The Three Kingdoms of the Widow

Cao Cao finally called Wei Gong.

People in Xudu talked about this new incident, and they also talked about the death of Xun Lingjun. Everyone said that he committed suicide in order to prevent Cao Cao from calling Wei Gong a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty.It's a pity that it was too late to stop it, and it's a pity to die.

People will also talk about the decadence of the generals with five senses these days.

His right-hand man, Sima Yi, was almost killed by the prime minister, and he himself and Sima Yi quickly became estranged. Having lost his allies and his father's favor, he began to dote on a concubine, Guo Shi, like a fascination.

This is classic self-loathing.

Cao Cao heard about it, but he didn't stop him. He decided to give up Cao Pi.

Then support Cao Zhi well.

Alas, this child is not very worry-free, he likes to drink, has a strong literary and artistic youth, and is not as mature as Cao Pi politically.

The people around him—not so much, really.There are many pretentious things, such as his father-in-law Cui Yan, who is good-looking, but apart from this, it seems that there are no obvious advantages.It's kind of its own way, which is the most annoying.

Having a headache over this matter (not all headaches are caused by wind), Yang Xiu came to Cao Cao to ask for instructions: Duke Wei's birthday is coming, and at least a small family banquet should be held in the palace to celebrate.

In the past few years, there have been constant conquests, and there is no time for the family to enjoy the family. Now that there is time, becoming the Duke of Wei is also a happy event, and it is time to celebrate, so Cao Cao nodded in agreement.

After Cao Cao's consent, the people in the palace became busy. The juniors all wanted to take this opportunity to flatter Cao Cao and reap some benefits for themselves. When Cao Cao was happy, he could save 20 years of struggle by opening his mouth to make an official wish.

Cao Zhi's wife, Cui Yan's daughter, Cui Shi, is of course very positive about this.She racked her brains to prepare congratulatory gifts and the like, because she had heard about Cao Pi's depression, and she had heard more than one person tell her that Cao Zhi was now very hopeful to be made heir by Cao Cao.Then this family banquet is an opportunity for her to show Cao Zhi's face well.

Occasionally, she would go to Cao Pi's inner house to walk around. In addition to getting acquainted with Cao Pi's current concubine, Guo Shi, she also wanted to find out about the other party's arrangements. Cui Shi thought, at least she could not be compared by the other party in terms of gifts.

To her surprise, every time she went, Mrs. Zhen and Mrs. Guo brought the women in the inner house to cut silk and make gorgeous new clothes.Not to mention the expensive materials, gold and silver threads are embroidered on it, and pearls are embellished.When asked, Guo said that he wanted to wear it at Cao Cao's birthday party.

Mrs. Cui was very surprised. Cao Cao had already issued strict orders not to allow his family members to wear gorgeous clothes and forbid all extravagance. Isn't Mrs. Zhen and Mrs. Guo blatantly disobedient?

"Duke Wei has been in a bad mood since he came from Chibi. This time is his birthday party, and he is pleased to be crowned Duke Wei. If I want to come, I should wear some festive clothes to make Duke Wei happy. This time, that time." Guo Shi explained with a smile, and showed Cui Shi the bright and dazzling gold, silver, pearl and jade jewelry, saying that it was for the banquet.

"Then, what gift will the gentleman of five senses plan to give Wei Gong?"

"This... the gentleman with five senses will not allow concubines to intervene."

"You...don't give it away?" Cui tentatively asked.

"We are just concubines, no more than my wife is a regular wife. Even if we want to give it away, I'm afraid we are not qualified." Zhen said respectfully.

"Since it's a family banquet, you can also attend. What is the difference between the family members? If there is a chance to personally present a congratulatory gift, I don't know... what do you want to offer?"

"The concubines are born in a poor family and have little knowledge. If you send gold and silver, I'm afraid you won't be able to get into Wei Gong's eyes. Therefore... it is better to send some daily things, just to show your heart. It is nothing more than food and clothing. Daily Wei Whatever you like, you can give it yourself.”

Cui kept these words in her heart, and when she came back, she told Cao Zhi that she would also make new clothes and remake some jewelry.

Cao Zhi frowned: "That's not right. Don't say that your father has strict orders first, even if you don't, you shouldn't follow them. After all, they are the second brother's concubines. At this moment, you can't trust their words completely, after all, people's hearts are unpredictable. .”

Cui thought for a while: "That's the case, but if what they say is true and my father is very happy to see it, wouldn't we be left behind? In my opinion, it might as well be like this: we still make new clothes. After the banquet On this day, bring two sets of clothes, if the second uncle’s family wears this way, we will also wear the same way; if they really lied to me, we will change into the old clothes. Isn’t this a safe solution?”

Cao Zhi couldn't hold back Cui Shi, so he had to agree.Cui talked about giving gifts again, and Cao Zhi said that they were ready.Cui said that she had to be prepared, and planned to be creative, to ask Cao Cao's usual preferences, and cook a meal for Cao Cao.

Cao Zhi felt that it was a bit risky to do so, but Cui Shi didn't take it seriously: just follow the most food and drink that Cao Cao ordered daily, there would be no mistakes.Even if Cao Cao doesn't like it, it won't matter. If you understand Cao Cao's thoughts, you can still add points to Cao Cao's heart.

"But what if the second brother's house also sends food?"

Cui smiled triumphantly: "Do you think I didn't think of this? Don't forget, the second uncle didn't marry a wife. On that day, the third uncle's wife must be the one who presented the gift first, and then me. No matter how you say it, I am better than the second uncle's family." Concubine Ji is ranked first. So at most they bumped into me, definitely not me bumping into them."

The day of the banquet is coming soon.

Cao Cao ordered someone to inform Sima Yi to bring Sima Shi and Sima Zhao to participate.The reason is that Sima Yi, like Yang Xiu, is a banquet official.But in fact, Cao Cao didn't arrange any tasks for her, so he arranged a seat next to Cao Pi's food table, and appointed Sima Yi to sit there with his two sons.

It wasn't just the Cao family and Xiahou's family who came to participate, some in-laws also came, such as Cui Yan.He felt strange when he saw Sima Yi's arrangement, but he didn't dare to ask.Cao Pi also saw this arrangement, and he thought maybe Cao Cao was trying to let everyone adapt to the personnel changes at home in a small area in advance, after all, a month is coming soon.

Mrs. Cui came late on purpose. She took a look and found that the people around were wearing simple clothes. She was a little uneasy, but she felt relieved when she saw that the Zhen family and Guo family behind Cao Pi and Cao Pi were indeed dressed gorgeously.

Cao Zhi still felt that something was wrong. Cao Cao was coming, but Cao Pi and the two concubines suddenly disappeared. Although most people would think that they were going to "change clothes", what if these three people really went to change clothes?

"Don't be afraid." Cui said, "You can't go out after entering the palace. I don't think they are like us. They didn't bring any packages. They just wanted to take off those clothes, and there was no place to throw them away."

Just as he was talking, Yang Xiu came out and announced the arrival of Duke Wei. Everyone hurriedly returned to their seats, bowed their heads and knelt down, quietly waiting for Cao Cao to appear.

It took about three sticks of incense before Cao Cha came out surrounded by attendants.Everyone saluted and asked Wei Gongan.Cao Cao simply glanced down, making everyone excuse him.Yang Xiu stood up again and announced that before the banquet began, everyone offered gifts to Duke Wei's birthday.After hearing this, Cui's heart pounded, and it was a lie to say that she was not nervous. She secretly raised her eyes to look at Cao Cao, and found that he was not interested, with his head slightly lowered, as if he hadn't seen the people below him at all. .Cui felt a little disappointed.

The first to present congratulations to Cao Cao were his sons, and there must be more than a dozen of them.Cao Pi took the lead and presented a set of jade ritual utensils "Six Rui" excavated from ancient tombs in the Zhou Dynasty: Cangbi for heaven and earth, yellow cong for earth, Qinggui for the east, Chizhang for the south, and jade for the west for sacrifices to the four directions of the world. Baihu, courtesy of Xuanhuang of the North.Then there was Cao Zhang, who gave a pair of good armor, and then Cao Zhi, who gave a set of poems written by himself-the author of those poems was naturally Cao Cao.Then those sons who are not very important, some of them have just learned to walk, it is no problem to send some jewelry and jade.

After the sons are delivered, it is the turn of the daughter-in-law.Cao Zhang's wife, Mrs. Sun, is the niece of Sun Quan's cousin in Jiangdong. She carefully presented a set of robe belts made by herself. She didn't dare to use the best silk in Jiangnan, for fear of provoking Cao Cao to think of Chibi.

Cao Cao himself didn't care much, he didn't even take a closer look at the gift, he just waved his hand and ordered Yang Xiu to accept it.

When it was Cui's turn, she lifted the food box beside her, walked forward, bowed down and saluted: "Congratulations to my father for the future." Then she took the food box with her own hands: "I made a small dish with my own hands, and I will give it to my father to taste."

The servant took the phoenix-patterned lacquer box, brought it to Cao Cao, opened it, and brought out a small food table. On the food table was a plate of pickled green plums and a glass of water soaked with angelica.

Cao Cao's raised chopsticks stopped: "Did you make it yourself?"

"Yes."

Cao Cao nodded.

Cui glanced up and saw Cao Cao's approval, and she was immediately elated: "At this time, green plums are hard to find. I searched everywhere, and finally found these fresh plums in an ice cellar. I think of them. It's so rare. Fang Lin How can an ordinary person deserve such a good thing when he has the status of a father? My concubine made it with her own hands as soon as she got it. From the ingredients to the process, she did not dare to let outsiders intervene in the slightest. It has been marinated until today, and it just happens to be served with wine..."

"What did you say?" Cao Cao asked abruptly.

"Uh..." Cui was stunned for a moment, "I said... I made it myself, I didn't dare to borrow others' hands..."

"The previous sentence."

"Front, front... flat... how can ordinary people use it..." Cui already felt that it was not good, and her voice gradually became quieter.

Cao Zhi was in his position, and he had a very bad premonition at the moment.

Cao Cao stood up and walked up to Mrs. Cui: "Ordinary people are not worthy of using such things - no wonder you think so, you are from the Qinghe Cui family, and ordinary people have never been in your eyes! But have you forgotten Oh, Gu——It’s not from a family, and most of the people around Gu are not from a family! Gu never judges talents by family, even if he comes from a poor family, if he has talent, he will use it! You look down on ordinary people in your words, don’t you? I also look down on the cultural relics of the Manchu Dynasty, and I look down on Gu!"

Cui was so frightened that she prostrated herself on the ground: "I, my concubine has no such intentions!"

Cao Cao looked at Mrs. Cui: "You think you are smart, and you asked the chef Gu what he likes. You know that Gu usually drinks angelica water and eats green plums, so you want to please Gu. Why don't you ask more, Gu? Why do you have this preference? I didn’t like these foods before, and I don’t like them now. It’s just out of habit and I use them too much. There are other people who really like these two things, and you know who they are ?"

Cui shook her head desperately.

"It's Guo Jia and Guo Fengxiao." Cao Cao was probably lost in memory, "Fengxiao liked to eat like this before he was alive. If it wasn't for her, she would never have thought of drinking angelica in water. She always thinks the food tastes bland, so every year she would drink it alone. They all ordered people to make pickled plums for her rice. Now that she has gone, nothing is left to Gu. When Gu misses her, he can only think about these two things... As Fengxiao, she is at most A side branch of the Guo family in Yingchuan, do you want to say that she is not worthy of using the plums you made yourself?"

"No...no! Father, no, Wei Gong, my concubine made a slip of the tongue, please forgive Wei Gong!" Cui came to her senses and kowtowed on the ground to plead guilty.

Cao Cao ignored Cui's pleading behavior: "You reminded Gu that on this day, Gu is here to celebrate with his family, and Feng Xiao is lying alone in the tomb, and he will probably resent Gu's indifference! He even forgot to tell Feng Xiao Let me know. Don’t you think that ordinary people are not worthy of the food you cook? Then order someone to send these to Feng Xiao! Not only that, but also all the meals that are used alone today, arrange a copy as usual, immediately Send it to Zhenhou's tomb!"

"Wei Gong wait a moment." Yang Xiu stood up, "The Zhenhou's place has already been arranged for delivery, Wei Gong please rest assured."

"Send it?" Cao Cao was surprised, and turned to look at Yang Xiu, "Who arranged it?"

"It's... Young Master Cao Pi."

Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi who was also kneeling, and said in a low voice, "I have a heart, Zihuan has a heart."

Cao Pi didn't dare to speak.

Cao Cao turned his gaze back to Mrs. Cui again: "What's the matter with your clothes today? You dare to disobey the orders of the orphans and the family members who are not allowed to be extravagant?"

Cao Zhi felt that he couldn't stop talking, so he knelt down from his seat: "Please forgive me, father! It's my son's negligence..."

"No!" Cui was in a hurry. If Cao Cao reprimanded her in terms of diet, she was well-prepared in terms of clothing. The blame for this "disobedience" cannot be blamed on her anyway! "It's the concubine who heard from the second uncle's family members before that when Duke Wei was celebrating his birthday, he was celebrating his succession. He wore some luxurious clothes to make Wei Gong happy. The concubine followed the second uncle's family members! This is not the concubine's original intention!"

"Zihuan? Is there such a thing?" Cao Cao turned to look at Cao Pi and the Zhen family and Guo family behind Cao Pi. They were all plain cotton and linen clothes, not conspicuous.

Cao Pi said, "I've never heard my family say that."

Cui argued: "The Erbo's family intends to frame the concubine and others! I just saw the Erbo's family wearing very gorgeous clothes, but now I don't see the brocade clothes. I must have changed them quietly when changing clothes!"

Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi: "Is there such a thing?"

Cao Pi kowtowed: "The minister and the second concubine are dressed like this today, and they don't know what the sister-in-law said."

Guo Shi also said behind Cao Pi: "Duke Wei, Mrs. Cui said that the concubine has changed clothes, but I think the clothes are very gorgeous and not easy to hide. Anyone who comes to the banquet enters the hall by himself, and is not allowed to go out according to the law. Even if you change clothes , is also in this hall. Please ask Wei Gong to send someone to search the inside and outside of the hall and the packages carried by everyone, and the changing place should not be missed. Matter—Madam Cui, please take back the foreword. Slandering a concubine is a trivial matter, but it is inappropriate to slander a gentleman with five senses."

Cao Cao pondered for a while, and called the warriors: search!

Don't eat any food. The warriors searched everywhere, even opening everyone's bags. Fortunately, this is a family banquet. Except for congratulatory gifts, everyone didn't have any bags, so the search was quick.

The final result was that no one brought the package except Cui Shi, and after Cui Shi's package was opened, there was a simple banquet dress inside, which Cui Shi had worn before.

Cao Cao held the dress and his face sank like water: "You said that all the people in Zihuan had brocade clothes, but they searched but found them. What's the matter with your clothes! It's clear that you have the heart of comparison, and you are afraid of wearing gorgeous clothes. Being reprimanded by Gu, so Yang Fengyin violated and brought two sets of clothes, I don’t know what went wrong but didn’t change into plain clothes, was found by Gu and didn’t want to repent, and dare to slander others?”

"I don't have a concubine..." Cui cried, "Wei Gong clearly checked! I don't have a concubine... The concubine is indeed with the second uncle's family..."

Cao Zhi lowered her head, desperately pulled Cui Shi's clothes behind her to signal her not to say any more, but Cui Shi didn't think about it at all, and she thought of another thing in a panic: "Wei Gong! Wei Gong! And jewelry! Jewelry! Besides Clothes, my concubine also saw that the Zhen family and the Guo family were wearing golden pearl jewelry behind the uncle! When they searched just now, there was a red cloth bag next to them, and it was in there!"

Everyone went to see Mrs. Zhen and Mrs. Guo openly or secretly, but they saw Mrs. Guo calmly picked up a red lacquer plate next to her, and together with Mrs. Zhen put a piece of red cloth on it and spread it out. It is a variety of jewelry, very dazzling.

Holding the lacquer plate, Mrs. Zhen went to Cao Cao and knelt down: "Mrs. Cui may have misunderstood. This is a concubine's gift for Duke Wei's birthday."

"You're talking nonsense!" Cui scolded, "Wei Gong celebrates his birthday, what's the use of giving these women jewelry!"

"No. It's just because Duke Wei spent a lot of money fighting for the country for years. Although the concubines and others live in the inner house, I often hear that the generals with five senses are also worried about this matter. The concubines and others are just women, and they can't go to battle to share the worries of Duke Wei. If you want to go, you can only do your best to raise gold and silver, and chat with each other. However, the concubines are from poor families, the dowry is meager, and there is no long-term possessions. The only treasures are a few pieces of gold and jewelry. Therefore, the concubine and others discussed with the back house , each of them donated some ornaments as military expenses, and borrowed Wei Gong's birthday banquet as a special gift. I hope Wei Gong will accept it with a smile." Zhen Shi said, offering a plate of gold and silver jewelry.

After hearing this, Cui was speechless, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Cao Cao took the lacquer plate and said for a long time: "Sure enough, I have a heart."

Zhen Shi retreated to her place.

Cao Cao looked at Cui Shi: "What else can you say?"

"Concubine... Concubine is also willing to donate jewelry to labor!" Cui pulled out the jewelry on her head in a panic, and some of them left a lock of black hair because they were too tightly twisted with the hair.

"It's late." Cao Cao walked back to the seat, "You deliberately disobeyed Gu's order, and then you denied it in every possible way without repenting. A wicked woman like you is not allowed in Gu's family. Warrior!"

A group of warriors entered the hall in response.

"Drag Cui out and strangle him outside the palace."

The samurai agreed, came up and grabbed Cui Shi and dragged him outside.

"Wei Gong, forgive me! Wei Gong! Father! I know I'm wrong! I know I'm wrong!" Cui cried, but no matter how miserable she begged for mercy, the warriors dragged her out without mercy.

Cao Zhi walked a few steps on his knees, pleading with tears streaming down his face: "Father! Father! This matter is also the fault of my son, please forgive her!" He kowtowed repeatedly.

Cui Yan also walked forward a few steps from the back and knelt down: "Wei Gong! I think she is young and ignorant, please forgive my little girl!"

Cui yelled heart-piercingly from behind: "Father! Father! Save me! Save me!"

"Duke Wei!"

"father!"

Cao Cao looked at Cui Yan, and only said four words "the law is not merciful".He looked at Cao Zhi again: "Your attire today also violated Gu's strict order. The reason is that you were deceived by Cui, and it was not intentional. Gu will not pursue it today, you go back and think about it behind closed doors!"

Outside the main hall, there was the rubbing sound of the white silk being tightened, as well as the throaty "cuckoo" sound that humans wanted to shout but couldn't.

Cui Shi was hanged miserably outside the hall like this, the moonlight coldly shone on her dead body, and shone on her eyes that could not rest in peace.

No one expected a good birthday party to be like this.

When someone died, no one would be in the mood to eat again, and the banquet ended hastily.

Sima Yi calmly led Sima Shi and Sima Zhao out of the main hall, but was stopped by Mrs. Guo behind him: "Mr. Zhongda, stop."

Sima Yi turned around and asked calmly, "Is Madam Guo okay?"

Guo Xu pursed his lips and smiled: "How dare I be a wife. I just want to ask Mr. Zhongda: In the posthouse that day, my husband asked me to prove that I am worthy of Mr. Pi. Now, does my concubine have this qualification?"

Sima Yi did not answer, but said: "Madam performed well today, wearing clothes backwards is indeed a good way. But there are loopholes."

"Loophole?" Guo Xu was taken aback.

"Madam's makeup."

Guo Xu touched his face, feeling a little scared after suddenly realizing it.

"Madam's makeup is too heavy, obviously to match the brocade clothes before, and it doesn't match the simple clothes later. If I were Cui Shi, I would definitely remind Wei Gong to pay attention to Madam's makeup. It's just that Cui Shi is too stupid. Wei Gong is also a man, so he doesn't pay attention to women's makeup, so Madam was lucky enough to escape, but Madam must be careful in the future."

"As expected of Mr. Zhongda, Guo Xu admires it. But I only came here to ask Mr.: Do I have the right to stand behind Mr. Pi?"

"Of course, Madam is much smarter than I thought. The next plan can be implemented. In addition, Yi also has one thing to ask Madam: Ruier, from now on I will rely on Madam."

Sima Yi said, and after bowing deeply to Guo Xu, he left with Sima Shi and Sima Zhao.

Guo Xu looked at Sima Yi's back, and the expression on his face was completely different from the closeness just now.

It was a deep resentment.

The author has something to say:

In history, it is true that Cui Shi was bestowed to death by Cao Cao, but it was his own making, what kind of embroidered clothes to wear, or Cao Cao just wanted to kill her to attack Cao Zhi, so that Cao Pi could take the throne smoothly. In short, there is no information to show that this is related to Guo Shi and Sima Yi what is the relationship.

The stalk of the jewelry labor force is plagiarized from the CCTV version of "Han Wu Dadi".

In short, if there is no accident, the Guo family in this article is also very distorted... She is not a kind and good person in history.As for this article, she has no choice but to be wronged, after all, Su is the heroine, who made her a supporting role.In addition, the author will not say that he is very fond of the collusion between Guo Shi and Sima Yi in Cai Shaofen's version of "Luo Shen".