Year 199 CE

“Bang!”

Cao Pi had just reached the study when he heard a loud crash from inside, like something hitting the ground. He hesitated, his hand pausing as he was about to push open the door. His father’s mood hadn’t been good lately.

Ever since his elder brother, ten years his senior, had died unexpectedly in the Battle of Wancheng two years ago, his father’s emotions had been somewhat irritable. Combined with recent consecutive incidents, including the Edict Hidden in Clothing incident just days ago, his father’s anger had accumulated to its peak.

That Liu Xie actually dared to play such a trick? Issuing a secret edict hidden in clothing to plot his father’s assassination?

Cao Pi coldly curved his lips. Though he was only twelve this year, born in chaotic times with his elder brother’s sudden death, he had to force himself to think with an adult’s mindset.

Though everyone said his father held the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, that was because they were all jealous. That Liu Xie would be the same in anyone’s hands – previously Dong Zhuo’s, now Cao Cao’s. Moreover, Cao Pi believed that Liu Xie now had food, clothing, and dignity in their hands. In this era of competing heroes at the end of the Eastern Han, that this tempting deer was still being well-fed and kept alive instead of killed was already extraordinary mercy.

It seemed he had been fed too well – that deer had forgotten who was keeping him in captivity.

Cao Pi smiled disdainfully, straightened his robes, lightly knocked on the door, and only entered respectfully after his father responded from within.

While bowing his head in greeting, Cao Pi glanced around and found the study wasn’t as messy as he’d imagined. Only a green jade qilin paperweight lay on the floor with a chipped corner, looking pitiful as it lay there sideways.

Cao Pi felt somewhat sorry, remembering this green jade qilin paperweight had been his elder brother’s favorite while alive. But not daring to compete with his father’s preference, he could only find opportunities to handle it briefly.

“Pi’er, do you know about recent events?” A rather authoritative voice came. Cao Pi raised his head and saw spread on the desk the edict Liu Xie had written on clothing strips – written with some eunuch’s blood, the blood had soaked to a deep red color, quite tragic-looking.

“I have heard that among human relationships, father and son come first; among distinctions of rank, ruler and minister are most important. Recently the treacherous minister Cao has emerged from humble origins, falsely assuming the position of assistant, truly guilty of deception…”

Cao Pi silently recited, his eyelids jumping violently when he saw the words “treacherous Cao,” quickly biting his tongue tip to force himself to continue reading. A clothing strip was only so narrow and long, unable to hold many characters. This clothing edict was at most a hundred characters, which Cao Pi quickly finished reading.

He organized his words, then snorted coldly: “That General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng deserved death.” This clothing edict had been passed to Dong Cheng, the current imperial uncle, whose daughter was Liu Xie’s most favored Consort Dong. After the clothing edict incident, Cao Cao had killed Dong Cheng’s entire family in rage, then still furious, had broken into the palace with sword in hand and killed the five-months pregnant Consort Dong before Liu Xie.

“Oh? And Consort Dong…” Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, deliberately guiding Cao Pi to think for himself, beginning to cultivate him as an heir. Originally his eldest son Cao Ang had been excellent – accomplished in both civil and military affairs, intelligent and keen, and over ten years older than Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi and other sons, avoiding succession disputes. But now with Cao Ang’s tragic death, he had to cultivate a new successor.

“Killing the chicken to warn the monkey, eliminating the roots – good.” Cao Pi briefly evaluated, his gaze toward his father filled with undisguised admiration. “As for His Majesty’s mood, it probably cannot be calmed for a while. If only I had an elder sister.”

A gleam flashed in Cao Cao’s tiger eyes as he pondered thoughtfully.

Cao Pi lowered his head silently, secretly regretting his momentary pride leading to misspeaking. Though he had no elder sister, he did have a younger sister. His father wouldn’t be planning to send her to the palace when she was older, would he? This was… Cao Pi stole a glance and saw his father tapping the character “treacherous” on the clothing edict with his finger, feeling secretly alarmed. He knew his father’s moods were always unpredictable, but no matter who it was, being pointed at and called a traitor wouldn’t simply laugh it off.

Cao Pi had always been quick-witted. Catching sight of the simply-shaped jade belt hook that had been confiscated along with the clothing edict, he quickly said: “Zhuangzi said: ‘Those who steal belt hooks are executed, those who steal nations become feudal lords, and benevolence and righteousness exist at the gates of feudal lords.'”

Cao Cao was startled, then clapped his hands and laughed loudly: “Those who steal hooks are executed, those who steal nations become marquises! Good! Good!”

Cao Pi knew he had hit the mark and was quite pleased. His still-young face couldn’t hide his emotions, his mouth corners curving up happily.

The more Cao Cao looked at this second son, the more he liked him. Casually pointing to the jade belt hook on the desk, he said: “I reward this to you, lest you steal again from this old man!”

Cao Pi was startled, then overjoyed, knowing that though this was just a small object, combined with what had just been said, it held deep meaning. He respectfully received the jade belt hook with both hands, solemnly nodding: “Yes.”

The cool jade belt hook in his hands, Cao Pi carefully hid his slightly trembling fist from excitement within his sleeves. He suddenly felt an indescribable confidence rise from his heart, as if he possessed vast goals and ambitions. When he looked again at the cracked green jade qilin paperweight by his feet, he no longer felt any regret.

At this moment he actually thought: fortunately his elder brother was no longer here…

Year 204 CE, Yecheng

Zhen Mi faced the bronze mirror, gathering her disheveled hair, intending to comb it properly, but seeing that haggard face in the mirror, she couldn’t muster any energy.

Cao Cao’s forces had completely surrounded the Yuan family residence. Though he had ordered no mistreatment of the Yuan family, Zhen Mi clearly knew what fate awaited her.

Though Cao Cao and her father-in-law Yuan Shao had been quite close in their early years, they had become mortal enemies through years of warfare among competing heroes. Women like them, these so-called family members, were no different from livestock to be slaughtered at will.

Ever since her husband Yuan Xi and brother-in-law Yuan Shang had fled Yecheng over a month ago, her heart had been like dead ashes. In chaotic times, a woman was like rootless duckweed, only able to drift with the current, completely unable to control her own destiny.

She didn’t hate her husband Yuan Xi either. Could one expect a man who could abandon even his mother to care for his wife?

Zhen Mi smiled bitterly. Rationally she knew Yuan Xi’s decision was the best choice. The women staying in Yecheng faced no mortal danger. Cao Cao had always treated women well, but would absolutely not tolerate Yuan Shao’s sons living in the world. So Yuan Xi and his brother had to flee, and in chaotic times, even men found survival extremely difficult, let alone bringing her along.

Presumably, they would never meet again in this lifetime.

Zhen Mi looked numbly at herself in the bronze mirror, not even noticing someone enter the room until that person touched her hair, only then meeting that person’s gaze in the mirror with complex emotions.

“Silly child, stop thinking about it.” Lady Liu picked up the golden comb from the dressing table and combed Zhen Mi’s long hair bit by bit. She knew what her daughter-in-law was thinking, but couldn’t let her continue such thoughts. A woman’s support was her husband, and her husband Yuan Shao was already dead, with her sons on the run. So Lady Liu’s only dependence now was this daughter-in-law before her.

“In Jiangnan there are the Two Qiaos, in Hebei Zhen Mi is beautiful.”

This widely circulated saying wasn’t exaggerated. Lady Liu hadn’t seen those Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, but even facing Zhen Mi day and night, she still couldn’t help being attracted by her beauty, unable to look away. Especially since Zhen Mi was in the most beautiful years of a woman’s life – her current haggard expression made her skin appear even more pale, her eyebrows like a misty ink painting, ethereal and exquisite. Her distressed expression contained indescribable fragility that aroused great pity and protective instincts, making one want to hold her carefully and protect her from any further harm.

Lady Liu had intended for Zhen Mi to dress up properly, but now felt this disheveled appearance had even more impact, making her momentarily indecisive.

Women depended on men to live, like vines clinging to trees – when the tree falls, why not find another tree to climb? If Lady Liu hadn’t been self-aware of her age and faded looks, she wouldn’t have hesitated to take the field herself.

After all, survival was the ultimate goal. Paying some price to survive seemed natural to Lady Liu.

The only obstacle now was Zhen Mi’s feelings for Yuan Xi.

Lady Liu eloquently counseled Zhen Mi, but the latter couldn’t accept serving the man roughly the same age as her father-in-law Yuan Shao. Lady Liu suddenly put down the golden comb and stopped persuading. The room fell silent, while sounds of burning, killing, plundering, screaming and crying from the city outside could be faintly heard, making Zhen Mi’s face even paler.

She instantly realized that if she hadn’t married into the Yuan family, if she hadn’t been well-protected until now, she would probably be like those women outside – family destroyed, dead without intact corpses.

Zhen Mi quietly placed her hand on her abdomen. Actually death wasn’t frightening, but she vaguely felt her body seemed somewhat different from before. But Yuan Xi had only left a month ago – she couldn’t be certain whether she was already carrying his child.

Lady Liu hadn’t noticed Zhen Mi’s small gesture. She leaned close to Zhen Mi’s ear and whispered: “I heard that leading the troops is Cao Cao’s second son Cao Pi…”

The rest was implied without being stated clearly – she trusted Zhen Mi would understand. Compared to the middle-aged Cao Cao, Lady Liu believed Zhen Mi would definitely choose the eighteen-year-old Cao Pi. Moreover, the latter had no family and was currently Cao Cao’s most favored successor, truly existing like Cao’s crown prince.

Zhen Mi pressed her abdomen and slowly nodded at herself in the bronze mirror. She saw Lady Liu happily wanting to dress her up and shook her head to stop her: “This is fine.” Instinctively, she didn’t want to be too heavily made up. This wasn’t her wedding day – she had given her only lifetime of elaborate dress to her husband.

Lady Liu misunderstood her meaning, secretly praising how Zhen Mi was captivating whether lightly or heavily made up. She had guards summon Cao Pi for a meeting – as Yuan Shao’s widow, she could still have this much face. She brought Zhen Mi to the main hall to wait. Before long, they saw a handsome young man in armor stride through the broken gates.

Lady Liu patted Zhen Mi, who was leaning on her knee, indicating she needn’t be too afraid.

Zhen Mi didn’t dare raise her head at all. She only stared at the still-blood-dripping sword in Cao Pi’s hand, wondering whether this sword would also be stained with her husband’s blood if he hadn’t left.

Zhen Mi didn’t hear what Lady Liu and Cao Pi said – she was like a puppet, having her face lifted by Lady Liu, then looking numbly at the shock and adoration on Cao Pi’s face.

Ah… she had seen such expressions too many times. Almost every man showed this expression when seeing her, even her husband had been no exception.

Zhen Mi thought numbly, feeling life held no interest. Was this kind of living really the life she wanted?

Cao Pi seemed to frantically search for something on his person. Zhen Mi guessed he must want to find a token representing his identity. Yecheng was currently chaotic and he couldn’t spare time, so he could only leave a token with her. If anyone wanted to harm her, they would surely back down seeing his token.

Zhen Mi lowered her eyelids. Besides that blood-dripping sword, this youth probably only had a military tally on him. Surely he wouldn’t give her the military tally?

While thinking randomly, a dragon-shaped jade belt hook appeared before her. When she realized what an intimate item this was, her cheeks couldn’t help flushing red with anger. Though she had accepted her fate, such a naked suggestion was really… really…

Cao Pi truly meant nothing improper. He had no other tokens on him. Honestly, he understood Lady Liu’s subtext – no one in Yecheng dared compete with him for anyone, but the only one to guard against was his father Cao Cao. So to prevent such things from happening, he thought of this jade belt hook. Since it was given to him by his father years ago, presumably if his father saw it, he would understand his meaning.

Seeing Zhen Mi’s ear tips turn completely red, Cao Pi felt his heart itch unbearably, wanting to lift her face for a look, but there were others present. Cao Pi coughed lightly, forcibly pressed the jade belt hook into Zhen Mi’s hands, then instructed the guarding soldiers not to disturb them before reluctantly leaving. Yecheng still needed suppression for several days – even if Cao Pi wanted to slack off, he couldn’t.

Holding the jade belt hook still warm with the other’s body heat, Zhen Mi suddenly felt a desire rise – she wanted to survive, not just survive, but legitimately bear Yuan Xi’s child.

She wanted this man who viewed her as a plaything to regret it bitterly.