Chapter 074: Captured by Man Chong

Cao Peng deliberately deepened his voice, making himself sound older and more composed, then said, “It doesn’t matter. I just hope you can live well and stop doing foolish things.”

Lü Lingqi snapped with annoyance, “My affairs are none of your concern!”

Cao Peng said nothing more. Mounting the Red Hare, he galloped away, leaving behind only a final sentence.

“Your father surely hopes for the same.”

Lü Lingqi bit her lip lightly, watching his figure recede into the distance, a whirlwind of thoughts churning within her.

The commotion inevitably escalated, even disturbing Cao Cao, who was already deep in his cups.

Cao Cao immediately ordered Dian Wei to take men and head to Liu Bei’s quarters—he wanted to know what had happened.

Upon arrival, Dian Wei was met with the furious stares of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

“Generals, what is the meaning of this?”

Dian Wei was at a loss; he hadn’t wronged these two, so why were they regarding him with such hostility?

Zhang Fei bellowed like thunder, “Hmph, you have the nerve to ask? Was it not Cao Mengde tonight who had someone disguise themselves as Lü Bu to play tricks and attempt to assassinate my elder brother?”

Dian Wei was baffled—Zhang Fei was cursing at Cao Cao! He immediately retorted, “Don’t spout nonsense! My lord is a man of honor; he would never resort to underhanded schemes!”

“Moreover, my lord sent me here with soldiers because he heard Lord Xuande had been attacked, and he wished to apprehend the culprit!”

Hearing this, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei sneered coldly.

“How laughable! In the grand city of Xuchang, with its tight security, who but Cao Mengde could mobilize such formidable men?”

“Are you trying to claim the enemy slipped into the city unnoticed?”

Their words were not without reason, so Dian Wei chose not to argue further.

“If you have grievances, take them to the Minister of Works. I am merely following orders. Since there’s nothing amiss, we’ll take our leave.”

Knowing more words were futile, Dian Wei departed with his soldiers.

Throughout this episode, Liu Bei did not restrain his two brothers, though he had repeatedly urged them to keep a low profile before entering the city.

Yet now was no time for restraint—the enemy had already come to their door.

“Brother, let me give that Cao Cao a thousand holes!” Zhang Fei was still furious, clearly not ready to let the matter drop.

Guan Yu was more composed and restrained Zhang Fei, saying, “Third Brother, do not be reckless. Don’t trouble our elder brother further; let’s hear what he has to say.”

Liu Bei, seeing both brothers looking to him, could only shrug helplessly. “For now, we must take things one step at a time. As long as we don’t give Cao Cao any grounds to act against us, he won’t dare act too brazenly.”

Though Liu Bei spoke thus to his brothers, his mind was already racing through countless strategies.

Among them, he found the most reliable would be to leverage other powers—to reach out to the imperial loyalists around Emperor Xian.

After all, he was now the Imperial Uncle of Han!

…

Elsewhere.

Cao Peng realized he had lingered too long; by now, many city guards were already on the move.

The gear he wore, and the Red Hare beneath him, could no longer be associated with him.

He quickly dismounted, stripped off his armor, and tied it to the horse.

He would have to abandon the horse and escape on foot!

At least in this era, there was no such thing as fingerprint identification. By the time the Red Hare was found, no one would connect these items to him.

Before long, he caught up with Lü Lingqi, who, perhaps due to her injuries, was moving slowly.

He hurried forward and grabbed her arm.

Lü Lingqi, thinking she was being attacked, reacted instinctively to counter, but Cao Peng’s current strength far surpassed what it had been during their last bout, so she couldn’t break free.

“Ling’er, it’s me!”

He stood behind her, holding both her hands, and whispered softly into her ear.

“Who…? Brother Cao Peng!”

When Lü Lingqi heard his voice, she ceased struggling.

Her cheeks flushed, for just now he had spoken right by her ear—far too close.

Seeing her relax, Cao Peng slowly released her hands.

The girl, as startled as a fawn, quickly retreated several steps.

“What’s wrong?” he asked in confusion.

“N-nothing…”

Thanks to the night, the bashful flush on her face went unnoticed by Cao Peng.

“Brother Cao Peng, I…”

Lü Lingqi faltered, unsure how to explain her situation.

“No need to explain. Let’s leave this place first.”

Cao Peng pretended not to care, took her hand, and strode off.

A warmth blossomed in Lü Lingqi’s heart—this kind of trust, given without reason, was something she had never known.

Cao Peng truly had the air of a protective brother.

He led Lü Lingqi along the walls, and thanks to his familiarity with Xuchang’s streets, they avoided several patrols.

Sweat beaded on Lü Lingqi’s brow; without Cao Peng, unfamiliar as she was with Xuchang’s alleys, she would have been captured long ago.

They were nearly out of danger when the sound of hooves came closer and closer, and in moments, they were surrounded.

Each mounted soldier held a torch, their flames blazing in the night.

Cao Peng cursed their ill luck but forced himself to appear calm, demanding in a stern voice:

“I am General Cao Peng! What do you intend?”

Hearing his self-introduction, some of the soldiers muttered among themselves, but none backed down.

At that moment, a commanding officer rode forth on a tall steed.

“These are troubled times in Xuchang tonight. Yet here you skulk about—so tell me, General Cao, what business have you here?”

Cao Peng studied the officer: about thirty, his cheeks thin, eyes set deep—at night, he looked like a judge from the underworld.

Cao Peng asked in a low voice, “And who are you?”

The officer replied with quiet dignity, “I am Man Chong, Prefect of Xuchang.”

Damn it—why him!

No wonder he looked every bit the stern official.

Cao Peng’s heart sank. He knew Man Chong was a stickler for rules and one of Cao Cao’s most trusted men; as Prefect, he oversaw all of Xuchang’s defenses.

This man would not bend for anyone.

Sure enough, as Cao Peng had predicted, Man Chong showed him no favor.

“I care not who you are. Since the Minister of Works has entrusted me with the city’s safety, I have the right to arrest all suspicious persons.”

“General Cao, forgive me!”

With a wave of Man Chong’s hand, several soldiers moved to seize them. Cao Peng had no choice but to surrender.

Indeed, Man Chong was a man unmoved by personal ties, abiding only by the law—today’s encounter left no doubt of it.