Liu Bei: My younger brother is a deity.

Chapter 63 Willing to Marry a Daughter of the Cai Family

Liu Quan's stern and menacing threat nearly scared Yuan Shu so much that he wet himself.

This guy is essentially a spoiled brat.

At this point, he was too taciturn to utter a sound.

Liu Quan patted him on the shoulder. "Go back, Xiao Yuan. If I see you again, it won't just be a matter of beating up a few guards; I'll break three of your legs."

Yuan Shu understood instantly, and his lower abdomen tightened.

Liu Quan then turned and walked towards Ying'er and the other two women, his tone softening: "Let's go."

Lai Ying'er was already dumbfounded.

She had seen many situations, but she had never seen such decisive and efficient skills, nor had she ever seen anyone dare to threaten the eldest son of the Yuan family in this way.

She paused for a moment, then came to her senses, grabbed Bian Linglong with one hand and Ren Hongchang with the other, and staggered after Liu Quan out of the peach grove.

Behind him, Yuan Shu stood frozen in place, his face a mixture of pale and ashen.

After a long while, once Liu Quan's figure was completely out of sight, he spat out angrily, "Liu, Yuan, Gu!!!"

Having never been so humiliated in his life, Yuan Shu, regaining his senses, was filled with murderous intent. "You wait, I will definitely find an opportunity..."

Outside the peach grove, the spring sun shines warmly, and birds sing sweetly.

Lai Ying'er walked behind Liu Quanshen, her heart churning with emotions.

Her beautiful, shimmering eyes fell on the young man's shoulders, back, waist, and legs, and she was somewhat mesmerized, her gaze so tender it was almost melting.

Ren Hongchang and Bian Linglong each had their own thoughts.

Ren Hongchang has always been bold.

At this moment, she was staring intently at the boy's profile with her big, watery eyes.

My mind was completely captivated by that unparalleled beauty.

All she could think was, "If I could exchange a few words with him, that would be the best outcome."

Bian Linglong, on the other hand, was much more shy.

She only dared to steal a few glances, her eyes darting around nervously, making her cheeks flush red.

After walking several dozen steps, we were about to leave the White Horse Temple.

It was Lai Ying'er who spoke first, softly calling out, "Young Master Yu, thank you so much for today."

Liu Quan slowed his pace slightly, turned back with a slight smile, and said, "No need to thank me. I just saw injustice on the road."

The moment he opened his mouth, Bian Linglong and Ren Hongchang's hearts pounded like deer.

"Yu Langjun's voice is so beautiful!"

"Young Master Yu's smile is so handsome!"

Even though Lai Ying'er had seen countless people, she was still slightly flustered by this smile.

She composed herself and said softly, "No matter what, my two younger sisters and I will always remember your kindness, young master."

He then glanced sideways at Bian Linglong and Ren Hongchang.

But the two women were still staring at the young man, their souls seemingly lost in thought.

She couldn't help but think to herself, "Linglong has always been timid, which is fine. But Hongchang was so confident before that she would strike up a conversation with him, but now that she actually has the chance, she's just infatuated with him."

After leaving Baima Temple, Liu Quan bid farewell to the three women and went straight to Lu Zhi's residence.

Lu Zhi's appointment as the Prefect of Lujiang has been officially issued, and he is currently at home packing his belongings.

He was delighted to see his beloved student visiting.

After hearing Liu Quan explain his purpose, he was surprised and put down the bamboo slip in his hand.

"Yuan Gu, you said you and Cai Jiazhenji are in love? That... waits, when did you two meet?"

Liu Quan blushed slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Teacher, to tell you the truth, that day at the Cai residence, Miss Cai, out of curiosity, came to peek, and I happened to see her. Upon seeing her, I was immediately captivated. Later… I asked someone to deliver letters, and we chatted about poetry and literature. Unexpectedly, we found ourselves increasingly compatible. And so…"

He bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Please grant my request, teacher."

Lu Zhi looked at his usually calm and composed disciple, who was now showing a rare moment of awkwardness typical of a young man, and couldn't help but smile.

He didn't think much about how his two young children had managed to communicate with Cai Yong and his wife without their knowledge, simply assuming that a maid was passing the messages between them.

After a moment's thought, he stroked his beard and said, "I would be happy to help make such a good thing happen. However, I am not suited to be the matchmaker."

Liu Quan was taken aback: "Why is that?"

Lu Zhi said, "Why don't we go and find Lord Liu? He is now your teacher, and Lord Liu has been kind to Bo Jie."

"Last year, Bo Jie angered His Majesty because of the court's campaign against the Xianbei. At that time, Liu Gong was still the Grand Commandant. It was he who persuaded His Majesty to calm down, and Bo Jie was spared severe punishment."

"If Lord Liu were to act as matchmaker, Bo Jie would certainly be happy to do so."

While saying this, Lu Zhi thought to himself, "If Yuan Gu only seeks me out and doesn't ask Wen Rao Gong to intervene, I'm afraid Wen Rao Gong will inevitably harbor resentment."

"It would be better to have Yuan Gu ask Wen Rao Gong to be the matchmaker, while I, as a friend, will speak with Bo Jie separately. By doing both, we have a greater chance of success."

So Liu Quan went to visit Liu Kuan again.

When Liu Kuan learned that his disciple wanted to marry Cai Yong's daughter, he was quite happy to take on the role of matchmaker.

At the same time, Liu Quan not only informed his two mentors, Lu and Liu, about his marriage proposal to the Cai family, but also recounted the conflict with Yuan Shu that occurred at Baima Temple.

When the two powerful figures heard that Yuan Shu had been behaving himself for a while but had started causing trouble again, they both looked displeased, but they didn't say anything at the time.

The following afternoon.

Yuan Shu was plotting revenge on that brat Liu Quan when his father suddenly summoned him and gave him a severe scolding.

After the reprimand, he was ordered to stay at home and not to step out of the mansion.

Although Yuan Shu was unwilling, he dared not disobey his father's orders and could only suppress his anger, remaining indignant at home.

Several days later, Liu Kuan chose an auspicious day and personally visited the Cai residence.

Before Liu Kuan visited, Lu Zhi had already chatted with his old friend Cai Yong several times, mentioning the marriage proposal both openly and subtly.

In addition, Cai Yong admired Liu Quan's talent and character, and knew that his daughter had someone she loved. Although he was not happy for his daughter to marry far away to Youzhou, he still agreed, and the marriage was settled smoothly.

Since Liu Quan's parents had both passed away, his teacher Liu Kuan took care of all the betrothal, name-asking, and auspicious-offering ceremonies on his behalf.

As for the betrothal gifts, Liu Quan planned to prepare them carefully after returning to Lousang Village this time, and bring them with him when he went to Luoyang again next year, at which time he could marry Wan'er.

Zhang Fei was very unhappy about this marriage.

After holding it in for several days, he finally found Liu Quan one evening, storming off to ask him abruptly:

"Yuan Gu, what are your plans regarding my cousin? You promised me, but now you're going to marry a girl from the Cai family. What will become of my cousin?"

Because he was angry, he stopped calling him "Ah Quan" altogether.

Upon hearing this, Liu Quan remained silent for a moment, then pulled Zhang Fei to sit down and said sincerely, "Yide, I haven't explained this matter to you in detail, which has caused you worry. Please let me explain slowly."

Zhang Fei, his face still dark, arms crossed, said in a muffled voice, "Speak."

Liu Quan said, "This marriage with the Cai family was arranged by my teachers and elders, and I really cannot refuse. But I have never thought of betraying your cousin Zhang Yue. After much thought, the only solution now is this: after I marry Cai as my principal wife, I will then formally take Zhang Yue as my secondary wife."

Zhang Fei was taken aback: "A secondary wife?"

Liu Quan nodded: "Although the law does not mention the term 'secondary wife,' some aristocratic families and powerful clans in border regions still practice this custom. Although my Liu family is not a prestigious family, we are unwilling to wrong Yue Niang."

"I am willing to welcome her with the same ceremony as a bride, treating her equally with Lady Cai, without distinction of rank. Whichever of them bears a son will be of the Liu family bloodline, without any favoritism. Yide, what do you think?"

Zhang Fei frowned, pondered for a long time, and then asked, "Would the Cai family girl agree?"

Liu Quan said solemnly, "I know Wan'er well, and she is not the kind of jealous woman who cannot tolerate others. I will talk to her about this before the marriage. If she agrees, I will do it this way; if she does not agree, I will find another way. But in any case, I, Yuan Gu, will never betray Yue Niang."

Zhang Fei was finally satisfied.