Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Lie Fan smiled faintly, his eyes sharp as a drawn blade. ”Then let us be the storm.” Outside, the lamps of Xiapi flickered to life, casting long, wavering shadows across the walls. In the quiet night, the messenger of the Ma Clan sat in his appointed quarters, sipping thin wine, clinging to the hope that salvation was near.

That night, the Ma Clan’s messenger was treated to a carefully staged display. As he dined in the guest quarters, servants hurried back and forth outside, carrying scrolls and shouting about grain shipments being diverted.

Officials argued loudly about supply shortages, their voices carrying just enough for the messenger to overhear.

Lie Fan’s page even ”accidentally” dropped a report in front of him, a document detailing the ”urgent” but ”painfully slow” efforts to gather provisions for the border armies.

The messenger’s hope, though tempered by the apparent difficulties, remained intact. He would return to Ma Chao with news that aid might come, if the gods willed it.

And that fragile hope was exactly what Lie Fan wanted the Ma Clan messenger to cling to, and when he report it back to Ma Chao, it will increase his reputation in his eyes even further.

Several days slipped by in Xiapi, the air thick with the humid stillness of late spring. The Ma Clan’s messenger remained lodged in his quarters, watching the bustling comings and goings of at the Governor Castle, his hope carefully fed by the calculated theater Lie Fan had orchestrated. Meanwhile, inside his study at the Lie Clan residence, more pressing matters reached Lie Fan’s hands.

A letter had arrived that morning, stamped with the unmistakable seal of Zhen Yi. Lie Fan leaned back in his chair, breaking the wax with a short dagger and unfolding the letter with a practiced hand. His eyes flicked over the neat, deliberate script.

Zhen Ji would be arriving in two days, Zhen Yi informed him, and he expected that his youngest daughter would be welcomed into the Lie household with all the pomp and ceremony befitting her status as a concubine. The message was polite, yet the underlying arrogance was unmistakable.

Lie Fan gave a dry chuckle, shaking his head. Zhen Yi’s tone had shifted since the marriage alliance was cemented, there was a faint but growing air of self importance in his words, as though he fancied himself a power behind the throne. Perhaps, Lie Fan mused, it is time to consider pruning the Zhen Clan branch.

The Oriole agents, his network of shadows, could handle such a task with precision. There were others in the Zhen clan who would leap at the chance to replace Zhen Yi and prove their loyalty to the rising star that was Lie Fan.

But for now, it was a thought best left on the shelf.

With a flick of his wrist, he set the letter down on the table and summoned his page. ”Call Lady Ying Yue, Lady Diao Chan, Lady Cai Wenji, and Lady Lu Lingqi to my study.”

Soon, the soft shuffle of slippers on polished stone announced their arrival. One by one, his wives entered, the calm, poised Ying Yue, the graceful Diao Chan, the gentle Cai Wenji, and the fierce Lu Lingqi.

Lie Fan rose to greet them with a rare softness in his expression. ”My beloved wives,” he began, ”in two days, Zhen Ji will be arrive and enter into our household. Zhen Yi expects her to be received with a grand ceremony worthy of her rank.*

Surprise flickered across their faces, and a ripple of glances passed among the women. Diao Chan arched an elegant brow, while Cai Wenji’s lips parted in quiet astonishment. Lu Lingqi crossed her arms, a slight frown tugging at her brow, not from jealousy, but from the suddenness of the affair.

But when Lie Fan added with a faint smirk, ”It seems Zhen Yi enjoys testing my patience these days since my acceptance to his marriage alliance offer,” the tension eased. The four women exchanged knowing looks and, after a moment’s silence, bowed their heads.

”Leave it to us, husband,” Ying Yue said smoothly, her voice like the calm surface of a lake. ”We will prepare a ceremony that will leave no room for complaint.”

Diao Chan gave a light laugh. ”Perhaps we shall remind Zhen Ji that while she may be joining this household, we are its pillars and she couldn’t replace that.”

Lu Lingqi, more blunt, grinned. ”Let her see the strength of the household she’s joining.”

Cai Wenji smiled softly, folding her hands in front of her. ”We will handle it well, husband.”

Lie Fan nodded, his chest warming at their unity. ”Good. I leave it in all of your hands.”

The next two days were a flurry of activity within the Lie household. Servants rushed through the corridors carrying bolts of crimson silk, boxes of incense, trays of polished bronze, and crates of rare wine. The air filled with the scent of lilies and sandalwood as every corner of the residence was swept, scrubbed, and adorned.

Banners were hung, lanterns strung from rooftops, and the stone courtyard was laid with fresh carpets. Musicians practiced under the watchful eyes of stewards, and cooks worked through the night preparing a feast to be remembered.

Ying Yue oversaw the overall arrangements with the calm authority that made the servants tremble and scramble at her slightest frown. Diao Chan handled the aesthetic details, ensuring every drape, every flower, every instrument was placed to perfection. Cai Wenji coordinated the musicians and entertainment, her ear tuned to every note. Lu Lingqi, meanwhile, took charge of security, ensuring the household guards were polished, disciplined, and flawlessly drilled.

The morning of Zhen Ji’s arrival dawned bright and clear, the skies over Xiapi a flawless blue as if Heaven itself approved of the union. And the Lie Clan residence shimmered like a jewel. Red banners with the Lie crest snapped in the breeze, and the stone lions at the gate had been freshly washed and garlanded with flowers.

Lie Fan stood at the entrance, flanked by his four wives, all in formal dress. His robes were of deep red embroidered with gold threads catching the sunlight, his hair tied back in a jade clasp, his demeanor serene yet commanding.

Ying Yue wore pale gold with her hair pinned with jade ornaments, Diao Chan wore a daring crimson ensemble that drew the eye with her lips curved in a smirk, Cai Wenji white with silver as she stood with full elegance, and Lu Lingqi crimson edged in black with baby Lu Liang cradled securely in one arm.

As noon approached, the procession arrived. Indicated by the sound of drums and flutes In the distance, that announced the arrival of the Zhen Clan’s procession.

Zhen Yi rode at the head, proud as a rooster, his robes gaudy and his hat feathered as he led the entourage astride a magnificent white stallion. Behind him came Zhen Ji’s ornate carriage, drawn by four snow white horses and followed by five wagons laden with betrothal gifts, rare spices, bolts of finest silk, boxes of jade and pearls, gold coins, and rare treasures that glinted in the sunlight.

The common people lined the streets to gawk at the spectacle, whispering and pointing, the air thick with the scent of anticipation.

”The Zhen Clan’s wealth is truly boundless, they were worthy of being in the top five richest merchant clan in the land.”

”Lord Lie Fan gains not just a heavenly beauty concubine, but an empire’s worth of treasure.”

When the procession halted before the gates, Lie Fan descended the steps with practiced grace. Zhen Yi dismounted with a flourish, his robes sweeping dramatically as he approached Lie Fan.

”Lord Lie Fan!” he boomed, cupping his hands in an exaggerated bow. ”My daughter is honored to join your esteemed household. May this union bring prosperity to both our houses!”

Lie Fan returned the gesture with a polite nod, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. ”Patriarch Zhen. Your generosity is noted.”

The unspoken tension between them was palpable, Zhen Yi, basking in the perceived elevation of his clan’s status, Lie Fan, already calculating how soon he could replace this insufferable man with a more pliable puppet.

The exchange of gifts followed. Servants hurried back and forth, carrying ornate boxes, gold threaded banners, bolts of silk, and many more.

Then, the moment the crowd had been waiting for, the carriage doors opened, and Zhen Ji stepped out, her delicate figure surrounded by her handmaidens who was at the side of the carriage.

Gasps rippled through the onlookers.

Dressed in layers of delicate peach and gold silks, her hair adorned with pearls and delicate silver pins, Zhen Ji looked every bit the noble daughter. But it was her composure that struck those watching, the way she held herself with quiet dignity, her eyes lowered but her spine straight.

Ying Yue was the first to step forward, extending a hand. ”Welcome, Sister Zhen. We’ve prepared quarters for you in the eastern wing. Come, let us show you.”

Zhen Ji bowed deeply, her voice soft but steady. ”This humble one is grateful for your kindness.”

Diao Chan smirked. ”Oh, don’t be so formal, Sister Zhen. We don’t bite.” A pause. ”Much.”

Cai Wenji shot her a look before gently guiding Zhen Ji forward. Lu Lingqi, much more pragmatic, simply nodded. ”Your rooms are near the gardens. Quiet. Good for thinking.”

As the women disappeared into the residence, Lie Fan turned back to Zhen Yi. ”Shall we feast, then?”

After saying that, Lie Fan escorted Zhen Yi and his entourage into the main hall, where a lavish banquet awaited.

The main hall had been arranged for a grand banquet, long tables laden with roasted pheasants, steamed fish, delicate dumplings, and endless cups of fine wine. Lie Fan’s most trusted advisors and generals that was present in Xiapi were in attendance, their presence a silent reminder of the power behind this union.

Zhen Yi emboldened by wine and the perceived success of his scheme, grew increasingly boisterous as the evening wore on. He drank freely, boasting of his lineage, of the Zhen clan’s long history, and of the brilliance of his daughter.

Lie Fan listened with the faintest of smiles, humoring the man while his own thoughts drifted to weightier matters, Ma Chao’s desperation, Cao Cao’s relentless campaigns, the crumbling rebellion in the west.

Sitting beside him in line, Jia Xu quietly observed the scene, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. Xun You, seated nearby, sipped his wine with measured patience, while Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi exchanged brief, knowing glances.

”Lord Lie Fan!” Zhen Yi slurred at one point, raising his cup. ”To our alliance! May it last a thousand years!”

Lie Fan raised his own cup in somewhat mock acknowledgment to Zhen Yi’s words, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Jia Xu leaned in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. ”Shall I have someone ’assist’ him to his quarters, my lord? Before he embarrasses himself and you further, my lord?”

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 33 (200 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0