Chapter 10: Trivial Matters in Luoyang (Part 2)

  At night, Lü Rui was excitedly tossing and turning in bed, heh heh, unexpectedly this trip to Luoyang yielded a Guo Nvwang. Ah, Guo Nvwang is not an ordinary person, one of the five great wise women of the Three Kingdoms, the other four being Zhen Mi, Xin Xianying, Huang Yueying, and Zhang Hua. What's most impressive about Guo Nvwang is that she helped Cao Pi come up with strategies to counter Cao Zhi, and in handling family matters for the Cao clan, she was very proper. In terms of merit, when Cao Pi ascended to the throne, Guo Nvwang's contributions were not inferior to those of Sima Yi. Now, Guo Nvwang has fallen into my hands, pu pu, I'll take her in first, and later when there's infighting within the Cao clan, she can be a useful ally. In the struggles between aristocratic families, the key to victory often lies within the household, not on the imperial court!

  The next day, Lü Rui was still in a dreamland when he was woken up by Ling'er. He rubbed his eyes and said, "Ling'er, why wake me up so early?"

  Ling'er knelt down and said: "Young master, the old master has returned and is calling for you to go over."

  Lü Bu heard that Cao Cao had returned? Wasn't he supposed to be training troops in the Western Garden? How did he come back? Could it be that Cao Cao was also slacking off? Actually, it wasn't like that. The Western Garden troop training was just an excuse, and setting up the eight military commanders of the Western Garden was also an excuse. After Emperor Ling of Han took back the power of the Western Garden Imperial Guard, he sent Huangfu Song to lead the Imperial Guard to quell the Yellow Turbans. Cao Cao and the other eight military commanders of the Western Garden just went through the motions before returning.

  Lü Rui didn't think much and finished dressing with Ling'er's help, then walked out of the room. At this time, Cao's book boy was already waiting. Lü Rui was taken aback: "Where did Cao Zhong go?" Lü Rui asked: "Where did Housekeeper Cao go?"

  The young servant replied, "Young master, Cao went to the market early to buy things needed for your trip. He left me to attend to the old master and told me to tell you that he will bring back some delicious food for you. He hopes you won't forget about the matter with the old master."

  Lu Rui listened and found out that Cao Zhong had even bribed the book boy beside Cao, indeed not simple. Hehe, running away to avoid trouble? Want me to be your vanguard? Alright, I'll send you to the Western Heaven then. Thinking of this, Lu Rui turned around and said to Ling'er: "Ling'er, come with me to see Zhong Fu."

  Ling nodded and followed Lü Rui to Cao's room.

  Lü Bu entered the room and saw Cao Cao drinking alone, looking depressed. The position of West Garden Eight Pei was a mere formality, with no real military power. Maintaining military discipline? Cao Cao had nothing to do but wander around the empty camp, managing nothing. There were no soldiers in the camp, only birds singing happily. This life was not as enjoyable as being the North City Patrol Officer. Since there was nothing to do, he might as well return home and rest.

  Lü Rui ran over with a whoop, jumped up and pounced on Cao Cao's body, shouting: "Uncle, uncle, you're back! Take Rui to go hunting!"

  Cao saw the lovely Lü Rui and was delighted, his gloomy mood vanished. He picked up Lü Rui and said: "Alright, Rui'er, get ready to leave Luoyang with Grandfather Cao. Uncle Zhong will take you on a tour, tomorrow, tomorrow we'll go hunting together, how about that?" Lü Rui was also going to follow Cao Song back to Qiao County when he returned. Cao had already secured his official position in Luoyang, and there was no point for Lü Rui to stay here. Moreover, as the young master of the marquis, Lü Rui needed to return to handle matters related to the opening of the manor.

  The most important thing is that Lü Bu knows the course of history. Soon, Emperor Ling of Han will pass away, and Dong Zhuo will enter Luoyang. At that time, Cao Cao will flee back to Chenliu in disarray. I don't want to be like a beggar, following Cao Cao as he flees. Alas, Uncle, forgive me! No matter what, Rui'er can go to Chenliu to rescue you later and prevent you from suffering imprisonment?

  Cao placed Rui on his lap, pinched Rui's small face, and only then did Cao realize that there was another person in the room, a four or five-year-old little maid, who looked quite good. Cao asked suspiciously: "Rui'er? Who is this girl? I don't think Zhongfu has seen her before?"

  Lü Rui jumped down, then ran to Ling'er's side, pinched her small face and said: "Zhongfu, how is it? This younger sister is beautiful, right? She was given to me by Cao Zhong as a gift for my promotion to Marquis!"

  Cao heard this and thought, "Hey, Cao Zhong is really good at currying favor with the wind." Cao looked at Ling'er and thought, "What a beauty!" As for Cao, who was used to snatching other people's wives since he was young, he could see right through women, regardless of age. He thought that Ling'er was an absolute beauty. Thinking of this, Cao gave Lv Rui a sly glance and said, "Rui'er, you're so lucky to have such a beautiful maid at such a young age. Your father didn't even have one back then."

  What Cao said was true, his birth mother was a shrew, and Cao Song never dared to take a concubine until his birth mother grew old. He then took a concubine, but only to take care of his own life. In their childhood, there were no beautiful maids around Cao brothers. It just so happened that the Yuan Shao's family was in the same situation, so Cao and Yuan Shao became notorious for snatching other people's pretty wives and daughters among the wealthy young masters, doing many bad things. Thinking of this, Cao revealed a lewd smile.

  Lü Rui saw Cao's appearance and sighed in his heart. This Zhongfu, has he thought of the romantic affairs of his youth again? With a dazed expression, Lü Rui called out: "Zhongfu?"

  Cao then wiped his mouth and smiled: "Rui'er?"

  Lv Rui said: "Zhang Fu, I want Ling Er to be my concubine in the future. I want to ride her like a horse, just like you do, Cao Zhong says it's very comfortable!"

  Cao's face changed upon hearing this, then he picked up Lü Rui and said: "Rui'er, did Cao Zhong say these things to you?"

  Lü Rui nodded and said seriously: "Yes, Uncle Zhong!"

  Cao thought for a moment, and suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head. Ah-ha! So it was you, Cao Zhong, who's been causing trouble in our household all along! Hmph, I'm sure you've made quite a bit of money from the Bai Xiang Lou deal, haven't you? And now you're trying to curry favor with Rui'er by telling him these things and getting me, Cao Mengde, misunderstood. Cao Zhong, Cao Zhong, your schemes won't work!

  Cao smiled and asked: "Rui'er? Was it Cao Zhong who told you about the joys of the boudoir?"

  After finishing, he looked at Lü Rui with a playful expression. Lü Rui hastily shook his head and waved his hand, saying: "No, no, Uncle Zhong, it was someone else who told me, not Cao Zhong!" After finishing, he continued to shake his head and wave his hand. Seeing this, Cao completely understood in his heart. He thought to himself: This child won't pretend, Rui's behavior must be because of Cao Zhong. Cao Zhong is the one who told Rui about the joys of the boudoir and Emperor Hanling's preferences. Rui is mischievous, which led to a series of stories!

  Thinking of this, Cao took up Rui and said: "Rui'er, you go back to your room first, Uncle Zhong still has things to do, tomorrow I'll take you hunting!"

  Lü Rui happily responded and left Cao's room. After leaving Cao's room, Lü Rui revealed a strange smile, and Ling'er saw it and scratched her head, asking: "Young Master?"

  Lü Rui glanced at Ling'er, then kissed her cheek and said: "Ling'er, let's go prepare the things for hunting." After that, he pulled a bright red-faced Ling'er to get ready.

  Cao ordered his servants that if Cao Zhong returned to the mansion, he should be allowed to see him. Cao's tone was still gentle and pleasant when he gave the order. The servant then went to find Cao Zhong after hearing Cao's instructions.

  It wasn't until dusk that Cao Zhong returned to the Cao residence. As soon as he entered, a servant came running over and fawned: "Housekeeper Cao, the master has returned and wants to see you. He looks very pleased. Congratulations, Housekeeper! Have you rendered some great service again?"

  Cao Zhong's heart bloomed with joy, could it be that Lü Rui had spoken well of him in front of Cao? Heh heh, a servant girl was indeed worthy! Cao Zhong asked: "Has the young master seen the old master?"

  The servant nodded and said: "Not bad, I saw him early this morning. After seeing the young master, the old master went to find the housekeeper."

  Cao Zhong listened and indeed it was not bad, just like his own prediction. Thinking of this, Cao Zhong walked happily towards Cao's room, and after seeing Cao, he bowed down and said: "Master."

  Cao sat on the armchair, looked at Cao Zhong and said: "Cao Zhong, I heard that you gave Rui'er a beautiful maid, what a big hand you have, it must have cost a lot of money."

  Cao Zhong hastily said, "Master, I'm also thinking for the Cao family. Although Young Master Lu is your adopted son, he's not a member of the Cao family after all. We must do what's proper in terms of etiquette, so as not to let others look down on the Cao family!" Cao Zhong's words were very reasonable. As a servant of the Cao family, he was completely thinking for the Cao family's benefit. Lu Rui had never been a member of the Cao family, and although he was adopted by Master Cao, he didn't take the Cao surname. When he grew up, they would be from two different families. Now that Lu Rui was a marquis, sending him gifts could also be seen as building connections for the Cao family!

  Cao looked at Cao Zhong with a cold eye, "You're a clever man, unfortunately, you won't survive either!" Cao smiled and said: "Cao Zhong, do you know your crime?"

  Cao Zhong immediately realized that Cao must be dissatisfied with him for sending the servant girl to Lü Rui, and thought to himself "beheading first and reporting later" was definitely not right. Cao Zhong hastily knelt down and said: "Master, spare my life, spare my life! I am a person who should die, but seeing that I have worked hard for the sake of the Cao family, please spare me!" After finishing speaking, he continuously knocked his head on the ground. This is the slave mentality of a servant, exaggerating a small matter to an infinite degree, making himself seem as if he deserved to die ten thousand times over.

  Cao strode over to Cao Zhong's side, who was still kowtowing nonstop. In his heart, he was actually very pleased and waiting for Cao to call a halt! Cao sneered inwardly: Hmph, you're doing this for the sake of our Cao family, and Rui'er being enfeoffed is also an honor for our Cao family. However, you've forgotten one thing - as a steward, the most important thing is to maintain the dignity of the master, not to curry favor with a child!

  Cao struck with one sword, and Cao Zhong's head fell to the ground. Cao Zhong didn't even have time to cry out before he died. Looking at Cao Zhong's corpse, Cao burst into laughter: "Hmph! The person who wronged me, Cao Mengde, is finally dead. He deserved it!"

  Cao killed Cao Zhong and felt extremely pleased in his heart. After ordering someone to deal with Cao Zhong's corpse, he happily went to drink wine. Unfortunately, Cao didn't know until his death that Cao Zhong was just a scapegoat!

  The next day, Lü Rui and Cao went hunting, but Cao Zhong was nowhere to be found. Cao explained to the people of the Cao Manor that Cao Zhong had been embezzling and harming the interests of the Cao family, so he had been executed. The servants were all frightened and broke out in a cold sweat, thinking that Cao was truly unfathomable, having silently killed Cao Zhong without warning. It seemed they needed to be more careful themselves. Lü Rui picked a yellow flower and muttered to himself, "Cao Zhong, rest in peace. I will take good care of the gift you gave me!"

  After dealing with Cao Zhong, the preparations for moving the Cao Mansion were almost complete, and they would be able to set off in three days. Cao also left the Taiwei Mansion and moved into the Da Jiangjun Mansion. Although he was still the Xi Yuan Xiao Wei, nominally he was still under He Jin's command. At the same time, Cao also held the position of Can Jun of the Da Jiangjun, so naturally he lived in the Da Jiangjun Mansion.

  On the eve of Lü Rui's departure from Luoyang, Emperor Ling of Han issued a decree to hold a farewell banquet for Lü Rui in the imperial palace. Lü Rui followed the eunuchs into the palace and had dinner with Emperor Ling, then waited in a side hall for his reward. Emperor Ling was very satisfied with the elixir presented by Lü Rui and planned to reward him with something. At the same time, he asked Lü Rui to present more elixirs to the palace in the future. Lü Rui readily agreed, thinking to himself: "You won't live much longer anyway, so I might as well give you an empty check!"

  Soon, Zhang Rang took the imperial edict and read out Emperor Ling of Han's reward. In fact, there was nothing much, just a few pieces of clothing and some pearls. What a greedy and stingy emperor! Lü Ru accepted the reward and was about to leave when Zhang Rang stopped him.

  Zhang Rang walked up to Lü Rui and bowed his hands, saying: "Old slave Zhang Rang pays respects to the young master!"

  Lü Rui glanced at Zhang's gaze, heh heh, old eunuch, wanting the elixir in my hands, Lü Rui cupped his hands and said: "Good sir Zhang!"

  Zhang Rang smiled and said: "The old slave knows that the young master is leaving the capital, so he specially prepared some thin gifts to give to the young master." After finishing speaking, he had someone send over the thin gifts.

  Lü Rui took a look, and the gifts were all rare treasures. There was a night pearl as big as his fist, a complete tiger skin that must have come from a tiger at least twice the size of an ordinary one, a set of jade gold silk wine utensils, and a dagger that should have been from the Warring States period. The old eunuch was much more generous than the emperor.

  Lü Rui looked at Zhang Gonggong's gift, then waved his hand and said: "My father once said that we can't take things from others for nothing. Zhang Gonggong, you'd better take it back."

  Zhang Rang heard this and hastily said: "Young Master Hou, the old slave's things are not given to Master Hou for free. It is only hoped that Master Hou will buy some of the elixir presented to the Emperor and sell it to the old slave at a price that is absolutely double the market price!" At present, in Luoyang City, fake medicines that claim to restore virility are flooding the market, and the prices of these fake medicines have all risen to 10,000 coins per pill. Lü Rui knew this and couldn't help but shake his head, sighing, "What a bunch of fools!"

  Lü Rui looked at Zhang and suddenly realized: "So that's it, Zhang Gonggong is a eunuch!"

  Zhang Rang's face changed color, but since he became the eunuch of Emperor Ling of Han, no one dared to call him like that again. However, Zhang Rang quickly regained his composure and said: "Young Master is right, this old slave only wishes for a son, hoping Young Master will fulfill it." After finishing speaking, he also bowed to Lü Bu.

  Lv Rui bit her finger, thought for a moment, and then made a decision to say: "Alright, Zhang Gonggong, I can only sell you ten pills per month because the elixir in my hand is not much, but I don't want money, I want 100 catties of rice, 100 catties of rice for one pill."

  Zhang Rang heard this and said, "My dear, this young man is really ruthless. One dan of rice is not cheap, especially during these times of war. One hundred dan of rice can feed an adult for a year. However, Zhang Rang steeled himself and said, "Alright, since Master Hou has spoken, I will exchange one hundred dan of rice for one elixir pill."

  Looking at Zhang Rang's appearance, Lü Rui couldn't help but secretly laugh in her heart. Heh heh, old eunuch, anyway you won't live for long, give me all your food! After Lü Rui bid farewell to Zhang Rang and left the palace.

  That night, Lü Rui slept very soundly, because in a chaotic world, food was gold, it was a guarantee. Especially during the Eastern Han Dynasty when heroes were vying for power, that was the famous locust plague period in history, Lü Rui did not want to starve himself!

  The next day, Lü Rui followed Cao Song and left Luoyang for Qiao Commandery.