Tiger Owl

Chapter 180 The New Year Arrives
As the year drew to a close and the New Year atmosphere grew stronger, Cao Cao returned to Xuchang from Youzhou.

Inside the official's quarters, Jia Xu was reporting to him on the events of the past few months. Jia Xu was a little nervous, knowing that his lord would definitely be angry.

Sure enough, when Cao Cao heard that Sun Ben had attacked Danyang County without authorization, he was so angry that his face turned ashen and he roared, "This fool is going to ruin my plans!"

"My lord, I have failed in my duty this time. Please punish me!" Jia Xu sighed.

Cao Cao suppressed his anger and asked again, "Did he tell you beforehand?"

Jia Xu shook his head. "He kept it a secret very well. Even the spies I planted around him were unaware of it until he crossed the river, but it was too late."

"What's the situation now?"

“I have forced him to retreat.”

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and said, "The war in the north should be over by next year. If he can hold out in Danyang County for another year, it won't be a bad thing."

Jia Xu gave a wry smile and said, "This humble servant also hopes for such a thing, but in reality it is impossible."

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly. "You mean Gan Ning?"

"Exactly!"

Jia Xu nodded and continued, "My lord, Gan Ning disdains to fight Sun Ben. He has prepared two strategies for us, one civil and one military. The civil strategy is to occupy Hefei and give us a challenge to deal with Sun Ben ourselves."

"And what about martial arts?" Cao Cao asked with a gloomy face.

“He told me that if we did not allow Sun Ben to withdraw his troops from Danyang County, he would wage war against us directly.”

"呲-"

Cao Cao gasped. "That's what he said?"

“My lord, I can assure you that he is serious. He has gone so far as to mobilize 100,000 troops and thousands of warships to attack Jiujiang County, which means he is prepared to turn against us. My lord is on a northern expedition, and I cannot bear such a risk.”

After a long pause, Cao Cao nodded and said, "You did the right thing. The south must not be in chaos now, or it will affect my grand plan."

Cao Cao paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. Finally, he stood by the window, gazing out for a long time. After a long while, he sighed softly and said, "We have raised a tiger that will become our own enemy!"

"My lord, it's just a bit more difficult. No matter how fierce he is, he can't compare to Yuan Shao."

Cao Cao nodded slowly, "That's right! Even the fiercest tiger can't withstand my iron fist. As long as I can cross the river, I will be a mighty dragon crossing the river!"

Cao Cao regained his confidence and said to Jia Xu, "Pacify Sun Ben. Although he did something foolish, he can still play an important role if used properly."

"I understand the humble position!"

On the last day of the seventh year of Jian'an, the emperor issued an edict abolishing the Three Dukes system and re-establishing the Chancellor system, officially appointing Cao Cao as Chancellor, Duke of Wei, and bestowing upon him the Nine Bestowments. From then on, Cao Cao was known as Chancellor Cao.

On Lunar New Year's Eve, the south also experienced its second snowfall of the winter.

Early in the morning, Xiao Qiao couldn't wait to drag Xu Wei to the street. Actually, she didn't want to go shopping, but rather to admire the new windows that had just been installed on the carriage. The pure crystal windows were very transparent. With the thin gauze curtains drawn, one could clearly see outside, but those outside couldn't see inside.

Only one window was installed on the car; the other window was left uninstalled for ventilation.

These high-purity crystals actually came from Yuan Shu, who in turn obtained them from the Luoyang Imperial Palace. After going through many twists and turns, they eventually ended up in Gan Ning's hands, becoming his private wealth. Xiao Qiao complained that it was cold with the window open, and only then did Gan Ning remember that he had high-quality crystals in his storeroom.

"It's so beautiful!"

Both of them could clearly see what was happening on the street and couldn't help but marvel.

Xiao Qiao laughed and said, "Now I can keep my word. I don't have to walk on the street anymore, making him worry that something might happen to me."

Xu Wei stretched out her slender finger and tapped the tip of her nose with a smile, "With your beauty, which man wouldn't be tempted? If it weren't for Sang Ye and the others following you, you would have been snatched away on the street long ago."

"Aren't you the same?"

"I'm not as stunningly beautiful as you, and besides, I didn't just go shopping casually."

"You eloped three times, wasn't that dangerous?"

"This..." Xu Wei was speechless for a moment.

"Alright! Alright!" Xiao Qiao hugged Xu Wei and laughed, "You're just as beautiful, no need to be modest. We're like sisters who aren't loved by our husbands, we have to be of one mind."

At this moment, the female guard Sangzhi knocked on the window from the outside and said, "Madam wants you to go back."

"Ah! Let's go back then!"

The carriage slowly turned around and headed towards the Marquis of Wuchang's residence.

In the study, Da Qiao said to her husband, "I spoke with Doctor Liu yesterday, and she said that A Yu and Yun Qing can sleep together now. Husband, today is New Year's Eve, shall we?"

Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Xu Wei's matter hasn't been settled with her father yet, let her wait a little longer!"

Xu Wei's father insisted that his daughter be his legal wife, so the marriage proposal in Xuchang ended badly. Gan Ning, of course, had his principles. He had already decided to make Da Qiao his legal wife. In his heart, he had already accepted Da Qiao as his wife. They had not only consummated their marriage, but also developed feelings for each other.

Xu Wei can no longer replace Da Qiao in Gan Ning's heart.

Gan Ning still needs to give Xu Wei a choice, let her mature a bit more, and let her make a rational choice.

Da Qiao nodded and said, "Yun Qing's situation is special, I understand. What about A Yu?"

Gan Ning laughed and said, "It's not as simple as just being able to have sex physically. There's also the question of whether she can accept it psychologically. Think about yourself. You took the initiative to have sex with me. Why did you take the initiative in the first place?"

Da Qiao blushed and thought for a moment before saying, "I really want a child, and I really want to be your woman."

“That’s right. That means you’re mentally prepared, while Xiao Qiao isn’t. If you don’t believe me, go ask her. If she’s really ready, I wouldn’t mind taking her into my room.”

Da Qiao nodded slightly, "Alright! I'll test the waters."

As Da Qiao left the study and stepped out of the courtyard, she saw Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei returning hand in hand.

"Sister, why are you in such a hurry to bring us back?"

"Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, there are so many things to do, you all went out to play, are you just leaving me with all this work?"

Xu Wei quickly grabbed Da Qiao's hand and apologized, "Big sister, don't be angry. It was my fault. I know I was wrong."

"Just admit your mistake!"

Da Qiao really liked Xu Wei's obedience. She smiled slightly and said, "The head steward just brought over this year's final accounts. I put them in your study. Go take a look, just a quick glance will do. We have other things to do this afternoon."

"I'm going right now!"

Xu Wei hurriedly returned to her own courtyard.

Xiao Qiao asked timidly, "Sister, what can I do?"

"First, you need to be clear about your attitude: do you know you're wrong?"

"I was wrong!"

Da Qiao patted her younger sister's face. She was half a head taller than her, but still acted like a child.

"Today, the whole family will take a bath to welcome the New Year. Go and prepare that extra-large bathtub so we can all take a bath together."

Xiao Qiao was startled. "Bathing together, with Gan Lang?"

Da Qiao nodded. "If you don't want to, that's fine. I won't force you."

Xiao Qiao lowered her head and after a long while asked, "Is Yun Qing coming too?"

“I asked Yunqing, and she said she was shy and wanted to bathe by herself.”

"Well, then I'll just forget about it and take a shower myself."

Da Qiao looked at her younger sister and asked, "Have you thought it through?"

Da Qiao thought for a while, then nodded gently, "Sister, I'm not ready yet."

Da Qiao sighed inwardly. Her sister was indeed not ready to consummate the marriage. Well, she would have to wait a little longer.
"Alright! I'll arrange the bathing. You go and help Yunqing with the accounts. We'll prepare the year-end rewards together this afternoon. I can't handle it all by myself."

(End of this chapter)