Can I Reach the Other Shore?

"Sorry for the trouble, my lady."

Yuan Shao nodded, then said to Ju Shou, "Gongyu, you may go for now. Report back to me if anything happens."

"Yes, my lord."

Ju Shou answered respectfully, then left the room.

After Ju Shou had gone, Madam Liu carried the jade bowl to Yuan Shao's bedside and sat down. "You're already bedridden, yet you're still worrying about these matters," she said helplessly.

"Didn't you ask Xi and Shang to help you handle things? Can't you just rest and recover?"

Yuan Shao took a sip of medicine. Whether because of its bitterness or Madam Liu's words, his brows knitted tightly. "What do those two know of the great affairs of the realm?"

"All I've entrusted to them are the minor military and administrative matters in Ye City. I still have to oversee everything else myself. How could I rest easy otherwise?"

At that, Madam Liu said no more. She sighed and helped Yuan Shao finish all the medicine in the bowl, then took a piece of candied fruit from beside her and fed it to him to wash away the bitterness.

After taking the medicine, Yuan Shao's complexion noticeably improved. He looked at Madam Liu and asked, "Why did you bring the medicine yourself today, my lady?"

Minor chores such as bringing and administering medicine could be left to the servants.

Someone of Madam Liu's standing had no need to concern herself with them.

Madam Liu said, "I wanted to discuss Xi's and Shang's marriages with you."

"They're both old enough to start families now. You're busy with the great affairs of the realm all day and have no time to spare, but how could I, their mother, not worry?"

"So I've found several young women from suitable families and come to ask your opinion."

As parents, their greatest concern was their children's health.

Next came marriage and starting a family.

Their eldest son, Yuan Tan, was already married, but the other two remained single. They were seldom around, and with them finally back in Ye City, she naturally wanted to seize this opportunity to arrange their marriages.

"Who are the candidates? Let me see."

Yuan Shao considered it and decided that Madam Liu had a point. Carrying on the family line was, after all, a matter of utmost importance.

Madam Liu had a maid bring over the portraits she had prepared and handed them to Yuan Shao to examine one by one, introducing each woman as he looked.

"This one is a daughter of the Fan Yang Lu Clan. She is gentle in temperament and a legitimate daughter of the main branch. She has now reached marriageable age."

"This portrait is of a daughter of the Qinghe Cui Clan. Though born to a concubine, her mother's family is the Feng County Zhang Clan, so her background is quite respectable."

"And this one is from the Wen County Sima Clan..."

There were more than a dozen portraits, each depicting a well-bred young lady from a distinguished clan. Whether in status, appearance, or character, they were all outstanding.

Yuan Shao was one of the foremost warlords in the realm, and the Runan Yuan Clan was a leading aristocratic house boasting Four Generations of Three Excellencies. How could anyone marry into the Yuan family without the proper standing?

Yuan Shao examined the portraits one by one. When he reached a certain portrait, his brows lifted, and he drew it out.

"Who is the woman in this portrait? What a beauty."

The woman in the portrait was exceptionally beautiful. Even Yuan Shao, who had seen beauties of every kind, could not help being struck by her.

Part of his astonishment was at the painter's almost miraculous skill; the rest came from the woman's appearance.

Madam Liu glanced at it and smiled. "She is from the Zhongshan Zhen Family, the youngest daughter of its eldest branch. She is brimming with talent and renowned for her beauty."

"If I remember correctly, her name is... Zhen Mi."

Chapter 57: A Marriage Alliance with the Zhen Clan

"The Zhongshan Zhen Family?"

A peculiar gleam flashed through Yuan Shao's eyes when Madam Liu mentioned the woman's family.

The Zhen Clan was also a formidable member of the Great Aristocratic Clans.

Its history could even be traced back to Zhen Han during Emperor Xiaoping's reign.

Zhen Han was the son-in-law of the great scholar Kong Guang, a descendant of Confucius who had held such eminent offices as Grand General, Chancellor, Grand Tutor, and Grand Preceptor, enjoying immense prestige. Zhen Han himself had risen to Grand Guardian of the Great Han, been invested as Marquis of Chengyang and Duke of Chengxin, and commanded the realm's armies, bringing the Zhen Clan great prominence.

Even after Wang Mang threw the government into turmoil and Emperor Guangwu restored the Great Han, the Zhen family had not declined. It remained a distinguished house that produced high officials of the two-thousand-bushel rank generation after generation, wielding considerable influence at the Imperial Court and holding an important position in Hebei.

With the death of its current patriarch, Zhen Yi, the family's influence had diminished considerably. Still, its accumulated foundations remained, and the Zhen Clan continued to rank among the wealthiest in the region, possessing an immense fortune.

A great family with such deep foundations, illustrious ancestors, and unrivaled local wealth was entirely worthy of a marriage alliance with the Yuan Clan.

"Has she caught your interest, husband?"

Seeing Yuan Shao lost in thought over the portrait, Madam Liu could not help asking.

She did not think he was staring because of Zhen Mi's beauty. She knew what kind of man her husband was; he was surely weighing other matters.

Yuan Shao withdrew his gaze and nodded. "As a distinguished family of Hebei, the Zhen Clan is a fitting match for our Yuan Clan. This young woman is worth considering."

When choosing spouses for their children, family standing was the first consideration.

Only families with sufficient foundations were qualified for a marriage alliance!

Only then could they provide him with support in his future struggle for supremacy over the realm!

Madam Liu asked again, "Then do you intend for Xi or Shang to marry this daughter of the Zhen Clan?"

At this question, even Yuan Shao hesitated.

Which son should forge the marriage alliance with the Zhen Clan?

After some thought, Yuan Shao said, "Let Xianyi marry this daughter of the Zhen Clan. He is older and steadier in temperament."

"Xianfu is about the same age as the Zhen Clan girl. They aren't quite suitable."

Generally, men married women younger than themselves. Few took wives their own age or older.

But Yuan Shao had another concern. Yuan Shang was still young, and if he married such a beautiful wife, he might become lost in her charms.

Yuan Xi was far more mature and unlikely to succumb in that way.

"Let that be settled, then. Xianfu's marriage can wait. The Zhen Clan has substantial foundations, but it still falls well short of our Yuan Clan. In time, I will find a more illustrious family for Xianfu to marry into."

"Let Xianyi undertake this marriage alliance."

Having made up his mind, Yuan Shao told Madam Liu his decision.

He doted most on his youngest son, so he wanted to find a more suitable family for the alliance, one that would also become a powerful source of support for Yuan Shang in the future.

"Very well. I'll go find Xi now."

Madam Liu agreed, then had the maid gather up the portraits before turning to leave the room.

She had barely left the courtyard when she came face-to-face with Yuan Shang.

"Mother, what brings you here?"

Upon seeing Madam Liu, Yuan Shang first paid his respects, then asked curiously.

Madam Liu smiled. "I brought your father his medicine and took the opportunity to discuss your marriage and your second brother's."

"Oh? Our marriages?"

Yuan Shang immediately perked up. Though born into a great clan where marriage was seldom a matter of personal choice, he was still a young man, naturally curious and hopeful about his future bride.

Noticing the portraits in the maid's arms behind Madam Liu, Yuan Shang grinned and reached to snatch them. "Mother, let me have a look!"

Caught off guard, the maid had the portraits taken from her by Yuan Shang.

He then began examining them one by one.

Madam Liu watched him, torn between exasperation and affection. "You really ought to change that temperament of yours. You're old enough now, yet you're still so flighty."

"Hehe, I only dare act so freely in front of you, Mother."

Yuan Shang wheedled his mother while leafing through the portraits. Soon, one of them caught his eye.

"Mother, who is this woman? She's so beautiful!"

Yuan Shang spoke with a face full of wonder.

The portrait in his hands was none other than Zhen Mi's.

In the portrait, Zhen Mi's delicate beauty seemed untouched by the dust of the mortal world, her bearing refined and graceful. Neither her face nor her figure had the slightest flaw. She was perfection itself!

Lady Liu said, "That is Zhen Mi of the Zhongshan Zhen Family. She..."

"I want to marry her!"

Yuan Shang spoke with iron resolve, gently stroking the portrait, his face filled with infatuation. "Such a beauty would be a perfect match for me!"

He had never seen a woman of such breathtaking beauty!

Madam Liu frowned. "Stop this nonsense. Your father has already decided that your second brother will form an alliance with the Zhen Clan and marry this young woman from the Zhen Clan."

"What?!"

Yuan Shang's expression changed violently. Unable to contain his anger, he demanded, "Why? Why does Second Brother get to marry her? I want to marry her too!"

No woman had ever stirred his heart so deeply, and her family background was impressive as well. He had heard of the Zhongshan Zhen Family-a distinguished family of Ji Province with a vast fortune!

"Shang, she isn't a suitable match for you."

Madam Liu explained patiently, "Your father said you're still young and not steady enough. Zhen Mi is about your age, so the two of you aren't suitable."

"He also said that in time, he would find you a family of even better standing than the Zhen Clan, so that the marriage alliance could become a source of support for you."

Yet the more Yuan Shang heard, the angrier he became. "If she isn't a suitable match for me, then she is for Second Brother? Father is just favoring him!"

"I'm going to see Father! I'll ask him myself!"

As he spoke, Yuan Shang moved to barge into the courtyard where Yuan Shao was staying.

"Shang!"

Alarmed, Madam Liu reached out to stop him, but she could not hold him back.

Just then, the door of the room inside the courtyard suddenly swung open.

Yuan Shao, who had already lain down to rest, had draped a robe over himself and now stood in the doorway, casting an icy gaze outside.

"F-Father..."

At the sight of Yuan Shao, Yuan Shang looked as though a basin of cold water had been poured over his head. His face instantly turned ashen with fear, and he faltered, not daring to speak. Not a trace remained of his earlier bluster.