Chapter 17: Investigating the Palace, Dong Cheng Takes Action!

  "Master Hou, Sir Si Kong has come to see you. Please get up quickly......" Ling'er urged Lu Rui to get up from the side.

  "Ah......? No way, wasn't Cao's wife supposed to be on her honeymoon last night, isn't every moment precious? And yet she's already calling someone over, something big must have happened?" Lü Rui rubbed his head, it hurt so much, he had drunk too much yesterday, right, it was just a dream!

  "Master Hou, wake up! Sir Siku is looking for you!" After that, Ling'er waved a wheat awn in front of Lü Rui's nose.

  "Ah... Ah Q!"

  Lü Rui rubbed his eyes and looked at Ling'er, saying: "Ling'er... stop messing around, will Uncle Zhong look for me? Yesterday he took in a new wife!"

  "Master Hou, Sir Cai is really looking for you, he's already in the front yard!" Ling'er said anxiously.

  "What...?" "Ling'er, what time is it now?" Lü Rui thought that Zou Shi had missed the courtesy of visiting Ding Shi, which was a serious offense!

  "Hmm...? Young Master Hou has just broken through!" Ling'er said slowly as she helped Lu Rui up.

  "What's wrong?" Nothing bad happened, why did Old Cao come?

  "Ring, bring me a bowl of hangover soup and have the servants attend to Uncle Zhong first!"

  "Yes, Lord Hou!"

  Lü Bu quickly changed his clothes and arrived at the main hall. Not only was Cao Cao there, but also Guo Jia and Liu Ye had come.

  "The child is paying respects to his uncle!" Lü Bu saw Cao Cao and immediately went over to pay his respects.

  "Your Lordship!"

  "Rui'er!"

  "Master Fu and Zi Yang have also arrived?" Lü Rui asked in confusion, Old Cao had actually brought these two people? The intelligence commanders of the Cao camp?

  "Rui'er...? Not awake yet?" Cao Cao asked jokingly, looking at Lü Rui's appearance.

  "Rui Er, sit down, it's Uncle Zhang disturbing you. I also had too much to drink last night..."

  "My head hurts so much!"

  "Haha, Uncle...?" It was only then that Lü Bu discovered a faint bloodstain on Cao Cao's forehead.

  "Rui Er, this... is your wife?" Cao Cao said awkwardly.

  "Big girl" Lü Rui was shocked, how did Ding Laohu make Old Cao like this?

  "It's a long story!" Cao Cao sighed, took a sip of tea and shook his head.

  "Uncle, what's going on?"

  Cao Cao then told Lü Bu about the big event that happened early in the morning. It turned out that early this morning, Emperor Xian sent someone to the residence of the Minister of Works, wanting to summon Zou Shi and Ding Shi into the palace. The reason was that Zou Shi and Empress Dong were old acquaintances, going to the palace to reminisce about the past, while also inviting the wife of the Minister of Works to accompany them to pay their respects.

  The most critical thing is that when the eunuch from the inner court came to deliver the imperial edict, he met Ding Laohu and Zou Shi. Ding Laohu, constrained by the system of the imperial court, paid his respects to Zou Shi.

  "Mr. Ding has an audience with Lord An!" The words made Zou very embarrassed, and he hurriedly helped Mr. Ding up, saying "dare not", but Mr. Ding was furious in his heart, and as soon as he returned to the house, he gave Old Cao a slap, but the weapon was ignored.

  After listening, Lv Rui had a general idea in her mind. Ding Shi and Zou Shi must have hidden something, but this was not what Lv Rui should investigate further. Lv Rui thought for a moment and asked: "Uncle Zhong, the reason you came to find me is......?"

  "Rui Er, now your empress is still in the palace. You go into the palace once and investigate the situation, and bring back the intelligence from inside the palace!"

  "Yes, Imperial Father, I will change my clothes and enter the palace immediately!" Emperor Ling of Han had issued an edict allowing Lü Bu to come and go freely in the imperial palace for his convenience in obtaining Lü Bu's elixir. The emperor's edict was not to be disobeyed, and Liu Xie also agreed to let Lü Bu enter the palace at will due to Cao Cao's influence!

  "Yes, Rui'er, bring some gifts to express Cao's family gratitude for Your Majesty's kindness!"

  "Yes, Uncle!"

  "Hmm......"

  "What else is on your mind, Uncle?" Seeing Cao Cao's hesitant expression, Lü Bu asked with a bow.

  "First enter the palace, after returning to the empty house, come to the study at night and see me, there are still some things, let Rui'er go and do it!"

  "Yes, Uncle Zhong. It seems that Old Cao still cares about his legitimate wife after all, they have been through thick and thin together!" Lü Rui changed into the attire of a marquis and then entered the palace.

  Lü Rui had just entered the palace, paid his respects to Liu Xie, presented gifts, exchanged a few pleasantries and left for Dong Guifei's bedroom, where Ding Laohu and Zou Shi were still there!

  Lü Rucai had just gone halfway when he met Ding Laohu rushing towards him with a furious look.

  "Rui'er has seen his aunt!" Lü Rui immediately paid respects to Ding Shi.

  "Rui'er, has she entered the palace?"

  "Yes, madam, Uncle Zhong is worried about you and has specially asked me to come and see you!" Lyu Rui said sincerely.

  Ding's wife gave Lv Rui a cold glance and sneered, "Will Cao Mengde still care about the feelings of husband and wife? Hmph, Rui'er, where is your father?"

  "Is this...? The Old Master is still in the Censor's Residence."

  "Alright! I'll go find him right away!" After saying that, Ding Shi stormed off.

  "Big wife......?" Lü Rui hadn't reacted yet, and Ding Shi had already disappeared.

  "Sister... sister!" Ding Shi was gone, and Zou Shi appeared again!

  "Hello, Mr. An!" Lü Rui nodded his hands and greeted Mrs. Zou.

  "Little Master Hou!" Mrs. Zou also returned the courtesy to Lü Rui, as outside, these two were both titled individuals and could not lose face in front of the imperial court, so they had to pretend a little.

  "Madam, what's wrong with her?"

  "Alas, Rui'er, Empress Dong is not benevolent. As soon as I entered the Cao Manor, I was calculated like this... How can my sister and I get along in the future?"

  "I won't say any more, Rui'er. I'm going back to the manor now. I'll advise your elder sister and inform the master!" With that, Zou Shi also left in a hurry.

  "What's going on...?" Another one left, what a mess! The Si Kong Mansion is going to have more trouble again!

  Lü Rui thought of this, shook his head, and didn't go to Empress Dong's place either. He found the palace insider, took the intelligence and returned to the Sima Mansion. Cao Cao still had matters to discuss with him that night.

  "Uncle!" Lü Bu arrived at Cao Cao's study that evening, and Guo Jia and Liu Ye also came.

  "Rui'er, sit down!"

  "Yes, Uncle Zhong!" Seeing Cao Cao's unpleasant expression, Lü Rui knew that Ding the Tiger must have caused trouble again. Today, they didn't even eat dinner together, and things had escalated to a boiling point!

  "Rui'er, don't you think that Your Majesty's attitude towards the Zou family has been a bit strange lately...?"

  "Does the Duke think that Your Majesty has a superior guiding him from behind?" Lü Bu asked Cao Cao in a doubtful tone.

  "I'm not sure...... However, I have discussed with Feng Xiang and Zi Yang, if it's just the emperor's intention, then there's nothing to worry about. But if there is a superior person behind this, we must investigate and clarify their true intentions!"

  "Yes, I understand!" Lü Rui also felt that Liu Xie's recent actions were somewhat suspicious, as if someone was directing him. When did Liu Xie's strategy become so sinister? Be vigilant!

  "Alright, leave the rest to Fengxiao and Ziyang and Rui'er to discuss, Uncle Zhong is going back to his room!"

  "Yes, Uncle Zhong." Cao Cao nodded and left.

  "Master Hou, Filial Piety, Zi Yang has also left. The two of you discuss and decide, then instruct Zi Yang to take action. Zi Yang's task is just to cooperate with the two of you!"

  "Zi Yang, please go ahead!" Liu Ye said so, and Lü Rui didn't insist on keeping him, letting Liu Ye leave first.

  "Master!" After Liu Ye left, Lü Rui finally had a chance to speak with Guo Jia.

  "Hmm, Rui'er, do you think there's someone guiding His Majesty from behind the scenes?"

  "This, Rui'er dare not be certain, what does Shifu think?"

  "Your Majesty must have a superior person guiding you from behind, and it's specifically aimed at Lord Sikong!"

  "Why is Master so certain?"

  "A series of recent events, although Master didn't experience them personally, are too coincidental. When things are too coincidental, there's a problem, isn't that right, An Hanjun? Does Rui'er know how many women have been conferred the title of Jun in Great Han?"

  "There are quite a few, but generally only imperial relatives can be granted such titles..."

  "What about the royal relatives?"

  "Relatives of imperial in-laws and powerful courtiers!"

  "Not bad, you can compare with kings and nobles, women are enfeoffed as lords, the implication is very clear... Can Zhang Xiang be a powerful minister... or being used by others?"

  "Master thinks someone wants to take advantage of Zhang Xiu..."

  "Hum, one must not be without a mind to guard against others. Whether Zhang Yi wants to become a powerful minister or not, we don't know, but with the title of Marquis bestowed upon him by the Zou clan, Zhang Yi can't avoid being flattered and fawned upon. This will lead to no good, especially for someone like Zhang Yi who holds military power!"

  "If it's just following Your Majesty, it doesn't matter! Just venting some anger. But if there really is a mastermind behind... Master, then we've all been played!" Lü Rui looked at Guo Jia with interest, thinking that someone actually wanted to play the heroes of Xudu.

  "Rui'er's metaphor is very apt, as a teacher, I must catch this person!"

  "What does the master think this person is?"

  "Within the palace, it is highly likely that it was someone close to Your Majesty!"

  "Time! The imperial edict to marry Zou Shi and the imperial edict to confer a title on Zou Shi both came too quickly, if there is a superior person, this person must be inside the palace, able to see the imperial edicts almost at the same time as Your Majesty!"

  Rui'er understood and said, "Tomorrow, I'll start investigating the palace with Shifu!"

  "Alright! I'll take my leave first, Rui'er, don't oversleep!"

  "Yes, master!" Ugh, I'm just sleepy... It's just a little laziness.

  Lv Rui and Guo Jia were investigating within the palace, while Dong Cheng was also active in Xu Du.

  "His Excellency, Liu Xianggong has brought more vegetables again, please have a taste, Your Excellency!"

  "All right! Ah Fu, help me send some fruit as a gift for the Emperor to taste!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  Liu Bei has been very well-behaved recently, planting vegetables in his own mansion. It's not to be said that the Emperor of Shu Han is unparalleled in everything he does, and vegetable cultivation is absolutely number one in Xuchang. Hot pot was just emerging during the Han Dynasty, and Lü Bu loved it most. The vegetables used as ingredients for hot pot were all provided by Liu Bei. Liu Xianggong planting vegetables? A rare treasure among men! The grown vegetables are not only big but also delicious! They have become a treasured dish of many high-ranking officials in Xuchang!

  "Your Imperial Highness, I am a humble servant from the residence of Lord Dong. The Emperor-in-law has specifically instructed me to bring some fresh fruits from the palace for Your Imperial Highness to taste, and to express gratitude for the vegetables that Your Imperial Highness sent to the Emperor-in-law."

  "So, thank you very much, Imperial Uncle!" Liu Bei personally came out to receive the fruit, being very humble and not at all like a great Han emperor.

  "Your Imperial Highness, this is a poem written by the Emperor's Father-in-law to express his gratitude to you. Please accept it!"

  "So, thank you, Imperial Uncle!" Did Dong Cheng write a poem to express his gratitude? Which one is this?

  Liu Bei took the white silk, looked at it, and was shocked in his heart, but soon calmed down. Then he looked at Ah Fu with a puzzled expression and said: "Ah Fu, Guo Zhang's poem is indeed extraordinary, especially one sentence......?"

  "Heh heh, Royal Uncle, I'm illiterate and can't understand the national preceptor's poetry. He just asked me to hand it over to you, so since there's nothing else, I'll take my leave!"

  "I see, Ah Fu, thank the Emperor for me!"

  "Yes, Uncle Emperor!"

  Watching Ah Fu's departing figure, Liu Bei revealed a fierce gaze.

  A few days later, in the Dong Cheng Mansion, Ah Fu's body was placed in the main hall. Dong Cheng looked at it and asked: "Who killed Ah Fu?"

  "This...? I don't know, but the assassin's move was ruthless and poisonous, one hit and it's fatal!"

  "Please forgive us, Your Honor!" The people below hurriedly begged for forgiveness.

  "It's alright, this matter isn't your fault, just be more careful in the future, you can go now."

  Everyone looked at each other in dismay, and Dong Cheng surprisingly didn't pursue it further. Good thing! Let's quickly retreat.

  After the people left, Dong Cheng stroked his beard and muttered to himself: "Liu Xuande? You really make it hard for me to see through you!" (I'm on a business trip in Guilin, it's late at night, please forgive me!)