And so he was also the one Cao Cao loved most.
Sobbing, Cao Chong said, "Father is trading his death for a chance for us to live. He... he wants us to live well."
"I will follow Father's last wishes, serve Mother well, and live on... in peace."
No sooner had he finished than Cao Pi glared at him and accused him, "Chong, how can you have such cowardly thoughts! How can we leave our father's murder unavenged!"
"I, I..."
Cao Chong flushed, at a loss.
But the next instant, Cao Pi's voice abruptly stopped, for a longsword had pierced his chest.
Cao Pi lowered his head and looked at his chest.
Then he looked ahead again.
His young face was filled with confusion and incomprehension.
"Father, you..."
Cao Cao looked at his second son with pity and anguish, then drew the longsword from Cao Pi's chest.
Cao Pi spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed.
The light in his eyes soon vanished.
Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, and Cao Chong were all terrified by Cao Cao's sudden action. They could not understand why Cao Cao had suddenly killed Cao Pi!
That was his own flesh and blood!
Cao Zhang asked in a trembling voice, "Father, why... why did you kill our second brother..."
"Because he was too ambitious."
Cao Cao looked down at the blood on the blade. The gleaming steel reflected his pale face.
"Chong was right. I want you to live on and preserve the last of our Cao Clan's bloodline."
"That Son of Heaven is far too formidable. You will be no match for him. Your disloyalty and hatred will bring utter destruction down upon you."
"So..."
Holding the bloodstained sword, Cao Cao raised his head and looked at Cao Zhang.
Once again, he thrust the