Chapter 13 Section VII

After discussing matters with his staff, Cao Cao came to the study alone.The light window was bright, and the sound of the piano came from inside. Cao Cao nodded, stopped, and listened. A young girl sitting alone playing the piano was reflected in the lamp window. It must be Bai Shao.The girl sang softly accompanied by the sound of the piano.He went closer and listened carefully, and it was the first song in the opening chapter: "Guanguan Jujiu, in the river island. My fair lady, a gentleman is so good..." He listened quietly, "Scattered waterweed, flow from left to right. My fair lady, 寤I dream of it. I can’t ask for it, but I miss it. I am leisurely and leisurely, tossing and turning. I am a fair lady, and I am a friend of the harp. I am a fair lady, and I am playing with bells and drums.

After Cao Cao waited for the singing to stop, he gently pushed open the half-covered door, turned around the screen, and saw Bai Shao sitting in the bright candlelight, playing the piano and thinking.Dignified and beautiful, picturesque and poetic.Just as Cao Cao was about to open his mouth, Bai Shao flicked it away with lowered eyebrows. At the same time, he chanted softly and absent-mindedly: "The moon and stars are sparse, and the black magpie flies south. Three turns around the tree, what branch can you rely on..." Cao Cao is still, this is his "Duan Ge Xing". Bai Shao stopped, thoughtful.After a while, he raised his head and saw Cao Cao, got up immediately, and bowed before Cao Cao approached: "Bai Shao kowtows to the Prime Minister." Cao Cao stretched out his hand to help her up: "It's enough to have this first big gift, and I will accompany her every day in the future, so it doesn't have to be so complicated. "Bai Shao said: "Isn't it rude?" Cao Cao said: "You can be courteous in public, but you can avoid it if you are not in public." Bai Shao smiled slightly: "The prime minister is very sympathetic to the people." Don't be afraid." Bai Shao glanced at Cao Cao indifferently: "The person who wrote 'The moon and stars are thin, and the black magpie flies south' is not a monster who eats people alive."

Cao Cao looked at Bai Shao, and paced back and forth impatiently: "It's rare for a person who dares to speak like this. Are you sure that you are alone at a glance?" Bai Shao smiled.Cao Cao said: "Hold out your hand, let Gu have a look." Bai Shao stretched out her hand, Cao Cao suddenly grabbed her wrist and flipped it over to capture her, Bai Shao was not on guard, so painful that she turned around weakly with an ouch.Seeing this, Cao Cao immediately let go, put Bai Shao's hand in his own and gently stroked it: "It's so delicate, it's really a hand of poetry, calligraphy, and painting." Bai Shao calmly looked at Cao Cao and said, "The prime minister is suspicious Now, this is definitely not the hand of an assassin wielding a sword." Cao Cao was startled, then let go of his hand and said, "I was the one who was abrupt."

Bai Shao lowered her eyes and remained silent.Cao Cao said: "Cao is here to apologize." He said with a long bow.Bai Shao cast a glance at Cao Cao and couldn't help laughing.Cao Cao said: "You are confident." Bai Shao said lightly: "What am I relying on?" Cao Cao thought for a while: "Rely on talent." Bai Shao said: "There are plenty of talented people." Cao Cao laughed: "Still relying on appearance " Bai Shao said: "The prime minister has seen countless people, and I don't know how many beautiful beauties he has seen. Is it rare?" Cao Cao said, "Then what do you rely on, do you favor?" Bai Shao sighed: "In ancient times, women have only There is no fear of being petted. I am new here, and the Prime Minister is very suspicious. Where is the pet? The word pet is just a dragon in the family, and it is difficult to walk out of the house. I just rely on my reason." Cao Cao was surprised: "It is reasonable to rely on it?" Bai Shao said: " As soon as you came up and twisted my arm, you bullied me, I was angry and I was justified."

Cao Cao nodded in admiration: "It's reasonable. I've been talking to my staff all night, and you are really reasonable." Bai Shao said, "The prime minister has praised you." Cao Cao said, "Indeed. I Offending you, you are right to be angry, otherwise you will be a doormat. I am sorry, but you can't help laughing, this is a moral, otherwise you have to be reasonable, keep a straight face endlessly, and you will become a resentful woman This is a good idea." Bai Shao said, "I didn't think too much about it." Cao Cao said, "It's natural to take it, especially powerful." After talking, Cao Cao sat down and motioned Bai Shao to sit down too.Bai Shao sat down beside the piano case.

Cao Cao asked: "I have met the two ladies, how do you feel?" Bai Shao smiled like that, and said calmly: "Very good." Cao Cao asked: "How do you feel about the two ladies? It's okay to be frank." Bai Shao thought for a while, and said simply: "Mrs. Bian is lenient; Mrs. Ding Witty." Cao Cao smiled: "It's really a subtle and decent answer. It goes without saying that Mrs. Bian is lenient, but Mrs. Ding's so-called smartness is not without being critical of you?" Bai Shao smiled noncommittally and said nothing . Cao Cao looked at Bai Shao, and admired again: "You are neither arrogant nor humble."

Bai Shao said: "I didn't say anything." Cao Cao said: "It's difficult." Ting Ting said again: "Is the journey difficult?" Bai Shao said: "Naturally, driving day and night is difficult without difficulty. But when it comes to Xudu, General Che Zhou stayed here for half a day and let me sleep. The five hundred soldiers and horses surrounded me in silence, and they didn't even bark. How can there be such a subtlety?" Bai Shao said, "It's nothing more than flattery to the Prime Minister." Cao Cao said, "That's a clever thing to say." After praising, he said, "You sing 'My Fair Lady, A Gentleman Is So Good', How do you comment on it?" Bai Shao said: "It's nothing, young people are in love, and they can't ask for it." Cao Cao said: "This evaluation is concise and to the point. I like to talk like this. The ancients say that God is God, but That’s all it is, don’t let the hype fall into the sky. A young man loves bitterly and asks for nothing. When I was young, I had the same story. I saw a fair lady picking waterweed in the river. Picking things on the river with a big wooden basin, white arms flashing back and forth on the green water, I am hungry to see. I don’t know how to play the zither, and want to provoke them, so I imitate the neighing and barking of big horses, scare them and run away I'm back." Hearing these words, Bai Shao found it interesting and couldn't help smiling again.Cao Cao said: "Young people love bitterly, but they can't ask for it. In fact, this is the case all their lives. When I wrote, 'The moon and stars are scarce, and the black magpie flies south. If you circle the tree three times, what branch can you rely on', isn't it the meaning of seeking hard?"

Bai Shao looked at Cao Cao thoughtfully and shook her head slightly. Cao Cao asked, "Why are you shaking your head?" Bai Shao thought about it and said, "I never thought the prime minister would be like this." Cao Cao said, "You think I'm a vicious person? Tell me, what rumors have you heard about me before?" Bai Shao stopped talking : "Power, bloodthirsty, domineering, the most suspicious." Cao Cao said: "If you don't doubt, you will be ignorant, and if you are suspicious, you will be confused. I always doubt first, but the doubt is just right. Do not doubt people, but do not doubt people. I Most of the generals and soldiers under my command can let them stay by my bed. Who in the world would dare to do this? I have doubts about you. Sending granddaughter to Cao Mansion? Wouldn’t you be sent to be a spy or an assassin?”

Cao Cao stopped and looked at Bai Shao.Bai Shao felt that it was nonsense and smiled. Cao Cao went on to say: "Besides, the emperor didn't call you, but he was willing to come and study and paint with a power-hungry person. Why?" Cao Cao stopped again and looked directly at Bai Shao. Bai Shao still didn't explain, and looked at Cao Cao calmly across the Qin case. The soft crackling and burning of candles in the study could be heard.There was the sound of a watch in the distance. Cao Cao looked away thoughtfully, stood up and walked slowly in the room, then stopped and said: "It's the first time we met, I really like your intelligence and understanding, which is rare; but I can't completely doubt it now. Zheng Kangcheng agreed with you to come to the Cao Mansion, and you are also willing to come, there are some strange things. I still want to ask you questions, I hope you will not tell lies. My principle of making friends is that you don’t have to tell the truth, anyone can have something to say No words; but what I say should not be lies. I have no other skills, but I know people well, and it is difficult to dazzle people with falsehoods, so there is a fair judgment. Anyone who tells lies, I can detect them with a little concentration. If I trust this person People don’t pay attention to it.” Bai Shao sighed a little tiredly: “You don’t have to lie to me, Prime Minister. I hate it." Cao Cao said: "Well, I think Zheng Gong agreed to you coming to the Cao Mansion, there must be many considerations from him, and you must have many motives if you are willing to come. I just want to ask why you want to come. You don't have to say everything As for the motive, just say one or two of them, but it must be true." He said and stared at Bai Shao.Bai Shao lowered her eyes and looked at her eyes, plucked the strings suddenly, then choked it with her hands, and then said wearily: "I am interested in you, Prime Minister." Cao Cao asked: "Why are you interested?" Bai Shao asked. Shao absent-mindedly plucked the strings: "Because of the rare moon and stars, black magpies flying south, and also because of those rumors about power, bloodthirsty, domineering, and suspicious."

Cao Cao stared at Bai Shao, nodded and said: "This is the truth." Then he sighed: "I have seen you seven to eight times." He walked up in the study again.Bai Shao lowered her eyes and faced it. Cao Cao walked around for a long time this time.Finally stopped. Cao Cao said: "You may have a lot of orthodox prejudices against Gu. Zheng Kangcheng decided to let you come, and there may be reasons unknown to others. You may also have received some orders from your grandfather. You will not say these things for a while. I I don't force you to say it. But I can see that you are naturally close to me, Cao." Bai Shao's eyelids twitched slightly.Cao Cao went on to say: "I believe that you and I will eventually connect. The ancients said that there is a heart-to-heart connection. Confucius also said that even if you are 'difficult', you can be 'poor and connected'. I will accept you as my companion. My study, bedroom, In the office, you are allowed to come and go, and the guards will not stop you. I rest anywhere - I sleep in no place - and I will not defend you. Although you have no power to restrain the chicken, if you want to harm me, you can throw it at will Just a poison. I see today, you don't have the slightest murderous intent towards me, today I don't doubt you at all. What do you think?"

Bai Shao thought of something, looked at her eyes with a smile. Cao Cao asked: "What?" Bai Shao said: "I heard that you are most afraid of others approaching your sleeping place. You once jumped up from your dream, drew your sword and killed the servant who was waiting in the bedroom, and then lay down and slept until dawn. Pretend you don’t know anything. It is said that you pretended to be sleepwalking and killed people so that others would not dare to approach you while you were asleep.” Cao Cao said, “It’s exaggerated, but there is a reason for it. I have an order. Summoned, the rest shall not be reported. Once several good horses were lost in the mansion, including my mount, and the housekeeper went into the dormitory to report. I was taking a nap. Before he could say anything, I kicked him away. There were rumors that I 'sleepwalked and kicked people'. Six months later, I heard rumors in Hebei that I 'killed people in my dreams'. Then I heard rumors that I 'pretended to sleepwalk and kill people'." "It's so?" Bai Shao was also a little surprised. There is a couch on one side of the study, Cao Cao went over, took out a dagger with a sheath from under the pillow, and walked in front of Bai Shao: "You should take this dagger with you, and you can enter the place where I sleep at any time." Bai Shao Said: "I don't need this." Cao Cao sat down and said: "You don't know, this is a sword handed down by Gou Jian, King of Yue in the Spring and Autumn Period. It is called Yuchang Sword, a rare treasure." The dagger-like sword came, and the cold light was overwhelming.Cao Cao stared for a moment.He got up again and took his saber from the wall, and also pulled out the sheath, saying: "Look." He peeled off his saber with a fish-gut sword, and it came off piece by piece like a bamboo shoot.There was little left of the last saber.Bai Shao watched without moving.Cao Cao took another silk scarf and lightly waved it against the sword's edge, and the scarf split into two.Bai Shao remained motionless and watched. Cao Cao stared at the gleaming edge of the Fish Intestine Sword and said, "This is truly a sword that is unparalleled in the world." He lightly slashed across the case table with his sword, and the case table was cut open like grease. Cao Cao said: "Just one swipe, and I will be separated. I will give you this sword, and I will not restrict you, so my servant will not doubt me." He carefully inserted the sword into the scabbard, " Only this pair of scabbards can hold this sword, but once it is out of the scabbard, it will be unstoppable." Then he put the sheathed Yuchang Sword on the piano table in front of Bai Shao: "Look at this sword, is it any good? Nervous?" Bai Shao let out a long sigh of relief and calmed down.Cao Cao said: "I repeat, I will order Cao's family not to prohibit you from entering or leaving. You can enter my study, bedroom, and office at any time, no matter day or night. I am busy with military and government affairs on weekdays, and I may take a nap at any time. You I carry a sword with me, as long as it’s on my neck,” Cao Cao gestured, “Swipe it once, and this head will fall off.” Bai Shao had completely recovered, and glanced at Cao Cao with a mischievous and sarcastic smile. "The history of the world will be rewritten that day." Cao Cao couldn't help sighing after hearing this: "This flattery is not vulgar. Listening to what you say, I really like it." He said and grabbed Bai Shao's hand one hand.Bai Shao let out a cry, and took off Cao Cao's hand: "You scratched me, your hand is too heavy." Cao Cao said, "Okay, I won't touch you without permission in the future, how about it? No?" Bai Shao glanced at Cao Cao again, "Prime Minister really knows how to advance and retreat." Cao Cao shook his head again and praised: "No way, this is very smart and decent. Gu Zi thought that he was always concise and meaningful, but he didn't expect it to be more Master." Bai Shao smiled: "Your flattery is not vulgar." Cao Cao said: "This is the opposite." Bai Shao stretched out his hand and said, "Stop flattering each other." Cao Cao smiled: "I will study with you from now on, I won't be bored." Bai Shao played the zither a few times and said: "The sages encouraged a gentleman to be independent and fearless, and to escape from the world without boredom". Only by reclusive life can he be bored. The prime minister is "domineering" in the world, how can there be any boredom?" Cao Cao sighed: "Get bored It’s amazing, it’s impossible for people to succeed every day.” Bai Shao glanced at Cao Cao: “You can’t listen to flattery on weekdays.” Cao Cao said: “If you hear too much flattery, it will be annoying, so I have often punished those who flattered me too much." Bai Shao thought about it.Cao Cao asked: "You are so young, why are you so good at talking?" Bai Shao stared blankly, paused for a while and replied: "This is my secret, I can't tell you." Cao Cao looked at Bai Shao for a while, thought for a while and asked, "What did you think of?" Bai Shao regained her senses, gently touched the scabbard of the Yuchang Sword on the piano table with her fingers, thought for a while and said, "I wonder if the Prime Minister is too gullible." Cao Cao said: "You said I trusted you? In fact, you wondered why I would trust you, right?" Cao Cao took the Yuchang Sword and sat down beside the case, and called Bai Shao, "Come and sit too." Bai Shao left Qin An came over and sat down.Cao Cao pulled out the fish intestine sword, and the cold light was threatening again.He picked up a huge peach from the fruit plate in front of him, and with a light swipe of the sword, the peach was split in two with its core.He gently picked up the peach pit with the tip of his sword and brought half a peach to Bai Shao: "Do you dare to eat it?" Bai Shao looked at Cao Cao, paused, and gently bit the peach. Slowly eat half a peach.Cao Cao watched her finish eating, and then said: "Why do you dare to eat, because you don't doubt me, I believe I will not take the opportunity to harm you." He also picked up the other half of the peach with his sword, and sent the hilt to Bai. Shao's hand: "Hold it, you come to feed me, I don't doubt it." Bai Shao shook his head.Cao Cao said, "Afraid I don't believe you?" Bai Shao shook his head and said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to hold it steady and touch you." Cao Cao said, "Then I'll do it myself." As he spoke, he took half a peach from the tip of his sword Come and eat.After eating, he said to Bai Shao: "You are afraid that you will accidentally hurt me if you don't hold it steady. If you don't intend to harm me, will you still intentionally harm me? Is it rash to trust you without doubt?" Bai Shao didn't speech.Cao Cao said: "Understood. I believe it is justified. As I said just now, I dared to let most of the soldiers stay in my dormitory, so I believed it was justified. Those who believe in others win the world, which is my orthodoxy. Well, this sword is still handed over. Here you are.” He carefully wiped the sword, carefully sheathed it, got up and put it on the piano table, and said: “Now you play a piece of high mountains and flowing water, and then sing something. I’ll sleep for a while, I haven’t slept well for several nights in a row. Wait I'm asleep, you can go back to your bedroom and rest." Cao Cao lay down on the couch and closed his eyes. Bai Shao sat down, calmed down, and began to play the piano. Cao Cao asked: "Why don't you sing?" Bai Shao persuaded: "Go to sleep, it's easier to sleep if you don't sing." Cao Cao closed his eyes and nodded obediently.After a while, there was a slight snoring sound. After snoring for a while, Cao Cao opened his eyes and said, "Do you know why I am not suspicious of you..." Bai Shao just lowered the sound of the piano, without saying a word.Cao Cao extended his thumb to Bai Shao, then closed his eyes and fell asleep again.This time the snoring grew louder, thicker and more even.Bai Shao kept playing the piano, listening to Cao Cao's snoring, and looked at the sleeping Cao Cao from time to time, the fish intestine sword was placed on the piano table. Bai Shao stopped the sound of the piano, only Cao Cao's snoring was heard in the study room in the silence of the night.The Yugu sword was still holding back its cold light in its sheath.Bai Shao played the qin suddenly, and it swept across the mountain stream like a storm. Cao Cao was not frightened, and the snoring was even as before.Bai Shao stopped the piano again, and the only sound left in the study was Cao Cao's sleeping sound. Bai Shao looked at Yuchangjian in front of him and fell into deep thought.She got up and left the piano case, pacing gently between the piano case and the couch.Cao Cao just turned around slightly, snoring as before.Bai Shao stopped to see that the sleeping Cao Cao was not disturbed by anything.Bai Shao gently picked up the Yuchang Sword, holding the sheath in one hand and the hilt in the other, and walked gently to Cao Cao's side. Bai Shao watched the sleeping Cao Cao's chest rising and falling with the sound of snoring, and looked at his face. Stand like this for a while.She gently pulled out the Fish Intestine Sword, and the exposed part of the blade shot out a chilling light.She stared at Cao Cao through the cold light of the sword.Cao Cao still slept very peacefully, and the sound of snoring remained unchanged.Bai Shao shook his head slightly, sighed silently, inserted the sword body lightly, put the sword beside Cao Cao's pillow, turned around and walked back.Walking to the piano case, she heard the sound of Cao Cao turning over.Looking back, I saw that Cao Cao's head was pressed against Yuchangjian while he was turning over, he probably fell asleep, and he avoided his head while he was asleep, which was not very comfortable.After thinking for a while, she returned to the couch, picked up the fish gut sword, paused, put it under the pillow, and then walked back to the piano case gently. After Bai Shao sat down, she held the qin with her hands and was lost in thought without making a sound.Then he looked at Cao Cao who was sleeping soundly, his eyes wandered a little.She finally stood up with a heavy heart and walked towards the door.After walking a few steps, he looked back at Cao Cao, walked quickly to the door, opened the door, and entered the night.