The Cao family was implicated in the "Empress Song case"!
From Empress Dowager Deng during Emperor An's reign, to Empress Liang during Emperor Huan's reign, and then to Empress Dowager Dou during Emperor Ling's reign, the maternal relatives of three empresses dowager held important positions in the court and controlled state affairs.
Although...
The maternal relatives who relied on the Empress Dowagers ultimately met untimely ends, they had still enjoyed glory and brilliance.
But... the current Empress Song, her mother-in-law, and her great-great-great-grandmother would have no face to meet them in the netherworld!
In this year, Empress Song was thoroughly investigated for witchcraft, leading to the overnight destruction of the Song clan of Fufeng, and dozens of families, including the Cao family, were implicated!
Tracing back to the source...
Empress Song, although from a noble background, was born at an inauspicious time.
The origin of all this must be traced back to Emperor Huan's reign.
Empress Song's uncle-in-law was Liu Kui, the King of Bohai.
Because he offended the Chief Eunuch Wang Fu, Liu Kui was falsely accused of plotting to usurp the throne...
Emperor Huan, Liu Zhi, was enraged and ordered Liu Kui's arrest and imprisonment...
Naturally, Liu Kui denied treason. Wang Fu forced him to commit suicide, and then all eleven of his wives and concubines were executed. The foremost among them, the Queen, was Empress Song's paternal aunt.
From then on, Empress Song became a mere formality, constantly in low spirits.
And it was this year...
The literati submitted memorials to the court demanding a thorough investigation into the Liu Kui case, to clear the wronged souls in the underworld. Wang Fu and others, fearing the case would be overturned, instructed a palace eunuch to falsely accuse Empress Song of witchcraft.
Empress Song was already not favored, and Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, immediately issued an edict to depose Empress Song.
As the Empress committed a grave crime, her family members were naturally not exempt from punishment. The three generations and six relatives of the Song clan of Fufeng were all executed. The first to bear the brunt was Song Qi, Empress Song's brother, the Marquis of Yinqiang. Song Qi's formal wife was Cao Cao's paternal cousin.
Like fish caught in a fire, suffering collateral damage...
The Liu Kui case of the King of Bohai resulted in the execution of his entire clan, Empress Song was deposed, Cao Cao's cousin and her family were killed, and the Cao clan was also implicated!
"Dada dada..."
The sound of horse hooves echoed. In just five days, Cao Cao rushed home from Dunqiu. He found the main gate sealed with paper strips. It seemed to have been sealed for some time, as dust had already settled on the strips and wooden poles.
Above the gate was a plaque bestowed by the Emperor— "Disciplined Son"!
This was the imperial commendation mentioned in Cao Song's family letter...
At this moment, Cao Cao frowned. He vaguely recalled that it was at that time, in his joy, that he and Lu Wenran had a passionate encounter, which resulted in Yu'er after ten months of pregnancy!
But this time...
Why? Why must his family be torn apart for no reason?
The Cao family was implicated. There must be a reason, right?
Did he do wrong by acting for the people?
The steward, who had been lurking at the gate, saw Cao Cao return and rushed forward to hug him, weeping uncontrollably, "My lord, you've finally returned. Master was about to lose his eyesight from waiting."
"Where is Father?"
"Hiding at Xiahou Miaocai's house!"
As the steward said, Cao Song's family of over a dozen people were only allowed to take their spare clothes. They were temporarily residing at Xiahou Yuan's house, two streets away. Cao Cao followed the steward to Xiahou Yuan's house, and the family reunion was filled with sighs and lamentations...
His principal wife, Ding Hui, merely gave a slight bow. His concubine, Liu Chun, however, wept like a string of pearls...
The others were asked to leave, and father and son sat down to talk.
After three years, his father Cao Song had aged considerably, with more white hairs at his temples... a few strands of hair scattered haphazardly...
He had a cloth wrapped around his head and was pressing his hands to his abdomen, indicating pain in both areas.
Cao Cao never imagined that his father, only fifty years old, would look so aged.
"Three years have passed like the wind in May, and the green wheat ears of Aman, which were still oozing white sap when he left for Dunqiu, have now ripened golden..."
Cao Song examined his son, especially the inch-long beard, which gave him an official demeanor... He didn't know whether to feel pleased or sad...
"Father? What happened to our family?" Cao Cao asked.
At this question, Cao Song's tears flowed freely, "Your cousin Cao Ying has met the same fate as your brother-in-law, Marquis Yinqiang, Song Qi. When... when you got married, Song Qi, the brother of Empress Song, took a liking to your cousin. I... I shouldn't have agreed to his proposal, and your cousin's family..."
Cao Song recounted the story of Empress Song's case to Cao Cao...
(End of this chapter!)
《Xixi Xiangguan Extra, Yinlin Yinfeng》
Cao Cao also knew that it was thanks to the secret help of the great eunuch Cao Jie, otherwise... his family would also have been implicated.
However... the Emperor's edict to dismiss Cao Song and Cao Cao from their official posts and confiscate their property, especially the phrase "sentenced to await punishment," was the most devastating.
To be dealt with lightly... it was still unknown how much bribery would be required!
"It's a good thing we still have Miaocai here... to let us stay for now," Cao Cao sighed with emotion...
This was considered the only silver lining in the misfortune.
Cao Song looked up, pondered for a long time, and after much hesitation, finally asked, "I heard you had a son in Dunqiu... Is this true?"
This...
Cao Cao didn't know where to begin.
"In Dunqiu, you dealt with the powerful clans and gentry so fiercely. Once you were dismissed from office, how could those powerful clans and gentry let it go? You returned so quickly, have the mother and son there been settled?"
After all, he was his son's son... his grandson!
Even though the mother and son had no official status, there was a blood connection. The Cao family had a tradition of "affection for grandchildren!"
This...
Cao Cao hadn't really thought that far. With his father's reminder, Cao Cao immediately felt uneasy...
"Child, child, I came in such a hurry... I didn't... I didn't think about all this."
Saying that, Cao Cao got up...
He intended to return to Dunqiu to properly settle this mother and son!
"Don't go," Cao Song said softly, closing his eyes. "You are a person awaiting punishment. Leaving Luoyang privately is a capital offense. Moreover, the final verdict for the Cao family is not yet decided. Do you want them, the mother and son, to also... be implicated?"
This...
Every word Cao Song spoke deeply enlightened Cao Cao.
— — The older the ginger, the spicier it is!
"...Since there was no formal betrothal ceremony, then..." Cao Song said softly, "It's better not to contact them. At least... if the Cao family truly cannot escape this calamity, we can still leave... leave some hope! A spark!"
Hoo...
At this moment, Cao Cao exhaled heavily.
He pondered for a long time and finally nodded. Although... Dunqiu was also extremely dangerous, this city of Luoyang... was even more perilous and turbulent!
No one knew what the final outcome for the Cao family would be?
"Father, is it really that serious?" Cao Cao asked solemnly.
"Alas..." Cao Song sighed. "Our property has been confiscated, and we need money for bribes everywhere. Now... the situation of our Cao family..."
Although he didn't say it explicitly, Cao Song's tone indicated that it was not optimistic!
Cao Cao lowered his head slightly. "Father, don't be sad. At least, for now, our family has preserved our lives!"
Cao Song changed the subject. "Did you bring back your salary from the past few years?"
Cao Cao said shamefully and embarrassedly. "Father also knows that your son had a son in Dunqiu, and all that salary was spent on him!"
Cao Song shook his head in disappointment. "It was all spent on the people of Dunqiu County, wasn't it? Heh... What can I say about you? Others make money when they are officials, and you lose money. How long will I have to support you? I was hoping to use your salary to hold on for a while. Now it's gone, no hope. You are so generous... you ignore the old, you ignore the young, and you expect me to support your wives, concubines, and sons..."
Cao Cao fell silent...
He realized his father was rambling a lot and was indeed getting old.
Cao Cao didn't know what to explain...
Just as he was about to leave... to see his wife and concubine.
Cao Song called out to stop him, "Aman, don't worry about Dunqiu. Although I can't help much, I've sent some money there. It's enough for them to live for two years..."
Cao Cao, as if habitually dependent on his parents, asked, "And after two years?"
"After two years?" Cao Song looked up. "Who knows if our Cao family can last for another two years?"
Speaking of which...
An infinite desolation flashed in Cao Song's eyes, but amidst the desolation... a trace of curiosity seemed to reignite.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"A boy?"
"What's his name..."
"Yu, Cao Yu..."
"Cao Yu... Cao Yu, my grandson is called Cao Yu!"
Cao Song, who had stopped his tears, at this moment... shed tears of "affection" again. (End of this chapter!)
《Xixi Xiangguan Extra, Yinlin Yinfeng》
His grandson Cao Yu...
Can he, as a grandfather, see him in this life?
...
...
In a farmer's house in Dunqiu, the family was by no means well-off, but the simplicity exuded tidiness, indicating a relatively stable life.
A six or seven-year-old girl leaned against the bed, curiously watching the stranger. Another baby, almost a year old, could already crawl... Lu Wenran held Cao Yu and looked at him slowly.
The farmer and his wife greeted them politely. "The case of our family was cleared by Magistrate Cao... Madam, please take shelter in our home for now. We have some land... and my husband is strong, enough for our family to eat."
"Brother and Sister-in-law, Magistrate Cao has been dismissed. Please don't be so formal!" Lu Wenran said, holding the child, and could only offer a weak support.
The farmer's wife stood up and looked at the child in Lu Wenran's arms, smiling, "This child is so beautiful, just as beautiful as you, Madam. Much more beautiful than my Heilong."
Just then...
Cao Yu cried out "wah," which pierced Lu Wenran, who was a new mother, like a sword.
"It's alright, Madam. He's hot... he needs milk. @Essence/Book Pavilion*First Release Update~~"
"Feed him milk?" Lu Wenran gritted her teeth, feeling a bit shy. Before, in the county office, feeding him was always done by a wet nurse... She... she didn't know how!
The farmer's wife saw Lu Wenran's difficulty. "Give him to me... My Heilong is already seven months old and can drink porridge. My milk will be for this little one. Oh, look, this young master isn't shy at all, he's eating so smoothly!"
Lu Wenran breathed a slight sigh of relief... She untied the bundle, revealing two gold ingots and several strings of coins...
These were sent by Cao Song. Lu Wenran thought it was Cao Cao's arrangement and accepted them.
The rural couple was so frightened by this considerable sum that they were at a loss. "Madam, this... this is just a matter of feeding milk, there's no need for so much. Hiring a wet nurse in the county town only costs one piece of silk, let alone the child of 'Master Man.' We will raise this child for Master Man even if it's hard!"
"Brother, please accept it!" Lu Wenran pleaded. "If you don't accept it, I... I won't feel at ease!"
"Don't worry!" the farmer said. "All of us villagers have received favors from Master Man. No one will reveal Madam and the young master's location. Besides, Master Man was such a good official; he wouldn't have any trouble even if he went to the capital."
At this moment...
With a "pat," Lu Wenran knelt down. The farmer was greatly alarmed and quickly knelt down as well... "Madam, what are you doing?"
"Brother, to be honest... I... I have something else to ask of you!"
"Master Man is our benefactor. Madam, please speak if you have anything!"
"I heard... that my Aman's family was implicated this time because of a case. I want... I want... can you ask our villagers to write a petition of ten thousand people? I will go... I will go... to present it to Luoyang, perhaps this can save... save Aman's life!"
This...
The farmer thought for a moment, as if recalling the favors Cao Cao had bestowed upon him when he was in office. He immediately nodded heavily.
"Madam, rest assured, I will handle this petition of ten thousand people!"
"Thank you, Brother..." Lu Wenran was on the verge of tears...
She looked at the child in her arms, Lu Wenran felt... she had to do something for "Yu'er's" father!
...
...
From the snowy winter to the autumn of the following year, the people of Dunqiu eagerly awaited the return of their "Master Man"...
As the snow was about to fall again... Magistrate Cao had not yet returned!
At this time, a "Petition of Ten Thousand People Praising Cao Cao's Thirty Great Merits" was personally delivered to the capital by Lu Wenran.
This was a blood letter written by ten thousand people biting their fingers and presenting it to the Emperor.
Lu Wenran took the villagers' cart and traveled arduously to the capital in the dead of winter. It took a month to reach the capital.
For over a month, she missed Dunqiu's "Yu'er" and worried about Cao Cao in Luoyang.
But when she arrived in Luoyang...
The Cao mansion had already been sealed. Where Cao Cao was now, Lu Wenran didn't know... She could only kneel outside the south gate of the palace, kowtowing... begging the soldiers to summon a high official...
She told the soldiers that she was from Dunqiu and had important public sentiment to report to His Majesty the Emperor!
At this time, the Chief Eunuch Cao Jie was sitting by the warm stove...
Looking at the "Ten Crimes of Cao Aman" sent by the powerful clans of Dunqiu. (End of this chapter!)
《Xixi Xiangguan Extra, Yinlin Yinfeng》
He muttered to himself... As they say, "When the person leaves, the tea gets cold." Now that Cao Cao was gone, those powerful clans of Dunqiu intended to crush him. Fortunately... this letter fell into his hands, otherwise... the bribes the Cao family had given over the past year would have been wasted.
Just then, a palace eunuch brought Lu Wenran's letter to Cao Jie.
Opening the finely woven plain silk cloth, a large roll of fabric was printed with hundreds of blood handprints, which had already turned purple-black...
Cao Jie couldn't help but feel disgusted. These were imprinted by the fingers of over ten thousand people.
Good heavens...
What kind of official could make the common people so reluctant to part with him?
When Cao Jie saw the cloth scroll listing Cao Cao's thirty great merits, and then compared it with the "Ten Crimes of Cao Aman" in his hand, his heart stirred.
He also wanted to help Cao Song...
Without Cao Song, an external supporter in the court, how could he, Cao Jie, amass wealth? How could he control the national treasury...
But Cao Song was disappointing.
Heh, he never expected that this Cao Cao was so promising!
Lu Wenran waited outside the palace gate for a long time...
Cao Jie personally came out. "What is your relationship with that Cao Aman? Traveling hundreds of miles to deliver this Petition of Ten Thousand People!"
"I..." Lu Wenran was about to answer...
Cao Jie's eyes darted around, noticing that she was a very beautiful woman, although her stunning beauty was obscured by the dust on her clothes. "I heard that Cao Aman has a son in Dunqiu County. Could the mother of that son be you?"
This...
Lu Wenran nodded. _o_m
Cao Jie's face turned cold. "I have received this Petition of Ten Thousand People. You may return!"
"I..." Lu Wenran murmured, "May I ask the official one question!"
"Ask away!"
"Can Aman return to Dunqiu to continue serving as magistrate?"
"Haha..." Cao Jie burst into laughter. "Cao Aman doesn't even dare to think of that now!"
Saying that, Cao Jie turned around...
He took two steps, but eventually... his steps paused.
"If you truly want to help that boy Cao Aman, then forget your relationship with him, and your son's relationship with him...
"To save him, this single 'Petition of Ten Thousand People' is not enough. It requires a lot of money. Families that can provide this money probably don't want you to be associated with Cao Cao!"
Cao Jie did not point it out directly...
But he knew that the reason the case had not been decided for the past year was due to the Cao family's bribes. To be precise, it was not the Cao family's bribes, but the Ding family's bribes!
As Cao Cao's principal wife, Ding Hui did not hesitate to bankrupt her maternal clan to help the Cao family through this difficulty. Big Wind Novels
It was precisely because of this foundation that this "Petition of Ten Thousand People" became extremely precious, and could even turn the tide...
Lu Wenran, with her intelligence and grace, understood everything after hearing Cao Jie's words.
She recalled that Cao Cao had once told her that Cao Cao's principal wife, Madam Ding, came from a very wealthy family... a wealthy merchant!
She understood what it meant...
Gritting her teeth, Lu Wenran pondered for a long time, and finally clenched her fist, making a decision!
She and her son could do without official status, as long as... as long as Cao Cao could survive this calamity, then it would be good, then... then it would be good!
...
...
Winter turned to spring, at Xiahou Yuan's residence.
Cao Song specifically summoned Cao Cao.
"There's a clue regarding the case!"
"Has our Cao family survived this calamity?" Cao Cao knew his father Cao Song too well... He could tell from his father's expression.
Indeed...
Cao Song nodded. Cao Cao was overjoyed and immediately wanted to get on his horse!
"Come back!" Cao Song quickly called out to stop him...
"Father... I..." Cao Cao wanted to say that he had to rush to Dunqiu County, where a mother and son needed his care!
"You are forbidden to go to Dunqiu!" Cao Song's words were decisive...
"Why?"
"Do you still have a conscience!" Cao Song pointed to Cao Cao's heart and reprimanded, "For the past year, your principal wife Ding Hui has been running around for the Cao family's affairs, not hesitating to bankrupt her maternal clan. Do you not see all this?"
"Our Cao family's lives were saved by the Ding family. Now you want to go to Dunqiu and bring back a woman. (End of this chapter!)
《Xixi Xiangguan Extra, Yinlin Yinfeng》
Bring back an illegitimate child? What is this supposed to mean? Are you deliberately shaming your principal wife?"
"I..." Cao Cao gritted his teeth... This was the first time he had faced such a choice.
"Stay at home honestly!" Cao Song said, "The case has only just revealed a clue... If you leave now, it might all be in vain! With so many members of the Cao family, so many lives, you can't just think of yourself!"
"I..."
Cao Cao wanted to say a lot, but could only express it with a sigh.
What wrong had he, Cao Cao, committed!
In Dunqiu County, after Magistrate Cao Cao left...
The powerful clans of Dunqiu indeed began their most ferocious revenge. @Essence/Book Pavilion·No Error First Release~~
The schools and orphanages that Cao Cao had spent three years building were abandoned, schools were forced to close, students returned home to farm, and the land that had been measured and redistributed was to be measured again...
Everywhere were the thugs of the powerful clans, and everywhere were the cries of the poor.
Finally...
A rebellion broke out here!
And the instigator of the rebellion was a poor man whose land had been repossessed. He gathered a large number of poor people... along with nearby bandits, and carried out a round of plunder on the entire Dunqiu.
They originally only wanted to plunder the powerful clans...
But once the bandits entered the county town, they didn't care about powerful clans or not. In an instant, the bloody sunset filled the sky, dyeing this peaceful small county town in the Pu Yang Commandery red.
Countless bandits surged into the county town like a tide, their shouts and screams intertwined, and the battle was particularly fierce.
And the flames of war also reached the farmstead where Lu Wenran lived.
The farmer had taken his two children to play at the village entrance and was directly killed by the bandits...
The bandits advanced towards the farmstead.
At this critical moment...
Lu Wenran handed "Yu'er" to the farmer's wife and ran towards the fields alone.
Her running attracted the attention of the bandits, and more than a dozen bandits chased after her.
The farmer's wife, holding the one-year-old Cao Yu... ran towards the official road. She was going to seek help...
Finally...
On the official road, they encountered a carriage... There were guards beside the carriage, clearly a person of noble status.
When she reached here, the farmer's wife was exhausted and died in front of the carriage.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a middle-aged man came out with a five-year-old girl.
Who else could it be but Cai Yong and Cai Zhaoji!
At this time, Cai Yong was already an Advisor-General...
This trip was to visit his uncle Cai Zhi... He did not expect to encounter bandits looting in Dunqiu.
Seeing the farmer's wife exhausted... the little girl was startled.
The middle-aged man also sighed helplessly. He had seen too many such incidents.
However, fortunately, they had soldiers with them, so it would be safer. Bandits usually did not want to directly engage with soldiers, even if they won, the consequences would be endless!
"Father, this baby is still alive!"
Cai Zhaoji saw "Cao Yu"...
Her big eyes blinked, extremely lively, as if the outside chaos did not make him panic... he seemed full of curiosity about the outside world.
"Father, let's... save him, shall we!" Cai Zhaoji blinked her big eyes and looked up at her father...
At this moment, a soldier carried "Cao Yu" to Cai Yong. Cai Yong took him...
This child was extremely endearing, his big eyes blinked incessantly, as if he could speak.
Cai Yong noticed a "lucky" jade pendant hanging around his neck, and a small wooden tag on his body, with his name and birthdate written on it. Cai Yong brought the wooden tag closer...
"Lu Yu, Lu Yu..."
He read the name on the wooden tag...
That's right, on the wooden tag... Lu Wenran had written "Lu Yu." After returning from Luoyang, she had decided to forget Cao Cao... and let the child forget his father.
This would be good for both of them...
"Take this child away. Zhaoji only has a sister but no brother, so let this Lu Yu be your younger brother!" Cai Yong said...
"Thank you, Father!" Cai Zhaoji quickly thanked her father and took Cao Yu into the carriage with the guards.
... (End of this chapter!)
《Xixi Xiangguan Extra, Yinlin Yinfeng》
Cai Yong, stroking his beard, said, "This place is not suitable for staying. After the rebellion subsides, we will send someone to inquire if Lu Yu's family has survived!"
After saying this...
Cai Yong's carriage continued on the official road.
He grieved and lamented these rebellions, but... he was powerless.
However...
Lu Wenran was eventually caught, facing the relentless pursuit of the bandits.
"Yu'er, mother... mother is leaving."
"From now on, you can only... only walk your own path. @Essence/Book Pavilion·No Error First Release~~"
The bandits let out wild laughter...
Lu Wenran chose to smash her head against the wall.
In an instant, it was a bloody mess...
— — She lived chastely...
— — Even in death, she remained chaste!
...
...
Half a year later.
Cao Cao appeared in Dunqiu County on a fast horse. After the rebellion subsided and he learned of everything that had happened here... he rushed back immediately.
But when he learned... that no villagers had survived that rebellion.
"Ah..."
"Ah... ah..."
Cao Cao roared with all his might.
He stood in front of the Dunqiu County Office.
Looking at this familiar gate, looking at the... the delivery room that he would never forget, he let out roars from the depths of his soul.
He could still smell Yu'er's scent!
The feeling of touching Yu'er was still fresh in his memory.
And... and Lu Wenran...
He... he...
— — "Ah..."
— — "Ah..."
He, Cao Cao... had failed Lu Wenran, he... he had failed his eldest son—Cao Yu!
"I, Cao Aman, am... am a scoundrel!"
"I, Cao Aman, am a... a scoundrel!"
At this moment, Cao Cao's heart was deeply sealed...
From now on, women would no longer be symbols of "love," but merely tools... tools that could be used to achieve goals!
They became a vanity that displayed power and status!
Love... the word "love" was completely sealed from this moment on!
— — Cao Cao, sealed heart!
...
...
A year later, in the study of the Cao mansion, Cai Yong and Cao Song sat separately.
"Mengde has been serving as Advisor-General for half a year, but he seems absent-minded."
Cai Yong said...
He was an Advisor-General, and the current Cao Cao was a Gentleman of the Palace, subordinate to Cai Yong.
Cai Yong naturally saw Cao Cao's absent-mindedness.
"This..." Cao Song hesitated to speak.
"The Empress Song case is in the past," Cai Yong said. "It should be cause for celebration that the Cao family could escape unscathed..."
Cao Song nodded slowly. "Sir Cai, please give Mengde some time. Time heals all wounds."
Cai Yong understood something and nodded, "It seems the Advisor-General is heartbroken!"
As a result, Cai Yong no longer brought up the topic. He exchanged a few more pleasantries... and left the Cao mansion.
Back at the Cai mansion...
Cai Zhaoji ran excitedly to Cai Yong.
"Father, Father... Guess what?"
"What?"
"That Lu Yu recited poetry!" Cai Zhaoji exclaimed excitedly.
"What poem?" Cai Yong asked.
Cai Zhaoji imitated, "It seems to be... 'Two yellow orioles singing in the green willows, a line of white egrets flying to the blue sky...'"
Hmm...
Cai Yong was stunned. Not bad... the couplets were neat and had a certain artistic conception.
This is not reciting poetry... but composing poetry?
Wait...
Cai Yong suddenly realized, "He's only two years old, did he compose this poem?"
"Otherwise?" Cai Zhaoji quickly said, "Yesterday, when looking at the geese in the lake, he recited a poem!"
"Let me hear it..."
"Goose, goose, goose... curved neck towards the sky singing... white feathers float on green water, red webbed feet push clear waves..." Cai Zhaoji was extremely excited.
Cai Yong's eyes widened...
He felt stunned. (End of this chapter!)
《Xixi Xiangguan Extra, Yinlin Yinfeng》
He was stunned by a two-year-old child. @Essence/Book Pavilion*First Release Update~~
What is going on?
Could a two-year-old compose poetry with such artistic conception?
This is... a child prodigy!
...
...
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《Xixi Xiangguan Extra, Yinlin Yinfeng》