Chapter 92: Cao Cao Has a Taste for This Sort of Thing

Because they were the women of Emperor Xian, Lady Fu and Consort Dong had always lived deep within the imperial palace.

Cao Cao had never actually seen them before. Only today did he learn that they were indeed beauties beyond mortal measure.

And not only were they lovely, they were also the emperor’s women...

The thought suddenly stirred dark desires within Cao Cao, and once born, those wicked impulses could no longer be restrained.

“Cough, my lord...”

Even the rough-and-ready Xu Chu thought Cao Cao was acting out of line, so he spoke up to remind him.

Cao Cao immediately realized his own impropriety. He hurriedly composed himself and said with a faint smile, “These two shameless enchantresses, I shall take away and bring to justice. Does Your Majesty have any objection?”

Though Emperor Xian was unwilling, he had already been terrified into submission by Cao Cao. How could he possibly object now?

He nodded frantically and said, “Everything shall be decided by the Chancellor!”

Cao Cao was very pleased with this obedient fellow. Nodding, he took Lady Fu and Consort Dong away.

The two delicate women saw that Emperor Xian was this timid and spineless, unable even to protest when his own women were taken from him, and they were instantly even more disappointed in him.

Thus Cao Cao carried off the emperor’s empress and consort and returned to his own residence.

Xu Chu was puzzled: why had the Chancellor not ordered him to take these two "prisoners" to jail for confinement, but instead gone straight back to the Chancellor’s manor?

Even after reaching the manor, he still did not understand.

Cao Cao naturally had no intention of explaining himself to that thick-headed brute.

Once inside, Cao Cao said directly, “You have no business here. Be on your way.”

“Yes, sir...”

Xu Chu went off in a daze. At the gate, he nearly collided with Xun Yu and almost knocked him over.

“Lord Xun, pardon me,” Xu Chu hurriedly apologized.

“Zhongkang, what has put you so far out of sorts?” Xun Yu asked with a smile. He had originally come to report some matters to Cao Cao.

Xu Chu was not a scheming man, and in his eyes Xun Yu was one of their own, so he did not hide anything and told him that Cao Cao had taken the empress and the consort away today.

Xun Yu’s brow furrowed deeply. If Cao Cao sought women, he would not concern himself with it. But to be so lustful as to forcibly take the emperor’s women?

As a scholar-bureaucrat whose loyalty to the sovereign was deeply ingrained, defending the Han and defending imperial authority was Xun Yu’s bottom line.

Even if that Han was now only a hollow shell in name.

“Sir Xun, why do you look so unwell? Are you ill?” Xu Chu noticed Xun Yu’s loss of composure and asked thus.

Xun Yu forced a smile and covered it up. “Ha... for some reason, I do feel a little unwell.”

With that, he turned and left.

Xu Chu watched his departing figure and asked, “Didn’t sir say you came to see the Chancellor? Why are you leaving again?”

Xun Yu said, “I have suddenly been called away by urgent business. I shall come pay my respects to the Chancellor another day.”

After returning home, Xun Yu sat for a long while, his heart full of regret and distress.

Whether it was hollowing out the emperor’s power or slaughtering the nobles and ministers, whatever Cao Cao did, he had always supported.

But he truly could not accept this supreme and sacred Han of his heart being trampled underfoot by Cao Cao in such a manner.

Thinking and turning it over in his mind, before he knew it evening had fallen.

Then Xun Yu suddenly thought of one person.

Cao Peng.

Perhaps this man could stop Cao Cao.

At that thought, Xun Yu immediately wrote a letter in his own hand and instructed his most loyal servant.

“You must personally deliver this letter to General Cao Peng!”

“Please rest assured, my lord.”

Of course, after that, he decided to make a personal trip to Cao Cao.

By then, night had already deepened.

In the Chancellor’s residence, Cao Cao, having finished his official duties, transformed once more into a great gray wolf.

With bright, gleaming eyes, he stared at Lady Fu and Consort Dong.

The two stunning women could only cower in a corner like lambs awaiting slaughter, with nowhere to flee.

Seeing them trembling so pitifully, Cao Cao felt somewhat puzzled.

Being a seasoned man of the world, he knew perfectly well that women who had already been married should not behave like this.

How could he know that although Lady Fu and Consort Dong had followed Emperor Xian for many years, perhaps because the emperor suffered from some hidden ailment, he had been unable all those years to truly consummate his marriage.

So matters of that sort were, for Lady Fu and Consort Dong, no different from the first time.

Though Cao Cao had his doubts, it did not hinder what he intended to do.

At that very urgent moment, a servant outside the door announced, “My lord Chancellor, Lord Xun Yu has come, saying he has important matters to report.”

“Xun Yu?” Cao Cao was instantly stunned.

At this dead of night, what business could Xun Yu possibly have with him?

More importantly, things were already reaching a fever pitch here; how could he spare attention for anything else?

Cao Cao said impatiently, “Tell him I have already retired. It is late. Whatever it is, speak of it tomorrow.”

The servant did not dare disturb him further and hurried off to relay Cao Cao’s words.

After hearing the message, Xun Yu did not leave. Instead, he dropped to his knees at once.

“Please go and inform the Chancellor again. If the Chancellor will not see me, then I shall kneel here and never return!”

Now the servant was in an extremely difficult position.

Whatever great matter Cao Cao was handling inside, if he went in now to report it, it would be downright spoiling the mood.

Yet he could not fail to report it either.

If it had been anyone else, that would have been one thing. But the one kneeling here now was Xun Yu, the man who could often make Cao Cao heed him.

If he delayed an important matter, then his own head might well be on the chopping block.

Meanwhile, inside, Cao Cao was in the very thick of his amusement.

Lady Fu was now cowering beneath the bed, those watery, clear eyes filled with panic and helplessness.

Watching Cao Cao approach step by step, she knew that even pleading would be useless.

So she wore the look of one ready to stretch out her neck for the blade.

“Chancellor, Chancellor!”

The servant’s shout came in again, and this time it truly enraged Cao Cao.

“Preposterous!”

Cao Cao flew into a rage and turned to kick the door open.

“You wretched slave, do you no longer value your head?!”

The servant, seeing Cao Cao’s face twisted with fury, was so frightened that he fell onto the floor, his expression almost ready to burst into tears.

“Chancellor... Lord Xun Yu... he... he refuses to leave. He says if the Chancellor will not see him, he will kneel at the gate...”

Cao Cao’s brows knit together as he cursed inwardly.

Damn it all, he really knows how to pick his moment.

With a sigh, Cao Cao still decided to let him in, after all he knew Xun Yu was by no means an unreliable man.

“Tell Xun Yu to wait for me in the council hall!” Cao Cao’s mood had darkened, and being interrupted at such a moment left him visibly displeased.

The servant scrambled away in panic. Cao Cao then ordered the guards to keep watch over the room before going to straighten his clothes.

He could hardly receive Xun Yu in a state of half-undressed disarray.

Restoring his usual air of authority, Cao Cao arrived at the council hall, only to see that Xun Yu had already been waiting there for a long time.