Xiahou Ba and the others returned to Xuchang and went straight to the palace to plead guilty to Cao Cao. Along the way, they saw people looking strange and pointing behind their backs.
Xia Houmao was surprised and asked, "How did the incident in Xiangyang reach Xuchang so quickly?"
Xiahou Ba frowned and walked quickly with a sullen face until he arrived at the Mingguang Palace. After Emperor Xian moved the capital, this place had been transformed into the Prime Minister's Palace.
The three of them walked up the white marble steps and saw Xu Chu standing at the door with a big belly and a knife, hurriedly asking people to come in and report.
Soon Cao Chun came out, and Cao Tai hurriedly stepped forward and asked: "Second uncle, does the prime minister know about Xiangyang?"
Cao Chun glanced at the three of them and whispered: "If Wuguan is lost, you will be in great trouble."
The three of them were startled, and Xia Houmao murmured: "Wuguan has nothing to do with me?"
Before Cao Tai could ask more questions, Cao Chun had already turned around and walked in, so he had no choice but to follow him. Cao Cao was leaning on the couch with a towel covering his forehead.
The three of them knelt down to pay homage. Xiahou Ba apologized and said, "I, the three of us, have failed to do our job well. Please punish me, Prime Minister."
Cao Cao turned around and asked calmly: "Where is the Qingzhi Sword?"
Xiahou Mao said hurriedly: "The Qingzhi Sword stayed in Xiangyang for some reason."
"For some reason?" Cao Cao narrowed his slender eyes, "Lost? Or was it snatched away or stolen by Liu Qi?"
Xiahou Mao said: "I pledged to Liu Qi!"
"Oh?" Cao Cao was a little surprised, "You are here to see your bride off. This is not a war deal. Why did you pledge the sword? Could it be that you were blackmailed by Liu Qi?"
"That's not true. Liu Qi treated us with courtesy because we discovered that the grandson of former Taiwei Zhang Wen had three thousand taels of gold..."
"Three thousand taels of gold?" Cao Cao bowed slightly and sneered: "This must be Liu Qi's plan!"
"No, no, we saw this with our own eyes, and Liu Qi didn't know anything about it!" Xia Houmao waved his hand hurriedly and pushed Xia Houba next to him: "Zhong Quan, please explain quickly."
He had always been in awe of Cao Cao, but when he was questioned first, he felt flustered. In addition, since he had been to a brothel, his words were a little incoherent.
Xiahou Ba replied: "I waited until Xiangyang, intending to collect intelligence, but unexpectedly met Zhang Wei..."
"Stupid!" As soon as Xiahou Ba said that they had pledged the Qingzhi Sword and were preparing to use furniture to transport the gold, Cao Cao suddenly sat up and threw the towel on the table.
Staring at the astonished three people, the scolding turned into a sigh: "We read the books of sages and the art of war together, why is it that Liu Qi is so good?"
Cao Tai was immediately dissatisfied: "Why did the Prime Minister say this?"
Cao Cao sneered: "Where is Zhang Wei?"
Cao Tai said helplessly: "When we were crossing the Han River, we encountered a storm and the gold sank into the river. Zhang Wei's whereabouts are unknown."
Cao Cao took a deep breath and sighed: "There is no Zhang Wei in this world, or maybe everyone is Zhang Wei."
Xiahou Ba's expression suddenly changed and he exclaimed: "Could this person be deliberately arranged by Liu Qi?"
Cao Cao snorted coldly: "You will wait until Xiangyang to inquire about the news. How can Liu Qi not know about it? Liu Biao has been running Jingzhou for decades, and he may not have three thousand taels of gold. If there are really remnants of the Cai family hiding property, how can they hide it from Liu Qi?"
"Impossible!" Xia Houmao shouted: "We have seen the gold with our own eyes, Zhang Weita..."
"Shut up!" Cao Cao said in a deep voice: "Do you know that Liu Qi used the Qingzhi Sword to falsely claim my life and gain Wuguan, and Xia Houcun died as a result?"
"Ah?" The three of them were stunned at the same time. They didn't expect that such a change would happen in just a few days.
After a while, Xia Houmao said angrily: "What a good Liu Qi. I trust him with all my heart, but he actually used this method to deceive and sneak attack. I swear to avenge him."
"That's it!" Cao Cao waved his hand: "This is because you are young, energetic and eager to make contributions, so you fell into the trap. Please stand down!"
Xiahou Ba asked: "What about Wuguan?"
"I have made arrangements!" Cao Cao looked at the younger generations and said slowly: "Every time you go through a hardship, you will gain wisdom. After this incident, you must study hard, know your shame and then be brave, so that you can serve the country in the future."
Xia Houmao cupped his fists and said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister, I will definitely take back the Qingzhi Sword to avoid today's shame."
Cao Cao nodded and said: "Zilin stays, you two go back!"
When Xia Houba and the two left, Xia Houmao became panicked and said hurriedly: "Prime Minister, my father-in-law, I took a concubine privately because of the three thousand taels of gold..."
"Do you really think that I don't know about what happened in Xuchang?"
Cao Cao snorted coldly, which frightened Xiahou Mao so much that he shivered and huddled on the ground, daring not to speak.
"At such a young age, I don't know how to make achievements, but I am addicted to women and eager for success and profit. How can I become a great person?"
Cao Cao hated that iron could not become steel. He married his eldest daughter to Xiahou Mao just to support the Xiahou clan, but Xiahou Mao's performance was really disappointing.
In the past, he turned a blind eye because of Xiahou Dun's face, but this time he was being fooled around by Liu Qi, and he really couldn't stand it anymore.
"I think that my Xiahou family has been a hero for generations, and your fathers and mothers are all heroes. Yuan Rang is in the military and can welcome his mentor and receive his vocation. However, you are incompetent in literature and martial arts. You spend all your time raising concubines. Who did you learn this from?"
Xia Houmao was trembling with fear, breaking into a cold sweat, and said in a trembling voice: "I will definitely change my past mistakes and atone for my sins."
"But the house you bought is not useless!" Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered: "The black pearl...may be of great use."
Speaking of black pearls, Xia Houmao suddenly raised his head: "Although the furniture has sunk into the river, a few waterbeds were brought back to honor my father-in-law."
Cao Cao frowned and said, "What is a water bed?"
Xia Houmao's eyes shone brightly: "This bed can be filled with water. Lying on it is like being in the waves. It is soft and light. If it is used between the bed and the bed, it will get twice the result with half the effort. My father-in-law will know the secret after using it."
"Oh?" Cao Cao looked at Xia Houmao's eyes and became curious. He stroked his beard and said with a smile, "It's rare for you to have such filial piety. I want to give it a try. I'll get ready as soon as possible."
Xia Houmao let out a long breath and left the hall happily. As he was walking out, he saw Cao Pi coming towards him. He stepped forward and grabbed his arm: "Zihuan came just in time. I have something important to discuss with you."
Cao Pi was the eldest son and was feared and feared by others, while Xia Houmao was despised. Among the younger generation, he was the only two who were closest to him.
Cao Pi wondered: "Brother-in-law made a big mistake, how can he still be so happy?"
"I have a clever plan!" Xia Houmao smiled mysteriously and pulled Cao Pi out.
"I'm confused about something and I'm going to ask my father for help..."
"Your talent is far behind Qi Zijian, so don't bother!"
Xia Houmao said in a low voice: "I have a way to make money, and I will definitely be able to relieve the Prime Minister's worries. This is also the time for you to make a contribution. If you make millions of money, wouldn't it be a hundred times better than writing poetry?"
"Seriously?" Cao Pi couldn't help but be moved. He knew that Cao Cao was currently worried about money and food, so he immediately shook his head and said, "My father asked me to study literature, practice martial arts, and learn how to govern the country. How can I go into business?"
"You don't need to take care of it, just let me handle this matter!" Xia Houmao said with a smile: "I will contribute the effort and you will contribute the capital. I have already thought of the name: let's call it Pi Mao Tang. How about it?"
