Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Compared to the undercurrents in the imperial court, the thoughts of the women in the harem were completely transparent to Cao Rui.

Whether seeking status, favor, kindness, or stability... there are always underlying reasons.

As for Da Hu, a woman who is the same age as Guo Yao and is already thirty-one, she has the same worries about age as Guo Yao, but with an additional layer of anxiety about her identity.

Even amidst the laughter and cheerful conversation just moments before, the sorrow and worry in my heart could not be concealed.

A king's word is his bond, and his concubines must also keep their promises.

After Consort Mao and Consort Guo left, it was already midnight.

"Help me change my clothes," Cao Rui ordered calmly. He then stood up, his arms outstretched, and allowed Sun Luban to loosen his belt and remove his robes from behind.

It had been almost half a year since Sun Quan died, and Cao Rui had granted Bu Lianshi, Sun Luban, and Sun Luyu special permission to privately pay their respects. To be frank, Sun Luban's impression of her father, Sun Quan, had become much blurred after nine years of separation. The arrival of her mother and sister, Sun Luyu, shaped her father's image from a different perspective.

This father figure gradually overlapped with and clashed with the image of Sun Quan that Cao Rui had cultivated over the years, causing him immense inner turmoil. Sun Luban knew long ago that when the Great Wei conquered Wu, Sun Quan would die; there was no other way out. Sun Luban often used this to comfort Bu Lianshi and Sun Luyu.

She had imagined the scene of seeing Cao Rui countless times in her mind, but when she was actually left alone with her husband, tears still flowed uncontrollably. She held Cao Rui's robe in her hands, squatted on the ground, and sobbed.

Cao Rui sighed softly and pulled him close: "Da Hu, I have told you the same things many times, and I will not repeat them to you today. As your husband, I would like to keep your father here, what does it matter if he is imprisoned for ten or twenty years? But as the emperor, I have no choice but to do so."

"My enmity with the Sun family is based on official business, not personal. However, all the officials in the court have a blood feud with the Sun family. Countless fathers, relatives, and sons of the generals in the army died on the front lines of the war against Wu. Even the civil officials, such as the Minister of Works Sima Yi, do you know him? This man who has never led an army, his elder brother Sima Lang died of illness in the army that was fighting against Wu. The hatred has long been so intense that it cannot be resolved, and only this can end it."

"Without clear and just punishment, the nation's perception cannot be corrected. If I do not take action, my ministers and the people will resent me..."

"Do you know that even I, the emperor, have my difficulties?"

Sun Luban paused a few times with a sob, raised her tearful eyes, and spoke in a fragile voice like a frightened cat that had been drenched in rain: "What troubles Your Majesty?"

Cao Rui said, “Being an emperor is the most difficult thing. When I first ascended the throne, I was determined to enjoy all the pleasures of the world and be a pleasure-seeking emperor. But look at me, have I ever rested over the years? Every battle, every court affair, every appointment and dismissal, I have to be extra careful. I can’t relax even a little bit.”

"Big Tiger, do you believe it or not, if I dare to relax for a few years, someone will come and take my head."

Sun Luban twisted the hem of his robe, his eyes reddening: "It's not as serious as Your Majesty makes it out to be."

“That’s how power works.” Cao Rui shook his head: “If you don’t manage it yourself, someone else will. As time goes on, the power will fall into the hands of others, and you won’t be able to take it back. If the Great Wei could replace the Han Dynasty, why can’t someone else replace the Wei Dynasty?”

Sun Luban took Cao Rui's arm and whispered, "I know Your Majesty has also had a hard time..." Cao Rui put his arm around Sun Luban's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "However, I was unable to protect your father's clan, but I tried my best to protect your mother's clan, the Bu clan. Bu Zishan was your mother's cousin. He died in the Battle of Yidao, and I have already ordered Lu Xun to bury him on the spot with the honors due to a county marquis."

"Bu Zishan's two sons, Bu Xie and Bu Chan, are both serving in the Great Wei. Bu Xie has been enfeoffed as a Marquis within the Passes and appointed as a Colonel of Two Thousand Stones, and has been sent to Hebei to take up a post. Bu Chan has been enfeoffed as a Marquis of a Pavilion and is serving as a Gentleman of the Palace in the Ministry of Personnel. Neither of them is yet thirty years old!"

"I have already promised the Bu family wealth and honor." Cao Rui gently patted Sun Luban's arm with his right hand: "I will treat your father's and mother's families equally. As for your mother's family, I have done my best... In a few days, I will order Bu Chan to see your mother and your two sisters to reunite. Da Hu, you and your sister Xiao Hu should look forward."

Sun Luban murmured, "Your Majesty is the Emperor, and my husband. I will do whatever Your Majesty says... But has Your Majesty ever thought about what will happen to my son, Yan'er?"

"Even now, after the news of Lady Sun's passing reached the palace, some people have been gossiping that I and Yan'er will be implicated. If Yan'er were older, what would happen if people gossiped about and criticized him?"

Cao Rui took a breath and slowly said, "Da Hu, do you think this is a big deal?"

“How can it not be a big deal?” When his son was mentioned, Sun Luban’s voice unconsciously became a little shrill.

Cao Rui said, "Since ancient times, being a prince has been the most difficult thing. As the son of the emperor, regardless of age, one will inevitably think that one is born noble and can covet the throne. But when it comes to the throne, questioning one's status is really just a trivial matter."

"The late emperor's struggle for the throne with the Prince of Yongqiu resulted in the execution of Cui Yan, Mao Jie, and others who supported the late emperor, as well as Yang Xiu, who supported the Prince of Yongqiu. I will not go into the details of the other incidents. As for the tragic situation of the Prince of Yongqiu after the late emperor ascended the throne, the tragic fate of the princes of the Great Wei imperial family, and the massacre of all the male members of the Ding brothers' family... Compared to these, what do a few curses and comments from others amount to?"

"If Yan'er grows up to be capable, these things will not break him. If he grows up to be incapable, no one will talk about these things, and he will be rich and noble for life. Didn't I make him the Prince of Chang Le?"

Sun Luban pursed her lips, seemingly finding it hard to accept: "I still dare not think about what the future holds."

Cao Rui sighed again: "Cao Yan is my son, and he bears the surname Cao, not Sun. This proves everything. Rest assured, I will not only have these four sons. When I have more sons in the future, who will have time to keep an eye on Yan and bother him all day long?"

Sun Luban was still somewhat dissatisfied: "But His Majesty still hasn't said what to do about Yan'er."

"What should we do?" Cao Rui said in a deep voice, "Heaven knows, we'll see when the time comes. If it really doesn't work out, we can just muddle through life and that's it. Don't think about it too much."

Sun Luban seemed to have figured it out herself. She sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty is right. Your Majesty has many sons, but I only have this one. That's why I think about things a lot."

Cao Rui looked into Sun Luban's eyes: "If you had a few more children, you wouldn't have such thoughts."

Sun Luban wiped his eyes: "Really?"

"Mm." Cao Rui nodded. (End of Chapter)