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

On the left side of the front hall, behind the exquisite screen embroidered with peony and azalea patterns, upon hearing these words, both master and servant's eyes gleamed with surprise, and they exclaimed in astonishment.

The beautiful maid said softly, "Miss, what Master Liu said was truly insightful and resonated with our young ladies' thoughts. It's a pity he already has a wife; otherwise, if you married him, even as a concubine, I'm sure you would receive some kindness and treatment."

"well……"

Upon hearing this, Cai Yan peered through the gap in the screen at the figure standing in the hall. Her eyes, which had been flickering slightly, suddenly darkened, and she let out a soft sigh that was barely audible to an ordinary person.

If she were to become a concubine, it wouldn't just be her reputation that would be ruined, but also her father's and even the entire Cai family's.

This Mr. Liu is indeed a good man, but for a woman, it is ultimately difficult to have both.

Unfortunately, they were destined to be together but not to stay together.

……

They chatted for several more times, for nearly an hour and a half, before Liu Hong and Cui Yan finally took their leave from the Cai residence.

When it comes to making recommendations, one should not rush things at this time, otherwise it will appear too utilitarian.

Moreover, Cai Yong had just stated at the outset that they would only discuss private matters and not official ones, making the recommendation somewhat of a combination of public and private matters. Liu Hong did not want to leave a bad impression on them during their first meeting.

On the way back, Cui Yan shook his head and laughed.

Upon seeing this, Liu Hong also laughed and said, "Could it be that Brother Cui, even now, still thinks it's highly unlikely that a woman of the dignified Cai family would marry someone like me as a concubine?!"

"No, no."

Cui Yan continued to shake his head, "The son-in-law of Lord Cai is undoubtedly in Zhuojun today. After being in exile for many days, coupled with the previous robbery by the bandits, it must have frightened Lord Cai and his daughter."

If we continue in exile, our future is uncertain, which is truly worrying. And in this land of Zhuojun, besides Prefect Liu, who can compare to you, Lord Liu?

More importantly, you are a member of the Han imperial family, and you might be able to truly resolve the Cai family's crisis.

Compared to these minor losses of face, if Lord Cai could return to Luoyang, be favored by the emperor, and be granted a powerful and influential position, why would the Cai family care about such a paltry loss of face?

"Brother Cui, what do you mean by that?"

Liu Hong narrowed his eyes.

Cui Yan laughed loudly and said, "Why does Lord Liu ask a question he already knows the answer to?"

"Could it be that Lord Liu was truly unmoved in the slightest?"

Cui Yan leaned forward and then pressed for more questions.

Liu Hong fell silent.

The immense prestige among the gentry, the long-standing presence of the great Confucian scholar Cai Yong as a student and former official, and the deep-rooted connections with numerous other Confucian scholars and prominent figures—these were all things that the Liu family of Zhuojun had always lacked.

If they could truly marry Cai Yong's daughter, it would greatly boost the foundation of the Liu family of Zhuojun.

How did the gentry class determine the distinction between superiors and inferiors?

Besides the real power in their hands, there is only the internal recognition among the secular world.

What if Dong Zhuo entered the capital on the future historical timeline?

Despite seemingly wielding great power, he was still constrained by the aristocratic clans. If he made even the slightest misstep, the dignified Grand Tutor Dong Zhuo would be reduced to fat and burned alive.

A ruthless and ambitious figure like Dong Zhuo would be put on the defensive after just one defeat, and if one or two more minor mishaps occurred, he would meet the same end.

And the gentry?

For three hundred years, the Han Dynasty nurtured scholars, and the aristocratic families are now the undisputed behemoths of the Han Dynasty. In terms of profound heritage, even the imperial family is now somewhat inferior.

Afterwards, the carriage drove back to the Liu family's private school.

After the two parted ways, Cui Yan didn't ask any further questions, but he firmly believed that Liu Hong would make the right choice.

The name Liu Hong is a homophone of the current emperor.

This person is no ordinary person; his ambitions must be enormous.

……

The rear residence of the Cai family.

Cai Yong took the letter from the cylindrical bamboo tube, placed it in his palm, squinted, glanced at it briefly, and then sighed deeply.

He then muttered to himself, "The bandits were indeed their men. Nearly three years have passed; are they still unwilling to let go of a lowly official like me?"

The Yilang was an official who offered advice and remonstrance. His main duties were to advise, remonstrate, and assist in governing the country.

"Father, is it bad news again?"

Seeing that Cai Yong had finished reading the letter in the bamboo tube and then his back hunched slightly, Cai Yan, who was known as a talented woman, was insightful and naturally guessed what was going on.

Cai Yong didn't mention the matter in the letter. Instead, he put one hand behind his back, looked at his daughter as if he had made up his mind, and then said in a deep voice, "Daughter, it's time for you to get married."

"Recently, quite a few people have come to visit my Cai family. It is time to choose a husband for you and hold a grand wedding here in Zhuojun in the future."

"Father, are you abandoning your daughter?"

In the blink of an eye, Cai Yan had already realized the deeper meaning behind her father Cai Yong's actions. It was all to get her out of the trouble she was in. "I will not marry! I will stay with you, Father. I do not believe that the Grand Commandant and others in the court can really cover up the truth. My Great Han Dynasty has no law left."

Cai Yan was also sobbing uncontrollably. Her beautiful, unadorned face was streaked with tears as she hugged her father, Cai Yong, and refused to let go no matter what he said.

I don't know how much time passed.

Sensing that her father's mind was more resolute than ever before, Cai Yan stopped acting coy and demure, and with tears streaming down her face, picked up a handkerchief to wipe away the tear stains from the corners of her eyes.

He quickly composed himself and met Cai Yong's gaze.

"Father, if I truly wish to marry today, I will marry the former Lord Liu."

"Daughter, you must marry him as his concubine!"

At this moment, Cai Yan spoke slowly, word by word, her voice not loud, but exceptionally firm.

But Cai Yong wasn't so easily persuaded, and said in a deep voice, "Why not marry that Shangguan woman?"

"Shangguan is a person of questionable character. She is hesitant to act for fear of harming others. Although she has tried to befriend my Cai family, she is afraid of the power of those in authority. If my daughter were to marry into that family, she would surely be expelled from the mansion one day. She is not a good match."

"Then the Wang family in Zhuojun? Their family background is enough to make the Grand Commandant and his men dare not act rashly."

Cai Yong asked again.

Cai Yan replied again: "So what if Wang is the principal wife? If my father is employed in the future, he will naturally try to curry favor with me; if my father continues to be in exile, I'm afraid he will only do so because of the vast collection of books in my Cai family, nothing more."

"For the rest of my life, I'll probably just be guarding a mansion, with two more servants. What's the point of talking about a wife? She's gone. I wouldn't even dare dream of being the mistress of the house. What difference would that make between me and a mere object?"

"Then why does it have to be Liu Hong?"

Cai Yong ultimately couldn't bear to let his daughter become a concubine.

In the present day, concubines do not hold the same status as in some later dynasties; they are merely playthings, and even their friends and neighbors can use them to entertain them.

Cai Yong was absolutely unwilling to let his daughter face such an outcome.

"Because this person may be able to lend a helping hand to my father and my Cai family."

Cai Yan spoke again firmly, her tone without the slightest hesitation, as if she had already thought everything through in a short time.