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

"I have met Lord Liu."

Liu Hong stepped into the Xu family's residence inside the private school.

Xu was slender and graceful, but she remained hidden behind the curtain.

Since women cannot meet with men outside the marriage, they can only communicate in this discreet way.

"Madam has already stated her position, so please speak frankly. We have known each other for many years, and I will certainly grant any request within my power."

Liu Hong was the first to make a guarantee.

The slender figure behind the curtain stirred slightly. Hearing Liu Hong's heartwarming words, she was mostly relieved, but she still had many things she wanted to explore further.

"If I were to truly marry Lord Liu in the future, I wonder what Lord Liu's plans are for Yuanzhi?"

"I consider him my own son. Although I cannot be as close to him as Xuande, I will definitely plan for him. Today he is just a minor official in the government office, but one day he will surely be able to enter the imperial court and have a place there."

"I will do everything in the Liu family's power, please rest assured. Even if you do not marry me, my Liu family has long regarded Yuanzhi as our son."

Liu Hong, with utmost sincerity, informed him again.

"Where did Yuanzhi live after that?"

Xu asked again.

"Since we are members of the Liu family, we will stay at the Liu family's house."

At this moment, Liu Hong seemed to have guessed Xu's concerns, so he took the initiative to say, "You don't need to change her surname, which will relieve your worries."

But the next moment, Xu's answer was beyond Liu Hong's expectations: "It cannot be changed, but a note can be added to the genealogy."

Liu Hong opened his mouth, wanting to ask about the past, such as the Xu family, but then shook his head and gave up.

The so-called Xu family are nothing more than peasants. If they cared about Xu Shu, they would have paid him no attention for years and could have given him some money later.

In fact, if one doesn't care about reputation and influence...

Xu Shu changed his surname to Liu Shu, and it seems quite pleasant to call him Liu Yuanzhi in the future.

As soon as Liu Hong finished speaking, the figure behind the curtain was completely relieved.

Then, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat ambiguous.

It is indeed somewhat inappropriate for a man and a woman to be alone in a room late at night.

"Please return home for now."

Suddenly, Xu's voice trembled slightly, and her tone was no longer as decisive as before, but instead had a gentle and soft quality unique to women.

In just a few days, Liu Hong will become her husband. Even though Xu Shi has a fiery temper and a strong and upright character, she also has a tender side like a girl.

Liu Hong couldn't help but laugh three times: "That's only right."

He strode away, his heart burning with passion, but he did not act impulsively; instead, he looked forward to the future with even greater anticipation.

A beautiful woman may have a beautiful face, but her true value lies in her spirit, not her appearance.

Xu's "divine" qualities are second to none.

……

The next day, Liu Hong summoned the elders of the clan to begin preparing for the wedding ceremony. Every step had to be done with proper etiquette, and no one should be insulted in the slightest.

The elders of the clan immediately began procuring supplies.

As the head of the Liu family in Zhuojun, Liu Hong was the most powerful person in the area besides the prefect. Although he did not intend to hold a grand celebration, he still had to send invitations to the guests and dignitaries he was supposed to invite.

We are not in a chaotic time now. Even if everything is simplified, the necessary procedures cannot be omitted, and social interactions are indispensable.

It just so happens that in this Zhuojun region, many merchants and powerful families are willing to take this opportunity to make good friends with the Liu family. It can be said that the right time, the right place, and the right people are all in place, making it a win-win situation.

So it was shortly after breakfast.

Inside the Zhuojun government office, two minor officials, one in front of the other, had somehow gotten wind of the news. Their lips curled into smiles, and they began to shout from afar, "Lord of the Ministry of Personnel! Lord of the Ministry of Personnel! Your mother is about to get married!"

Xu Shu, who had just finished organizing the household registers of the yamen runners over the years and had just finished his breakfast, was arranging the registers neatly when he suddenly heard such absurd remarks. His image as a kind-hearted person in the yamen changed drastically.

He slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang, glared angrily at the two minor officials, and shouted, "Outrageous! What kind of rumors are these that dare to insult me ​​like this?"

When Xu Shu became angry, the two minor officials trembled with fear, unable to utter a word.

But under Xu Shu's repeated questioning, they finally stammered, "Yes, we heard it from the Commandant. Please spare us, Lord Servant..."

Xu Shu frowned, no longer reacting with the same instinctive rage as before, but instead showing a hint of doubt.

The position of Commandant was on par with that of my adoptive father, the position of Inspector General, in this Zhuojun region. Although there was a difference between civil and military officials, their power was roughly the same.

"Could it be that this is really true?"

As Xu Shu frowned in deep thought, the Commandant who knew him strode over with a powerful and imposing manner.

Because Xu Shu's duties involved managing corvée labor, building city walls, and managing the waterways around Zhuojun, which involved mobilizing soldiers, the two had some interactions.

"Yuanzhi, this is a joyous occasion."

"Just now, the Marquis of Weining's residence sent an invitation. It is the joyous occasion of the Marquis of Weining's marriage to your mother. This will strengthen the family ties, and from now on, Yuanzhi, you will be a true member of the Liu family. Your career will surely advance further, and you will be considered half a member of the Han imperial family."

Congratulations, congratulations!

The captain clasped his hands in a fist salute and said loudly.

"My mother married Liu Gong? So it was Liu Gong. Then it's not a big deal."

Xu Shu's expression changed from frowning to relaxing, then to calm, and finally to raising his eyebrows. These changes were completed in the span of half a breath.

He might worry if his mother married someone else, but marrying his godfather was something he had longed for for a long time.

"Thank you for informing me, sir."

Xu Shu bowed and thanked them, then looked at the two minor officials from before, and then laughed heartily, bowing again to apologize, "There was really a misunderstanding just now, please forgive me."

"No, no, sir, I wouldn't dare."

The two minor officials were flattered and even somewhat apprehensive.

The captain standing nearby was even more impressed.

Only Xu Shu, with his upright conduct in this government office, could attract his attention.

In today's officialdom, there are very few people like Xu Shu who have powerful backers yet are honest and upright, and who are willing to work hard and do practical things. Such a young man will surely rise to the top in the future.

Let us consider this acquaintance as a positive connection.

After the captain left, the two clerks began to pack up the public property on the shelves behind them, but Xu Shu suddenly disappeared without a trace in the government office.

At this moment, he arrived at the military camp and met Liu Bei.

Xu Shu was no longer the same as before, seemingly inferior. Instead, dressed in white, he exuded the air of a scholar, subtly adopting the air of an elder. He strode forward, his gaze looking down at him with a hint of condescension, and said loudly, "Today, Xuande, what should you call me?"

"What?"

Liu Bei's gaze was unfriendly, and he spoke in an annoyed tone.

You should call me elder brother, Brother Xuande.

Xu Shu's lips curled up slightly, his smugness no longer concealed: "Hahaha, Liu Xuande, you didn't expect this, did you! I, Xu Yuanzhi, have turned the tables! Now I am above you, and you are below me; I am the elder brother, and you are the younger brother."

"It conforms to etiquette and is worthy of its name."