Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

Cai Yan came out of Cai Zhenji's courtyard and happened to run into Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.

The two sisters were strolling hand in hand in the yard, with Xiao Qiao even jumping around energetically.

Upon seeing Cai Yan, the two quickly bowed.

"Sister, Sister Zhenji, she..." Da Qiao hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

Cai Yan smiled and said, "She's fine, just a little tired and sleeping. Don't disturb her."

Xiao Qiao asked curiously, "Is Sister Zhenji sick? Should we call a doctor?"

Cai Yan suppressed a laugh and said, "I'm not sick, it's just... I didn't sleep well last night. You'll see later."

Xiao Qiao nodded as if she understood, but Da Qiao seemed to understand something. Her face flushed slightly, and she pulled Xiao Qiao away quickly.

Cai Yan watched their retreating figures, then smiled and shook her head.

The backyard is getting more and more lively.

...

January of 192 AD.

After unifying the country, Liu Ce enjoyed a comfortable life for the next four months, spending his time half at home and half governing.

What does it mean to be half-stay-at-home and half-management?

It means I get up in the morning to handle government affairs, spend the afternoon with my wife and children, and continue to spend the evening with my wife and children, though in different ways.

In the afternoon, we would stroll around the yard, talk, and feed the fish. In the evening... well, those who know, know.

Every morning, Liu Ce would go to the council hall without fail. Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun Yu, Guo Jia and others had already neatly organized the documents sent from various prefectures and placed them on the table in categories.

Liu Ce reviewed each document one by one, approving those that needed approval, signing those that needed signing, and rejecting those that needed rejection, all cleanly and efficiently, without any hesitation.

"My lord, this year's tax revenue in Yangzhou is 20% higher than expected, mainly due to a bumper rice harvest. The people have surplus grain and are more willing to pay taxes." Fang Xuanling opened the account book and reported one by one.

"Alright, send a message to Yangzhou and tell them to keep it up. If they can increase production next year, reduce taxes by 10%." Liu Ce said as he approved the document.

"My lord, the barbarian tribes in the four southern prefectures have been relatively well-behaved recently, but there are still a few small tribes hiding in the mountains and refusing to come out," Du Ruhui handed over a military report.

"Send someone to persuade them again, tell them that those who come out and surrender will be given land and grain and can live in peace; those who don't come out and cause trouble, don't blame me for being impolite. The Han dynasty is not something they can overturn."

Liu Ce didn't even raise his head, his tone was calm, but everyone could hear the weight in his words.

After finishing his official duties, Liu Ce packed up and left, leaving all the remaining details to Fang Xuanling and his team.

These people have been with him for so many years that they have a perfect understanding with him, so he doesn't need to worry about them at all.

He spent the rest of his time at the Prince of Yan's residence.

Sixteen wives, sixteen bellies, big and small, round and flat, they all had to hold their backs while walking.

Every afternoon, Liu Ce would walk around each courtyard, first visiting Cai Yan, then Zhang Ning, and then Ren Hongchang, Du Xiuniang, Zou Yu, Zhen Jiang, Zhen Tuo, Zhen Dao, Zhen Rong, Zhen Mi, He Lian, Mi Zhen, Gan Mei, Yin Ying, Feng Yu, and Cai Wan.

"Yan'er, how are you feeling today? Is the baby kicking you?" Liu Ce sat by Cai Yan's bedside, holding her hand, and asked softly.

Cai Yan smiled and nodded, saying, "He kicked it, and it was quite powerful. I guess it's a kid."

"Good job, kid. He looks just like his dad, handsome." Liu Ce stroked his chin smugly.

Hearing this from the side, Zhang Ning immediately exclaimed, "Husband, what about mine? I kick mine every day, and it's even stronger than my sister's!"

Liu Ce walked over with a smile, squatted down, put his ear to Zhang Ning's stomach to listen, then looked up and said seriously, "Hmm, my daughter is definitely going to be a martial arts student in the future, she kicks so powerfully."

Zhang Ning was taken aback: "Daughter? How did you know it's a daughter?"

Liu Ce blinked: "A feeling. Your husband's feelings are always very accurate."

Zhang Ning was skeptical, but didn't press the matter further.

Later events proved that Liu Ce's intuition was indeed accurate; Zhang Ning gave birth to a daughter.

He walked around each courtyard, holding their hands and gently comforting them: "You've worked so hard, hang in there a little longer. After the baby is born, I'll make you soup every day."

With her large pregnant belly, Zhen Dao leaned against the soft couch, still grumbling, "Husband, you have to keep your word! Last time you said you'd make me pigeon soup, but the pigeons flew away, and I didn't even see a feather!"

Liu Ce laughed heartily, "This time definitely! The pigeons are already being raised in the backyard, just waiting to be cooked!"

Zhen Jiang shook her head with a smile, "Sister, don't tease your husband. He's so busy every day, he wouldn't even remember to make soup for you."

"That's right," He Lian said with a smile, touching her belly. "It's already good enough that my husband can take the time to come see us. How can we be picky?"

Liu Ce quickly raised his hands in surrender: "Ladies, please calm down! I remember, I remember everything! After you give birth, you can have whatever soup you want, I'll cook it myself!"

The ladies burst into laughter.

...

Besides accompanying his pregnant wives, Liu Ce also had to spend time with his eleven children who were almost five years old.

Liu Chen, Liu Ying, Liu Heng, Liu Yao, Liu Sui, Liu Yi, Liu Mei, Liu Yong, Liu Ran, Liu Nong, and Liu Yan—these eleven children were all as energetic as little calves, running and playing wildly in the courtyard every day, and the maids and wet nurses couldn't catch up with them.

Liu Chen was most like him; even at a young age, he loved to practice martial arts and would pester Zhao Yun to teach him every day.

Zhao Yun couldn't resist his pestering, so he specially carved a wooden sword for him. The little guy loved it and carried it everywhere he went.

Liu Ying was more like Cai Yan, sitting quietly to the side reading a book. At only five years old, she could recognize hundreds of characters. Cai Yan would praise her to everyone she met, saying, "This child is just like me."

Liu Heng and Liu Yao fought every day, then made up, then fought again, causing chaos in their backyard.

The three little girls, Liu Sui, Liu Yi, and Liu Mei, followed their older sister Liu Ying around all day, chattering away like three little sparrows.

The four Liu brothers—Liu Yong, Liu Ran, Liu Nong, and Liu Yan—were all incredibly mischievous. Liu Yan, the youngest, was the most naughty. Once, he climbed up a rockery and refused to come down, scaring the maids half to death. In the end, Liu Ce had to personally go up and carry him down.

......

As soon as Liu Ce arrived, the children surrounded him, calling out all at once, "Daddy! Daddy!"

"Daddy! Look at the horse I drew!" Liu Chen held up a piece of drawing paper on which he had drawn a strange, misshapen thing with four legs and a tail, but its head looked like a pig.

Liu Ce stared at it for a long time, but still couldn't recognize it, so he asked, "This is... a horse?"

Liu Chen nodded vigorously and said, "Yes! It's the horse Father rode!"

Liu Ce suppressed a laugh and patted his head: "Not bad. Next time, draw the neck a little longer, and it will look even more like him."

"Daddy, Daddy! Look at the paper crane I folded!" Liu Ying held up a crumpled paper crane, its wings uneven, but it was still able to stand up.