Chapter 43: Decision, Defiance!

When Lady Zou returned, Zhang Xiu, who was still staying in the mansion, rushed out at once to meet her.

“Aunt, are you all right?” he asked anxiously, his face full of worry.

Lady Zou’s expression was bitter, her mood gloomy.

“We must endure many helpless things as dependents under another’s roof. You need not concern yourself, Uncle,” she murmured with disappointment.

Her words left Zhang Xiu feeling suffocated.

Being under another’s roof, there were always things one could not control. They had surrendered to Cao Cao, and so now they were at his mercy. Even if he acted less than kindly, they had no choice but to bear it.

How ironic it all was.

“Cao Cao is truly despicable, treating us as if we’re nothing,” Zhang Xiu raged inwardly, cursing Cao Cao again and again.

“You needn’t be angry, Uncle. I am but a woman, and you should not offend Cao Cao on my account,” Lady Zou said again, her voice bitter.

Zhang Xiu felt endless frustration, muttering further complaints about Cao Cao in the courtyard.

Meanwhile, at the Cao residence, Cao Cao was still savoring his triumph in seizing Wan City. A maid approached, carrying a bowl of tea, bustling respectfully before him.

“Prime Minister, the men who escorted Lady Zou back have brought some words. I’m not sure if I should repeat them,” she said cautiously.

“Oh? What is it? Speak,” Cao Cao replied offhandedly.

“Prime Minister, according to the report, Master Zhang Xiu has already learned about your involvement with his aunt,” the maid said.

“Upon hearing of it, Zhang Xiu was furious and has been cursing you repeatedly at home,” she continued. “He said that if the opportunity arises, he—he…”

At this, the maid hesitated, afraid to go on.

“What? Speak,” Cao Cao pressed.

“He said that if the opportunity arises, he will leave us,” she said vaguely, but Cao Cao understood.

“Hmph, is he planning to rebel?” Cao Cao was angered, yet helpless as well.

He knew it was all due to his lustful conduct. Not only Zhang Xiu—anyone would feel uneasy in such a situation, even himself.

“All right, I understand. You may go,” Cao Cao said, feeling resigned.

Over the next few days, numerous maids and servants in the Cao residence would intermittently relay news about Zhang Xiu to him. The content was always the same: Zhang Xiu was dissatisfied with Cao Cao.

Eventually, Cao Cao felt the situation slipping from his control.

One day, he sent his men with a generous gift of gold, silver, and jewels to the home of Hu Che’er. He knew Hu Che’er was Zhang Xiu’s favored general. Perhaps by maintaining good relations with those around Zhang Xiu, he could stabilize him.

Yet this gesture, once Zhang Xiu learned of it, only fueled his anger.

At the Cao residence, Lady Zou, now possessed by Cao Cao, was walking alone in the rear garden. Nearby, she overheard some servants whispering.

“Hey, did you hear? The Prime Minister is going to make a move against Master Zhang Xiu tonight.”

“Huh? Make a move? What do you mean?”

“Don’t you get it? He’s going to kill Zhang Xiu, of course.”

“But why?”

“Yeah, why? Didn’t Zhang Xiu surrender from Wan City?”

“You don’t know, do you? Our Prime Minister took Zhang Xiu’s aunt for himself. No one would feel good about that.”

“The Prime Minister knows Zhang Xiu is uneasy. He fears he might cause trouble on the battlefield in the future. So, he’s preparing to eliminate the threat ahead of time.”

Several servants and maids chatted furtively behind the pavilion.

Lady Zou, hearing this, grew anxious. Without hesitation, she left the Cao residence and hurried back to Zhang Xiu’s home.

“Uncle, Uncle, something’s wrong! Cao Cao is about to make a move against you!” she called out breathlessly as soon as she entered.

Zhang Xiu was discussing matters with Hu Che’er and Jia Xu. Hearing her voice, the three rushed out to see what was the matter.

“Cao Cao is going to make a move against you. You must think of something quickly!” Lady Zou gasped, winded from rushing.

Zhang Xiu frowned deeply. “Aunt, what are you saying? Cao Cao is going to make a move against me?”

“Yes, yes. Because of what he did to me, he knows you’re uneasy. He fears you’ll cause trouble on the battlefield and wants to eliminate you all ahead of time,” she explained, recounting everything she’d overheard at the Cao residence.

The three were stunned, no one speaking, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

In that moment, Zhang Xiu recalled his wager with Liu Xie from a few days prior.

Liu Xie had said that within half a month, Cao Cao would certainly act against him.

And now, it was happening.

“Master, I believe the matter is true,” Jia Xu spoke up promptly.

“Oh? Why?” Zhang Xiu asked.

“Master, think carefully: why would Cao Cao send gold and jewels to General Hu? He knows Hu is a formidable commander at your side. If he wants to act against us, with General Hu defending, it would be difficult. They want to win over General Hu, so it will be easier to strike against us,” Jia Xu explained.

His words convinced Zhang Xiu that Cao Cao’s gifts to Hu Che’er were indeed an attempt to buy his loyal general.

“Yes, Master. When they sent me the money, they praised me endlessly. Now it seems it was premeditated,” Hu Che’er admitted, belatedly realizing it.

Zhang Xiu clenched his fists tightly.

He had long harbored resentment toward Cao Cao, but had never considered causing trouble on the battlefield. He hadn’t thought of rebelling.

But now, Cao Cao’s actions were driving him to it.

“Master, what are you waiting for? If we hesitate, we’ll have no time left. We’ll all die here. We’ve already been humiliated—must we lose our lives as well? Even if we die, we shouldn’t die so wretchedly!” Jia Xu urged, heart burning with anxiety.

“Yes, Master. Right now, Cao Cao is unaware of our movements. If we prepare early, we can catch him off guard. Who knows, we might even kill Cao Cao and take Xuchang for ourselves,” Hu Che’er added.

“Aunt, we can’t continue to endure such humiliation,” Zhang Xiu said.

“I am but a woman, unfit for great affairs, but because of me, Zhang Ji’s honor has been tarnished. This is my sin,” Lady Zou said earnestly.

Even Hu Che’er and Lady Zou were imploring him with heartfelt words.

Zhang Xiu clenched his jaw, his fists tight.

“Very well, then we rebel!” he exclaimed.

“General Hu, quietly mobilize the troops at once. We must strike first!”

With resolve, Zhang Xiu finally decided.

He would rebel against Cao Cao.

He had endured this indignation long enough.