Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12

____________________________

He returned Ma Chao’s greeting with a slow, measured nod. ”General Ma. You once stood here seeking permission to court my daughter. Today you return with Your Majesty to formalize your intentions. I welcome you back to Yuzhang.”

He then greeted Ma Tie, Ma Dai, and Ma Xiu as well, acknowledging the honor of having the entire Ma family’s frontline members present.

”Let us continue inside,” Sun Jian said, gesturing toward the doors. ”It would shame us to leave such guests standing.”

Lie Fan, Sun Jian, and Ma Chao led the way into the grand hall, followed by the rest.

Inside the great hall, the Sun Clan had prepared a welcoming display worthy of royalty. Incense burned gently from bronze censers. The pillars were wrapped with embroidered silks depicting phoenixes and waves, a symbol of auspicious union. The great seat at the center of the hall bore fresh cushions, arranged prominently.

Lie Fan took the main seat without hesitation. Sun Jian sat at the secondary seat on his right. The rest of the hall filled naturally according to rank and closeness to both sides of the families.

Servants soon brought forth trays of wine, fruit, and delicately arranged dishes, steamed fish seasoned with ginger, braised pork belly, lotus root soup, and assorted delicacies only served for honored guests. Soft music began, strings humming lightly through the air as musicians took their place.

Lie Fan wasted no time.

Once everyone was served, he lifted his cup slightly and turned his gaze toward Sun Jian and Lady Wu.

”Today,” he began with a grin that lit the entire hall, ”I have come to act as matchmaker for Ma Chao. As stated in the letter I sent... I wish to formally propose that the pearl of you Sun Clan, Shangxiang, be bound in marriage to him.”

Lady Wu lowered her gaze with a serene smile. Sun Ce hid a grin from his face. Sun Quan kept his posture steady but his happiness was obvious. Zhou Yu’s eyes gleamed knowingly. Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao exchanged sisterly looks of excitement.

Sun Jian placed his cup down slowly and stood. The music softened further. All eyes were upon him. He looked at Lie Fan, then at Ma Chao, and finally at his wife, whose slight, almost imperceptible nod seemed to give him the final confirmation he needed.

When the father spoke, the hall fell silent.

”Your Majesty...” his voice was thick with sincerity. ”For the Sun Clan, it is a great honor to have you act as matchmaker. And it is an honor for my daughter to be wed with your support.”

He breathed in deeply.

”I confess, I have reluctance in my heart. As a father... there is a natural unwillingness. A father’s heart is a selfish one. The pearl that my sons and I have cherished and protected, the vibrant girl who filled these halls with her laughter and her strong will... the thought of her leaving this home is a bittersweet one.”

His eyes softened slightly before they sharpened again with paternal gravity.

”However! Seeing that this match has Your Majesty’s ardent support, and knowing that General Ma Chao is not only a man of unparalleled talent and courage on the battlefield but has also proven himself to be a man of honor and integrity... I, Sun Jian, give my consent.”

He bowed deeply.

”Let this marriage proceed.”

The hall erupted into murmurs of approval, polite applause, emotional smiles. A palpable wave of relief and joy swept through the Ma brothers. Ma Dai allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.

Lie Fan let out another of his characteristic loud, happy laughs and turned to Ma Chao, his eyes twinkling. ”Well, Mengqi? You have your answer! What do you say to your future father in law, and to your entire future family?”

And all eyes fell upon Ma Chao.

His breath caught, just for a moment.

Not from fear.

But from the overwhelming gravity of finally reaching this moment. The battles. The distances. The waiting. The longing.

It had all led here.

Ma Chao stood, his movements deliberate and filled with deep emotion. He walked to the center of the space before Sun Jian and Lady Wu and knelt once more, this time bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the polished wooden floor.

”Duke Wulie,” he said, voice steady but soft with emotion, ”Lady Wu. Esteemed Marquiss, Marquess, and members of the Sun family.”

He lifted his head slowly.

”This honor... this joy... I have no words grand enough to express my gratitude. I swear to you, on my life, on my honor, and on the name of my ancestors, that I will cherish and protect Lady Sun Shangxiang with every fiber of my being. I will honor her, protect her, and respect her strength, her spirit, and her heart.”

He clenched his fist over his chest.

”On the outside world, I will be her shield. At home, I will be her partner. In all things, I will be worthy of the trust you place in me today.”

Sun Jian’s stern expression wavered.

Lady Wu dabbed a corner of her eye discreetly.

Sun Ce smirked approvingly.

Sun Quan nodded, impressed.

Zhou Yu chuckled under his breath. ”Not bad at all.”

And somewhere deep within the mansion, though not yet present in the hall, Sun Shangxiang herself paused in her preparation, her chest tightening with a warmth she couldn’t fully name.

Lie Fan grinned from ear to ear.

”HA! Well said! That is how a man speaks!”

He slapped Ma Chao’s shoulder proudly.

”Then the match is officially sealed. The Sun Clan agrees. The Ma Clan agrees. And I, your Emperor, approve and bless this union.”

He turned to Sun Jian again.

”Brother, I thank you on behalf of my general.”

Sun Jian laughed. ”We thank Your Majesty for bringing him back here.”

Wine was poured. Cups were raised. The music swelled.

The celebration had only just begun.

The wedding preparations... the formal engagement rituals... the meeting between Ma Chao and Sun Shangxiang... the ceremonial rites...

All of it would unfold in the coming days.

But for now, in that great hall filled with warmth, laughter, and hope, two families, two great clans, sealed a promise that had been in the subtle making of their Emperor, unbeknownst to both parties involved.

The lingering warmth of the banquet clung to the halls of the Sun Clan mansion long after the music softened and the final cups of wine were drained. Servants began clearing away dishes while Sun Clan stewards extinguished lanterns on the outer edges of the main hall, leaving only the central ones illuminated to soften the mood rather than end it abruptly.

Lie Fan stretched his shoulders slightly as he stepped down from the main seat, the faint ache of long travel settling into his bones now that adrenaline and ceremony had faded.

Ma Chao, still riding the afterglow of Sun Jian’s acceptance, followed behind him with an expression caught somewhere between floating and grounded, like a man walking on solid earth but whose heart was soaring several feet above his head.

Ma Tie, Ma Xiu, and Ma Dai shared quiet grins among themselves, their earlier tension replaced by a relief so thick one could practically see it wafting off their shoulders. Sun Ce and Sun Quan approached with brisk steps, both men carrying themselves with the elegant mix of martial discipline and noble warmth that defined the Sun family’s reputation.

”Your Majesty,” Sun Ce said, bowing respectfully. ”The quarters for you and General Ma’s family have been fully prepared. We will escort you there now.”

Lie Fan smiled. ”Very good. Lead the way.”

As they walked through the lantern lit corridors of the mansion, the faint scent of sandalwood and tea drifted in the air. Large silk paintings depicting naval battles, tiger hunts, and scenes of the Sun Clan’s ancestors adorned the walls. Every footstep echoed in well polished harmony, the attendants trailing them moving quieter than shadows.

Sun Ce and Sun Quan split their attention naturally, one glancing at Lie Fan to ensure the Emperor was properly guided, the other quietly signaling the servants ahead to open doors and prepare the pathways. Their synchronicity was almost instinctive, a testament to years of growing up in a powerful yet close knit household.

At last, they arrived at a large compound style courtyard, its central pavilion lit invitingly.

”This will be Your Majesty’s residence during your stay,” Sun Ce announced with a slight flourish of his hand.

Sun Quan added, ”We ensured everything was arranged according to the preferences Your Majesty is accustomed to in Xiapi.”

Lie Fan took in the room with a long, appreciative glance, dark sandalwood furniture, a broad writing table, a bed draped with red silk, an incense burner shaped like a dragon exhaling faint trails of mist, and a small inner garden viewable through a sliding screen window.

He nodded with satisfaction.

”You’ve both done well. I am more than satisfied,” Lie Fan said warmly.

Sun Ce let out a relieved breath. ”We are glad to hear it.”

Then Sun Ce clapped his hands sharply, and several servants and maids stepped forward in neat formation, kneeling on one knee before Lie Fan.

”These will serve as Your Majesty’s personal attendants during your stay in Yuzhang,” Sun Ce explained. ”If Your Majesty requires anything, or needs to reach me or my father, they will handle it without delay.”

Lie Fan’s smile widened just a little. ”Good. You’ve thought of everything.”

He waved a hand dismissively. ”Go now, escort Mengqi and his brothers to their quarters. I’ll rest here for a while.”

With bows deep and respectful, Sun Ce and Sun Quan withdrew, their footsteps echoing down the hall as they led Ma Chao’s group toward a nearby residence.

The moment they disappeared into the corridor, the kneeling servants lowered their heads further.

Then the one closest to the front spoke quietly.

”Your Majesty... the Oriole Agents greet you.”

Lie Fan’s eyelids lowered in amusement, though he kept his expression composed. So, they had managed to secure pretty good positions inside the Sun Clan mansion itself. That meant they’d integrated seamlessly into the household’s daily operations, trusted enough to be assigned to serve the Emperor without suspicion.

He stepped forward.

”Stand,” he commanded.

All of them rose in unison, heads bowed respectfully but no longer hiding their true alertness.

”You’ve done well,” Lie Fan said. ”Report.”

The lead agent, a young man disguised as a senior servant, stepped forward. ”Your Majesty, the common people of Yuzhang and the surrounding territories are overwhelmingly pleased with this union. They see it as a blessing upon the land and believe it will bring prosperity.”

Lie Fan nodded lightly. ”And the nobles?”

The agent hesitated, then answered truthfully.

”...The nobles and scholars do not share the common people’s sentiment, Your Majesty.”

Lie Fan raised one eyebrow. ”They oppose the union, then.”

”Yes, Your Majesty,” the agent replied. ”Especially those whose sons, nephews, or grandchildren were rejected in the past by either Lord Sun Jian or Lady Shangxiang herself. Many feel humiliated that their proposals were denied with the Lu Clan the one have the most resentment, especially now that she is formally offered to Ma Chao with Your Majesty personally acting as matchmaker.”

Lie Fan folded his arms, thinking.

”Why the Lu Clan have the most resentment?” he asked.

The room stiffened slightly at the mere mention of that name.

The Oriole commander spoke again, voice lower than before. ”They are the most enraged, Your Majesty, because their heir, the one who attempted to touch Lady Shangxiang, lost his ear after she defended herself. Ever since then, the Lu Clan has harbored resentment toward both the Sun Clan and Lady Shangxiang.”

______________________________

Name: Lie Fan

Title: Founding Emperor Of Hengyuan Dynasty

Age: 35 (202 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 2325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 966 (+20)

VIT: 623 (+20)

AGI: 623 (+10)

INT: 667

CHR: 98

WIS: 549

WILL: 432

ATR Points: 0