The world spun and tilted as Cai Zhaoji wearily opened her eyes. She confirmed again and again that her brother, Lu Yu, was lying beside her.
His upper body was covered by a thin, pale yellow quilt, and sweat stains could be clearly seen on his back.
The world spun and tilted…
Cai Zhaoji felt as though the heavens and earth were in a dizzying spin. She felt her body enveloped in layers of mist, which then suddenly turned into a raging fire, burning intensely.
Her hairpins askew, her hair disheveled, sweat dripped from her forehead down her delicate shoulders, falling onto the gauze curtains of her elegant boudoir.
Cai Zhaoji stared blankly at the ceiling, her eyes wide open!
Fragmented memories seemed to resurface.
She reached out a hand but dared not touch Lu Yu. More accurately, she hadn't figured out how to face her brother!
She quickly closed her eyes…
Her body burned with a feverish ache. Instinctively, she curled up, desperately seeking the coolness from the figure beside her. Her upturned face brushed against Lu Yu’s chin and neck, as cold as a piece of jade. Cai Zhaoji felt her body losing control.
She wanted to lie in Lu Yu’s arms, but… before she could get closer, she recoiled again.
It was as if she were engaged in a final struggle with propriety…
Thinking about it, ever since her younger brother Yu grew up, she had never been this close to him. The current feeling made her uneasy, her eyes filled with complexity and an unpredictable gloom!
“Gulp…”
She swallowed again.
The rooster crowed for the second time. Cai Zhaoji gradually calmed the stirrings in her heart, recalling more.
Last night, she had been drunk…
Then, abandoning her usual dignity and tranquility, she had become… lewd and vulgar.
Afterward, as if in a dream on her wedding night with her husband, she had wantonly molested her brother…
Sister, Yu actually wanted to leave, but… she had pulled him back.
She had even said, as if in a dream… “Don’t call me sister anymore, ever!”
Recalling this, Cai Zhaoji’s face turned crimson with shame…
What… what had she done?
Had she… had she not even spared her own brother?
“Ah…”
A sudden pang of pain.
She slowly opened her eyes again. Lying on the couch, she remained dazed for a moment, then suddenly… she understood!
…
…
Bing Province, Hukou Pass.
As dawn gradually brightened, Ju Shou yawned atop the imposing pass and stood up…
Last night, he had talked with Han Meng all night. In the end, they sat on the ground. Han Meng sent for wine and snacks, and they ended up drinking while watching the sunrise.
Both had good capacities for alcohol, and in these sensitive times, they naturally dared not drink too much.
At this moment, Ju Shou stretched, then turned…
He uttered a line.
“It’s about time!”
What?
Han Meng was a bit bewildered. About time for what?
At this point, Han Meng realized that his opponents below Hukou Pass were aware that Ju Shou had now pledged allegiance to Cao Cao, even holding a high position as a member of the School of Investigation, highly regarded.
If it were only this…
But Ju Shou had also introduced the burly warrior beside him – Dian Wei, the “Evil Errant of the Ancient Times”!
Han Meng almost wet himself from fright…
Damn it, he was merely a small pillar among the “Four Courtyards and One Pillar” of Hebei. Facing Lu Bu, Zhang Yan, Qu Yi, and Gongsun Zan below Hukou Pass was already immense pressure.
Now, to make matters worse…
Dian Wei was also by his side. Practically all the top fighters of the era were gathered at Hukou Pass.
Even, to be frank…
With Dian Wei’s prowess, it was estimated that his dozen or so guards wouldn’t be enough for him to fight alone.
Of course…
Han Meng wasn’t overly afraid. He knew Ju Shou’s purpose in coming was to persuade him to surrender.
He was hesitating, after all… the Yuan family had treated him well.
But suddenly, Ju Shou said “it’s about time,” what did that mean?
“Brother Ju?”
Han Meng also stood up, but before he could ask.
Abruptly, he noticed that below Hukou Pass, various camps were setting up stoves to cook, with wisps of cooking smoke rising…
“Thump”… Han Meng’s heart skipped a beat. This felt exactly like the scene of cooking at midnight and attacking at dawn!
“Brother Ju? Look… this… this…” Han Meng grabbed Ju Shou, as if grasping at the last straw of hope.
“Calm down, calm down!” Ju Shou’s tone was composed. “Brother Han, don’t you think Lu Fengxian, Gongsun Bogui, General Qu Yi, General Zhang Yan… they are all impatient? Once the siege truly begins, it will be like spilled water that cannot be retrieved…”
Uh…
Han Meng’s heart sank.
Ju Shou’s words continued.
“Brother Han, do you remember Zhang Xiu’s surrender to Cao in Wancheng back then? Look at Zhang Xiu now, how much more glorious he is compared to then! Prime Minister Cao married his daughter to his son Cao Jun, forging a marital alliance, and directly enfeoffed him as General of Yangwu and General of Poqiang, granting him the title of Marquis of Dingting. Even his son Zhang Quan was appointed as Commandant of Chang Le, and his brother Zhang Ji was posthumously honored as Marquis. This military family has achieved utmost glory! And the reason…”
“Is because he surrendered with his thirty thousand Xiliang iron cavalry… these thirty thousand Xiliang iron cavalry are Zhang Xiu’s foundation, and relying on this foundation, he has reached this position step by step! What did he have before? Just Wancheng? Just thirty thousand troops! If he had stubbornly defended Wancheng, refused to surrender, and fought to the last soldier, then… if he still wanted to surrender to Prime Minister Cao? Would Prime Minister Cao want him? Let alone these great merits!”
Having said this…
Ju Shou paused. “Brother Han, to speak frankly, I am now in the School of Investigation, and it is not difficult to collect all intelligence and information. I specifically went to investigate.”
“Recently, there’s Zhang Xiu, Lu Bu, and myself, Ju Shou. Further away, there’s Yang Chou, Liu Xun. Even further, there are the million Yellow Turbans, and the Danyang soldiers of Xuzhou. While… we were all manipulated and had our minds played upon by Lu Ziyu before surrendering to Cao, we are now hundreds of times more glorious than before! And the soldiers of those generals are still under their command. We are trusted and surrendered generals are treated well; this is the most direct feeling I have in Cao’s camp.”
“As the saying goes, ‘Duke of Zhou spits out food, and the world returns to him’… Prime Minister Cao can tolerate people, and Lu Ziyu can attract people. With the two of them, no one under heaven can be their opponent! Pacifying the northern territories will only be a matter of time.”
Whoa…
Ju Shou spoke at length, but his words were sincere and well-reasoned, making them convincing.
“Alright, alright…”
“Tap, tap, tap…”
As the neighing of horses and the formation of soldiers below Hukou Pass could be heard,
countless scaling ladders were raised, and battering rams were ready!
Clearly…
The siege below the city was about to begin, and Han Meng’s heart was in his throat.
“Brother Ju… Brother Ju speaks reasonably, but… our Hukou Pass is in a special location. Behind us is Jizhou, and the two Yuan brothers in Liyang City have over two hundred thousand troops. Once we surrender, then… I and these one hundred thousand soldiers will inevitably become thorns in the eyes and flesh of the Yuan brothers. What if… what if…”
Although Han Meng did not finish his sentence…
His meaning was clear.
You Lu Bu can attack me, and the Yuan brothers can also attack me. If I surrender, I will be attacked; if I don’t surrender, I will also be attacked. When you think about it, not surrendering still gives me a good reputation!
This logic… was perfectly sound.
As these words left his mouth…
“Hahahaha…”
Ju Shou laughed, a laugh filled with melancholy. He remained silent, gazing at the sky.
According to Young Master Lu’s deployment, the battle for Liyang City should have concluded by now.
Calculating the distance, intelligence should have been sent back by now.
He had waited all night, why not wait a little longer?
Just as Ju Shou thought this…
“Report… report…”
An armored soldier rushed up to the battlements of Hukou Pass, panting, his face weary.
Upon seeing General Han, he didn’t even have time to salute, but ran while shouting loudly, “Reporting to General Han, Liyang City has fallen… Young Master Tan has retreated to Nanpi City, and Young Master Shang has retreated to Ye City. Most of their troops have been lost!”
Ah… ah…
Hearing this, Han Meng was greatly shocked. He felt as though he was suffocating.
With a “gulp,” he swallowed.
“You… say that again, say it again.”
“Liyang City has been lost,” the soldier reported truthfully. “Last night, Young Master Tan led his troops in a night raid on Young Master Shang, and then, two legions appeared from nowhere. After fighting all night, Liyang City fell! Now, the ‘Cao’ banner is flying high on the city walls!”
Hoo…
Han Meng let out a long sigh and looked back at Ju Shou in shock.
Ju Shou simply spread his hands. Although he said nothing, his meaning was clear: now that the Yuan brothers behind you are gone, you are truly surrounded!
Han Meng, Han Meng, you don’t have much time left.
The armored soldiers around Han Meng were also panting, feeling overwhelmed…
They looked at Han Meng in despair.
In fact, the moment Yuan Shao ordered the archers to fire upon the surrendered Yuan army of hundreds of thousands returning north, the Yuan clan had lost all favor with the soldiers.
This time…
The fall of Liyang, the opening of Cao’s path north, was like the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
“General, stop struggling… surrender!”
“Yes, General… surrender!”
“General, the Yuan brothers cannot tolerate each other, can they tolerate you?”
Once one armored soldier spoke, this sentiment seemed to spread. Countless armored soldiers spoke consecutively… constantly advising him.
The morale of the army had collapsed!
Hoo…
Han Meng looked around at everyone, then at the approaching army ready to attack below the city.
He hesitated repeatedly…
“Alas,” he finally sighed, shaking his head in resignation.
“Brother Ju, oh Brother Ju…”
His voice was filled with helplessness and bitterness. “Today, I, Han Meng, truly understand what ‘winning hearts’ means, what it means to win without fighting. Although I know this is Young Master Lu’s stratagem of ‘winning hearts,’ the morale of the three armies is shaken. I… I have no choice!”
Thinking of this…
Han Meng shook his head again, and with difficulty but resolutely, he uttered four words.
“Open the gates, surrender!”
With just four words, he saved the lives of one hundred thousand soldiers, preventing them from needless sacrifice!
Ju Shou’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked south, towards Xuchang city.
He murmured in his heart.
Young Master Lu, Ju finally did not disgrace his mission!
I presume your wedding night has concluded, and you should be awake?
Heh!
Let me use Hukou Pass and these hundred thousand surrendered soldiers as my wedding gift, how about that?
…
…
Xuchang City, Prime Minister’s Mansion.
The hazy morning light shone in. Cao Cao had woken up a bit late.
Yesterday was the White Horse Marquis’s wedding. Two wives in one Marquis’s mansion, Cao Cao had drunk quite a bit.
Everyone could see he was genuinely happy, happy from the bottom of his heart!
Of course… to outsiders, Cao Cao was considered the maternal family of Xiahou Juan, so it was only natural for him to be happy!
But in reality, Cao Cao knew…
He wasn’t the maternal family; he was the proper in-laws. No one was a more “proper” in-law than he was.
“Prime Minister, urgent report!”
Xu Chu hurried into Cao Cao’s bedchamber, his voice timely.
Cao Cao shook his head, putting on his shoes and socks while dressing.
“Speak.”
“Liyang City has been captured,” Xu Chu reported truthfully. “Last night, the Taishan Army led by Zang Ba, in cooperation with General Xiahou and the two Generals Cao leading the Swift Camp and Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, broke into the city. Taking advantage of the Yuan brothers’ mutual attrition, they captured it in one fell swoop! Now, the ‘Cao’ banners are flying all over the city!”
Hoo…
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao’s expression changed drastically, becoming solemn.
Although he had known in advance about Yu’er’s plan to open the northern gate, hearing that the northern gate had truly been opened still left his emotions in turmoil.
“Good…”
Cao Cao stood up abruptly. “Summon Lord Xun, Military Advisor Gongda, Wenhe, and Zhicai to the Prime Minister’s Mansion for a meeting. Oh, and Ziyu as well. He has earned merit this time, and his strategic advice will be indispensable in pacifying the northern territories!”
As these words left his mouth…
Normally, Xu Chu should have replied, “Yes!”
But… unusually, Xu Chu remained silent, as if he had something difficult to say…
“What?”
Cao Cao sensed something was amiss and quickly asked.
“Prime Minister, there is one more thing I don’t know whether to mention!” Xu Chu scratched his head. The burly, robust man seemed somewhat hesitant at this moment.
“What can’t be said? Say it all,” Cao Cao waved his hand. He had a faint, strong premonition, but couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
“Prime Minister, it’s about the eldest son,” Xu Chu blurted out.
He knew Lu Yu’s identity.
Therefore, the eldest son mentioned by Xu Chu was the actual eldest son, Lu Yu.
Xu Chu continued, “Last night, the eldest son first had his wedding night with Xiahou Juan at the White Horse Marquis’s mansion, and then went to the Princess’s mansion for his wedding night with Princess Wannian. However… after midnight, he returned to the White Horse Marquis’s mansion.”
“Returned to the White Horse Marquis’s mansion?”
Cao Cao was utterly bewildered. This… the rules were not like this! “He went back to Juan’er’s place?”
“No…” Xu Chu shook his head, but what he was about to say seemed hesitant, choked, and difficult to articulate.
“Speak…” Cao Cao’s gaze sharpened, and he looked coldly at Xu Chu.
“It… it’s Miss Cai Yan,” Xu Chu finally uttered. “The one who slept with the eldest son last night was Miss Cai Yan…”
Ah… ah!
“Click! Click!”
Suddenly, Cao Cao gasped for air.
His originally sharp eyes widened instantly, as large as eggs. He looked at Xu Chu in disbelief, as if seeking confirmation…
“He… they last night?”
Cao Cao’s words became somewhat stuttered…
Xu Chu lowered his head, his voice a little hesitant, “The Imperial Guards secretly protecting the eldest son dared not get too close, but even so, they heard what they should have heard. The sounds were so loud that even covering their ears, they could hear the creaking of teeth!”
Hoo…
Cao Cao sighed again.
He paced back and forth, but while pacing, he… laughed. “Haha…” he burst into laughter. “Hahaha…” he laughed heartily.
First a few laughs, then… the laughter grew louder and more continuous, one after another!
And he himself continued to pace back and forth…
Ten breaths!
Twenty breaths!
Thirty breaths…
It took a full hundred breaths before Cao Cao’s pacing stopped.
“Good…”
His voice was a bit hoarse. “Originally, I thought Yu’er had two wives in one Marquis’s mansion. Now, it’s become three wives in one Marquis’s mansion. So, the ‘main wife’… was settled last! Haha, hahahaha…”
Laughing, a bitter laugh!
Cao Cao was truly impressed…
On his own wedding night, he had slept with the wrong wife.
As a result, he inexplicably gained an extra wife, Madam Liu, and fathered Cao Ang!
Yu’er has surpassed the master!
He had a truly busy night.
The key was, looking at his small frame, one couldn’t tell!
Heh heh…
Cao Cao just “heh heh”-ed!
Seeing Cao Cao laughing, his laughter carrying a complex mix of emotions, even Xu Chu couldn’t discern the nuances…
He scratched his head again.
“Prime Minister, should we still call the eldest son for the meeting?”
“No!” Cao Cao waved his hand. “Just have Wenruo, Gongda, Wenhe, and Zhicai come. As for Yu’er… he’s probably very busy. Let him handle the affairs of the Marquis’s mansion first, haha… hahaha!”
Another two laughs. The first was a bitter laugh, the second had a hint of schadenfreude!
This wasn’t just surpassing the master; it was like the back waves pushing the front waves…
He truly is Cao Cao’s son!
At this moment, Cao Cao exclaimed in his heart…
“My virtuous sister, my virtuous sister, I never imagined… our kinship would endure. In the past… I, Cao Cao, was your father’s disciple, and now, you have become my Cao Cao’s daughter-in-law! Ha…”
“My virtuous sister, my virtuous sister, my fine daughter-in-law, if Master Cai could see this scene, he would be at peace… at peace… peace!”
…
…
A faint incense filled Cai Zhaoji’s boudoir.
Cai Zhaoji dared not move…
She had understood, understood a very real fact: she was no longer an innocent maiden. The brother lying beside her had become her man since last night!
But…
How was she supposed to explain this?
Once she stepped out of this door, how would she face everyone?
Cai Zhaoji even kept calculating in her mind what she should say when Yu’er woke up.
At this moment…
The rooster crowed for the third time!
“Hiccup…”
Accompanied by a yawn, Lu Yu stretched his arm. His arm brushed against something, and he suddenly realized he was sleeping in Zhaoji jie’s boudoir.
He turned his head, and their eyes met.
Cai Zhaoji’s face instantly flushed crimson. She bit her lip, wanting to say something, but… she didn’t know what to say.
“Lan’er…”
It was Lu Yu who spoke first.
Not Zhaoji jie, but… Lan’er.
Cai Zhaoji’s whole body gave a “jolt.”
“This brother of yours is so ill-mannered. Who… who told you to call me by my childhood nickname? You should call me…”
As she spoke, Cai Zhaoji fell silent.
Ah…
Lu Yu appeared somewhat confused. He scratched his head. “Zhaoji jie said it last night. Zhaoji jie told me not to call you ‘sister’ anymore, and said I should call you ‘Lan’er’ from now on!”
This…
Cai Zhaoji’s face turned even redder. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to disappear into. How drunk had she been last night!
Just then.
“Miss…”
From outside the door, the maid’s voice called out. “The two new wives are waiting at the door. According to the rules, they should serve you tea!”
Hoo…
As these words left her mouth, Cai Zhaoji’s face, which was already flushed, suddenly showed immense panic.
At this moment, her mind was buzzing. She stood dumbfounded, unsure what to do!
…
…