Chapter 139: Are You Trying to Tempt My Appetite with Zhen Mi?

“Sir, please kindly inform General Cao. He will definitely meet with us!” Zhen Yao continued to plead.

Unexpectedly, the soldier slammed the money pouch onto the ground and said coldly, “You dare to fool me with such a paltry sum? If you know what’s good for you, take this and get lost. Otherwise, I’ll arrest you as spies.”

It turned out the soldier was unwilling to deliver the message because he thought the money was too little.

However, more than half of the funds had already been spent at previous checkpoints, leaving only this meager amount.

As the head of the wealthy Zhen family, Zhen Yao never imagined he would experience such hardship, struggling over every penny.

With a bitter expression, Zhen Yao said, “Sir, the money is indeed a little short, but please do me this favor. I promise to repay you double another day.”

The armored soldier sneered disdainfully, “Then be gone! Come back when you have enough money.”

Zhen Yao tried to reason further but was shoved to the ground by the soldier.

Zhen Jiang, who was sitting in the carriage, became anxious. Yan Wang jumped down and approached his elder brother.

“How can you beat people like this?” he demanded.

The soldier sneered and even drew his sword.

“Beat people? I might as well kill them!”

“Since you don’t want to leave, arrest them all!”

“Stop!”

The voice came from two men just emerging from General Cao Peng’s tent—Xun Yu and Cheng Yu.

The soldier recognized them immediately, sheathing his sword respectfully and standing at attention.

“What’s going on here?” Xun Yu asked sternly.

The soldier replied, “These two were sneaking around, saying they wanted to see General Cao Peng. I suspected them of being spies.”

Xun Yu frowned and looked at Zhen Yao, asking calmly, “Where are you from? Why do you want to see General Cao Peng?”

With Zhen Jiang’s help, Zhen Yao stood up and said quickly, “We are from the Zhen clan of Zhongshan. Previously, under General Cao Peng’s orders, I have been providing intelligence to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Xun Yu glanced at Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu said, “The Embroidered Uniform Guard is very secretive. Apart from Cao Peng and Man Chong, no one else knows much.”

Xun Yu nodded. “Very well, wait here. I will inform the general.”

Then he looked at the soldier who had just been giving Zhen Yao trouble.

“What are you standing there for? Go inform the general!”

“Yes, sir…”

But as the soldier left, he muttered, “Damn it, why not say so earlier.”

Xun Yu was puzzled—how dare the soldier be so rude even in his presence?

Cheng Yu explained, “This guy is a captain under Cao Ren. He has some personal ties with Cao Ren and is a bit arrogant.”

Xun Yu frowned further. “Are all Cao Ren’s men like this?”

Cheng Yu was surprised that Xun Yu would know so soon after arriving. He nodded and said, “Yes…”

Xun Yu’s frown didn’t ease. It seemed Cao Ren deliberately tried to assert his authority within the camp, challenging Cao Peng.

“Besides Cao Ren, who else is like this?” Xun Yu asked.

Cheng Yu thought for a moment. “The Xiahou family’s men are similar…”

Just then, the soldier returned.

“The general said to let them in.”

Zhen Yao hurriedly cupped his hands toward Xun Yu. “Thank you, sir.”

Xun Yu waved his hand and left with Cheng Yu.

As they departed, he sneaked a glance at the cross-dressed Zhen Jiang.

Such beauty was truly a feast for the eyes!

At that moment, Cao Peng was seated inside his tent.

Soon, he saw Zhen Yao and Zhen Jiang approaching.

Even from the entrance, Cao Peng’s eyes brightened.

For a woman disguised as a man to possess such beauty was impressive indeed.

Could this be the legendary Zhen Mi?

If so, he felt a hint of disappointment, for in his mind, Zhen Mi’s beauty was supposed to be more striking.

After all, the woman before him was beautiful but not breathtakingly so.

As Zhen Jiang entered, she lowered her eyes, stealing glances at Cao Peng from the corner of her eye.

Zhen Yao stepped forward and bowed deeply.

“General, since our last parting, I have long wished for your victory over Yuan Shao. By heaven’s grace, I have finally witnessed it.”

Cao Peng smiled. “Heh, I know the merits of the Zhen family. But why didn’t you stay put and wait until I captured Jizhou before coming to see me?”

Zhen Yao smiled wryly. “The Zhen family has been eagerly awaiting your conquest of Jizhou. But now Yuan Shao’s two sons are vying for power, each wanting to bind the Zhen family to their cause. I came specially to beseech the general to advance swiftly.”

Cao Peng asked, “Then who is this woman?”

Zhen Yao hurriedly said, “This is my younger sister, Zhen Jiang. She has admired the general’s fame for a long time and insisted on serving by your side.”

Cao Peng stared fixedly at the woman.

The girl bit her lip, slowly raising her head.

With a trembling voice, she said, “I humbly greet the general!”

Ah, just as he suspected, this woman was not the divine Zhen Mi.

Still, her exquisitely delicate face easily deserved a score of ninety-five.

It seemed the Zhen family’s genes were indeed strong.

If the eldest sister Zhen Jiang was already so lovely, how breathtaking would the divine Zhen Mi be?

But Cao Peng was a seasoned man who had seen much.

Not to mention the Three Kingdoms’ greatest beauty, Diao Chan, even Empress Fu, Consort Dong, or the ladies Zou and Mi were no ordinary women.

Perhaps those beauties became more enchanting after becoming their men’s consorts.

By comparison, Zhen Jiang seemed somewhat innocent.

Cao Peng had an ambition—to win over the most beautiful women of the Three Kingdoms.

To rule the world by day and rest on a beauty’s lap by night—this was the life a man should live.

At this moment, Zhen Mi was just blooming into her full beauty, surely dazzling beyond words.

At the thought, Cao Peng eagerly looked forward to advancing and conquering Jizhou soon.

Suddenly, he had a question.

He immediately asked, “Why did you bring only Zhen Jiang but not Zhen Mi?”

Zhen Yao hadn’t expected Cao Peng to be so particular.

He felt awkward about how to answer.

He couldn’t say that the little Zhen Mi was sulking and refused to come.

Zhen Yao stammered, “My younger sister caught a cold and is unfit for long travel. She stayed home.”

“Once the general swiftly conquers Jizhou, that will be the day my sister meets you.”

Cao Peng’s voice turned cold. “Nonsense. I think you’re just trying to give me a hard time.”

“War is not won overnight. You’re deliberately dangling this in front of me, aren’t you?”

Cao Peng’s mood shifted abruptly, catching Zhen Yao off guard.

Terrified, Zhen Yao hurriedly knelt, unsure what to say next...