Three Kingdoms: I rely on system loopholes to survive

Water was poured on the bluestone steps, soaking up a few spots of blood remaining in the cracks between the steps.

Zhong Ji rolled up his sleeves and looked up to see Cao Cao and Duan Wei sitting opposite each other in the courtyard, with wine warming on a small stove beside them. A man in the courtyard was pinned down by armored soldiers, kneeling on the ground. Although only his back was visible, his identity could be identified.

"Sikong summoned me, and I was very confused. I don't know what it is for."

He climbed the stairs, his clothes moving slightly as he moved, getting stained with a little moss.

Cao Cao heard the voice, looked over with a smile, and stood up to greet him: "General, you are at home and have nothing to do."

"Ji heard that 'the one who governs from above is called Wei'. Now the laws of the country are clear and the governance has a system. The dukes and ministers are in charge of their duties, and the officials bow down to them. Ji is a person who does nothing, so he will naturally be free."

Zhong Ji always spoke like this, so Cao Cao didn't take it seriously. He lowered his eyes and glanced at the long sword on Zhong Ji's waist, jokingly saying, "Since it's as the general said, now that you're not in the court, what's the point of carrying this sword?"

"Sorry."

Zhong Ji took off his long sword and held it horizontally in his hand, his tone softened: "This is a ceremonial sword, which I usually hang for self-reflection. If Sikong hadn't reminded me, I would have completely forgotten that I still had it with me."

Cao Cao took the sword, weighed it in his hand, admired the pattern on the scabbard, drew out the sword again, and gently touched the blade: "It's a good sword."

He put the sword back into the scabbard and returned it to Zhong Ji, saying with a hint of sarcasm: "I've often heard that the Grand Commandant is aloof and strong-willed, so why are you so good-tempered today?"

Zhong Ji was calm and said, "I just have a bad temper, I don't like fighting. Sikong invited me with good intentions, but I came with a sword. It was indeed I who was unreasonable."

As he spoke, he hung the sword back on his waist, with the hilt resting on his left wrist. "Who is that person in the courtyard? Judging from his figure, he looks a bit like..."

"Just a rebellious thief!"

Duan Wei suddenly interrupted, he was still wearing armor, and there were still traces of damage on his leather armor from swords and knives.

Duan Wei felt restrained after all in Cao Cao's territory. He just said this and didn't say anything else.

Although he was sitting in the courtyard drinking before, he had been paying attention to the conversation between Cao Cao and Zhong Ji. Because of the conversation that Zhong Ping had discussed with him in private, he still had some concerns about Zhong Ji.

In the end, Duan Wei did not listen to Zhong Ping's instigation to stab Cao Cao in the back. In his opinion, the success rate was ridiculously low.

It is undeniable that when Zhong Ping mentioned his cousin and painted a picture for him of what success would look like, he was indeed moved for a moment, but reason prevailed.

After all, the face he showed in front of Cao Cao today and the merits he accumulated were all beneficial to him. He just took it as a way to thank Zhong Ping for his efforts in persuading him. Duan Wei kindly interrupted Zhong Ji once to warn him not to continue this topic.

Unfortunately, Zhong Ji was too stubborn and didn't appreciate Duan Wei's kindness.

"Rebellion? Could it be that this person has committed the great crime of treason?"

Zhong Ji showed a hesitant look on his face. He bowed to Cao Cao, then slowly walked over and bent down to look at the man's face: "...Isn't this the emperor's uncle?!"

He was greatly surprised. He ignored Dong Cheng's cold snort and quickly walked back to Cao Cao to complain to Dong Cheng: "Is there some misunderstanding here? How can a good minister and good assistant suddenly become a rebellious person? Although Ji and the uncle of the emperor are not on good terms, he does not believe that the uncle of the emperor will rebel against the emperor!"

"I have never disobeyed the emperor!"

Dong Cheng was pinned down and unable to raise his head, but he still struggled to raise his neck. The skin behind his ears and the sides of his neck turned red, and veins bulged.

"Since it is not rebellion against the emperor, how can it be considered treason?"

Zhong Ji seemed more and more confused, as if he really couldn't figure it out.

Cao Cao shook his head when he heard this: "The commander is wrong. Dong Cheng falsified the imperial edict and relied on his position to bring disaster to Xudu. How can this not be considered treason?"

"Uncle! Why is it so?"

Zhong Ji sighed heavily: "No matter what, you shouldn't forge an imperial edict! If it's for the sake of the emperor, then it's fine, but how can you use it to murder loyal officials?"

There was a hidden meaning in these words, even Duan Wei understood it, let alone the other two.

Dong Cheng thought to himself that he might have heard Zhong Ji say something pleasing to his ears, but he didn't expect it to be at this time. He couldn't tell what he felt for a moment.

Duan Wei felt that he had done his best by reminding Zhong Ji before, so he just pretended to watch the scenery without saying a word.

In the brief silence, Cao Cao was the first to burst into laughter: "The Grand Commandant is well versed in the law. How do you think Dong Cheng should be dealt with?"

"If you violate the law, the court will make the judgment. The Grand Commandant is in charge of the army, so I'm afraid it's not appropriate to speak rashly."

Zhong Ji's hands hung naturally at his sides, gently stroking the hilt of the sword through his sleeves.

"Taiwei, the commander of the army."

Cao Cao nodded, put his hands behind his back, walked a few steps, and turned his head to look at Zhong Ji: "The Grand Commandant didn't know about Dong Cheng's rebellion, and the Northern Army's rebellion... The Grand Commandant also didn't know anything? This is a bit unreasonable, isn't it?"

Zhong Ji's gaze was as calm as water, without a trace of fluctuation. His eyelids drooped, and it was unknown where he was looking.

Cao Cao laughed non-stop, as if he was truly happy from the bottom of his heart. After laughing for a while, Cao Cao slowly controlled his expression. Although the corners of his mouth were still raised, there was not much smile in his eyes.

"As the Grand Commandant said, Dong Cheng is the emperor's uncle."

Cao Cao suddenly changed the subject: "How dare he forge the imperial edict if he has no support? I'm afraid his daughter is behind it."

Dong Cheng raised his head suddenly, his eyes red.

Of course he couldn't deny it, and he couldn't implicate Liu Xie in this matter.

He didn't know whether there was a secret decree. If not, it would be fine. But if there was, wouldn't it give Cao Cao an opportunity to attack?
"How can a woman from the forbidden palace, who is cowardly and ignorant, persuade the general?"

Dong Cheng stiffened his neck and said, "The emperor's concubines are not from my clan! I am the only one who has committed the crime, please do not implicate others."

"Princess Dong is pregnant. Even if Sikong wants to punish all the people involved, he shouldn't punish Princess Dong. Where does Sikong want to put the emperor's reputation?"

Zhong Ji tried hard to suppress his anger. Duan Wei also moved his lips, wanting to say something, but his mind was still clear. After weighing the pros and cons, he just sat there and drank without saying anything.

"So the commander-in-chief wants to disregard the laws of the country?"

Cao Cao glanced at Zhong Ji's expression with a smile, and pointed in the direction of the palace with his index finger: "Now that the soldiers have entered the palace, it's a little late for the commander to say this."

Zhong Ji's eyebrows twitched. In the past, Huo Guang's wife poisoned Empress Gongai and Xu Pingjun to cover up her crime. Now, in broad daylight, Cao Cao dared to order soldiers to force their way into the palace and slaughter the concubines who were pregnant with royal children. How was this different from Dong Zhuo's actions? !
Traitor!

Zhong Ji closed his eyes. He had always known that Cao Cao was ruthless and decisive. It would not be easy to plot and create some trouble under the opponent's watch.

This time, he was determined to die and assassinate Cao Cao to rescue the emperor.

When Cao Cao said this, Zhong Ji also understood that Cao Cao should have known about the actions of his people behind the scenes.

This did not surprise him, he just sighed, and the sigh only flashed through his mind for a moment.

"Sikong once set up a five-colored stick and used it to kill Jiantu. I wonder what Cao Mengde would think when he saw Sikong today?"

When Zhong Ji finished speaking, he clapped his hands and sighed: "The state laws are not observed, the emperor's majesty is not respected, what should we do now? Are we betraying righteousness and forgetting the principles? If the government is destroyed, the country will follow, and I will be as sad as the Shuli people!" These words were really harsh to hear, and Duan Wei was frightened when he heard them, fearing that Cao Cao would be furious and kill Zhong Ji directly.

However, Dong Cheng felt that every word Zhong Ji said today was to his liking and was pleasant to the ears. Anyway, he was a dying man, so he had no worries in his heart and only felt happy.

After being chased and scolded by that old guy Zhong Ji every day, I finally saw him stand on my side and scold others. It was worth it!

Cao Cao squinted his eyes and listened. It was impossible to tell what was on his face. His voice remained steady, as if he was not disturbed by Zhong Ji's words at all: "Taiwei is used to a leisurely life. The affairs of the court are complicated. Taiwei should return home and recuperate."

This means asking himself to resign.

Zhong Ji thought of Yang Biao who had been imprisoned, and looked at Dong Cheng who was still being held in the court. Compared with these two people, he had already received great preferential treatment from Cao Cao. What would happen if it was someone else?

Maybe he should retire peacefully, either staying in Xudu or returning home with his family?

It’s a pity that he is a stubborn person.

Having been stubborn all my life, I am afraid I will be stubborn until death.

"We shouldn't fight with weapons, but we still have to fight for the truth."

Zhong Ji lowered his two hands that were across his chest, and with his right hand he grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist, and stepped forward: "Sikong, are you still a minister, a minister of the Han Dynasty?"

The white sword light broke through the air with this question, and the sword body made a buzzing sound. This distance was enough to kill the person in front of him, but Cao Cao had been prepared after an assassination attempt.

The thrusting sword was blocked by the soft armor, and the response to Zhong Ji's question came from the armored soldiers who rushed forward.

Such a straightforward assassination was futile and useless, and it was just giving Cao Cao a handle. Cao Cao looked down at the tears on his clothes and ordered his men to put Zhong Ji in jail.

Cao Cao was not a soft-hearted person, but he did have some feelings for Zhong Ji. He had always known Zhong Ji's character and had expected this day to come. Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because he was thinking of Zhong Ping, Cao Cao was more tolerant towards Zhong Ji. At least for now, he wanted to spare his life.

No matter why Zhong Ji assassinated Cao Cao, he committed the assassination in full view of everyone, yet Cao Cao only put him in jail, which was considered merciful. Even if Zhong Ping came, what could he say?
Zhong Ji knew this clearly, so he asked Wu Zhi and Huo Qiu to leave before coming.

He had already prepared to die in Cao Cao's mansion.

Tiger...

Before being chained and imprisoned, Zhong Ji's last look was not at the Imperial Palace, but at the Zhong Mansion.

Emperor, Han.

It was so big at this moment, and so far away from him, and he was so small that he could only remember a corner of his home and the trees in the yard. He sat on the steps for a long time, looking at his tiger with anxiety and attachment.

Zhong Ji suddenly remembered that a long time ago, his wife gave birth to this child for him one night and then passed away.

Amid the heavy smell of blood and the maid's low sobs, he held the child for the first time, the continuation of their lives.

However, the child was light and thin, with a purple face. He could not see the rise and fall of the baby's chest, nor could he feel the heartbeat of the child in his arms.

That dark night decades ago was very similar to this dark and damp prison.

He stood in the darkness for a long time holding his newborn baby. In the past, he loved luxury, drinking and pleasure, but during that night of sitting, he prayed to the gods and Buddhas, chanted Taoist scriptures, and vowed to never eat meat or drink alcohol again. He was very demanding of himself, just to pray for an afterlife for this child.

Perhaps there really are gods in this world. When dawn was approaching, he saw with his own eyes the baby in his arms, who was not breathing, move his fingers, followed by a loud cry...

After that night, Zhong Ji dismissed the maids and servants in his home and chose to raise the child himself. He still named him "Ping", but it was not the "Junping" as his wife wished, but the simplest wish of "peace".

He restrained the child, not allowing him to go out, and gave him a nickname "Tiger", just to ward off evil spirits.

He cherished the child too much, and dared not approach him or speak to him. He was both intimate and distant to the child.

Too many memories came to his mind. Zhong Ji sat on the cattails in the prison and took out a pill that he had prepared long ago from his sleeve.

"The former Cao Mengde..."

Cao Cao sat quietly beside Xi Zhicai's bed. The court physician had just come to see him and changed the prescription while sweating. He seemed to want to say something but hesitated. After looking for a long time, he finally waved his hand and hurriedly left to prepare medicine for Cao Cao.

Xi Zhicai was not lying comfortably. After a while, he had to stand up and lie on the couch coughing. The cough was very muffled, as if there was a lot of phlegm stuck in his throat. Every time he coughed, his entire chest vibrated.

Cao Cao was helping Xi Zhicai adjust the pillow, trying to make him more comfortable.

Zhong Ji's previous words were still echoing in Cao Cao's ears. Now that he was almost alone, he was able to calm down and ask himself, were Zhong Ji's words correct?
If he were the Cao Mengde of the past, would he have thought of and would he be willing to meet the Cao Sikong of today?

Cao Cao never doubted that he was a minister of the Han Dynasty. He rarely regretted anything and rarely showed regret in front of others.

He has not forgotten that his original wish was to become the General of the Western Expedition of the Han Dynasty. His current actions seem to be contrary to his wish in the eyes of the world. Perhaps if he really expressed this wish, it would only be regarded as a joke.

My past self...

Cao Cao supported Xi Zhicai, fed him some water, tucked in the quilt for him, and waited for the servants to bring in the prepared medicine.

I was who I was in the past, and I am who I am today. If Cao Mengde were in my position, how could he not become Cao Sikong?
When Cao Cao thought of this, his mind became clear and he smiled slightly in his heart. But when he thought of Zhong Ji's words "I will be as sad as the Shuli people", he suddenly felt as if a tendon connecting the corner of his eye to his scalp was pinched by someone's hand and it hurt suddenly.

He had asked the court doctor to treat him before, but even after taking several doses of medicine, there was no effect.

Maybe we can go look for Hua Tuo...

"Cough cough cough!!"

Xi Zhicai's heart-wrenching cough interrupted Cao Cao's thoughts. This time, Xi Zhicai fell on the couch and couldn't stand up for a long time. Cao Cao stroked his back and let him relax for a long time before gently helping him up.

There was a large area of ​​blood on the brocade quilt, and one could even see a few blood clots stuck together.

"Lord..."

Xi Zhicai slowed down his breathing and forced himself to perform an impolite salute: "Ahem, I have a great talent and would like to recommend him to you, my lord... Guo Jia and Guo Fengxiao of Yingchuan are ten times more talented than me, and their strategies are bizarre... I hope you will use them, and I have another plan, here..."

He covered his mouth, almost vomiting blood while coughing, and pointed to a book on the table with trembling hands.

“Zhicai!”

Cao Cao quickly stood up and took it: "I know everything, don't get excited..."

The book was not thick, with the last page spread out at the top, and the ink marks had not yet dried. It must be that Xi Zhicai had thought of something not long ago and added to it.

Cao Cao was holding the book and when he turned around, Xi Zhicai was half leaning on the soft pillow, his blood-stained lips showing a satisfied smile.

There was an oil lamp on the low table next to the couch for lighting, but it was now extinguished.

(End of this chapter)