Chương 38: Keeping the Appointment Again, the Zhen Family Shows Loyalty

Upon hearing this, all five sisters blushed. Zhen Mi, the boldest of them all, whispered:

"I think General Liu is handsome and very capable; he's a great hero."

"Yes, yes, he speaks with a lot of authority," Zhen Rong added.

"And his eyes, they're so bright."

"He looks good when he smiles."

The four sisters chatted amongst themselves, recounting everything they had secretly seen and heard yesterday, using words like "handsome," "charming," and "elegant" to describe their appearance.

Zhen Yi listened, his eyes narrowing with laughter:

"Alright, alright, it seems you all like him very much. Now let me ask you another question: does any of you want to marry General Liu?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake; the five sisters were stunned, and the study fell silent instantly.

After a long while, Zhen Jiang finally reacted, her voice trembling slightly:

"Father, are you... are you telling the truth?"

Zhen Yi nodded: "Of course it's true. If I were joking, would I be asking you this?"

The study was quiet for a while.

Zhen Jiang's cheeks were so red they looked like they could bleed. She bit her lip and whispered:

"Father, I... I want to marry General Liu."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head even further, and even the tips of her ears turned red.

Zhen Tuo also realized what was happening and quickly said, "Father, I want to too!"

"I want to too!"

"And me!"

Zhen Dao, Zhen Rong, and Zhen Mi also spoke up, each of them blushing with embarrassment, yet their eyes remained resolute.

Looking at his daughters, Zhen Yi felt a weight lifted from his heart. He knew that these five girls would definitely agree.

He smiled and nodded: "Alright, since you're all willing, then when General Liu comes this afternoon, dress up nicely, wear your most beautiful clothes, and put on your most exquisite makeup, so that he can have a good look at our Zhen family's daughters."

The five sisters nodded vigorously, their faces full of anticipation. Zhen Yi waved his hand:

"Alright, you can go back and get ready."

The five sisters bowed to Zhen Yi again before happily running out.

Watching his daughters' retreating figures, Zhen Yi's smile deepened. He had made the right move.

In the afternoon, Liu Ce rode his horse to the gate of the Zhen residence.

This time, Zhen Yi personally led Zhen Yan and Zhen Yao to stand outside the mansion gate to welcome them, followed by more than a dozen servants, all dressed in clean clothes and standing neatly in formation.

Liu Ce dismounted from his horse, dressed in a brocade robe with a sword at his waist, looking heroic and spirited.

Zhen Yi quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled:

"General Liu's presence once again brings great honor to my humble abode!"

Liu Ce returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Patriarch Zhen, you are too kind. I am really sorry to bother you again."

"Not at all, it is an honor for the Zhen family that the General has come."

As Zhen Yi spoke, he led Liu Ce toward the mansion.

"Please come in. I've prepared some light drinks. Let's drink and chat."

Liu Ce followed Zhen Yi inside, through the corridor, around the artificial hill, and arrived at the front hall.

A round table had already been set up in the hall, with more than a dozen exquisite dishes on it, their aromas filling the air.

Zhen Yi invited Liu Ce to sit down, and Zhen Yan and Zhen Yao also accompanied him.

The maid poured wine for Liu Ce, and Zhen Yi picked up his wine cup:

"General Liu, let me first raise a glass to you. Thank you for protecting Wuji County a few days ago, allowing us ordinary people to live in peace."

Liu Ce raised his wine glass and clinked it against Zhen Yi's:

"Master Zhen, you're too kind. Protecting our country is simply what I should do."

The two drank the wine in their cups, and the maid refilled them.

Next, Zhen Yi exchanged some pleasantries and talked about the situation in Wuji County. Liu Ce followed his lead and occasionally chimed in.

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Zhen Yi saw that the time was right. He put down his glass, his smile faded, and his tone became serious:

"General Liu, to be honest, I invited you here today because I have something important to discuss with you."

Liu Ce put down his wine glass, looked at Zhen Yi, and asked in his eyes:

"Please speak, Patriarch Zhen."

Zhen Yi took a deep breath, as if he had made a very difficult decision:

"General Liu, you hold a high position, command well-trained troops, and have just decisively defeated the Yellow Turban Army. Your future is limitless."

"Although our Zhen family has some wealth and a certain reputation in Wuji County, the world is in turmoil, and we are just rootless duckweed. We might be swept away by the storm one day."

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Liu Ce. Seeing that Liu Ce simply held his wine glass, slowly took a sip, and remained silent, he became even more nervous, his hand secretly tightening its grip on the tablecloth.

"I, Zhen Yi, hereby declare that my entire clan submits to the General! From this day forward, the entire Zhen family will follow the General's lead without question!"

"All the property, grain, and shops of the Zhen family are at your disposal, General! We only ask that you, General, give our Zhen family a way to survive in this chaotic world and provide us with some protection!"

After saying this, Zhen Yi's palms were sweating.

Zhen Yi knew that this meant the fate of the Zhen family was entirely on Liu Ce's shoulders. If he succeeded, the Zhen family would survive; if he failed, they might...

Liu Ce put down his wine glass, looked at Zhen Yi, and after a long while spoke, his tone calm yet powerful:

"Patriarch Zhen, are you really sure? Once you submit to me, the Zhen family will have to follow my arrangements from now on, and you won't be as free as before."

Zhen Yi nodded quickly, his voice trembling with excitement:

"I've made up my mind! I'm willing to do anything to ensure the Zhen family's survival!"

Liu Ce smiled, stood up, walked over to Zhen Yi, and patted him on the shoulder:

"Alright! Since Patriarch Zhen is so sincere, then I will agree."

"Rest assured, as long as I, Liu Ce, am alive, I will never allow anyone to bully the Zhen family!"

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yi finally felt relieved, his face instantly breaking into a wide smile. He quickly stood up and bowed to Liu Ce.

"Thank you, General! Thank you, General! On behalf of the entire Zhen family, I kowtow to you!"

"You're welcome."

Liu Ce helped him up, saying, "We're all family now, no need to be so formal."

Zhen Yi smiled and nodded, then turned and called out to the door:

"Butler, go and fetch Madam and Miss!"

A moment later, footsteps came from outside.

Liu Ce looked up and saw a gentle woman and five girls wearing different colored ruqun (traditional Chinese dresses) walk in.

The leader, Zhen Jiang, wore a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a pearl hairpin in her hair, looking dignified and elegant; Zhen Tuo wore a yellow one, looking cool and beautiful; Zhen Dao wore a blue one, looking heroic and bright; Zhen Rong wore a green one, looking delicate and sweet; and Zhen Mi wore a white one, looking like a fairy.

The woman and her five sisters approached Liu Ce and Zhen Yi and bowed in unison:

"Greetings, General; greetings, Father (Husband)."

Zhen Yi cleared his throat, his face displaying a complex mix of pride, nervousness, and a smile, and introduced Liu Ce:

"General, this is my wife, Zhang, and these five good-for-nothing girls are my daughters."