"Lady Lu, it's clear you care a great deal about Tian'er," Gan Ji said, looking into Lu Lingqi's eyes.
"We're all friends, after all." Lu Lingqi lowered her head shyly.
"I'm grateful for all you've done for our family. Unfortunately, Qian'er married Xuande, and now your father and he are sworn enemies. You and Tian'er should try to see each other less. Your status and station are so far apart that there can be no future for the two of you." Gan Ji spoke calmly.
Lu Lingqi suddenly felt her mind go blank. Is Ziyu's godfather going to oppose us?
"If one day Xuande dies beneath your father's halberd, or General Lu dies at Xuande's hands, what will you and Tian'er do?" Gan Ji asked again.
Though Gan Ji was merely a farmer from the countryside, his plain words instantly broke through Lu Lingqi's defenses.
What should I do?
What will happen to Lan Tian and me?
"Go on back. Tian'er has a quiet nature, and he'll probably be a farmer all his life. Miss Lu, don't hold yourself back for his sake," Gan Ji urged again.
At his words, tears welled in Lu Lingqi's eyes, about to spill over. She turned away from him and said quietly, "I understand. Please tell Sister Gan and Lan Tian that something came up and I had to leave."
Lu Lingqi left without looking back. Gan Ji's eyes were red too, but he knew he had done the right thing. There was no need to let the two young people regret it in the future.
Gan Qian finished washing the dishes and came out of the house to see Gan Ji gazing into the distance, looking forlorn.
"Father, where's Lady Lu? Did she go to the village to find my younger brother? Those two really are a perfect match," Gan Qian said with a smile.
"I sent her back," Gan Ji sighed.
"Why?" Gan Qian asked in surprise.
"You've already married Xuande. You can't let Tian'er end up on the opposing side from you, can you?" Gan Ji shook his head.
Gan Qian was stunned. She thought her father was right, but it seemed cruel to Lan Tian and Lu Lingqi.
"What should we do if my younger brother comes back?" Gan Qian asked.
"I'll talk to him," Gan Ji said firmly.
Lu Lingqi was a strong-willed person. As she walked through the countryside around Gan Family Village, she recalled many happy memories. But Father Gan's words made sense. Why make things difficult for Lan Tian in the future?
Before she knew it, she had reached the entrance to the village. Of the two soldiers who had accompanied her, one had gone to Xiaopei, while the other had waited here for her.
"Miss, shall we go to Xiaopei and rest for the night, then return to Xiapi tomorrow?"
Lu Lingqi shook her head. "I'm worried about Father's safety. We'll ride back tonight."
The waiting soldier was taken aback. The young lady has incredible stamina. He quickly replied, "All right. I'll leave a sign for my companion."
Lu Lingqi galloped through the night. Though she had been awake for a day and a night, she didn't feel tired at all.
After returning to Xiapi, Lu Lingqi shut herself in her chambers. Every day, the maids brought her meals in and carried the dishes back out.
Lu Bu asked in surprise, "What's wrong with Lingqi these past few days? I haven't seen her go to the training ground to practice."
Lady Yan said with concern, "What else could it be? After Hao Meng's rebellion that night, Lingqi worked hard all night, then went to Xiaopei the next day to deliver a message to Zhang Liao. Of course she's exhausted."
"Lingqi's so stubborn. She insists on doing everything herself. If Gao Boping hadn't sent someone to accompany her, no one would have known if she'd fallen off her horse from exhaustion on the road," Lu Bu sighed.
"She was worried about you. Treat her better from now on," Lady Yan said.
Lu Bu nodded and sat in the pavilion, continuing to drink away his boredom.
After Hao Meng's rebellion, many more armored guards were stationed at the government office where Lu Bu lived.
Before long, a guard from the front courtyard came to report that a letter had arrived from Xudu.
Lu Bu opened the letter pouch. It turned out Cao Cao was pleading on Liu Bei's behalf.
In his letter, Cao Cao said he intended to recommend Lu Bu for Governor of Xuzhou. He also noted that Liu Bei had distinguished himself in his campaign against Yuan Shu, and the court had appointed him Governor of Yuzhou. Liu Bei was to be temporarily stationed at Xiaopei. Cao Cao asked Lu Bu to make peace with Liu Bei for the time being and cease hostilities, so the two could join forces against Yuan Shu.
Lu Bu had proclaimed himself Governor of Xuzhou, while Liu Bei had been recommended as Governor of Yuzhou by Tao Qian. Neither appointment had received formal approval from the court. Now Cao Cao held the Son of Heaven in order to command the disobedient; an official appointment from the court carried a different significance.
Lu Bu was delighted when he received the letter. He had someone send a message to Zhang Liao, ordering him to quickly hand Xiaopei back to Liu Bei and let him station his troops there again.
Lu Bu and Cao Cao had become bitter enemies after Lu Bu's earlier surprise attack on Yanzhou. Now Cao Cao was trying to curry favor with him for Liu Bei's sake, so Lu Bu naturally took the opportunity to accept.
After the battle at Xiaopei, Lu Bu had reassessed Liu Bei's fighting strength. The newly recruited soldiers, lacking both training and the baptism of war, posed little threat to him.
After receiving Lu Bu's orders, Zhang Liao took the initiative and sent men to search for Liu Bei in the direction of Yuzhou.
After fleeing to Xudu, Liu Bei was warmly received by Cao Cao. Cao Cao not only officially recommended him as Governor of Yuzhou, but also gave him several thousand soldiers and supplies, allowing him to return to Xiaopei, gather his former troops, and help the court keep Lu Bu and Yuan Shu in check.
After handing Xiaopei back, Zhang Liao led his army back to Xiapi to report. The families who had been captured at Xiaopei were reunited with Liu Bei.
"Why isn't Lady Gan here?" Liu Bei asked the others in confusion when he didn't see Gan Qian among the families.
Mi Zhen said, "She wasn't brought back to Xiaopei after the city fell. She may still be at Gan Family Village."
"My lord." Mi Zhu hesitated.
"Zizhong, you've suffered these past few days. If you have something to say, speak freely," Liu Bei said.
"After Lu Bu broke through the city, he had no money or goods to reward his troops with. And many people around Xiaopei had ties to Chen Hanyu, so he allowed his soldiers to plunder the villages outside the city. I'm afraid Gan Family Village wasn't spared. It's hard to say whether Lady Gan is safe," Mi Zhu said slowly.
The stolen goods and food were a secondary concern. Lady Gan was as beautiful as a flower. If those bandits had violated her, it would have been a disgrace to Liu Xuande.
"Second Brother, stay behind in Xiaopei and reassure the officers and men. Third Brother and I will go to Gan Family Village," Liu Bei said.
"Go ahead, Big Brother. Sister-in-law is blessed by heaven. I'm sure she's unharmed," Guan Yu said reassuringly.
The two rode out of the city at full speed. Compared with his political marriage to Mi Zhen, Liu Bei loved Gan Qian more.
Gan Qian was anxiously waiting at home. Zhang Liao had been sent south with his troops that day, and Lan Tian had predicted that Liu Bei should have returned to Xiaopei. Meanwhile, Gan Ji had wanted them both to hide in the Sanctuary. After what had happened last time, the old man had become as skittish as a bird startled by the twang of a bow.
Seeing that her sworn younger brother was so confident, Gan Qian noticed that he not only refused to go to the Sanctuary but had also taken the initiative to go around the village reassuring the people.
Lan Tian's prediction was probably right. By now, Gan Qian was almost superstitious about him.
In less than half an hour, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei arrived at the village to search for her. Seeing that Gan Qian looked well, Liu Bei was overjoyed.
"Madam, have you been well?" Liu Bei asked, taking Gan Qian's hand.
"The day the city fell, Father, my younger brother, and I hid in the Sanctuary, so we escaped disaster." Afraid Liu Bei might doubt her, Gan Qian immediately explained.
"The Sanctuary? Sister-in-law, what's a Sanctuary?" Zhang Fei asked, utterly bewildered.
"Husband, Uncle, come with me." Gan Qian led them straight behind the house.
Gan Qian knocked on the Sanctuary's cover and said to Gan Ji below, "Father, you don't need to hide down there. Xuande is here to see us."
With a creak, Gan Ji opened the cover and poked his head out.
"Big Brother, this disguise is way too convincing!" Zhang Fei exclaimed in astonishment.
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