Three Kingdoms: Madam, I am a decent person

Chapter 725 Ding Family VS Bian Family
Lady Bian watched Cao Cao leave in a rage, feeling somewhat helpless.

Only after Cao Cao left did she say to Lady Ding, "Sister, why bother?"

“If you really anger your husband and he divorces you, it will be almost impossible for you to regain your current position.”

"My husband's power is now second only to the emperor, above ten thousand others."

"Even His Majesty has to act according to his wishes."

"So many women would love to climb into his bed and bear his children, but none of them can reach your position, sister."

“Now, sister, you are having such a conflict with him because of Zixiu and Xian’er.”

"Quickly, before your husband makes a decision, bow your head and admit your mistake—"

When Ding heard Bian say this, she just smiled.

Turning her head to look at Bian, Ding said earnestly, "Sister, you were born a geisha and have relied on Mengde for your livelihood your whole life."

“In my sister’s eyes, nothing is more important than Mengde.”

"You wouldn't exist without Mengde."

"But I am different."

"In my eyes, nothing is more important than a promise."

"No one can compare to the two children I raised myself."

"Mengde, that won't work either."

"Back then, my brother sent me away from my hometown. I risked my life to escape to the Ding family in Pei State, but no one respected me."

“The Ding family of Pei State are even unwilling to acknowledge my identity.”

"It was because Mengde's mother took a liking to me that the Ding family of Pei State recognized me."

"Even so, only Liu, the mother of Zixiu and Xian'er, truly treated me as their master."

"Because of my poor health, I am unable to bear children for Mengde."

"It was Liu who always made Zixiu and Xian'er treat me like their own mother."

"Now, I watch helplessly as Zixiu dies on the battlefield, and I still cannot protect my only son, Xian'er."

"Promises no longer hold any meaning for me."

What is the meaning of living?

"What use is the position of Mengde's principal wife to me?"

"After I die, how can I face the Liu family? How can I face the person who treated me as his master until the very end?"

Bian's expression was rather unpleasant.

She couldn't understand it.

This Ding woman must be out of her mind.

Even if this were a time of chaos or prosperity, why would a lady from a prominent family value a lowly maid like Liu so much?

Moreover, people should look forward.

The person is gone, and those who are alive should work harder for the future and try even harder to please their husbands, who are second only to the emperor and above all others.

Watching Ding roll up the scroll from the ground, bite her finger, and press her fingerprint inside the scroll, Bian shook her head.

Good words cannot persuade a damned person.

This Ding family member, a well-bred lady, is so pedantic.

It's really like having to endure hardship when you can't.

She'll regret it sooner or later!
In the future, if I take her place as the legal wife, she shouldn't blame me.

Today, I've said everything I could say.

If she doesn't cherish it, who can she blame?

Bian did not try to persuade her further, but instead bowed to Ding and left.

Ding continued weaving cloth.

Her eyes welled up with tears.

Her only thought for living now is to visit her brother's grave once before she dies.

Also, go and see the children that Xian'er and that child had.

I heard that the child is the elder brother's only heir.

Ding's eyes welled up with tears. He wondered if his brother had left him anything.
I wonder if my brother asked him to pass on any message to me?

Or perhaps, this opportunity will never come in this lifetime.

As she wove, Ding murmured, "Sister, sister, I failed to take good care of Zixiu for you, and I cannot take good care of Xian'er either. After I die, how will I face you?"

Meanwhile, Cao Cao, surrounded by Xu Chu, rushed to the Ministry of Personnel.

Even from a distance, one could see that the main hall of the Imperial Secretariat was in complete chaos.

A group of officials were gathered in the hall, arguing fiercely about something.

Cao Cao strode over and shouted, "What's all the noise about? This is the Imperial Secretariat, not your home!"

The officials then quieted down.

The officials reacted in various ways as Cao Cao entered.

He bowed to Cao Cao, and the officials all stepped aside to the sides.

Cao Cao ordered Xu Chu to stand guard at the door, then strode across the threshold and into the main hall of the Imperial Secretariat, asking, "What happened? Why are you all here?"

At the very back of the crowd, Chen Qun was still sitting at his desk, holding a strip of cloth in his hand.

Xun You and Cheng Yu stared blankly at the table.

Jia Xu, however, kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, as if he were asleep.

Cao Cao's arrival finally made him open his eyes and pretend to read the documents.

Chen Qun stood up, picked up the strip of cloth, and handed it to Cao Cao, saying, "My lord, this is intelligence that was just sent from Ye City."

"The people from the School Affairs Office risked being discovered to send it out."

He then took a few more slips of paper from the table and handed them to Cao Cao, saying, "These are rumors that the people from the Imperial Household Department learned from various merchant caravans at today's market."

"Both corroborate each other, so they should both be reliable sources."

Cao Cao glanced around and saw that everyone was looking at him with nervous expressions. Cao Cao frowned.

However, he did not react.

Cao Cao took the strip of cloth from Chen Qun, glanced at it quickly, and sighed.

After looking at it several more times, he said, "So it's him who's going to attack."

"The two-year period of recuperation and rest ultimately gave him too much time."

"But now, I, Cao Cao, am no longer the person who can be easily manipulated."

Seemingly addressing his ministers, yet also seemingly consoling himself, Cao Cao said, "Now I have defeated Ma Chao, united the warlords of Guanzhong, opened up Liangzhou, and integrated Liangzhou, Sili, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou into one."

"With the cavalry of the Guanzhong warlords as our support, we trained five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, who were invincible in every battle."

"Now that Liangzhou is open, it can provide warhorses and valiant cavalry."

Cao Cao laughed and said, "Hmm~ Gentlemen, what else do you have to fear?"

"and--"

Cao Cao's smile vanished, replaced by a sinister expression: "That brat dares to provoke us."

“My eldest son, Zixiu, was tragically assassinated by his general. I have yet to avenge this grudge against him.”

"He actually dared to come up here on his own initiative."

"I will make him pay in blood!"

To Cao Cao's dismay, his somewhat exaggerated analysis failed to boost morale among his ministers.

On the contrary, the courtiers all looked at him with an indescribable expression.

Chen Qun also looked at Cao Cao with a rather complicated expression.

These words may fool others, but they cannot fool the ministers.

Especially since this general is so young, yet he is a very intelligent person.

He had long anticipated what Sikong might do.

Therefore, he took a different approach and did something that no other feudal lord had ever done before: he announced all the military forces he was using to march south!
Previously, the officials could comfort themselves by claiming they didn't understand the development of Hebei.

But judging from the military strength announced by the General this time, it can only inspire despair.

Chen Qun picked up a few bamboo slips and handed them to Cao Cao, saying with a wry smile, "My lord, take a look at the information that the Imperial Academy has confirmed from various merchant caravans."

(End of this chapter)