Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

After the banquet, those around Cao Rui asked him if he needed musicians and dancers, and they also mentioned that this was the Wu Palace and whether he should meet with some former Wu Palace officials.

The implication is quite obvious.

Cao Rui, the emperor of Wei, had never lacked women. He had been marching for several days and was exhausted, so he didn't want to cause any trouble tonight. More importantly, Cao Rui looked down on Sun Quan, and consequently, on Sun Quan's taste.

The following morning, Cao Rui saw off Cao Zhi's troops who were leading their army up the river outside Jianye City, and then returned to the city to go to the palace to see Bu Lianshi and Sun Luyu as planned.

Previously, Cao Rui and Sun Luban had discussed the future of the Sun family several times. Sun Luban often used a feigned retreat as a pretext, saying that she would follow her husband's wishes after marriage, and such matters should be decided by him. However, after each discussion, Sun Luban would always be extremely ingratiating to Cao Rui in bed, with a hint of helpless pleading in her voice.

That makes sense. Her husband wanted to kill her father, and one emperor wanted to kill another emperor. What could Sun Luban possibly do?
Having spent many years together, Sun Luban had figured out Cao Rui's bottom line.

That means Sun Quan must die, but there's still room for negotiation with the others.

The parts that could be negotiated naturally included Sun Luban's mother and sister.

Killing Sun Quan was a matter of state and public duty, an explanation to the people of Wei and our ancestors. Why kill Bu Lianshi? There should be some bottom line in political struggles. I heard that Bu Lianshi is already an old woman in her fifties.

During the chaotic period of the late Han Dynasty, when the court was in turmoil, Empress Dowager He, the sister of He Jin, forced Empress Dowager Dong to commit suicide. He Jin's family also met a bad end and were cursed for decades. Cao Rui had no interest in such unnecessary elimination.

If I were to actually kill him, I'm afraid I'd never be able to face Sun Luban again.

With this in mind, Cao Rui, escorted by Jiang Wei and Zhen Xiang, arrived at the residence of Sun Quan's family in Jianye Palace.

Soldiers have always guarded this place, and its security has been checked three times. As they reached the entrance, Cao Rui whispered his instructions:
"Boyue, Boming, you two can wait for me at the door."

"As you command," Jiang Wei and Zhen Xiang replied in unison.

Cao Rui slowly walked in, and as expected, Bu Lianshi and Sun Luyu, both dressed in ordinary clothes, knelt down to greet him.

Since there was no intention to kill, Cao Rui was happy to be magnanimous and nodded, saying, "You two may rise! One is the mother of Da Hu, and the other is Da Hu's sister. Although I have different stances from the Sun family, I have no intention of killing you two today."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Bu Lianshi's voice was slightly louder, while Sun Luyu's voice was even softer. The two responded according to the etiquette taught by the Wei officials, and then stood up with their heads bowed.

"Please sit down." Cao Rui gestured and then sat down without a word. As emperor, Cao Rui acted without restraint; wherever he went, he was the master.

"Yes." Bu Lianshi and Sun Luyu then sat down opposite Cao Rui, their brows slightly lowered, not daring to meet Cao Rui's gaze.

Cao Rui, on the other hand, was at ease, carefully observing the appearances of Bu Lianshi and her daughter, Sun Luyu.

Bu Lianshi's demeanor and appearance were surprisingly young to Cao Rui. Unlike his daughter Sun Luban, her face was rounder, but she also looked more dignified. She was definitely not an old woman; she was more like a noblewoman.

Sun Luyu, on the other hand, seemed to be a carbon copy of her sister, only thinner, with a more tapered jawline, slightly larger eyes, and a hint of melancholy in her eyes and brows.

Scholars are always perceptive, and Cao Rui was able to guess some of the feelings of Bu Lianshi and Sun Luyu at this moment.

For Bu Lianshi, her eldest daughter Da Hu's husband was coming to kill her husband. For Sun Luyu, her own father had killed her husband, and now her brother-in-law was coming to kill her father—how could she not be worried?
"Raise your heads, all of you. I never shy away from people looking at me." Cao Rui sighed. "Da Hu has given me a son and a daughter. My second son, Cao Yan, has been enfeoffed as the Prince of Chang Le, and my third daughter, Cao Fu, will be enfeoffed as a princess sooner or later. If we look at it from this perspective, I am not an outsider to you."

"What does Your Majesty intend to do with Zhongmou?" Bu Lianshi and Cao Rui exchanged glances for a few moments. On one hand, she was amazed by Cao Rui's godlike appearance, and on the other hand, she mustered her courage. Knowing that she would not die, her first question was about the handling of Sun Quan.

Cao Rui said calmly, "According to the latest military intelligence, Sun Quan led Quan Cong's army from Wuchang eastward to Wankou, but has been constantly forced back by the Wei navy. Now he has fled to the west of Chaisang."

"The Kingdom of Wu, I intend to destroy. Sun Quan, having harbored resentment towards Emperors Wu and Wen for decades, has no other option but to die and be offered sacrifices at the ancestral temple." Seeing Bu Lianshi sobbing uncontrollably, covering her face with her sleeve and weeping, Sun Luyu, kneeling beside Cao Rui, kept his eyes fixed on Cao Rui's face before asking:
"His Majesty?"

"Hmm?" Cao Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Is my sister doing well up north?" Sun Luyu asked.

Cao Rui nodded: "When Da Hu was in Luoyang and Shouchun, his food and living conditions were almost the same as those of the Noble Consort. He was very favored and had no worries."

Cao Rui noticed that Sun Luyu's slender hands were gripping her sleeves tightly, clearly indicating that she was extremely nervous.

Sun Luyu then asked, "Regarding Father's affair with the State of Wu, how did my sister speak to His Majesty?"

Cao Rui shook his head slightly and replied, "A woman should follow her husband's wishes. Da Hu will never insist on asking me about this matter; he never will."

“If my sister won’t ask about the Sun family, then I won’t either.” Sun Luyu continued, “How does Your Majesty intend to settle my mother and me? Since you don’t want to kill us, surely you need to find a place for us to go?”

Cao Rui did not hesitate: "As for Lady Bu, she shall be sent back to Luoyang to live. I will bestow upon you a mansion in Luoyang, and you will not lack for your needs or rewards. As for you, I will call you Little Tiger, just like your sister."

"Little Tiger, I have heard about Sun Quan killing Zhu Ju. Now that he is gone, how about I arrange a marriage for you?"

Sun Luyu's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the thing that had been troubling him the most these past few days was about to happen? The emperor had taken his sister as a concubine, and now he wanted to take me as one too?

Having met such a heroic figure as the Emperor today, it seems... it seems that submitting oneself to him and rekindling the old story of Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede wouldn't be a problem.

Sun Luyu was completely unprepared for what Cao Rui would say next: "Your Majesty... what are Your Majesty's plans?"

Cao Rui smiled and said, "I have a general by my side named Jiang Wei, who is over thirty years old. He lost his first wife four years ago, and he is quite handsome. I wonder what you, Little Tiger, are like..."

"No, I refuse!" Sun Luyu refused repeatedly, then burst into tears: "If you're going to just give me away to someone, I might as well die now! Anyway, so many people in the Sun family are going to die, one more won't make a difference!"

Cao Rui silently shook his head.

Of course, Cao Rui's statement was made on a whim and he had not mentioned it to Jiang Wei. Since Sun Luyu was unwilling and his attitude was so strong, Cao Rui could not force him.

After talking for a while, Cao Rui returned without telling anyone about the matter.

As night fell, Cao Rui was still awake in the palace when Zhen Xiang, who was on night duty, came to see him.

"What happened that you're calling me here?" Cao Rui asked, somewhat surprised.

Zhen Xiang replied, "Your Majesty, Lady Bu... Lady Bu has sent Your Majesty a gift."

Cao Rui waved his hand: "What gift? You can accept it for me."

Zhen Xiang said awkwardly, "Your Majesty, I cannot accept this gift. Please come and see it for yourself."

Cao Rui stood up, pushed open the door, and looked outside, only to see Sun Luyu standing alone in the outer hall, dressed in clothes similar to those worn by Sun Luban back then! (End of Chapter)