The sky was almost dawn, the fish belly was white in the east of the forest, and the storm gradually stopped.

The charcoal fire in the house just went out, and wisps of white smoke rose up.

After listening to Xi Zhicai telling the whole story of the follow-up, Hu Zhao fell into deep thought. He felt that he had wronged Sima Fang for so many years. It turned out that in order to protect Sima Youran's son, he did not hesitate to push his biological son into the fire pit. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel very guilty.

Cai Yan, who was standing by, felt very relieved and surprised to learn that his brother was still alive:

"If Zhongda knew that you were still alive, he would be very happy."

Xi Zhicai picked up the black iron fire fork on the ground and gently stirred the piles of wooden blocks. The wooden blocks that were originally basically maintained in their original shape instantly turned into pitch black charcoal dust and scattered:

"Actually, I have instructed Zhong Yu to tell him the secret of his life experience before. I think he should also know that I am still living in this world. What he knows more is that there are more important things to do than knowing me..."

Hu Zhao, who had always remained silent, sneered and started to laugh at himself after a long time:

"I really didn't expect that so-called smart people such as Guo Jia, Xun Yu, Xun You, Chen Qun, etc., would be fooled by you alone in the end. It turned out that they were just a chess piece of yours..."

"Actually, Guo Jia had already discovered the truth that I was not dead, and he personally found me through Zhong Yu. After that, he kept secretly assisting Zhong Yu in dealing with 'Liu Ji' and others."

For Hu Zhao, Xi Zhi felt guilty, and he knew that he had hatred for him to take his wife.

What he knew more was that compared to Sima Fang who ignored Sima Youran's life and death, he hated even more that he had gained Youran's heart but could not protect her. Thinking of this, he felt that he had no face to see Hu Zhao.

After hesitating for a moment, he stood up and walked towards the door:

"Let's go...I'll take you to see Youran..."

A circular cemetery stands on the hills of Yige's southern suburbs in the southwest of Luoyang. There is no weed around the cemetery. It is neatly arranged in circles with stones of exactly the same size. On the stele are hung with garlands strung in circles of five different colors. It sways gently with the gentle breeze, and the polished and smooth tombstone is not engraved.

Although Xi Zhicai did not tell Hu Zhao who his cemetery was, Hu Zhao knew very well who the owner was buried deep underground. When he came to Luoyang from Yingchuan to meet Sima Youran, he was deeply fascinated by her freshness and elegance at first sight. Although he didn't meet her many times, Sima Youran rejected him. However, his love for Sima Youran has long been deeply rooted in his heart and has never been shaken, and is no less than Liu She.

However, even if he had a love for Youran that was shattered and unswervingly, he could only continue to hide this love in his heart, because she was someone else's wife and other people's mother. If Hu Zhao showed his love for her again, it would be a blasphemy to her. Therefore, he took back his hand that had already reached out to touch the tombstone, and turned to bow down to salute him respectfully:

"I didn't expect that when we meet again, we would take this form. Youran, don't worry, your son has now become a responsible person. No matter which path he takes in the future, we don't have to worry about him."

Cai Yan put the flowers he picked himself into a bunch and placed them under the stone tablet:

"Sister Youran, although our family has brought disasters and troubles to you and the Sima family, maybe I am not qualified to stand here and say such things, but I still want to say thank you to you for my brother and Zhongda..."

At this time, Sima Yi, who was in Yecheng, was visiting the mansion at Cao Pi's invitation. In order not to arouse Cao Cao's suspicion, Cao Pi specially sent a carriage to the back door of Sima's house to greet him without anyone noticing it.

After arriving at Cao Pi's mansion, Sima Yi found that Chen Qun and Wu Zhi were waiting there. When Cao Pi saw Sima Yi coming, he invited them into the study together. Cao Cao ordered that no one would be allowed to approach the study.

"I'm looking for you guys to come today, and I have something to discuss with you."

After inviting the three of them to take their seats, Cao Pi said straight to the point of his purpose:

"Sometimes, Dong Zhao mentioned the promotion of the title of Duke to his father in private. Cao Zhi and I were both on the scene. Judging from my father's expression, he was already moved by this proposal. Cao Zhi also tried his best to persuade his father to be duke himself to shock the world. But his father did not give a clear reply in the end, which is really uncomprehensible."

Wu Zhi saw Cao Pi’s inner worries at a glance:

"The young master is afraid that once the prime minister is promoted to the title of Duke, the candidate for the prince will be quickly put on the agenda. At that time, Cao Zhi, who tried his best to instigate the prime minister, will be likely to win the favor of Ling Zun for this and be appointed as the prince, right?"

Cao Pi answered without any obscure answer: "Mr. Is it true that if Zi Jian inherited his father's title, then all our efforts will be wasted. Not only that, there may be life-threatening worries."

At this time, Sima Yi was concerned about this matter from another perspective:

"In contrast, the young master should advise the prime minister that even if he is promoted to the throne, he must be granted by the court rather than independent. Dong Zhao's intention is too explicit. If the prime minister is independent, he will be honest. Sun Quan, Liu Bei and others will definitely seize this matter and exaggerate the prime minister's ambition to usurp the throne and become emperor. By then, the prime minister will fall into a passive situation."

In fact, Sima Yi's words are very clear, and Cao Pi seems to have understood the mystery:

"Mr. What Mr. means... The reason why Cao Zhi's enthusiasm did not change his father's agreement was because his father was concerned about the hidden dangers that the husband said just now, so if I advised him from this perspective, he would be valued."

Chen Qun and Wu Zhi both recognized Sima Yi's idea. Later, Cao Pi followed Sima Yi's suggestion. When Cao Cao talked about the promotion of the title of Duke with Cao Pi, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi again, Cao Zhi and Cao Zhang both insisted on their original opinions to support Cao Cao as Duke. Cao Zhi also compared the Wei Wuhou who had been in the Warring States Period and dominated the Central Plains for nearly a hundred years with Cao Cao's servants, and placed the same position as the emperor of Zhou, who was basically undermined, and suggested that Cao Cao be called Duke of Wei.

When Cao Cao asked Cao Pi, who was silent all the time, Cao Pi truthfully conveyed Sima Yi's words to Cao Cao, but he was immediately disdained by Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi, but Cao Cao listened to Cao Pi's words. The reason for his concern was precisely the reason. He believed that although his actions have not been as obvious as Dong Zhuo's actions, they were also despised by those loyal subjects in the Han Dynasty. If he took this step rashly, it would definitely cause turmoil in the current situation.

After this incident, Cao Cao believed that Cao Pi's views were more macro and rational than Cao Zhi and Cao Zhang, and that they were not blocked by the glitz and virtual images in front of him. At present, it was the most correct judgment:

"What Zihuan said is in line with the truth. Even if I, Cao Mengde, want to be called king, I must get permission from the emperor and even the Han Dynasty. Even if the emperor is unwilling to do so, as long as I, Cao Mengde, will be justified in his name."

Cao Cao praised Cao Pi. Although he did not criticize Cao Zhi, he already understood that his actions since he conquered Guanzhong have disappointed Cao Cao. This time, Cao Pi won Cao Cao even more favor on such a big issue, and Cao Zhi suddenly began to feel uneasy about his future.

Seeing that Cao Zhi and Cao Zhang looked bad, Cao Cao took the initiative to move the topic:

"Your mother took Jie'er and Hui'er and other sisters to visit Mrs. Ding in Qiao County some time ago. A few days ago, she sent someone to send a message back and said that she had set off and was back. It was probably coming tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. You three brothers went to the city gate to greet her."

Cao Pi, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi were both born to Cao Cao's current wife, Mrs. Bian. Cao Pi had the closest relationship with his sister Cao Jie and Cao Hui. After learning that they were coming back, the three brothers were very happy, especially Cao Pi.

Because Mrs. Bian is frugal by nature and does not like extravagance, she did not carry too many guards and ceremonial guards when she returned to Qiao County this time. Only more than ten soldiers in the army protected their mother and daughter.

Along the way, Cao Jie, Cao Hui, Cao Xian and other sisters who were in their youthful years talked and laughed, and the traveling and enjoying the mountains and rivers was very lively.

But they didn't notice that dozens of eyes that had been following them secretly along the way were about to move. When they arrived at the southern suburbs of Xiangyi, these people finally decided to take action.

In an instant, more than twenty people in ragged clothes and holding various weapons rushed out of the surrounding woods, surrounded Mrs. Bian's carriage. The people in the lead kept holding the big sword in their hands and staring at the panicked Cao sisters with their extremely greedy eyes: "I'm so lucky today. I have covered so many beauties in one net, and now I can sell them for a good price."

The guards raised their long halberds in their hands to confront them:

"Bold! Do you know who is the person in the car? They are the family of the prime minister today!"

However, the warnings of the guards seemed to have no deterrence to these vicious bandits. The leader spat on the ground and pointed the knife at them indifferently and said:

"I have been robbing my family for so many years and have not met anyone. Not to mention these female relatives of Cao Cao, even Cao Cao's father and son have also killed them, let alone these beautiful beauties who are as beautiful as flowers and are beautiful as a flower."

After saying that, the bandit leader closed his left eye and waved the sword in his hand. The vicious bandits around him rushed up like hungry wolf. At this time, Mrs. Bian and others who were surrounded by groups knew that with the more than ten guards at present, they could not defeat so many people. Cao Jie, a woman, was not afraid at all when she saw this. She stepped forward and held the reins and drove forward.

The car broke through the siege of the bandits, but did not get rid of the bandits' cavalry to chase them. Moreover, the horse-driving technique that Cao Jie learned was still what Cao Pi taught him at the time, and it was not mature at all. How could he be better than those desperate people who were on horseback all day long, so the distance was getting closer.

Seeing that they were close, the bandit leader ordered the two bandits beside him to quickly drive to both sides of the carriage, raise the spear in his hands and poke it into the wheel. As a result, the wheel was stuck by the spear, causing the axle to break. The carriage suddenly lost balance, and the carriage was disengaged. For a moment, the carriage rolled on the ground several times and then fell apart.
Chapter completed!