Chapter 292: Cao Cao’s Regret
A few days later, Sun Shangxiang walked into Da Qiao’s room. She saw the child toddling and squatted down, clapping her hands with a smile, “Baby, come to Auntie!”
The little one didn’t see clearly and toddled straight into her arms. Sun Shangxiang smiled, picked up the child, and gave her cheek a big kiss, “Baby is so good!”
Unexpectedly, the little one suddenly realized that the person in front of her was not her mother. She immediately started crying sadly and struggled to turn her head to look for her, which made Sun Shangxiang a bit flustered.
“Give him to me!”
Da Qiao stepped forward, smiled, took the child, and gently coaxed him in her arms. The child stopped crying and fell fast asleep moments later.
Da Qiao handed the child to the wet nurse before waving for Sun Shangxiang to sit down and personally pouring her a cup of tea.
“Are you still sad?” Da Qiao asked with concern.
“Thank you for your concern, Sister Da Qiao. I’m much better.”
“Really? Or are you just humoring me?” Da Qiao looked at her.
“I’m not humoring you, it’s… it’s true?”
A blush spread across Sun Shangxiang’s pretty face. What she said was true. Since Gan Ning promised to rescue her mother that night and opened a new door for her, her mindset had changed. She was no longer consumed by the grief of a lost country, but by another emotion: the happiness of being loved and having a destination. She constantly yearned for her own happy future, and the pain of her fallen country and broken home quietly faded.
Da Qiao nodded gently, “My husband told me about your situation. He’s very busy, focusing all his energy on how to deal with the Cao Army, so I’ll be responsible for the rest of the arrangements.”
Sun Shangxiang’s heart suddenly sank. She then realized that in front of her happy future was another door – the current main wife. She was not a political marriage alliance, so her entry must be accepted by the main wife.
Sun Shangxiang slowly lowered her head, the smile fading from her face, and her heart became extremely anxious.
Da Qiao saw her nervousness and gently took her hand, smiling, “You don’t need to worry. I’m very happy that you can become my sister.”
Da Qiao’s clear statement made Sun Shangxiang’s nose sting, and tears almost fell. She still kept her head down, listening to Da Qiao continue.
“Actually, I also hope to take in more concubines for my husband so he can have more descendants. This is a responsibility on my shoulders, but I also have selfish desires; I hope that the women who enter our household are those I can accept and like.”
At this point, Da Qiao paused, her gaze softened, and she squeezed Sun Shangxiang’s hand more firmly. “The first day you arrived, when you got off the boat, I saw your eyes. Your eyes were clean and pure, with a hint of pride, but I didn’t dislike it. Later, when you spent three days saving that dying young bird, I discovered you possessed a quality I admire most: kindness. Purity and kindness, these are my bottom lines, and the true reasons I can accept you.”
Sun Shangxiang finally looked up, her eyes shining with joy. She finally confirmed that Da Qiao truly accepted her, not just because of General Gan’s influence.
“Thank you, Sister Da Qiao!” she said softly in gratitude.
Da Qiao smiled again, “We have an unwritten rule in our family. Starting with me, and then Yun Qing and A Yu, we all hold a small ceremony on New Year’s Eve and then officially share a room. It’s the same for you, so your day to share a room is scheduled for New Year’s Eve.”
Sun Shangxiang’s pretty face instantly turned red, even her neck flushed. The words “share a room” made her feel unbearably shy. She let out a small “Mmm!” and got up to leave, “Sister Da Qiao, I’ll go now.”
Da Qiao laughed, as if she saw herself from a few years ago in Sun Shangxiang.
Back in her room, Sun Shangxiang sat at her desk, covering her burning cheeks with her cool hands, trying to calm her pounding heart. She knew what “share a room” meant, of course. Her body and mind would completely belong to one man.
At that moment, she felt something and turned around. She saw Xu Wei leaning against the doorway, a mischievous smile on her face.
“Yun Qing, what are you smiling about?” Sun Shangxiang asked with a slight pout.
Xu Wei slowly walked over and sat beside her, the smile on her face deepening, “I’m wondering if you’re looking forward to the New Year?”
“You—”
Sun Shangxiang’s pretty face flushed crimson again. She clenched her fists and gently hit Xu Wei’s arm, “Don’t say that again.”
Xu Wei stood up and walked forward to hold her hand. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “Shang Xiang, I need to admit something to you.”
“What?” Sun Shangxiang looked at her, puzzled.
“Actually, when I asked you to come to Chaisang, I had already decided to make you my sister. I’ve been trying to bring you and my husband together.”
“You—” Sun Shangxiang looked at her in shock.
Xu Wei’s face was sincere, “Shang Xiang, I have no ill intentions. We are best friends, and I just want you to experience my happiness too.”
Sun Shangxiang was truly moved. She held Xu Wei’s hand and nodded, “How could I be angry with you? I’m grateful that you’re willing to share your happiness with me. If I ever do anything wrong in the future, you must remind me.”
“Don’t worry! We don’t have that many rules in our family. Everything is as you see it. However…”
Saying “however,” she leaned in and whispered in her ear, “If one day you sleep in the study…”
Xu Wei’s voice remained low, and Sun Shangxiang’s earlobes turned red, extending all the way to her neck.
Sun Ben’s plan was formally presented to Cao Cao’s desk. Cao Cao immediately summoned several strategists to discuss the plan.
“Sun Ben wants troops!”
Cheng Yu cut to the chase, “He’s unwilling to be a puppet and has great ambition. He wants to make a comeback. Therefore, he’s using the excuse of attacking Yuzhang Commandery to get troops and money and grain from us.”
“Zhong De sees it clearly!”
Xun Yu praised him, then frowned, “Sun Ben’s target should be the southern part of Yuzhang Commandery and Luling Commandery. The troop strength there is weak, making it easy to capture. Perhaps he has an even deeper ambition to capture Guiyang Commandery, and then use Guiyang Commandery as a stepping stone to capture the entire Jiaozhou.”
Sun Ben’s little schemes were completely transparent to these top strategists. Jia Xu also said cautiously, “Chancellor, you really don’t need to worry too much. Sun Ben is nothing more than an ant before you; he can be crushed with a light pinch. As for contractual integrity, that’s for the strong. Sun Ben doesn’t deserve it.”
After a long silence, Cao Cao slowly said, “I plan to agree to Sun Ben’s plan!”
Everyone was stunned. Just as they were about to speak and advise against it, Cao Cao waved his hand, “You don’t need to worry. Sun Ben’s sons are all in my hands. He’s like a kite that cannot fly away.”
After a pause, Cao Cao added indifferently, “If he’s willing to cause some trouble for Gan Ning, why shouldn’t I be pleased?”
Everyone suddenly understood and gave him a thumbs-up, “As expected of the Chancellor’s brilliance!”
As everyone got up to leave, Cao Cao said, “Wen Zheng, stay behind.”
Everyone else left, and only Jia Xu remained in the Official Residence, waiting nervously for Cao Cao to speak.
Cao Cao stood by the window. After a long while, he sighed, “Actually, the thing I regret the most is when Gan Ning first captured Yuzhang Commandery. I once had the thought of marrying my daughter to him. Unfortunately, that thought didn’t last. To this day, I truly regret it!”
