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

Just as Cai Yong was about to retract his previous words and grant Liu Hong's request for marriage to his beloved daughter, Liu Hong suddenly raised an eyebrow and spoke again: "Actually, Lord Cai, you were wrong from the very beginning."

"Where did we go wrong?"

Following Liu Hong's words, Cai Yong asked a follow-up question.

If he had heard these words back when he was still in Luoyang, he would have expelled Liu Hong from the family long ago and would never have allowed him to stay in the Cai residence for even a moment longer.

To think that someone would defend that eunuch would appear before him was a disgrace to the refined spirit of the Cai family.

After years of exile, first in the south and then in the north, time had worn away his lofty and sharp spirit, leaving him with more contemplation and patience.

Seeing that Cai Yong did not get angry, Liu Hong also breathed a sigh of relief.

The fact that the future father-in-law could remain calm shows that the matter can still be discussed further.

What Liu Hong feared most were those stubborn older generations, whose thinking was rigid and who clung to the old ways. In his eyes, such people were truly incurable.

If you don't go with the flow, how can you go against it?

The idea of ​​the weak defeating the strong is, most of the time, nothing more than a laughing stock.

"In the court, there are never permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

Liu Hong spoke calmly, "Lord Cai believes that it was the eunuchs who framed you before, but why would they do such a thing?"

"hehe."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yong sneered and immediately replied, "It is because I, a court official, impeached the eunuchs for monopolizing power, which led to widespread suffering, unpredictable weather, and frequent natural disasters. Therefore, they harbored resentment and fabricated charges against me, imprisoning me and causing me to end up in this predicament today."

At this moment, Cai Yong's resentment resurfaced, and his gaze toward Liu Hong suddenly turned icy.

Liu Hong paid no attention to this and continued, "Lord Cai believes that your impeachment of the eunuchs has damaged their interests, which is why they are retaliating."

"otherwise?"

Cai Yong's tone became even colder.

Liu Hong maintained his previous tone and expression, but his next words made Cai Yong's heart skip a beat and his face change drastically.

Liu Hong spoke clearly, enunciating each word distinctly: "Then where does Lord Cai place His Majesty? Is His Majesty merely a puppet emperor on the dragon throne, manipulated by the gentry and eunuchs?"

"As a court advisor, how could the emperor not know that Lord Cai impeached the eunuchs? The eunuchs retaliated, Lord Cai was imprisoned and then went into exile for several years. Who issued this decree?"

"Are they these eunuchs?"

"A few mere domestic dogs, with only a few fangs, do they even deserve to be called worthy? Whose power are they relying on? Doesn't Lord Cai have a corresponding answer in his heart?"

Liu Hong's words at this moment could be described as arrogant, even shocking.

There are no parents who are wrong, nor are there any rulers who are wrong.

How could a king be wrong?

The only ones at fault are the wicked ministers and eunuchs around him; they have absolutely no connection to the king or His Majesty on the dragon throne.

However, Liu Hong knew very well that most people from the aristocratic families probably did not think that way.

They put on airs on the surface, but behind the scenes, they probably utter countless words criticizing the emperor's incompetence.

The disaster of the Party Prohibitions alone was enough to provoke immense resentment among the gentry.

When Liu Hong was in Zhuojun, he occasionally interacted with the gentry and heard such remarks in that circle. Some people even made outrageous statements directly in front of him, a member of the Han imperial family.

This shows how unbridled and unrestrained the behavior of these aristocratic families was. To say they had no respect for their ruler and father would be an understatement.

"Liu Ziguang! Do you even know what you're saying?"

Cai Yong snapped out of his daze, immediately let out a loud shout, and then quickened his pace, rushing out of the house in three steps at a time, dismissing the servants who were waiting in the corridor.

Seeing that those people looked normal and had obviously not heard those outrageous words, he was relieved.

Followed by.

He turned back to Liu Hong, and when he looked at him, the disdain and annoyance he had shown before were gone, replaced by admiration and praise.

Seeing this, Liu Hong was somewhat surprised and uncertain.

What exactly is his father-in-law thinking?

Weren't we just on the verge of a fight?

How come he now seems to quite approve of his outrageous remarks?

Liu Hong was momentarily stunned, but Cai Yong in front of him was already urging him impatiently.

To put Liu Hong at ease, Cai Yong pulled him along with a friendly expression and sat him down opposite him on a square chair. He then lowered his voice and said with a glint in his eyes, "Now, in this room, it is only the two of us, father-in-law and son-in-law. What we say will be known only to you, me, and heaven, earth, and you. No one else can know."

"Today, I'd like to hear what insights you, Liu Ziguang, have to offer."

At this moment, Liu Hongcai realized what Cai Yong was thinking and boldly continued to speak.

Now that their families have arranged this marriage and the terms of father-in-law and son-in-law have already been used, it is extremely difficult to go back on it.

One glory and one glory.

In any case, even if these remarks were to get out, Liu Hong wouldn't be afraid, given his status as a member of the Han imperial family.

After all, his stance was on the side of Emperor Liu Hong and the Liu family.

This is the innate political correctness in the great Han dynasty.

And it's the biggest, without a doubt.

"The eunuchs are merely henchmen; the people behind them may be the real enemies of Lord Cai."

Liu Hong spoke again.

Cai Yong shook his head, his face still full of smiles, and said in a meaningful tone: "No, no, he is not my enemy, but my friend."

However, these remarks only deepened Liu Hong's doubts.

But when he looked at his father-in-law again, Cai Yong remained silent, refusing to utter another word.

Seeing this, Liu Hong had no choice but to temporarily give up asking questions.

Then!

After the two agreed to get married, the next step was the whole process of marriage proposal.

Liu Hong had experienced it twice; the first time was unfamiliar, the second time was familiar, and now he had memorized it well.

Before leaving the Cai residence, he secretly cast a Qi-observation spell on his father-in-law, Cai Yong.

"Using the Qi Observation Technique consumes 100 points of Luck!"

Name: Cai Yong

Age: 46

[Aura: Gold]

[Destiny Chart: With the Wenqu star in one's destiny, one possesses unparalleled talent, but one's uprightness invites misfortune, leading to a life of wandering and hardship—a fate akin to that of a zither with a scorched tail.]

What is the destiny of the Jiaowei Qin (焦尾琴)?

The Jiao Wei Qin was a famous zither made by Cai Yong himself. He was a man of exceptional talent, tempered by fire, and died after finding a kindred spirit.

This fate foreshadowed his future fate.

Liu Hong nodded secretly; it was indeed much as he had expected.

……

"Miss, the young master has left."

In the inner courtyard of the Cai residence, a maidservant, upon hearing a report from below, gracefully approached Cai Yan and spoke softly.

Cai Yan rolled her eyes at her, annoyed, and casually tossed the scroll she was holding aside.

She was already distracted; Liu Hong had just come to the mansion, and her father had gone to meet and discuss things.

Her tender heart, like that of a young woman, naturally drifted to the front hall.

In this back courtyard, looking at the pond of water lilies in front of him, he was merely putting on a brave face.

When it came to her daughter's future, even this former talented woman from Luoyang couldn't help but feel restless and sentimental.

Cai Yan was about to give the maid a few words of instruction when she suddenly caught sight of her father, Cai Yong, striding towards the front hall with an overjoyed smile on his face.

Cai Yan's mind began to race, and she became curious.

What exactly did that man talk about with the father? He seemed extremely happy about the marriage...

Before the people arrive, the sound comes first.

"Daughter! Liu Ziguang really does have some skill."

Cai Yong laughed heartily, and walked a few steps to Cai Yan. He stroked his beard and said with a smile, "After you marry into this family, you will surely have no worries for the rest of your life. Perhaps one day, even my Cai family will have to benefit from your marriage."

"Upon closer reflection, it is even more ingenious. The two of you are more than ten years apart in age, which may lead to another beautiful story in the future. Even my Cai family may have a chance to be remembered in history because of you."

Cai Yong became more and more cheerful as he spoke.

Finally, he paused, smiling, and asked, "Daughter, why don't you guess who Liu Ziguang is in my heart?"

With his words.

At that moment, a name flashed through Cai Yan's mind like lightning, as if by divine inspiration.

A figure...