In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

After enjoying the vanity massage of being cheered by the masses.

Cao Cao did not go to the palace to report on his work.

He didn't even go back to the Prime Minister's residence to take a nice hot bath.

He turned a corner.

Together with Han Sui,

They headed straight for Ma Teng's imperial kitchen.

……

Outside the main gate of the Imperial Kitchen,

The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground.

I didn't dare to breathe.

Cao Cao paced back and forth at the doorway, his hands behind his back.

He seemed extremely hesitant.

Han Sui stood aside.

Holding a package in his arms,

It was that half-cloak and the helmet.

"Wen Yue."

Cao Cao stopped and walked up to Han Sui.

"Do you think my expression right now is convincing?"

As he spoke,

Cao Cao forced out an expression.

"Should I cry more bitterly, grab his hand and say, 'What a pity about Mengqi's child?'"

"Should we act more angry, slam our fists on the table, and yell, 'This unfilial son is disobedient and has let us down!'"

Han Sui looked at Cao Cao.

Even when Zhang Xiu killed three sages with a single cannon shot, he was never this embarrassed.

This isn't some cunning villain; this is clearly a middle-aged man suffering from social anxiety.

Han Sui sighed.

"Prime Minister, that's too much. That expression looks like someone constipated, not someone attending a funeral."

Stop pretending.

"Why don't you just tell the truth?"

"After all... this is too absurd, no matter how good the acting is, it can't cover up the fact."

Cao Cao scratched his head in frustration.

He messed up his hair.

"If I didn't want to tell the truth, Shoucheng would roast me alive."

Han Sui remained silent.

If you don't reply, and you're a witness, what can I do?

"Alright, whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed anyway."

"Let's go in!"

……

Enter through the main gate and push open the small door to the imperial kitchen.

This imperial kitchen,

It now resembles a barbecue stall with a Western Liang style.

On the table that should have been displaying delicate pastries,

It's now piled high with large chunks of mutton and beef leg.

There were also jars and jars of fine wine.

A round, chubby figure was facing away from the doorway.

Brush oil onto the whole roasted lamb.

Who would believe this is the same Magistrate Ma from before?

"Perfect timing! Sprinkle some cumin on top and Chao'er will be absolutely mesmerized."

"This is the true taste of Xiliang! This is the true meaning of life!"

He hummed an unknown little tune.

"Brother Shoucheng..."

Cao Cao's voice sounded a little weak.

Ma Teng was startled and suddenly turned around.

Upon seeing Cao Cao,

His eyes lit up instantly.

"Prime Minister!"

With a "snap",

Ma Teng threw the brush in his hand away.

Ignoring the oil on his hands, he strode over to meet her.

"You're back!"

That smile,

It's so sincere it's heartbreaking.

Since coming to Xudu, life has been truly comfortable.

No sandstorms, no hidden arrows.

There was no backstabbing or infighting.

Cao Cao treated him well.

Money was provided, meat was provided, and they even cooked for the emperor.

Aside from not being allowed to leave the city, they were basically treated like wealthy people.

Ma Teng grabbed Cao Cao's hand.

He looked her up and down, his face full of concern.

"Oh dear, you've lost weight!"

"She's gotten darker and more haggard."

"The food at the front must be bad. I knew those military cooks were terrible at cooking and wasting food!"

Ma Teng pulled Cao Cao and Han Sui inside.

"Come on, come on, it's better to come at the right time than to come at the right time."

"Freshly roasted lamb leg, from Xiliang, it took a lot of effort to get it."

Cao Cao was forced to sit down.

Looking at the leg of lamb in front of him,

Golden and crispy, very appetizing.

But my throat is blocked.

He recalled that desperate figure jumping off the cliff.

"Brother Shoucheng..."

"You... have gained weight again."

Ma Teng chuckled.

He patted his belly casually.

"Thanks to the Prime Minister."

"The soil and water of Xuchang are so nourishing; before I knew it, I had gained another ten pounds."

As Ma Teng personally cut the meat, he casually asked,

"By the way, how's that brat Meng Qi doing?"

"You didn't kill him this time, did you?"

Ma Teng handed a piece of sliced ​​mutton to Cao Cao.

laughed:

"That kid needs to be taught a lesson. He has the same temper as me and his mother, and he's as stubborn as a mule."

"Just beat him up and bring him back. He can be the one to help me with the fire. He's strong and a master at chopping wood."

Ma Teng saw that Cao Cao and Han Sui did not reply.

Cao Cao stared at the plate without saying a word.

Looking at Han Sui, Han Sui's eyes also darted away.

Ma Teng is a seasoned veteran.

His smile gradually faded.

"What's wrong?"

"Meng Qi...has he gotten himself into big trouble?"

"Did you burn down your central command tent? Or did you wound one of your generals?"

Cao Cao sighed.

He raised his hand and waved at Han Sui.

Han Sui reluctantly placed the package on the table.

Open,

A half-broken silver-white cloak

There was also a silver helmet stained with blood.

That was Ma Chao's most cherished possession, and Ma Teng recognized it.

"Brother Shoucheng."

"Meng Qi, he..."

"That's all."

The knife Ma Teng was holding was suspended in mid-air.

The rosy glow on his face turned deathly pale, and he looked completely bewildered.

His lips trembled.

"No...that's all?"

"How did it disappear?"

Ma Teng's voice trembled.

Didn't you say you were going to spare his life?

"Did he die in battle? Or...or did he refuse to surrender and you...behead him?"

If one dies on the battlefield, that is the fate of a military general.

If one is beheaded, then it's a case of the victor taking all.

Cao Cao shook his head.

His eyes were full of frustration and helplessness.

"He...committed suicide."

"Jump off the cliff!"

"What?"

Ma Teng swayed and almost fell.

He swayed and sat down on the ground.

"Why...why?"

I couldn't hold back any longer.

Tears streamed down my face.

His entire body of fat was trembling.

"That kid may be stubborn, but he's not the kind of person who would do something rash! He's so proud, how could he commit suicide?"

"Are they driven to the brink? Are they running out of food?"

Cao Cao nodded, then shook his head.

"It's a dead end."

"But also... my mental path is blocked."

Cao Cao looked at Ma Teng and decided to stop hiding the truth.

I'd better tell this cruel joke myself.

"Brother Shoucheng."

"I stood on the cliff edge, trying to persuade him to surrender."

I told him that he was living a good life in Xudu, enjoying fine clothes and delicacies, and was able to live out his old age in peace.

"I told him that he had gained ten pounds, fallen in love with cooking, and become the culinary master of Xudu, even preparing the emperor's imperial meals."

"I also said that you want to open a chain store in the Han Dynasty, promote the mutton of Xiliang, and let him come back to be the young master. In the future, we won't have to fight anymore, we can just count money."

Ma Teng, with tears in his eyes.

Listen to a sentence, then nod.

"yes."

"That's all the truth."

"What's wrong with this? Isn't this a good day?"

Cao Cao sighed deeply, his voice filled with helplessness.

"That's where the problem lies."

"He doesn't believe it."

Cao Cao pointed to his heart.

He said—

"My father was the ruler of Xiliang! A hero of his time! A descendant of General Fubo!"

"How could I possibly become a cook? To cook for that traitor Cao Cao?"

"He said you've gained ten pounds? That's like a corpse swelling up from being in the water!"

"He said you love to cook, but that's when he chopped you into mincemeat and made you into meat broth!"

"He said you wanted to open a chain of stores, that's...that's like dismembering you and displaying your head throughout the nine border regions!"

Cao Cao pointed to the northwest.

"He did this to preserve the last 'backbone' of the Ma family."

"They jumped down with their people."

Ma Teng had imagined a thousand ways for Ma Chao to die.