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Lady Wu's eyes widened so fast Sun Jian almost laughed again. "What?" she gasped. "Ma Chao… and Shangxiang? That Ma Chao?!" She shot to her feet, nearly dropping the orchids she had been trimming. She crossed to Sun Jian's side in a hurry, immediately reaching for the scroll. He handed it over with no resistance.
Lady Wu unrolled it and scanned the lines. And indeed, Lie Fan's handwriting was unmistakable, straightforward yet elegant. His tone conveyed both humor and sincerity, especially when explaining that Ma Chao had approached him immediately after the victory banquet, formally requesting His Majesty to help arrange his union with Shangxiang.
Lady Wu's face went through a fascinating transformation, shock, disbelief, a hint of indignation, and finally a dawning realization.
"So it's true…" she muttered.
Sun Jian nodded. "More or less exactly as I said."
Lady Wu blew out a long breath, lowering the scroll slowly as she stared at her husband. "And what do you think of this? She is our only daughter, Husband. I know His Majesty is like family to us, but I don't want his position or affection to influence a decision as important as Shangxiang's marriage and future life."
Sun Jian's laughter faded. He sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck.
"As a father," he said, voice turning grounded and honest, "I didn't like it at first. When I learned Ma Chao was coveting our one and only daughter, the pearl of the Sun Clan, I nearly choked on my drink."
Lady Wu snorted despite herself. "I imagine."
"But," Sun Jian continued, tone softening, "I spoke to Ma Chao before he left for Xiapi. And… he is a good man. Brave, straightforward, loyal to a fault, and absolutely devoted to Shangxiang."
Lady Wu's lips parted slightly as she absorbed this.
"And," Sun Jian added with a helpless shrug, "Shangxiang reciprocates his feelings."
Lady Wu stared at him. "Truly?"
He nodded firmly.
"You know as well as I do," he said, "how… shall we say… selective our daughter is. Of all the men we have subtly introduced to her and less subtly, she rejected every single one without exception. Some she turned down politely. Others she turned down with a sword drawn."
Lady Wu placed a hand over her forehead and let out a groaning sigh. "Don't remind me of that last incident. The Lu family is still sore about it."
Sun Jian chuckled. "For good reason. Their son nearly lost an ear."
"He should not have grabbed her hand without permission," Lady Wu retorted sharply.
"That," Sun Jian admitted, "is true."
She returned her attention to the letter in her hands, reading it more slowly now, piecing together Lie Fan's phrasing, the subtle subtext, the respectful tone. This wasn't a matter of political convenience. Lie Fan had clearly taken the request seriously, as a friend to both families and as emperor.
Lady Wu glanced at her husband. "You said Ma Chao asked His Majesty right after the welcoming banquet?"
"Yes. Immediately." Sun Jian laughed again, shaking his head. "Didn't even wait until morning. The boy probably couldn't sleep."
Lady Wu's expression warmed despite herself. "That… is rather sweet."
"It is." Sun Jian leaned against the tree, crossing his arms. "He's in love, that much is obvious."
Lady Wu knew this too, even from the brief interactions she had seen. Shangxiang, fierce as fire, stubborn as her father, and sharper than any sword she carried, rarely softened around anyone.
Except Ma Chao.
Lady Wu closed the scroll, pondering.
"Have you spoken with Shangxiang directly?" she asked.
Sun Jian gave a half smile. "Of course I have. Before Lie Fan sent this letter, actually."
"And?"
"She nearly turned pink."
Lady Wu's eyes went wide again. "Shangxiang? Pink?"
Sun Jian nodded solemnly. "Pink."
Lady Wu nearly laughed. "Heavens…"
"She tried to deny it," Sun Jian recalled fondly, "but every time I mentioned Ma Chao, she looked like she wanted to either run away or stab someone out of sheer embarrassment."
Lady Wu placed a hand over her mouth, suppressing her amusement. It was rare, almost unheard of, to see Shangxiang behave like anything other than the bold warrior daughter she was known to be.
Sun Jian continued quietly, "She confessed, in her own… very Sun Clan way, that she cares for him."
Lady Wu's expression softened into something warm, nostalgic, almost wistful. "She's grown up so quickly…"
"Yes," Sun Jian murmured. "Too quickly."
For a moment, the two simply stood in the gentle shade of the garden, listening to the soft rustle of leaves. The reality of the situation settled upon them, not just as a political arrangement or even a familial decision, but as parents coming to terms with their daughter stepping into the next stage of life.
Lady Wu slowly exhaled.
"Well," she said finally, "what do you want to do? As her father?"
Sun Jian lifted his chin, gaze firm.
"I want what makes her happy," he said. "Nothing less."
Lady Wu's eyes glistened faintly. She touched his arm lightly.
"And what of Ma Chao? Do you think he is worthy of her?"
Sun Jian gave a small, thoughtful grunt. "Few men are worthy of Shangxiang."
Lady Wu nodded. "That is true."
"But," Sun Jian added, "if there is one man who might be… it's him."
Lady Wu lowered her gaze in contemplation.
"So," she said gently, "we allow this?"
Sun Jian cracked a tiny smile. "We allow it."
Lady Wu let out a soft sigh of relief, though the lingering wistfulness didn't fade.
"She will leave home someday," she murmured. "I suppose I always knew that. But I didn't think it would be so soon."
"We can't shield her from life," Sun Jian said, placing an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Nor would we want to. She is a daughter of the Sun Clan. Her path will never be small."
Lady Wu leaned lightly into him. "True."
A moment passed before she spoke again, lowering her voice as though sharing a secret. "Between you and me… Ma Chao is handsome."
Sun Jian blinked, then let out a bark of laughter. "Is that your reasoning, woman?"
Lady Wu huffed. "I am only acknowledging facts."
"Mm hm."
"And he treats Shangxiang with respect," Lady Wu continued pointedly. "That is more than can be said for half the noble sons introduced to her."
Sun Jian thought of those unfortunate candidates and winced. "You do have a point."
Lady Wu allowed herself a teasing smirk. "I usually do."
He let out a long, deep laugh and kissed her forehead.
The moment of tenderness passed before Lady Wu's expression turned serious once again.
"We should write back soon," she said. "His Majesty is waiting for our answer."
Sun Jian nodded. "We will. But first…"
He looked toward the mansion where Shangxiang was likely practicing her spear forms or sparring with Quan in the courtyard.
"…we speak to our daughter again."
Lady Wu squeezed his hand. "Together."
Sun Jian smiled.
"Together," he agreed.
Sun Jian and Lady Wu left the quiet garden behind, walking together through the stone path that led toward their daughter's private courtyard.
The mansion was alive with its usual afternoon rhythm, servants hurrying with baskets of laundry, guards patrolling in pairs, handmaidens sweeping fallen petals into neat piles. The late sunlight filtered through layers of leaves overhead, dappling the path with warm golden patches.
As they approached the entrance to Sun Shangxiang's courtyard, the sound of clashing wood echoed through the air, sharp, rhythmic, fast. And then the laughter of girls, brief but encouraging.
When the two stepped past the gate, the sight before them was exactly what Sun Jian had predicted.
Sun Shangxiang stood in the middle of the courtyard garden, barely sweating, yet her movements were swift and fierce. She wielded a practice spear with the confidence of a seasoned warrior, her posture straight, her steps sharp.
Opposite her, a young female soldier in light armor moved defensively, trying to keep up. The soldier's boots scuffed against the ground as she pivoted away from another thrust, breath coming in quick bursts.
Around them, Sun Shangxiang's handmaidens stood in a small cluster beneath the shade of a magnolia tree, watching their mistress with bright admiration. Some covered their mouths every time Shangxiang executed a more impressive maneuver, a few whispered excitedly among themselves.
But the moment Sun Jian and Lady Wu stepped into view, the handmaidens reacted instantly.
They gasped, straightened, and dipped into deep curtsies. "Greetings, my Lord Duke! Greetings, my Lady Duchess!"
Their voices carried across the courtyard, causing the soldier and Shangxiang to halt mid motion. Both turned toward the entrance.
The female soldier immediately dropped to one knee and cupped her hands, speaking loud and respectful. "This soldier greets the Lord Duke and Lady Duchess!"
As for Sun Shangxiang, she didn't even pretend to maintain composure.
Her entire face lit up, the stern warrior expression melting away in an instant. She tossed the spear aside, literally threw it across the garden, earning a startled squeak from a handmaiden who scrambled to catch it, and dashed toward her parents.
"Father! Mother!"
She crashed into them with the force of a playful ram, throwing her arms around both. Sun Jian let out a surprised "oof," and Lady Wu staggered back half a step before laughing.
Lady Wu stroked her daughter's back affectionately. Sun Jian ruffled her hair with a helpless smile, whispering, "Still the same little girl…"
Sun Shangxiang eventually released them, bouncing back a step with her usual bright energy.
"What brings you two here?" she asked, a curious tilt to her head. "Did something happen?"
Sun Jian exchanged a glance with his wife, the kind of glance that contained a silent conversation. He raised a brow, silently asking, You or me?
Lady Wu exhaled softly and spoke first.
"Let me handle it," she said. "If you speak, you'll be too blunt."
Sun Jian opened his mouth to protest but caught himself, realizing she was right, and let out an awkward chuckle. "Fair enough."
Shangxiang blinked at them both, clearly confused. "What is it, Mother?"
Lady Wu placed her hands gently on her daughter's shoulders, her expression soft yet serious.
"Your father and I have come to tell you some important news."
At once, Shangxiang's body stiffened. She leaned back, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Important news?" she repeated. "If it's another arranged marriage, I don't want to hear it. I refuse. I won't meet another suitor. If you force me, I'll... I'll do the same thing I did to that arrogant son of the Lu Clan!"
Sun Jian burst into loud laughter. Lady Wu groaned while pressing a hand to her forehead.
"I told you," Lady Wu muttered, "people still talk about that."
"He grabbed my hand!" Shangxiang protested fiercely. "Uninvited! What was I supposed to do, smile?"
"No," Sun Jian admitted through his laughter, "you were right to defend yourself. But did you really have to almost cut off his ear?"
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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