Han Ji

That night, Liu Bei entered the city and went straight to Lu's residence.

Lu Zhi had just seen off a group of guests, and his face showed signs of fatigue. Seeing Liu Bei arrive, he forced a smile: "Xuande, please sit."

"Teacher, I've come to ask you to officiate at my wedding," Liu Bei said bluntly.

Lu Zhi was taken aback: "So soon?"

"The students want to take up their posts as soon as possible."

Lu Zhi looked at him and understood.

"Are you afraid of implicating me?"

"I dare not," Liu Bei said, bowing his head. "I just feel that leaving the capital sooner would be better for both the teacher and the students."

Lu Zhi remained silent for a long time before sighing.

"Very well," he said. "I will go to the Xun residence tomorrow to propose marriage. The six rites will be kept simple, the wedding will be completed within half a month, and then you can leave."

"Thank you, Teacher Xie."

"Don't thank me." Lu Zhi smiled wryly. "I should have given you a grand wedding, but now we have to rush things. I'm sorry."

"Teacher, you're too kind."

After leaving Lu's residence, Liu Bei did not return to his camp, but instead went to a small courtyard in the south of the city.

When Liu's mother saw her son return, she was both happy and distressed: "You've grown stronger and darker. I heard you've been given an official position? Is it a good one?"

"He's a good official, the Commandant of Hanzhong Commandery, with a rank equivalent to two thousand shi (a unit of grain measure)." Liu Bei helped his mother sit down. "Mother, your son is getting married."

Mother Liu's eyes lit up: "The Xun family's daughter?"

"Um."

"Good, good!" Mother Liu wiped away her tears. "The Xun family is a distinguished family, known for its education and reason. Now that you have settled down and started a family, your father can rest in peace if he knows this in the afterlife."

Just then, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei entered.

Zhang Fei grinned, "Brother, when are you getting married? I'm really looking forward to the wedding feast!"

"It will be soon," Liu Bei said. "You all should rest well for the next two weeks. Once the wedding is over, we'll set off."

"Good day!" Zhang Fei rubbed his hands together. "I was so frustrated in Luoyang. Seeing those eunuchs so arrogant made me want to punch them!"

Guan Yu glared at him and said to Liu Bei, "Brother, the documents and official seals for taking up our posts are all ready. However, of the three thousand brothers in our main force, the court only allows one thousand private soldiers to take with us; the rest must be dismissed."

Liu Bei frowned.

Three thousand men who risked their lives for him, are they now going to scatter?

"We can't let them disperse," he said. "Those who are willing to come with us can be taken along as servants or retainers. If the court forbids it, we'll support them ourselves."

"This will cost a lot of money..."

"I'll figure out the money," Liu Bei said, looking at Jian Yong. "How much savings do we have left?"

Jian Yong did the math: "The military rewards haven't been distributed yet, but our own spoils, plus the private subsidies from Lord Lu, amount to about three million coins. Supporting three thousand men... isn't quite enough."

"Take a thousand elite troops first," Liu Bei gritted his teeth. "The rest will receive resettlement allowances and be sent back to Zhuojun to wait for me. Once I have a firm foothold, I will summon them back."

"That's all we can do."

As they were discussing this, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the door.

Qian Zhao strode in: "Brother, we have a guest."

"Who?"

"The Xun family has sent an invitation."

Liu Bei took the invitation and unfolded it to read.

It was Xun Shuang's own handwriting, inviting him to his residence for a chat the next day.

What was bound to happen has finally happened.

The next day, Liu Bei changed into a clean robe, prepared gifts, and went to Xun's residence.

Xun Shuang met him in the study.

Two years had passed, and the scholar's temples had turned gray, but his gaze remained sharp.

"sit."

Liu Bei bowed and sat down.

"Lu Zigan came yesterday," Xun Shuang said bluntly, "to propose marriage on your behalf."

"Yes."

"You are now the Commandant of Hanzhong Commandery, with a rank equivalent to two thousand shi, making you a military officer in a region." Xun Shuang looked at him, "But Hanzhong is remote, and Su Gu is difficult to deal with. This journey will likely be fraught with danger."

"Students are not afraid of hardship."

"I know you're not afraid." Xun Shuang paused. "Cai'er has waited for you for years. Now that you're being sent to a remote area, if she marries you, she'll have to go with you to Hanzhong. It's a wild and uncivilized place, and she's just a weak woman..."

"I will protect her at all costs." Liu Bei looked up and stared directly at Xun Shuang. "I swear on my life that I will never let Cai'er suffer the slightest injustice."

Xun Shuang looked at him for a long time, then slowly nodded.

"I believe you," he said. "But this marriage cannot be taken lightly. All six rites must be observed, and a banquet must be held. I want all of Luoyang to know that my daughter, Xun Shuang's daughter, is being married off in a proper and respectful manner."

"Yes, sir."

"The wedding date is set for ten days from now," Xun Shuang said. "Take these ten days to prepare. As for Cai'er, go to the back garden to see her. There are some things you two can discuss yourselves."

"Thank you, Master Xun."

Liu Bei bowed and withdrew, heading towards the back garden.

It was winter, and the plants in the garden were withered. Xun Cai stood by the pavilion, wearing a plain white cloak. Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

Another year.

Her features were still beautiful, but she had lost some of her girlishness and gained a more serene air.

"Miss Xun."

Xun Cai said softly, "You're back."

"I'm back."

The two stood facing each other, speechless for a moment.

A gust of wind swept past the pavilion, swirling up a few withered leaves.

"I heard... we're going to Hanzhong," Xun Cai said first.

"Yes."

"It's very far."

"It's very far," Liu Bei said, looking at her. "If you don't wish to..."

"I'm willing," Xun Cai interrupted him. "I said a year ago that I would wait for you."

She took a step closer, took out a sachet from her sleeve, and tied it around Liu Bei's waist.

"This is newly embroidered, and the medicinal herbs inside have been changed to ward off miasma." Her voice was very soft. "Hanzhong is mostly mountainous and forested, so we must be careful."

Liu Bei took her hand.

Cool, but soft.

"Come with me, you'll suffer."

"I'm not afraid of hardship." Xun Cai looked up at him, "I'm just afraid... I won't be able to wait for you."

Liu Bei felt a surge of warmth in his heart and gently embraced her.

A very light hug, as if afraid of breaking something.

"Wait for me for ten days," he whispered in her ear. "Ten days later, I will come to marry you."

"Um."

When they parted, Xun Cai's eyes were slightly red, but she had a smile on her lips.

Liu Bei gave her a deep look, then turned and left.

As I stepped out of the Xun residence, the sky was overcast, as if it were about to snow.

Jian Yong and the others were waiting outside the door. When he saw him come out, he went up to him and asked, "Brother, how did it go?"

"We will get married in ten days." Liu Bei mounted his horse. "Go back and prepare."

"Yes, sir!"

The sound of horses' hooves shattered the silence of the long street.

Liu Bei turned around and glanced at the high walls of Xun Mansion.

Inside the walls was his betrothed wife.

Beyond the wall lies an endless road ahead.

But he has to keep going down this path.

With her and with my brothers, let's move forward.

For the next ten days, Liu Bei was extremely busy.

The six rites of betrothal, name inquiry, auspicious date selection, gift presentation, and wedding date setting were carried out hastily, but due to the influence of Lu Zhi and Xun Shuang, no one dared to be negligent.

The betrothal gifts were provided by Lu Zhi. They amounted to a full three million coins, plus jewelry and jade, filling twenty carts.

Xun Shuang's dowry was even more substantial: a hundred volumes of ancient books, a thousand bolts of brocade, countless gold and silver utensils, and land deeds for a fiefdom of five hundred households.

The news caused a stir in Luoyang.

"Lu Zhi really went bankrupt for his disciple."

"The Xun family's daughter's wedding was indeed extravagant."

"I heard the groom is just a Commandant of Hanzhong? How can Xun Shuang bear to part with him..."

"What do you know? This is called investment! Liu Bei is young and a disciple of Lu Zhi; he's destined for greatness!"

The topic was hotly debated on the streets.

That day, Liu Bei was counting the betrothal gifts in the courtyard when Jian Yong hurriedly entered.