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

"I believe you." He reached out and ruffled Cao Rui's hair. "You've always been a man of your own mind. You must have your reasons for stopping Guo Zhao."

Cao Rui felt a warmth in his heart: "Thank you, Grandfather."

"Alright, I understand. As for the Guo family, I'll have someone arrange something for them so they don't feel wronged."

Cao Rui nodded repeatedly.

Emerging from the Prime Minister's residence, Cao Rui breathed a sigh of relief. Guo Zhao's matter was finally resolved. She would never again bring trouble to his family in this lifetime.

He was feeling quite pleased with himself when someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder from behind.

"What are you thinking about? You're laughing like a weasel that stole a chicken."

Cao Rui turned around and saw Ma Yunlu riding on horseback, looking down at him.

"It's nothing." He mounted his pony and followed beside her. "Yunlu, tell me, is it a good thing or a bad thing if someone can change another person's fate?"

Ma Yunlu thought for a moment and said, "That depends on how it's changed. If it's changed well, then it's a good thing. If it's changed badly—then it's meddling in other people's business."

Cao Rui was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

"So, do you think my changes are good or bad?"

"Who did you change it to?"

"Nobody. I was just asking casually."

Ma Yunlu gave him a suspicious look but didn't ask any further questions.

The summer of the eighteenth year of Jian'an was unbearably hot. The cicadas outside Xuchang City were chirping like they were fighting, without stopping from morning till night.

Cao Rui lay on a bamboo chair in the backyard of the ice room, holding a bowl of shaved ice in his hand. His mask was pushed up over his head, revealing his face with red marks from being pressed against it.

"Young master, the ice is sold out again today." Manager Zhen walked around from the front, his face full of wrinkles with a smile. "It was gone in less than an hour. The line stretched from the East Market to the city gate. Even the steward from the Wei family came."

"Sell as soon as it arrives. Only a fool wouldn't make money." Cao Rui scooped up a mouthful of shaved ice, wincing from the cold. "By the way, has the ice reserved for Duke Wei's residence been sent?"

"Yes, yes. Lord Wei specifically sent word that he's hosting a banquet tonight and asked you to send over two pots of hot pot broth."

"Two pots?" Cao Rui sat up. "Grandfather, who are you inviting?"

"I heard it's General Ma. General Ma trained his troops in the northern camp last month and got sunburned, so Lord Wei said he'd help him recover."

Cao Rui couldn't help but laugh. Ma Chao had been in Xuchang for more than half a year, and from initially being hostile, he now frequently visited the Prime Minister's residence—not for business, but to freeload meals.

Cao Cao would hold banquets every few days, always inviting Ma Chao and serving hot pot. The treatment was similar to how he had treated Guan Yu, except Guan Yu didn't have the luxury of enjoying hot pot back then.

Ma Yunlu is right. There's nothing in this world that a hot pot meal can't solve. If there is, then two meals will do.

"Alright, I'll go back and prepare." Cao Rui jumped off the bamboo chair, put his mask back on, and said, "Grandpa Zhen, prepare plenty of ice for tomorrow. We can't get through this weather without ice."

After leaving the ice chamber, Cao Rui ran into Ma Chao after only a few steps.

Ma Chao, dressed in plain clothes, was haggling with an old melon seller by the roadside.

The dignified Ma Chao of Xiliang was arguing heatedly with someone over a few coins' worth of melons, while a crowd of onlookers gathered around to watch the spectacle.

"General Ma, are you short of a few coins?"

Ma Chao turned around and saw him, then snorted, "I don't lack any. But this melon isn't worth the price. When I was in Xiliang, these melons cost two coins each, and they were big and sweet."

The old melon seller was displeased: "General, this is Xuchang, not Xiliang. Melons in Xuchang are priced like this. If you think it's too expensive, go buy them in Xiliang."

Ma Chao was speechless. Cao Rui quickly stepped in to smooth things over, took out his money and bought two melons, giving one to Ma Chao and having Xu Hu hold the other.

"General Ma, let's go, it's my treat."

Ma Chao took the melon, wiped it on his clothes, took a bite, and mumbled, "You're just someone who knows how to stuff things in people's mouths."

The two walked side by side toward the Prime Minister's residence. Ma Chao, munching on a melon, suddenly asked, "I heard that Lord Wei is hosting a banquet tonight?"

"Yes. It's specially for the general to replenish his strength."

Ma Chao paused, remaining silent. After a moment, he suddenly spoke: "Cao Rui, what kind of person was your grandfather?"

Cao Rui thought for a moment, then asked, "What do you think, General?"

"I used to think he was a traitor to the Han dynasty." Ma Chao tossed the melon rind into a basket by the roadside, wiped his mouth, and said, "Now... I don't know."

"It's a good thing he doesn't know. Not knowing means the general has started thinking. Once he's thinking, he'll realize he's not a traitor to the Han, but—"

"What is it?"

"He's an old man who loves hot pot."

Ma Chao paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, so loud that passersby turned to look. He reached out and smacked Cao Rui on the head: "You little rascal, you're all talk!"

That evening, at the Prime Minister's residence.

The hot pot was bubbling and steaming, filling the room with the aroma of bone broth.

Ma Chao sat to Cao Cao's right, with three plates of mutton, two plates of cabbage, a plate of tofu, and a small dish of minced garlic in front of him.

"Eat, don't be shy." Cao Cao picked up a piece of mutton, dipped it in the pot, swished it around, dipped it in some sauce, and put it in his mouth. "Mengqi, you worked hard training the troops last month. Come on, eat more."

Ma Chao didn't stand on ceremony; he picked up a piece of mutton with his chopsticks and poured it into the pot. His way of eating hot pot was almost like fighting a battle—fast, precise, and ruthless, one piece after another, like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh as he watched him eat.

"Lord Wei, your hot pot is better than the one back home," Ma Chao mumbled. "Is it because the broth is different?"

"Same." Cao Cao pointed to Cao Rui sitting in the corner. "He arranged it all. You're just imagining things."

Ma Chao glanced back at Cao Rui, who was fighting with Ma Yunlu over the last piece of cabbage. The two were arguing over their chopsticks, neither willing to give in.

"Yunlu!" Ma Chao called out, "Give way to them!"

Ma Yunlu retorted, "Brother, he's the master, he should give way to me!"

Taking advantage of her distraction, Cao Rui snatched the cabbage with his chopsticks, stuffed it into his mouth, and smiled smugly.

Ma Yunlu glared angrily.

Cao Cao laughed so hard his mustache stood on end.

After several rounds of drinks, Cao Cao put down his chopsticks and looked at Ma Chao: "Mengqi, there's something I need to tell you."

Ma Chao also put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "Lord Wei, please speak."

"Liu Bei has been fighting in Yizhou for a year, and Liu Zhang is about to collapse. Once Luocheng falls, Chengdu will be in the bag." Cao Cao picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and said, "After he takes Yizhou, his next step will be Hanzhong. If Hanzhong is lost, we'll be in big trouble."

Ma Chao paused for a moment, then said, "Does Lord Wei intend to attack Hanzhong?"

"We want to fight, but not now. Guanzhong is not completely stable yet, and we don't have enough supplies. We have to wait."

"So, what does Lord Wei mean?"

"You stay in Xuchang for now, train your troops, and conserve your strength. When the time is right, you will lead the charge when we attack Hanzhong."

Ma Chao was taken aback for a moment, then stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Rest assured, Lord Wei, this humble general will certainly serve you!"

Cao Cao waved his hand: "Sit down, sit down, we're eating hot pot, don't bother with these formalities."

Ma Chao sat down, picked up his wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp, his eyes a little red.

Cao Rui watched this scene from a corner, sighing inwardly. Just over half a year ago, Ma Chao had fallen out with Zhang Lu in Hanzhong and was desperate.

Now, he sits at Cao Cao's banquet, eating hot pot and drinking wine, saying, "This humble general will certainly serve you."

Things in this world are indeed hard to explain.