Chapter 2096 - 1862: Escaping Disaster
When Chen Xi arrived at Zhou Yu’s place, he saw Ma Chao with an arm around Sun Ce, trying to pull him away, chatting casually along the way. Apparently something had happened with Zhao Yun, and Ma Chao needed a buddy to back him up, otherwise, he truly couldn’t fight Zhao Yun.
"Meng Qi, can I ask you a question?" Chen Xi stopped Ma Chao, who had just greeted him and was ready to leave, with an expressionless face.
"What’s up?" Ma Chao stopped and asked.
"If the Marquis Wenn finds out his daughter was pushed to the position of a concubine because you made trouble, what do you think will happen?" Chen Xi asked flatly. Zhao Yun had the courage to handle the consequences, but it seemed Ma Chao didn’t yet.
Ma Chao looked up to the sky, finding that the originally warm sunshine didn’t feel so warm anymore. If Lyu Bu knew about this, he might really chop him down. Lyu Bu only had one daughter, Lyu Qiling, and it was likely that Gao Shun and Zhang Liao were also keeping an eye on the matter.
"I can’t let my sister be wronged, there has to be a first come, first served basis." Ma Chao said with some chill but love for his sister outweighed the fear of the potential beating.
"Meng Qi, what are you afraid of? Marquis Wenn has already ascended." Sun Ce patted his chest, showing a completely unconcerned attitude.
"He’s ascended and you dare bully his daughter? Aren’t you aware of the stories of the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens descending to earth?" Chen Xi joked. Of course, he didn’t know if Lyu Bu could come back down, but he certainly hoped Ma Chao and Sun Ce wouldn’t rush in foolishly and create a disaster.
Do you really think Lyu Qiling has no family backing? Although Gao Shun and Zhang Liao haven’t spoken up, do you think Sun Ce and Ma Chao can win for sure? If you don’t cause a fuss, and Lyu Qiling insists, Gao Shun and Zhang Liao might be embarrassed, but they definitely wouldn’t say anything.
The issue is that if Ma Chao and Sun Ce rush in noisily, even if Lyu Qiling originally wanted it, Zhang Liao would have to step in and question, because family support is meant for stabilizing the household, helping the main family deal with issues.
After Zhen Yi’s death, the Zhang Clan managed to stabilize the Zhen Family and took control of their affairs because of Zhen Yi’s requests to the Zhen Clan elder before he died, and despite the Zhang Clan’s quarrels with the Zhang Family of Qinghe, their main family was still the Zhang Family of Qinghe.
A concubine can’t share a legal wife’s power unless the concubine herself is strong or her family backing is strong. Lyu Qiling can take a step back in this situation, but it absolutely cannot be forced by Ma Chao, or else her family’s reputation would be tarnished.
Although Sun Ce and Ma Chao may be straightforward, they aren’t stupid. Chen Xi almost spelt it out for them, they understood. Sun Ce originally thought Ma Chao could handle it and intended to watch the show, but after Chen Xi’s words, he realized the matter couldn’t proceed, so he stopped leading Ma Chao on.
Of course, if Lyu Qiling lacks consideration, Sun Ce would help, but right now it’s best not to.
Ma Chao looked a bit unhappy, but he knew Chen Xi was right. If Lyu Qiling backs down voluntarily, that’s ideal. If Lyu Qiling wants to suppress Ma Yunlu, then Ma Chao’s intervention is justified, but he absolutely can’t be the one to pressure Lyu Qiling first.
"Fine, I’ll go spar with my brother-in-law." Ma Chao said gloomily, hefting his long spear angrily, but didn’t mention causing trouble, even though, in the end, he still intended to fight Zhao Yun, if he doesn’t mention this, all should be fine.
"Alright, go ahead. Perhaps after several decades, when Marquis Wenn descends to earth, this might save your life." Chen Xi teased, as Ma Chao, looking displeased, dragged Sun Ce to cause trouble.
Actually, Ma Chao had no clue that if not for Chen Xi’s words, next time Lyu Bu appeared, he might beat Ma Chao up as well. Zhao Yun’s combat power at least ensured he wouldn’t be killed by a berserk Lyu Bu, but a young Ma Chao was uncertain.
Taking advantage of a time when someone’s father isn’t around to bully their daughter is generally discouraged, who knows how the father will deal with it upon return. Incidentally, Lyu Bu was currently in the Central Plains.
"Chan’er, should I go chop Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou and use their heads as sacrifices for Minister Wang?" Lyu Bu said, looking at Diao Chan kneeling and tearfully before Wang Yun’s grave. Eventually, Lyu Bu couldn’t resist Diao Chan’s daily northward gaze, so he resolved to bring her to the ancestral graves of the Wang Family of Taiyuan around the time of sacrifice some years later.
"Father mostly hoped for the revival of the Han Dynasty and stability of the Wang Family, not for personal revenge." Diao Chan spoke through tears as she kneeled at the grave.
"Fine, where else do you want to visit?" Lyu Bu, hearing this, abandoned the idea of chopping up Fan Chou and the others.
Of course, Lyu Bu was dismissive of their martial force, but rather recognized their combat capability. However, Bingzhou and Liangzhou rarely collided.
"I’d like to visit the old Wang Family residence. Father’s grave shows signs of repair, there should be descendants in the Wang Family, and I’d like to meet them." Diao Chan wiped her tears, her eyes red as she spoke.
"Alright, we’ve visited the Yan Clan’s grave before, and Minister Wang’s grave too; if the Wang Family of Taiyuan still has people, that’s good." Lyu Bu said casually.
Lyu Bu had no deep impression of the Wang Family, if not for Wang Yun’s kindness to Diao Chan and her reluctance to let the Wang Family extinguish, Lyu Bu wouldn’t have been interested in the Wang Family’s matters.
But now, with Diao Chan as Lyu Bu’s only wife, naturally whatever Diao Chan wanted was paramount. What’s a trip to the old Wang Family residence in Taiyuan?
"Chan’er, do you know the way?" Lyu Bu asked.
"I know." Diao Chan nodded, recalling her youth spent for a long time at the Wang Family’s old residence, though the memory was slightly blurry, she generally knew the way.
Lyu Bu sent Red Hare away, then let Diao Chan get in the cart, driving her to the old Wang Family residence in Taiyuan. Along the way, though many were interested in this tall, mighty man, none imagined he was the strongest military general in the land today.
"Oh, what’s this about?" Diao Chan couldn’t help but be surprised upon seeing the mourning hangings at the Wang Family’s entrance in Taiyuan.
Diao Chan got out of the cart, stood in front of the closed courtyard gates, unsure whether to knock. Clearly, they were past the initial mourning, and this was a time to privately mourn and handle familial rites, not welcoming outsiders.
If Diao Chan returned during the funeral, that would have been understandable, but now, she should technically count as an outsider.
"Knock, they won’t mind." Lyu Bu reassured Diao Chan, who hesitated for a moment, then reached out to knock.
While guarding the spirit in the East Chamber, Wang Ling saw the family steward suddenly approaching, his face showing displeasure.