At the White Horse Marquis's estate, with the grand wedding only three days away, Lu Yu returned.
Cai Zhaoji, along with Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, and Diao Chan from the back courtyard, who was holding the two-and-a-half-year-old Lingju, all went out to greet Lu Yu.
Upon seeing Lu Yu, Cai Zhaoji stepped forward, her eyes filled with a hint of reproach, and murmured softly, "You still remember to come back?"
After this sentence, there was another, even softer, so faint that even Lu Yu could only hear it faintly.
Lu Yu lowered his voice, "Sister, how could I dare not return when you are home?"
Cai Zhaoji glanced at him, then pulled Lu Yu into the White Horse Marquis's estate.
"Husband..."
In unison, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao greeted Lu Yu. However, Xiao Qiao's expression was more resentful, like a concubine who had been banished to the cold palace for many years.
"Rise, all of you," Lu Yu said with a smile.
He reached out and helped the sisters up. Da Qiao returned a smile, while Xiao Qiao bit her lip.
Lu Yu did not notice. He walked directly to Diao Chan's side, crouched down, and faced Lingju. "Lingju is so big now? Have you been good in the estate?"
Lingju seemed a little scared upon seeing Lu Yu and hid behind Diao Chan.
"Lingju is very well, thank you for your concern, Marquis of White Horse," Diao Chan added for Lingju.
Lu Yu nodded, then looked up to meet Diao Chan's gaze. At such close proximity, Diao Chan's stunning beauty was almost palpable, giving Lu Yu the most direct feeling of four words: "soul-stirring." Such a beauty was intoxicating.
*Cough, cough...*
With a light cough, Lu Yu snapped back to attention. She was too beautiful, he had almost fallen under her spell.
"Madam Ren, someone has entrusted me with a message for you. I will write it for you this evening."
Diao Chan's surname was Ren.
This was something Diao Chan had told Lu Yu herself. Her real name was Ren Hongchang.
As for "Diao Chan," it was actually a title for palace women. At that time, the Ten Eunuchs were in power, and Yuan Shao led men into the imperial palace. Wang Yun saved Diao Chan. When asked her name, he found Ren Hongchang unattractive and thus called her by the palace maid's title, "Diao Chan."
*Whoosh...*
Upon hearing that someone had brought a message, Diao Chan's heart fluttered slightly. Her hand suddenly tightened, and her clenched fist grew even firmer.
"Mother, it hurts..."
It was Lingju's voice that brought Diao Chan back to her senses. She quickly let go.
Bowing to Lu Yu, she said, "Thank you, Marquis of White Horse."
Xiao Qiao felt a pang of sadness seeing Lu Yu and Diao Chan so close. Just then, Lu Yu spoke, "Sister Zhaoji, have you prepared the meal? It's been a long time since I've eaten your cooking, I miss it dearly!"
"If you go out for so long and don't return next time, there will be no food," Cai Zhaoji complained, then turned around. "I'll go cook, younger brother Yu, please wait a moment."
"I'll help too..." Da Qiao murmured and followed Cai Zhaoji towards the kitchen. Diao Chan glanced at Lu Yu, then at Xiao Qiao, smiled slightly, and slowly returned to her room.
In this courtyard, only Lu Yu and Xiao Qiao remained.
"I'll go too..." Xiao Qiao said petulantly, intending to run to the kitchen.
Lu Yu gently tugged at Xiao Qiao's sleeve. Xiao Qiao's face instantly turned red. "What are you going for? To cause trouble?"
"I..."
Before Xiao Qiao could speak, Lu Yu whispered, "You stay. I have something to discuss!"
Xiao Qiao's face "flashed" red.
The two entered Lu Yu's room together, and Xiao Qiao changed him into a casual robe.
Lu Yu chuckled. "Your expression has been off since you walked in. Are you jealous?"
Xiao Qiao was embarrassed. "Where would I be?"
Lu Yu shook his head. "Really not?"
"She is a princess, the main wife. I am a concubine..." Xiao Qiao pouted. "I, I am worthy of being jealous?"
"Keep pretending!" Lu Yu smiled faintly and then closed the door with a bang and drew the curtains.
"Husband? What... what are you doing?"
"Who said that if I didn't come back in a few days, little loaches would appear?" Lu Yu walked towards Xiao Qiao with a smile.
*Ah... ah...*
Xiao Qiao suddenly felt that there were bad people in the White Horse Marquis's estate.
What she and her sister had said in private had actually reached Lu Yu's ears.
Before she could recover, Lu Yu's hands were already on her shoulders.
Xiao Qiao was both shocked and ashamed. "Husband, in two days... in two days, it's your wedding!"
"So what?" Lu Yu narrowed his eyes. "Sister Zhaoji just told me four words..."
*Ah...*
Xiao Qiao was stunned, and Lu Yu's words followed immediately. "Favor should be evenly distributed."
That's right, when he met Sister Zhaoji earlier, her first sentence was "You still remember to come back?" and then she added, "Even if you marry two wives, favor should be evenly distributed. Xiao Qiao misses you dearly, go now..."
Lu Yu had been slightly surprised at the time.
Who would have thought that Sister Zhaoji would add, "If you don't go, Sister will be angry."
Therefore, Lu Yu played along with everyone, kept Xiao Qiao behind, and pulled her into the room.
After all, one must always listen to Sister's words!
In this White Horse Marquis's estate, many things were beyond one's control.
...
...
On the north bank of the Yellow River, outside Liyang City, the sun was setting, and a few last rays of sunlight hung over a military encampment.
This was Yuan Tan's troop deployment, with an army of over 150,000.
It was known that in addition to the 70,000 troops that his father Yuan Shao had supplied him before his death, feeling guilty towards Yuan Tan, there were also 80,000 troops he had brought from Nanpi.
Currently, Yuan Tan's main camp and Liyang City, personally guarded by Yuan Shang, formed a pincer formation, using the Yellow River as a natural barrier to prevent Cao Cao's army from advancing north.
In the central army tent.
With a "bang," Yuan Tan angrily smashed the bamboo slip in his hand onto the floor. With his other hand hidden under the table, he quietly clenched the hem of his robe, sweat beading on his temples.
Guo Tu, standing beside him, also frowned tightly.
"This is unbearable! His Highness only asked Yuan Shang for armor for 150,000 soldiers, and Yuan Shang refused to give it. Doesn't he realize what His Highness needs this armor for? Isn't it to counterattack Cao Cao and avenge their shame?"
As Guo Tu said.
The reason Yuan Tan and Guo Tu were so enraged was because of... one incident!
The White Horse Marquis Lu Yu's wedding, a marquis estate with two wives, this news had already spread to the north of the Yellow River.
Yuan Tan and his strategists Guo Tu and Xin Ping believed that Guandu was empty, presenting an opportunity to counterattack Cao Cao.
Coincidentally, the armor for Yuan Tan's 150,000 troops was too worn out, and there were over 100,000 sets of armor in Ye City. Therefore, Yuan Tan sent someone to ask his brother Yuan Shang for them.
He even made it clear that he was going to counterattack Cao Cao and avenge their hatred.
Logically speaking.
This matter involved his Yuan Tan's troops and avenged the Yuan family's deep hatred, so Yuan Shang should have agreed.
Yuan Shang had initially agreed to his elder brother.
He reasoned that even if Cao Cao and Lu Yu were cunning old foxes, with the wedding happening now and them not being at Guandu, a surprise attack... might even yield some advantage.
However... just after promising his elder brother these armors.
The arrival of someone made Yuan Shang's heart waver.
The visitor was none other than Ju Shou's younger brother, Ju Zong.
Accompanying him was Sima Yi, disguised as a servant.
Ju Zong stated that when his elder brother was alive, Guo Tu had repeatedly sabotaged his strategies, leading to the downfall at the Battle of Guandu. It was no exaggeration to say that Guo Tu was incompetent in achieving success but capable of ruining it.
This request for armor was not to attack Cao Cao!
It was clearly an excuse to strengthen himself and seize Yuan Shang's position.
Yuan Shang and Feng Ji heard this and thought it made sense. After all, wasn't internal strife a fine tradition inherited by the Yuan clan?
Back then, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu could slander and attack each other. Why couldn't Yuan Tan have the same intention?
Ju Zong's arrival at Yuan Tan's camp, embellishing the story...
This time, Yuan Tan and his strategists exploded!
"Too much! Too much!"
With a bang, Yuan Tan leaped up and slammed his fist heavily onto the table again. At this moment, he was filled with anger.
"Young Master Tan, I have something to say. I wonder if I should speak it?"
At this moment, Ju Zong's words blurted out.
"Speak!"
Yuan Tan glared at him, knowing that this person was Ju Shou's brother.
After the Battle of Guandu, Ju Shou refused to surrender and was beheaded at the辕门 (yuanmen - gate of a military camp). This made him feel guilty towards the Ju family.
Therefore.
Even though he heard such an infuriating matter this time, Yuan Tan did not vent his anger on Ju Zong.
"Actually, my elder brother once told me something." Ju Zong looked back at Sima Yi, who was disguised as a servant.
Then, following Sima Yi's instructions, he began, "My elder brother specifically mentioned that it was Shen Zhengnan's idea for Duke Yuan to have Young Master Tan adopted out!"
*Hoo...*
This statement, instead of easing things, made the already furious Yuan Tan jump up.
"What? What did you say?"
He was enraged...
It was known that his father's decision to adopt him out to his deceased uncle was a perpetual nightmare for Yuan Tan.
It was precisely because of this that he, the legitimate eldest son, lost the opportunity to inherit his father's great cause. This was something he could never, ever let go of.
"So... it was... it was Shen Zhengnan? He, it turns out, was this villain!"
Yuan Tan's eyes were almost bursting with rage.
Shen Pei!
He had been Yuan Shang's man all along!
So that was it... so all of this was Yuan Shang's design! It was they who had caused him to lose his position as heir apparent and his status as successor!
All at once, Yuan Tan felt as if a wound had been reopened, as if he had discovered an entire conspiracy theory... His already full stomach of anger was ignited and exploded at this moment.
Sima Yi, disguised as a servant, muttered to himself. If what Director Lu mentioned in his letter was true, then given the current atmosphere, someone should be providing a supporting boost.
Sima Yi cautiously glanced at Guo Tu.
According to Director Lu, Guo Tu was "one of us."
At this moment...
Guo Tu's eyes fixed. After a moment of contemplation, he uttered,
"Young Master, do you still intend to endure?"
*Uh...*
As these words left his mouth, Sima Yi was stunned.
As expected, he was "one of us," a good brother! It would have been better if he hadn't spoken, but once he did... it was simply amazing. This was a divine assist!
"What does Mr. Guo mean?"
Yuan Tan gazed at Guo Tu, clearly... Guo Tu's single sentence was more effective than Ju Zong's ten sentences.
Of course, Ju Zong still had more to say, which Sima Yi had instructed him to say, and he hadn't finished yet.
"Young Master Tan, to tell you the truth, my elder brother once proposed to Duke Yuan. He said, 'It is said that when ten thousand people chase a rabbit, and one person catches it, others stop, because the ownership is decided. Tan, the eldest son, should be the heir, but he is sent to live outside. Disaster begins from here.'"
Saying this, Ju Zong stepped forward, his tone solemn.
"Young Master Tan, professionalism... you ponder, you carefully ponder!"
*Whoosh...*
Yuan Tan gasped, his eyes narrowing.
Ju Zong's words were taught to him by Sima Yi, and these words were written by Ju Shou in a letter, which was true.
As for the meaning behind them.
It meant that if ten thousand people chased a rabbit, and one person caught it, others would stop because ownership was established. That rabbit belonged to that person, and no one else would compete for it.
And Yuan Tan was the eldest son, also in good health, and by rights should have been made the heir. However, Duke Yuan had excluded him, thus sowing the seeds of disaster in Jizhou.
*Bang...*
Yuan Tan clenched his fist and slammed it heavily on the table again.
"Hmph..."
"If it weren't for Shen Zhengnan, if it weren't for Yuan Shang harming me, why would Father not listen to Mr. Ju's words and why would he adopt me out?
It is... if it is tolerable, what is not tolerable!"
Yuan Tan seemed to have made a decision.
"Young Master Tan," Guo Tu added fuel to the fire at the opportune moment. "On the day of Lu Yu's wedding, Liyang City will surely be at its most lax. At that time, Your Highness can use your absolute military superiority to launch a surprise attack on Yuan Shang!"
"If he doesn't give you the armor, Your Highness can take it himself! Originally, Yuan Shang was not in legitimate possession of the throne. Why should the Lord not seize it? When else if not now?"
*Hoo...*
As these words left his mouth, Yuan Tan looked at Guo Tu, then at Xin Ping, and then at Ju Zong.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he clenched his fist and immediately ordered, "Secretly issue an order to the generals of each camp. Two days from now, break through Liyang City. I want that foolish brother to die on the banks of the Yellow River!"
"Yes..."
Guo Tu and Xin Ping cupped their hands and accepted the order.
Ju Zong glanced back at Sima Yi, his eyes filled with deep meaning.
It seemed to convey: Indeed... Commander Lu was not mistaken. There truly was someone "of our own" by Yuan Tan's side!
And the acting was extremely convincing!
...
...
In Xuchang City, it was incredibly lively, with countless red silks adorning the streets and alleys.
On the streets, carriages and fine horses were constantly heading towards the White Horse Marquis's estate, and from the roadside, one could occasionally hear girls discussing... discussing which wealthy noble family was sending gifts to the White Horse Marquis's estate.
The busiest were the officials responsible for etiquette, the Guanglu Qing and the Taichang...
Of course, Lu Yu was not having an easy time either.
And there was one thing...
When an ancient princess married, there was a rule for the imperial son-in-law, which was a trial marriage.
In a common sense, it meant that the imperial palace, led by a governess, would bring a "palace woman" to test the imperial son-in-law's physique, to see if he was strong.
Of course, if he wasn't strong, it didn't matter...
None of this was important. What was important was that the imperial son-in-law had to at least be able to procreate!
There are three unfilial acts, and the worst is to have no offspring.
In traditional thinking...
The person marrying a princess could be a scoundrel or uneducated, but... whether they could procreate and have descendants was of profound significance.
If there were any accidents, it would be a disservice to the princess on a small scale, and a disservice to one's ancestors and parents on a large scale. Given Princess Wannian's special status, it would likely also be a disservice to the Han Dynasty and to the nation.
Of course, princesses of the Han Dynasty had also suffered from this in the past.
In this regard...
Lu Yu was dumbfounded.
He felt as if he had become a tool in recent times.
Was his physique good or not? Couldn't you ask the princess? She knew best...
However...
He could think this in his heart, but he couldn't actually say it, could he?
An old governess led seven sedan chairs and placed them outside Lu Yu's chamber door.
"Marquis, don't make it difficult for us. Empress Fu and Madam Ding of the Xiahou family have discussed it. This rule cannot be skipped. Little Marquis, please choose one from these seven sedan chairs? It will be quick..."
*Heh heh...*
Lu Yu let out a "heh heh."
You call it quick, your whole family is quick...
"Haven't I made myself clear enough? This Marquis will not undergo a trial marriage!"
Lu Yu walked out of the room, not even fully dressed.
*Cough cough...*
The old governess coughed, and a maid beside her understood and lifted the curtains of these seven sedan chairs. Inside sat seven women, all about sixteen years old, both young and beautiful.
If he hadn't known about these kinds of rules beforehand.
Lu Yu would have suspected that they were here to test cadres.
Of course, for these women to undergo trial marriage for the princess and the noble ladies of the Xiahou family, it was an immense honor for their families. The key was that the trial marriage partner was the rising star, the handsome and elegant White Horse Marquis Lu Yu.
Although the price was that they could never marry again, this qualification was enough to exchange for prosperity for their families, and even... to become court officials.
Of course...
Lu Yu was not allowed to know their names. This was to prevent any future entanglements.
These rules...
The Guanglu Qing, responsible for etiquette, had the female officials explain everything to Lu Yu's "parents," Cai Zhaoji, and Cai Zhaoji had relayed them all to Lu Yu.
"Marquis, please don't make it difficult for us. We are also following orders. This matter was discussed by Empress Wu and Madam Ding of the Xiahou family."
"If the Marquis doesn't fancy these eight, then we can only get eight more for the Marquis, or... if the Marquis fancies any one of them, tell this old servant in advance, and this old servant will find a way to send her to you."
This was truly testing cadres!
Which cadre could withstand such a test?
*Cough cough...*
Lu Yu was speechless. He simply reached out, intending to pick one randomly.
Who would have thought that at this moment...
"No need to pick, I'll go!"
Xiao Qiao walked out from inside the room, clearly she had just finished dressing.
This...
The old governess was stunned for a moment, but having been doing this job for many years, she was sharp-eyed. From the blush on Xiao Qiao's face, she could discern something.
"This is for the best, truly for the best."
The old servant quickly sent someone to invite Xiao Qiao... and to escort her into the sedan chair. She had to be taken to a female physician for examination, and concurrently, the Empress and Madam Ding also had to question her.
Of course, normally, these rules were for the palace and did not involve Madam Ding... However, this time, the Han court's stance was very low, and everything was discussed with the Xiahou family.
"You guys..."
Looking at the sedan chair carrying Xiao Qiao being sent away, Lu Yu quickly called out, "Make sure to send her back properly."
The governess smiled and said, "Since she is a concubine of the Marquis's estate, and not a stranger, of course... of course, she will be sent back safely to the White Horse Marquis."
*Whoosh...*
Lu Yu let out a sigh of relief. This... what kind of thing was this!
...
...
Just as Lu Yu was frantically busy with the wedding preparations.
A troop of soldiers crossed Mount Tai under the cover of night, departing from Taishan Commandery in Yanzhou and quietly arriving in Hebei, heading towards Guandu.
It seemed they were carrying out a mission.
They traveled along mountain paths and moved at extreme speed.
No one discovered them.
They moved like phantoms, traveling by night and resting by day. And each of them carried a curved saber on their back, the sharp edge of which revealed a bloodthirsty glint.
Their eyes also gleamed with cold light!
Slaughter was about to begin!
...
...