Dong Zhao's words can be said to have fully reflected people's hearts.
Cao Rui talked with Dong Zhao for a while before leaving the West Pavilion. Sima Yi and the three attendants had returned and were waiting for the emperor in the courtyard.
After leaving Dong Zhao, Cao Rui's sadness eased a little, but he still had to do what he had to do.
After standing still, Cao Rui said to Sima Yi who was walking over, "Sikong, the Secretariat should discuss a posthumous title for the Grand Sima."
"In addition to the posthumous title, the title of Marquis of Changping will be passed on to the eldest son of the Grand Marshal, Changsi. The Grand Marshal has many fiefs, so some will be given to his second son, Desi, as appropriate."
"Yes." Sima Yi replied with a bow.
Cao Rui continued, "Also, have the Minister of Rites Xu Xuan set off immediately to Shouchun to bring the Grand Marshal's coffin back to Luoyang. Remember to send someone to the Yulin Left Army to inform Changsi and ask him to leave quickly."
"I can't bear to see him now."
Sima Yi sighed, "Your Majesty is kind-hearted. I will let Xu Xuan and Cao Zhao leave this afternoon."
"Yes." Cao Rui said, "What else does the Minister of Works and the Shangshutai need?"
Sima Yi was a little puzzled: "I... have nothing else to do."
"Well," Cao Rui instructed, "I am sad and will suspend my attendance for seven days to show my mourning. If there is nothing important, please do not come to see me."
"As you command." Sima Yi hesitated and asked, "This is the first time that Your Majesty has stopped attending court. Do I still need to come to the palace to serve?"
Cao Rui turned around and tried to leave: "I have stopped attending court, why would I bother with the West Pavilion or the East Pavilion?"
"Yes." Sima Yi bowed from behind.
The so-called suspension of court meetings only meant that court meetings would not be held, not that state affairs would be suspended. If there were any major events, they could still be reported.
For Cao Rui himself, it meant stopping discussing matters with his ministers, saying goodbye to the chaos and thinking quietly.
Cao Rui walked towards the study, followed closely by the three attendants.
After leaning back on the recliner, Cao Rui looked at Xu Shu and said, "Minister Xu, go find General Man now. You two will go to the martial arts school for graduation summary together this afternoon. Tell Qian Zhao that I will not be going this afternoon."
Xu Shu bowed and turned to walk out.
Cao Rui looked at Pei Qian again and said, "Minister Pei is in charge of the Xuchang school affairs. Bring me all the files of Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and Yangzhou for the past two years. I will look at them in the next few days."
Pei Qian took the order and left.
Xin Pi was the only one left in the study. Cao Rui sighed, "The Grand Marshal has passed away. I still have to write a letter to the General."
"Minister Xin, write down everything you have heard. Write it here. I will read it when you are done."
"According to the order."
Xin Pi was most familiar with Cao Zhen, and the emperor knew this. Whenever he communicated with Cao Zhen, he would ask Xin Pi to write for him.
Xin Pi was also a man who had done a lot of paperwork, and he wrote the letter very quickly, in less than a stick of incense.
Cao Rui took the letter, looked at it for a few seconds, nodded and said, "Okay, use the seal."
"It has been more than a year since I last returned from Yongzhou. It is time to send someone to take a look."
"Xin Qing," Cao Rui looked up at Xin Pi and said, "Xin Qing, please hold the imperial seal and go to Guanxi for me."
Going on inspection tours has always been the job of the Censorate.
And to carry out inspections with imperial seals and to employ a minister of the court was unprecedented in this dynasty. Xin Pi was obviously quite surprised to hear this.
Xin Pi bowed and asked, "I accept your order, but I don't know what your majesty wants me to see?"
Cao Rui said calmly: "Send the letter to the general, and have him look at Chencang, Shanggui, Qishan, Dazhong, Wudu, and Hanzhong."
"Inspect the city fortresses that are to be repaired, and then take a look at the students of the first two classes for me."
Xin Pi thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, of the six places you just mentioned, Dazhong is the farthest. If I were to go all the way there, it would take me three or four months to return."
Cao Rui said: "Just walk as long as you need to."
"Xin Qing originally was in charge of the Guanxi School, and he had supervised grain in Chang'an. Among the ministers, he is the most familiar with that place."
"I estimate that by the time Xin Qing returns after the New Year, I will have already arrived in Xuchang. By then, you and I can meet in Xuchang."
Xin Pi bowed and responded: "I will obey your majesty's order. When does your majesty want me to leave?"
Cao Rui asked in return: "How many days will Xin Qing be able to come back?"
Xin Pi said: "I still have some matters on hand, and it will take another day or two to arrange them."
Cao Rui nodded: "Then three days will do."
Xin Pi bowed and walked out. After all the political affairs were arranged, Cao Rui himself had a rare moment of leisure and walked towards the harem with the escort of the tiger guards.
Since he came out of Sun Zhaoyi's palace last time, Cao Rui has been staying in the study for two days.
Now that I am troubled and troubled, the best place to go in the harem is, of course, Sun Zhaoyi's place.
Sun Luban was not only as sweet as a flower in words, but also had a very gentle and kind personality.
Although it was daytime, Cao Rui still rested his head on Sun Luban's legs, rocking slightly and closing his eyes to rest.
Sun Luban was also considerate. She gently pressed the emperor's forehead with her hand while humming something softly.
Cao Rui asked softly: "Da Hu, what are you singing?"
Sun Luban replied softly, "This is what my mother used to sing to me when I was young. It has some local accents, so Your Majesty probably wouldn't understand it, right?"
"I really don't understand the dialect of Wuyue." Cao Rui asked, "Is Madam Bu doing well in Wuchang?"
Sun Luban said softly: "My mother is fine, Your Majesty, please don't worry about her."
"Your Majesty is really interesting. Every time you mention my father, you shout and kill him as if he were an enemy. But when you mention my mother, you start to be polite like a husband to his elders."
Cao Rui said: "I have no personal grudge against your father, but as the king of Wei, I cannot coexist with the Wu Kingdom represented by your father."
"This is the first time I've heard you mention this. Why, do you blame me?"
Sun Luban smiled and said, "I don't blame you. As a king, there are probably many people who regard him as an enemy. Your Majesty is so upright in front of me, which is like a great man."
"But I am also wondering, how many people in the world hate Your Majesty?"
Cao Rui sighed: "I'm afraid there won't be less."
"I personally led two campaigns since I ascended the throne, one against Wu and one against Shu, and the number of soldiers killed or captured by both Wu and Shu was at least over 100,000."
"Everyone has a family, parents, wife and children. In their eyes, the ideal husband in front of you is the enemy they want to eat their flesh and sleep on their skin."
Sun Luban said: "There is nothing we can do about it. Your Majesty is the ruler of the world, and you bear the weight of the world, so you naturally have to bear these responsibilities."
Cao Rui asked: "Da Hu, do you know anything about Buddhism?"
"Buddhism?" Sun Luban asked back, "There is a White Horse Temple on the outskirts of Luoyang, which was just renovated last year. Is it the Buddhism?"
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "It's the Buddhist sect."
"Buddhism talks about cause and effect, and the law of fate. After the general opened up the Western Regions, the Hu monks from Khotan have come to Luoyang several times. Last year, the Grand Herald Cui Lin came to me to talk about this matter, and I nodded in agreement."
Sun Luban asked, "What is cause and effect? I don't understand."
Cao Rui explained: "For example, as I just said, the war between Wei and Wu and Shu destroyed more than 100,000 families."
"I am the Emperor of Wei. The soldiers of Wei killed people according to my orders. This is the reason."
"And more than 100,000 families in Wu and Shu resent me. This is the result."
Sun Luban seemed to understand: "If what your majesty said is true, I followed my father to the war, this is the cause. I was captured by your majesty's people and became your majesty's concubine, this is the result?"
Cao Rui responded: "It is just as you said."
"But I have been thinking these past two days, what is the cause and effect of Da Sima's fall from his horse?"
"If I can't figure out this cause and effect, will it happen to me one day?"
Sun Luban exclaimed and covered Cao Rui's mouth: "Your Majesty, stop talking nonsense! Stop saying these unlucky things!"
Cao Rui opened his eyes and saw Sun Luban's worried look. He smiled and said, "I'm not talking nonsense. I'm just thinking about it."
Sun Luban scolded, "Your Majesty is my husband, I don't allow you to think about these things. Your Majesty is the emperor of Wei, there is no way such an accident could happen."
Cao Rui said: "I believe your words, and I will not say any more."
"Da Hu, I intend to make two princes kings. Do you have a place you like?"
Sun Luban's eyes were slightly red, and some tears were in them. Soon, a few tears fell on Cao Rui's forehead.
Sun Luban sobbed, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? It's just the death of a minister. Does the world need him?"
"The two princes are both children and can't even speak clearly, so how can they be crowned kings?"
"Your Majesty first told me about being hated by others and about cause and effect. I don't want to hear it. I just want your Majesty to feel better and cheer up."
Cao Rui sighed softly, raised his hand and stroked Sun Luban's face: "Okay, I promise you, no matter what." (End of this chapter)
