Yuan Shao thought that Yuan Xi would definitely be dissatisfied with the Yuan family's arrangement for Youzhou, and would take the opportunity to bargain and put forward some conditions that would be beneficial to him.
However, he did not expect that Yuan Xi did not mention a word about the official arrangement, but talked about marriage.
Yuan Shao felt a little guilty, so he said, "That's great. If you have any questions, please let me know."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi bowed again and said, "Thank you, Your Excellency."
When Yuan Shao's advisers and generals heard this, they all congratulated him.
They were in a rather complicated mood. Yuan Xi was a bastard son who was suppressed everywhere some time ago, but now he had become an independent legitimate son of a branch family. Not only was he appointed as the governor of Youzhou, he was also going to get married soon. It seemed that he already had the aura of being the head of a branch family!
Yuan Shang suddenly asked, "Brother Xianyi, do you still want to marry the daughter of the Zhen family?"
"Speaking of the marriage between the Yuan family and the Zhen family, it was originally agreed that the Zhen family's daughter would marry into my father's branch, not the Taifu branch."
"Besides, Brother Xianyi is now the descendant of the Marquis of Anguoting. A girl from the Zhen family is not worthy of you."
Yuan Shang thought that after he said this, Yuan Xi would have to explain to him, but Yuan Xi bowed to Yuan Shao and said, "Xi will get married in the next few days, and then return to Youzhou."
"When the time comes, I will hold a wedding banquet. Please do me the honor, sir."
After hearing this, Yuan Shao nodded and said, "Yes."
Yuan Shang was furious when he saw that Yuan Xi ignored him. Just as he was about to make a few sarcastic remarks, he looked up and met Yuan Shao's dissatisfied gaze.
Yuan Shang then realized that Yuan Xi was no longer Yuan Shao's illegitimate son, but Yuan Ji's eldest son who was on equal footing with himself!
Yuan Shao's meaning was very clear. If Yuan Shang continued to pester him in public like this, the news of Yuan Shao's harsh treatment of his side branches would spread, which would affect the reputation of the Yuan family!
Yuan Shang had no choice but to lower his head with a gloomy look. He originally wanted to use this to threaten Yuan Xi and make him submit to him, but he didn't expect Yuan Xi to be so rude!
Since you don't give me face, then I don't have to show mercy!
I just ruined his plan, can Yuan Shao punish me afterwards?
Yuan Xi was still too impatient. Marriage was a big event, and the six rituals would take at least a month, and sometimes even as long as a year and a half.
With so much time, how could I not make Yuan Xi kneel down and beg for mercy?
Unless he doesn't want to marry the girl from the Zhen family!
Thinking of this, Yuan Shang sneered and used his eyes to stop Liu who wanted to speak.
When Yuan Xi saw that he had said everything he needed to say, he said goodbye and looked up at the sky.
A few birds flew overhead, and a pile of bird droppings fell from the sky, hitting the bluestone ground not far away, exploding into a yellow and white stain.
Yuan Xi wanted to look for Yuan Xing, but then he remembered that he and Yuan Xing were no longer siblings, so it was not appropriate for him to enter the inner house.
If you want to meet, you must first hand in a visiting card.
He thought about it and decided to go to Zhen's house first.
Before leaving, he took one last look at the gate of Yuan Mansion, then got on the carriage and left.
When the carriage returned to the mansion, everyone came up to congratulate them.
Yuan Xi came down holding Yuan Ji's tablet, walked into the ancestral hall which had been decorated in advance, and placed the tablet on the table.
Yuan Xi took a few steps back and bowed three times, feeling that the world is unpredictable.
The day before, his father was still a living person, Yuan Shao, but now he has turned into a wooden sign in front of him.
After doing these things, he walked out of the ancestral hall and returned to his room.
Wu Zhao had been waiting inside. When he saw Yuan Xi coming in, he smiled and said, "Meet the master of the house."
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Shouldn't I call you husband?"
"By the way, you can change your name back to Cai Yan Cai Zhaoji."
Wu Zhao blushed slightly: "Let's wait until the young master gets married. I dare not be more beautiful than the girl from the Zhen family."
Yuan Xi understood that Wu Zhao meant that the legal wife was the legal wife and she would not argue about anything. This was indeed the only way in this era.
He said, "I'm sorry for wronging you."
Wu Zhao shook her head and said, "Without the young master, there would be no concubine today. However, I should be careful about changing my name. I am afraid that the Wei family will find out..."
Yuan Xi laughed: "The Wei family has already torn their faces apart and chased you away. I want to see if they have the guts to come to me and ask for my help."
"By the way, when people arrive, come with me to the Zhen family."
Wu Zhao knew that they were going to go to the Zhen family to propose marriage, so he asked, "Who is the matchmaker?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "What we are waiting for is the matchmaker."
Within half an hour, the matchmaker arrived.
When Wu Zhao saw it, he was a little surprised, but also suddenly realized.
Liu He.
Wu Zhao knew that Liu He came to visit the day before and had a long private conversation with Yuan Xi. It seemed that the two of them should have joined forces, but he didn't know what conditions Yuan Xi paid.
Otherwise, Yuan Xi would not have chosen someone he was not confident to be the matchmaker for his marriage.
When Liu He came in, he saw that Yuan Xi had already prepared everything. He was speechless and said, "I have lived for more than 30 years, and I have never seen such a hasty wedding."
After the two talked for a few words, Wu Zhao finally understood that Yuan Xi was going to go to the house with Liu He and complete the rather complicated pre-wedding ceremonies of accepting the bride's proposal, asking for the bride's name, accepting the good news, accepting the betrothal gift, and asking for the date within one day!
Wu Zhao was a little stunned. She understood that Yuan Xi was afraid of the long night and many dreams, but wasn't it too unrealistic to do this?
Liu He said at this time: "Just now in Envoy Yuan's room, I found that Master Xianfu seemed to have some ideas."
Yuan Xi nodded and said, "Brother, have you noticed it too?"
"Speed is of the essence in war. So let's go to the Zhen family now."
At this time, Yuan Shang returned to the house. Liu followed him in and said angrily, "That little dog, he was just adopted and he dared to be rude to Shang'er. I really want to slap him!"
Yuan Shang waved his hand and said, "I just want him to submit and be used by me, not to turn him into an enemy."
He sneered and said, "But I think he is getting too proud of himself. Since he wants to wrestle with me, I will accompany him."
He thought that Yuan Xi thought he had become powerful enough by starting his own business, and he would never have thought that he had already made all the arrangements!
I would be very interested to see you begging for mercy in front of me.
Thinking of this, Yuan Shang sneered and said to his attendants, "Bring the man who came from Wuji County a few days ago, and go to the Zhen family with me!"
When Yuan Xi and Liu He came out of the house, they saw Guo Jia running over from a distance and shouted, "Why didn't you invite me to this interesting event?"
After hearing this, Yuan Xi laughed and said, "Sir, you are just trying to make the world chaotic."
Guo Jia said proudly: "I have also given many suggestions before and after this matter. I just don't believe that Yuan Shang can endure it."
"There will definitely be a good show in the Zhen Mansion today."
Yuan Xi sighed, "I hope everything will be peaceful and smooth, after all, no one wants to encounter setbacks in their life."
Guo Jia sneered in his heart, come on, you're still pretending!
Yuan Xi is definitely a sinister person, and he must have started planning this marriage a long time ago!
However, my lord does have the qualities of a hero. If I guess correctly, his plan must be very big!
At this time, Taishi Ci and Zhao Yun both appeared, "Is there going to be an accident?"
"We are here to protect the young master."
Sun Li said with a bitter face, "Two brothers, you are trying to steal my job."
Yuan Xi was full of energy and laughed loudly, "Let's go together!"
Cao Xian came out of the house and looked at everyone with envy, but saw Yuan Xi turned to him and said, "I have called an extra carriage, you and your mother can go too."
Cao Xian was stunned. She asked in confusion, "Master, are you talking to me?"
"Me and my mother?"
Yuan Xi nodded and said, "Yes, your mother is very important."
After hearing this, everyone fell silent. Zhao Yun wanted to speak, but hesitated and remained silent.
They all knew that Yuan Xi had actually found Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, a few days ago and forcibly drove Huan out of the Cao family.
This was actually a good thing, because Huan was the widow of Bian Rang and was later forcibly taken away by Cao Cao. Yuan Xi's move could be said to be a good thing.
But after the news came out that day, rumors began to spread in Yecheng, saying that Yuan Xi had ill intentions and that he did this just to forcibly seize the Huan family.
If it were just this matter, it would be fine. After all, in this era, women can only rely on men to survive most of the time. Besides, Bian Rang is already dead, and no one will speak for him.
But the worse thing was that everyone knew that Yuan Xi had previously taken Cao Xian as his concubine.
This involves an extremely sensitive issue. A mother and daughter sharing the same husband is a major ethical issue in any era. Even the emperor would not easily cross this red line.
So once this rumor came out, it spread like wildfire. At that time, Yuan Xi was Yuan Shao's son, so people were still cautious, but now Yuan Xi has been adopted, who knows how the rumor will spread in the future.
Now when they heard that Yuan Xi was proposing marriage, he even wanted to bring Huan along, everyone had strange looks on their faces. You said it was fine to take the two concubines, Wu Zhao and Cao Xian, but why would they bring Huan along?
So even someone as upright as Zhao Yun almost couldn't help but speak out on the spot, but he finally managed to hold it back. After all, this was a major event in Yuan Xi's marriage, and bringing up these things in person would really spoil the mood.
Everyone was full of suspicion, and a group of people, some riding horses and some riding in cars, headed towards Zhen's mansion in a mighty manner.
The Zhen family had already learned the news and opened the door early to welcome everyone in.
Zhang had been waiting in the courtyard to greet him. Seeing Yuan Xi coming down first, she hurried over to greet him and said with a wry smile, "Young Master is so cruel."
Yuan Xi said calmly: "You can only gain if you give up."
"Moreover, for the Zhen family, the girl from the Zhen family has become a weak spot that is used to threaten me. If this continues, I don't care, but the Zhen family will not be able to hold on."
Zhang was silent, she understood that what Yuan Xi said was true.
But no one would be willing to give away the daughter they have raised for so many years.
After hearing this, Yuan Xi said, "Madam, don't worry. No matter what happens, my promise to the Zhen family will remain unchanged."
"Besides, no one can say what will happen in the future."
Zhang heard this and sighed, "I am willing to believe you, sir. I hope you can remember what I said today."
Yuan Xi nodded and said, "Of course."
While the two were talking, everyone behind Yuan Xi sensed that something was not right.
Why doesn't what Yuan Xi and Zhang talked about seem like getting married?
Wu Zhao was stunned and asked, "Sir, aren't you here to propose marriage today?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Of course it's a marriage proposal, but there are some changes in the middle."
Wu Zhao was stunned: "What changes?"
Just as Yuan Xi was about to speak, he heard a servant from the Zhen Mansion rushing over and saying, "Someone has come to Envoy Yuan's mansion!"
"The visiting card they sent said it was from Yuan Shao's son Yuan Xianfu!"
Yuan Xi thought to himself that Yuan Shang really wasn't giving up and came quite quickly.
As he was speaking, Yuan Shang had already strode in. In addition to his personal guards, he was followed by a middle-aged man in shabby clothes.
When Yuan Shang saw Yuan Xi, he said with a fake smile, "So Master Xian Yi is here too?"