Did Cao Zhi really not realize Cao Pi's malice toward him?
That is of course impossible.
Although Cao Zhi is usually carefree and informal, it doesn't mean that he really can't feel the subtle malice of others towards him.
Just because he failed to attend the successful literary conference several times, Cao Zhi had a vague feeling that Cao Pi was targeting him.
In addition to these, of course there are many other details, and all of this probably started when Cao Zhi went on stage to write his own poems in the year when Tongque Terrace was built.
"You...how did you know?"
Cao Zhi no longer planned to refute anything, but he was curious. Yang Xiu seemed quite busy on weekdays, how could he know so much about Cao Pi's affairs, and even speculate on the other party's psychology in such detail.
"Then this must be attributed to Lord Ding. Lord Ding, why don't you explain to the Fourth Young Master what you are studying in your daily life?"
Yang Xiu looked towards Ding Yi and teased him half-jokingly. Ding Yi smiled and waved his hand. Seeing Cao Zhi's confusion, he just said modestly:
"We're not afraid of your jokes, Fourth Young Master. It's useless to lose face anyway. Second Young Master... no, Cao Pi looked down on my appearance, so he privately advised the Prime Minister to break off my marriage to the Princess."
"If you don't believe it, you just need to ask around. Everyone in East Cao and West Cao knows this very well."
"Since then, I have gathered many means to find out about Cao Pi. As long as there is any trouble on his side, it won't take half an hour for me to receive the news - this is why we chose the Fourth Young Master.
One of your reasons.”
"In addition to this method, we have many, many plans. As long as you are willing, we guarantee that we can send you to that position——"
Ding Yi rubbed her hands and said something fierce about Cao Pi, her eyes flashing fiercely several times.
It can be seen that there is no need to question his hatred for Cao Pi.
Seeing that Cao Zhi was already shaken, Yang Xiu added:
"I know that Fourth Young Master, you like beauties, poetry and wine. Don't you think that when you reach that position, the world will no longer need you to work as hard as the Prime Minister? By then, beauties, fine wines will not be left to your own devices.
Have you ever been as careful as you are today when you want to take a look at someone else's beauty just for the sake of a party?"
"You! You...you are...you..."
Yang Xiu's sudden words immediately disturbed Cao Zhi's mind. He stared at Yang Xiu dumbfounded, and his cheeks turned red just for a moment.
His little secret was discovered by Yang Xiu. Cao Zhi originally wanted to scold Yang Xiu, but then he began to worry about how Yang Xiu knew these things.
Yang Xiu truly understood people's hearts and revealed some of the things that Cao Zhi cared about most at once.
"Don't worry, Fourth Young Master, these things are just details that I noticed accidentally - naturally I won't mention it to others casually, and in fact you don't need to hide anything. As the saying goes, fair ladies, gentlemen are good at eating and drinking.
There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Yang Xiu said with a smile, while Cao Zhi suddenly became as reserved as a child.
Seeing this scene, Yang Xiu knew that Cao Zhi had basically taken the bait.
"Is everything you...say true?"
Cao Zhi confirmed again and again, but who would have thought that what finally moved Cao Zhi's heart was a little secret about Cao Zhi accidentally discovered by Yang Xiu?
"It's absolutely true, how could we deceive you, Fourth Young Master?"
Ding Yi also echoed from the side.
Cao Zhi slowly closed his eyes, and after a long silence, he nodded heavily.
"In that case...please work with me to win this battle for heirship and do your best!"
On this same day, the two young masters of the Cao family seemed to have determined their goals for the next few years, and as they looked forward to the future excitedly -
Early the next morning.
Cao Zhi woke up from his dream.
Last night, Yang Xiu and Ding Yi talked with him for a long time, and the three of them even slept together. It can only be said that being able to find like-minded people is indeed a very lucky thing.
One moment they were wary of each other, and there was a hint of tension, but the next moment after the reconciliation, everyone became so close that they couldn't help themselves.
Feeling the arrival of a new day, Cao Zhi felt quite refreshed.
However... the moment he opened the door.
A figure appeared in front of him, causing Cao Zhi to freeze on the spot.
"You...you are..."
Yang Xiu and Ding Yi waited all day yesterday and only got the chance to meet Cao Zhi in the evening. After another night of discussions, they were already exhausted. However, feeling the sunlight entering the room after Cao Zhi opened the door, Yang Xiu finally
Still can't sleep anymore.
Yang Xiu got up and walked sleepily out the door, saying as he walked:
"My lord, my lord, where have you been?"
"My lord, right?"
As a result... a sudden cold snort made Yang Xiu's legs go weak instantly.
Yang Xiu trembled all over and quickly rubbed his eyes. He looked towards the door in horror and saw the man standing at the door, staring at him with a smile that seemed to have a lot of meaning in his smile.
"Ah...then...that...how...you..."
Yang Xiuren was dumbfounded. He never dreamed that he would be caught by Cao Zhi after he just stayed at Cao Zhi's place for one night.
Hearing the noise outside, Ding Yi also got up and saw him stretching out of the back room. When he saw the person standing at the door for the first time, he couldn't believe it.
"Oh...it seems I haven't woken up yet..."
Ding Yi giggled and slapped herself——
Snapped!
The crisp sound of the slap resounded throughout the audience, and the severe pain on his face made Ding Yi feel dazed for a while.
But when she came back to her senses and saw that the person standing at the door was still motionless, Ding Yi suddenly froze.
"It seems that I have disturbed your enjoyment?"
"You all must have had a fulfilling night, but...I came today with the order from Master Mu -"
The speaker smiled and took out a jade pendant from his arms——
"Hide it from my master...it's..."
Ding Yi had only heard about it in the past and knew that Cao Cao had an alias named Master Hao. Today, he never thought that he would actually encounter it.
He looked intently at the jade pendant in the opponent's hand. It would have been better not to look at it, but when he saw that his legs and feet were as weak as Yang Xiu's - to be honest... where was the jade pendant of "Hiding the Master"? It was clearly Cao Cao's own jade pendant.
That is to say…
"Hide it... from me?"
Cao Zhi took a moment to react. He was not that familiar with Yi Xiaotian, but Cao Cao had more or less ordered him to hide his identity in front of Yi Xiaotian.
"You...what are your orders?"
"Haha...just come with me."
Yi Xiaotian waved his hand, ignored Yang Xiu and Ding Yi, and left the courtyard with Cao Zhi.
