With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 68, Cao Pi Wants to Poach Wang Yue

Just as Cao Ang was about to bow, Liu Xie waved his hand and said, "Young Master, I'm just out for a stroll. It's best not to reveal my identity outside the palace, otherwise it will be too boring."

Cao Ang nodded. "Then I'll call you Young Master Liu."

Liu Xie said, "That would be best. We are about the same age, so there's no need to be so formal."

Cao Ang was still somewhat unaccustomed to it, after all, there was a difference between the noble and the lowly, and Cao Ang was well-educated and deeply influenced by etiquette and rules from a young age. However, seeing how easygoing Liu Xie was, he gradually felt at ease.

The river water was like a mirror, rippling gently as if it were breathing softly. The three of them stood at the bridgehead, enjoying the scenery and chatting idly, quite content.

A river flows beneath the bridge, and an old man is leisurely fishing on the bank. On one side of the bridge is a willow grove, its verdant branches weaving a flowing curtain, like a lover's hair. A gentle breeze stirs, and the willow leaves dance.

“Young Master Liu, you come here often, don’t you?” Cao Ang said.

Liu Xie nodded. "Yes, the scenery at Liuhe Bridge is the best. Handsome men and beautiful women often stroll around there together. It's a great place to relax. Zixiu, Cao Cao takes care of all my affairs, so I naturally have plenty of time to go out and wander around."

Cao Ang showed little interest in the couples having their spring outings and secret rendezvous nearby. He sighed and said, "Young Master Liu makes it sound so easy. Every day, a large number of refugees flood into the city. I don't know how many poor people are homeless and have no food or clothing. If my sister hadn't dragged me here, I would have had a lot of things to do."

Liu Xie patted Cao Ang lightly on the shoulder, and Cao Ang was taken aback.

Liu Xie said earnestly, "Your father has high expectations for you, and Zixiu, you are sensible, which is good. But no one is perfect. It's okay to relax a little. Life is short. Take good care of yourself, have a healthy body and a good mood, so you can do more and live a worthwhile life, right?"

"Just like your father, Cao Cao didn't work day and night, right? So, don't overwork yourself."

"Besides, calming down often leads to insights that may be more beneficial to your future growth."

Pointing to a small boat approaching in the distance, Liu Xie said, "Look, just like this boat and the water, there is a profound meaning. A boat cannot be separated from water; water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!"

Cao Ang watched intently. He was naturally intelligent, and with just a little guidance from Liu Xie, he understood.

“Young Master, what you said is indeed very insightful,” Cao Ang quickly praised.

Liu Xie smiled. "Water and boat, by extension, can be used to represent other things, such as merchants and customers, or those in power and the common people. The same principle applies. Zixiu is not unfamiliar with the Yellow Turbans, is he?"

Cao Ang said, "Yes, since the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, I have been following my father in his campaigns. Even now, there are still many Yellow Turban bandits entrenched in the mountains and forests around Yanzhou, who come out from time to time to harm the people."

Liu Xie asked, "But have you ever thought about it? Those Yellow Turbans were originally poor people. Who forced them to rebel and become bandits? In the past, when Zhang Jiao raised his arm to call for help, all the prefectures and counties in the world responded. In just one month, the Yellow Turbans gathered hundreds of thousands of people. Did they rebel willingly? I have something to say to you."

“Please speak, young master,” Cao Ang asked humbly.

"When officials force the people to rebel, the people have no choice but to rebel!"

After saying this, Liu Xie leaned on the bridgehead and continued to calmly look at the river.

Princess Qinghe blinked, looking at Liu Xie with a slightly infatuated expression, like a little fangirl.

Cao Ang was deeply inspired. After a moment of silence, he nodded vigorously. "Young Master, I have indeed benefited greatly from your words."

"Son."

After a while, Cao Ang suddenly looked conflicted, looked up at Liu Xie, and hesitated to speak. Liu Xie smiled and said, "Say what you want to say. Zixiu is open-minded by nature, so feel free to speak frankly."

"Alright, I misspoke, please forgive me, young master. I've always wanted to ask you, some people say that my father holds all the power and the court is just a formality, what do you think, young master?"

Liu Xie sneered, "Zixiu, these are all common, ignorant views. You don't need to pay attention to them, and I won't either!"

After a while, Liu Xie said self-deprecatingly, "The emperor has returned east, and no one cares. It seems that everyone is very free and can see blue skies and white clouds every day, but what is it? It is a life-or-death struggle, with no guarantee of survival. Even a full meal is a luxury. Everything in Xuchang is given by Cao Cao. Zixiu, you don't need to pay attention to those who are envious of Cao Cao!"

Liu Xie patted Cao Ang on the shoulder again with full trust, "You must always believe in your father. He is the most loyal to me and to the Han Dynasty. Without your father, there would be no me, and no restoration of the Han Dynasty!"

Cao Ang nodded vigorously. "After hearing what you said, young master, I understand. To be honest, I was really worried that my father and young master would have a falling out and misunderstandings would arise."

Cao Ang was already an adult, and Cao Cao allowed him to get involved in many military and political matters. Naturally, he could not hide the rumors circulating among others.

"Brother, don't you have something to do?"

Princess Qinghe, unable to get a word in edgewise, was somewhat annoyed. She gave her brother a wink, and Cao Ang paused for a moment before giving an awkward smile. "By the way, I have to go out of the city this afternoon, young master. I'll take my leave now."

Cao Ang doted on his younger sister. When she sent him away, he, as the older brother, naturally dared not disobey.

Liu Xie smiled, seeing through it but saying nothing, and bid farewell to Cao Ang.

"Young master, there's something I need to tell you." Now that it was just the two of them, Cao Ying's heart started racing.

"Go ahead and say it, I'm not going to eat people."

"That's right. Last night, I was in the courtyard when I overheard Aunt Bian and Father discussing finding a swordsmanship teacher for Cao Pi. They seemed to have mentioned the name of the person who was by His Majesty's side."

"Really?" Liu Xie was taken aback. He hadn't expected that Bian Shi would set her sights on Wang Yue so soon.

To my surprise, Princess Qinghe actually took the initiative to tell me all this.

"Thank you!" Liu Xie looked at Cao Ying, his gaze softening.

Cao Ying blushed subconsciously and lowered her head. "I just think that Young Master finally found a kendo teacher. Aunt Bian is really something. Couldn't she have found someone else? Why does she have to compete with Young Master for him?"

There was a candy stall not far away. Liu Xie smiled and said, "Wait a moment."

Liu Xie returned quickly with a bag of candy and handed it to Cao Ying, saying, "Eat this, it's very sweet."

"Young master, how did you know I love candy?" Cao Ying asked with a smile as she took the candy.

Since she provided him with valuable information, he naturally wanted to reward her.

Liu Xie laughed and said, "Loving beauty is a woman's nature, and so is enjoying good food. Eat up, I rarely spend money to treat others to food."

Cao Ying smiled even more happily and was less reserved around Liu Xie.

(End of this chapter)