NOVPUB"Xun, take your younger uncle out to play. I have some things to discuss with your father," Lul Kang signaled to the eleven-year-old Lul Xun, who, appearing more mature than his uncle Lul Ji, nodded and led Lul Ji away.
"Jun, my wounds are stabilized now, and as you said, we should look for a new ally. If the three families of Eastern Wu don’t come to accept us, then, by my suggestion, we needn’t go to Eastern Wu at all—we can forsake the few estates we have," Lul Kang said, watching the calm departure of Lul Xun, and silently left. Compared to his unworthy son, he held higher expectations for his grandson.
"We should go to Liu Xuande. I have visited him several times before and, in my eyes, Liu Xuande is a man who can accommodate all under heaven, and he won’t mind our earlier rejection. Moreover, Chen Zichuan has also made promises to us. Importantly, although Xingba may have an eccentric personality, my relationship with him can be described as a deeply rooted friendship, which can all play to our advantage," Lul Jun said smiling. Gan Ning now has sole command of an army.
"I indeed misjudged him back then," Lul Kang sighed upon mentioning Gan Ning.
Initially, Lul Kang had little regard for Gan Ning, whose unpredictable character hardly impressed him, especially since he hailed from a noble family and yet deigned to become a river bandit on the Yangtze River. Well, being a bandit was one thing, but worse was that he took pride in it, which displeased Lul Kang, a stubborn traditionalist from a noble family!
It was only after he heard of Gan Ning’s exploits in the North, with his name becoming famous across the land, that Lul Kang refrained from hinting to Lul Jun to be cautious. Regardless of his eccentric nature, Gan Ning’s abilities had to be acknowledged. To a noble family, a capable person earned the right to be headstrong, and Gan Ning’s abilities were sufficient for him to flourish under any broad-minded lord.
"Xingba certainly is somewhat rash, but it is exactly because of his recklessness that I don’t worry about him harboring any ill intentions towards us. He wears his feelings on his sleeve, there is no concealing them. This straightforwardness is embarrassing at times, but it reassures me deeply," Lul Jun remembered Gan Ning’s character and smiled. Though obviously a bit foolish at times, interacting with someone without guile was relatively pleasant—as long as you could tolerate his occasional idiocy.
"Let’s align with Liu Bei, and our clan will not engage in any more family splits. The phrase ’lack of progeny is an issue’ applies to families like ours. Ah, you unfilial son, had you taken a few more concubines, I wouldn’t have been so dissatisfied," Lul Kang reflected on his family’s situation, realizing that only four direct descendants remained, with obscure relatives scattered everywhere. The responsibility of expanding the family tree could only be placed on his second son and grandson since his eldest son was already unreliable.
Lul Jun looked up at the sky silently, as if his father had taken several concubines, considering that the Lul family’s lack of prosperity was a legacy from ancestors a few generations back. At best, there was only one legal wife, at worst, a wife with several concubines, and none of them particularly fertile. It would be surprising if their family was thriving.
"Xun is also growing up. It’s time to find him a legal wife," Lul Jun immediately offered up his son as a shield for himself. At times like this, a son was there to cover for his father. As for whether or not it was suitable, the emperor of the Great Han Dynasty was promoting child marriage. Although it contradicted the noble families’ custom of marrying at eighteen, they could at least get engaged, putting off the rest for later discussion.
"Forget the Zhang, Gu, and Zhu families. Since we are determined to leave Eastern Wu, we should not engage in these lingering attachments. I’ll write to the Zhang family to call off the connection," Lul Kang sighed. "We should find another suitable bride from a family of equal standing."
"Since we are pledging ourselves to Lord Xuande, we should find a suitable daughter from among his senior ministers," Lul Jun thought according to the typical mindset of a noble family, knowing that marital alliances were both the most reliable and unreliable way to foster closer relations.
"A daughter from Liu Xuande’s senior ministers?" Lul Kang nodded. "That is indeed the case, but among Liu Xuande’s ministers, there are only a few who bear the title of senior minister, and only Jia Wenhe has a daughter. The rest—Guan Yunchang has a son, Chen Zichuan has just married, Liu Ziyang has a son, Mi Zizhong has a son and a daughter, but the girl is not yet three years old; Lub Zijing and the others are still bachelors..."
In short, among Liu Bei’s senior ministers’ daughters of marriageable age, there’s only Jia Xu’s, but the problem is that Jia Xu, that self-preservation fanatic, definitely would not marry off his daughter.
"Father, why limit our options to daughters? Most of Liu Bei’s civil and military officials are not yet of age. So compared to daughters, their younger sisters are actually more suitable for Xun." Lul Jun said with a smile.
"Exactly, exactly," Lul Kang smacked his forehead. "I was being muddle-headed. It seems my son has already made his choice."
"I recall that there’s a sister of one of Liu Xuande’s men who would be more than a suitable match for our Xun in both age and beauty." Lul Jun said with a smile.
"May I ask who this lady is?" Lul Kang inquired. 𝚗𝚘v𝚙𝚞b.𝚌𝚘m
"Mi Zizhong’s sister, Mi Zhen, can be described as a beauty of heavenly fragrance and grace, gentle and courteous, composed and dignified." Lul Jun recalled the young girl who had entertained him on behalf of her brother during his visit to the Mi Family at Mount Tai, and couldn’t help but praise her.
As it happened, Mi Zhen was in a good mood that day, and seeing as Lul Kang was a friend of her brother, she didn’t play any tricks. Precisely for this reason, Lul Kang enjoyed very excellent hospitality.
Otherwise, if it were someone like Chen Xi, a familiar face, Mi Zhen might show you what a little devil she can be when she feels like it. She is the darling of the entire Mi Family, the jewel in Mi Zhu’s palm. Previously, she might have been merely a rich young lady, but now she’s truly a super high-ranking official and merchant’s daughter. In short, even if Lul Xun were to marry her, he wouldn’t be able to afford her upbringing. Lul Jun’s suggestion truly wasn’t a good one.
"Speaking of which, there’s actually another person, but our Lul Family might not be able to handle her. The daughter of Cai Bojie, Cai Zhaoji!" Lul Jun remembered his fleeting glimpse of Cai Yan, whose melancholic eyes were unforgettable. Even someone like Lul Jun, who valued his own wife above all, felt stunned by her beauty. And considering it further, Cai Yan wasn’t really that old either.
"How dare you even suggest that! You unfilial son!" Lul Kang picked up his cane, ready to strike his own child. The Mi Family’s daughter was one thing, but now he even dared to consider Cai Yan.
"I did say our Lul Family might not be able to handle her," Lul Jun responded with a wry smile. Yet the thought of a talented woman like Cai Yan truly tempted him, because the more outstanding the mother, the more outstanding the offspring of the Lul Family could be.
"There’s only Cai Zhaoji left in the Cai Family, and her marriage agreement with the Wei Family is considered finished. Whether she chooses to remarry or stay single is possible, but either way, we don’t stand a chance. The name of a widow is one thing, but if she were to remarry, it would be more realistic for Cai Zhaoji to seek a son-in-law for the Cai Family," Lul Kang shook his head and said.
Lul Jun simply lacked experience. After all, Cai Yan was a noble lady who had been wronged once, and her father had already passed away. For her, marrying beneath her status was of no concern anymore; seeking a son-in-law was the most worry-free choice. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
