Vanguard Captain's Aide (2)
After becoming Vanguard Captain Cao Cao's aide, Lee Seong-hwi spent more time with her and gradually learned things about her.
First off, Cao Cao loved sweets. She always presented a cold, perfect image, but surprisingly, she had the adorable habit of eating them like a child. Of course, he'd stumbled upon this by accident. With her meticulous personality, she hid anything that might invite disdain from others.
He never would have known she liked sweets if he hadn't caught her sneaking a bite.
"There's no need to hide it, is there?"
"My small stature already draws enough scorn. If word got out that I like sweets too, I'd become a laughingstock. Forget what you just saw."
"Understood."
Cao Cao belonged to neither the Grand General's faction nor the Ten Attendants'. That meant she could be targeted by both sides at once. So she paid extreme attention to her every word and action, whipping herself excessively to give no faction any pretext.
"I think it's cute."
"I-Is that so…."
Cao Cao whipped her head away at Lee Seong-hwi's sudden remark. He regretted speaking so bluntly, thinking she'd taken it as mockery. But the opposite was true. She was embarrassed by being called 'cute'—her ears flushed red, her face glowing like a ripe apple.
Unwilling to show such an unseemly side, she turned away to hide her face.
"If my aide says so, I suppose I can indulge occasionally."
"I'll keep it secret from everyone else."
"Of course you will. You're my aide. I trust you won't foolishly divulge your superior's private matters."
"Yes, ma'am."
Cao Cao nodded with a faint smile at his crisp reply. Truly an excellent aide. Sharp-eyed and quick-witted too. They got along like long-time comrades, not just during official duties but often afterward as well.
His skills were top-notch, and the soldiers spoke well of him. As an aide, Lee Seong-hwi performed at 120 out of 100. The extra 20 points came from personal affection.
"Hello, Gate Captain!"
Walking with Cao Cao, a flower seller—a beautiful young woman in her late teens—approached Lee Seong-hwi with a bright smile. Recognizing her, he smiled back.
"How's business lately?"
"Can't complain too much. It's always slow. Who knows when things'll pick up."
"Embarrassing as a Luoyang officer."
"Right? Honestly, I hate paying taxes."
"Tell me about it."
The girl burst into laughter at his joke. Her fondness was obvious. But as she beamed innocently at him, the smile vanished from Cao Cao's face. Her red eyes glinted coldly—the same chilling glare she'd shown at Yeongcheon when massacring thousands of Yellow Turban prisoners.
She bared killing intent at the girl so brazenly approaching her precious aide with that radiant smile.
Flirting so cheaply with another man…. Damn harlot. She belongs in a brothel, not a flower shop. Selling her smiles and body to hook Lee Seong-hwi? A street vendor scraping by, dreaming of striking it rich by snaring a man like some flower snake…!!
Cao Cao ground her teeth. She glared at the girl chatting happily with him, gnawing her nails. But moments later, the flower seller approached Cao Cao herself, grinning widely.
"Is she your lover?"
Cao Cao's face flushed crimson—a sudden shift like winter's blizzard melting into warm spring.
"D-Do we look like that…?"
Ahem. She cleared her throat. We might look like a couple to others. A perfectly matched pair of lovebirds, even. The girl's words melted her murderous mood away.
"My superior. Vanguard Captain Cao Cao."
"Oh! Sorry!"
The girl bowed hastily. Everyone in Luoyang knew Cao Cao's name—especially the tale of her beating Eunuch Jian Shi's uncle to death while serving as Northern Palace Gate Captain. Aghast, she offered an expensive bouquet for free. Lee Seong-hwi insisted on paying full price—the shop's priciest one. That's why he refused the gift.
"Hm, flowers. I'll gladly accept."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Cao Cao took the bouquet. The girl fretted over possible retaliation, but it was needless. Cao Cao was thrilled—eager to skip in place. The flowers came from the seller, but Lee Seong-hwi had bought them. It felt no different from a gift from him. She was genuinely delighted.
* * *
Back at the mansion, Cao Cao ordered her maid to fetch the finest vase. She arranged the bouquet, the vibrant blooms fresh and lively. Staring endlessly, she wore an expression she'd never show others.
"What's with you, Mengde? Grinning like that…. Meet a hot guy or something?"
A woman nursing liquor midday cackled and asked. A spirited beauty with a strong vibe, her red hair pinned up like a warrior's, cascading to her long thighs. Intrigued by Cao Cao's joy, she pried.
Of course, Cao Cao said nothing. Confessing would mean endless teasing from her cousin—and if she dared flirt with him, blood ties wouldn't save her.
"Yuanyang, mind your own business."
"You can't say that and expect me not to be curious when you're beaming like this!"
The beauty laughed heartily, shrugging. She was Cao Cao's cousin, Xiahou Dun—renowned Peiguo heroine, fierce and swift. Even brutal Yellow Turbans crumbled before her like paper foes. Famous for beheading their leaders at Yeongcheon.
"Ahahaha! Don't make that face. Fine, fine, I'll drop it."
Xiahou Dun waved it off. She'd touched a sore spot. As Cao Cao glared, she stepped back—but her curiosity burned. She had to see for herself what piqued her interest.
She wanted to eye the man who'd stolen her cousin's heart.
"So, what's he like? Handsome? Good family?"
How long had it been since she claimed to drop it? Cao Cao sighed deeply at the probing.
Hiding it was pointless anyway. With Lee Seong-hwi as her aide, Xiahou Dun would've found out eventually. Her nosy nature guaranteed it.
"Not what you're thinking. My newly appointed aide gave it to me."
Technically the flower girl. But in Cao Cao's mind, she didn't exist. She remembered only receiving flowers from Lee Seong-hwi—hence her humming joy.
"Oho, the aide?"
Xiahou Dun's eyes lit up, eager to rush off and check him out. Mengde's business is mine. She'd inspect if he was handsome, his background—and gossip in detail to her siblings back home.
"Handsome?"
"…Y-Yes, quite."
"Personality? Looks don't matter if he's a wastrel like the Yuan clan's scum."
"Gentle. Likes helping others."
"Family? If it's lowly, Uncle'll object fiercely."
"These are chaotic times! Bloodlines don't matter!"
"Hoo…."
Xiahou Dun was stunned by the firm reply. What kind of man shook her cousin so? A frozen heart, never stirred by any man, now soft as tofu. The more she heard, the more intrigued she grew.
"Yuanyang, how's Peiguo?"
"Still uneasy. Yuzhou fell to the Yellow Turbans and was barely retaken. They're trembling, fearing another wave."
Xiahou Dun suggested quitting office, returning home, and raising troops. Cao Cao shook her head.
"Not yet. We need greater chaos… enough to tear the Han apart. That's our chance."
"The Ten Attendants alone won't cut it."
"If Luoyang fell and the Emperor died to the Turbans, maybe. But rebelling now, with both safe? Far too hasty."
"If you say so."
Xiahou Dun nodded, trusting Cao Cao implicitly.
"Tell me when the time comes. I'll fight for you."
She drained her cup, wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and offered more. Cao Cao refused, naturally.
"You know this aide guy?"
"No. But I believe he'll stand with the greater cause."
"On what basis?"
"Gut feeling."
"Impressive. Cao Mengde showing confidence without evidence."
Xiahou Dun chuckled.
"Sound him out now."
"I-I plan to."
"Not a confession—why hesitate? Want me to do it?"
"Shut up! Quiet!"
Xiahou Dun teased, and Cao Cao turned away, scowling.