The Purple Silk Misunderstanding
While Dong Zhuo ground her teeth and screamed that she would use Zhao Yun as a footrest or stuff him into a chastity belt, Zhao Yun escaped her grasp and returned to camp—only to face yet another crisis.
"Ah, Zilong. You're back at last… Huh? What's with those clothes?"
"Dong Zhonglang gave them to me… Why? Is something wrong?"
Though he had no idea why, Cao Cao's expression turned icy the moment she heard the name Dong Zhonglang. Zhao Yun stammered under her glare. Does she think I've done something to feel guilty about?
Cao Cao's eyes sharpened further. Look at him. The outfit Zhao Yun wore was a purple silk robe that shimmered with a subtle luster, practically announcing its own luxury. Probably made from Shu brocade, she thought. Silk was already expensive, but Shu brocade was in another league entirely. Purple dye? Priceless. Yet Dong Zhuo had dressed Zhao Yun in purple-dyed Shu silk and sent him back. To a mere deputy commander? And why did the fit look so… suggestive? Even though it covered everything, something about it felt indecent.
Dong Zhuo changed his clothes for him… What exactly does that imply? Of course, Dong Zhuo's actual intent had been to steal Zhao Yun away and grope him in front of Cao Cao while he wore the lewd garment, but Cao Cao, unaware of the full story, could only feel her thoughts spiral.
"I meant to ask why Dong Zhonglang would gift Zilong something so… provocative. No, expensive. Something must have happened during the hunt, yes?"
"N-no. Nothing happened."
The way Cao Cao stressed "something" made Zhao Yun's face flush crimson. She had tailed the pair earlier and already suspected as much, but seeing his reaction in person made her blood boil. What could possibly require two people to change clothes outdoors? The answer was obvious. That bitch Dong Zhuo—married, yet acting like a cheap whore selling herself! She even has a child, yet she dares to seduce my subordinate with that filthy body!
But why is he blushing like that? Did they actually…? A headache surged through her at the thought, twisting her expression.
Zhao Yun knew from personal experience that nothing had occurred. Though battered and barely able to stand, he had spent an entire week with Dong Zhuo without being touched. If anything, she had seemed almost reluctant. So even when he saw Dong Zhuo pressuring him in the carriage, he felt annoyed but not worried. Yet the same man who showed no reaction no matter how I clung to him day and night for a week gets swayed by a married woman?!
Her furious glare made Zhao Yun avert his eyes, which only stoked her anger further—until a sudden doubt crossed her mind. Wait. He acted lukewarm toward me and Yuan Shu, yet he gave himself to Dong Zhuo? He treats that pretty Liu Bei like she's made of glass, but Dong Zhuo… This bastard—don't tell me…
Cao Cao shot Zhao Yun a look of pure contempt.
"Zilong! I never imagined your tastes were so depraved!"
"…What?"
"A man who can't even get it up unless the woman is married? How pathetic! Aren't you ashamed to live like that?"
"Excuse me?!"
Zhao Yun stared at her in disbelief, but Cao Cao continued her tirade without pause.
"What's so great about eating another man's leftovers? Don't you find it disgusting?! You'll only come to your senses after getting stabbed by some enraged husband!"
Coming from the woman who once tried to steal a widow and ended up killing her son… Zhao Yun thought bitterly. Why is she projecting her own fetishes onto me?!
***
"What on earth are you talking about? Why are you pinning your own tastes on… um, an innocent person?!"
You damn NTR-loving bitch! Zhao Yun barely swallowed the insult and protested. Cao Cao seemed to regain some composure.
…Or not? She squinted at him suspiciously and began her interrogation.
"So you're saying married women aren't your type?"
"They aren't."
"You've never slept with a married woman behind her husband's back and said something like 'I'll make your body so it can't be satisfied by anyone but me, kukuku!'? Be honest—you've at least thought it, right?"
"No!"
"You've never gone around hunting only married women, turning them into size-obsessed sluts, forcing dangerous-day ovulation, then making them give birth right in front of their tied-up husbands before breeding them again just so you can get off when their wives scold you? You haven't turned them into chastity-belt-wearing cuckolds or anything?"
"I said no!!!"
What the hell is she even saying?! That's the kind of plot you'd only find on Hitomi! Zhao Yun was horrified by the depravity spilling from Cao Cao's mouth. Even Cao Cao wouldn't do something that extreme in the original history… I want to believe that, at least.
Strange. He really doesn't seem to be into it. Cao Cao tilted her head, studying his expression.
"Then why did you sleep with Dong Zhuo?"
"What are you even talking about? I never did anything like that."
Zhao Yun's evasive demeanor made Cao Cao's expression turn vicious again as she pressed him.
"Don't lie! Do you take me for an idiot? Then why did Dong Zhuo wrap you in such expensive Shu brocade?! And purple, no less! Do you have any idea how precious that fabric is?"
"That's because I—"
"Exactly! You must have been completely seduced by that bitch and came here to announce you're switching sides! You told me you'd repay my kindness and then leave, yet now… What happened to your so-called loyalty? Have some shame!"
She had clearly jumped to the wrong conclusion. She thinks I've gone over to Dong Zhuo? That I'd choose her over Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, and even Liu Bei? Ridiculous.
"Why would I go to Dong Zhuo? That violent woman? I'm not crazy."
"…You wouldn't?"
Zhao Yun's gentle tone made Cao Cao's earlier accusations—opportunist, tail-wagging sycophant—fade as she asked cautiously.
Now's the time to badmouth the person she hates.
"Of course not! Dong Zhuo? No matter how high the position, what good is it? She'd just be another lapdog wagging her tail at the Ten Eunuchs. Why would I throw away my promise and serve under someone like that?"
"Th-then what about the clothes…?"
"She gave them to me as thanks for saving her life during today's hunt. She said I'd gotten dirty because of her, so I should take them."
That's all it was?! Cao Cao's face burned crimson as she recalled her earlier outburst. Of course. This is the same Zhao Yun who showed zero interest in women. There were rumors about Yuan Shu leaving his tent, but that only meant Yuan Shu had gone to him. Logically, if he were pursuing her, it would have been the other way around. And apparently Yuan Shu had thrown a tantrum outside his tent afterward—proof she was the one chasing him. Even that fox-like Liu Bei couldn't sway him despite all her schemes. So why would he ever sleep with Dong Zhuo?
I accused an upright man of being a homewrecker… God, what was I thinking?! Cao Cao buried her face in her hands against the desk.
***
"Ahem, ahem! This is exactly why people badmouth the people of Xiliang! Giving such extravagant gifts to someone else's subordinate only causes unnecessary suspicion. Isn't that right, Zilong?"
Aren't you the one who got needlessly suspicious? Zhao Yun thought, but he nodded anyway. Only then did Cao Cao's complexion return to normal.
"Exactly! Zilong would never break the oath he made with his own lips and leave, would he? Especially not when our relationship is what it is. Of course not!"
Just what kind of relationship does she think we have…? Zhao Yun swallowed the words hovering on his tongue. Cao Cao fell into thought once more.
Still, something feels off. Even if he saved her life, Dong Zhuo's personality wouldn't allow her to hand over something this valuable so casually… There must be another motive hidden here. It's not just any silk—it's Shu brocade, difficult even for high-ranking families to obtain. Dyed purple, which costs a fortune to produce. Zilong might not realize its worth, but I do. So why give him such a gift?
A gift… meant to send a message to me?
Her gaze fixed on Zhao Yun's robe. The purple silk clung lightly to his frame. Though beautiful, the color reminded her of Dong Zhuo's hair and soured her mood. And that indescribably lewd cut… It matched Dong Zhuo's sinister aura perfectly.
Dong Zhuo's clothes on Zilong… Ah! That bitch! She just declared war on me!!
"Grind grind grind grind grind grind!!!"
"M-Mengde?!"
"Zilong!!! Take those clothes off right now!!!"
"E-excuse me?!"
"Off! Immediately!!"
Overwhelmed by Cao Cao's menacing aura, Zhao Yun clutched his body as if defending his chastity.