I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 36 The Only and Last Chance
"The moment you step out the door, the Zhou family's warehouse manager will deliver it to you."

Lu Kang handed the letter from his sleeve to Liu Miao, while also kindly advising him: "I know that Zhongshan is not after Sun Jian's widow's beauty, but he should still pay attention to his reputation to avoid losing more than he gains."

Liu Miao took the fish-shaped book and, after confirming the words on it, couldn't help but feel elated!
However, Liu Miao remained noncommittal regarding Lu Kang's words.

"Lu Zhongyi, rest assured! I, Liu Miao, value my reputation the most! But this reputation also depends on where it belongs. The reputation among the gentry and the reputation among the common people are completely different things!"

Liu Miao carefully put away the fish-shaped book, his expression as devout as if he had received a talisman.

"You... Sigh! Never mind!"

Lu Kang couldn't understand Liu Miao, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

"However, Zhongshan should get rid of those courtesans as soon as possible! Do you really intend to keep them in your mansion and have them sing for you and bring you pleasure?"

Although Lu Kang governed Shuxian County well, the prefectural governor's office was never very large.

If those female entertainers are allowed to live here long-term, does that mean the rest of the Lu family will have to move out?
Just then, Lu Yi happened to pass by carrying several scrolls of bamboo slips, looking unusually weak and pitiful...

Six-year-old Lu Ji was jumping around nearby. He didn't know what had happened in Lu Yi's courtyard; he only knew that he could study and write with his nephew Lu Yi, who was even older than him, again!

"From grandfather, father."

Upon seeing his elders, Lu Yi stepped forward and greeted them with a bow. Although he was carrying bamboo slips, his manners were impeccable.

"Several rooms have been cleaned, and some items have been piled up in the yard. Father, please be careful not to bump into them at night... However, there are still not enough bedding in the house, so we can only lay straw mats on the ground for the women to sleep on. Originally, I was thinking of leaving my own bedding there as well, but when I thought about the difference between men and women, I brought it out after all. I beg Father to punish me."

Seeing this, Lu Kang felt even more distressed and simply glanced at Liu Miao sideways: "For the sake of some women, you're even willing to kick your own son out of the house?"

Before Liu Miao could speak, Lu Yi spoke up first—

"Zu, you've misunderstood Father."

“Those women all came from poor backgrounds. Now that Father is willing to take them in, isn’t that a testament to his benevolence and righteousness?”

“I just heard that Father is hosting a banquet at the ferry crossing, inviting guests from all directions. This reputation for sharing joy with the people will soon spread. At that time, the people of Huainan will surely come to rely on Father. Isn’t that a good thing?”

"Moreover, Gongji is currently encountering difficult knowledge in the Book of Changes. It wouldn't be a bad thing for me to go with him and study together for a while."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ji's face lit up with obvious joy, and he immediately tugged at Lu Kang, saying, "Father! Father! Let Boyan come to my place! Please!"

……

Lu Kang was both amused and exasperated that his son and great-grandson had betrayed him.

"Alright, we'll do as you say."

However, Lu Kang glared at Liu Miao again: "A good boy like Boyan is hard to find even with a lantern. You mustn't let him down in the future!"

"understand!"

Liu Miao stepped forward and put his arm around Lu Yi's shoulder, then squatted down and chuckled, "This time the situation is indeed urgent, and I can't discuss it with you first."

"How about this, among the women from earlier, did you find one you liked? Why don't you keep her by your side as a maid?"

"Liu Zhongshan!!!"

Seeing that Liu Miao was about to corrupt his precious grandson, Lu Kang shouted angrily and quickly pulled Lu Yi and Lu Ji away to prevent them from being influenced by bad company...

"Hahahaha." Liu Miao watched the three generations of the family flee in disarray, but his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

……

The waiting time passed in the blink of an eye.

On the appointed day, Liu Miao arrived as scheduled, neither a moment early nor a moment late.

This time, only Zhou Yu was waiting at the gate of the Zhou residence; Sun Ce was nowhere to be seen.

When Zhou Yu saw Liu Miao get off the carriage, he was about to go forward to greet him, but he was immediately blinded by Liu Miao's extravagant attire.

The headdress, made of fine bamboo strips lacquered in black, is sloping in the back and lower in the front. It features a double-beamed crown with blue silk tassels adorning the double horizontal beams, with silver wire patterns inlaid between the beams, symbolizing "boundless contemplation." Black gauze ear flaps hang on either side, exuding the majesty of a prefect!

He wore a dark, right-fastening, curved-hem robe, edged with three inches of blue brocade. The collar was embroidered with cloud patterns in double-stranded gold thread, and a plain white silk undergarment was tied around his waist. Over this, he wore a blue sash and leather belt, from which hung a set of blue jade pendants and four jade huang belts, highlighting Liu's noble status!

Compared to his previous appearance in plain clothes, Liu Miao was now completely different!

"Lord Liu is truly, truly..."

Zhou Yu didn't know what to say to Liu Miao. The famous Zhou Lang in Huainan was at a loss for words.

"Gongjin! It's been so long! It truly feels like three autumns have passed!"

Liu Miao was very enthusiastic when he saw Zhou Yu, treating him like a close relative, casually asking about his well-being, which made Zhou Yu a little scared...

"Lord Liu, please come inside."

Inside the Zhou residence, all the previous decorations had been removed. Upon seeing this, Liu Miao asked, "Is the Sun family leaving?"

"Indeed, Bo Fu is making arrangements, and we will depart for Fuchun to bury Marquis Wucheng at midnight tonight."

Leaving tonight?

Liu Miao's face remained calm, but he already knew in his heart that this was his only and last chance.

"Lord Liu, please."

Unlike last time, when they were in a proper guest room, this time Zhou Yu led Liu Miao to a secluded side room in the backyard.

The side room looked dilapidated, with a faint smell of mold and urine, clearly indicating that it had been abandoned for a long time.

Normally, given Liu Miao's status, it would be an insult for Zhou Yu to use such a place to entertain him. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the two would become enemies from then on.

But things were different today, and Liu Miao naturally wouldn't get angry over such a thing, so he gladly walked into the side room.

Upon entering the room, Liu Miao smelled a fragrance that was sweet and glutinous with a hint of fresh herbal scent, like the aroma of rabbit's shredded flowers in a garden.

The interior was simply furnished, with a three-foot-wide low cypress wood couch covered with a gray-blue rush mat and a worn linen quilt and pillow. A plain ceramic jar stood in the corner, with a few wild chrysanthemums tucked into it, echoing the half-length plain silk curtain hanging on the wall. The entire house lacked any gold or silver ornamentation; only the wood grain and the glaze of the pottery created a rhythmic interplay of light and shadow.

However, what really caught Liu Miao's attention was a plain lacquered curved screen in the middle of the side room, which actually separated the inside from the outside of this residence, which was more than ten feet square!

The lamplight flickered, and someone's shadow was already imprinted on the screen!

Judging from that graceful figure, there is no doubt that the person sitting behind her must be a charming and elegant woman!

(End of this chapter)