Three Kingdoms: Mistakenly Becoming Liu Bei's Adoptive Father at the Start

After Liu Dai's men withdrew, the hall remained silent for a long time.

Wang Yun leaned on the table, his hands still trembling slightly.

It took him a while to come to his senses. He looked at Liu Liang with a complicated expression in his eyes.

"Lord Zishan," Wang Yun's voice was a little hoarse, "if it weren't for your presence just now, this old man would probably be here today."

Liu Liang bowed slightly: "You flatter me, Minister of Works. No matter how arrogant Liu Dai is, he wouldn't dare to actually lay a hand on the Three Dukes. He's just here to scare people."

Wang Yun shook his head: "Trying to scare people? He came in with a knife. If it weren't for your two brothers being there, and if it weren't for your words silencing him, I don't even dare to imagine what he could have done."

Wang Yun stood up, walked to Liu Liang, and bowed solemnly.

Liu Liang quickly helped him up: "Minister Situ, this is absolutely not allowed."

Wang Yun straightened up, looked at him, and suddenly sighed.

"Sir, you just said that you came to Chang'an without any purpose or desire. I didn't believe you at first, but now I do."

Wang Yun turned and walked back to the main seat, clapping his hands and saying, "Someone come here."

His nephew, Wang Ling, entered in response.

Wang Yun said, "Go and summon Diao Chan."

Liu Liang's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't show it on his face.

Wang Yun said, "Just now, that scoundrel Liu Dai kept saying he wanted to see Diao Chan dance. You shielded me from this humiliation, sir, and I have no way to thank you. So, let Diao Chan come out, dance a song for you, and offer you a cup of wine. Consider it... a small token of my appreciation."

Liu Liang had been thinking about how to steer the conversation towards Diao Chan, but he hadn't expected her to bring it up herself. A direct refusal would seem insincere, so he reluctantly said, "Lord Situ, this…"

Wang Yun chuckled and said, "Sir, there's no need to refuse. Although Diao Chan is my adopted daughter, she's the only decent thing I have in this household. If you don't mind, please consider it a favor to me."

Liu Liang couldn't say anything more, so he could only nod in agreement.

Soon after, the sound of jade pendants came from the back hall.

A woman's natural fragrance followed, carried on the breeze.

Liu Liang picked up his teacup, lowered his head, and took a sip to moisten his throat.

Having lived for over thirty years, spanning two lifetimes, the name Diao Chan was deeply etched in his mind.

That's not a person, it's a legend.

Legend has it that you can't just look at it casually; you have to do it with a sense of ritual.

The sound of jade pendants grew closer.

Then he heard the sound of the beaded curtain being moved, a soft, fragmented sound, like raindrops hitting bamboo leaves.

Liu Liang raised his eyelids.

Through the beaded curtain, I could see a figure.

It was described as a human figure, but it was really just a blurry outline.

The beaded curtain was too dense, and the light was dim, so one could only vaguely make out that it was a woman standing behind the curtain, her figure fragmented into countless pieces by the light and shadow.

But it was this blurry outline that made Liu Liang pause, holding his teacup.

Wang Yun said, "Diao Chan, we have an honored guest today. Please dance a song first, then offer a cup of wine."

The figure behind the curtain bowed slightly, as if in acknowledgment.

Then the music started.

I don't know what kind of instrument it is, but it sounds faint and melodious, as if it's drifting in from a very far place.

Diao Chan's figure began to dance behind the curtain.

Liu Liang put down his teacup and leaned back in his chair.

He doesn't understand dance.

But he knows what looks good.

When the figure behind the curtain moved, the air in the entire hall changed.

It doesn't get more fragrant, it gets softer.

It was as if something had melted and was flowing in the air.

The figure sometimes stretched out, sometimes slumped down.

The beaded curtain obscured all details, leaving only a blurry outline.

But it was this very outline that reminded Liu Liang of many things that any man would think about.

The music suddenly became faster.

The figure began to spin, her sash fluttering, causing the beaded curtain to sway gently.

Through the gap, he vaguely saw a section of snow-white wrist, which vanished in an instant.

Suddenly, it got hot, and the music stopped.

The figure stood behind the curtain, breathing slightly heavily.

Through the beaded curtain, the sound of panting came through, like a feather tickling my heart.

Liu Liang picked up the teacup and took another sip.

The tea has gone cold.

The beaded curtain was parted, and the figure stepped out.

Liu Liang then saw clearly what she was wearing.

A plain white robe, made of an inexpensive and even somewhat old material, with frayed edges.

A light blue belt was tied around her waist in a simple knot.

Her hair was simply tied up and held in place by a wooden hairpin.

He wore no jewelry whatsoever.

But when this unassuming woman stepped out from behind the beaded curtain, Liu Liang's eyes lit up.

It's not her appearance that's radiant, it's her personality.

The way she walks, the way she stands, the curve of her eyelashes when she lowers her eyes, the way her sleeve slips down to reveal a small section of her wrist when she raises her hand...

Every movement seemed to be meticulously designed, yet also as if it was meant to be done this way from birth.

Liu Liang suddenly realized something.

Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu were infatuated with each other, not because they were lustful.

It's not that you want to look at a woman just because she's standing there.

I want to watch it again after I've finished watching it.

Diao Chan walked up to Liu Liang, picked up the wine pot on the table, filled a cup, and presented it to him with both hands.

"Please have some, sir."

The voice was so soft; anyone who rejected her in such a soft voice must be inhuman.

Liu Liang reached out and took the wine glass.

My finger accidentally touched her fingertip.

Just a light touch, and then it's gone.

Liu Liang drank the wine and put the wine cup back on the table.

"Good wine." Liu Liang nodded in acknowledgment.

Diao Chan lowered her eyes, took two steps back, and then retreated behind the curtain.

The beaded curtain fell, and the figure gradually blurred, finally disappearing into the darkness leading to the back hall.

On the other side, Wang Yun kept observing Liu Liang.

From Diao Chan's appearance to the dancing, to the toasting, to her departure.

His gaze never left Liu Liang's face.

His face remained calm throughout.

He watched Diao Chan dance, but his gaze was pure, as if he were appreciating a painting, serious but not vulgar.

When Diao Chan offered him a toast, he accepted it, drank it, thanked her, and made no other moves.

After Diao Chan left, he picked up his teacup and continued drinking the now-cold tea.

Wang Yun observed secretly, and sighed inwardly once again.

This man is a true gentleman!

If it were anyone else, seeing Diao Chan like this, they wouldn't necessarily lose their composure on the spot, but they would at least be unable to resist swallowing their Adam's apple and asking a few more questions.

But Mr. Liu, from beginning to end, kept his eyes straight ahead and remained expressionless.

Unbeknownst to Wang Yun, Liu Liang was using all his strength to prevent himself from turning back to look at the beaded curtain.

He had only one thought in his mind:

This!

Who can stand up to his mother?

but!

He held on...

How did he manage to hold on?

Hard furnishings...

I definitely couldn't withstand another one.

Thankfully, the woman is gone.

Liu Liang took another sip of herbal tea to suppress the anger rising from the bottom of his heart.

Just then, Wang Yun's voice came from the side: "Mr. Zishan, it's getting late. If you don't mind, please stay at my residence tonight. It's very chaotic outside, and it would be dangerous to go out. I will personally escort you out early tomorrow morning."

Liu Liang glanced at Zhao Yun, and seeing him nod, he knew that the five hundred cavalrymen had been deployed. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Minister."