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

Cao Rui went directly to Xun Yu's residence after leaving Jia Xu's.

When Cao Rui arrived at Xun Yu's residence, Xun Yu was writing something in his study.

It wasn't a memorial to the throne, but a letter. Cao Rui glanced at it and saw the first two characters—"Fengxiao".

This was written for Guo Jia.

Xun Yu looked up, saw it was him, and smiled slightly: "Young Master has arrived? Please have a seat."

Cao Rui walked over and sat down opposite him. He had been to Xun Yu's study many times, and each time he felt comfortable—the books were neatly arranged, the desk was spotless, and even the orchid on the windowsill was meticulously trimmed.

But today, he felt that something was missing from this study.

"Is your son writing a letter to Mr. Guo?"

Xun Yu nodded, folded the letter, and put it into a wooden box. There were already quite a few letters in that box, all written to Guo Jia—Xun Yu had written to him every year since Guo Jia's death in the twelfth year of Jian'an.

"When Fengxiao was alive, I never had to worry about such things," Xun Yu said softly as he closed the wooden box. "He always managed to find a way that would satisfy both the Prime Minister and the people of the world."

Cao Rui didn't reply. He knew what Xun Yu was referring to—the matter of recommending Cao Rui to the Duke of Wei.

"My lord, what do you think of my grandfather's intention to serve the Duke of Wei?"

Xun Yu paused for a moment, not answering directly, but instead asking, "What do you think?"

"I think it's only a matter of time before my grandfather becomes the Duke of Wei. The world is not yet settled, and he needs a higher position to govern his officials."

But what you said is not wrong. Entering the service of the Duke of Wei was taking that step. Once that step was taken, there was no turning back.

Xun Yu looked at him, a hint of surprise in his eyes: "You're only eight years old, how can you think so much?"

"That's what Mr. Jia taught me. You have to see through things, not just look at the surface."

Xun Yu suddenly smiled, a faint but genuine smile.

"Jia Wenhe taught well. Pang Shiyuan also taught well. As for me, Xun—"

He paused, then reached out and ruffled Cao Rui's hair: "It wasn't a waste of time teaching him."

He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Cao Rui: "Your grandfather was a man of great talent and ambition. I've been with him for twenty years and watched him get to where he is today."

When he first welcomed the emperor to Xuchang, we all said, "The Han dynasty is on the verge of revival." But later...

He stopped.

Cao Rui waited for him to continue. But Xun Yu didn't finish his sentence; instead, he turned to look at him and asked, "Young master, tell me, can the Han dynasty still be restored?"

Cao Rui's heart sank. He couldn't answer this question. To say yes would be lying; to say no would be attacking his conscience.

"Lord Xun," he stood up and walked to Xun Yu, "I have a question I would like to ask you."

"ask."

"Does Your Excellency cherish the Han Dynasty or the entire realm?"

Xun Yu was stunned. He looked at the eight-year-old child in front of him, and for the first time, there was something different in his eyes—not gentleness, not approval, but shock.

"My lord, the Han dynasty belongs to the world, but the world is not just the Han dynasty. What the people want is not just an emperor with the surname Liu, but peaceful days. You know in your heart whether my grandfather could give the people peaceful days."

Xun Yu fell silent. He stood there, like an old tree that had been battered by the wind for a long time, finally showing cracks.

After a long silence, he spoke, his voice hoarse: "You're right. But I..."

He didn't finish speaking. But Cao Rui understood.

But he was Xun Yu. He had lived his entire life for the Han Dynasty. To ask him to let go of that would be tantamount to asking him to deny his own life.

Cao Rui suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the old man. He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "Lord, I shall take my leave now. I will come to seek your guidance another day."

Xun Yu nodded and watched him leave.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival.

The city of Xuchang was brightly decorated with lanterns, and people carried lanterns as they strolled through the streets, creating a lively atmosphere. Cao Cao hosted a banquet at the Prime Minister's residence, inviting his officials to admire the lanterns.

Cao Rui stood under the eaves, looking at the lanterns filling the courtyard, but his mind was on something else. He had just seen a small, lacquered wooden food box on Cao Cao's desk in the study, its lid tightly closed.

He asked, "Grandfather, what is this?"

Cao Cao did not answer, but only glanced at him with a complicated look in his eyes.

Cao Rui's heart skipped a beat.

Empty food container.

"I will no longer have the pleasure of enjoying delicious food with you."

This was the catalyst for Xun Yu's death in history. Cao Cao sent Xun Yu an empty food box, implying that he had no more salary, or in other words, that he was no longer of value. Xun Yu opened the food box, found it empty, and then committed suicide by poison.

Now, this food box is on Cao Cao's desk.

Cao Rui took a deep breath and walked up to Cao Cao.

"Grandfather, there's something I want to tell you."

Cao Cao was talking to Cheng Yu when he heard this and turned around: "What is it?"

Cao Rui glanced around. Cao Cao understood, waved his hand, and dismissed Cheng Yu.

"Speak."

Cao Rui carefully considered his words before speaking: "Grandfather, have you thought about Lord Xun's matter?"

Cao Cao's expression changed. He stared at Cao Rui, his gaze sharp: "Who told you that?"

"No one told me. I saw it myself." Cao Rui pointed to the food box on the table. "Grandfather, this food box is for Lord Xun, isn't it?"

Cao Cao remained silent.

"Grandfather," Cao Rui took a deep breath, "have you considered what the world will say if Lord Xun dies?"

"What did you say?"

"They say that Chancellor Cao cannot tolerate even one person who opposes him. They say that Chancellor Cao even killed old ministers who had served him for twenty years. They say—"

"Enough," Cao Cao interrupted him, his voice low but not angry. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a long time.

"Rui'er, do you know why Lord Xun opposes me?"

"I know. Because your heart belongs to the Han Dynasty."

"That's right." Cao Cao opened his eyes. "His heart belongs to the Han Dynasty, not to me, Cao Cao. For twenty years, he has fought countless battles for me and devised countless strategies, but his heart still belongs to that rotten Han Dynasty."

He paused, a hint of weariness in his voice: "I don't hate him. I just..."

He didn't finish speaking. But Cao Rui understood.

Cao Cao didn't hate Xun Yu; he hated himself—hated that he couldn't win Xun Yu's heart, and hated that he had come to this point only because the person who trusted him the most had stood up to oppose him.

"Grandfather," Cao Rui knelt down, looking into Cao Cao's eyes, "may I ask you for a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Let my grandson deliver this food box."

Cao Cao was stunned. He looked at the eight-year-old child in front of him and remained silent for a long time.

Do you know what that means?

"Know."

"Then why are you still going?"

"Go," Cao Rui said earnestly, "If I go, Lord Ling will not die."

Cao Cao stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, like the last ray of sunshine in winter.

"Okay. Go ahead."

Cao Rui carried the food box and walked on the way to Xun Yu's residence. The night wind was cool, and it stung his face.

Xu Hu followed behind, unaware of what had happened, but seeing the young master's expression, he dared not ask any further questions.

The gate to Xun Yu's residence was open. Cao Rui walked in and saw Xun Yu sitting in his study, a book open in front of him, but he wasn't reading it. Hearing footsteps, Xun Yu looked up and saw the food box in Cao Rui's arms, his gaze darkening slightly.

Cao Rui: Author, you keep telling me to find a godfather, what do I need so many godfathers for?

Author: Look at what you're saying, it's like I'm trying to harm you. Find more godfathers, we'll need them later!