lu Yu returned the bow...
Xun Yu motioned slightly to Xu Chu, indicating for him to wait a moment. Xu Chu, understanding, immediately walked a few steps away, creating space for Lu Yu and Xun Yu to converse.
"Lu Sinong, we just received an urgent dispatch from Lu Bu. Yuan Shu is launching an attack on Xiapi City with seven routes, and Lu Bu is requesting our aid," Xun Yu began.
"What Xun Lingjun wishes to discuss is not this, is it?" Lu Yu directly countered...
"Haha..." Xun Yu stroked his beard. "Indeed, the state of the world does not escape Lu Sinong's eyes. An urgent dispatch has arrived from Chen State, stating that Liu Bei of Xiaopei has led his troops and just arrived in Chen State. They have proposed to lend a hand to Cao Sikong in suppressing the rebel Yuan Shu!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu simply asked on Xun Yu's behalf, "What Xun Lingjun wants to ask is not this either! Xun Lingjun most likely wants to ask... Since Liu Bei has arrived, should he be utilized, or killed?"
Unsurprised that Lu Yu had seen through his thoughts, Xun Yu continued along Lu Yu's line of questioning, smiling faintly as he asked, "What does Lu Sinong think? Should Liu Bei be utilized, or killed?"
"This is a matter of..." Lu Yu's eyes darted. "Xun Lingjun should go inside and answer Cao Sikong. Cao Sikong is asking us, we must not 'conspire' with each other."
With that, Lu Yu blinked, revealing a harmless smile, and then slowly walked away.
This...
It could be said that what Xun Yu was most curious about was Lu Yu's attitude towards Liu Bei.
In fact... Lu Yu's attitude, to a certain extent, could determine Xun Yu's own stance.
After all, in the face of such brilliance, Yin Lin had never made a significant misjudgment. This was something even Xun Yu had to admire.
*Tap, tap...*
He quickly entered Cao Cao's study.
Cao Cao got straight to the point.
"Xun Lingjun, there's no need to mention Lu Bu or Liu Bei. I can already guess about eighty to ninety percent of it. Xun Lingjun only needs to tell me, in your opinion, this Liu Bei? Should I utilize him or kill him!"
This...
Xun Yu's brow furrowed slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "He should be killed!"
"Why?" Cao Cao was not surprised in the least.
"Liu Bei harbors grand ambitions. My Lord should kill him to prevent future troubles!" Xun Yu's tone was quite serious...
"I understand." Cao Cao nodded. "Xun Lingjun, you may return and rest. I have already sent for Zhicai and Gongda... They are likely on their way."
*Phew...*
Xun Yu was startled. He instinctively looked up at the sky. It was already dark, the time for lights out and sleep.
So urgent?
It seemed that whether to utilize Liu Bei or kill Liu Bei, Cao Sikong had not yet made a decision!
"Yes." Xun Yu bowed and exited the study.
Meanwhile, Xi Zhicai and Xun You were on their way.
And on the other side...
As Lu Yu walked out of Sikong Mansion, he met someone at the entrance. To be precise, it was a woman.
"Lu Sinong, please wait..."
"Lady Ding... Madam Ding?" Seeing Cao Cao's principal wife, Lady Ding Hui, Lu Yu inexplicably felt a sense of "like a wolf or tiger." She seemed to have dressed up specially today, and her dress was in a rather vibrant color.
To be dressed like this in the dead of night, it must be for Old Cao's eyes.
This...
"Lu Yu pays his respects to Madam Ding. Madam Ding appears to be in good spirits!" Lu Yu offered a pleasantry...
"After taking Lu Shenyi's medicine, my spirits have indeed improved greatly..."
Unlike the usual cold demeanor of Madam Ding, Ding Hui this time appeared exceptionally kind and approachable.
"Lu Sinong, I have an artifact in my chambers that I was planning to bring to Miss Zhao Ji. You've arrived just in time; please accompany me to my chambers to retrieve it!"
Ah... ah...
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu was somewhat bewildered.
At this late hour, going to your chambers, wouldn't that be inappropriate?
Lu Yu shivered all over.
Madam Ding's behavior reminded him of a girlfriend he had dated before crossing over.
Once, Lu Yu escorted his girlfriend to her doorstep, and she said her cat could roller skate, inviting Lu Yu upstairs to see.
At that time, Lu Yu was rather straightforward and directly refused, with the reason being... how could a cat with four legs possibly roller skate? Time passed, and Lu Yu only then realized that that night... his third leg had been wronged.
This is a sad story...
However, today... Madam Ding's words, why did they sound like an invitation to go upstairs and see a cat? Old Cao is still here... This is not good...
"Let's go, Lu Shenyi..."
"Or perhaps..." Lu Yu wanted to refuse...
Unexpectedly, Madam Ding directly instructed the maid beside her, "Lu Sinong is tired. Why aren't you supporting him? Don't delay this夫人's delivery of the artifact to Miss Zhao Ji."
At this point... several maids, with their exceptionally soft touch, firmly held Lu Yu.
He was almost involuntarily led into Madam Ding's room.
Several maids quickly closed the doors and windows, as if they had prepared in advance...
You bastard!
Lu Yu cried out in his heart, feeling distressed. At this moment, shouting would be of no use, and might even lead to misunderstandings.
Damn it... this is Sikong Mansion! Old Cao is still here, damn it, this is truly exciting!
At this moment, Lu Yu's heart was pounding in his throat.
"Madam Ding, although I, Lu Yu, am not a gentleman of impeccable virtue, I am also an honest person..." Lu Yu tried to clarify his stance...
Who would have thought...
Madam Ding actually bowed to Lu Yu. "Lu Shenyi, thank you for your medicine... I know my body best. Since taking Lu Shenyi's medicine, these past few days... I have felt a constant heat throughout my body, and no longer experience dizziness or anemia. These are all very good signs."
A constant heat throughout the body?
Lu Yu pondered these six words. He didn't seem to be able to fully grasp them yet.
Of course, Old Cao would likely have a deep understanding!
After all, a perpetually dry land is not easy to irrigate.
"What are you saying, Madam Ding? Madam's affairs are my affairs, Lu Yu's affairs. It is my duty, my duty." Lu Yu offered a perfunctory remark... He felt that things were not that simple.
Otherwise, would there be a need to draw the curtains? Would there be a need to close the doors?
What was the point of closing curtains and doors if they were not for a reason!
Indeed...
Things were truly not simple.
"Since that is the case... Lu Shenyi might as well help this Madam a little more." As she spoke, Ding Hui quickly walked towards Lu Yu...
At this moment, Lu Yu's heart was truly pounding in his throat. He had a premonition that his young, pure soul was about to be brutally ravaged and destroyed.
Good heavens, I'm still a child!
"Gulp..."
Swallowing his saliva, Lu Yu instinctively took a step back.
Fortunately, at a step's distance from Lu Yu, Ding Hui stopped.
She did not move forward...
She spoke, her voice as faint as a whisper.
"Young Master Lu is skilled in medicine. Besides tending to my body, are there any methods... that could help me conceive quickly?"
Uh...
Lu Yu wanted to blurt out, "Damn it, how can I possibly have any methods!"
This is something he should find Old Cao. If it couldn't be resolved once, then... it would be tried again.
Shaking his head repeatedly...
Suddenly, Lu Yu realized he might have misunderstood. Madam Ding's intention was likely that Lu Yu had some method to help her conceive Cao Cao's child.
Lu Yu mused that for such matters... Madam Ding would still need Cao Cao to personally handle them.
"Cough, cough..." Lu Yu coughed lightly. Regarding gynecological diseases, before his transmigration, he had occasionally... read magazines like "Friend of Women," and understood some things.
Of course, the reason he read such magazines was because...
Lu Yu still had dreams. He didn't want to be "destined to be alone." He also wanted to find a girlfriend. He couldn't possibly just reply "drink more hot water" when his girlfriend said her stomach hurt!
"Fortunately... fortunately!"
Lu Yu muttered to himself.
He looked around. No wonder they had to close the doors and windows. Such a subtle question could not be overheard by others.
In short, as long as Madam Ding didn't resort to brute force, the problem wouldn't be too big.
"Madam Ding, is your menstrual cycle normal recently? Is the flow heavy or light? When was the last time you were intimate with Cao Sikong?"
Three questions in a row, Lu Yu asked in a very low voice, but every word was exceptionally clear, ensuring Madam Ding could hear them distinctly.
This...
Ding Hui pondered slightly.
"Since I started taking Lu Shenyi's medicine, my menstrual cycle has been normal. The timing and flow are all correct. As for... being intimate with my husband, for the past half month, as long as I avoided the three days of my period, I would..."
At this point, Ding Hui was still a bit shy.
However...
Since she was asking Lu Yu, this gynecological expert, she naturally had to be truthful.
"The last time we were intimate was yesterday... for a full hour!"
Good heavens, good heavens.
Lu Yu was quite shocked. He never expected that Old Cao, who usually held all the cards, would be so completely controlled by this Madam Ding at home.
The family hierarchy was laid bare for all to see!
Avoiding the three days of her period, Old Cao was truly diligent in his cultivation!
Wait a minute...
Why only three days? Wasn't menstruation usually seven days? Cough, cough... Of course, this is not important. Coming every day... it clearly shows Cao Sikong's waist, kidneys, and overall health are formidable!
"So frequent? And you still haven't conceived?" Lu Yu asked with great curiosity...
This question struck a chord, and Ding Hui's heart was shattered.
The timely arrival of her period recently had left her utterly disappointed...
Now, she desperately wanted to have her own child to prove her fertility and to eliminate all rumors, but... her wishes were in vain.
The more she wanted it, the less she seemed to get it.
"I haven't conceived. I hope Lu Shenyi can prescribe another formula so that I may achieve my wish..." Madam Ding's voice lowered considerably.
This...
Lu Yu was bewildered. Even the most brilliant traditional Chinese medicine practitioner could not guarantee conception with a single attempt.
Pregnancy, in essence, was a matter of probability.
"Madam Ding, let me teach you a method..."
Lu Yu gestured for Ding Hui to lean closer. As the only remaining "master of gynecology" in this era, Lu Yu had to reveal his ultimate skill.
That was... finding the "ovulation period."
Whether a woman could conceive primarily depended on whether it was the ovulation period or not...
The opposite of the ovulation period is the safe period. Theoretically, seven days before and eight days after... is actually not scientific. How many people have achieved immediate conception by believing in this so-called safe period.
Of course, the esteemed audience members are so handsome, and when they engage in nightly revelry, they surely take safety precautions. At most, it's just one night of marital bliss, no big deal!
Speaking of which...
To increase the chances of conception, finding the ovulation period is crucial, and there are methods for this.
The first is temperature. A woman's body temperature drops during ovulation, by about 0.3 to 0.5 degrees Celsius. Of course... this is too difficult to determine in this era.
The other point is to observe the "vaginal discharge." From a medical perspective, during the ovulation period, the vaginal discharge will appear to be "stringy"!
However, this judgment...
Can only be made by Madam Ding herself. Lu Yu certainly cannot help much.
Lu Yu quietly revealed the specific methods for judging the ovulation period in detail...
This was already Lu Yu's maximum effort in the field of gynecology for treating infertility. The operation was practically full throttle.
After explaining all this...
Lu Yu did not forget to instruct, "Madam Ding, follow the method I've taught you, find the right date, and you can achieve the kill in one go!"
"...Excessive intimacy is not conducive to conception. Madam Ding, please keep this in mind."
"Also, during this period, try to limit Cao Sikong's consumption of tea, especially strong tea... this stuff is not good!"
Lu Yu originally wanted to say that this stuff kills sperm...
But how would Madam Ding understand what "sperm" was? She would most likely interpret it as "spirit" or "mental energy."
Mentioning this, Lu Yu continued, "Besides this, the most important point is to adjust your mindset. Find the right date, and let Cao Sikong conserve his energy. But during those crucial three days, make sure Cao Sikong exerts himself a bit."
Blinking repeatedly!
Ding Hui seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to. Regardless... Lu Yu instilled in her a completely new concept, which was... finding the right day was more important than frequent intimacy, after all... she wasn't doing this for pleasure, she wanted a child!
"Lu Shenyi, I... I think I understand." Ding Hui nodded repeatedly...
"There's nothing else, is there?" Lu Yu slightly straightened up, deliberately yawning. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave..."
"I'll see Lu Shenyi out." Ding Hui remained very courteous...
At this moment, she viewed Cao Cao as a tool, and Lu Yu as the God of Fertility.
"No need... Madam Ding should get more rest. This is also beneficial for conception."
As the words slipped out, Lu Yu quickly scurried away...
Women's matters are truly troublesome.
For Madam Ding to have a child, was it easy for Lu Yu?
...
Exiting the gates of Sikong Mansion.
Lu Yu looked at the sky... It was truly late, and the moon was already hanging high. He had come to Old Cao's house for dumplings but ended up getting involved in so many things.
Yawning, Lu Yu felt sleepy and was about to head back to his residence.
"Lu Sinong..."
A voice suddenly echoed.
Still the familiar voice, the familiar scent of "Six Gods Flower Water"...
--The lingering fragrance of Xun Lingjun! Da Feng Novel Network
It seemed Xun Yu had already come out from Cao Cao's side and was waiting at the entrance of Sikong Mansion.
"Xun Lingjun?"
Lu Yu saw Xun Yu again, feeling somewhat surprised. Xun Yu also appeared somewhat surprised.
"I didn't expect Lu Sinong to be even later than I am."
"I was delayed by some matters," Lu Yu replied casually... Then, his eyes darted, and he asked Xun Yu, "Is Xun Lingjun waiting for me?"
"No!" Xun Yu waved his hand. "I am waiting for Zhicai and Gongda?"
"They've also arrived?" Lu Yu was slightly surprised...
But then he thought, it was likely because of the matter of "killing Liu Bei or utilizing Liu Bei," and Old Cao still couldn't make up his mind.
"Is Xun Lingjun referring to killing Liu Bei?" Lu Yu asked back...
He understood Xun Yu extremely well. Although Xun Yu appeared to be a good-natured person on the surface, his insight was the sharpest, and he was most capable of recognizing Liu Bei's potential and threat at a glance.
However... Xun You and Xi Zhicai, then.
Lu Yu mused...
They likely wouldn't advise Old Cao to kill Liu Bei.
Xun Yu saw the threat, while Xi Zhicai and Xun You saw the current situation...
Indeed, given the current situation... Liu Bei simply couldn't be killed!
"Nothing escapes Lu Sinong's eyes." Xun Yu smiled slightly. "What does Lu Sinong think Zhicai and Gongda will answer?"
"Cannot say..."
Lu Yu shrugged his hands...
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed again, and Xi Zhicai and Xun You emerged from Cao Mansion.
Xun Yu hurried to greet them.
"Zhicai, Gongda, how did you answer my Lord?"
Xi Zhicai's eyes darted, and he also saw Xun Yu. "Wenruo? How did you answer my Lord?"
Xun Yu truthfully replied, "I advised killing Liu Bei!"
Xi Zhicai shook his head slightly. "Killing one person and losing the hearts of the world, I advise utilizing Liu Bei."
Xun You's eyes narrowed. "I advise my Lord to first utilize Liu Bei, and then kill Liu Bei."
"Cough, cough..."
A cold air wafted, and Lu Yu suddenly sneezed.
At this, Xi Zhicai, Xun Yu, and Xun You all noticed Lu Yu.
They almost simultaneously asked, "Lu Sinong? How did you answer Cao Sikong?"
At this moment, Xun Yu, Xun You, and Xi Zhicai's eyes were intensely focused.
Undoubtedly...
Lu Yu, who was more skilled at discerning people's hearts, carried much more weight in his answer than these three strategists, Xun Yu, Xun You, and Xi Zhicai!
Uh...
Suddenly, Lu Yu felt a bit awkward.
He wanted to say, I just went to Madam Ding's for a casual visit, what are you all making a fuss about?
...
...