Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

A banquet is a banquet after all, and drinking and having fun are the themes, while the personnel arrangements in between are just embellishments.

Xu Shu, who had performed brilliantly in front of all the generals tonight, was unexpectedly extraordinary. He toasted as many as fifteen bottles in a row, which attracted everyone's attention.

After the banquet was over, more than half of them were helped out of the palace by the eunuchs, and then they got on the carriages and returned home. For these generals, being able to attend the banquet in the North Palace Jiade Hall on the first day of His Majesty's return to Luoyang was a true sign that His Majesty had won his heart and was being highly valued. What if he got drunk?

Although Cao Rui was not so drunk that he could not walk, his body was still a little shaky. He got into the carriage surrounded by eunuchs and returned to the harem bedroom.

Long before the banquet and just after entering the palace and meeting the concubines who were waiting for him at the palace gate, Cao Rui had ordered the eunuchs to call Concubine Mao, Zhaoyi Sun, Jieyu Guo, Jieyu Su and Concubine Yang together. Of course, the three children, Cao Qi, Cao Yan and Cao Shou, were also called.

"I respectfully welcome your Majesty."

As soon as the eunuch pushed open the double doors of the bedroom, the five concubines waiting inside stood up and saluted at the same time. The five women lined up neatly in a row, with Concubine Mao in the middle, Concubine Sun and Concubine Guo on the left, and Concubine Su and Concubine Yang on the right.

Cao Rui was a little drunk today, and nodded to the girls. After the eunuch beside him took the fox fur, he immediately started to play with the three children. They played for about a quarter of an hour until the youngest, Cao Shou, burst into tears. Then he let the middle-aged palace servants who were accompanying him carry them away and take them to the side hall to rest. It was already the hour of Hai, and it was still too late for the children.

But for Mao Yan and Sun Luban, who had not seen Cao Rui for a long time, what could they do by waiting until dawn, let alone the hour of Hai?

As soon as the three children and the palace maids left, Su Huan said carefully, "Your Majesty, Shou'er is too young and always cries. Today is the first time Your Majesty has returned to Luoyang and is having a banquet with the ministers. I hope Your Majesty will not be disturbed by Shou'er."

"It's okay." Perhaps it was because the hall was too warm, and he drank too much today, so Cao Rui pretended to take off his outer robe.

Upon seeing this, Guo Yao took the initiative to walk forward quickly, took the outer robe from behind Cao Rui, dusted off the non-existent dust, and then folded it neatly on the table beside her.

Mao Yan and Sun Luban looked at each other, and they saw a hint of impatience in each other's eyes.

When you were in Xuchang before, we didn't see what happened between you and His Majesty, so we didn't know. Now that you are back in Luoyang North Palace, how come it is your turn to help His Majesty change clothes? Are you the eldest wife?
Guo Yao was folding clothes on the side, while Mao Yan and Sun Luban came over from the left and right, each holding one of Cao Rui's arms.

Seeing this, Cao Rui, who was slightly drunk, smiled and said, "It seems that during the time I was away from Luoyang, the relationship between the two of you has become even better."

Mao Yan's almond-shaped eyes blinked slightly, and her delicate white fingers gently rested on Cao Rui's wrist. She smiled and looked at him: "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs outside, but you don't know that we sisters are lonely in the palace. Apart from taking care of the children, we only have each other to chat and relieve boredom. Naturally, Da Hu and I are close."

Sun Luban leaned closer to him, and Cao Rui felt something soft on his right upper arm and couldn't help but smile again.

Sun Luban whispered, "I and my sister have been staying in Luoyang, and we miss your majesty every day. We haven't seen you for several months, so how can we not be happy today?"

"Alright, alright." Cao Rui smiled and took the two girls' shoulders: "I drank a little too much today, prepare some honey water, I will take a bath later, and give me a massage."

After receiving the order, Mao Yan turned around and glanced at everyone, then calmly ordered:
"Da Hu, you go to the reclining chair with His Majesty first and massage His Majesty's head. I will come later."

"Okay." Sun Luban smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Su Huan, go get some honey water."

"Okay." Su Huan was reserved to begin with, and the birth of a son didn't improve her much. As soon as Mao Yanchu gave the order, she walked quickly towards the outer room where the palace maids were.

"Hui Yu, go and arrange for the bathing."

"Me?" Yang Huiyu was the youngest. He had grown up in wealth and had never worked hard on such things. He had also never served His Majesty in bathing in Xuchang, so he lost his composure for a moment.

Mao Yan did not teach him, and instructed Guo Yao: "Guo Yao, go, you should be familiar with this matter."

Guo Yao bowed and agreed, but did not go herself. Instead, she walked to Yang Huiyu's side and whispered, "Huiyu, go to the outer room to find Zhao Yuan or Zhao Jie. They will come to prepare. The bedroom here is much larger than the bedroom in Xuchang, so don't be afraid. Yes, it's the direction Su Huan just walked to."

"I understand. Thank you, Sister Yao." Yang Huiyu bowed her head and then quickly walked away.

Cao Rui and Sun Luban walked to the reclining chairs together. The reclining chairs were all the same in shape. Now that it was winter, they were all covered with cushions made of fire fox fur produced in Bingzhou. Sun Luban was behind him, breathing sweetly, talking to him in private, while letting his head sink into the soft cushions.

It was so comfortable that Cao Rui closed his eyes slightly.

The way Mao Yan gave orders just now sounded like an ordinary wife giving instructions to her concubines, and Guo Yao's reaction was also interesting. She did not go herself, but assigned the task to Yang Huiyu.

Cao Rui heard this and just smiled and said nothing, letting them go. Compared with the intrigues and hidden minds of the officials in the previous dynasty, the behaviors of the women in the harem were like children learning to walk. They were all bright and lovely concubines, full of ornamental value. Sun Luban was behind, Mao Yan knelt on the cushion beside the recliner, holding Cao Rui's right hand, interlocking their fingers for a few seconds, then loosening them, and carefully shaking each finger.

Seeing this, Guo Yao, who was standing by, was not willing to be outdone. She quickly walked to Cao Rui's left side, kneaded down like Mao Yan, and gently kneaded his thighs.

Mao Yan whispered, "Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs in Xuchang for the past few months. I have noticed that Your Majesty has become a little thinner, which really worries me. I don't know how Your Majesty is eating and sleeping well in Xuchang."

Cao Rui responded softly: "Have you lost weight? Why didn't I notice it?"

Sun Luban leaned close to Cao Rui's ear and whispered, "Perhaps it's because Your Majesty started growing a short beard this year that he looks a little thinner."

Cao Rui narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Maybe I am a little tired. This year I went to Hebei, patrolled the border of You and Bing, and went to Liaodong again. I have traveled at least ten thousand miles."

"Let me tell you, the scenery of Liaodong is different from that of the Central Plains. I wonder if you have heard of Liaoze, a swamp a hundred miles wide, which has become a natural barrier between Liaodong and Liaoxi..."

Cao Rui spoke for a while, and Mao Yan on his right side said coquettishly: "Who knows if Your Majesty is tired in Xuchang? The Queen Mother took five new concubines into Your Majesty's harem this year, but she didn't leave them in Luoyang, but sent them directly to Xuchang."

"Will I be tired?" Cao Rui reached out and stroked Mao Yan's cheek: "Are you still not familiar with me?"

"We haven't seen each other for several months. It would be good to get to know each other again." Sun Luban joked from behind.

Cao Rui sighed softly: "Speaking of which, the Queen Mother has married five women for me this year. My harem is already overwhelmed and the expenses are too high."

"Just like today, among all the ladies in the harem, you are the only ones I am most familiar with. If I call you to my side, won't the other ladies be left out? How about this, I will give you a definite message today. There will be no more people in the harem within five years."

Guo Yao whispered, "Your Majesty is a great man, isn't this too hard for you?"

"Will I make myself suffer?" Cao Rui shook his head: "I can't say it's suffering. To be honest, I asked Bi Jin this afternoon. Among the more than 20 people in the harem, some of them I haven't favored for more than a year."

Mao Yan whispered, "Your Majesty is too busy this year. If you are not so busy next year, you will be able to take care of it."

"The affairs of the harem are somewhat similar to those of the previous dynasty, and it is difficult to cover them all." Cao Rui closed his eyes and whispered, "Oh, by the way, when I hosted the generals today, I forgot to tell them that the army of Wei will be limited to 350,000 in the next few years. We should focus on recuperation and not expand the army."

"Your Majesty, you must have worked hard at the banquet today. It seems that you are beginning to feel drunk." Guo Yao pressed him gently, with a look of pity on her face.

Guo Yao's words and her expression might seem lovely from Cao Rui's perspective, but to Mao Yan and Sun Luban, she seemed completely pretentious and even a little annoying.

Su Huan personally brought a lacquered wooden tray, Mao Yan took it, and served Cao Rui a jade cup to drink a few sips. Yang Huiyu had also returned and stood beside Su Huan.

"Sister Yao, the bathing matter has been instructed." Yang Huiyu said in a low voice.

"Okay." Guo Yao responded.

This matter was arranged by Mao Yan, but Yang Huiyu did not speak to her directly, but to Guo Yao. Mao Yan was slightly moved, looked at Guo Yao with a hint of provocation and said:

"Sister Huiyu entered the palace the latest, but she is so favored by His Majesty. It is true that she was invited into the palace by the Queen Mother. She is indeed virtuous."

Obviously, Mao Yan and Sun Luban's daughters had a good personal relationship because they were both raising the prince and were in Luoyang, and they seemed to have the intention of joining forces. Yang Huiyu, who had just entered the palace, was more familiar with Guo Yao, after all, they were both in Xuchang.

Cao Rui closed his eyes, thinking about the affairs of the court. He didn't want to bother with the affairs between the concubines, but given the current situation, if he didn't appease them, he was afraid that there would be a quarrel.

Of course, this was inseparable from the fact that he had been away from Luoyang for a long time and had divided his concubines into two parts, Luoyang and Xuchang.

Mao Yan, Sun Luban and Guo Yao were all in their twenties, young and lovely. After giving birth to the prince, the already pretty Mao Yan had matured, and Sun Luban had become even more plump.

After all, they all have princes under their knees. For the long term, even if they are kind-hearted, the women in the harem will have some desire to compete with each other. Although it is difficult to suppress, they must not indulge and watch the atmosphere in the harem become unpredictable.

Cao Rui opened his eyes and coughed lightly: "Why, you guys are arguing just because I'm drunk? Are you going to quarrel again later?" (End of this chapter)