Vol 3 Chapter 8 (1/2)
Volume 3 Chapter 8: Don’t tell me this is the poisoning by Ji Ping (3)
TL: Last chapter before we get back to Xuan De’s side.
After Hua Tuo and Ji Ping bowed and left, I looked at Ji Ping’s back and her look of shame that appeared when she heard what I’d said floated in my mind.
“My lord, why did you not kill her?” A voice suddenly came from the rafters. There was no need to look to confirm who it was, it was definitely Cheng Yu. “Could it be that you actually think that the culprit isn’t her?”
“Haha, you’re actually asking that?” I lay back on the bed comfortably and stroked my eyebrows as I continued. “After seeing everything that has transpired, how could I not be aware that she was the culprit?”
Though it might be hypocritical of me to say so, but I’ve never trusted that physician from the very beginning. Which is why I let Hua Tuo follow, as insurance against any mishap I might encounter, but who knew that she would ended up drinking it instead.
“Then why did you not kill her?”
“Why do I have to kill her?”
“Because she was the one who tried to poison you.”
“But I’m still alive.”
“…” Cheng Yu did not continue, nor did she leave. She only remained waiting in the rafters for what I would say next.
Even if she doesn’t say anything, I know what she is thinking.
“Cheng Yu, I can’t kill her.” I said as I lay on the bed and gazed at the dots of light from the candles in the room. “She came to kill me because of the hatred I’m drawing to myself so she has a legitimate reason to kill me.”
“Hai~~” What a rare phenomenon, Cheng Yu actually sighed. “So in the end, it’s my lord’s fault? Why do you have to make yourself out to be a tyrant?”
Cheng Yu could not understand, but I have not shared my thoughts with her either.
Tyrant… Huh. Indeed, my public image is that of a cunning and evil Cao Cao.
But it is because of this that Emperor Xian of Han’s incompetency has been overlooked by the people. This way, history will only remember a despotic Cao Cao and a pitiful Emperor Xian of Han who was unable to show his talent. That much is enough.
All this, I have never shared with anyone else.
“… Who knows?”
“My lord!” Cheng Yu once again acted uncharacteristically as she exclaimed anxiously at my ambiguous words. Looks like she’s genuinely worried about my future standing.
“Maa maa, I have my own considerations.” But this is my own fight, and the burden is mine, and only mine, to bear.
“… But this can’t have been Ji Ping alone, there must be people behind her who harbour ill will against my lord.”
“Well then, who do you think they are?” As for what I think, it’s definitely Dong Cheng’s faction.
“It’s definitely the group of n.o.bles led by State Uncle.”
As expected, my guess was right. Every Court session, he always avoids my gaze. In the rare times that he does meet my eyes, his eyes are always red. … Maa, maybe he’s just infatuated with me.
And besides…
“That’s not just it right? They started moving when Ma Teng of West Liang came to Court, and Yuan Shao and Liu Biao have bolstered their garrisons at Dong commandery and Runan.” I said as I recalled the various happenings recently and highlighted anything that seemed suspicious. “All this probably has some connection to Dong Cheng’s plot.”
“So my lord has already investigated huh?” Cheng Yu said moodily, and seemed surprised at how calm I was. “In any case, what we have to do now is to quickly eliminate them, or there will be disastrous consequences in future.”
Un… Indeed.
But if this problem were to be handed to Xuan De, how would he resolve it?
… Perhaps.
“… Perhaps,” I said as I fiddled with a bamboo scroll nearby and a ‘礼’ on the scroll happened to catch my eye. “We should invite them for a banquet.”
(TL: 礼 can mean ceremony, manners, courtesy on its own.)
The next day after Court ended, I walked over to w.a.n.g Zi Fu and the rest, and invited them for a banquet at my house.
They seemed to have learnt of what happened last night from Ji Ping already and was thus, not surprised that I am still alive.
“I am truly grateful for the royal family to grace my banquet today with your attendance.” I said as I flashed them my signature confident smile at the 4 main members of the royal family with w.a.n.g Zi Fu as their leader. “But speaking of which, where is State Uncle Dong Cheng who was to be my guest of honour?”
w.a.n.g Zi Fu looked like he was stunned, and stammered a non-answer.
Even though it was a cool and breezy autumn, his head was glistening with sweat, and even his hands which were set on his thighs had soaked his clothes with sweat. As for the other 3, they weren’t much better off. If I were to describe them with one word… That’s right.
Spooked.
“Ah? Ah… St, State Uncle is ill.” One of them was finally able to squeeze a somewhat coherent reply after a long while.
Ill huh.
My eyes instinctively looked toward Feng Xiao to the side. Her long black hair covered the side of her face so I couldn’t see what her expression is like now. But from the way her shoulders are trembling slightly, she’s probably suppressing an urge to laugh now.