My Three Kingdoms is not right

Upon hearing Liu Xun's assessment, Liu Bei's eyes flashed with a hint of realization: "Then what should I do? Should I tell Cao Cao?"

"No," Liu Xun shook his head. "If we tell Cao Cao now, the distrust between her and the emperor will only intensify, which will be detrimental to the stability of the court."

"Moreover, if she handles it, who will be implicated and how it will end will be beyond our control."

At this point, Liu Xun grasped the woman's slightly cool, delicate hand: "If Xuande trusts me, then please leave it to me to handle, shall we?"

He knew this was putting Liu Bei at risk.

If Liu Bei had directly reported Dong Cheng to Cao Cao, he would not have been implicated by Dong Cheng, but would have gained Cao Cao's trust instead.

He was regarded as "one of their own" by Cao Cao.

To escape the predicament of having real power hollowed out.

However, Liu Bei, whose pretty face was slightly flushed, did not hesitate at all.

"As Your Highness commands!"

"Thank you, Xuande," Liu Xun said gently. "Return home today and act as usual. Do not arouse suspicion. If Dong Cheng contacts you again, just give him a vague answer and make excuses."

"When the time is right, I will tell you how to cooperate."

……

After seeing Liu Bei off, Liu Xun went straight to the west courtyard.

The girl in the wheelchair was reading by the window. When Liu Xun pushed open the door and entered, she looked up and gave him a transparent smile: "Your Highness, did you enjoy the banquet today?"

"Finally, can we make our move?"

-----------------

After the rain, the osmanthus blossoms in the Sikong Mansion courtyard were scattered all over the ground, and the damp air had a slightly sweet taste.

Cao Cao, still slightly drunk, leaned against the table, gently massaging his temples.

Guo Jia, holding a scroll of silk, reported slowly and deliberately:

"...Dong Cheng went to the Left General's residence at 9:00 AM yesterday and did not leave until noon."

"Dozens of new guards have been added to the Changshui Camp, all of whom are former subordinates of Dong Cheng."

"After Wu Shuo's secret meeting with Dong Cheng the day before yesterday, he has been frequently taking the opportunity to go to the Ministry of Personnel on official business these past two days."

……

That's about it.

Cheng Yu asked, "Has Dong Cheng been frequently visiting the palace lately?"

"No," Guo Jia shook his head. "Since Qiu Ji, His Majesty seems to have intentionally distanced himself from her, and has almost never summoned her alone."

Cao Cao seemed to be deep in thought, then turned to Guo Jia and asked, "Did Liu Bei show any unusual behavior after meeting Dong Cheng?"

"After Dong Cheng left, Liu Bei went to Wannian Villa. He happened to run into the lord there." Guo Jia paused briefly, then continued, "But after the lord left, she stayed at the villa for nearly half an hour."

"However, after that, they continued weaving mats and growing vegetables, and there was no change in their behavior."

Cao Cao nodded slightly.

A moment of silence fell over the hall. The advisors exchanged glances, but none of them dared to speak—when it came to that prince, none of them could fathom their lord's thoughts.

After a long pause, Xun Yu suggested, "Dong Cheng harbors treacherous intentions and has already exposed her actions. Why not open a case for investigation, publicly announce her crimes, and prevent her from implicating others and causing further turmoil in the court?"

Her intention was very clear.

A public investigation and punishment according to the law would minimize the impact. This would both eliminate the mastermind and deter others, while also maintaining the dignity between the emperor and Cao Cao, preventing the situation from spiraling out of control.

Cao Cao suddenly chuckled, his sleeve brushing against the bamboo slips on the table: "Wenruo, don't worry too much. Dong Cheng is jumping around like this; does she really think there are so many people in the Xuchang court who are of one mind with her?"

Xun Yu hesitated, as if he wanted to speak.

The next moment, Cao Cao's smile faded, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes:

"If that's really the case... then this imperial court needs a thorough overhaul."

-----------------

"Knock knock knock!"

Dong Cheng turned over and covered his head with the brocade quilt.

The person knocking on the door was clearly oblivious to the danger; instead of stopping, they knocked even more frantically.

"General! General!"

"Get out!" Dong Cheng sat up abruptly, grabbed the jade pillow from beside him, and slammed it towards the door.

She hated getting up early, and having gone to bed late the night before, she was in a terrible mood and had decided to break the legs of the servants outside.

There was a moment of silence outside the door.

A moment later, however, a servant's trembling voice rang out again: "General Wu Zilan says he has something extremely urgent and must see you!"

Wu Zilan?

Dong Cheng's eyebrows furrowed.

What's that brainless idiot doing here so early in the morning?

"Make her wait!" Dong Cheng roared irritably, reluctantly throwing off the covers and getting out of bed.

After tidying up, she went to the front hall with a sullen face.

Wu Zilan was pacing back and forth in the hall. Hearing footsteps, she quickly came forward: "General Dong! Something terrible has happened!"

Dong Cheng turned and gestured for the servant to close the door, then glared at her with displeasure: "I told you not to come directly to my residence! Cao Cao's intelligence network is everywhere in the city. With our frequent interactions, we'll be noticed sooner or later!"

"Speak, what's the matter that's so urgent?"

Wu Zilan's face flushed and paled by her scolding, and she swallowed hard: "Wu Shuo has been arrested!"

The impatience on Dong Cheng's face vanished instantly.

She herself came from a military background in Xiliang and was well-liked in the army, but was not popular among civil officials. Although she had tried to win over the gentry as allies, she was completely disregarded by Yang Biao and others.

In the eyes of these veteran officials, Dong Zhuo's remaining forces were guilty of original sin.

Wu Shuo, a court official, was an important supporter of hers in the court.

In Dong Cheng's plan, she was the key figure who would quickly take control of the Secretariat when the uprising began.

"What happened? Explain yourself!" Dong Cheng asked, suppressing his worry.

Wu Zilan quickly recounted everything she knew.

It turned out that yesterday afternoon, Wu Shuo was stopped by several officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, who said they had official business to discuss with him.

Wu Shuo, as an Imperial Secretary, was equivalent to the emperor's secretary and was subordinate to the Guanglu Xun.

With the superior having a solution, there was nothing more to say.

However, once he left, he never came out again.

Wu Zilan received the message after dark.

After waiting all night, they sent someone to Guanglu Temple to inquire, only to learn that Wu Shuo was being held in the yamen and was not even allowed to visit him, which seemed to indicate that something serious had happened.

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, so she disregarded Dong Cheng's instructions and rushed over to deliver the news.

Countless thoughts raced through Dong Cheng's mind.

Wu Shuo's detention is indeed worrying.

But that doesn't necessarily mean the plan to kill Cao Cao has been exposed.

Otherwise, the one who should have taken action would have been the Court of Justice, the Director of the Capital Region, or the Magistrate of Xudu; in any case, it should never have been the Grand Master of Ceremonies.

"You said that Wu Shuo was taken away on the grounds of 'official questioning'?" she asked again to confirm.

"Yes." Wu Zilan nodded, then asked cautiously, "Could it be that Cao Cao knows something?"

"No need to panic." Dong Cheng breathed a slight sigh of relief. "If Cao Cao really found out, how could the two of us still be standing here talking?"

"General, you are right." Wu Zilan felt somewhat relieved upon hearing the certainty in her tone. "Wu Shuo spends money recklessly and has embezzled quite a bit. Perhaps the Grand Master of Ceremonies has caught him doing something wrong?"

Dong Cheng considered Wu Shuo's personality and felt that this was quite likely, so he spoke with more confidence:

"I will send someone to investigate."

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it. You can stay here and have breakfast with me."