Flaming Filial Piety on a Griddle
"So... you want me to help you take Xu Province?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry to bring this up right after your father's business, but I'm asking a favor. I'll talk to Gonglu about it."
"Hmm..."
Ji Ling had planned to return immediately after resolving Cao Song's matter, but her close sister Cao Cao's request gave her pause.
Under normal circumstances, she would have gladly agreed, but at the moment she was filled with an urgent desire to get back for all sorts of reasons.
Because she had a "promise" with Yuan Shu, more important than anything else.
But...
"Of course, I'm not asking you to help for free. If you help me out well this time, I'll give you a present."
"A present? What kind of present?"
"Fufu. Come closer for a second."
Cao Cao, being a well-to-do young lady herself, was known for generously giving things away. Hearing that she would give a present, Ji Ling approached her with a little anticipation.
And...
"I know, you want to be with Gonglu too, don't you? Just like that woman."
"! *Cough*..."
Caught off guard, Ji Ling coughed reflexively.
"N... no... h-how did you..."
"Fufu, I can tell that much at a glance. You can't fool this sister's eyes, even if you can fool others. I know you've liked Gonglu for a long time. But until now, you've been hesitating because of the difference in status and all that, right?"
"... Hmm... that's... correct."
With the other party already fully aware, Ji Ling could no longer deny it. At this honest confession from her close younger sister, Cao Cao smiled a deeper smile and said.
"I already owe you a great debt because of my father, right? And if you just help a little with this conquest of Xu Province, I'll repay that debt by giving you a good boost. So that you can become the principal wife, not just a concubine."
"P... principal wife? Is... is that... possible?"
"You know our family is close with the Yuan Clan, right? In the current situation, one letter from me would make even the elders of the Yuan Clan's main branch unable to openly oppose it. And I'll also grease the wheels by asking Gonglu to look on you favorably."
"Hmm..."
Though she had seized this chance under the pretext of receiving a gift from Yuan Shu, Ji Ling knew well that this alone was far from enough. There was the difference in status, and above all, she lacked confidence about whether Yuan Shu saw her merely as a subordinate or as a woman.
At Cao Cao's offer to help with those aspects, Ji Ling finally nodded.
"A... alright. Fine... I'll help."
"Fufu. Thank you, Ji Ling. I'll definitely keep my promise."
Thus, Ji Ling helped with the invasion of Xu Province in exchange for Cao Cao's assistance regarding "marriage." One unexpected thing, however, was that even the three Liu Bei sisters, who had been told they could head back first, decided to accompany her.
"You three don't need to stay either..."
"Once you start a thing, you should see it through."
"Besides, that bastard Tao Qian tried to mess with family in a sneaky way. A son of a bitch who doesn't even know his own father deserves to have his neck cut off, of course!"
"Since this is both our eldest sister's wish and our younger sister's, I have decided to join as well."
"Well, personally, I'm grateful you're stepping forward like this. Anyway, got it. Let's do this right until the end."
"Yes, General."
And so the four joined Cao Cao's forces in the campaign against Xu Province. At that moment, following the plan Cao Cao had drawn up beforehand, they led 2,000 soldiers and took over the empty city of Xu Province. They succeeded in capturing Tao Qian, who had fallen into Cao Cao's trap and been beaten like a dog, right at the city gate when he returned.
*
"You bastards! Let go of me!"
"Stay still, unless you want to lose a hand."
Zhang Fei had Tao Qian tightly bound as he struggled. Then, she hoisted his body onto the back of a horse like a sack.
"Zhang Fei and I will deliver this guy to Commander Cao, so hold Xu Province while we're gone."
"Yes, please go carefully."
Ji Ling and Zhang Fei then left Xu Province, taking Tao Qian with them.
After seeing the two off, Liu Bei went straight into the city with Guan Yu.
"How is security inside the city?"
"No major problems. None of the common people are causing any particular disturbance, and the influential figures of Xu Province are one after another coming to surrender."
"That's a relief. For now, concentrate on maintaining order until Commander Cao arrives."
"Yes, eldest sister. But there's something..."
"Hmm? Is there a problem?"
Guan Yu, about to say something, glanced around slightly. Then, in a careful voice, she said to Liu Bei,
"I don't quite understand. Setting aside the Cao Song matter, why have you gone so far in helping Cao Cao?"
"I didn't particularly help Cao Cao. I simply thought that doing this would be of help to the General-in-Chief."
"The General-in-Chief..."
That title had been coming up more and more often from her eldest sister's lips lately. Even though he was her superior and benefactor, Liu Bei had never been one to mention a man unless it was absolutely necessary. Even Guan Yu, usually insensitive to such things, had begun to grow suspicious.
"Um... eldest sister? I'm asking just in case, but... are you perhaps holding some affection for the General-in-Chief?"
"Isn't that only natural?"
"Wh... what?"
Liu Bei spoke so calmly that Guan Yu's face momentarily showed bewilderment.
"Though there are many lords under heaven, I believe the General-in-Chief is the hero who will restore the Han Imperial House. As a subject loyal to the nation, how could I not hold affection for such a person?"
"Ah... y-you meant it that way."
"Is there some other meaning?"
"No... no. Ahem... In that sense, I also harbor affection for the General-in-Chief. Honestly, being from a prestigious family, he was a bit off-putting at first, but he's a more generous and large-hearted man than one would think, isn't he?"
"That's right. And he also knows how to think of the people, and he has the heart to be considerate of people like us. A man truly worthy of being called a hero."
"He is a bit worldly, but I'm looking forward to what rewards he'll give us when we return this time."
"Haha, honestly, I feel the same."
With a light laugh, Liu Bei headed to the government office with Guan Yu.
'And... his personality is good too... and his face is handsome as well...'
*
"You bastard... kneel!"
"Gah!"
Inspector of Xu Province Tao Qian was forced to his knees by Zhang Fei's kick.
Before him stood fully armed officers arrayed to the left and right, and in the very center sat Cao Cao, their master and now also the master of Xu Province.
"Tch... kill me..."
Tao Qian spoke in a voice full of resignation. Looking down at him, Cao Cao spoke in an arrogant voice.
"Why? Why not beg for your life at least once? Who knows? If I'm in a very good mood, I might spare you."
"Shut up! I know full well you're not the sort to do that! No, even if it weren't you, how could anyone spare someone who tried to harm their own parent!"
"... Hmph."
At Tao Qian's words, Cao Cao let out a small laugh. Then, without erasing the smile from her lips, she slowly rose from her seat and began to walk forward.
-Clang... clang...
It wasn't the sword she usually wore, but a large iron club she dragged along the floor as she slowly approached Tao Qian.
With each step, an eerie presence was felt, and despite having already resigned himself to death, Tao Qian instinctively began to recoil.
And.
"Good, at least you're not as much of a moron as I thought."
With those words, Cao Cao slowly raised the club.
Then, with a light jerk of her chin, the waiting soldiers began bringing something over.
Even from a distance, the heat was palpable.
It was a brazier, filled with charcoal, blazing fiercely.
Cao Cao thrust the iron club she was holding into it.
"Wh... what is that? Wh... what are you trying to do?"
Tao Qian asked in a trembling voice at the ominous atmosphere.
Looking at him, Cao Cao smiled a thick smile and said in a kind voice.
"It's nothing. Because of you, my father was nearly in danger. So shouldn't I offer you hospitality to match? The thing is, you see, our family is also a eunuch family. So, that being the case..."
Cao Cao pulled the iron club out of the brazier.
Seeing it heated red-hot, something suddenly crossed Tao Qian's mind, combined with Cao Cao's earlier words.
"!.. W... wait a se... Don't tell me you're...!"
"I wouldn't know personally, since I'm a woman. Still, I can guess well enough just how excruciating this must be!"
-Sizzle!!!!
"!! Gahhh!!!!"
In an instant, agonizing pain flooded him. The agony was so intense it choked off the scream in his throat, and his eyes rolled back as he half lost consciousness.
"Hahaha! Come on, snap out of it! This is only the beginning—you can't go out of your mind already!"
With an eerie laugh, Cao Cao ground the iron club harder.
Amid the terrible stench of burning flesh, those watching—especially the men—felt a momentary chill and instinctively covered their groins as they turned their heads away.
"... Ji Ling, is this that elvan stone egg thing they talk about?"
"It's more like iron plate grilling than an elvan stone..."
With wry smiles, Zhang Fei and Ji Ling traded a joke that wasn't quite a joke.
Thus, except for the few with the courage to endure the sight, many averted their eyes. From Cao Cao's lips came a deep laugh mixed with madness.
"Ahahahaha! What's wrong? Where's the spirit you had when you touched my father? Come on! Come on! Let's hear you talk big again!!"
"Aaaaaargh!!!! I... I won't! I won't ever do it again!!!!"
So, amid the mix of harrowing screams and laughter.
Cao Cao's Flaming Filial Piety continued for a while longer.
*
"Wh... what did you say? Xu... Xu Province City already?"
"Yes... Inspector. According to the scouts, Xu Province City has completely fallen, and Inspector Tao Qian had his balls burned by Cao Cao."
"Gulp..."
The man who gulped at this utterly chilling news—Inspector of Yang Province, Liu Yao.
This thunderbolt news arrived while he was still agonizing over whether to send reinforcements or not, and his face turned pale in an instant.
"Th... this is an emergency. F... first, summon all the governors of Yang Province here at once."
"Yes, Inspector."
One female officer bowed deeply at Liu Yao's words.
However, aside from the respectful bow outwardly.
At that moment, she.
The woman named Taishi Ci clicked her tongue inwardly.
'It's too late, you moron...'
