My Three Kingdoms is not right

Cao Cao turned to Liu Xun and asked in a gentle voice, "What instructions does Your Highness have?"

Liu Xun, supporting himself on the low table, stood up, and Sun Shangxiang quickly reached out to support his arm. He walked to the steps, looked at Gao Shun kneeling on the ground, then at Cao Cao, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Gao Shun aided and abetted the rebellion and deserved to be executed. However, due to his military nature, he only knew how to serve his lord to the death. Although he was foolish and ignorant of the times, his ambition was still pitiable."

"I implore you, Minister Sikong, to show leniency, take her subordinates into custody, strip her of her official rank, demote her to a commoner, and spare her life."

"Your Highness, please sit down and talk." Cao Cao frowned and looked at Gao Shun: "Since Your Highness has personally pleaded for your life, I will spare your life."

In her view, since Gao Shun was unusable anyway, being able to recruit her elite troops was enough to achieve her goal.

To everyone's surprise, Gao Shun remained kneeling on the ground, without raising his head.

"Thank you, Your Highness, I am deeply grateful." Her voice was hoarse. "But although Lü Bu was not a wise ruler, he did show me great favor. When he was alive, I was unable to advise him and prevent his downfall; now that he is dead, how can I live on alone?"

"Please grant my request, Your Highness."

A moment of silence fell over the city wall, and even the generals who had been hostile to Gao Shun were moved.

Liu Xun felt a tightness in his chest.

This blindly loyal woman!

"Gao Shun," Liu Xun said helplessly, bending down to the stubborn girl, "Lu Bu is dead, and his family is left unattended. If you are truly loyal and righteous, are you going to ignore them and let them fend for themselves?"

Gao Shun's body stiffened, and he slowly raised his head to look at Liu Xun: "Gao Shun is willing to take care of my former master's family in order to save my life. Your Highness's great kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by Gao Shun."

After saying this, he prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed, his forehead hitting the brick surface heavily.

Liu Xun breathed a sigh of relief, reached out to help Gao Shun up, and said gently, "Find a remote village, buy some land, and live well through this chaotic world."

He turned back to his seat, and as he passed Cao Cao, he heard the girl sigh very softly.

"Your Highness is always so soft-hearted."

Liu Xun smiled slightly but did not answer.

"Bring Chen Gong." Cao Cao's voice regained its usual calm and collected tone.

But Liu Xun noticed the nervousness hidden in the girl's expression.

He sighed inwardly.

After his conversation with Chen Gong that night, he had already guessed the fate of the two of them.

Chen Gong was not tied up. She was wearing a blue cloth robe. Although she was imprisoned, she was still clean, tidy and meticulous.

After she went up to the city wall, she didn't look at Cao Cao, but stared straight at the rising sun in the east, letting the morning breeze blow and her clothes flutter.

Cao Cao looked at her with extremely complex emotions.

It was because Chen Gong followed and supported her during her most difficult time that she has everything she has today.

It was Chen Gong who resolutely betrayed him and joined Lü Bu, almost burning his own foundation to the ground.

"Gongtai, you have always considered yourself to have more than enough wisdom and strategy, but what is your state now?"

Chen Gong then withdrew his gaze, turned to Cao Cao, and smiled slightly, saying, "Mengde, there's no need for further words. I have been disloyal as a subject and unjust as a friend. Now, I only seek death."

Cao Cao was taken aback, then asked, "If you die, what will happen to your elderly father? What will happen to your husband and daughters?"

Chen Gong smiled and said, "I have heard that those who govern the world with filial piety do not harm other people's relatives, and those who govern the world with benevolence do not cut off other people's ancestral sacrifices."

"The fate of my father and daughter rests in your hands, not mine. I have been brought to justice today and have no shame before Heaven and Earth. If you, my lord, will remember our past relationship, I hope you will treat my father kindly; if you, my lord, resent me for assisting Lü Bu and becoming your enemy, I will have no grievances."

"Please make a swift decision, Your Excellency, and do not keep the palace waiting."

After saying this, she straightened her clothes, bowed deeply to Cao Cao, then turned and strode down the city wall.

This clever man had already seen through Cao Cao.

Of course, he also saw through Lü Bu, and he saw through himself.

Cao Cao gazed at her retreating figure, remaining silent for a long time. Finally, he slowly closed his eyes and waved his hand, saying, "Give her a proper burial and take good care of her father."

A moment later, a muffled thud came from downstairs, followed by silence.

Cao Cao looked somber and remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "Who else needs to be seen?"

Cheng Yu flipped through the roster in his hand: "The meritorious officials in this capture of the city are Song Xian, Wei Xu, and Yao Tian. All three are waiting downstairs."

Cao Cao nodded: "Bring him up."

A moment later, the three filed up the stairs.

Upon reaching the steps, they all knelt on one knee: "This humble general pays respects to the Minister of Works!"

Cao Cao leaned back in his seat, his phoenix eyes half-closed, looking down at them: "Get up, all of you."

The three of them stood up and stood with their hands at their sides.

Cao Cao spoke calmly: "You have abandoned the darkness and embraced the light, and have rendered meritorious service by surrendering the city. From now on, you will still lead your old troops and serve under Xiahou Dun. You should be diligent in your duties and not fail the court's favor."

The three knelt down again and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Minister!"

Cao Cao waved his hand: "Step down."

The three bowed and prepared to retreat. Just then, a sudden change occurred!

Yao Tian suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with terrifying hatred, and his figure lunged forward like lightning! A flash of cold light appeared in his sleeve, and a short dagger was thrust straight at Cao Cao's heart!

"Die, you traitor Cao!"

The change happened so suddenly. Song Xian and Wei Xu were so shocked that their faces turned ashen, and they stood frozen in place, unable to move. Xu Chu was the closest, but it was too late to draw his sword; Xiahou Dun was at the top of the stairs, and he was even further away than they could reach him.

Cao Cao's pupils suddenly contracted—

"Bang!"

A figure suddenly cut in front of Cao Cao, blocking his path.

Liu Xun.

He somehow found the strength to suddenly lift the table in front of him, slamming it into Yao Tian's wrist and deflecting the blade. The blade crashed against a pillar with a clang, sending splinters flying.

After making this move, Liu Xun could no longer stand and staggered forward.

"Your Highness!" Sun Shangxiang cried out and rushed over to support him.

At the same time, the armored soldiers surged forward like a tide, brandishing their swords and spears, instantly surrounding Yao Tian and pressing countless weapons against her vital points.

Cao Cao, still shaken, his phoenix eyes blazing with fury, roared, "Who ordered you to attempt an assassination?!"

Yao Tian was pinned to the ground, her face pressed against the cold brick surface, yet she still struggled desperately. She raised her head, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, but her eyes shone with an astonishing light, like two clusters of will-o'-the-wisps burning through hell.

"Who ordered this?" she hissed, her laughter shrill and piercing. "I am from Juling! Cao Cao, you dared to slaughter 100,000 lives in Xuzhou! How could I not dare to kill you?"

"If I fail today, it is my incompetence. But the wronged souls you slaughtered will wait for you in the underworld! They will haunt you day and night, ensuring you never have peace in this life!!"

After saying that, she suddenly slammed her neck into the blade of a long sword beside her!

Blood splattered everywhere.

Yao Tian's body went limp and collapsed, blood gushing from his neck, spreading a glaring red across the blue bricks.

She turned her face and cast her last gaze toward Liu Xun, who was not far away.

The deep-seated hatred in his eyes gradually faded, finally settling into a moment of tranquility.

The city gate tower was deathly silent.

Cao Cao's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently. After a long pause, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Investigate! Find out the origins of this woman! Exterminate her entire clan!"

"No need." A weak voice came from beside the pillar.

Liu Xun steadied himself by leaning on the table, his face even paler than before. His gaze fell on Yao Tian's gradually cooling corpse, and he slowly said:

"Her entire clan was massacred in the fourth year of the Chuping era..."

The first thing that made him realize was that when he saw Yao Tian, ​​he felt a vague unease in his heart.

Everything was normal at the time, and Cao Cao was rewarding those who had contributed to the cause. He did not expect Yao Tian to be so resolute.

Looking at the dark-skinned, rough-looking woman lying in a pool of blood, and recalling all the times they had spent together, his blood surged, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.