Ways to Survive Chaos (6): After Tea with Guo Jia
I ended up meeting that woman Guo Jia had introduced me to before, once again.
"Hello, Lady Aman. You're even more beautiful than last time."
"Oh, thank you."
Cao Aman. I met her at Guo Jia's estate in Heodo. Guo Jia had said she wanted to see me, so we arranged to meet alone.
"You've cut your hair."
"Yes. I nearly got caught in a fire once, and unfortunately, a bit of it got singed. I'm growing it out now."
"My apologies."
"Hehe, it's been almost a year since we last met."
When was it I last saw Cao Aman? Around the time Cao Cao was stirring up trouble in Xuzhou, making a show of filial piety.
Her hair had been much longer back then.
...But somehow, this length suits her better now. It felt oddly out of place before.
"Your beauty is unchanged, but with the shorter hair, I almost didn't recognize you. Haha."
It had been quite a while, so commenting on her hair wasn't too rude.
"I heard from Fengxiao that you accomplished something great."
"Haha, great accomplishment? I was just wracking my brains to protect my own land."
"Even so, word is you personally lured the enemy on the battlefield?"
"...Well, things just ended up that way."
Why bring up such an uncomfortable topic right away? If she were a high-ranking Cao army official, she might subtly suggest enlistment or appointment, but Cao Aman was just one of Cao Cao's people.
"This incident made me realize it again. I'm not the type who can go to war."
"Aren't you being too hard on yourself?"
"Have you ever been to a battlefield yourself?"
"...Not me, but I often hear that Lord Cao Cao goes. Come to think of it."
Ah. She's sharp. She picked up on my discomfort immediately and tried to change the subject.
"Teacher Jin, have you ever met Lord Cao Cao in person?"
"No?"
"......Huh?"
For a moment, Cao Aman looked genuinely flustered. But I couldn't lie about it.
"I've never met Lord Cao Cao."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. How could a country bumpkin like me meet her? I'm not even from Chenliu, so I've never seen her from afar."
"...Do you know what she looks like?"
"Hmm. One streak of white in her hair, and she's supposedly quite the beauty."
Cao Aman fiddled with her bangs. The strand she touched was noticeably darker than the rest. Itchy, maybe.
"Lord Cao Cao is nearly forty this year, so even a capable woman must show some signs of middle age by now, right?"
"......Heh."
"...Ahem, sorry."
Badmouthing Cao Cao in front of someone from the Cao clan? What was I thinking?
"If you saw her in person, you'd be shocked. She's too beautiful."
"Haha, if I ever meet her, my legs might give out and I won't be able to stand properly."
"We'll see about that later. Hehe."
"My apologies."
Suddenly, a young man's voice came from outside. Cao Aman stood abruptly, scraping her chair, and headed to the door.
"Uh—"
"Come in, little brother."
"........"
The tall, handsome young man entered at her guidance. He looked like a martial officer, glancing back and forth between me and Cao Aman before nodding.
"Allow me to introduce him. This is Cao Ang, the eldest son of Lord Cao Mengde."
"...Hello, Teacher."
"......Pleased to meet you."
Cao Ang. Unlike what I'd expect from Cao Cao's son, he seemed sturdy, upright, and kind. Honestly, he was handsome. As much as me.
"Um, that."
"Oh, what's wrong, Ang? To your big sister."
"......Yes, big sister."
They seemed to exchange some meaningful glances, but I had no idea what about. All I noticed was Cao Ang sighing deeply at her signal.
"What is your relationship?"
"Ang and I are siblings. I'm the older sister, and he's my younger brother. Lord Cao Cao adopted him."
"Adopted?"
"Yes. What if something happens to her? She needs an heir, right?"
"Ah, yes. No direct heirs."
Cao Cao wasn't married. She had no children.
"...You don't find it strange?"
"Why would I? Cousins being adopted isn't unusual."
It was common in this era. There were even wild tales about Han Xin, childless, adopting several men and having relations with them—unmarried women taking in adopted sons was no big deal.
'Though I doubt Cao Cao would do that with this guy.'
He was too martial-looking for an eunuch family. The scars of a true warrior were plain to see.
'Gotta make a good impression.'
This young man had high potential for greatness. If Cao Cao was a hero of chaos, he seemed destined to be a capable minister in peaceful times.
"Sorry. I couldn't hold my curiosity and took up your time. Please carry on."
"No, no. ...Actually, I wanted to meet Teacher Jin myself, so I imposed. Forgive me."
"Weren't you here for other business?"
"Greeting a honored guest is more important. Uh, big sister, I'll tell you later."
"Alright. If it's not urgent, sit for a bit?"
"Pardon me."
Cao Ang sat beside Cao Aman. Up close, they shared many similarities.
Judging Cao Cao from him, she must have sharp features.
"Come to think of it, weren't you adopted too, Teacher Jin?"
"Yes. By the Huang family in Jingzhou."
"But your surname is Jin...?"
"My widely known name is Jin with courtesy name Taeyang, so I kept it. The Huang elders approved."
"Haha, your adoptive father seems very considerate."
Where was Huang Shengyan now, and what was he up to?
"By the way, how old are you, Teacher Jin? You look about my brother's age."
"How old is your brother this year?"
"He turned twenty last year."
"...I see. I'll soon be staring down thirty."
Younger than expected. His bearded, imposing build made him look older than his sister Cao Aman. I didn't know her exact age, but probably around mine or younger.
"That...."
Cao Ang glanced at Cao Aman, then cupped his fists.
"If it's alright, may I call you elder brother?"
"No, how could you...!"
Cao Cao's eldest son calling me elder brother? What was going on?
"I've heard stories about you from Teacher Guo Jia and Teacher Xun You for a long time. Lady Wenyeo regretted not recommending you several times."
"I'm flattered."
"It's a bit embarrassing, but I'd like to get close personally. Is that okay?"
"......."
Ah, this was networking.
Through Guo Jia, I met Cao Aman, a Cao clan relative; through her, Cao Ang, Cao Cao's adopted son.
"Haha, at this rate, I might meet Lord Cao Cao through Young Master Cao! Hahaha."
"...Do you want to meet her?"
"Pardon? Haha, how could I intrude on a stateswoman's private time? And my position... If I met her privately, I'd face backlash from many."
Not something to say to her relatives. But their eyes demanded explanation.
"...Jingzhou has many refugees from Xuzhou."
Smart people—they'd get it.
"If word got out I met Lord Cao Cao privately, those around me would complain. To be presumptuous, Jingzhou folk say northerners don't bow their heads."
"...Are the Xuzhou exiles that resentful?"
"Yes. Resentment runs deeper than you'd think."
Especially if tied to family deaths.
"Well, they were the victims. Not me."
"What if you had been harmed?"
"Hmm...."
Harmed by Cao Cao?
"Depends on the degree. Property damage? I'd curse. Lost my wealth? Double curse. If she took my family...."
"Took them?"
"...I'd return as good as I got. Haha, but Lord Cao Cao wouldn't do that, right? I'm just a man working at an academy in Jingzhou. ...You won't tell her, will you?"
Suddenly my heart raced. Seeing Cao Aman's intrigued "go on" look, I'd blurted out too much.
"Lord Cao Cao isn't the type. Rest easy, Teacher Jin."
"That's a relief."
"But if you have words for her, tell me now."
"Pardon?"
"When I see her later, she'll ask about meeting Jingzhou's Jin Taeyang. If you're worried it'll be twisted, I'll relay it properly."
"Hmm...."
Not directly, but through one person. I had to convey my true intent without misunderstanding.
"A bumpkin like me."
I.
"As long as no harm comes my way, I don't care what happens in the court."
My true feelings, the mindset of a petty man, transmitted.
* * *
An hour after Jin Taeyang left, with Guo Jia seeing him off, Cao Aman—no, Cao Cao—sipped tea alone with Cao Ang.
"Ang."
"Yes, uh...."
"Mother."
"...Yes, Mother."
Cao Aman, or rather Cao Cao, smiled silently as they drank tea together.
"I thought that man was mocking me. Acting like he didn't know, despite knowing everything."
"......I thought the same. If he knew, he wouldn't bring up Xuzhou in front of you."
"Exactly."
Cao Cao sipped her tea with a wry smile.
"Thanks to him, I clearly learned how Xuzhou refugees see me. Very enlightening. Of our talk, that stuck most. What about you?"
"...He was truly strange."
Cao Ang shook his head.
"Rumors say he's a peerless talent, yet he humbles himself so."
"Indeed. Small vessel for his ability. Everything else seems big."
"Mother?"
"Hehe, I meant ambition. He'll act when needed, like facing Zhang Ji personally. Ang, get along with him."
Cao Cao patted his shoulder.
"He doesn't reject close ties to my heir, even without enlisting. Don't you like him?"
"Not that I dislike him.... But do I have to keep calling you 'big sister' around him?"
"Why? Should I have called him big brother?"
"......."
Cao Ang closed his eyes.
"Hehe, befriend him well. And let me know later."
Cao Cao smirked slyly.
"Which he'll marry—Xun Yu, Xun You, or Guo Jia. And nudge him to marry one. Then I can... hehehe."
Cao Ang thought nothing.