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"No," Sun Jian admitted through his laughter, "you were right to defend yourself. But did you really have to almost cut off his ear?"
"He moved at the wrong moment," Sun Shangxiang said flatly.
Lady Wu shot her husband a warning look, silently telling him to stop encouraging their daughter's more violent tendencies. He raised both hands innocently.
But Sun Shangxiang was now staring at them both with a grim expression.
"If this is about another arranged marriage," she repeated firmly, "I refuse. No matter who he is. I already have someone I care about."
Sun Jian's laughter faded, replaced by a softer, knowing smile.
"Yes," he said gently, "your mother and I already know about that."
Her face flushed instantly, a delicate pink blooming across her cheeks.
She scrambled to maintain dignity. "E... Either way, I don't want another talk about—"
"Are you sure," Sun Jian asked, "you don't want to hear the news we brought?"
Sun Shangxiang crossed her arms. "If it's what I think it is, no."
Lady Wu exchanged a glance with Sun Jian, her lips curving into a sly smile, the mischievous smile of a mother who knows exactly how to tease her daughter.
"Well then," Lady Wu said lightly, "since you don't want to hear it, we shall simply send a reply to His Majesty informing him that Shangxiang does not wish for the marriage he is helping arrange between you and Ma Chao."
Silence.
A full heartbeat of stunned, absolute silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Shangxiang practically shrieked, her eyes doubling in size. She grabbed her mother's arm so quickly Lady Wu almost stumbled.
"Is that true?! Mother?! Father?! did Brother Lie Fan truly send such a message?! Does that mean Brother Mengq, no, I mean, Ma Chao, actually asked him?! Did he really ask Brother Lie Fan to be our matchmaker?! Just like what he did for Zhao Yun and Ma Yunlu?!"
Her voice wasn't just excited, it was overflowing with joy, disbelief, and the kind of giddy happiness she normally tried to hide.
Lady Wu raised a brow, tapping her daughter's forehead lightly.
"My, my. Why are you so excited? I thought you didn't want this arranged marriage."
"No! No, I take that back!" Sun Shangxiang whined, tugging her mother's arm like a spoiled little girl. "Mother, please! Don't tell Brother Lie Fan I refused! I didn't mean it!"
Sun Jian laughed so loudly that even the female soldier still kneeling nearby couldn't help but smile.
Shangxiang continued panic flailing, grabbing both her parents' hands now.
"I take it back! I take it all back! Don't send that reply! Don't ruin it! I didn't know it was that!"
Lady Wu smiled warmly. "Then you do want this match?"
Sun Shangxiang froze as if someone had poured cold water over her.
Her entire body went rigid, and her face, moments ago ecstatic, now turned bright red. She fidgeted with her sleeves, suddenly avoiding their eyes.
"I… I…" she whispered. "I think you both already knew my answer about that."
Sun Jian placed a hand on her head, tilting her chin up with a father's gentle firmness.
"Of course Shangxiang," he said softly. "Your mother and I know your heart better than you think."
She bit her lip, cheeks puffing slightly, refusing to look up.
Lady Wu stepped closer and cupped her daughter's face with both hands.
"You love him," she said simply.
Sun Shangxiang's breath caught, her lashes trembled, and for the first time, she didn't deny it.
Instead, she nodded once, small, fragile, earnest.
Lady Wu's expression softened into something almost maternal beyond words, pride and tenderness blending together.
Sun Jian smiled warmly. "Then listen to us and let us finish the message."
Sun Shangxiang straightened, still holding her mother's arm as though needing the physical anchor.
Lady Wu released her cheeks and spoke gently.
"His Majesty wrote to us, confirming that Ma Chao formally approached him after the victory banquet. He asked Lie Fan to help arrange the marriage between the two of you."
Sun Shangxiang inhaled sharply, eyes shining.
Sun Jian continued, "He didn't hesitate or hide his feelings. He asked immediately, like a man afraid the heavens would steal his chance if he waited even one night."
Sun Shangxiang's hands slowly covered her mouth, her voice trembling. "He… really…"
Lady Wu smiled. "Your father also spoke to Ma Chao personally, before he left for Xiapi."
Sun Shangxiang's head snapped toward Sun Jian, waiting, breathless.
And Sun Jian, the fierce Tiger of Jiangdong, spoke with the gentleness of a father seeing his daughter's future unfold.
"He is a good young man," Sun Jian said. "Brave, righteous, honest. He loves you deeply. Not because of your name or lineage. Not because of politics. But because you are you."
Sun Shangxiang's eyes glistened.
Lady Wu stepped beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"And we…" she whispered, "approve."
Sun Shangxiang inhaled sharply again, but this time it wasn't panic or confusion. It was relief. Overwhelming, beautiful relief.
She collapsed forward, hugging her mother tightly.
"Mother… Father… thank you…"
Sun Jian walked forward and wrapped them both into one big embrace, one hand on his daughter's back, the other on his wife's shoulder.
In that moment, the courtyard felt peaceful, no politics, no looming wars, no responsibilities of a noble household.
Just a family.
After a long, warm silence, Sun Shangxiang finally pulled back, wiping her eyes quickly as if embarrassed she had gotten emotional.
"Well," she said, clearing her throat, "since His Majesty already sent a letter… are we replying today?"
Sun Jian chuckled. "Eager, are we?"
Sun Shangxiang puffed her cheeks. "Father!"
Lady Wu patted her daughter's cheek. "Yes, we'll reply. But before that… there's something else."
Sun Shangxiang blinked. "Hm?"
Lady Wu's smile turned sly again. "His Majesty mentioned that he and Ma Chao will come to Yuzhang within two weeks. He wants to begin formal discussions then."
Sun Shangxiang froze again. "…He's coming back?"
"Mm."
Sun Shangxiang's face slowly turned red from the neck up. "T... Two weeks…"
Sun Jian folded his arms with a smirk. "Should I prepare the spear rack so he can challenge you properly for your hand?"
"FATHER!"
Sun Jian burst into more laughter, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
Lady Wu added, smiling warmly, "We should prepare a welcome, dear. After all, marriage is not just between two hearts, but two families."
Shangxiang nodded timidly, then paused, frowning slightly.
"…Mother… Father…?"
"Yes?"
"…Should I… should I write a letter to him?"
Sun Jian raised a brow. "To Ma Chao?"
Lady Wu hid her mouth behind her sleeve to suppress a laugh.
Shangxiang looked down at her toes and whispered, "He spoke to Brother Lie Fan… and he spoke to Father… I want to thank him for upholding his promise…"
Sun Jian softened. "If you wish to, we won't stop you."
Sun Shangxiang looked relieved, but also nervous.
Lady Wu stroked her daughter's hair. "Write what you feel. It doesn't need to be poetic or perfect. It only needs to be honest."
Sun Shangxiang took a deep breath, nodded, and then suddenly straightened with her usual fiery determination.
"I'll write it now!"
She spun on her heel and sprinted toward her room, handmaidens scrambling to follow her.
Sun Jian and Lady Wu watched her go, amused and touched.
Once she disappeared inside, Sun Jian let out a low sigh of contentment.
"She's really grown," he murmured.
Lady Wu leaned her head against his arm. "Yes… but she's still our little girl."
They walked together toward the veranda, sitting side by side as distant sounds of Shangxiang shooing her handmaidens around echoed faintly.
"Do you think Ma Chao is ready for her?" Lady Wu asked with a teasing smile.
Sun Jian laughed. "Ready? Absolutely not. But he loves her enough to try."
Lady Wu's eyes softened. "Then perhaps that is enough."
Sun Jian nodded.
And somewhere inside the mansion, Sun Shangxiang sat at her writing table, brush trembling slightly in her hand, staring at a blank sheet of paper —
trying to write her first letter to the man she loved.
A single sentence was written, crossed out, written again, crossed out again.
Her heart beat like a drum.
But she knew what she wanted to say.
And she finally began.
The future of the Sun Clan's cherished daughter, and the young warrior who had captured her heart, was beginning to take shape.
Two days passed quietly, though not without their share of restless pacing and silent anticipation on Ma Chao's part.
Back in Xiapi, the Ma Clan residence was unusually lively today. The autumn breeze slipped through the open windows, carrying with it the faint scent of fallen leaves and distant market chatter. Sunlight spilled across the wooden floors, illuminating the interior where three figures sat around a polished round table carved by their late father's own hands.
Ma Chao sat at the head, relaxed yet still carrying that natural air of command he had earned over the years. Zhao Yun sat to his right, calm and poised as always, his expression both gentle and noble. Ma Yunlu sat beside her husband, radiant as ever with that perfect blend of elegance and spirited liveliness she inherited from the Ma bloodline.
The siblings hadn't seen each other properly since the end of the southern expedition. For once, the burdens of war, politics, and responsibility were set aside, replaced by warmth and familial affection.
They had been talking for nearly an hour now, mostly about the campaign against Funan.
"So after we split off from the Shi Clan," Ma Chao said, leaning back, arms crossed, "everything turned chaotic within a single afternoon. Funan's outer defenses were more stubborn than expected, but Sun Quan read their formation perfectly. Once we broke through their second line, they folded."
Zhao Yun nodded thoughtfully. "Their cavalry was unusual. Fast, but undisciplined. They relied too heavily on momentum and intimidation."
Ma Chao groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Tell me about it. One of their commanders almost trampled my men because he thought flailing his spear and screaming would scatter us."
Zhao Yun chuckled softly. "So that was the man you knocked out in one strike?"
"That was him," Ma Chao confirmed with a proud grin.
Ma Yunlu, listening from the side, rolled her eyes and sipped her tea. "Brother, I swear whenever you two talk about battles, it sounds like you're describing a children's play fight."
Zhao Yun laughed warmly. "My wife, Brother Mengqi is simply enthusiastic."
"Enthusiastic," she snorted. "That's one word for it."
Zhao Yun exchanged a glance with her, and they both smiled.
As their conversation continued, it was clear the two men enjoyed replaying their war stories, each detail turning into a lively discussion about strategy, technique, or close calls during the fighting. Ma Yunlu would occasionally interject, correcting a detail or adding something her brother forgot to mention.
But somewhere between recalling their march through the thick jungles and the final siege operations, Zhao Yun subtly glanced at Ma Yunlu. She caught the look almost instantly. A silent conversation passed between them, soft, knowing, and coordinated.
Zhao Yun gave a small nod.
Ma Yunlu nodded back.
Then she softly cleared her throat.
"Brother."
Ma Chao paused mid sentence and then turned to looked at her with raised brows. "Hm? What is it, Yunlu? You look too serious. Did Zilong mess up somehow?" Zhao Yun who hears that nearly choked on his tea.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Founding Emperor Of Hengyuan Dynasty
Age: 35 (202 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 2325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 966 (+20)
VIT: 623 (+20)
AGI: 623 (+10)
INT: 667
CHR: 98
WIS: 549
WILL: 432
ATR Points: 0