The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

After Qin Yi proposed marriage to Lu Taigong, Lu Taigong was quite satisfied with his proposal. So, after careful consideration, he finally decided to have his eldest daughter Lu Zhi and Liu Bang, and his youngest daughter Lu Su and Qin Yi choose an auspicious date and hold an engagement ceremony at the same time.

On this day, Grandpa Lü summoned his two beloved daughters to his presence, ready to explain his proposal of marriage to them. When Lü Zhi and Lü Su heard this, Lü Su's cheeks instantly flushed, like a fawn running around in panic, her shyness mixed with an indescribable joy.

At this time, the second son of the Lu family, Lu Ze, who had left home to make his living, and the third son, Lu Shi, who had gone abroad to study, also happened to rush back home. The family was finally reunited and was filled with joy.

In the next few days, the Lu Mansion was decorated with lights and was full of joy, just like a festival.

Grandpa Lü busied himself with preparations for the engagement ceremony. He asked his eldest son, Lü Ze, to hire the finest tailors to create beautiful wedding gowns for his two daughters. Lü Zhi's gown was as magnificent and majestic as the sunset glow, while Lü Su's was as fresh and elegant as newly-opened spring flowers, each with its own distinct style. He also prepared a rich dowry, wishing his daughters happiness and contentment in their future marriages.

The day of the engagement finally arrived. The Lü residence was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, a scene of great joy. Qin Yi and Liu Bang, dressed in their finest attire, arrived at the residence. Seeing the beautiful Lü Zhi and Lü Su, they were filled with joy.

Liu Bang walked towards Lü Zhi, took out a crystal-clear pearl necklace from his bosom, and carefully placed it around her neck. Lü Zhi smiled slightly and said gently, "I will regard it as my most precious treasure."

Qin Yi smiled as he walked towards Lu Su, his eyes filled with tenderness and love. He gently extended his hand and handed her an exquisite jade pendant, saying, "This jade pendant represents my promise to you. May our love be as eternal as this jade pendant." Lu Su shyly accepted the jade pendant, her eyes gleaming with happiness. She whispered, "I will cherish this relationship and spend my life with you."

In the presence of everyone, Qin Yi and Liu Bang exchanged tokens of love with Lu Zhi and Lu Su respectively, and took marriage vows.

After the ceremony, Grand Duke Lü hosted a sumptuous banquet for family and friends. Everyone laughed and chatted, blessing the newlyweds. Lü Zhi and Lü Su's eyes gleamed with happiness. They looked forward to their future lives and hoped to spend every moment with their husbands.

During the marriage proposal period, the Lu family residence was bustling with activity. Qin Yi and Lu Su were officially engaged. Liu Bang, approaching his thirties, was over ten years Qin Yi's senior. Lu Zhi, though three years her senior, was also in her twenties. The two planned to choose an auspicious day for their wedding.

However, in this joyful atmosphere, Qin Yi seemed a little worried. He knew that proposing marriage was just the beginning and there was still a long way to go. Not only did he have to travel north, but he also had to take responsibility for Lu Su.

On a quiet evening, Qin Yi found Lu Su, and the two agreed to take a stroll in the garden. Under the moonlight, Qin Yi gently held Lu Su's hand and solemnly said, "Su Su, I'm about to go on a long journey, but I promise you, I will be back as soon as possible to reunite with you." Lu Su's eyes shone with tears, but she responded firmly, "Brother Qin, I believe you. I will wait for you to come back, no matter how long it takes." Qin Yi felt Lu Su's deep affection, and his heart was filled with strength. Although they were about to part, their hearts had already been closely connected.

In the days that followed, Lü Ze, having honed his martial arts skills during his years abroad, began sparring with Qin Yi, Ying Bu, and the others. Lü Zhi brought Lü Shi to the construction site to assist Liu Bang, while Lü Su watched from the sidelines as his elder brother sparred with Qin Yi.

In the middle of the field, Lü Ze and Qin Yi stood facing each other. Lü Ze held a spear in his hand, the tip of the spear flashing with a cold light, and his eyes revealed a sense of determination and confidence.

Qin Yi held a long sword with a sharp flash on the sword body. His steps were light, as if he could launch an attack at any time.

Suddenly, Lu Ze shouted loudly, and the spear in his hand stabbed at Qin Yi like a dragon emerging from the sea. Qin Yi dodged to the side, and at the same time swung the long sword in his hand, slashing towards Lu Ze's throat.

Lu Ze took a step back to avoid Qin Yi's attack, and at the same time stabbed out with the spear in his hand again, this time with faster speed and stronger force.

Qin Yi also wanted to let Lu Ze go, for fear of hurting him. He dodged Lu Ze's spear, and at the same time, the sword in his hand stabbed at Lu Ze's chest like a poisonous snake.

The two exchanged blows, and the atmosphere in the arena was extremely tense. Ying Bu and Lu Taigong, who were watching from the side, were dazzled and cheered from time to time.

Lu Su's heart was also filled with tension and worry. She clenched her fists tightly and cheered for her brother Qin.

The ranking of the Lu family children is as follows: Lu Ze is the oldest and is twenty-four this year, Lu Zhi is second and is twenty years old, Lu Shi is third and is nineteen this year, and Lu Su is the youngest and has just turned seventeen.

After recent observation and analysis, Qin Yi was surprised to discover that Grandpa Lü had always had a special way of educating his two sons and Lü Zhi. From a young age, Grandpa Lü personally taught them military knowledge and admonished them to take responsibility and act decisively.

The siblings, Lü Ze and Lü Zhi, not only shared similar personalities but also displayed exceptional composure in their approach to affairs and interpersonal relationships. They prioritized the interests of their family, prioritizing its development in all decisions. Lü Ze also approved of his elder sister Lü Zhi's marriage to Liu Bang. After observing him for some time, he discovered that Liu Bang possessed both great ambition and exceptional leadership skills. Furthermore, he exuded a sense of maturity and composure, demonstrating a tactful, worldly-wise, and adaptable approach. These qualities distinguished him from the crowd. After all, after years of experience abroad, he knew that while the empire had initially stabilized, it remained unstable. All this depended on the authority of Qin Shi Huang, maintaining order, while various factions lurked in the shadows, waiting for their opportunity. Any negligence could ignite a new round of war. Therefore, Lü Ze constantly honed his skills.

In contrast, Lü Shi, having spent a long time studying abroad, has a relatively narrower perspective and social skills. He is more inclined towards political affairs and has a strong interest in the operation and management of power. Lü Shi may be able to make a name for himself in the political arena.

One day, Grand Master Lü summoned Lü Ze and Lü Shi to his study and asked, "You two are both already in your twenties. One has been away from home for many years, while the other has achieved success in his studies. I'm sure you've gained a great deal of experience. Could you please share your views on the general trend of the world?"

Lu Shi pondered for a moment, then stood up and bowed, saying, "Father, I have been studying for several years. I believe that the country has just been settled and there is much to be done. I should study hard to serve the king and bring honor to our family."

Father Lu stroked his beard and said "hmm".

Lu Ze bowed and said, "Father, the empire is just beginning to settle, but the situation is unstable and undercurrents are surging. All forces are like hibernating snakes, lying dormant. We rely entirely on the power of the First Emperor to deter all. However, if the court is unbalanced and the situation becomes tense, I'm afraid there will be another round of war. We must hone ourselves now and accumulate strength to cope with future changes."

After hearing this, Father Lu's eyes flashed, and he nodded slightly. He continued, "That's quite reasonable. What are your two opinions on Liu Bang and Qin Yi? Who is stronger and who is weaker? If there are major changes in the future, who will be able to accomplish the task, or can the two of them work together?"

Lu Shi looked at his eldest brother, Lu Ze, without saying a word. Lu Ze nodded slightly and said, "Father, given the current situation, there's no chance these two will work together." Lu's father listened without interrupting, motioning for Lu Ze to continue. "Liu Bang is not only ambitious, but also a talented leader. Furthermore, he is mature and steady, tactful and worldly-wise, able to bend and stretch, and knows how to adapt flexibly and assess situations. He possesses the ability to lead."

After a pause, he continued, "Qin Yi is a man of integrity and martial arts prowess. He is unwilling to be inferior to others and is determined to join the army and make great achievements. He is quite stubborn."

After hearing this, Father Lu laughed and said, "You're only half right. Liu Bang is a late bloomer with a promising future, perhaps even a meteoric rise. But you haven't quite grasped the true potential of Qin Yi. He values ​​loyalty and righteousness, isn't particular about small matters, and knows how to leverage opportunities. He's a perfect match for Su'er and can be the last refuge for our Lu family."

Lu Ze and the other two immediately understood what their father meant and said, "Father, you are right. We will learn from your teachings."