Chapter 63: Winning the Affections of Both Beauties

Within the White Gate Tower of Xuzhou.

The air hung heavy, laden with awkwardness.

Cao Cao stood by the window, fuming, while Dian Wei and Xu Chu knelt before him. Cao Peng clutched Diao Chan’s delicate hand, shielding her behind himself.

Another figure arrived in haste—it was Guo Jia, Cao Cao’s chief strategist. His expression remained calm, without a trace of anxiety; ever since he’d heard that Cao Peng was leading the group, he trusted that Cao Peng would resolve the matter. Truthfully, he’d come more for entertainment than intervention.

The silence and discomfort lingered.

Cao Ang prepared to break the deadlock. He knew his father’s pride prevented him from conceding, though in his heart, Cao Cao had already accepted Cao Peng’s reasoning. His father was no fool, after all.

So, Cao Ang spoke while the iron was hot: “Father, have you considered how you’ll handle this if word reaches Mother?”

His words struck Cao Cao like thunder on a clear day.

Indeed—damn it, how could he have forgotten Ang’s mother, Lady Ding? The last incident in Wan City, though not disastrous, had already caused trouble for him when Lady Ding caught wind of it.

Though Cao Cao had countless women, he held Lady Ding in high regard.

“You insolent child, are you threatening me?”

“Your son would never dare…”

Cao Cao’s outburst was his last grasp at resistance; he knew, no matter what, he could not lay a finger on Diao Chan tonight.

“Fine, I know! Go on now!”

Faced with Cao Cao’s concession, Cao Ang and the others showed their delight, but Cao Peng remained steadfast.

“Uncle, we cannot leave yet, for Diao Chan absolutely cannot stay here with you.”

---

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Diao Chan must not remain in White Gate Tower. As before, let me take her away.”

Cao Cao bristled with anger, but Cao Peng ignored him, taking Diao Chan’s hand and whisking her out of the tower.

The outcome left everyone with mixed expressions.

Cao Cao’s indignation simmered, Cao Ang wore a look of inevitability—truly, this was the Cao Peng he knew. Guo Jia, Dian Wei, and Xu Chu were taken aback, their admiration for Cao Peng’s wit and courage swelling. They also grew wary; in future, should any of them wish to take a concubine, they’d have to guard against Cao Peng.

Yes, indeed—fire, theft, and Cao Peng…

Cao Peng was oblivious to having become the object of caution among his comrades. He was busy escorting Diao Chan to his residence in Xuzhou.

As they entered, Lü Lingqi was already waiting in the courtyard, her gaze fixed intently on the gate. When she saw them, joy flooded her large eyes, unrestrained.

“Mother!”

“Ling’er!”

Lü Lingqi ran to Diao Chan, tears streaming down her face. Diao Chan, too, was overcome, her own tears flowing as she embraced Lü Lingqi tightly.

Watching this tender scene, Cao Peng smiled quietly.

After their embrace, Lü Lingqi, anxious and concerned, asked, “That old villain Cao Cao didn’t harm you, did he?”

Diao Chan, her cheeks wet with tears, shook her head and replied, “Thanks to Young General Cao Peng’s rescue, otherwise I might never have seen you again.”

Lü Lingqi turned and gazed at Cao Peng deeply, her voice solemn: “Thank you, Brother Cao Peng.”

This time, Lü Lingqi was truly grateful. The man who appeared only a few years her senior was genuinely kind to her. Though he was Cao Cao’s nephew, Lü Lingqi no longer cared about such things.

---

“Ha, now that you call me brother, there’s no need for courtesy. This is only what I ought to do.”

Knowing the two had much to talk about, Cao Peng excused himself, claiming he needed to prepare some food for them, and withdrew.

Now, both Diao Chan and Lü Lingqi were inextricably linked to him. In other words, the two were already his—there was no escape!

…

Once Cao Peng had left, Lü Lingqi learned everything from Diao Chan’s own lips. Though Cao Peng had already told her much, hearing it from Diao Chan herself made it all real.

Close as mother and daughter, their bond was deep.

Hearing how Cao Peng had saved Zhang Liao and tended her father’s remains, Lü Lingqi felt warmth and gratitude toward this man grow stronger.

Then, learning of Liu Bei’s scheming, she clenched her teeth in fury.

“Liu Bei, if I don’t kill you, I’m not human!” Lü Lingqi declared, her anger unmasked.

Indeed, her hatred for Liu Bei now surpassed that for Cao Cao. Cao Cao, though her father’s killer, was an enemy in war—such death was not to be resented. But Liu Bei, defeated and yet favored by her father, had repaid kindness with betrayal, which was truly despicable.

Diao Chan saw the fire of hatred flicker in Lü Lingqi’s eyes, and it frightened her.

So she gently embraced Lü Lingqi and spoke softly, “Ling’er, listen to me. Your father would never wish for you to avenge him. He’d only want you to find a worthy man and live a happy life.”

“I understand, Mother. Don’t worry…”

Lü Lingqi knew what was in Diao Chan’s heart. Her words were merely to comfort her. To abandon revenge—it was impossible.