Midnight Summons
“You’ve arrived, Guanneihou.”
“Enough. Speak as you always do.”
Neither a duke nor a king—within these walls, it was far better to be addressed simply as husband and wife. I had already instructed my ladies accordingly. Taking our eldest son from Cai Yan’s arms, I patted the boy gently.
“Isn’t that right? When you grow up, how far will your father have risen?”
Now that I was Guanneihou, the next steps would be to become a district marquis, then a full marquis. “He’s a boy, all right—solid as a rock.”
Perhaps because there was one more of him than usual, the infant who could barely hold his own head up felt remarkably sturdy. Cao Ren had once vowed that if a son were born to him, he would personally train the boy to become a great minister. I intended to raise this child into one of the finest generals under heaven.
While I held my son, Fu En entered hesitantly and greeted the other wives.
“It is an honor to meet you. My name is Fu En.”
“Welcome. I am Cai Yan, and these are Lady Yuan, Lady Lü, and the two Lady Jiaos.”
“You need not speak so formally.”
“No, it is proper. Please, come in. We welcome you to the household of the Zhonglangjiang.”
While I tended to the child, Cai Yan introduced the other wives and showed Fu En to her quarters. After that came what could only be called a honeymoon. With the other wives either recovering from childbirth or already with child, only Fu En was available—and from the moment she arrived from Fu Wan’s residence until now, our days and nights had been filled with nothing but affection and desire.
Time passed peacefully, and laughter never left the house.
“Oh my, the new lady is truly beautiful.”
“What do you think? Does she please you?”
“Wherever did you acquire such ornaments? They rival even those bestowed by the imperial consorts.”
The merchants of the Wei Trading Company, led by Hua Yan, visited frequently with gifts, working diligently to win the favor of the sixth wife.
“Zhonglangjiang.”
“Hm?”
“There is something I must tell you.”
When Hua Yan asked to speak privately, I called her aside. After reporting on her efforts to build rapport with the other wives, she added something else.
“The head merchant informed me that Lord Guo left Xudu yesterday and returned to his hometown.”
“Fengxiao left so suddenly?”
“He said he had already reported it to the Chancellor, so that no one would worry if he suddenly disappeared.”
“Hmm… Why would Fengxiao go to Yingchuan at a time like this? The southern part of Yuzhou is already in turmoil because of the rebels.”
“He also asked me to pass this on: the matter in Yuzhou will naturally be settled there, but he believes there is something worth watching from a broader perspective.”
“What?”
I could make no sense of it. He had left Xudu without warning and returned to his hometown in Yingchuan, claiming he needed to use his local connections for intelligence work. “I’ll have to ask him properly when he returns. Thank you for telling me.”
Once, things had been different, but now Hua Yan served as a kind of office wife, delivering information. The three courtesans I had met in Puyang were still working through the Wei Trading Company and had not yet been brought into the household. For now, I would have to be content with what Hua Yan had told me about Guo Jia.
After the merchants departed, I spent time with the children until Lady Xu and Lady Huan arrived, then stepped out into the garden. From the rear courtyard came Cai Yan’s voice.
“Yes, yes—that is the character for ‘heaven.’”
“Yes~”
“Now, what about this one?”
Cai Yan was teaching characters to a child of about four or five. When she wrote the character for “earth” on a bamboo slip and showed it to him, the boy suddenly climbed down into the courtyard and tapped the ground with his tiny hand.
“Oh my, you got it right. That character means ‘earth.’”
“Yes~ Yes~”
Whew. Whose child was this, so remarkably clever? Learning characters at that age?
“Chong, your sister-in-law is busy. You shouldn’t keep bothering her.”
“It is no trouble. The young master is truly brilliant.”
“Chong? Cao Chong, son of Cao Cao and Lady Huan?”
The boy looked about four. Watching him point at the characters Cai Yan wrote, it was clear he was exceptionally gifted.
“As expected, the Chancellor was not exaggerating when he spoke of you. He said that if one were to take a daughter-in-law, she must be a woman of such intelligence.”
“You flatter me, Aunt.”
The atmosphere in the rear garden was warm and pleasant. Perhaps I should loosen my body for a while. While Lady Xu and Cai Yan conversed, Xiahou Dun’s two sons, Xiahou Chong and Xiahou Mu, were training in swordsmanship under Lü Ming in the western residence. I decided to join them and offer a few pointers. I would make sure they were more than capable on the battlefield—I swore it.
After a full day and a hearty evening meal, my eyes met Fu En’s. She blushed the moment she saw me, and the other wives exchanged knowing smiles. That very night, we consummated our marriage once more.
“Whew~”
Exhausted and drained, I lay back as Fu En crept closer and nestled against me. Just as I was about to drift off, savoring the feel of her ample bosom against my arm, a voice called from outside.
“Husband, it is Cai Yan.”
“Hm?”
“Oh my!”
This had never happened before. I rose at once.
“Ah, well…”
“It’s fine, rest. Rest.”
Without waiting for attendants, I threw on a robe myself and opened the door. Cai Yan, cradling our eldest son, looked at me and spoke.
“Husband, your elder cousin is here.”
“Zisu already?”
He had said he would return from Puyang, but to come so quickly… Ah, right. He had promised to bring the child once the hundred-day mark passed.
“Coming at this hour, it must be urgent.”
“Yes, it seems something is truly pressing. I have prepared your official robes.”
“What?”
“The Chancellor has ordered you to come to his residence immediately, together with your cousin.”
“W-wait, what?”
“Do not worry. He said he would wait one ke if you were asleep.”
That wasn’t the issue here… Of all times, to be summoned in the middle of the night. Hastily donning the robes Cai Yan had prepared, I rushed outside. Seeing Cao Ang waiting by the gate, I apologized at once.
“Sorry. I just got dressed and came out.”
“No, he said he would wait one ke, yet here you are already.”
We agreed without asking what the other had been doing and hurried toward the Chancellor’s residence.
“What on earth is going on?”
“A major rebellion has broken out in Runan, Yuzhou. We suffered a crushing defeat. Colonel Cai was killed.”
“What… did you say?”
That was truly terrible news.
“Father, I have brought Zayul.”
“Forgive me. I came as soon as I heard.”
“No need. Sit.”
Inside the Chancellor’s residence were already gathered Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and the advisors Xun Yu, Xun You, and Cheng Yu.
“My lord, I regret to report that we have suffered a great defeat in the Runan rebellion. Colonel Cai has fallen.”
“Damn it! What is the meaning of this? How could a mere rabble of Yellow Turban remnants and local bandits wreak such havoc in Yuan’s own hometown?”
In a fit of rage, Cao Cao hurled an inkstone across the room. Broken brushes scattered across the floor.
“The rebels in Xuzhou were completely crushed and their leaders executed, so why is Runan in such a state? I was told that Cai Yang was defeated by the likes of Gong Du and Liu Pi, and even Li Tong has been beaten! Useless fools!”
The fact that Li Tong, a warrior equal to Xu Chu and a powerful figure in the region, had been forced to retreat only fueled Cao Cao’s fury further.
At that moment, Xun You spoke urgently.
“My lord, Liu Bei is behind this.”
“What?”
“It is not merely Gong Du and Liu Pi. Liu Bei stands behind them, gathering forces. Surely Yuan Shao, after his defeat in the north, is supporting Liu Bei in hopes of rising again.”
Cao Cao’s eyes moved rapidly.
“If it is Xuande… Yes, if it is Xuande, then Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will surely be with him… So that’s how it is. In the end, Xuande has bested my army twice.”
Even without Cao Cao present and with the main army still being reorganized, the southern defensive line had been painstakingly built by Xun Yu and Guo Jia—yet Liu Bei had shattered it. Twice.
“Moreover, Liu Bei had the audacity to declare, while attacking Cai Yang and Li Tong, that even if a million troops came… he would fear nothing so long as the Chancellor was absent. Unless the Chancellor himself descends to face him, he will continue to grow his power throughout Runan.”
“Ha… hahaha… hahahahaha!”
Though rage had consumed him moments before, Cao Cao now laughed loudly and struck the table.
“Arrogant. Utterly arrogant! Yet if it is Xuande, I acknowledge that spirit!”
Cao Cao seized his sword and shouted to the generals present.
“Prepare yourselves! I will lead the army personally to Runan and settle this once and for all.”
“My lord, the army has not yet finished its reorganization.”
“How many troops can we still field?”
“Around thirty to forty thousand, but considering the defense of the capital…”
“Thirty thousand is more than enough! I shall lead them and see Xuande’s face once more.”
After the great battle against Yuan Shao, now it was Liu Bei. Of course, Cao Ang and I, along with all our kinsmen, would be part of this all-star campaign.