At dawn, Yuan Xi woke up.
Seeing Cao Xian sleeping soundly under the quilt next to him, he had to admit that it felt really good to have someone warming the quilt.
Although at the last moment, Yuan Xi was still worse than a beast, he did a lot of other things.
Cao Xian turned over, and the curves of her body looked particularly alluring against the fine linen lining. She drowsily stretched out her tongue and licked the corners of her mouth, which made Yuan Xi's heart skip a beat.
Yuan Xi felt that it was not possible to stay like this, so he got out of bed decisively, put on his clothes lightly, and quietly walked out of the door.
The winter cold wrapped around the snowflakes gave him instant goosebumps, and he couldn't help but tremble a few times. For some reason, he remembered Cao Xian's seductive lips last night.
There was a faint sound coming from the backyard. Yuan Xi followed the trail and bypassed several houses. When he arrived, he found that Zhao Yun and Tai Shi Ci were doing morning exercises.
One of the two wields a long stick, the other uses a short stick with both hands. Their movements are back and forth in a sudden motion. They make moves very quickly and withdraw them at the touch of a touch, so the sound of the sticks colliding is also extremely soft.
The two of them opened their stances, waving their arms and sticks in large and small circles in the air. Occasionally, lightning-fast thrusts appeared in the circles, but they were entangled in another circle.
Yuan Xi was dazzled by what he saw, this was a move from a master!
Different from the competition between Qu Yi and Zhao Yun in Beixin City, Qu Yi was not able to open and close easily due to his poor health, but focused on defensive counterattacks.
However, Taishi Ci was in his prime, and he was fighting with Zhao Yun. The two of them had dangerous moves, but they controlled them just right. Their weapons were both dangerous in length and strength, but they both retained some strength. They fought evenly.
Seeing the two of them fighting more and more fiercely, you can understand why Liu Guanzhang's martial arts can continue to improve over the years.
Yuan Xi was envious in his heart. It would be great if he could become a master like the two of them sometime, but it was more likely that he would never reach such a height in this life.
He had practiced with Zhao Yun several times, but he always failed after just a few moves. At that time, he asked Zhao Yun with some expectation, if he practiced diligently every day, could he become a second- or third-rate general?
Zhao Yun was silent for a long time before comforting him: "Young master is quite accomplished in bows and arrows, so let's specialize in one first."
Today, Yuan Xi saw Zhao Yun's wooden spear coming out of the hole like a spiritual snake, several times faster than when he was sparring with him. Only then did he realize that Zhao Yun had held back at that time.
If he really went to the battlefield, he would probably shoot one shot at a time in front of Zhao Yun, no different from a miscellaneous soldier.
Zhao Yun and Tai Shici rolled around and performed hundreds of moves. Both of them became more and more energetic, with sweat steaming from their bodies and gushing out through their clothes.
In the end, the two people consumed more and more strength, and they could not control the strength in their hands. The sound of the sticks clashing became louder and louder. Finally, with a snap, the wooden sticks on both sides broke at the same time.
The two laughed and felt sympathy for each other. They held their hands together and said in unison: "Happy!"
Yuan Xi looked at it, thinking about how he held Zhao Yun's hand that day, but the other party immediately pulled it back, feeling sour in his heart.
Hey, it turns out you are this kind of person, Zilong!
Only then did the two of them catch a glimpse of Yuan Xi hiding behind the tree, and they quickly came up to greet him and said, "I've met the young master."
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "You two are indeed unparalleled warriors. From now on, all major affairs of Xi will depend on you two."
The two of them quickly expressed their gratitude.
Yuan Xi asked Tai Shi Ci again: "How is the old lady's health?"
Taishi Ci was so busy that he said: "Fortunately, the young master cared about me and asked the best doctor in Yecheng to treat me. Now, although I have an occasional cough, I am almost healed."
"Now I am under the care of my wife. I missed my trip to Dongwuyang some time ago. I feel ashamed."
Yuan Xi smiled and said, "I didn't let you go. It was Ziyi who took his family to seek refuge with me. If anything happens, I would feel uneasy."
After hearing this, Taishi Ci immediately said: "Ci heard that the young master is going to Xuzhou as an envoy in the next few days, and is willing to go with the young master!"
Yuan Xi pondered for a moment and wondered why: "Zilong and my brother are the two most reliable people around me. There is no danger in Yecheng, so I want to keep the most reliable ones in the house to protect everyone's family members."
The issue of family members is a big issue that can never be avoided. The reason why everyone in the Yuan family fought so hard is because their family members are all in the strong city of Yecheng, so they have no worries.
But on the other hand, if there is a problem with the location of the family members, the morale of the military will be in chaos, as was the case with the Yecheng Rebellion in the fourth year of Chuping.
Some time ago, Cao Cao did not hesitate to massacre Dong'a in Juancheng, where his family was, to protect his family. This is also true.
Later, Guan Yu lost Jingzhou, and all his family members fell into the hands of Lu Meng. As a result, the morale of the army was in chaos, and he was defeated.
Zhao Yuntai Shi Ci also understood, and Yuan Xi added: "Besides, you two have an old relationship with Xuande Gong. I am also undecided about who will send an envoy to Xuzhou."
Taishi Ci said: "It's true that there are old things, but there are also some dissatisfactions."
Yuan Xi became curious and asked about the reason. After Tai Shici explained it, he understood the cause and effect of the matter.
When Kong Rong was in Duchang that day, he was besieged by the Yellow Turban Army led by Guan Hai. Taishi Ci was ordered to break out of the siege and ask for help.
Liu Bei was truly benevolent at that time and sent 3,000 elite troops under the leadership of Zhang Fei to break the siege of Kong Rong.
But Zhang Fei didn't think highly of Taishi Ci, and Taishi Ci also thought highly of himself, so the two of them didn't talk to each other, and they didn't like each other, so they parted ways after fighting off the Yellow Turban.
Yuan Xi thought, no wonder, even with Liu Bei's ability to poach people, he didn't let Tai Shici seek refuge. So it turned out that Zhang Fei was the one who caused the trouble?
It seems that he also got lucky and did not take the ordinary path, but the opposite, and was lucky enough to have Tai Shici join him.
However, it seems that Liu Bei relied too much on Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and there was no internal affairs talent like Zhuge Liang in the middle to coordinate. In fact, there were a lot of minefields.
Zhang Fei, in particular, treated his generals a little lightly, which led to poor popularity and hidden dangers.
No wonder that when he was guarding Xia Pi in later generations, his general Cao Bao rebelled and opened the city gate to lure Lu Bu's army into the city, causing Liu Bei to collapse and lose Xuzhou.
But the rebellion in the whole city cannot be caused by Zhang Fei alone. The most fundamental reason is that Liu Bei did not completely conquer the Xuzhou nobles.
Yuan Xi's eyes lit up. In this case, Xuzhou should not be united and can make arrangements in advance!
He immediately said: "Then this time Ziyi will come with me and Zilong will stay."
Yuan Xi, who poaches others, is most afraid of colleagues like Liu Bei, and Liu Bei's rank is obviously much higher than his own, so it is best not to let Zhao Yun meet him.
He approached Zhao Yun and whispered: "It's also a good opportunity to stay in Yecheng. My sister may come over from time to time. It's up to you whether you can grasp it."
Zhao Yun nodded helplessly, thinking that the young master is good at everything, but he is too whimsical.
He was just a son of a good family with some land in his family, and his status was very different from that of the Yuan family. How could Yuan Xi be sure that he would be successful?
Yuan Xi smiled at Tai Shici again and said, "Kong Beihai is also in Xiapi this time. Going to Xuzhou this time will allow my brother to return a favor to him."
After Yuan Xi's explanation, Taishi Ci learned that Kong Rong's army was defeated that day and Kong Rong followed Liu Bei to flee to Xuzhou. Because he was in such a hurry, he left his wife and family behind.
Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi captured Beihai and captured Kong Rong's wife. Yuan Xi had already planned and asked Yuan Tan to get these people over. Now it was time to put them to use.
Soon after, Kong Ronghui was recruited by the imperial court as a general master craftsman, and later became an influential doctor in Taizhong.
If Kong Rong can be used, he will be a very useful chess piece.
However, Yuan Xi was not completely sure, after all, he had destroyed other people's territory.
The arrangements were made, Yuan Xi asked Zhao Yuntai Shici to go their separate ways, and the two of them took the order and left.
Only then did Yuan Xi realize that he had stood in the snow for a long time. Although his feet were wearing leather shoes, they were still numb from the cold. He stamped his feet and hurried back to the house to keep warm.
When he entered the room, he found that Cao Xian had already gotten up, wearing linen clothes, and was guarding the yellow clay stove in the corner of the room to boil water.
She clamped strips of charcoal with copper clips and put them into the bottom of the stove. The charcoal gradually turned red, and the heat filled the room and became warm.
When she saw Yuan Xi coming back, she quickly said: "I don't know where the young master is, and I don't dare to move rashly. I will go to the kitchen to cook immediately."
Yuan Xi said: "Don't worry, I'm not too hungry yet."
Cao Xian put the copper kettle on the stove, and this time he knelt down and came over, and asked anxiously: "Is the young master dissatisfied with my concubine?"
Cao Xian's linen clothes were very close to the body, and the mature body that stood out was very attractive. Looking at it from this angle, Yuan Xi couldn't help but feel his blood boiling, and said in a harsh voice: "No, you are fine."
Cao Xian raised his head: "Then why don't you want me?"
Yuan Xi coughed: "What I made last night is not much different. I'll talk about it when I get back."
Cao Xian's eyes rolled a few times, and he stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, "Then am I the young master's son?"
Yuan Xi felt overwhelmed and had to say: "Of course it is. I am not the kind who always gives up. Are you relieved now?"
After hearing this, Cao Xian rested his head on Yuan Xi's knees with peace of mind and said softly: "Master, please don't blame me. My mother and daughter have no one to rely on. I really have no choice."
"I'm very scared, afraid that one day my mother will be sent back again."
Yuan Xi raised his hand that was ready to move, passed over the shoulder of Cao Xian's vest, and finally landed on her head.
He gently stroked Cao Xian's hair and said, "No, you have done a good job. I will help you and your mother and daughter, both emotionally and rationally, to the end."
Cao Xian's eyes were slightly red and he nodded.
Yuan Xi thought to himself that things in the world are really wonderful. Some things just happen to happen without forcing them, as if by chance.
Just like Wu Zhao and Huan's mother and daughter.
There are some things that he has tried his best to plan, but he has encountered many obstacles and still has no clue.
Just like the marriage to Zhen Mi.
He understands that this matter cannot be rushed. He is still the son of the Yuan family and is controlled by others, especially the Liu family.
The only effective way is adoption.
Thinking about it, Yuan Tan has almost built up the momentum and the reasons are very sufficient. Everything should be ready.
However, when he visited Yuan Tan, he found that he didn't look very good either.
Yuan Shao did raise the issue of adoption, but what Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi didn't expect was that most of the counselors supported Yuan Tan's adoption, not Yuan Xi!
(End of chapter)
