Chapter 22 Cao Cao's Strategy

After arranging for Empress Liu Ruyan to stay in the best guest room, Emperor Cao Xukun turned and slipped back to his own courtyard, closing the door and almost jumping up on the spot.

"Holy shit, holy shit! Empress Liu Ruyan actually stayed!" He rubbed his hands together, spinning around in excitement. "Young Master Xiao Chen is truly my exclusive money-delivering boy. First he sends his sister, then his mother; is this the 'full family combo meal' package or what?"

As he spoke, he immediately activated his Eye of Luck and gazed toward the guest room.

A dazzling beam of Golden Luck shot into the sky, even denser than Su Wanqing's. At the top of the beam, a faint, colorful thread of luck was intertwined—that was the unique mark of a Mother of Destiny.

[Ding! Golden Luck female detected: Empress Liu Ruyan]

[Identity: Mother of the Son of Destiny, Young Master Xiao Chen, and the number one beauty in Central Province]

[Favorability: -20 (Extreme Disgust)]

[Strategy Difficulty: ★★★★☆]

[Special Bonus: Strategize against the Son of Destiny's mother, rewards doubled! Can obtain half of the Xiao Family's luck!]

"As expected! Golden Luck! Rewards doubled!" Emperor Cao Xukun grinned from ear to ear. "If I take her down this time, I'll take off immediately! Forget the Golden Core Stage; even the Nascent Soul Stage is just around the corner!"

"However, this -20 favorability is indeed a bit tricky." He rubbed his chin, his eyes darting around. "No matter. To deal with this kind of cold, widowed married woman, I need to use some special methods. The key is to use both soft and hard tactics—first make things difficult, then manipulate her. Guaranteed to be a sure win."

Early the next morning, as soon as Empress Liu Ruyan finished washing up, she saw Emperor Cao Xukun leaning against the door frame with a bun in his mouth, looking like a loafer.

"Lady Liu, awake? Perfect. I haven't had breakfast yet. Go and boil a bowl of bird's nest porridge for me. Make it with rock sugar, less sugar and more bird's nest," Emperor Cao Xukun said lazily.

Empress Liu Ruyan frowned, her expression instantly turning cold: "Emperor Cao Xukun, I came here to discuss Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya's matters, not to be your servant!"

"You have to eat before discussing matters." Emperor Cao Xukun spread his hands, looking innocent. "Think about it. If I'm hungry, my brain won't work well. If my brain doesn't work well, I might say the wrong things or do the wrong things. What if I get unhappy and betroth Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya to that brute Li Tieniu? How bad would that be?"

"You dare!" Empress Liu Ruyan was shaking with anger, pointing at his nose, unable to speak.

"Watch me dare." Emperor Cao Xukun raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya is mine now; whatever I say goes. If you don't listen, not only will I marry her off to Li Tieniu, but I'll also make sure that brat Young Master Xiao Chen has diarrhea for the rest of his life and never breaks through to the Golden Core Stage."

Empress Liu Ruyan bit her lip, her nails digging into her flesh. She knew Emperor Cao Xukun meant what he said; this bastard was capable of anything.

For the sake of Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, for the sake of Young Master Xiao Chen, she endured!

"Fine, I'll go boil it." Empress Liu Ruyan took a deep breath and turned toward the kitchen.

Watching her back, Emperor Cao Xukun secretly gave a 'V' sign: "Step one, success!"

For the next half day, Emperor Cao Xukun pushed his harassment to the extreme.

When the bird's nest porridge was cooked, he said it was too sweet and told her to remake it; when it was remade, he said it was too bland and to add more sugar; once he was finally satisfied, he made her massage his back—if she did it too lightly, he said she hadn't eaten; if she did it too hard, he said she wanted to murder him.

"Emperor Cao Xukun! Don't go too far!" Empress Liu Ruyan finally couldn't take it anymore, throwing the massage tool onto the ground. "What exactly do you want?"

"I don't want anything." Emperor Cao Xukun stretched, speaking slowly. "I just want Lady Liu to serve me. After all, you were the number one beauty in Central Province back then; it was hard for many young masters to even get a glance at you. Now that I can have you massaging my back, I've made a huge profit."

"You are shameless!" Empress Liu Ruyan was so angry her eyes turned red. She had been a widow for fifteen years; no one had ever dared to humiliate her like this.

"Shameless? This is just the beginning." Emperor Cao Xukun stood up, walked step by step in front of her, and looked down into her reddened eyes, his tone ambiguous. "Lady Liu, I won't beat around the bush with you. Let's be blunt. You want me to set Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya free, and you don't want me to trouble Young Master Xiao Chen? That's possible."

"What are the conditions?" Empress Liu Ruyan looked at him warily.

"It's very simple." Emperor Cao Xukun reached out, gently lifting her chin, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Use yourself as the exchange."

"What did you say?!" Empress Liu Ruyan felt as if she had been struck by lightning, taking a sharp step back, looking at him in disbelief. "Emperor Cao Xukun! Have you lost your mind? I am Young Master Xiao Chen's mother! I am Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya's mother! How dare you say such a thing!"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Emperor Cao Xukun spread his hands, looking completely justified. "A fair lady, a gentleman is fond of her. Lady Liu, you are so beautiful; it's a pity to have been a widow for fifteen years. If you follow me, I guarantee you'll live in luxury from now on. I'll protect the Xiao Family, I'll dote on Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, and I won't trouble Young Master Xiao Chen."

"This deal is a sure win."

"In your dreams!" Empress Liu Ruyan refused without a second thought. "Even if I die, I won't agree to such a shameless request!"

"Die?" Emperor Cao Xukun sneered. "It's easy for you to die, but what about Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya and Young Master Xiao Chen? If you die, I will immediately sell Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya to a brothel, and break Young Master Xiao Chen's limbs and throw him into the Mass Grave to feed the wild dogs. Think about how miserable they will be then."

"You!" Empress Liu Ruyan was shaking with anger, and tears finally couldn't help but fall.

She wasn't afraid of death, but she couldn't ignore her children.

Emperor Cao Xukun saw her crying and felt a little unbearable, but then he thought, a villain has to be ruthless. He stepped forward, gently wiped away her tears, and his tone softened: "Lady Liu, don't cry. I genuinely like you, not just for fun."

"Think about it, that unfilial son Young Master Xiao Chen, besides causing trouble, what else can he do? You have broken your heart for him, when has he ever felt sorry for you? Last time Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya was captured, he didn't even dare to show his face. If you follow me, I will treat you well, better than anyone else."

"In the future, I will make you the most honorable woman in this world. You can choose from the rare treasures of all worlds; you can practice supreme divine arts. It's better than you guarding the empty Xiao Family alone and cleaning up after that unfilial son."

Empress Liu Ruyan lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, her heart struggling violently.

On one side was the chastity she had guarded for fifteen years, on the other were her two children.

How should she choose?

Emperor Cao Xukun didn't force her, just stood quietly on the side waiting.

After a long time, Empress Liu Ruyan finally raised her head, her face full of tear tracks, but her eyes became incomparably firm.

"Fine, I agree to you." She said word by word, her voice trembling slightly. "But you must guarantee that you will absolutely not hurt Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya and Young Master Xiao Chen, and you must set Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya free."

"Rest assured, I, Emperor Cao Xukun, keep my word." Emperor Cao Xukun was overjoyed, reaching out and pulling her into his arms. "From today on, you are my woman. I will treat you well for the rest of my life."

Empress Liu Ruyan leaned in his arms, closed her eyes, and tears slid down silently.

She knew that from this moment on, her life had completely changed.