"Madam Feng?" Liu Qi was slightly stunned. Could it be that she was the sister-in-law of Zhao Fan, whom Zhao Zilong had cleverly captured Guiyang and refused to marry
"The lady's name is Fan Feng. She was actually a dancer," Zhao Linger's cheeks flushed, her gentle eyes full of Liu Qi, and she said faintly: "Like me, she doesn't know her own life experience..."
Liu Qi chuckled and said, "The Cai family's matter is over. This matter has nothing to do with her. I am not a murderous person, so how could I implicate innocent people?"
Zhao Linger shook her head slightly and asked, "Does Dalang know about the Kushan Kingdom?"
"Kushan?" Liu Qi frowned slightly and nodded, "It's a faraway place, and its territory may be larger than that of the Central Plains. The people there are devout Buddhists."
Zhao Linger's beautiful eyes turned and she nodded, "Da Lang is indeed well-read. Madam Feng has been following a Kushan merchant caravan since she was a child, wandering around doing business. They used singing and dancing to please the guests. Once the fleet encountered a strong wind in Jiaozhi, she was sold to the Central Plains. It was Zhao Fan's brother who bought her. Seeing that Madam was outstanding in appearance and dancing gracefully, he took in the orphan girl and formed a dancing team to entertain the guests. We are all members of the dancing team."
Liu Qi didn't expect Fan Feng to have such an experience, so he asked, "Then how did you come to Xiangyang?"
Zhao Linger smiled bitterly and said, "Most people in Xiangyang know about the dancers. I heard that even your father asked Zhao Fan for a dancer. Cai Mao bought me for one million dollars just to..."
Liu Qi already understood, and his palm wandered over the smooth and round curves, and asked: "What is Madam Fan's character like?"
Zhao Linger said, "Madam has suffered a lot since she was young, and she loves us girls very much. Except for being strict during dance practice, she treats us like her own daughters the rest of the time, so we all call her godmother. Since Brother Zhao Fan passed away, the dancers' team was disbanded, and they all became maids and stayed in the mansion. No more people were hired for training."
Liu Qi was a little curious: "Who is this brother Zhao Fanzhi? How dare he buy and sell people privately? He is so bold."
Zhao Linger said, "Brother Zhao Fan was a famous merchant in Jiaozhou and Nanyue. Kushan pearls, spices, agates, ivory, etc. were all transported to the Central Plains through him. His assets were incalculable. Unfortunately, he was injured by a poisonous insect when he passed through Nanyue and died."
"So much money?" Liu Qi's eyes lit up and he leaned over to ask, "Who is managing those businesses now?"
Zhao Linger shook her head and said, "It has been three years since I left Guiyang. Brother Zhao Fan has no children. I don't know what the situation is like now."
Liu Qi hooked Zhao Linger's smooth chin and said with a chuckle, "It's quite interesting!"
Zhao Linger said worriedly: "Then my godmother..."
Liu Qi held the beauty in his arms and said with a smile: "Since Zhao Fan has not yet started an army, it shows that he still has concerns! He did not make a big mistake this time. It is not too late to turn back!"
"Thank you, Dalang!" Zhao Linger exhaled softly, and her snake-like body coiled around him again, "I will repay you well!"
…
It was a beautiful night and Liu Qi didn't know when he fell asleep. He didn't get up until the sun was high in the sky and went to the mansion to pay a visit to Liu Biao.
Liu Biao sat upright, and was very satisfied with Liu Qi's gift. He smiled and twirled his beard, saying, "My son is in charge of military affairs, and he has brought together civil and military officials, and has appointed talented people. I don't need to ask about it anymore. But your lifelong affairs are still undecided, so I have to intervene."
Liu Qi clasped his fists and said, "Marriage is a matter of parents' decision. If my father has made a decision, I should obey it."
Liu Biao nodded and smiled, "In fact, three years ago, I had already found a good candidate for you. She is the eldest daughter of the Xi family in Xiangyang, the younger sister of Xi Zhen. She is virtuous and gentle, and is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She is not inferior to the daughter of Cai Zhonglang."
Liu Qi nodded and said, "I have heard of the girl from the Xi family. I heard that she is very pretty, but she has a proud personality. I am afraid..."
The Xi family is also a big family in Jingzhou. Their strength is not inferior to that of the Cai family, and their industry is extremely extensive. However, because no one of them serves as an official in the court, their reputation is lower.
Among the younger generation today, Xi Zhen is the most famous, second only to Pang Tong. His contemporaries evaluated him even higher than Ma Liang. The two of them are collectively known as the Lan Fang of Chu.
Xi Yuan, the daughter of the Xi family, was a famous talented woman in Jingzhou. She was highly praised by two great marshals, Huang Wan and Zhang Wen, who believed that her talent was no less than that of Cai Wenji. There was once a saying that "Cai Yan in the North and Xi Yuan in the South".
Liu Biao stroked his beard and smiled, "My son, don't worry. In the past, you endured humiliation and were laughed at by others, so Xi Yuan naturally looked down on you. But now you have achieved success and fame, and your power is known all over the world. We are royal nobles, and it is an honor for the Xi family to marry their daughter."
Liu Qi nodded and said, "In that case, I will go meet this talented girl from the Xi family first."
Liu Biao stroked his beard and laughed, "My son has recovered from his illness and has an extraordinary demeanor. His poems have amazed everyone. He is as charming and suave as his father was in his youth. He will surely win the heart of this girl."
Liu Qi nodded and smiled, not knowing whether Liu Biao was praising himself or not!
Liu Biao suddenly whispered again: "Last month, the head of Wudang, Xuan Zhenzi, came to Xiangyang. I asked him to look at this girl's appearance. He said that this girl has the appearance of a great noble. Among the children of the Xi family, there will definitely be a true dragon emperor!"
"This..." Liu Qi didn't know whether to believe it for a moment. He looked at Liu Biao, and the father and son smiled knowingly.
In fact, Liu Biao at this time was the same as Liu Yan back then. They all had the ambition to become emperor, but they lacked the strength and could only think about it in their hearts.
Liu Biao was so serious just by a casual remark from Xuan Zhenzi, which shows that he also has an uneasy heart.
While they were chatting, Liu Cong walked in and seemed a little nervous when he saw his brother. Although he was only twelve years old, he knew that the feud between Cai and his brother had a great deal to do with himself.
Liu Bang asked Liu Cong to come forward and greet him. He sighed and said, "You two brothers should work together to revitalize the Han Dynasty and strengthen our Liu family. Your father should rest in peace in his grave."
Liu Qi held Liu Cong's hand and said with a smile, "Cai used my brother to seize Jingzhou. They deserve to be punished. You are smart, so you should study hard. In the future, you can conquer the four directions for me, and then I can rest assured to leave the rear to you."
Liu Cong nodded seriously and said, "Brother, rest assured, I will do my best to fulfill Xiao He's mission."
"Cong'er is still young, but he has such insight. He will become a great man in the future." Liu Biao smiled with satisfaction and said, "Who dares to say that my son Liu Jingsheng is useless?"
Liu Cong's performance in history was actually not bad. He knew at the age of twelve that he could not surrender to Cao, but he had no power and was unable to control himself, so he was eventually killed by Cao Cao.
According to Cao Cao's character, he should have accepted Madam Cai as his adopted son. However, from this action, it seems that he was still somewhat afraid of Liu Cong and did not dare to raise a tiger that would become a threat.
The father and his two sons had a rare reunion. They chatted and laughed together, enjoying the rare family love.
After breakfast, Liu Qi said goodbye and decided to go to Xi's house first to meet his future fiancée.