Light and Shadow

Chapter 20 - Yang Xiu's Plot, Pt. 2

"Yang Xiu, your punishment is to clean the prison for two weeks. Man Chong is known to be quite messy, and he would appreciate the help." Cao Cao said.

Yang Xiu accepted his punishment, and Man Chong thanked their Lord for enlisting Yang Xiu's aid. That's a light punishment for something as severe as attempting to have a senior official arrested on the grounds of treason. Mengde, you seriously can't be plotting to use this man. He is too devious and immoral; he does not care about others. The meeting was then ended, and Cao Cao asked Xun Yu to stay behind. Once everyone filled out of the room, he took a step closer to the man.

"It's a shame that you have never written me anything like that letter. Maybe I should hire Yang Xiu to write me letters like that? All jokes aside, his gift of forgery could be extremely useful." Cao Cao stated.

"My Lord, I hope that you are not seriously considering using him. Yang Xiu cannot be trusted. He has blatantly disregarded the welfare of others on many occasions, and he is too devious. It is difficult to pinpoint his true intentions. Please, reconsider placing your trust in him." Xun Yu replied with a look of concern.

Cao Cao grinned.

"Ah, someone is worried, I see. Don't worry, I won't place too much faith in him, but he is clearly capable. We should still try to use him to our advantage." Cao Cao said.

Xun Yu frowned slightly.

"Of course, my Lord." Xun Yu replied with a bow. He kept his opinion to himself since he knew that the man had made up his mind.

"Good boy," Cao Cao purred. "Remember to come and see me tonight. You are dismissed."

Xun Yu blushed slightly as he bowed and quickly exited the room. It was getting close to time for him to meet with Sima Yi. He quickly walked back to his house, since that was where he told Sima Yi that he could find him, and he saw the man waiting for him outside of the door.

"Master Sima Yi, I didn't expect you to be here so early. Please, come in while I change into something more casual." Xun Yu said as he approached the man and the entrance to his home.

Sima Yi greeted him and followed him inside. He sat down at the table in the living area while Xun Yu entered the bedroom and quickly changed. He reentered the room wearing a plain black paofu, and his long black hair flowed gracefully down his back before he quickly put it up in a bun.

"How was the meeting this morning? You look stressed." Sima Yi inquired.

"It was somewhat stressful. You need to get promoted, soon, please. I do not have the energy to keep fighting with Yang Xiu. He tried to target both Cheng Yu and me this time." Xun Yu replied gently.

He took a seat at the table with Sima Yi as the man gave him a concerned look.

"Both of you?!" Sima Yi echoed loudly. "What made him do something so bold?"

"I'm not sure." Xun Yu answered. He decided to keep his suspicions to himself as he did not want to gossip.

Sima Yi shook his head disapprovingly.

"Minister, you can't keep doing this. You look exhausted and frail. If you keep this up, you will get sicker." Sima Yi said.

"Sima Yi, forgive my bluntness, but can we have a normal conversation please? I don't wish to speak about such things. I already hear that more often than I would like." Xun Yu stated softly.

"Oh, of course. I apologize." Sima Yi replied with a bow.

He didn't take into consideration that it was very likely Xun Yu often heard the same or similar things, since his exhaustion was becoming more evident with each passing day.