Chapter 7: My Father-in-law Goes Berserk (Continued)

Cao Rong instantly caught the key point.

She pouted coquettishly, "And you still say he isn't my destined beloved? 'Green is the collar, gentle my heart's yearning. If I do not go, will you not send word?' I had just carved the verse about the green collar, and he then takes the courtesy name Zining. If not heaven's will, how could such a coincidence exist in the world?"

Cao Cao raised his hand to his forehead and gazed up at the sky.

He had chosen the courtesy name 'Ning' for Chen Cong partly as an extension of his given name, and partly to express the most beautiful of hopes.

As the saying goes, water overflows when full, the moon wanes when it is whole.

Those gifted by the heavens are often envied by them as well.

Cao Cao worried that Chen Cong's prowess might lead him to an early grave, so he chose the name 'Ning' to temper the dangers in his fate.

Yet, in his daughter's mouth, it became proof of heaven's blessing.

Were those two 'Nings' really the same?

"Enough, enough. Since heaven has bestowed this man upon my daughter, I hope you will cherish and treat him well, hold fast to the virtues of a woman, and serve your husband."

"Ah?"

Now that the matter was settled, Cao Rong hesitated a little.

It had nothing to do with Chen Cong; she just had never imagined things would go so smoothly, and found it somewhat odd.

Moreover, she felt her father was more invested in this matter than usual.

Cao Cao was a loving father, but he had never indulged her to this extent.

A marriage arranged like a child's play—could it be...

Is this the power of heaven's will?

Cao Cao cared little for what his darling daughter thought—or rather, his darling daughter had long since changed.

He said to himself, "The wedding shall be set for the eighth day of the tenth month. Prepare yourself, and in a few days we shall return to Qiao County to make ready for the ceremony."

"Alright."

"And, the bead on your hairpin has fallen, go replace it. Your gown is too pale, and the rouge on your left cheek is uneven. Fix yourself up before you go to see him. I've arranged for him to stay in the side rooms."

Cao Rong: .....

The feeling grew stronger, as if it wasn't she who was going to meet her beloved, but her father...

Cao Cao no longer paid attention to his daughter. He flicked the dew from his sleeve and beckoned to Zhihua, who stood in the distance.

"Master," Zhihua bowed respectfully.

"How many years have you served in this household?"

"Master, twelve years. I have attended to the young lady since the Grand Elder was Grand Herald."

Cao Cao nodded, "Come with me."

"Yes, sir."

Cao Cao casually picked up a teacup from the stone table and led Zhihua toward the main hall.

It was early morning, and the servants and maids were already bustling about.

There were quite a few people in the main hall, many of whom were spies and informers planted by Dong Zhuo.

These people couldn't be killed or expelled, but they served their uses.

This time, Cao Cao intended not only to use their mouths to spread word about his future son-in-law,

But also to use the wedding as a pretext to openly move his family out of Luoyang under Dong Zhuo's very nose.

Zhihua, as Cao Rong's personal maid, was the perfect candidate for this maneuver.

Cao Cao sat down in the main seat, glanced at Zhihua, and, without warning, smashed the teacup in his hand.

He shouted, "Wretched servant! Do you even acknowledge me as your master?"

Zhihua was startled and immediately knelt.

"Master, this servant is innocent!"

The people nearby paused their work, ears pricking up to listen.

Cao Cao continued to berate her, "Even if the Chen family has faded in recent years, they are still descendants of founding nobles. Besides, the Cao and Chen families have had a marriage pact for years. Who gave you the gall to house our future son-in-law in the woodshed!"

At these words, the spies' eyes lit up.

Woodshed, son-in-law, a wicked servant abusing the master's kin!

The Grand Tutor loved nothing more than to hear of his subordinates' household scandals. With such explosive news, they could easily earn a reward and escape the drudgery of serving in the Cao household.

Given Cao Cao's usual leniency, many gathered to whisper quietly.

"So the man in the woodshed is the future son-in-law? Zhihua is bold indeed."

"I thought he looked extraordinary—so he is a man of high birth."

"Some servants grow arrogant from their mistress's favor, forgetting they are still nothing but servants. No matter how splendid, a servant is just a servant. The master, even in decline, carries noble air."

"Chen family? Which Chen family? Never heard of them."

"Could it be the Chen of Yingchuan?"

"Impossible, the Yingchuan Chen family has never fallen on hard times."

Zhihua's eyes brimmed with tears. It was clearly the young lady who had ordered the man to be hidden in the woodshed, so how had she ended up accused of mistreating the future son-in-law?

And she had grown up with her mistress, but had never heard of any marriage pact.

Yet, as a servant, she had no right to argue—she could only swallow this bitter fruit.

Cao Cao, seeing the crowd sufficiently abuzz, knocked on the table to draw their attention.

"Do you admit your guilt?"

"This... this servant... this servant admits guilt."

Cao Cao nodded inwardly. Such a loyal maid.

If Zhihua had tried to defend herself, he would have silenced her immediately—great endeavors cannot be hindered by small scruples.

Since she had accepted the blame, there was no need to go further.

Even a cat or a dog, kept for twelve years, would inspire some affection. How much more so a living person.

"Enough. From this day forth, you will serve Zining. Whether beaten, scolded, or sold, it will be no concern of the Cao household. Begone!"

Zhihua, heavy-hearted, kowtowed repeatedly to Cao Cao.

From now on, she would...

Wait?

It didn't seem so bad after all.

Zining was the courtesy name of the future son-in-law, wasn't it?

As the young lady's personal maid, she was meant to be part of the dowry, wasn't she?

In that case, wasn't this just changing hands from left to right?

And she would be going even before the young lady...

That man was rather handsome, too, only...

Suddenly, Zhihua's eyes widened. She nearly gasped aloud, covering her mouth.

Yesterday, she seemed to have forgotten to explain something very important. Was it too late to do so now?

......

......

Someone was busy playing drinking games with the Duke of Zhou, missing out on a masterclass in intrigue.

In his dream,

Chen Cong transformed into a top strategist, felling the Sleeping Dragon with his fists and kicking the Young Phoenix aside.

Guan Yu led his horse, Zhang Fei stumbled on his stirrups, Brother Yun offered a cigarette, Lord Zhong struck a light, and Zhao Zilong gazed at him in admiration.

With a snap of his fingers, the Eastern Wu rats surrendered without a fight, Sun Ten-Thousand knelt and sang a song of defeat.

With another wave, the traitor Cao's eight hundred thousand troops vanished to dust.

Liu Bei, moved to tears, declared, "Three lifetimes' fortune to have such a minister. The Han Dynasty may prosper for another eight hundred years. With you at my side, it is better than King Wen having Lu Wang!"

Wait—why did the traitor Cao have the same face as his future father-in-law?

Future father-in-law?

Traitor Cao?

Damn! Wrong side!

Chen Cong hurriedly rolled over, wrapped himself tighter in his quilt, and prepared to choose a new camp for another round.

Suddenly, he saw a severed head on the pillow and tumbled straight to the floor in fright.

"Hee hee, you're awake," Cao Rong beamed. "Time for breakfast."

Only then did Chen Cong realize

It wasn't a severed head, but a young girl leaning on the pillow, watching him sleep.

"And who are you?" Chen Cong sat up grumpily, rubbing the back of his head. "Don't you know people can be scared to death by such things?"

He had to admit, in these grand households, even the maids were more beautiful than celebrities in later times.

He had thought Zhihua was already quite something. This one was even more so—Chen Cong could only think, 'damn'!

"Me? I suppose I'm the daughter of the traitor Cao you speak of."

Chen Cong was stunned. "You're Cao Rong?"

Cao Rong's brows arched. "Well, well, so the traitor Cao you speak of is truly my father. You're most unfilial!"

Chen Cong: ....