Wei, Chenliu.
After leaving Qiao County, the emperor's campaign team slowly moved in a northwest direction.
When passing Liang State, Cao Rui dispatched Xin Zhi to pay tribute at the mausoleum of Qiao Xuan in Suining.
During his youth in Luoyang, Emperor Wu Cao Cao was known for his roguish behavior and disregard for minor virtues, and many people at the time did not look favorably upon him.
Only that year's Luoyang's City's Duke Bridge Xuan believed that Cao Cao would become a person of talent in the future, praised Cao Cao as a person who could help the people and benefit the world. He also introduced Cao Cao to Shuai Yu An, the famous scholar of Yinan, who founded the "Monthly Evaluation".
It was at Xu Shao's place where Cao Cao received the assessment, "a capable minister in times of peace and a cunning hero in times of chaos," which subsequently elevated his reputation in the city of Luoyang and marked his entry into Yuan Shao's circle.
Bridge Xuan was more than four decades older than Cao Cao, yet he received recognition from the three public officials at a young age, the kind of early-life encounter with favor and trust that one would never forget regardless of what position they held later on.
Emperor Wu Cao Cao and Emperor Wen Cao Pi have visited here in succession, and have performed the highest level of sacrifice, the "Taigong" ritual, in honor of Bridge Xuan. Although Emperor Rui did not care about this kind of favor spanning several generations, when a nearby middle minister reminded him, it was fine to send Xin Zhi to pay tribute there as well.
Suining was the administrative center of Liang Commandery, while Qiao County was the administrative center of Qiao Commandery.
In fact, Liang Commandery and Qiao Commandery were the previous Liang State and Puzhou State. Emperor Wen, Cao Pi, once wanted to punish Cao Hong. Niang Mater advised that "Amongst Liang and Puzhou, there is none who can match the status of Zichan today" referring to Cao Hong.
From Suining to Qiao County, this area is the actual cradle of power for the Cao Wei dynasty.
After passing through Liang Commandery, you reach Chenliu Commandery. During Cao Rui's southern tour from Luoyang, he only stayed one night in Chenliu City and left immediately the next day for the south, which can be described as an urgent trip.
However, now that he has returned victorious, there is no urgent matter waiting for him in the capital, but Cao Rui wants to stay in Chenliu for a few more days.
After all, Wei Zhen is currently investigating rebellious officials in Luoyang City. There's no hurry for Cao Rui to return to the capital until the results are known.
At night, in Chenliu City.
During his stay in Chenliu City, Cao Rui resided in the original Chenliu Palace twice.
As early as the third year of the Huangchu period, Emperor Wu Cao Cao's son, Cao Jun, born to Qin Lady, was renamed from Marquis of Xiayi and appointed Marquis of Chenliu.
However, thanks to the consistent strategy of Emperor Wen Cao Pi of suppressing the royal clans, Cao Jun was transferred back to Xiangyi in the fifth year of Huangchu. Although he left, the former palace remained, becoming the largest and most magnificent mansion in Chenliu City.
When Cao Rui set out from Luoyang and began his southern tour, there were already four palace maids accompanying and serving in his retinue. This was the simplest possible configuration. Of course, these four maids stayed in the pavilion in Shou Chun and could not accompany the emperor to the battlefield.
At this moment, in the outer room of the bedroom, the four palace maids were preparing for the emperor's bath. They had been serving the emperor for four or five years and were now all over twenty years old, having been girls of sixteen on that day.
While Sun Luiban stood by watching.
Zhao Jie, a palace maid, was folding the emperor's close-fitting clothes that he would wear later. She looked up and said to Her Ladyship: "My Lady, two sets of clean robes are to be prepared for the emperor after his bath. One set is thinner and one is thicker. After the emperor's bath, it will be chosen which set to wear."
"These two sets of robes are made of fine hemp cloth. Remember to rub and soften them repeatedly before serving the emperor for his bath." Looking at Sun Luban, Zhao Jie said, "Otherwise, they might feel stiff against the skin when worn next to the body."
"Mhm." Sun Luban nodded in agreement.
The palace maids who were able to accompany the emperor were certainly not of limited knowledge. Moreover, Sun Lubian's identity was not ordinary, and the maids knew that she was only temporarily serving as a handmaiden.
Therefore, the four palace maids treated Sun Luban with respect, even addressing her as 'My Lady'. They did not assign her any daily chores and only spoke to her about the matters to be attended to in serving the emperor.
Today, as the leader of the four, Zhao Jie takes this opportunity to teach Sun Luban how to serve the emperor in taking a bath.
"There are a total of five bath towels, two hemp and three silk. The body is first wiped with hemp towels, followed by silk towels to absorb the water."
Zhao Jie smiled and said, "In the past, we all fought over this job. After drying the body, drying the hair is also a matter of urgency."
"Brother, tell the lady how to help the emperor dry his hair." Zhao Jie looked at her sister Zhao Yuan, who was sorting out the towels next to the bed.
Zhao Jie and Zhao Yuan are sisters. They have been serving the emperor since he was still in the Eastern Palace.
"Here you go, look at this," Zhao Yuan pointed to the small round copper stove beside the bed.
"What is this, how exquisite it is?"
Sun Lubian picked up the copper stove to have a look.
Zhao Yuan covered her mouth and laughed, "This stove has two layers, an inner and an outer one. The inner layer can hold charcoal fire."
"After the emperor bathes, he will lie on the couch. His hair will be spread behind him, and with this small stove, you can dry his hair one inch at a time."
Zhao Yuan walked over, took the small round copper stove from Sun Lubian's hand, and pulled over a piece of cloth to demonstrate.
"Place one hand below to hold up a strand of hair, and use the other hand to hold the handle of the stove outside, keeping it a few inches away and slowly drying like this."
Zhao Yuan looked at Sun Luban's eyes and said, "Remember, you must not be in a hurry. Dry each strand of hair between your own hands, or if you burn the emperor, no one can save you."
Sun Lubian nodded hastily: "I remember, it won't be hot at all."
However, Sun Luban noticed that the several palace maids were all smiling. Confused, she said, "Why are you all so happy? Is there something good happening?"
"There are good things, of course there are good things," Zhao Yuan smiled and replied.
"Don't listen to him." Zhao Jie gave her sister a disapproving glance and turned around to smile, "How should I put it? Serving the emperor's bath is indeed a pleasant task."
The several palace maids in the room all laughed appropriately. Sun Luban was taken aback at first, then blushed slightly and suddenly remembered the moment that day in the hall of the Shou Chun palace when the emperor personally untied the rope around her wrist.
That handsome face is so hard to erase from my mind.
The official of the Inner Attendant Office, Bi Jin, pushed the door from outside and entered, frowning and whispering angrily: "Do not make noise. Speak softly during preparation so as not to disturb the emperor."
"Yes," the four palace maids responded in unison, bowing.
Bi Jin saw Sun Luban in the room and couldn't help but ask, "What is Your Lordship doing here?"
Sun Lubian's face flushed with embarrassment as she stammered, "I... I came here to learn from Zhao Jie how to serve the emperor's bath."
Bi Jin's weathered face broke into a slight smile. After giving Sun Lubian a thorough look, he nodded slightly and said, "Zhao Jie, take good care to teach Lady Sun. Don't let anything go wrong."
"Don't worry, there won't be any mistakes," Zhao Jie quickly replied.
……
With the multitude of state affairs, it is still important to find ways to relax, and taking a bath can be one such activity that allows for a much-needed respite.
Under the care of Zhao Jie and Zhao Yuan, Cao Rui removed his outer and inner clothes and stepped into the bath tub.
The hot water rose from his legs to his entire body. At first, he had to endure the heat for a moment. After sweating slightly for a while, relaxation began from within and spread outward.
Cao Rui lay half reclining in the oval-shaped bath tub, with Zhao Jie and Zhao Yuan on either side, gently massaging the emperor's arms.
The appearance of these two women can only be considered mediocre. According to Bi Jin, the tradition of having such women was long-standing. They needed to look attractive, but not too beautiful to distract the emperor's attention.
Cao Rui closed his eyes and felt the relaxation of his muscles and the warmth of the water. He began to think about what he needed to do tomorrow.
Now that they have reached Chenliu, they are getting closer to Luoyang. Today, in Chenliu City, they met an envoy sent by Wei Zhen, who said that Miao Qiujian would arrive in Chenliu the next day to report to him personally about the rumors case in Luoyang City.
Today, envoys have been sent to Yongchi City to summon Cao Zhi. Even if Cao Zhi sets out early tomorrow morning, he should arrive in Chenliu at the latest in the afternoon.
How should I face Cao Zhi?
He wrote the "Song of the Luo Goddess," didn't he? I wonder if he has finished it by now. How is he doing with the task of annotating the Five Classics?
Thinking about it, Cao Rui lying in the hot water in the bath tub gradually felt drowsy.
Zhao Jie on the left gently rubbed and twisted the emperor's fingers while watching his side face. From every angle, he was just right, as if a top-notch painter had designed him.
As for the body beneath the water, even though Zhao Jie had served the emperor countless times, she could only dare to glance occasionally at it, as if looking too long would be a misfortune.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Zhao Jie called softly in an airy voice.
Cao Rui didn't open his eyes: "What is it?"
Zhao Jie spoke in a soft and gentle tone, "Today, while we were preparing the bathing items for Your Majesty, Lady Sun was also learning beside us, and she's quite serious about it."
"Shall I call Lady Sun to serve?" Zhao Jie asked earnestly.
Cao Rui opened his eyes slightly, looked at Zhao Jie's face, and asked: "Did Da Huo tell you to say that? Or was it an idea from Bi Jin or yours?"
Zhao Jie bit her lip and said, "How could I dare? It was Lady Sun who said herself that she is now a handmaid and should do things to serve the emperor; otherwise, she would be restless in her heart."
Cao Rui smiled and snorted: "Then bring her in. I want to see how she serves."
Zhao Jie softly acknowledged and then looked at the other palace maid who was kneeling and waiting for the call in the corner. The maid understood and went to the outer room to summon Sun Luban.
Sun Luban blushed and walked to the side of the emperor's bath tub, bowing low before kneeling down: "Your Majesty, I have come."
Cao Rui opened his eyes and looked at Sun Luban's face. After looking at her for a few moments, he lightly said "good," then continued to close his eyes for rest.
Zhao Jie said in a low voice, "Come up quickly, come over and give the emperor a massage with me."
"Yes." Sun Luban blushed and stood up, but upon seeing the emperor's closed figure, she quickly turned her head away, not daring to look again. She felt a bit lost and unsure of what to do.
Zhao Jie whispered, "Come here, massage the emperor's head."
Sun Luban didn't say anything, taking a few small steps to stand behind the emperor and kneeling on the ground, she gently whispered behind his ear, "Your Majesty, please sit up a little. I can't reach you."
Cao Rui supported himself with both hands on either side, lying a bit higher. Before his body could fully relax, his head was caught by the waiting hands behind him and placed against a soft spot.
A pair of delicate hands gently pressed against the forehead.
Cao Rui hummed in satisfaction, then continued to think about the matters in his mind.
As the Heavenly King, he can afford to enjoy this wealth and luxury.
(The end of this chapter)
