Three Kingdoms: Prince of the Great Wei, Prime Minister Cao

Chapter 24: The Struggle for the Heirship! Cao Pi’s Jealousy!

On that evening, Cao Ju was accommodated in the residence of the county magistrate where Cao Cao resided. It wasn’t that he didn’t wish to find another dwelling within the city, but his father, Cao Cao, had specially arranged all of this. As the night grew darker, Cao Ju, not wanting to deal with further commotion, accepted Cao Cao’s hospitality without resistance. He Dian Man and Deng Ai settled into the county magistrate’s residence.

This residence served as Cao Cao’s “temporary headquarters.” There wasn’t much to it except for a surplus of vacant rooms. Combined with the day’s travel exhaustion and the mental strain of facing Cao Cao, Cao Ju sank into deep slumber not long after his head met the pillow. On the other side, within a spacious courtyard within the city of Hefei, even though the night had advanced into the early morning hours, the main building where one could rest was still aglow with light.

Before Cao Pi stood in a wide-open space, even in the late hours, a trusted servant who often handled secretive matters for Cao Pi was quietly reporting to him.

“Master, there’s a message from the county magistrate’s residence.”

“After you and Young Master Cao Zhang left the study, the Prime Minister and Eighth Young Master spent considerable time alone inside. They emerged from the study about a quarter of an hour ago.”

“During that time, what they discussed.”

“Our spies within the county magistrate’s residence couldn’t ascertain, as General Xu Chu remained stationed just outside the door, preventing anyone from getting close.”

“However, we did gather another piece of information that might be useful to you.”

The loyal servant glanced up cautiously at Cao Pi.

“Eighth Young Master Cao Ju is spending the night at the county magistrate’s residence, and the Prime Minister ordered this.”

After delivering this news, the servant immediately lowered their head.

“Father, had Eighth Brother stay the night at his residence?”

Upon hearing the servant’s report, Cao Pi’s eyes widened abruptly. His tone was full of doubt. This was surprising because as he, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi grew older, their father, Cao Cao, rarely had his older sons stay by his side.

Even if others would share lodgings with his father, they were merely his younger siblings, all under ten. Although his father, Cao Cao, had concealed it well, Cao Pi still keenly sensed his father’s faint wariness towards his growing older sons.

Think about it: knowing that his father was intentionally cautious around his elder sons, how could Cao Pi not be astonished when his father, Cao Cao, still allowed his younger brother Cao Ju to stay overnight?

Grasping this point, Cao Pi immediately questioned his loyal subordinate, “How did my younger brother behave?”

“After coming out of the study where Father was, what was his expression? How was his mood?”

Facing Cao Pi’s inquiries, the servant hesitated suddenly. The agents he had placed to spy on the county magistrate’s residence hadn’t informed him of this.

How could he know, especially when confronted by Cao Pi’s sudden questioning?

Seeing the hesitating servant, Cao Pi bluntly commanded, “Why are you standing there blankly?”

“Since you don’t know, go and inquire again. Half an hour from now, I want to know this.”

The servant dared not hesitate any longer. Apologizing to Cao Pi, he immediately left in a fluster. Cao Pi’s face became solemn and gloomy within the room, illuminated by the oil lamp’s glow.

“Something must have occurred in the study that I am unaware of.”

“With Father’s temperament, he would never easily overlook such an audacious and presumptuous younger brother.”

Putting himself in another’s shoes, the more Cao Pi thought, the more he felt that the situation was not simple. He even considered preparing a carriage and journeying through the night for a brief moment to seek assistance and clarification from Sima Yi, who had already covertly expressed support for him. Sima Yi, Xun You, and Cheng Yu were the three chief strategists accompanying Cao Cao in his campaign against Sun Quan.

Intelligent Sima Yi was the only person Cao Pi could think of who could help him analyze the significant change in Cao Cao’s attitude. However, he couldn’t escape his vexation as he thought of another astute advisor, Chen Qun, who had covertly sided with him. His father had left Chen Qun in Xuchang, guarding Emperor Liu Xie and securing the rear. With their relationship in mind, Cao Pi wouldn’t need to leave his home if Chen Qun were here in the city. A simple letter would have sufficed to summon Chen Qun, who could have shed light on the day’s events and relieved his doubts.

The loyal servant who had gone to gather intelligence didn’t keep Cao Pi waiting for too long.

Half an hour later, the returning servant knelt before Cao Pi and reported again, “Master!”

“I’ve thoroughly investigated. After Eighth Young Master Cao Ju came out of the study where the Prime Minister was, his expression was noticeably relaxed.”

“He didn’t appear as if he had been scolded or reprimanded by the Prime Minister.”

“And, I also learned from a servant responsible for tidying up after the Prime Minister’s meals.”

“After Eighth Young Master Cao Ju left, the Prime Minister consumed more food tonight than usual, even eating two large bowls. Even the deer meat stew, he ate almost half of it.”

After relaying this gathered information, the servant didn’t continue speaking because this information was already quite revealing. Seeing the servant’s silence, Cao Pi waved his hand somewhat embarrassedly, “Alright, I understand. You may leave.”

“Yes!” The servant bowed and left the room.

Once the servant was gone, Cao Pi’s expression turned dark and ominous.

“Bang!”

Cao Pi’s fist slammed into a pillar within the room, the knuckles cracking audibly.

“Old Eighth!”

“No matter what you said to Father, no matter how much favor you gained.”

“You should understand one thing. What belongs to your elder brother? You shouldn’t meddle with it!”

“You mustn’t!”

“Old Fourth, Old Fifth, none of you should either!”

That night, Cao Pi once again couldn’t sleep!

In his dreams, he dreamt of being relentlessly pursued by three fierce tigers!

As he fled in panic, he looked back. Only to realize those three man-eating tigers were strikingly similar to his three troublesome brothers.