Chapter 121 Hot Potato

Although Dongwuyang was a large city in Dongjun, it had suffered from the ravages of war. Collapsed houses were everywhere, faring far worse than Juancheng, which had been carefully managed.

Therefore, the Cao family members, now confined to a large mansion, mostly wore expressions of dissatisfaction. Privately, they sighed and frowned.

They all understood what they were being sent to Ye City for, but they dared not think about what awaited them. This fear of the future left them in a state of anxiety.

Moreover, they had spontaneously divided into two groups, one of twenty-odd people and the other of forty to fifty.

The smaller group consisted of Cao Cao's own family, mostly illegitimate sons and daughters from collateral branches, as well as adopted sons and daughters.

The larger group was headed by Cao Song, mostly consisting of the wives and families of the deceased Cao De.

Cao Song sighed repeatedly, muttering curses under his breath. He had not expected that Cao Cao would send him and Cao De's entire family to Ye City as hostages!

However, this rebellious son, Cao Cao, outwardly claimed that because Juancheng was under enemy attack and in danger of being breached at any time, Cao Song and his brother Cao De's family were being sent to Ye City for refuge as a priority.

In his heart, Cao Song cursed that there was no danger at all. If there really was danger, how could they, a group of hostages, have come out of Juancheng so openly?

He understood Cao Cao's plan and knew that Cao De had died unjustly, but he had been sidelined and had no way to do anything about it.

What made Cao Song even more upset was that the Cao family might ultimately have to rely on Cao Cao to carry on the lineage!

The more Cao Song thought about it, the more irritable he became. He ignored the deliberate teasing of the concubine beside him, pushed her aside, and went out of the house to relax.

As he opened the door and went out, he heard voices and footsteps outside. A group of people entered the courtyard.

Cao Song recognized Cheng Yu, Yu Jin, and others, all carefully accompanying a young master in the middle.

When the young master saw Cao Song, he quickly walked up to him, smiling, and said, "It's been a while. It seems that Old Master Cao is getting healthier and stronger."

Cao Song took a closer look and almost fainted. Wasn't this Yuan Xi, the son of Yuan Shao, the bandit who had robbed him of all his wealth in Feixian!

He hated him so much that his teeth itched, but he didn't dare to say anything. Yuan Xi had saved his life after all, and he would have to rely on him in the future. How could he dare to offend Yuan Xi now?

He immediately put on a smiling face and said flatteringly, "Since our parting that day, the young master has also become more heroic. This old man almost didn't recognize you."

Yuan Xi laughed heartily and said, "Well said, well said. Old Master Cao is too kind."

He turned his head to Cheng Yu and Yu Jin and said, "Lord Mengde even sent his father here, which shows his trust in the Yuan family. However, I still want to see the other family members."

Cheng Yu and Yu Jin pretended not to notice the sarcasm in Yuan Xi's words. They only ordered the soldiers to open the doors of each house and call out the people inside.

Soon, more than forty people came out one after another. Cheng Yu said with a smile, "These are all the lord's family members."

Yuan Xi walked around and asked a few casual questions, then suddenly sighed, "Mr. Zhongde, is Lord Mengde trying to deceive me into not knowing people?"

"These people are all the family members of Old Master Cao and Lord Mengde's brothers, right?"

Cheng Yu's expression remained unchanged. "That is indeed the case, but they are also the lord's family members."

Yuan Xi shook his head. Tian Feng took the opportunity to mock from the side, "Cao Cao has good intentions, but are these people worth those soldiers and food?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin also felt ashamed and looked at Cheng Yu. Cheng Yu had to say, "The courtyard next door contains the lord's sons and daughters."

Yuan Xi nodded and said, "In that case, let's go take a look. I hope Mr. Zhongde won't disappoint me."

He turned to Cao Song and said, "If Old Master Cao feels that Ye City is not good, I can make the decision to let Old Master return to Juancheng now."

What a joke, what did he want Cao Song for? Keeping him by Cao Cao's side could disgust Cao Cao. If he really took him to Ye City, he would have to treat him well to avoid criticism from the gentry, after all, Cao Song had also served as one of the Three Dukes.

Upon hearing this, Cao Song's eyes rolled around, not knowing what he was thinking.

Cheng Yu's eyes flashed with a hint of apprehension.

The group came to the next courtyard. Under the supervision of the soldiers, more than twenty people came out one after another, mostly young men and women.

Some of the women were quite attractive, especially two young girls with slender figures and outstanding appearances, quite different from the other mostly short and stocky figures. Yuan Xi couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Yuan Xi questioned their identities one by one. The closer he got to the end, the worse his expression became.

Although there were some of Cao Cao's concubines among them, they were all extremely unimportant. There were also some adopted sons and daughters, that is, the children Cao Cao brought with him when he snatched other people's wives.

But none of the important figures were there.

Yuan Xi turned his head and sighed to Cheng Yu, "There's no way to talk like this."

"It was said that the legal wife and Di son could be left behind. Madam Ding certainly doesn't need to come, but Lord Mengde didn't even send a few illegitimate sons."

"I remember Cao Ang, Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, aren't these all illegitimate sons?"

"And Madam Bian is not the legal wife either, I didn't see her either. Does the Cao family really think my Yuan family is so easily fooled?"

Cheng Yu and Yu Jin exchanged glances. They had long known that Yuan Xi was difficult to deal with, but they had not expected that Yuan Xi would know so much about the Cao family's internal affairs!

Cao Cao had many concubines, and his children were a mixed bag. Unless someone deliberately inquired, it would be impossible to know so much detail!

Was there an internal traitor informing them?

Cheng Yu pondered, how should he respond?

Moreover, the legal wife Ding had no children, and Cao Cao currently had no Di sons!

The most valued eldest illegitimate son, Cao Ang, was not born to the legal wife Ding, but to the deceased Madam Liu, who was raised by Ding and had a mother-son relationship. He was also being cultivated by Cao Cao as his successor and would definitely not be sent.

And below that were Madam Bian's young sons, Cao Pi and Cao Zhi.

Although Madam Bian came from a humble background, she was a capable assistant to Cao Cao. She managed all the affairs of Cao Cao's inner residence and was deeply favored by Cao Cao. She and her two sons could never be sent.

Cheng Yu knew that Yuan Xi was clinging to this point, but the Cao family's internal affairs were complicated and could not be explained clearly.

Yuan Xi pointed to the adopted sons and daughters among them and said, "There's no need to mention these people, they are not Lord Mengde's own children. What use are they?"

"Please ask Mr. Zhongde to send them all back and exchange them for some useful people."

As soon as he said this, some people showed joy on their faces. They knew that they were going to Ye City as hostages, and they didn't know what their fate would be there. Of course, it was best not to go!

Only the two slender and pretty girls looked at each other, not happy but worried, tightly pinching their sleeves.

Cheng Yu and Yu Jin knew that Yuan Xi was not easy to deal with, but they were already prepared. It was originally a matter of bargaining, and they didn't intend to fool him so easily.

Anyway, Dongwuyang and Juancheng were only two days away. When the time came, they could bring some more people over to make up the numbers.

Cheng Yu said with a smile, "Talk, anything can be discussed. Young Master, don't be angry."

Yuan Xi smiled, "I'm not in a hurry. We can talk slowly. I can wait for a month or two."

Cheng Yu's face stiffened. Yuan Xi could wait, but Cao Cao couldn't!

If Lu Bu's desperate offensive came a few more times, Juancheng would be in danger!

Thinking of this, Cheng Yu smiled and said, "In that case, please tell me which family members you want, so I can report back to Lord Ming."

Yuan Xi said, "I actually don't know anything about Lord Mengde's family affairs. I still have to rely on Mr. Yuan Hao and Brother Zhongde to talk. I'm just wasting time."

What do you mean you don't know anything!

Cheng Yu cursed inwardly.

Tian Feng agreed immediately. He hadn't cursed Cheng Yu enough just now, so he would continue to curse!

Yuan Xi turned to Yu Jin, "Brother Wenze, they can talk about their things. We two hit it off at first sight. How about we find a place to drink and have fun?"

What do you mean you hit it off at first sight!

Yu Jin's head exploded. He quickly covered his stomach and said, "Young Master, I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but unfortunately, I have caught a cold. Please forgive my rudeness. Excuse me!"

Seeing Yu Jin run away like a startled rabbit, Yuan Xi shook his head helplessly. It seemed that Cao Cao was very good at managing his subordinates. Yu Jin was so frightened. It was impossible to dig up the corner for the time being.

He wanted to turn around and leave in disappointment, preparing to go back to find Cao Song, wanting to exchange some information about Cao Cao's family for the condition of letting him go back.

The two young girls were anxious and involuntarily raised their hands to speak, but they were afraid of being discovered, so they had to wink desperately.

Yuan Xi saw it out of the corner of his eye and thought that this was a bit interesting. These two young girls seemed to want to say something?

He said to everyone, "You all go back to your rooms first. I want to ask you some questions individually later."

Cheng Yu knew that Yuan Xi wanted to inquire about Cao's family's news, and he didn't care. These were all unimportant people in the Yuan family, what could they ask?

Tian Feng and Cheng Yu went back to argue, Yu Jin peed away, Yuan Xi walked into one room after another, pretending to ask some questions. After asking more than a dozen people, he entered the room of the two girls.

As soon as he went in, he saw the two girls kneeling on the ground. Knowing that there was something wrong, he closed the door and said, "What do you want to say?"

The slightly older girl looked at the other and kowtowed, "Please don't let us go back to Ye City, Young Master. We have another request."

"If Young Master agrees, our sisters are willing to be your servants and never forget your kindness."

Yuan Xi listened and asked, "Tell me what it is?"

The girl bit her lip and said, "Our mother is Cao Cao's concubine, and there is a one-year-old sister still in her swaddling clothes. Please, Young Master, find a way to let them also go to Ye City."

As soon as Yuan Xi heard this, he laughed, "Do you know what you are doing in Ye City?"

"Wouldn't this be harming your mother and sister?"

The two girls raised their heads at the same time, tears streaming down their faces, "Young Master doesn't know, this is actually saving our mother and younger sister."

After saying that, the two girls kowtowed again and again, their foreheads bleeding.

Yuan Xi was a little confused and said, "I don't understand, tell me the inside story."

As soon as the two sisters heard this, they quickly explained. The more Yuan Xi listened, the more surprised he became, because these two girls were not Cao Cao's biological daughters. Their biological mother was also forcibly taken by Cao Cao a year ago.

The original identities of these two young girls were actually the daughters of Bian Rang, a famous scholar of Yanzhou who was killed by Cao Cao last year!