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

August of the 21st year of Jian'an (216 AD).

Summers in Ye City are unbearably hot; even the water in the Zhang River is scalding.

Cao Rui rode that horse from the Western Regions, hurrying from the northern camp all the way to the city. The sweat on his back soaked through his coarse cloth clothes, making them stick to his body and feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Young master, please slow down." Bixie followed behind, also covered in sweat, but his back was still straight. "General Ma said that we only need to arrive before 5 PM, so it's still early."

"Early what? It's my mother's birthday, how can I be late?" Cao Rui didn't even turn his head, he spurred his horse and ran even faster.

Bixie sighed and urged his horse to catch up.

A month of military life had tanned Cao Rui to a deep tan; his face was peeling layer after layer, and the sunspots on his nose looked like sesame cakes. If Zhen Mi saw him like this, she would probably cry again.

At the city gate, Xu Hu was waiting with his horse. Seeing Cao Rui in the distance, he grinned and said, "Young Master is back!"

"Uncle Xu, where's my mother?"

"He's at the manor. He's been busy in the kitchen since early this morning, saying he wants to personally make soup for the young master." Xu Hu mounted his horse and followed beside Cao Rui. "Young master, your face is so sunburned—the madam must be worried."

"Men look better with darker skin."

Xu Hu's lips twitched, but he didn't dare to reply.

Cao Pi's mansion was located on East Street in Ye City. It was a large house with three courtyards and two stone lions guarding the entrance, looking majestic.

Cao Rui dismounted and smelled the aroma of bone broth even before entering the door.

"Mother! I'm back!"

Zhen Mi ran out of the kitchen, her apron covered in flour and a rolling pin in her hand. She froze when she saw Cao Rui's tanned face, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"How did you get so sunburned?" She reached out and touched Cao Rui's face, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Your face is peeling, does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt, Mother, it doesn't hurt." Cao Rui quickly grabbed her hand. "Everyone in the camp is in the sun, it's not just me. Don't cry, or it will be my turn to feel sorry for you."

Zhen Mi stopped crying and smiled, wiping her tears with her sleeve: "You just know how to coax me. Go wash up and change your clothes. Your father will be back soon."

Cao Rui responded and walked towards the backyard. As he passed the main hall, he saw Ma Yunlu sitting under the eaves, holding a palm-leaf fan and slowly fanning herself.

"Yunlu!"

Ma Yunlu looked up and saw his dark face. She paused for a moment while holding the palm-leaf fan, and then the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

"Hey, isn't this the pig-slaughtering hero from the North Camp? What happened to get so tanned? Did you burn yourself?"

Cao Rui chuckled and walked over to sit down next to her: "Men look better when they're a little dark-skinned."

"What's so good-looking? You look like a lump of charcoal." Ma Yunlu reached out and pinched his face. "I can't even find you when the candles are out at night."

Cao Rui's face hurt from her pinching, but he was secretly pleased and didn't flinch.

"Is my mother happy today?"

"I'm so happy. I got up early this morning and was busy preparing a feast to help you recover."

Cao Rui chuckled and turned to take a bath.

After taking a bath and changing his clothes, Cao Rui looked much more refreshed. Although his face was still dark, he at least didn't look like he had just crawled out of the stove.

He walked into the main hall and saw that Cao Pi had already returned and was sitting in the main seat drinking tea. Zhen Mi sat next to him, holding a bowl of soup and sipping it slowly.

"Father, Mother."

Cao Pi looked up, saw his face, and his lips twitched: "Did you go to join the army, or go to mine coal?"

"It's sunny in the military camp, it's so hot," Cao Rui said with a chuckle as he sat down opposite Cao Pi.

Cao Pi sighed: "Your grandfather was the same. He didn't want to be a proper young master, so he insisted on becoming a soldier."

"Father, Grandfather is right. A man can only succeed if he has seen blood. If I stay at home all day, what will I do when I go to the battlefield?"

Cao Pi was taken aback by his retort. He stared at him for a long time before suddenly laughing, "You certainly think ahead."

"I can't help but want to go far away." Cao Rui picked up the soup bowl and took a sip, wincing from the heat. "Mother, this soup is still so hot."

"If it's hot, drink it slowly." Zhen Mi glared at him. "How many times have I told you? You just won't listen."

The family of three sat in the hall, drinking soup and chatting, the atmosphere unusually warm. Cao Rui sensed the sourness in Cao Pi's words but didn't respond. He changed the subject: "Father, has Grandfather mentioned the matter of establishing an heir recently?"

Cao Pi glanced at him, his gaze complex: "Why are you asking this?"

"Just curious."

Cao Pi paused for a moment, then said, "He didn't mention it. But your grandfather has recently been undertaking a large-scale construction project in Ye City, building a royal palace, constructing ancestral temples, and appointing officials. These are all part of the pomp and circumstances of becoming king, and have nothing to do with establishing an heir."

Cao Rui nodded, pondering to himself. Cao Cao wasn't establishing an heir because he was waiting. Waiting for what? For Cao Zhi to make a mistake, or for Cao Pi to achieve merit?

He didn't know. But he did know that his position as heir apparent wouldn't last much longer.

As evening approached, guests began to arrive.

Ma Chao arrived with Ma Dai, Zhang Lu arrived with Zhang Sheng, and even Jia Xu made a rare appearance from his quiet little courtyard.

Pang Tong, quite drunk, was carried in by two servants. As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Madam Zhen! I brought a jar of fine wine, twenty years old!"

Zhen Mi greeted him with a smile: "Mr. Pang, you're too kind. Please have a seat."

Xun Yu did not come—he was temporarily dispatched by Cao Cao to Xuchang to oversee the situation and could not leave.

But someone sent over a calligraphy scroll with the four characters "福寿康宁" (blessings, longevity, health, and peace), written neatly and with each stroke showing care.

Zhang Zhongjing also arrived, bringing a packet of his own concocted health-preserving herbs. He handed it to Zhen Mi, saying, "Madam, this is a health-preserving tea that I have prepared. Drinking it daily will nourish your skin and improve your complexion."

Zhen Mi accepted the medicinal herbs and thanked him with a smile, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Master Zhang."

Cao Rui squatted in the corner, looking at the guests filling the room, feeling quite pleased with himself. Now Guo Zhao was stuck in Jizhou, while his mother was sitting comfortably in her house in Yecheng, celebrating her birthday, drinking health-preserving tea, and chatting and laughing with her guests.

This is enough.

"What are you thinking about?" Ma Yunlu walked over with a bowl in her hand and squatted down next to him.

"It's nothing," Cao Rui said, taking the bowl and taking a sip. "I just feel that these kinds of days are really good."

Ma Yunlu looked at him gently: "There will be even better ones in the future."

"Um."

The banquet began. Cao Pi sat in the main seat, with Zhen Mi beside him, a faint smile on her face. The guests clinked glasses and chatted merrily.

After several rounds of drinks, Ma Chao suddenly stood up, raised his wine cup, and said, "Madam Zhen, this humble general would like to offer you a toast. My sister has been bothering you at your residence for so long, causing you a great deal of trouble."

Zhen Mi smiled and raised her wine cup: "General Ma, you're too kind. I like Yunlu very much. She's like my own daughter to me."

Ma Chao glanced at Ma Yunlu, then at Cao Rui, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "That's good. From now on—I'll leave things to you, Madam."

The words were spoken subtly, but everyone present understood. Ma Yunlu lowered her head, her ears turning red. Cao Rui, holding his wine cup, chuckled, pretending not to understand.