My Three Kingdoms is not right

Xudu, the Sikong Mansion.

Two thrushes landed on the locust tree in the courtyard, tilting their heads and chattering away, seemingly arguing about something.

Cao Cao had two stacks of documents piled on his desk. The one on the left had already been reviewed, while the one on the right still stood tall. He stroked the pen in his hand, but his gaze was fixed on the treetops outside the window, and he hesitated to put pen to paper.

"My lord?"

Man Chong's voice pulled her back to reality.

"Hmm." Cao Cao rubbed his temples. "Go on."

"Yes," Man Chong continued, "all the documents in the Grand Commandant's office have been examined. Among them, three letters between her husband and Yuan Shu were found. The contents were all about family matters and there was no new evidence."

Cao Cao remained silent.

"In addition, Yang Biao caught a cold in prison," Man Chong said in a low voice. "I have ordered the physician to treat him, but Yang Biao is old and has not improved in time."

The aloeswood in the incense burner had just burned down to its last bit of ash, collapsing silently. Cao Cao suddenly recalled the scene of Liu Xun digging a pit for her when he went to court that day, and a slight irritation rose in his heart:

"Don't interrogate her for now. Let her rest more and have the imperial physician examine her."

Man Chong was slightly surprised, but did not ask any further questions and bowed to accept the order.

"Regarding Yuan Shu, I've heard..."

Cheng Yu was only halfway through his sentence when a servant announced from outside the hall: "My lord, a palace attendant has informed us that His Majesty is visiting incognito and is almost at the Minister of Works' residence."

The strategists and officials in the hall all paled, but Cao Cao helplessly put down his pen, his face full of bitterness.

"I've been on leave from court for the past two days to avoid her, so how did she manage to find me here?"

Despite his complaints, he had no choice but to hurry to the door. He saw the emperor, dressed in ordinary clothes and accompanied by only a few personal guards, stepping over the threshold.

"Your subject Cao Cao respectfully welcomes Your Majesty." Cao Cao bowed deeply. Behind him, Cheng Yu, Man Chong, Xun You, and others knelt down one after another.

"You may rise, my dear minister." Liu Xie stepped forward to support her. "I heard you had a headache; are you feeling any better?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am feeling slightly better than yesterday." Cao Cao bowed in gratitude.

"That's good, let's go inside and talk." Liu Xie was obviously just being polite, knowing that she was actually faking illness to ask for leave.

Once seated, she asked Cao Cao, who was standing beside her, "Has any news come from Lü Bu's side?"

Cao Cao shook his head: "No."

Liu Xie grew anxious: "Why isn't it here yet? It's been so long!"

Cao Cao explained helplessly, "Xuchang and Xiapi are more than 800 li apart, and the roads are not smooth, so it will take some time."

Liu Xie paused, momentarily speechless, before asking again, "How is the preparation for the campaign against Lü Bu progressing at the Minister of Works' residence?"

Cao Cao rubbed her temples; her head was starting to ache. "A large army is engaged in a campaign with countless tasks; it cannot be prepared in just a few days."

"Moreover, I have previously informed Your Majesty that it is not appropriate to take action against Lü Bu at this time."

"Minister Cao!" Liu Xie clenched his fists. "A'Xun is imprisoned by Lü Bu and could be in danger at any moment. Are you expecting me to stand idly by and do nothing?"

Man Chong and the others inside had never seen the emperor angry before, and they wished they could hold their breath and keep their heads down, not daring to utter a sound.

Cao Cao was unusually good-tempered today, and patiently explained, "Since Your Highness risked so much to send your men to kill Yuan Shu's envoy and bring back his head, you must have believed that this action could change Lü Bu's stance."

"Yuan Shu is now very powerful. If Lü Bu were to join him, the court would be in grave danger. Your Highness is taking this risky move in order to turn the tide of the war."

"At this critical juncture, the imperial court must not provoke Lü Bu, causing him to waver and become inconsistent, which would be detrimental to the overall situation."

Liu Xie, his eyes red, glared at her and said, "How could Cao Sikong place his hopes on Lü Bu?"

"Lu Bu is an audacious and treacherous villain! She killed Ding Yuan, killed Dong Zhuo, and even seized Xuzhou; her actions have no moral bottom line! What if Ah Xun is...?"

Her voice choked up as she spoke.

Cao Cao pursed his lips, his voice growing increasingly firm: "I understand Your Majesty's concern for the princess, and I... am no different."

"But this is an opportunity Her Highness risked her life to win for the court and turn the tide. I will not let her efforts be in vain!"

"I am not placing my hopes on Lü Bu, but rather on Your Highness's decision!"

Liu Xie remained silent for a long time, but still shook his head and said, "I cannot gamble with A Xun's life."

"I urge Minister Cao to immediately mobilize troops and station them on the border of Xuzhou! At the very least... at the very least, to make Lü Bu hesitate and dare not act rashly!"

Cao Cao sighed.

For a moment, she even felt a pang of envy for the young emperor before her.

Perhaps it is precisely because she was so young and had almost lost everything that she was able to speak so decisively and resolutely.

Cao Cao's melancholy lasted only a moment before his face regained its composure: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty..."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted her.

Guo Jia, reeking of alcohol, rushed over. "Your Majesty! My lord! Lü Bu has sent an envoy to Xuchang!"

Cao Cao turned around abruptly: "What?"

"Lu Bu's envoy, Chen Deng, has just arrived in Xuchang, carrying a memorial personally written by Lu Bu." The sickly young girl was surprisingly animated:

"Lu Bu declared that Yuan Shu's usurpation of the throne and rebellion were unacceptable to the world."

"She was a woman of great integrity, and she refused Yuan Shu's tempting offers of wealth, unwilling to collude with him. She was willing to accept the control of the imperial court."

Cao Cao was overjoyed: "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Yuan Shu is no longer a threat!!"

"Is there any news about the princess?" Liu Xie asked anxiously.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Guo Jia nodded with a smile, "Chen Deng said that Lü Bu has treated the princess as an honored guest and has already escorted Her Highness south across the river."

Liu Xie let out a long sigh of relief, and his tense shoulders finally relaxed.

Ah Xun, when you come back this time, I will never allow you to run around again!

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

The river stretches endlessly, its surface shrouded in mist and waves.

On the wide river, a small boat bobs and rocks in the waves.

As the boat traveled into the middle of the river, a sudden storm arose, causing the boat to rock violently. Liu Xun's face had turned from fair to deathly pale.

He lay on the side of the boat, feeling nauseous and exhausted, his breath trembling.

Since his transmigration, he has experienced battlefield battles and court intrigues, but he has never felt that anything was more unbearable than this moment.

"Your Highness, have some water to calm down." Zhao Yun knelt beside him, one hand on his shoulder, the other hand handing him a water pouch, his brows furrowed with worry.

She was from the north and not used to traveling by boat, but at this moment she was far superior to Liu Xun.

The ship rocked again.

Liu Xun gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the sour taste rising in his throat, but inwardly he cursed: What use are golden branches and jade leaves, what use are eighty-one points of martial arts strength, they are all useless in the face of seasickness.

"Waaah... Zilong..." His voice was weak, almost dissipating in the wind, "I will never take a boat again."

Zhao Yun suppressed a smile and replied gently, "That won't do. We can't just not go back, can we?"

Liu Xun asked in despair, "How much longer?"

"A little over half an hour," the boatman replied from the front. He was a lean old man who had been navigating the boat for decades and was used to passengers like him.

"Young master, your health is not good; you'll be fine after sitting for a while longer."

Haha, I'll sit here a few more times.

You might as well just kill me.

Liu Xun was too weak to reply. He closed his eyes and let the river wind slap his face.

Tired, let's destroy it...