Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

"I don't dare."

"Your Majesty has misunderstood. I have absolutely no such intention."

Cao Rui was not the cowardly emperor who had been in the palace for a long time. He was in charge of state affairs and could command the army personally. His prestige was high. When he suddenly became serious, the air around him became almost stagnant, and they could not bear it for a while.

Mao Yan on the right and Guo Yao on the left were already kneeling on the cushions, and they immediately knelt down. Sun Luban behind Cao Rui was slightly startled, and after seeming to hesitate for a few moments, he also walked over to Mao Yan and knelt down.

Su Huan reacted quickly and knelt down at the same time. Yang Huiyu hesitated for a few moments, thinking that she had done nothing wrong and that everything should be done according to reason. This matter had nothing to do with her, so she stood up with her hands behind her back, but she looked even more reserved.

Cao Rui looked around for a few moments, and ignored Yang Huiyu. Instead, he said in a deep voice to the concubines around him: "There are more than 20 concubines in the harem. Today is my first time back in Luoyang. I only chose you to accompany me. This is a kind of preference, but you should not take this preference for granted."

"I am your husband, and you are my concubines. We should be harmonious and friendly with each other. This is the way it should be. What good will it do you to compete with each other over a few words and actions? It will only make me feel disgusted!"

"Yan'er." Cao Rui stretched out his right hand, placed his fingers on Mao Yan's chin, and raised it slightly to meet her gaze: "Do you still remember Yu?"

Mao Yan was startled when she heard this, and avoided his gaze slightly, saying in a low voice: "I married into your majesty's former palace together with her, how could I not know?"

"Da Hu, Yao Er, Huan Er, do you know the Yu Clan?"

"I don't know." Sun Luban replied in a low voice.

"I don't know either." Su Huan's voice was a little timid.

"I have heard of this person's name, but I don't know the details." Guo Yao replied in a low voice. She had not entered the palace during the Huangchu period, so she knew about this matter.

"Since there are still some of you who don't know, I will explain it to you today." Cao Rui narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice: "When I was in Pingyuan Palace in my early years, the late emperor married Yu, who was from a prominent family in Henei. This girl was of higher birth than Yan'er. When she was in the palace, although she was not very virtuous and was a bit spoiled, she was also lovely."

"In the seventh year of Huangchu, when I first ascended the throne, Yu challenged me for the position of empress. If that was all, I would have nothing to say. It is up to me to decide whether to marry her or not, so there is no need to blame her. But she should never have gotten angry and cursed me, Empress Wuxuan, and the Great Wei!"

Cao Rui took a deep breath and said, "As the emperor, I cannot tolerate such a thing. I immediately banished Yu to the cold palace. This crime should have been punishable by death and the entire family should have been exterminated. I have been too lenient."

"Later, it was the Yu family who asked your father to plead for mercy, right Yan'er?"

"Yes." Mao Yan whispered.

Cao Rui snorted softly, "I returned victorious from Qinzhou, and when I issued a general amnesty, I did not want to miss Yu alone, so I released her from the cold palace. It was not appropriate for her to stay in the North Palace in Luoyang, so I sent her to live in the Old Palace in Yecheng, and lived with her in a side hall. Her clothes, food, and expenses were the same as those of an ordinary noble concubine. I have done my utmost."

"As a result, when I returned from Liaodong this year and passed by Yecheng, I went to the old palace in Yecheng to take a look at her. I haven't seen her for four years, but she is still fantasizing about the past and wants to return to Luoyang!"

"Stop kneeling, stand up." Cao Rui sighed, "I am your emperor and your husband. Beigong is my home, so don't kneel casually from now on. I don't like to create too much estrangement between us."

"Yes." Several people responded and then stood up.

Although Cao Rui still smelled of alcohol, he did not sound drunk at all when he spoke.

"Do you think Yu is pitiful? Pitiable. Is she hateful? Yes, she is hateful. But her fault is ultimately due to her words. Once the words are out, they are done, and cannot be changed. There is no point in regretting. I am not telling you this to scare you, but I really want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."

"You are all in your twenties, and you have not seen much of the dangers in the world. You don't know the dangers beneath the peace of the harem. The imperial power is the most dangerous thing in the world. The harem is very close to the imperial power, how can it be friendly? Let's not talk about the Wei Dynasty. Just from the Han Dynasty, Empress Lü cut off Concubine Qi's hands and feet, dug out her eyes and ears, and placed her in the toilet to make a human pig. Isn't it horrifying?"

"Take the Later Han Dynasty as an example. Empress Dou of Emperor Zhang of Han killed four concubines in a row because of jealousy and hatred. Empress Yin of Emperor He of Han was exiled to the cold palace because of jealousy, and her father was also killed. The whole family was exiled to Rinan County in Jiaozhou, as far away as the horizon. Empress Yan of Emperor An of Han killed the nobles and the heir to the throne. Empress Song of Emperor Ling of Han was framed and died along with her father and brother. Empress He also killed Concubine Wang and forced Empress Dowager Dong to death, and was later killed by Dong Zhuo."

When Cao Rui said this, Mao Yan was already shaking with fear and even began to sob. Guo Yao and Sun Luban also lowered their heads even more.

They were all in their twenties and had no famous teachers in the harem. Although they had read some history according to Cao Rui's requirements, they had never read it so carefully. When they heard it, they were frightened.

"Yan'er, don't cry." Cao Rui sighed softly, stretched out his hands to signal Mao Yan to come over, and held her in his arms to comfort her for a long time. He didn't let her go until her sobs gradually became louder and then gradually weakened.

Cao Rui said: "I am not telling you this today to scare you, but to make sense with you. I want not only smooth political affairs in the front court, but also stability in the harem. Judging from so many stories in the Han Dynasty, either the queen harmed the concubines and the heirs, and then was killed by others. Or the concubines framed the queen, and in the end no one got a good ending."

"During the reign of Emperor Taihe, in order to avoid these things in the harem, I no longer have the position of Queen. The Noble Concubine is the highest rank, and the harem is not allowed to fight, report or frame each other! In other words, if anyone wants to say weird things about others, spread rumors, or show a jealous look, then that person is acting on his own and wants to sever ties with me!"

"So," Cao Rui sighed, stood up and walked forward a few steps, then turned around and looked at the women: "No one can get the position of Queen, there is no need to fight! Who should be appointed as the Crown Prince in the future is a matter between me, the Cabinet, and the six ministries and nine officials, and has nothing to do with you. I also told you clearly that I may favor someone, but I will never be partial to anyone. Favoritism and partiality are two completely different meanings." "The fact that I, the emperor, have spent so much time talking to you today, and that I have even drunk some wine today, is enough to show my painstaking efforts. Think about it more when you go back, and don't make the mistake."

"Yes."

"I understand."

Several women bowed and saluted, then stood with their heads lowered.

Cao Rui looked at them and shook his head: "Everyone go back, Yan'er and Huiyu stay."

"As you wish." Guo Yao, Sun Luban and Su Huan were all frightened today. They had never seen the emperor so serious before. They all bowed and took their leave.

After they left, Cao Rui leaned back on the recliner and chuckled, "I am already tired today, and after talking so much, I feel even more tired."

Mao Yan stepped forward and took Cao Rui's right arm, whispering: "Since your majesty is tired, I... although I am smaller than Da Hu, I am not much smaller. I will massage your majesty's forehead."

Cao Rui smiled and said, "Okay, Da Hu has always been the one doing it. Today I will also try Yan Er's cooking skills."

"Hui Yu," Mao Yan's eyes and voice also became softer: "Come closer and give His Majesty a leg massage."

"Yes." Yang Huiyu had never done such a thing before. She kneaded on the right side of Cao Rui, pounded him for a while, and then gently kneaded him. As she kneaded, perhaps because she remembered something, her cheeks and earlobes actually flushed slightly.

Seeing this, Cao Rui became playful and said, "No more pressing, I want to take a bath. Yan'er will teach Huiyu today, she doesn't know how yet."

Mao Yan lowered her head slightly, as if trying hard to hold back her laughter, but she finally laughed out loud: "Well, today I will teach Hui Yu how to serve His Majesty well while he is bathing."

Yang Huiyu had been in the palace for several months, so how could she not understand what he said? Her fair, jade-like and delicate face became even more red.

……

For a pure political creature like Sima Yi, the first thing he did after returning to Luoyang from Yanzhou was, of course, to go back to the North Palace to meet His Majesty, and then to his duty room in the East Pavilion to carefully read the briefings from the Secretariat and the Privy Council to see what major events had happened during his absence from the court, and whether there were any minor things that he should know but had missed.

"Meet Sikong."

"Sikong."

Walking slowly inside from the south gate of the North Palace, I heard greetings all along the way.

Outside the courtyard of the study, Sima Yi happened to meet Zhen Xiang, the captain of the Yue cavalry who was on duty that day and was in charge of guarding the palace.

"Greetings, Sikong." Zhen Xiang, dressed in armor, bowed and saluted.

"Bo Ming is on duty today." Sima Yi smiled slightly, "I just returned from Yanzhou and was about to meet your Majesty. I wonder if your Majesty is in the study?"

Zhen Xiang replied in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Your Majesty should be practicing archery in the palace's martial arts arena at this time, not in the study."

Sima Yi asked again: "Who is accompanying Your Majesty in archery practice today?"

Zhen Xiang replied: "This matter is beyond my ability to explain, please forgive me, Sikong."

"No problem." Sima Yi nodded, then strode over the threshold and headed towards the duty room in the East Pavilion.

As soon as he stepped into the East Pavilion, Sima Yi seemed to see a familiar face that did not belong here.

"Brother George!" Sima Yi suppressed the slight surprise in his heart: "Why is Brother George on duty here?"

"It's the Minister of Works who has returned." Xin Pi slowly stood up from his chair, bowed his hands and said kindly, "Your Majesty returned to Luoyang yesterday and issued an edict to transfer me from the position of Weiwei to Shangshu Zuo Pushe and enter the East Pavilion to assist in government affairs. Is the Minister of Works still unaware of this?" (End of this chapter)