The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

But after hearing these words, Liu Hong's confusion did not lessen; on the contrary, it increased.

He frowned and spoke again: "Xu is my concubine? How come I knew nothing about her?"

The man in front of him was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth, and looked at Liu Hong with a surprised gaze.

The two stared at each other blankly, speechless.

Finally, the man left with a sense of relief, but he never dared to do it again.

It's better to be safe than sorry.

It's simply not worth risking your future career and reputation for a woman.

Liu Hong immediately went into the mansion, ready to question him thoroughly about the matter.

Suddenly having a "beautiful wife and concubine" out of nowhere is no small matter; one should at least find out the details.

……

"The Xu family?"

"When did my sister marry her husband? How come I didn't know?"

Inside the Liu residence, upon learning of this, Madam Wu's lips curved slightly, her eyes darted sideways, and a strange smile appeared on her face.

"Madam, you can't joke like that."

Liu Hong looked utterly helpless.

"It's best to clarify this matter, as a woman's reputation is of utmost importance."

Liu Hong continued to emphasize this point.

However, Wu had other ideas.

She turned her clear eyes slightly, parted her lips, and gazed at Liu Hong as she slowly asked, "Husband, are you truly unmoved by Xu? Now that we've arrived in Zhuojun, there are many powerful families and officials here."

"Today, I came to request it, but I voluntarily gave up out of consideration for my husband's reputation. In the future, there will be prominent families from various prefectures, or perhaps others who will also take a liking to Xu's talent. At that time, can my husband truly let go and not interfere?"

Wu was not trying to force Liu Hong, but was doing it wholeheartedly for his own good and for the sake of the entire Liu family.

"If my husband is willing, I will certainly do my best to help him achieve this goal."

Mr. Wu spoke again.

Liu Hong, who had been holding back his refusal, suddenly hesitated.

Seeing this, Wu knew that the matter was settled.

By the time Liu Hong was about to reply, Madam Wu had already disappeared, leaving only her voice still echoing in the mansion: "I will now help my husband plan out the affairs of the inner quarters."

All Liu Hong could do now was smile bitterly.

However, Liu Hong's heart began to waver slightly as to whether or not he should take Xu as a concubine.

It seems pretty good.

……

The sun was setting in the west, and it was already dusk.

When Wu arrived at the Liu family's private school, she pushed open the door to the side room. With a creak, she saw her beloved younger sister slowly bringing in the clothes that had been drying during the day.

"Good sister, how can I trouble you with these chores? Please put them down, put them down."

Upon hearing Wu's words, Xu simply smiled. Instead of putting the clothes down, she straightened them out again, saying, "If you put them down, they'll be all messy and wrinkled, which won't look good."

"What are your instructions, Madam?"

Xu replied.

"Still calling me 'Madam'? You should call me 'Sister' now."

Wu said, "Nowadays, in the entire Zhuojun region, who doesn't know that there is a beautiful woman named Xu in the Liu family private school? She is loyal and steadfast, and she upholds the virtues of a woman."

"Now you are a member of the Liu family, and a concubine of my husband. Good sister, from now on we can be considered family."

"What's going on?"

Mrs. Xu was completely stunned.

Madam Wu pressed on, saying, "Does my sister still remember the matchmaker who came to our door? The matchmaker introduced you to Lord Cao from the government office. He then mistakenly thought that you were someone close to my husband."

"So I unintentionally spread the word, and now my sister's reputation is probably damaged."

Seeing that Xu's face was calm and without any fluctuation, Wu's heart sank suddenly. She did not expect that her good sister could be so calm.

After thinking for a moment, Madam Wu came up with another excellent idea: "It might even affect the job of the Yuanzhi in the prefectural government. In the end, one must pay attention to reputation in one's official career."

"How could this be?"

Xu immediately panicked.

Seeing this, Madam Wu felt apologetic, but at this opportune moment, she could not let the opportunity pass easily.

Ultimately, it was all for her husband's good.

It's for the good of my dear sister, not to deceive her or anything.

"The only way now is to make this a real affair and bring this beautiful thing to fruition. I know my sister's character, and I'm sure my sister can trust my husband's integrity as well."

"Besides, Yuanzhi has already recognized him as his godfather. Why not take it a step further and make our relationship even stronger? Today someone comes to ask for your hand in marriage, tomorrow someone comes to ask for your hand in marriage. There will be a lot of trouble at your door, sister."

Ms. Wu continued to persuade him again and again.

After Xu hesitated for a moment, Wu urged her again.

"Good sister..."

Xu twisted her fingers, her nails digging into the flesh.

She bit her lower lip, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes, and finally sighed, as if she had removed some kind of shackle from the depths of her soul, and agreed to Wu's wishes.

"However, I am a remarried woman, so this wedding must not be a grand affair, otherwise it will only make me a laughing stock."

"I won't mistreat my sister."

"The necessary steps, such as the betrothal ceremony and the name inquiry, will all be carried out. Although the eight-bearer sedan chair cannot enter through the main gate, once my sister enters the Liu family, there's no need for such strict distinctions between us sisters."

Ms. Wu continued.

Upon hearing this, Xu felt a surge of tenderness in her heart.

The two then exchanged pleasantries for a while.

Gradually, night fell.

……

Liu Hong concentrated his mind and spirit, and began to write with great ease and fluency, calming his mind and spirit.

Since his wife left, he has been preoccupied with many thoughts, and ultimately his ability to maintain composure has not been up to par.

I wrote another calligraphy copybook.

Once his mind was calm, Liu Hong exhaled a breath of stale air, as if the distracting thoughts from before had quietly disappeared.

Just then, a clear, melodious voice, like that of a nightingale, entered the room: "My husband, my wish has been fulfilled; now only this final step remains."

Wu quietly entered the study, holding a cup of fragrant tea, and offered it to Liu Hong.

Liu Hong took it casually, a surprised smile playing on his lips: "My husband is all ears."

"My sister wants to see her husband one last time before the wedding, and wants him to give her a promise in person. The rest of her life depends on this moment."

At this moment, Ms. Wu was very empathetic.

There was a similar moment when she married Liu Hong years ago.

As the saying goes, a woman's marriage is like stepping into a fire pit; only after stepping in does she know whether it is a raging fire or a warm bed, whether it is a torment worse than death or a heartwarming home.

Fortunately, Wu was lucky; she married a capable husband who has made her a renowned marquis. Back in her hometown of Zhuoxian, she was a highly respected and admired noblewoman.

Watching Liu Hong's departing figure, Madam Wu sighed softly in the ink-scented study. Then, looking at herself with a mixture of relief and disappointment, she felt a pang of regret.

Fortunately, no matter how unworthy this body was, it at least gave birth to a child to carry on the Liu family line. Even more fortunately, the child was also quite promising, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would become the next head of the Liu family.

Even the title of Marquis of Weining could potentially be passed down through some manipulation.

Disappointed.

Of course, after having this first child, there was no further contact between her and her husband.