Sun Luban, with the fetus in her womb as a safeguard, spoke more and more with a coy and playful tone.
"Your Majesty has granted the title of Marquis of Wu to Lu Sun. I fear that upon hearing this in Wuchang, my father might become so angry that he would smash his wine jar."
Cao Rui laughed and said, "How can this be? Is my father-in-law's temperament also like this?"
Sun Luban, with her eyes wide and cunning, looked at Cao Rui and said in a slightly exaggerated tone, "Your Majesty may not know that my father has always had a bad temper. He often scolds his subjects after drinking."
"However, after he's sober, he usually apologizes. Thanks to the prestige of Marquis Wu, not many people really take him to task."
Cao Rui laughed and said, "The image of Sun Quan I heard from Sun Luban, the daughter of Sun Chen, is somewhat different from the image I know from the words of ministers and officials."
Cao Rui asked teasingly, "Don't you worry about angering him?"
Sun Luban bit her lip, looked down and gently stroked her rounded belly, then turned to Cao Rui and said, "I have always known, there's only the saying that my father could anger others, but no one can truly anger him."
"Besides," Sun Luban smiled, "Your Majesty treats me so well. If one day we conquer Changsha and Yangzhou, I don't think he would kill my father."
Cao Rui said half-jokingly and half seriously, "This matter is not about me but about your father."
"If it truly comes to that, I will certainly be magnanimous, but I cannot tolerate someone who is stubborn and unyielding."
Sun Luban seems to have no worries at all: "I have known it since the day I entered the palace."
"Let's not talk about my father. How could the ministers and officials not have any criticism if the emperor treats Lu Sun so generously?"
Cao Rui said, "Of course there is. Some say that I granted Lu Sun the title of County Marquis and a thousand households before he had even won any victories. Others argue that Lu Sun is too old, and I shouldn't have married the princess to him."
Sun Luban pursed her lips and said, "I have actually met Lu Xun. At the age of forty-five, he has accomplishments, status, and is from a prominent family. Is he not fortunate enough?"
Cao Rui nodded and said, "I also have the same idea. However, he is a former enemy general, and has only been serving in the Wei state for more than a year. General Wei entrusted Lu Xun with the guardianship of Taizhong, and I have also agreed."
"Let Lu Xun stay in his post for a few years, and then I will decide on his future importance based on the situation."
Sun Luban nodded, picked up the ivory chopsticks again to continue her meal, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Cao Rui was puzzled and asked, "What are you smiling at, Great Tiger?"
Sun Luban bit her lip and did not answer. Sun Luban had never told Cao Rui about an old incident when, in Wuchang, Sun Quan had once intended to marry him to Quan Zong. Thinking of this matter now, she felt it was absolutely impossible to tell the emperor.
After the evening meal with Sun Luban, Cao Rui bid farewell to Big Tiger and rode in a carriage to Guo Yao's residence to spend the night.
The following evening, it was once again at Guo Yao's residence.
The day after that, it was still at Guo Yao's place.
Three days later in the early morning, Cao Rui sat in a white cotton gown in front of the mirror. Guo Yao, also wearing a nightgown, was brushing Cao Rui's hair inch by inch from behind.
Cao Rui looked contently at his reflection in the mirror and softly said, "I suddenly thought of last winter."
"At that time, it was the latter half of the night. I was woken up by the eunuchs from here, and I learned about the military situation in Longyou. I read the military reports with great urgency, and you were barefoot on the ground, covering me with a thick robe."
"Do you remember?"
Guo Yao lowered her head and softly said, "I how could I forget? But it's Your Majesty who gets so busy that he forgets to take care of his body. How can he remember all this?"
Cao Rui teased, "How could I forget? The thick robe was bright red, and the tiles were dark blue. It set off the luster of your tiny feet, shimmering like snow. How could I ever forget that?"
Guo Yao pretended to be angry, pounded on Cao Rui's shoulder lightly, and then gently tied up Cao Rui's hair and inserted a peachwood hairpin.
"I won't put a crown on the emperor today. There is a great audience, and everyone will be wearing their official robes."
Cao Rui asked, "I haven't seen this hairpin before. Where did it come from?"
Guo Yao said, "I made it myself for the emperor. Please take a look at the shape."
"Excellent!" Cao Rui stood up, put on his ordinary clothes, and when he went out, he turned back and said, "Don't wait for me tonight. I will stay in the study for a night's rest and then rest again. See you tomorrow."
Guo Yao bit her lip, feeling both ashamed and angry, and stamped her foot.
As she watched Cao Rui's figure gradually disappear in the distance, Guo Yao came to her senses and lowered her head to look at her own shoes.
Could they be as white as the emperor said?
