Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 34 Auspicious Day and Beautiful Woman's Wedding Night, The Beauty Awaits You in the Bridal Chamber

In 196 AD, the first year of the Jian'an era, the new year began.

The entire city of Shouchun is adorned with red silk, awaiting the arrival of a beautiful lady. The people are all filled with joy, celebrating the arrival of Lord Yuan.

Since that incident last January, people have been saying that the Imperial Seal has been returned to Heaven's will.

Yuan Gong completely transformed them, freeing them from suffering.

First, gently shake the sword; then, lightly levy taxes. The sword in Yan Xiang's hand is specifically for slaying corrupt officials!
Later, he went to Jiangdong to eliminate the bandits. When Yuan Gong returned with a large army, he pacified eighty prefectures in one battle and did not forget us common people.

He first rented land to the people, then reduced the exorbitant taxes and levies, and rewarded those who cultivated the land with titles. His name was known to all the people!
When they set out on the expedition, there were 50,000 soldiers. Every household came to help, not because they wanted to be separated from their loved ones, but because they were used to it.

When they returned, they had 100,000 men. The sons of each family were still alive. They returned home in glory and were promoted. They said it was because Lord Yuan had been kind to them.

Though the heavy snow may not melt away, my heart is burning with joy. As we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, I know this year will be a bountiful one.

Nursery rhymes are sung everywhere, and the one who can replace the Han dynasty should be Tu Gao!
Lord Yuan! On this auspicious day, we extend our congratulations to you:
May we be forever united in heart and grow old together!

Along both banks of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, people from various counties and prefectures spontaneously sang the song, decorating their homes with lanterns and colorful decorations to welcome the New Year and celebrate Yuan Gong's wedding.

Yuan Shu will also celebrate this auspicious occasion by taking two daughters of the Qiao family as his wives and concubines. The people will go to Shouchun Palace to offer their congratulations, and all the officials will come to congratulate him.

Sun Ce, clad in black armor with red tassels, and wearing a golden helmet with a hairpin and colorful ribbons, stood at the palace gate, greeting guests on behalf of his adoptive father.

The magnificent palaces and halls of Shouchun were adorned with beams wrapped in Shu brocade, and red banners fluttered down, while thousands of palace lanterns were lit up at night.

Yan Xiang, holding the red paper, was handling all the wedding rites. He was loudly chanting:
"Worship heaven and earth!"

Yuan Shu and his two daughters worshipped Heaven and Earth together.

"I bow to Your Majesty's grace a second time!"

Because all his elders had died in Luoyang, Yuan Shu and his two daughters paid homage to the emperor from afar while they were fleeing to the north and barely surviving.

"Husband and wife bow to each other, raising the tray to each other's eyebrows in mutual respect."

Yuan Shu and the two women bowed to each other, and after the ceremony, they became husband and wife.

After he had finished drinking and enjoying himself with his guests and ministers, and as the guests and hosts were leaving, Sun Ce gazed intently at his retreating figure and quietly followed Taishi Ci.

"Today is my godfather's wedding day. I am so happy that I have not yet had enough. Ziyi, would you like to come with me to my mansion to drink until dawn and congratulate my godfather?"

Sun Ce had long heard of Gongjin's words, which advised him to secretly befriend loyal and righteous men in Yuan Shu's camp so that if the situation changed, he could break free from Yuan Shu's control with lightning speed.

Unfortunately, he was being watched too closely and never had a chance. Now, with Yuan Shu's wedding, he could take this opportunity to develop his first loyal and righteous man.

When choosing a target, he immediately thought of Taishi Ci. First of all, Ci was a defeated general who was forced to surrender because of Liu Yao's life, so he could hardly be said to be loyal to Yuan Shu.

Furthermore, he deeply admired the scene of Ziyi breaking through the fire and escaping the encirclement in the battle outside Qu'a City, with his spear still stained with blood, and he still remembers it to this day.

Taishi Ci was unaware that Sun Ce had ulterior motives. Since it was Yuan Gong's adopted son who invited him, how could he refuse?
"Young Master Bofu has invited you; how could Ci'an refuse?"

Sun Ce was secretly pleased upon hearing this, thinking that Taishi Ci also had feelings for him, and that he might be able to persuade him of the greater good and conspire with him on important matters.

The moonlight turned to frost on the bluestone slabs. Sun Ce followed the moonlight trails as he welcomed Taishi Ci into his home.

His new wife, Madam Yuan, whom he had taken a month ago, had already heard the news and arranged for servants to prepare a banquet for them.

Sun Ce disliked the marriage, but his mother persuaded him several times that since he was born into the Sun family, he should sacrifice for the Sun family. All the noble families in the world were like this, so how could he be an exception?
However, he was a magnanimous man and not one to take his anger out on his wife. Yuan was from a high-ranking family and was virtuous and capable in managing household affairs. Therefore, the two had treated each other with respect since their marriage.

When Sun Ce led Taishi Ci to his residence, unlike Yuan Shu's residence where candles were often flickering, his residence was brightly lit.

The two took their seats as host and guest, and after several rounds of drinks and dishes, they had a good time.

Sun Ce kept urging him to drink, and seeing that Taishi Ci's effects of the wine were getting stronger, he pretended to be drunk to test him.

“I have heard that the world is in great chaos, with heroes vying for power. Those who lack ambition will ultimately be controlled by others. What do you think, Ziyi?”

Taishi Ci deeply agreed, saying, "A good man with a seven-foot frame should wield a three-foot sword and establish unparalleled achievements."

"Now that I have met Lord Yuan, I can serve on the battlefield with my sword and spear. I am certain that I will be granted a title of nobility in the future, and that will fulfill my life's ambition!" Sun Ce: "."

He was about to offer his recruitment pitch when he was stopped. He paused briefly, then changed the subject.

"I have also heard that recently in Shouchun City, there has been a prophecy that says: 'The one who will replace the Han Dynasty is Gao of Dangtu.'"

Many people said: "If the emperor were like Lord Yuan, the nation would be fortunate, and the people would be fortunate too."

In Jiangdong and other places, a remnant of the Taiping Dao, named Yu Ji, emerged. He claimed to have obtained a divine book of 170 volumes from the spring water of Quyang, which he called the "Taiping Qingling Book".

Yu Ji once used this book to distribute talismanic water and bewitch the villagers. It is said that he saw the current prosperity of Jiangdong and was moved by Zhang Jiao's ambition to bring peace in the past.

So they set up an altar and performed a ritual, offering a prayer to the gods: "If Lord Yuan does not become emperor, then I beg Heaven to grant me my death."

I have heard of many such things, and I am often worried about my godfather because of this. I fear that if given time, things might get worse.

Just as Sun Ce was about to make a dire statement, saying that if Yuan Shu were to declare himself emperor and rebel, they would all be considered traitors, Taishi Ci, fueled by alcohol, slammed his hand on the table.

"well said!

If Lord Yuan is not to become emperor, then I beg Heaven to grant me my death.

Unexpectedly, among the remnants of the Taiping Dao, there was such a person with keen insight and a generous spirit of righteousness.

Sun Ce: ? ? ?
Taishi Ziyi!

Do you prioritize loyalty and righteousness?
Where is the passionate fervor you displayed beneath the walls of Qu'a? How could you utter such words after just a few ounces of wine?

Knowing that things were unlikely to succeed today, Sun Ce was still unwilling to give up and raised his cup in a toast.

"I have also heard that a great man should live between heaven and earth and should not remain subservient to others for long."

Ziyi, do you agree?

"Young Master Bofu, what do you mean by that?"

Upon careful consideration of the deeper meaning of these words, and considering Sun Ce's rather strange words and actions, Taishi Ci became secretly alert, and his drunkenness had mostly subsided.

His gaze was deep and intense as he looked directly at Sun Ce and said:

“I have also heard that if a minister plots against his lord while he is still alive, he is disloyal as a minister; if a father plots against his father while he is still alive, he is unfilial as a son.”

Lord Yuan treated you like his own son and betrothed his eldest daughter to him. Now you do not think of repaying his kindness, but instead plot against him.

Such a disloyal and unfilial person is shameful to be associated with.

He paused slightly, then finally sighed.

"You now value Ci and entrust her with important matters, which means you trust me and have opened your heart to me."

If I denounce you, I would be unjust as a friend; if I do not denounce you, I would be disloyal as a subject.

Throughout history, loyalty and righteousness have been difficult to reconcile. Therefore, I will not betray you, but I will certainly supervise my lord.

If you ever betray your Lord, I will kill you first to uphold loyalty!

Sun Ce was speechless!

He never expected that not only would he fail to recruit them, but he would also have another person watching him.

Gongjin has ruined me!

What secret recruitment of loyal and righteous men for grand schemes? If they are truly loyal and righteous, how could they betray their lord and recruit me?
Meanwhile, inside Shouchun Palace, a beautiful woman was enjoying a romantic evening with candles and brocade adorned with mandarin ducks.

Slightly drunk, Yuan Shu staggered toward the bridal chamber.

　I know you're all anxious, but don't worry, let me be anxious first! Just one minute, I'll refresh the page, and the next chapter will be here soon (~)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)