Chapter 263: Cao Clan’s Marriage Proposal
Not long after, Zhang Zhao hurriedly walked in and bowed, “Disturbing the Marquis of Wu’s rest on New Year!”
“Is there something urgent?” Sun Quan asked.
“Wang Xiu just came to me, saying that Chancellor Cao wants to seek marriage for his second son Cao Zhi with the Marquis of Wu’s younger sister.”
“What?”
Sun Quan widened his eyes, “Seeking marriage for Cao Zhi with Shang Xiang?”
“That’s what he said. In a few days, the marriage envoy Hua Xin will deliver the formal marriage proposal.”
Sun Quan’s head throbbed. Liu Bei’s marriage proposal had already left him overwhelmed, and now Cao Cao was seeking marriage too. Worse, he had no idea where his younger sister Shang Xiang was. How could he marry off his sister?
Sun Quan took a deep breath to calm himself down. He paced a few steps with hands behind his back and asked gravely, “What do you think Cao Cao’s intention is, Strategist?”
Zhang Zhao said unhurriedly, “Marquis of Wu, the timing of this marriage proposal is very subtle! After spring begins, Liu Bei will send people to fetch his bride, and right at this critical juncture, Cao Cao sends someone to seek marriage. Doesn’t the Marquis of Wu find it suspicious?”
“It is suspicious. Could Cao Cao’s real purpose be to sabotage the marriage alliance between us and Liu Bei?”
Zhang Zhao nodded, “It probably has something to do with that, but not entirely.”
“What do you mean?” Sun Quan’s gaze darkened.
“If Cao Cao wanted to block our marriage alliance with Liu Bei, there are many ways. Threatening to tear up the agreement would be effective. There is no need to use marriage alliance.”
Sun Quan was a bit confused, “Then what exactly does Cao Cao mean?”
“This subordinate isn’t sure either. Perhaps he wants a marriage alliance and has been considering it for a while, but upon hearing news of Liu Bei’s marriage intentions, he immediately advanced it.”
Sun Quan suddenly thought of his missing younger sister and instantly felt annoyed and restless, “But my younger sister is missing. How am I supposed to explain this?”
Zhang Zhao smiled faintly, “Shang Xiang’s disappearance at this time is actually a good thing!”
“A good thing?” Sun Quan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood, “You mean we can use this as an excuse to reject both Liu Bei and Cao Cao at the same time?”
Zhang Zhao nodded, “It’s indeed a good excuse, and everyone from top to bottom knows that Shang Xiang has really gone missing.”
Sun Quan paced to the window with hands behind his back and began to seriously consider the matter. Previously, with only Liu Bei’s marriage proposal and his younger sister missing, he had no way to explain to Liu Bei, which infuriated him. Now with Cao Cao also seeking marriage, he certainly didn’t dare offend him. His younger sister’s disappearance had indeed become an excuse that offended neither side.
At this moment, Sun Quan suddenly remembered something else, frowned and said, “The agreement says I am to marry Cao Cao’s daughter as wife? Why doesn’t Cao Cao mention this? Shouldn’t the marriage envoy be here for my matter?”
Zhang Zhao also felt some unease in his heart. Cao Cao had indeed not mentioned the marriage alliance between the Marquis of Wu and Cao Cao’s daughter. Zhang Zhao didn’t know where the problem was.
“When the marriage envoy arrives, we’ll ask carefully about this matter!”
Sun Quan nodded and continued, “Now we must put on a full show, expand the search range. All nunneries and female Taoist priest temples in the famous mountains and great rivers of Jiangdong must be searched. We also need to make the information public, let all scholars and commoners know that the Marquis of Wu’s younger sister is missing.”
Before, he had been secretive about it, but now he wouldn’t hide it. He wanted to announce to the world that his younger sister was missing, so your two families’ marriage proposals were useless.
In the blink of an eye, it was the fifteenth day of the first month, the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival custom had existed since the Western Han dynasty and was closely related to the development of Taoism. Ordinary citizens ate glutinous rice balls and strolled the lantern festival.
The current lantern festival was far less grand than in the Sui and Tang dynasties. Every household hung out lanterns, and on streets with concentrated commerce, many shops made all kinds of lanterns to attract customers, vying in splendor and drawing large crowds of ordinary citizens to enjoy. Many vendors also set up stalls to do small business, making the Lantern Festival lively.
Chaisang’s Lantern Festival was on East Main Street and West Main Street. These two main streets were Chaisang’s most important commercial hubs, lined with shops, restaurants, inns, and brothels everywhere. At night, all shops displayed various lanterns stretching ten li.
As lights came on, big red lanterns hung high in front of every household, like flames leaping in the night. On the bustling East and West Main Streets, colorful lanterns shone brilliantly. From afar, it was like being in a sea of lights.
Nearly three hundred thousand citizens of Chaisang came out to view the lanterns, along with citizens from Pengze, Haihun, Liling, and other counties who brought their families to Chaisang to see the lights.
The main street was surging with people, and large carts of wealthy families could hardly move an inch.
But official and wealthy families had another way to view the lanterns: booking street-facing private rooms in restaurants in advance, where they could watch the lanterns safely from the rooms while enjoying the pleasure.
Xunyang Grand Restaurant was Chaisang’s largest restaurant, Gan Ning’s industry. The area was full of high-end restaurants and upscale shops, making it the best spot for viewing lanterns. Over a hundred of the city’s best large colorful lanterns were gathered here.
In front of the restaurant was a small square crowded with bustling lantern-viewing crowds and various vendors.
At the main entrance, Xu Wei, Xiao Qiao, and Sun Shangxiang stood on the stairs, with seven female guards around them, not allowing anyone to approach.
Xiao Qiao smiled, “Last year Older Sister was pregnant and didn’t come to see the lanterns. Actually, this is our first time at a lantern festival too, A Ren. How is the Lantern Festival in Wu Commandery?”
Sun Shangxiang and Xu Wei exchanged a glance and smiled wryly, “There is a lantern festival of course, but we aren’t allowed out. It’s said to be quite chaotic with too many lecherous ruffians.”
At this time, a lantern vendor wanted to come forward but was stopped by the female guard. The vendor asked, “Do the three misses want to buy lanterns?”
The three women looked at the various small lanterns and were tempted. Xiao Qiao quickly said, “Sang Ye, let him come over! We’ll buy a few lanterns.”
Only then did the female guards let the vendor pass, but they still watched his every move vigilantly.
“I have goldfish lanterns, lotus lanterns, peony lanterns, moon lanterns, Chang’e lanterns, moon rabbit lanterns. Which do you like?”
“How much per lantern?” Xiao Qiao asked.
“Peony lanterns are complex to make, twenty cash per lantern. The others are ten cash.”
Each of the three picked a few. Xu Wei bought a peony lantern for Da Qiao too, then they went upstairs with the lanterns.
Gan Ning’s family had booked the largest private room on the third floor, which had an outside terrace. The child was in deep sleep, held by the wet nurse who gently cooed.
The wide table was filled with various pastries and fruits, and hot wine. Several maidservants stood against the wall.
Gan Ning had his arm around his wife’s waist on the terrace. Below were all kinds of brilliant colorful lanterns, and a bright full moon hung above their heads.
Da Qiao gently rested her head on her husband’s shoulder, gazing at the bright moon. Her eyes were tender as water, “Husband, I like viewing the moon and lanterns like this, especially with you. Ah! It’s been so long since we viewed the moon and lanterns together.”
“You’ve been taking care of the child these past few months.”
Gan Ning said tenderly, “In the future, I’ll spend more time with you. We’ll stroll and view the moon together at night.”
“Great!”
At this time, hurried footsteps came from the stairs, and the three young ladies ran in.
“Husband, they’re back.”
“Ignore them. Let’s continue viewing the moon!”
Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei were used to it, but it was Sun Shangxiang’s first time seeing Gan Ning and Da Qiao standing together intimately head to head. Her pretty face flushed red, and a strange feeling suddenly stirred in her heart.
She couldn’t describe what the feeling was—perhaps envy, or perhaps she hoped that one day she too could cuddle with her beloved to view the moon and lanterns.
