Chương 454: Victory Banquet, 192 AD

"Good! From this day forward, let us work together to protect this peaceful world! Let the people live in peace and prosperity, and let the Han Dynasty endure forever!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!"

The cheers shook the roof.

Dian Wei and Xu Chu got even more carried away with their drinking, challenging Cheng Yaojin to a drinking contest, the three of them taking turns drinking.

Guo Jia sat in the corner, smiling as he drank his wine. He said to Xi Zhicai beside him, "Zhicai, we've followed our lord through so many years of war, and finally unified the world. What should we do next?"

Xi Zhicai said softly, "Next, it's time to govern the world. Conquering the world is easy, but governing it is difficult."

Guo Jia nodded and said, "That's right. But with your abilities, my lord, governing the world shouldn't be difficult."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Zhang Fei dragged Cheng Yaojin into a drinking contest, the two of them taking turns drinking bowls until their faces turned red and their necks thick.

Dian Wei and Xu Chu squatted in the corner, competing to see who could eat more pork knuckle.

Guo Jia was so drunk that he was staggering and had to be supported by Xi Zhicai to avoid falling under the table.

Looking at the lively scene, Liu Ce felt extremely pleased.

...

After the banquet, Liu Ce returned to the backyard.

The ladies were still awake, waiting for him.

Cai Yan, Zhang Ning, Ren Hongchang, Du Xiuniang, Zou Yu, Zhen Jiang, Zhen Tuo, Zhen Dao, Zhen Rong, Zhen Mi, Mi Zhen, Gan Mei, He Lian, Yin Ying, Feng Yu, and Cai Wan—sixteen ladies, each with a belly of varying sizes, stood neatly in the hall.

Qiao Ying and Qiao Qian were also there, standing at the very back, heads down, faces flushed.

Looking at the room full of people, Liu Ce couldn't help but laugh and said:

"Why are you all standing? Sit down."

Cai Yan smiled and said, "Husband, these are the two younger sisters from the Qiao family. They're waiting for you to come back and make arrangements."

Liu Ce looked at Qiao Ying and Qiao Qian, nodded and said, "Hmm, not bad. From now on, you two are part of the household. If you need anything, you can talk to Yan'er or Jiang'er, it's fine."

Qiao Ying and Qiao Qian blushed and gave a proper curtsy, saying, "Greetings, husband."

Zhang Ning chimed in from the side, "Husband, take it easy! With so many wives, don't tire yourself out!"

Liu Ce laughed heartily and said, "Don't worry, your husband is made of iron!"

Everyone laughed.

Liu Ce walked to the window and opened it.

The night breeze carried the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.

In the courtyard, the moonlight, like water, spilled onto the rows of brightly lit courtyards.

Sixteen wives, eleven children, and sixteen new lives to be born.

This is everything he has strived for.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at everyone.

"From today onward, peace will reign throughout the land. Our lives will only get better and better."

...

January, 192 AD.

The Prince of Yan's Mansion in Luoyang.

Sunlight filtered through the crabapple tree, scattering golden fragments across the ground.

Although it was winter, Luoyang's winter wasn't too cold. The few wintersweet trees in the courtyard were in full bloom, their golden petals shimmering in the sunlight, their fragrance wafting faintly, instantly uplifting the mood.

Qiao Ying sat on the soft couch by the window, embroidering a handkerchief.

She wore a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her black hair loosely tied back, adorned only with a white jade hairpin—simple and understated, yet it accentuated her flawless skin and exquisite features.

The silver needle flew between her fingers, embroidering a pair of mandarin ducks on the handkerchief, so lifelike, but her eyes kept drifting towards the courtyard gate, her mind already wandering off somewhere else.

Ever since Lu Kang sent the two sisters from Wan County to Luoyang half a month ago, Liu Ce has been absolutely perfect in his eyes.

The new tea from Jiangnan just arrived, and two cans were delivered immediately.........

Even when they casually mentioned wanting to eat osmanthus cake from Wan County, the imperial chef made a whole food box full of it the next day, following the recipe.

But there was one thing that made the two sisters feel uneasy.

Liu Ce treated them exceptionally well, but he never mentioned taking them as concubines, let alone staying overnight in their courtyards.

Every time I come, I sit for half an hour, have a cup of tea, and ask if I'm enjoying the food and sleeping well...

"oops!"

A soft, cheerful exclamation interrupted Da Qiao's thoughts.

Her hand trembled, and the needle almost pricked her finger. When she looked up, she saw Xiao Qiaoqian lifting her skirt and hopping in like a little rabbit. She plopped down on the stone bench, propped her cheeks up, and scrunched up her face, looking completely bewildered.

Xiao Qiao wore a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today, with two small buns in her hair, making her look even younger than her older sister.

She swung her slender legs, pouted, and muttered, "Sister! What's going on here?! We've been in the manor for over half a month! Our husband brings us delicious food and fun things every day, but why doesn't he mention taking us as concubines? And he never stays overnight with us!"

Da Qiao paused for a moment while holding the silver needle, and her brows furrowed slightly.

She set the handkerchief aside, sighed, and whispered, "I've been wondering about that too. Lord Lu clearly said that my husband had taken a liking to us sisters, which is why he specifically sent us to Luoyang. Why is it that after we arrived, he only treats us like younger sisters and doesn't say anything else?"

"Exactly!"

Xiao Qiao scratched her head, feeling more and more aggrieved, and her eyes even turned a little red.

"I heard from the maids who serve us that Sister Mi Zhen and Sister Gan Mei also stayed in the manor for a while before our husband took them as concubines. But we've been here for so long, and there's been no sign of anything! Could it be... could it be that our husband doesn't like us? That he thinks we're not pretty enough?"

As she spoke, she pouted, and it looked like tears were about to fall from her eyes.

Da Qiao quickly put down what she was doing, reached out and took her hand, gently comforting her:

"Don't talk nonsense. If our husband didn't like us, why would he treat us so well? Look at everything in this yard, wasn't it all ordered by him personally? Even the flowers in the yard were planted according to our favorite colors. There must be another reason, we just don't know it."

She thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up: "That's it! Let's ask the other women! They've been with their husbands for a long time, they must know what they're thinking!"

"That's right! How come I didn't think of that!"

Xiao Qiao immediately revived on the spot, her eyes wide open, and she grabbed Da Qiao's hand and ran outside.

"I just passed by Sister Cai Yan's courtyard and saw a lot of sisters there drinking tea and chatting! Let's go ask them, they'll definitely know!"

The two sisters, hand in hand, blushed and ran along, their skirts fluttering in the wind like two white butterflies, causing the passing maids to secretly laugh.

"Ladies, you're running so fast, be careful not to fall!" a maid called from behind.

Xiao Qiao turned around, smiled at her, and ran even faster.

...