The Company

Chapter 30: The Jade Belt Hook

AD 190, Luoyang.

Nine-year-old Liu Xie stood on tiptoe, leaning against the wooden door barred with planks. Through a fist-sized gap, he watched the chaotic scene outside with an expressionless face.

The once magnificent palace had become a living hell, all because Chancellor Dong Zhuo insisted on moving the capital to Chang'an.

Liu Xie didn't understand why Chancellor Dong wanted him to abandon this place where he had grown up, but he remembered the bloodthirsty madness in the man's eyes. And the several scholar-officials who lay at his feet after attempting to dissuade him, along with the blood dripping from the long sword in his hand.

Though only nine, Liu Xie knew that Dong Zhuo didn't necessarily need him specifically. Just like his elder brother, the former emperor, who had been poisoned to death before his eyes half a year earlier - if he disobeyed, Chancellor Dong wouldn't hesitate to kill him, then select another obedient member of the imperial clan to become emperor.

Those who submit will prosper, those who resist will perish.

Though no one had ever spoken these words to Liu Xie, he had mysteriously come to understand this truth, becoming increasingly silent and compliant.

He just wanted to survive.

Liu Xie silently watched the thick smoke rising in the distance. From the direction alone, he knew it must be the Deyang Hall, the main hall of the Southern Palace. That hall was spacious enough to accommodate ten thousand people, surrounded by moats, with jade steps and vermilion beams. He remembered how in his childhood he loved to sneak there to see the carved celestial maidens on the golden pillars. The Deyang Hall was tall and majestic - according to the eunuchs' boasts, it could be seen from Yanshi City over forty li away from Luoyang, its towering form connecting with the sky alongside the Vermilion Bird Gate Tower. He had thought then that the eunuchs were just trying to please him, but now he couldn't help but wonder. Whether true or false, what would Yuan Shao, Sun Jian, and others stationed near Luoyang - those with ulterior motives who claimed to be denouncing Dong Zhuo - feel when they saw this smoke from the burning palace?

Liu Xie was imprisoned at the Southern Garden outside Luoyang city walls. This had been his father Emperor Ling's favorite pleasure ground, the largest and most luxurious, surpassing even the neighboring Xianyang, Xianming, and Lingkun Gardens. Liu Xie looked at the moss-covered steps he had once loved so much - now covered with blood. The red liquid spread across the green moss, gradually covering its original color, eventually trampled into a nauseating gray-black hue.

Among the courtyard pavilions and nude bathing halls, the surrounding canals that once hosted pleasure boats on emerald waves now floated not with the beautiful women who laughed and chatted during all-night banquets, but with corpse after corpse with unclosed eyes. The horrific scene made it difficult for Liu Xie to look away.

He couldn't help but think: what if one day he became part of that scene? The thought sent chills through his bones.

No, he just wanted to survive.

He knew the times were troubled. Even as the Son of Heaven, he was no different from a dog in that man's eyes, casually locked in this hall. Even the guarding soldiers had gone to plunder the palace's jewels and treasures - no one remembered him at all. Watching the blood-red sunset on the horizon, Liu Xie vaguely realized that nearly a day had passed without anyone bringing him food.

"Your Majesty..." The young eunuch attending him trembled at the killing cries outside, wanting to persuade his young emperor to stop watching. But under Liu Xie's sidelong glance, the remaining words died in his throat.Yes, they had been imprisoned here for several days. The soldiers showed no respect for Liu Xie as an emperor, denying them food and demanding gold and jewelry in exchange. By now, nearly all their possessions had been extorted. Seeing little left to plunder, the soldiers sealed the palace doors with wooden planks, confident the captives couldn’t escape, and went off to loot and kill elsewhere. The young eunuch admitted he lacked the courage to check the situation outside, but someone had to keep watch—perhaps someone would remember them...

Liu Xie shifted his gaze back. He didn’t want to witness those scenes, but he forced himself to look and remember everything. Otherwise, he might be tempted to resist or fight back.

The gnawing hunger was unbearable. Liu Xie patted his sunken belly with his small hand—no more gurgling sounds could be heard. He wondered whether Dong Zhuo had thrown him here out of genuine fear he might be kidnapped or as a pretext to eliminate him under a justified excuse.

As he took a deep breath and stood on tiptoe again to peer outside, he suddenly noticed a figure standing beyond the sealed doors. The person wore a form-fitting Wrapped Robe with wide sleeves, the black straight hem draping elegantly at their feet. From Liu Xie’s angle, their face remained hidden. It was strange—in such chaotic times, to encounter someone whose robes were utterly spotless was truly rare.

Liu Xie didn’t dwell on it. His prison was remote, with few passersby. Eager at the sight of a living soul, he cried out, "Sir! Sir!"

The figure didn’t leave but remained silent.

Liu Xie licked his dry, cracked lips. Starving, and seeing the other’s silence, he pleaded urgently, "Sir, do you have any food? I have items to trade..." He refrained from using the imperial "We," aware his title as Son of Heaven was a mockery.

Still, there was no response from outside. Liu Xie’s shoulders slumped in despair. In this turbulent era, food was more precious than gold or jewels—why would anyone agree so readily? He reached into his robe, feeling for the small bundle he always carried close, but found only emptiness. A daze settled over him. That bundle should have held the Imperial Jade Seal, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, solemnly entrusted to him by his late elder brother on his deathbed. He had guarded it meticulously, even feigning ignorance when Chancellor Dong Zhuo demanded it. Yet yesterday, the soldiers had snatched it away—gone forever.

Such brutal, overwhelming force... those bloodstained blades... Liu Xie couldn’t comprehend it. Weren’t soldiers supposed to protect him?

What did it mean to be the Son of Heaven? He vaguely recalled a passage from the Grand Tutor’s lessons, from Lüshi Chunqiu: On the Importance of Impartiality: "The world does not belong to one person; it belongs to all under heaven."

Pressing his lips together, Liu Xie fell silent. The question of who the world belonged to paled in comparison to his empty stomach, but he had nothing left to barter.

Just then, a tantalizing aroma wafted toward him. Turning his head, Liu Xie stared in astonishment as a graceful hand reached through a gap in the sealed doors. What held him transfixed was the steamed bun held in that hand.Afraid the other might change his mind, Liu Xie cared not for royal dignity nor whether the steamed bun was poisoned, snatching it and stuffing it into his mouth. He devoured it ravenously, while a young eunuch attending him stepped forward and handed him a cup of water. Though trapped in the hall with no food, they had plenty of clean water.

The man in black not only gave them one steamed bun but also passed many more provisions through the gaps in the wooden door, including some salted meat alongside the buns. After Liu Xie and the young eunuchs ate a few, their hunger and thirst were sated. Staring at the remaining buns and salted meat, Liu Xie said reluctantly, "I am full. Does the gentleman still want these?"

A sigh came from outside the door, followed by a pleasant, gentle voice: "No need. Keep them."

Overjoyed that the food would sustain them for several more days, Liu Xie then caught himself and replied respectfully, though somewhat embarrassed, "This meal of kindness from the gentleman, Bohe will remember in his heart. May I ask the gentleman’s name, if you would tell me?"

Though only nine years old, Liu Xie had witnessed much of human affairs. He recalled how Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, once received a meal of kindness and later repaid the washerwoman with a thousand taels of gold. Liu Xie felt that even if he could not repay the favor today, he must do so in the future. Judging by the voice, the other was a young man, not much older. Liu Xie searched his memory but concluded he had never heard this voice before.

"No matter. You have suffered." Perhaps something he said had pleased the other, for that handsome hand reached in again and affectionately patted his head.

In these days of constant fear, this was the first time Liu Xie had felt the care of an elder. After all, he was just a child under ten. Feeling the warmth on his head, he immediately burst into silent tears, weeping profusely.

The hand comforted him with a couple of strokes on his head, then passed through a familiar brocade pouch. Stunned, Liu Xie took it and, through his tears, opened it to find inside the lost Imperial Jade Seal, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm. He desperately wiped his tears and examined it in astonishment, turning it over and over in his hands. Was this his Heirloom Seal of the Realm? Why did it seem odd? The jade felt less lustrous than before.

Liu Xie suppressed his doubts. What did it matter if it was real or fake? This Heirloom Seal of the Realm was useless in his hands and would soon be seized by others.

Hearing his silence, the man outside the door let out another long sigh and said, "Enough, I shall give you one more thing." With that, he passed another object through the gap, this time without any wrapping.

Liu Xie took it from the man’s hand and realized it was a jade belt hook.The belt hook was an accessory used by ancient nobility, scholars, and warriors to fasten their waist sashes, historically known as "xibi." The material, design, size, and ornamentation of a belt hook could signify a person's status. Liu Xie's original jade belt hook had long been taken from him, and he now merely tied his sash with a simple knot, appearing utterly disheveled. Holding the jade belt hook in his hands, Liu Xie noticed it was carved in the shape of a Dragon, with both the Dragon's head and tail curved into hooks. The carving was simple yet elegant, and the white jade bore streaks of purplish-red blood stains that were startling and almost mesmerizing. Gazing at these stains, Liu Xie thought this belt hook must be very old.

"The first owner of this jade belt hook is said to be Lord Ji Chang of the West, who later became King Wen of Zhou."

The man's voice drifted faintly from outside the door. The distant sounds of killing had grown indistinct, and Liu Xie's entire focus was captivated by the belt hook in his hand.

"Child, what is it you desire most?" the man asked quietly.

Without a moment's hesitation, Liu Xie replied bluntly, "To survive."

"Legend says this jade belt hook can awaken a person's greatest ambition." The man sighed softly and said slowly, "Live well..."

Liu Xie stared blankly for a while, and when he snapped out of it, he realized the black-clad man outside the door had vanished. Instead, a large group of soldiers had arrived and were prying open the sealed palace door.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for the delayed rescue, allowing you to suffer such humiliation." Among the soldiers kneeling outside the door, Liu Xie recognized several familiar faces—scions of Han noble families who had reluctantly submitted to Dong Zhuo's tyranny but remained loyal at heart, as long as their limits weren't crossed. For instance, they could only ensure his safety without openly opposing Dong Zhuo, given their extensive clan interests.

Liu Xie tightened his grip on the jade belt hook in his right hand. Perhaps because he had finally eaten and drunk his fill these past few days, his mind was unusually clear. He chose the most familiar-looking soldier, approached him, and handed over the Heirloom Seal of the Realm in his left hand. The man received it with both hands, opened it, and paled in shock. He looked up at Liu Xie, bewildered.

Though Liu Xie was not tall, the man knelt beside him, allowing Liu Xie to reach his ear. Lowering his voice, Liu Xie enunciated each word, "Throw this to one of those so-called loyal officials outside—Yuan Shao, Sun Jian, or Han Fu, whichever you choose."

The man stared at him blankly, still uncomprehending.

Liu Xie pressed down on his shoulder and curled his lip. "Two peaches killing three warriors..."

If Yan Zi could use two peaches to kill three warriors back then, couldn't he now use a Heirloom Seal of the Realm—whose authenticity only he knew—to eliminate his enemies by proxy?

Live well... Liu Xie clenched the jade belt hook tightly in his hand.

AD 199.

"Bang!"

Cao Pi had just reached the study when he heard a loud crash from inside, as if something had been thrown to the ground. He hesitated, his hand pausing as he reached to push the door open, aware that his father had been in a foul mood lately.Since his elder brother—ten years his senior—had died unexpectedly in the Battle of Wancheng two years ago, his father’s temper had grown subtly irritable. With the recent string of sudden incidents, and then the Belt Edict affair just days ago, his father’s fury had accumulated to its peak.

How dare Liu Xie pull such a trick? Issuing a secret edict on a belt, plotting to assassinate his father?

Cao Pi curled his lips coldly. Though he was only twelve this year, born into an era of chaos and having lost his elder brother abruptly, he had to force himself to start thinking like an adult.

Though everyone under heaven said his father held the emperor hostage to command the nobles, that was only because they were jealous. Liu Xie would be the same in anyone’s hands—whether under Dong Zhuo before or Cao Cao now. Moreover, Cao Pi believed that with Liu Xie in their custody, he was well-fed, clothed, and treated with dignity. In these turbulent late Eastern Han years, where warlords vied for the throne, this tempting “deer” was still being kept alive and well instead of slaughtered—that was already extraordinary mercy.

It seemed they had raised him too well—that deer had already forgotten who truly held his leash.

Cao Pi sneered disdainfully, straightened his robes, and lightly knocked on the door. Only after hearing his father’s response from within did he respectfully push the door open and enter.

As he bowed his head in greeting, Cao Pi glanced around and found the study not as disordered as he had imagined. Only a cyan jade unicorn paperweight lay rolled on the floor, one corner chipped off, pitifully tilted where it had fallen.

Cao Pi felt a pang of heartache. He remembered this cyan jade unicorn paperweight had been his eldest brother’s favorite while he was alive, but he never dared to take what his father cherished, only seizing occasional chances to handle it briefly.

“Pi’er, are you aware of recent events?” A voice carrying authority reached him. Cao Pi looked up and saw spread on the desk the very edict Liu Xie had written on the belt. Stained with what was likely a eunuch’s blood, the deep crimson dye gave it a rather grim appearance.

“I have heard that among human bonds, father and son come first; in distinctions of rank, sovereign and subject are paramount. Recently, the powerful minister Cao, a traitor from a humble gate, has presumptuously held a position of assistance, yet is truly guilty of deception…”

Cao Pi read silently, but as soon as his eyes fell upon the words “Cao the traitor,” his eyelids twitched violently. Biting the tip of his tongue to steady himself, he forced himself to read on. A belt was only so narrow and long—it couldn’t hold many words. This belt edict contained at most a hundred characters, and Cao Pi finished it quickly.

Organizing his thoughts, he snorted coldly and said, “That General of Chariots and Cavalry, Dong Cheng, deserved to die.” The belt edict had been passed to Dong Cheng, who was the current imperial uncle—his daughter was Consort Dong, Liu Xie’s most favored concubine. After the Belt Edict incident came to light, Cao Cao, in a fit of rage, had executed Dong Cheng and his entire family. His fury unappeased, he then stormed into the palace with a sword and killed the five-months-pregnant Consort Dong right in front of Liu Xie.

“Oh? And Consort Dong…” Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, intentionally guiding Cao Pi to think for himself, beginning to groom him as his successor. Originally, his eldest son Cao Ang had been excellent—accomplished in both civil and military arts, intelligent and sharp, and more than ten years older than Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi, which spared them disputes over succession. But now, with Cao Ang’s tragic death, he had no choice but to cultivate a new heir."Killing the chicken to scare the monkey, and eliminating the root of the problem—excellent," Cao Pi remarked succinctly, his gaze toward his father filled with undisguised admiration. "As for the Emperor's feelings, I fear they cannot be easily soothed. If only I had an elder sister."

A glint of authority flashed in Cao Cao's tiger-like eyes as he fell into thoughtful silence.

Cao Pi lowered his head without a word, inwardly regretting his momentary lapse of judgment that had led to this slip of the tongue. Though he had no elder sister, he did have a younger sister. Could it be that his father intended to send her to the palace once she came of age? This was... Stealing a glance, Cao Pi noticed his father tapping his finger on the character for "traitor" in the secret edict, and his heart sank with trepidation. He knew his father was unpredictable in his moods, but no one could simply laugh off being called a traitor to their face.

Always quick-witted, Cao Pi caught sight of the simple yet elegant jade belt hook that had been confiscated along with the secret edict and quickly added, "As Zhuangzi said, 'He who steals a belt buckle pays with his life; he who steals a state becomes a feudal lord—and benevolence and righteousness flourish at the gates of the feudal lords.'"

Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "He who steals a belt buckle dies; he who steals a state becomes a lord! Excellent! Excellent!"

Cao Pi knew he had struck the right chord and felt immensely pleased. His youthful face could not conceal his emotions, and the corners of his mouth curled up in delight.

The more Cao Cao looked at this second son of his, the more fond he grew. He casually pointed to the jade belt hook on the table and said, "I bestow it upon you, lest you steal it from me later!"

Cao Pi was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. He understood that although it was merely a small object, in the context of their earlier conversation, it carried profound implications. He received the jade belt hook with both hands respectfully and nodded solemnly. "As you command."

The cool jade belt hook in his hand, Cao Pi carefully concealed his trembling fist, trembling with excitement, within his sleeve. Suddenly, an indescribable confidence surged from the depths of his heart, as if he now possessed grand ambitions and goals. When he glanced again at the shattered green jade unicorn paperweight at his feet, he no longer felt any regret.

At that moment, it even occurred to him that it was fortunate his elder brother was no longer around...

Year 204 AD, Ye City.

Zhen Luo faced the bronze mirror, tidying her disheveled hair at her temples. She had intended to groom herself properly, but the haggard face reflected in the mirror left her with no energy to do so.

Cao Cao's troops had surrounded the Yuan family's residence completely. Although he had given orders that no one was to mistreat the Yuan family members, Zhen Luo knew all too well what fate awaited her.

Though Cao Cao and her father-in-law, Yuan Shao, had once shared a close friendship in their early years, years of warfare among the warlords had turned them into mortal enemies. Women like her, so-called family dependents, were no different from livestock waiting to be slaughtered.

Ever since her husband, Yuan Xi, and his younger brother, Yuan Shang, had fled Ye City over a month ago, her heart had turned to ashes. In these chaotic times, a woman was like a rootless duckweed, drifting with the current, utterly powerless to control her own destiny.

She did not resent her husband, Yuan Xi. How could one expect a man who would abandon even his own mother to care for his wife?

Zhen Luo smiled bitterly. Rationally, she knew Yuan Xi's decision was the best option. Women like her, left behind in Ye City, faced little threat to their lives. Cao Cao had always treated women kindly, but he would never tolerate the survival of Yuan Shao's sons. Thus, Yuan Xi and his brother had to flee. In such turbulent times, it was already immensely difficult for men to survive, let alone if they had to bring her along.It seems we shall never meet again in this lifetime.

Zhen Fu stared blankly at her reflection in the bronze mirror, unaware of anyone entering the room until she felt gentle hands caressing her flowing tresses. With complicated emotions swirling in her eyes, she finally met the visitor's gaze through the mirror.

"Silly child, don't dwell on it anymore." Lady Liu picked up the golden comb from the dressing table and began carefully smoothing Zhen Fu's long hair. She knew exactly what her daughter-in-law was thinking about, but she couldn't allow her to continue down that path. A woman's support comes from her husband, and her own husband Yuan Shao had already perished, with her sons fleeing for their lives. Now, the only person Lady Liu could rely on was this very daughter-in-law before her.

While the Qiao sisters were renowned in Jiangnan, Zhen Fu's beauty reigned supreme in Hebei.

This statement is widely circulated and not an exaggeration. Lady Li had never seen the renowned Qiao sisters, yet even while seeing Zhen Luo day and night, she couldn’t help but be captivated by her beauty, unable to look away. Zhen Luo was at the prime of a woman’s youth, yet her expression was weary, her complexion growing increasingly pale. Her delicate features, like an ethereal ink-wash painting, carried an indescribable fragility amid her disheveled state, evoking deep pity and a strong urge to protect her—to hold her close and shield her from any harm.

Lady Liu had intended for Zhen Luo to dress up properly, but now she felt that this disheveled appearance held even more striking power, leaving her momentarily indecisive.

Women depended on men for survival, much like vines clinging to a tree—if the tree falls, why not simply find another to wrap around? If Lady Liu hadn’t been self-aware of her own fading beauty with age, she wouldn’t have hesitated to step forward herself.

After all, survival was the ultimate goal. In Lady Liu’s eyes, paying a small price to stay alive was only natural.

The only obstacle now was Zhen Luo’s feelings for Yuan Xi.

Lady Liu tried to persuade Zhen Luo with eloquent words, but the latter couldn’t accept the idea of serving Cao Cao, a man close in age to her father-in-law, Yuan Shao. Suddenly, Lady Liu set down the golden comb in her hand and stopped her persuasion. Silence fell over the room, while faint cries, screams, and sounds of pillaging from outside the city walls made Zhen Luo’s face turn even paler.

In an instant, she realized that if she hadn’t married into the Yuan family, if she hadn’t been well-protected until now, she would likely have suffered the same fate as the women outside—homeless, bereft of family, and dead without a whole corpse.

Zhen Luo quietly placed a hand on her lower abdomen. Death itself wasn’t frightening, but she vaguely sensed that her body felt slightly different from before. Yet, with Yuan Xi having left only a month ago, she couldn’t be sure whether she was already carrying his child.

Unaware of Zhen Luo’s subtle gesture, Lady Liu leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’ve heard that the one leading the troops is Cao Cao’s second son, Cao Pi…”

She left the rest unspoken, believing Zhen Luo would understand. Compared to the middle-aged Cao Cao, Lady Liu was confident that Zhen Luo would choose Cao Pi, who was only eighteen and had no family attachments. Moreover, he was Cao Cao’s most favored successor, practically the crown prince of the Cao family.

Zhen Luo pressed her hand to her abdomen and slowly nodded at her reflection in the bronze mirror. Seeing Lady Liu’s delight as she moved to help her dress up, Zhen Luo shook her head to stop her. “This is fine as it is.” Subconsciously, she didn’t want to wear heavy makeup. This wasn’t her wedding day—the one and only time in her life she had dressed in full splendor had been for her husband.Lady Liu, however, misunderstood her meaning and inwardly praised Zhen Fu for her captivating beauty whether lightly or heavily adorned. She had her guards summon Cao Pi for a discussion. As the widow of Yuan Shao, she still commanded enough respect for such a request. She brought Zhen Fu to the main hall to wait, and before long, a handsome young man in armor strode briskly through the dilapidated doorway. Lady Liu patted Zhen Fu, who was leaning on her knees, signaling that she need not be overly afraid.

Zhen Fu dared not lift her head, her gaze fixed solely on the blood-dripping longsword in Cao Pi’s hand. She wondered silently whether, if her husband had not departed, that sword might also have been stained with his blood.

What Lady Liu and Cao Pi discussed, Zhen Fu paid no attention to. Like a puppet, she allowed Lady Liu to lift her face, then indifferently observed the shock and admiration in Cao Pi’s expression.

Ah… such expressions—she had seen far too many of them. Nearly every man who laid eyes on her revealed this same look, not even her own husband was an exception.

Zhen Fu thought numbly, feeling utterly devoid of joy. Was this truly the life she desired?

Cao Pi seemed to be flustered, searching his person for something. Zhen Fu guessed he must be trying to find a token that represented his identity. With the chaos in Ye City, he surely couldn’t stay, so he could only leave her a keepsake. If anyone intended to harm her, they would likely back down out of respect for him.

Zhen Fu lowered her eyelids. Aside from that blood-stained sword, the young man probably only had the tiger tally on him. Surely, he wouldn’t give her the tiger tally, would she?

Lost in these wild thoughts, a Dragon-shaped jade belt hook appeared before her. When she realized how intimate an item this was, a flush of anger rose to her cheeks. Though she had resigned herself to fate, such an overt implication was truly… truly…

Cao Pi genuinely had no ulterior motive; he carried no other spare tokens. Frankly, he understood Lady Liu’s underlying message—no one in Ye City would dare challenge him for her—but the only one to guard against was his father, Cao Cao. To prevent such a scenario, he thought of this jade belt hook, a gift from his father many years ago. Surely, if his father saw it, he would understand his intent.

Seeing Zhen Fu’s ears flushed crimson, Cao Pi felt an even stronger urge to lift her face for a better look, but with others present, he restrained himself. Clearing his throat softly, he pressed the jade belt hook into Zhen Fu’s hand, then instructed the guarding soldiers not to disturb them before reluctantly departing. Ye City required several more days of suppression, and Cao Pi couldn’t afford to slack off even if he wanted to.

Clutching the jade belt hook that still carried the warmth of its owner, Zhen Fu suddenly felt a surge of determination. She would survive—not only survive but also legitimately bear Yuan Xi’s child.

She would make this man, who saw her as a plaything, regret his actions deeply.

AD 221, Luoyang.

Sima Yi stood quietly to one side in the study, hands tucked into his sleeves, eyes fixed downward in contemplation. He didn’t know why Cao Pi had summoned him. Last year, Cao Pi had usurped the Han throne and ascended as emperor, and with the Wei dynasty rebuilding from scratch, as the Minister of the Right, he was quite busy and had little time to waste.Since Cao Pi remained silent, Sima Yi began mentally sorting through various matters to gauge the emperor's thoughts. The abdication ceremony where Wei replaced Han had been conducted flawlessly, with tens of thousands in attendance—the Three Councillors and Nine Ministers, nobles and marquises, military generals, and even the Xiongnu Chanyu who came to offer congratulations. Sima Yi still remembered the desolate helplessness on Liu Xie's face as he was forced to kneel and surrender the Imperial Jade Seal and the vast empire to Cao Pi.

It was said Cao Pi had even prepared Liu Xie's posthumous title in advance: "Xian"—the Emperor Xian of Han. Fitting beyond words.

A subtle curve touched Sima Yi's lips. Truthfully, Cao Pi's usurpation of Han wasn't particularly shrewd. Sima Yi could almost foresee how this "abdication" ritual would become a political game, endlessly imitated and surpassed until it solidified into a fixed pattern. Whenever a ruler grew weak and ministers strong, this theatrical abdication would repeat—a scourge sown by Cao Pi's own hands.

Sima Yi's heart raced uncontrollably. He knew that if Cao Cao had ascended the throne before his death, such consequences would never have arisen. After all, the Cao dynasty was built by Cao Cao's own hands, much like Qin Shi Huang who unified the six states or Emperor Gaozu of Han who triumphed in the Chu-Han Contention—where might decided everything. Yet Cao Cao had upheld the rites between ruler and subject all his life, never imagining his son would tear away the final veil of decency less than a year after his death.

Such a fragile dynasty... it truly stirred the desire to personally dismantle it.

Sima Yi's hands, hidden in his sleeves, trembled slightly. Unlike ordinary men, his neck could twist to unusual angles, allowing him to see what lay behind—a physiognomy known as "wolf's gaze," said to signify boundless ambition.

Cao Cao, who believed in physiognomy, had never entrusted him with real power. But Sima Yi had wisely cultivated ties with Cao Pi, becoming his closest advisor and the fastest-rising miracle of the Cao Wei dynasty.

This was no accident. Sima Yi considered himself as erudite as the legendary Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix, and Cao Pi relied on him heavily. In moments, Sima Yi mentally reviewed recent court affairs. Noticing from his peripheral vision that Cao Pi was toying with an antique jade belt hook, he suddenly understood.

That belt hook... it seemed to be Empress Zhen's relic.

Though her death by Cao Pi's decree was suspicious, no courtier would be tactless enough to question it. After all, Empress Guo now ruled the harem and enjoyed full favor, while Empress Zhen had remained obscure in Ye City. Rumors claimed her beauty was peerless, but years apart from Cao Pi must have eroded any affection.

Moreover, Sima Yi had heard that after Empress Zhen's execution, her face was covered with her own hair and her mouth stuffed with chaff—denying her dignity in death and even the chance to plead before the King of Hell. Such ruthlessness suggested to Sima Yi that this wasn't mere harem rivalry, but something darker.

Could it be, as palace whispers went, that Cao Zhi and Empress Zhen had shared an illicit bond between uncle and sister-in-law?

Such affairs weren't unheard of. Empress Zhen's death should have ended the matter. Cao Zhi had already lost the succession struggle and posed little threat—hardly worth Cao Pi's visible distress.Could it be that he regrets having Empress Zhen put to death? Is that why he’s holding her keepsake like this, lost in remembrance?

Sima Yi quickly dismissed this suspicion. If Cao Pi was truly missing Empress Zhen, why summon him here? As he continued to ponder over various clues, Sima Yi suddenly shuddered, recalling Cao Pi’s attitude toward Cao Rui in recent days…

Cao Rui was Empress Zhen’s son, Cao Pi’s eldest child, several years older than his other sons, and the undisputed heir to the Cao Wei dynasty. Yet, Cao Pi had never formally named him Crown Prince. After Empress Zhen’s execution, Cao Rui’s position had grown increasingly precarious. Sima Yi had initially believed that even if Empress Zhen had been unfaithful, it wouldn’t fundamentally undermine Cao Rui’s status. But then it struck him—Cao Rui had been born in the very year Cao Pi took Empress Zhen as his consort. Empress Zhen had previously been the daughter-in-law of Yuan Shao. Could it be that…

“Zhongda, you are indeed sharp-witted.” Though Cao Pi had been caressing the jade belt hook in his hand, he hadn’t failed to notice the movements of the other person in the study. When he sensed Sima Yi’s breathing grow slightly heavier, he knew the latter had already guessed the truth. It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to speak plainly—suspecting that his son might not be his own was simply too difficult to put into words.

Cao Pi didn’t actually blame Zhen Mi for possibly carrying another man’s child. His father, Cao Cao, had a fondness for married women and had even taken other men’s sons as his own adopted children, which had somewhat influenced Cao Pi’s perspective. Cao Cao’s favoritism toward one of his adopted sons, He Yan, had made Cao Pi so envious in his youth that he often publicly mocked He Yan as “the fake son.” But He Yan was an exception. Cao Pi got along well with his other two adopted brothers, Qin Lang and Cao Zhen. So, if Zhen Mi had been honest with him from the start, Cao Pi would have treated Cao Rui as his own child, though he would never have groomed him as his heir.

Observing Cao Pi’s shifting, somber expression, Sima Yi pondered for a moment and grasped the crux of the matter. If Cao Pi were certain that Cao Rui wasn’t his biological son, what would there be to hesitate about? He could simply send him away from the capital and let fate decide his survival. The difficulty lay in the fact that no one knew for sure whether the child was Cao Pi’s. Premature births were common, and it was likely that even the executed Empress Zhen hadn’t been certain who the father was.

Sima Yi recalled Cao Rui’s appearance—the boy was handsome and delicate, undoubtedly taking after Empress Zhen. There were no obvious clues in his features.

This was indeed a thorny issue. If Cao Pi had another son of similar age and preferred to err on the side of caution, he could have that son inherit the throne instead. But aside from Cao Rui, Cao Pi’s other sons were all very young, and it was uncertain whether they would even survive to adulthood.

So, the key was to determine whether Cao Rui was Cao Pi’s biological son. But what about the reverse? What if it could be proven that Yuan Xi was not Cao Rui’s father?

After a long silence, Sima Yi spoke: “Your Majesty, we could use the ‘Dripping Blood on Bones’ method to verify kinship.”

The “Dripping Blood on Bones” method had gained popularity not long before. Xie Cheng, the brother of Sun Quan’s Lady Xie, recorded in his Biographies of Exemplary Figures from Kuaiji an instance where a younger brother’s blood was dripped onto his elder brother’s bones to identify and claim the remains.The method of "Drip Bone Recognition" involves dripping the blood of a living person onto the bones of a deceased individual to observe whether it seeps in. If it does, it indicates a blood relationship such as parent-child, sibling, etc.; if not, it suggests no relation. Yuan Xi, along with his younger brother Yuan Shang, had been killed in Liaodong over a decade earlier, and their burial site was not difficult to locate.

Cao Pi had already employed this method. Upon hearing this, he sighed inwardly and said, "Do not mention this method. Yuan Xi and his brother, along with several attendants, were buried together, and it is already impossible to distinguish their remains." Cao Pi spoke vaguely, as he did not wish to reveal to his most trusted confidant that he had actually dripped Cao Rui's blood onto the bones of all those individuals, and in every case, the blood had seeped in.

This was utterly absurd—could it be that all of these men were Cao Rui's fathers? That they all shared a blood relation? He later conducted several more experiments, thoroughly verifying that what Xie Cheng had claimed was nonsense. Unfortunately, he could not expose his family's disgrace, or else he would have refuted Physician Xie outright.

Sima Yi initially considered mentioning that even if the bones were mixed together, it would not matter; as long as the blood seeped into one set of remains, the parent-child relationship could be confirmed. However, seeing the gloom on Cao Pi's face, he knew this method had already been tried and had undoubtedly failed to yield a clear answer.

As a minister, it was his duty to share the emperor's burdens. Sima Yi quickly analyzed the pros and cons and understood that today's matter was merely Cao Pi venting his frustrations. He did not want Sima Yi to meddle or cause trouble. Moreover, the princes were still young, and Cao Pi was in the prime of his life—there was no urgent need to decide on the crown prince.

With such carefully crafted words, Sima Yi left no room for criticism, and Cao Pi's expression softened considerably. Cao Pi had only intended to sound Sima Yi out, and his mind was set on observing the situation for a few more years. As Sima Yi spoke, his gaze involuntarily fell upon the jade belt hook Cao Pi was toying with. The hook, with its ancient and simple design, was made of soft, fine jade that shimmered with an irresistible glow under the flickering candlelight.

"Steal a hook and you die; steal a state and you become a lord."

Well-versed in the classics, Sima Yi quickly recalled these two lines. An act with ill intentions, when magnified infinitely, can transform into righteousness—and righteousness is always written by the victors. This is what leads to such contrasting outcomes: "Steal a hook and you die; steal a state and you become a lord."

Before this night, Sima Yi had occasionally entertained disloyal thoughts but knew the timing was not yet ripe and forcefully suppressed them. However, tonight, upon hearing a royal secret, he was deeply stirred. An unstable succession was a perfect opportunity to manipulate events.

Sima Yi could easily imagine that if Cao Pi's young sons were to die one after another under mysterious circumstances, leaving only Cao Rui, then no matter how much Cao Pi doubted the child's lineage, he could not publicly disclose the reason. He would be forced to pass the throne to Cao Rui. For Cao Pi, this would likely be a reluctant decision. To avoid muddying the Cao bloodline, he would probably instruct his trusted aides on his deathbed to prevent Cao Rui from producing an heir, ultimately forcing Cao Rui to adopt a son from another branch of the family to inherit the throne...

Sima Yi lowered his eyelids, carefully concealing the gleam in his eyes.

A.D. 2012.

"Sima Yi was truly ruthless... Several of Cao Pi's young sons died under unclear circumstances, and none of Cao Rui's sons survived to adulthood. In the end, just as he had planned, Cao Fang, adopted from the imperial clan, inherited the throne."The Doctor was still cosplaying as a bunny plush toy, having grown accustomed to the two long ears that occasionally drooped down, though they did somewhat obstruct his vision. He was currently accompanying the Boss in selecting imperial antiques that met the required standards, which was essentially an indirect way of listening to the Boss's stories. "So, this jade belt hook must have ended up in Sima Yi's hands later, right?"

The Boss took the jade belt hook out of the Brocade Box, carefully wiping it with a soft cloth as he replied calmly, "Sima Yi never actually obtained this jade belt hook." The few streaks of bloodstains on the jade belt hook were as vivid as real blood, strikingly magnificent.

"Eh? That's true, his son was the formidable one! 'Sima Zhao's heart is known to all,' as the saying goes!" The Doctor suddenly understood. "It seems this jade belt hook definitely meets the criteria for an imperial antique. Just from the story you told, it passed through the hands of so many emperors! Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie; Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi; and after Zhen Mi obtained the jade belt hook, her son, Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, must have touched it too... Tsk tsk, what a pity. If only Cao Cao had touched it—he never got to indulge in the thrill of being an emperor before he died!"

"In his 'Proclamation on Relinquishing Counties to Clarify My True Intentions,' Cao Cao once said, 'If the state were without me, I do not know how many would proclaim themselves emperors or kings.' He claimed he spent his entire life fighting to prevent others from declaring themselves emperors or kings, so how could he have proclaimed himself emperor?" The Boss finished meticulously wiping the jade belt hook, placed it back into the Brocade Box, and smiled faintly. "Whether he was a cunning hero or a true hero, everyone has their own judgment. But given the circumstances, the fact that he refrained from proclaiming himself emperor already speaks volumes about his stance."

The Doctor couldn't help but nod in agreement. After all, the other two figures of the same period, Liu Bei and Sun Quan, later proclaimed themselves emperors. Perhaps if Cao Cao had lived longer, he might have succumbed to the temptation as well. But history, in its intricate way, leaves no room for imagination in its outcomes. This is what is meant by "final judgment comes after the coffin is closed."

However, the mention of "final judgment" immediately reminded the Doctor of the story's reference to "bone-drip identification," which was his area of expertise. Instantly fired up, he began chattering incessantly, sharing his medical knowledge.

"Cao Rui was lucky. Fortunately, Yuan Xi was buried together with several others, or he would have been in serious trouble. I once worked with a forensic pathologist a few times, and he said that after a long period of decay, all that remains of a human corpse is skeletal bones, with surfaces corroded and brittle. Forget blood, even water droplets can seep in. As for the 'blood-drip identification' shown on TV these days, it's even more absurd. In reality, if you mix the blood of several unrelated people in the same container, it will eventually blend together. Blood-drip identification has no scientific basis whatsoever."

Carried away by his enthusiasm, the Doctor couldn't resist glancing at the Boss a few times. He hadn't given up on the idea of drawing a few tubes of the Boss's blood for experiments! But as he looked down at his ridiculous plush costume, he sighed helplessly.

Still, the Doctor was resilient. He quickly brushed aside his minor frustration and suddenly remembered something. "Oh no, Boss, isn't this jade belt hook something you shouldn't touch casually? Why did I see you pick it up just now?"The Boss closed the Brocade Box and said slowly, "Everyone has ambition. This jade belt hook is merely a catalyst, stirring one's greatest desires. But if controlled properly, it becomes nothing extraordinary. Back when I replaced the Heirloom Seal of the Realm that Liu Xie discarded, I felt guilty, which is why I gave him this jade belt hook. His ambition at the time was simply to live well. Though he once took a risk, he ultimately met a peaceful end—truly, he sought benevolence and attained it."

The Boss reminisced slowly, his expression somewhat distant. He still didn't know whether what he had done back then was right or wrong. Indeed, one should not empower those with ambition, nor give sharp tools to the foolish. This saying held profound truth.

"Boss... Boss... then what is your ambition?"

The doctor's incessant questioning interrupted the Boss's reminiscence. The Boss gently squeezed the soft rabbit ears and tucked them into the luggage before smiling faintly, "It's getting late. Let's head out to seal the Formation Eye."

"Cheating! That's cheating! You can't avoid answering questions like this!"

Mini Theater:

Boss, just one more piece of gossip - why did Cao Pi dislike He Yan so much?

Boss: According to Yulin from the Book of Jin, it's recorded that Yan showed exceptional intelligence in his youth, and Cao Cao doted on him as if he were one of his own sons...

Doctor: Keep reading! "Yan possessed graceful posture and fair complexion, leading Emperor Wen of Wei to suspect he wore powder. During summer, he was served hot noodle soup. After eating, he sweated profusely and wiped himself with his red garment, revealing an even more radiant fairness..." Oh my! This Cao Pi was quite amusing - suspecting He Yan's fair skin was due to makeup, he deliberately invited him for hot noodles in summer. After wiping his sweat, He Yan's complexion appeared even fairer. This even spawned the idiom "Fu Fen He Lang" (He Lang who applies powder), truly a handsome man! Cao Pi must have been jealous that He Yan was more handsome than him! He even called him "false son"... Hmm... "false son"... Could this be the ancient equivalent of "cross-dressing man"...

Boss: ...

(End of Chapter)