Three Kingdoms: A wise grandson, Cao Wei can last for three generations!

Cao Cao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Shoucheng, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"Please speak, Prime Minister."

"How much were you involved in the matter of the imperial edict hidden in the belt?"

Ma Teng's hand trembled violently, and he almost dropped the chess piece.

He looked up at Cao Cao. Cao Cao's face was expressionless, his gaze calm, as if he were asking what they would eat today.

"Prime Minister," Ma Teng took a deep breath, "that was more than ten years ago."

"I know," Cao Cao nodded. "I was just asking. What were your thoughts when Dong Cheng presented you with the imperial edict hidden in his belt?"

Ma Teng remained silent for a long time, then suddenly stood up and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die ten thousand times over."

Cao Cao neither moved nor spoke.

The room was so quiet that you could hear the birds chirping outside the window.

After a long while, Cao Cao stood up, walked to Ma Teng, and reached out to help him up.

"Shoucheng," he said, "that matter is in the past."

Ma Teng was stunned.

"Back then, everyone had their own perspective. You were a Han official, and your heart was with the Han dynasty; I understand." Cao Cao patted him on the shoulder. "Now that you're here, you're one of us. The past is past."

Ma Teng looked at Cao Cao, and his eyes suddenly turned a little red.

"Prime Minister..."

"Alright," Cao Cao waved his hand. "Sit down and continue the game. You haven't lost this game yet."

The two sat down again and continued playing chess.

But Ma Teng's mind was no longer on the chessboard.

He suddenly spoke up: "Prime Minister, I have a request that I cannot make."

"explain."

"My daughter, Yunlu, is fifteen this year," Ma Teng said carefully. "I would like to find her a good family."

Cao Cao's eyes lit up.

"Oh? Who has Toshinari taken a fancy to?"

Ma Teng looked at him and said, word by word, "Your grandson, Cao Rui."

Cao Cao was stunned. Then, he burst into laughter.

"Good! Good!" He laughed so hard his mustache stood on end. "Shoucheng, you have a sharp eye!"

Ma Teng smiled as well: "The Prime Minister doesn't mind?"

"What's there to complain about?" Cao Cao waved his hand. "I've met your daughter; she's spirited and has a promising future. You've also met my grandson; he was only six when he went to Jiangdong to recruit Pang Tong. He'll be a great talent in the future. These two together are a perfect match!"

Ma Teng felt a weight lifted from his heart. But he still added, "However, Prime Minister, this matter depends on the children's wishes. Yunlu is a strong-willed girl; if she doesn't want to, I can't persuade her otherwise."

Cao Cao nodded: "Of course. My grandson, though only seven years old, is very determined. If he doesn't want to, there's nothing I can do."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

That evening, Cao Cao summoned Cao Rui to his study.

When Cao Rui entered, he was still feeling uneasy—had his daily visits to the West Gate been discovered?

"grandfather."

Cao Cao looked at him with a smile in his eyes.

"Rui'er, what do you think of that girl from the Ma family?"

Cao Rui's heart skipped a beat, but he pretended to be calm: "Grandfather, are you referring to Miss Ma Yunlu?"

"Who else could it be?"

Cao Rui paused for a moment, then said, "That's good."

"Very good?" Cao Cao laughed. "What do you mean by 'very good'?"

Cao Rui lowered his head and remained silent.

Cao Cao stood up, walked up to him, and bent down to look at him.

"I'm telling you, Ma Teng proposed to me today."

Cao Rui suddenly raised his head.

"Propose...proposal?"

"Yes." Cao Cao nodded. "I want to marry my daughter to you."

Cao Rui's mind went blank.

Marry him? He's only seven! Ma Yunlu is fifteen! This…

But he quickly realized—this was a childhood betrothal, an engagement that would take place when they grew up.

"What did Grandfather say?"

"I said, it depends on whether you're willing or not," Cao Cao said, looking at him. "Are you willing?"

Cao Rui opened his mouth, wanting to say, "I'm only seven years old, it's too early for me to think about this," but the words that came out were:

"Would she...would she be willing?"

Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

"Good lad, you've got the point." He patted Cao Rui on the shoulder. "This matter requires both sides to be willing. Go ask her tomorrow."

The next morning, at the West Gate.

When Cao Rui arrived, Ma Yunlu was already waiting.

She wasn't wearing red today; instead, she wore a light blue outfit, and her hair was still tied up high, making her look especially beautiful in the morning light.

"You're here?" She looked at him. "Where have you been today?"

Cao Rui took a deep breath and said, "Miss Ma, I have something to tell you."

Ma Yunlu paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Speak up."

Cao Rui looked at her and said, word by word, "My grandfather said that your father has proposed marriage."

Ma Yunlu's smile faltered for a moment.

"Proposing marriage?"

"Yes." Cao Rui nodded. "I want to marry you to me."

Ma Yunlu fell into deep thought.

Cao Rui's palms were sweating with nervousness, but he still forced himself to continue, "My grandfather asked me if I was willing. I said, 'It depends on your wishes. Are you willing?'"

Ma Yunlu looked at him with a complex expression in her eyes.

After a long while, she suddenly smiled.

"You're just a seven-year-old kid, what do you know about 'willing' or 'unwilling'?"

Cao Rui met her gaze and said earnestly, "I know."

"What do you know?"

"I know I want to see you every day," Cao Rui said. "I know I was happy when you taught me to ride a horse. I know you said you would wait for me if I grew into a peerless hero—I've kept those words in my heart."

Ma Yunlu was stunned. She looked at the seven-year-old child in front of her, and for the first time, there was something different in her eyes.

This isn't teasing, it's not a joke, it's serious.

"you……"

Cao Rui interrupted her: "I know I'm young, I know I'm not good enough for you now. But give me ten years, and in ten years I will surely grow into a peerless hero. Then, I will come and marry you."

Ma Yunlu thought for a long time, and then she smiled. That smile was more beautiful than any she had ever smiled before.

"Okay," she said. "I'll wait for you."

Cao Rui felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, and suddenly it felt like dawn had broken.

"So... then it's settled?"

Ma Yunlu nodded and mounted his horse.

"It's a deal." She looked at him. "But you have to grow up quickly. I don't want to wait too long."

After saying that, she spurred her horse and galloped away.

Cao Rui stood there, watching her retreating figure, and suddenly shouted:

"I won't keep you waiting too long!"

In the distance, Ma Yunlu's figure paused for a moment, then disappeared even faster at the end of the official road.

When the news reached Ma Teng's ears, he was playing chess with Cao Cao.

"Yunlu agreed?" He was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "This girl actually took a liking to that little boy."

Cao Cao placed a piece on the board and said slowly, "My grandson, though young, is shrewd and knows how to get things done. Your daughter has good judgment."

Ma Teng nodded and placed a piece as well.

"Prime Minister, about this matter..."

"It's settled," Cao Cao declared decisively. "Rui'er will be married when she turns fifteen."