Chapter 27: A Match Made in Heaven

  The whole room burst into laughter, Zhuge Liang was both ashamed and angry, his face turned bright red with rage, he remained silent. Liu Xuan also knew he had misspoken, earlier Zhuge Liang had clearly said he hadn't married yet, but he himself had revealed the secret, he didn't know how to explain it either, so he just dryly laughed twice.

  At this time, they had been drinking for more than half an hour, and each of them had drunk a dozen or so cups of wine. Kuai Yue saw that it was almost time to disperse, so he smiled and said: "Tomorrow, Master Jing will set out on his expedition, so please return early and rest. Today's banquet will end here. The hospitality is not thorough, please forgive me, Master."

  Liu Jue hastily made a few polite remarks, saying that the hospitality was excellent. Everyone stood up and sent Liu Jue out of the mansion. Liu Jue deliberately slowed down his pace and walked with Zhuge Liang. He whispered an apology: "Just now, I lost my words after drinking, I hope Brother Kongming won't take it to heart."

  Zhuge Liang shook his head, "Never mind, Master Xing has just arrived in Jingzhou and doesn't understand the situation, I won't blame you."

  Liu Xuan felt even more puzzled, not understanding the situation, what was wrong with his words? He didn't dare ask more questions and left the Kui manor, still being sent back by Kui Qi.

  The horse carriage headed towards the Liu residence. Inside, Liu Xuan finally couldn't help but ask: "Brother Qi, I said that Zhuge's marriage is not suitable, right?"

  Xu Qi smiled slightly, "Huang Chengyan's daughter Yueying is indeed knowledgeable and virtuous, with unparalleled musical talent, but she is actually ugly, with yellow hair and a dark face, thin and weak. She really doesn't have the appearance of a good wife, so the people of Jingzhou privately make fun of her, teasing that someone is unlucky to marry into the Huang family. Although it's very rude, it has already become a common saying. So when you said that Zhuge Liang married Yueying, he thought you were mocking him."

  Liu Jue scratched his head and finally understood. It seemed that Zhuge Liang was quite courageous after all, and in the end he actually married Huang Yueying.

  The horse carriage soon arrived at the Liu residence, by now the sky had completely darkened. Two large lanterns hung above the entrance of the mansion, and the several guards who normally stood at the gate had retreated inside. The steps were unusually quiet, not a single person in sight.

  Liu Xuan jumped down from the horse carriage and bowed his hands to Kuai Qi, "Thank you, Mr. Kuai, for seeing me off. We will meet again."

  "We'll meet again!"

  The horse carriage turned around and headed east towards the city, soon disappearing into the darkness.

  Liu Xuan stretched his body, relaxed his muscles and tendons, and quickly walked up the stairs. Just then, he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind, "Liu Xuan!"

  Liu Xuan turned his head and saw that about a hundred feet away, under a tree, it seemed like someone was standing on horseback. The night was very dark, and he could only vaguely make out the outline of a petite woman, but from her voice just now, Liu Xuan already knew who she was.

  The newcomer didn't seem quite right, and Liu Xuan's heart became alert. He slowly walked up, smiling and asked: "Is it Miss Cai?"

  The girl riding a horse was Cai Shaoyou. She had been waiting for Liu Xuan for almost half an hour, and finally he arrived. She said coldly: "Follow me!"

  "Miss Cai, it's too late, let's talk about it another day!"

  Liu Xuan had already understood the reason for that sword and could even understand some of her inexplicable hatred, and even felt a bit sympathetic towards her.

  She liked Liu Zhuang, and Liu Zhuang also liked her. But she herself came to intervene, making the two of them suffer greatly. In fact, this wasn't her fault either, it was all because of Liu Bei's careless matchmaking. At this moment, Liu Xuan's tone of voice had also softened as he understood their suffering.

  "Liu Jiong, if you are a man, come with me!"

  Cai Shaoyou turned his horse's head and galloped towards a bend in the distance, Liu Xuan hesitated for a moment, he really wanted to make things clear.

  Tsai Shao-yu stopped her horse in front of a quiet alley, and she didn't bring any brave warriors from the Tsai family. Her father's warning made her give up the foolish idea eventually.

  She gazed at Liu Xuan with hatred in her eyes, slowly walking forward, pointing with the whip and shouting: "I want to make it clear, I would rather die than marry you, this scoundrel."

  Miss, let me make one thing clear: I never wanted to marry you and didn't have any intention of doing so.

  Cai Shaoyou was stunned, as if a basin of ice water had been poured over her head, and the anger in her heart was suddenly extinguished by half. After a while, she asked again: "Since that's the case, why did you take the Xuanlin Sword?"

  Liu Xuan drew out the Xuanyin Sword and swung it twice, then sheathed it again. Shaking his head, he said: "In my eyes, it's just a sharp treasure sword, with no relation to fate. I only found out tonight that this sword is related to you, so I've decided, I won't want this sword anymore."

  Liu Xuan's clear statement calmed down more than half of Cai Shaoyou's anger in her heart, and another hope was rekindled in her heart, perhaps Liu Xuan could help her achieve her wish.

  She bit her lip and said, "Who are you planning to give this sword to?"

  Liu Xuan smiled and said, "This... should be returned to the governor, of course, if Miss has a specified person, I can also fulfill Miss's wish. I've always liked to fulfill others."

  Cai Shaoyou hesitated for half a day, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Helplessly, she could only let out a quiet sigh and ask: "Then give it back to the governor! But how did you refuse? What was your reason?"

  "There are many reasons!"

  "For example, the kind of woman I like is gentle and kind, beautiful and intelligent, knowledgeable and reasonable. In short, not someone like you. I think Uncle can understand my difficulties and won't force me, so isn't this problem solved?"

  Although Liu Xuan spoke with conviction, Cai Shaoyou listened with great discomfort. He was clearly mocking her. She felt a slight surge of anger in her heart and suppressed it, saying: "Then what am I like in your eyes?"

  Liu Xuan chuckled and said, "I've already told you earlier, isn't this young lady asking despite knowing the answer?"

  "You..."

  Cai Shaoyou's elder sister's temper flared up again, glaring at Liu Xuan: "You mean to say that I'm overbearing and rude, that I'm ugly, is that right?"

  "This is what the girl herself admitted, I didn't say it."

  "You idiot!"

  Cai Shaoyou flew into a rage, galloping up on horseback and whipping out with her crop. Liu Xuan was prepared for this and didn't wait for her to attack before turning around and running far away. From a distance, his loud laughter could be heard coming from the entrance of the mansion, "Miss Cai, if you continue being so fierce, no one will dare marry you! I'd rather throw this sword onto the street than have anyone pick it up."

  Cai Shaoyou was so angry that she was fuming, her eyes fixed on Liu Xuan as he entered the mansion. She hated him so much that her teeth itched, and she turned around to lash out at a tree trunk with all her might.

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  Liu Ju returned to the courtyard and was about to knock on the door when someone emerged from the darkness, "Younger brother Liu, I have something to discuss with you."

  It was indeed Liu Zhuang. Liu Xuan couldn't help but sigh, "You two are truly a match made in heaven."

  "What did you say?" Liu Zhuang asked in confusion.

  "Nothing, let's go inside and talk!"

  The gate was not locked, and Liu Xuan directly pushed the door in. Liu Zhuang followed behind with a worried look on his face. The two walked into Liu Xuan's room, which no longer looked as shabby and empty as it had when they first arrived. There were many more pieces of furniture, including a copper lamp and a couch with a screen, so one could cover up with a quilt and lean against the screen to read books.

  The two sat down, and Liu Zhuang was no longer as arrogant as he had been at the beginning. The sword fight changed many things, and the most direct change was that Liu Zhuang won respect, even becoming humble. This is a truth from ancient times to the present: those with great power are always easy to talk to.

  "Cai Jin asked me to convey his gratitude to you for returning his sword." Liu Zhuang spoke up first.

  "How is he now?"

  "It's okay! He just suffered a minor injury, nothing serious, and he'll be able to recover after resting for a month or two."

  Liu Zhuang hesitated for a moment, actually he wanted to mention Cai Shaoyu's matter, and then he stammered: "Today, General Cai mentioned your marriage, listening to his tone, it seems like he is preparing to marry Shaoyu to you, Shaoyu cried all afternoon..."

  At this point, Liu Zhuang raised his head with a hint of fear, looking at Liu Xuan with eyes full of expectation, hoping he would show enough sympathy.

  Liu Xuan took down the Xuanlin sword and placed it on the table, pushing it to him. "I saw Miss Cai tonight, I clearly told her that I won't marry her. Brother Cong, from now on, this sword is yours."

  Liu Cong stared blankly at the sword, his heart filled with an indescribable sorrow, a mix of emotions that were both moving and shameful. He gently stroked the sword for a long time before sighing, "Jing brother, I apologize to you for my past rudeness."

  Liu Cong is a very arrogant person, selfish and narrow-minded, making it difficult for him to get along with others. However, he is also an ordinary person with a kind side. When Liu Xuan shows magnanimity and generosity, he is moved and willing to apologize sincerely, which was unimaginable in the past.

  But this is also the charm of Liu Xuan's character, he is open-minded and magnanimous, and has a mature personality that does not match his age, knowing how to get along with people, even Cai Jin was convinced by him.

  But that doesn't mean he can be bullied, he has his own bottom line and principles, as well as his own dignity. Whoever dares to violate his bottom line and principles, insult his dignity, he will counterattack more fiercely and ruthlessly.

  In his opinion, Liu Zhuang's jealousy was completely unnecessary. He patted Liu Zhuang on the shoulder and smiled: "The reason I gave you the sword is not because of brotherly love, but because I don't like Cai Niang. I didn't know the meaning of this sword, otherwise I wouldn't have accepted it."

  "But... Shaoyu is the daughter of the first family in Jingxiang, many people can't get her attention, but you don't even care, I really don't understand."

  Liu Jiong smiled, "If I could marry four or five wives, having one more would be no big deal, but since I can only marry one, of course I want to choose the best. Brother Cong, don't you think Cai's daughter is a bit too delicate? Marrying such a wife, I wouldn't be able to serve her properly."

  Liu Cong nodded silently, also understanding what Liu Jing meant by "spoiled". Where was the spoiled, it was clearly just violent, arbitrary, unreasonable, and not very beautiful. Her appearance was even inferior to that of Le Fang's music girl, but... she was Cai Man's only daughter!

  If he doesn't marry her, how can he contend with his elder brother for the right of inheritance of Jingzhou?

  "Thank you for your kindness, brother Jing. There are some things in Jingzhou that you don't understand yet, but you will later."

  "Alright!"

  Liu Jiong nodded and smiled: "The day after tomorrow, I will follow the army to Jiangxia for battle. I hope that when I return, I can hear the good news of Brother Cong's engagement."

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