There was no doubt that he had a lot of built up contempt toward Ruolan for her involvement at Wan Castle – once upon a time. He was angry and grieving, he was a child with no grasp of how to cope. He needed someone to blame. As time went on, he realized his fault, but still does not know how to apologize.
That said, he gained respect for Ruolan as he grew older and no longer feels any hatred toward her for what happened. After all, she was one person following orders, not giving the command to ambush his family. Could she have made any difference if she did not partake? Certainly not. Everything would have played out the same way. He since sees her in a new light, and admittedly enjoys her witty retorts and lax nature. She really is a delight.
The question appeared to put Cao Pi on the spot – he was not sure what to say. Yes would be the obvious answer, he thought about them every day. With his father gone now, it became even more difficult than ever. As much as he wanted to admit it, and his lips even parted to do so, he settled for a more vague reply. “It’s not something that’s simple to ignore.”
Wow. Were he not used to her commentary, he would have been speechless. “Even with our impending doom, you never fail to give out witty remarks. It’s almost impressive how dedicated you are to it.”
Ruolan snorted, unable to stop herself. The prince had a keen mind for these matters, even at such an early age - while it might have been entertaining to hear such insight from someone who was still only a boy, it was a little sad as well.
“Love’s what trips people up in politics more than anything, but you’re not wrong. Doesn’t mean you cut yourself off completely from it, but…It never hurts to be careful. You never really know what someone’s real intentions are, no matter how well you think you know them.”
The amusement faded from her face all at once. Wan Castle was far in the past now, but it was still bound to be a fresh wound for Cao Pi.
“…I don’t think he does. Maybe it doesn’t feel that way, but I don’t think he sees it like that. You’re you.”
A sigh escaped through his nostrils. He understood she was trying to be supportive, but of course she would not know everything that happened within the family. She would not have seen the look in his eyes. “…When Cangshu died, I tried to console Father. I hurt too, but he – was in tears. It was the first time I had seen him weep like that. Instead of allowing me to console him, he told me how unfortunate it was for him. But, it was fortunate for me, because it almost certainly assured I was now his heir. I know that he was very troubled at the time, and I know that he does care, but … it has stayed in my mind since then.“
“You’re right, though. I am me. I was not a first choice, not even a second choice. I’m not as strong and brave as Zixiu, or kind and intelligent like Cangshu. I am me, but for how long will being me suffice? The way he looks at me, the way others look at me… I’ve trained, I’ve studied, I’ve done everything right to better myself and fulfill expectations thus far. Yet what am I missing? Why have those eyes not changed?”
“Aw jeeze, kid, can’t you take a joke when you hear one? I wasn’t being serious.”
Not too serious, anyway. Whatever amount of levity lingered in Ruolan’s voice, she meant every word she said - but it was better that he didn’t know that.
“…It’s still a pretty bad idea though. You won’t have to worry about it until you’re older, but never do it. I promise you, it’s the quickest way for someone to take advantage of your feelings.”
“—Hmph. I can take jokes, you just sounded serious to me.” ( He totally couldn’t take jokes at this age. )
The prince turned his head to her, intrigued as she elaborated. The way she described it did feel relatable; it could even apply to more than romantic love. Cao Pi understood, even sympathized with her ( in spite of his typically constant apathetic displays towards her ), and gave a nod to her. “What you said is similar to what I’ve heard before. I suppose it’s something to learn for the future, now that I’m fated to the life of politics. Love doesn’t seem to stray far from it, after all…”
“Perhaps by then, Father won’t look at me and see Zixiu and Cangshu.”
send me 👀 + a ship ( platonic / romantic / hate ) & i’ll give you 3 headcanons!
TAGS @jiagonglu BC WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT babi e s…….
1. Jia Chong enjoys spooking the typically composed Wang Yuanji, and she never quite gets used to it. Whether when they were younger goofballs or now as important figures within Jin, he’s a sneaky little shit. Yuanji occasionally makes the attempt to get back at him, but has yet to be successful - it’s like he has eyes on the back of his head. >:^(
2. They were once in love, but there is no happy ending for these two. At all. Perhaps in another life, but not their current one. They are fated to be apart. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but they don’t really have a choice in the matter. ( In my head this is why even though they’ve been in the same scenes together, they never look or speak to each other haha sob ) BUT even though feelings may never fade, they’re eventually able to coexist in friendship.
3. Even though they might not speak to each other so much in their later lives, they still low key watch each other’s backs. You mess with one of them, you mess with the other t b h. Of course they can use the excuse that they share a mutual cause so that’s why they ““happen”” to be around conveniently when times get rough, but they know what’s really up, man.
3.5 Did I mention Yuanji is an absolute doll towards Gonglu’s children because she is:))
She nearly passed by the palace gardens without a second thought - she’d stopped gawking after her first week there, and by now the place had wholly lost its wonder for her. But a small, hunched shape caught her eye, blurred purple and pink along a wall of peonies, and she stopped to peek inside.
“…Prince Cao Pi? Are you here by yourself?”
And the young one was indeed admiring the garden, for what it was worth. Which was little to nothing at the moment, because he did not feel much warmth as he gazed at the vibrant hues. When he did not focus on studies, often the servants found him hunched over, just staring off at them. Though deeply mourning, he still found some comfort in the aroma that filled the garden air.
‘This one is a favourite of mine, Cao Pi. The camellia. Isn’t it beautiful?’
“…Hmph.” The prince plucked one of the camellias. As he stood, he carefully held it in his palm, fingers tracing the petals. … That was until he heard Ruolan, one of the last people on earth he wanted to see right now. The flower that he had so gently held in his hand was soon crushed as his fingers curled in frustration. “Yeah,” he grumbled. “What do you want?”
Even now, Cao Pi was still working on … adjusting to Diao Ruolan. For years he was constantly debating whether or not he could will himself to forgive her involvement at Wancheng. He understood the circumstances, but the lingering spite in his heart for the loss of his elder brother reminded him, never forget. Time and time again, she had been proving her loyalty to his father, to the entire Cao family. And now, the two shared a common grief; a common scar that would forever remain.
The prince walked into the room where she rested, where she could be kept an eye on. A shadow of a frown appeared on his face when he saw her condition, and with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the medic so the two may be alone. Cao Pi sat down beside her bed and looked at her face, a sigh escaping him. He, too, was in a considerable amount of pain – but surely nowhere near as much as her.
“…For what it’s worth,” he started, “which may be nothing at this point, I’m … sorry. I’m sorry that it took this for me to understand. I would not blame you for being unable to recover. I only hope that in life or in death, you can forgive me for my mistake.”
“For a long time, I didn’t either. I never bothered trying.” Zihuan looked at the ice in hand as it trembled at his touch, its shape constantly shifting. His cold gaze then met Ruolan’s. “It feels different than in battle. Calmer.”
i. First and foremost, please do not steal my headcanons, my graphics, or anything of the sort. I put a lot of thought and care into those. Thank you~!
ii. Cao Pi is not always a nice guy. He can be a sadist and has a crude sense of humour. He doesn't put up with stupidity, and has a lack of patience at times. Do take this in mind that he IS a prince/emperor depending on the timeline, and will more than likely take great offense to being treated like a peasant. Especially if it’s intentional.
iii. Goes without saying, but Cao Pi and I are not the same. He can be a real jerk sometimes, but that doesn’t reflect how I feel, ye? I swear I'm a nice person fkdjlgkj--
iv. Please don’t godmod. That also goes without saying!
v.I don’t accept M!A’s unless posted otherwise. I get pretty bored with them.
vi.I’m totally chill with following/rping with other Cao Pi blogs! I love seeing 'em~
vii.This blog is selectively multiship. Cao Pi is attracted to physical appearance before getting to know someone better, but just ‘cause you’re good looking doesn’t mean he wants a relationship.
- Side note: I will likely not want to ship with you if you are a Lu Xun. Pi/Xun is my otp and I’m very picky about who I write that with whooops.
- I exclusively ship Pi/Mitsunari with sxkichi.
viii. I don’t mind pre-established relationships, so long as it’s discussed first!
ix. OC sons, daughters, siblings or whatever are also okay, again as long as it’s discussed so he doesn’t get bombarded all of a sudden (especially children). I absolutely love family relations, but I also like to know it's coming :'D
x. I WILL NOT SMUT WITH MINORS. I have absolutely no exceptions to this.
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There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask "What if I fall?"
Oh but my darling, What if you fly?
basic information
Name: Cao Pi.
(Pronounced T'sao Pi).
Style name: Zihuan.
Kingdom: Wei.
Role: Prince/Emperor.
Age: 27
Height: 6'0" (182cm)
DOB: December 23, 187AD.
Death: June 29, 226AD.
Western Zodiac: Capricorn.
Chinese Zodiac: Fire Tiger.
Element: Ice.
Weapon: Dual blade.
history
From a young age, Cao Pi had exceptional talent. He was "the perfect child" as quoted by others, and was also said to have quite the bashful side in his youth. He was the third son of Cao Cao who was known as the King of Wei and Hero of Chaos, and his mother was Lady Bian.
In these early years, he honed his talents in swordsmanship and archery, until he was able to wield almost any weapon ambidextrously, and shoot a bow with great precision from horseback. His skills only improved as his age progressed.
Exceptional as he was, however, he was not initially heir to the throne; his elder half-brother named Cao Ang was. Cao Ang was a man that Cao Pi looked up to greatly, and out of all of his siblings, he felt the strongest bond with him. Often he would follow his brother around, eagerly watching and learning from him. In turn, he was a particular favourite to Cao Ang.
Their time shared was short-lived. When the events of Wancheng occurred, Cao Pi was about ten years old and had almost lost his own life that day. Cao Ang himself had given their father his horse to escape, and he was left behind on the battlefield, never to be seen again.
The loss of his elder brother struck him hard, as it did for many. Coming to terms with never seeing him again, hearing his voice - it was impossible for him. Cao Pi had shut down, wallowing in depression, distancing himself from all those around him. While his connection to his father appeared to improve, he rarely offered a second glance to his brothers and sisters any longer. During his nights of grief, Cao Pi made the decision to do everything he could to succeed his brother. He changed, and was no longer the kind and sweet boy he was before, but rather a hard working and devoted son.
While ambidextrous, he wrote only with his right hand. Cao Pi was an excellent writer; he loved literature and poetry like his father and wrote over a hundred articles on various subjects. He wrote Yàn Gē Xíng, the first Chinese poem in the style of seven syllables per line.
In 200 AD following Yuan Shao's defeat at the hands of Wei, Cao Pi would meet Lady Zhen, who was Yuan Shao's daughter-in-law. He fell in love with her and married her not long after. She bore him two children; his son and heir Cao Rui, and a daughter. However, there were whispers of Cao Rui not truly belonging to Cao Pi, but to Lady Zhen's previous husband due to her pregnancy shortly after their meeting. As such, it was possible that their only child together was really Princess Dongxiang. Even though it was possible, Cao Pi disregarded those rumours and treated Rui as blood.
Wei's victories and morale only continued to grow, until the time came when they faced against the Wu and Shu alliance at Chibi. Cao Pi was left with a physical reminder of Wei’s failure at that time. With their massive fleet, everything was in their favour until the wind changed direction. Through Wu and Shu's schemes, the entirety of Wei's naval fleet was set ablaze, and they were forced to retreat in shame.
As the flames grew higher and he fled from battle, he was struck by falling debris from the ships, which burned through his attire and left a painful wound on his back. By the time he was treated, it was already too severe to heal completely. When he recalls that battle, he notes that he still feels the sensation along the scarred skin. It was this event that increased his fear of failure, and ignited his complete and utter disdain for the other kingdoms.
Indeed, he learned from his father's mistakes through the many years - but at what cost, he continued to wonder.
After his father's death, the kingdom was then ruled by Cao Pi. Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to abdicate his throne to fully wipe out the Han Dynasty, however it caused a rift between him and his sister, Cao Jie, due to her marriage to the emperor. His reign from then on was relatively peaceful. Although some internal conflicts were present, there were no major revolts. Due to his paranoia, he had many eyes and ears within Wei, especially around his siblings. They were his spies and reported anything of interest to him.
Though his reputation was that of a man whose heart was frozen to the core, those who knew him personally knew otherwise. His softness was restricted for his wife and children, and he was more relaxed around a particular few of his generals.
Come his late thirties, he grew ill. It was very slight at first, and he thought little of it. However, as time progressed, it worsened. It continued into coughing fits and to the paleness of his skin. His once perfected talents were now something he struggled with, and his hand shook with each stroke of his brush. He gradually became bedridden and unable to recover from illness, and he died at the age of 38 in the summer of June 29, 226. He was posthumously known as Emperor Wen.
side notes
It's noted that Cao Pi was interested in the supernatural, and set aside his poetry to write the occasional ghost story.
Cao Pi had a fondness for grape wine, speaking highly of its richness and sweetness. He was very tolerant of alcohol, but drank in moderation as he had a tendency to get 'carried away' when far too intoxicated.
VERSE NAME.
VERSE NAME.
VERSE NAME.