Chapter 45: Drunken Mistake

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  "Yu Fang Gongzi, what's your decision?" Chen Kefu smiled and asked the woman who had been silent all along beside him. Since everyone was pretending not to say it out loud, he also pretended not to know that his opponent was a woman.

  The woman's face turned slightly red as Chen Kefu asked her, followed by a look of longing. She was Li Yuan's third daughter, and her two older sisters had already married, making her the eldest among the unmarried daughters at home. Unlike her other sisters, Li Xiuning had been tomboyish since childhood. She disliked traditional feminine pursuits and preferred martial arts, with a strong competitive streak. From a young age, she had learned excellent fighting skills, but unfortunately, they were wasted on a daughter's body. Although Li Yuan did not treat his children as strictly as other aristocratic families, he was also not entirely approving of his daughters' behavior.

  Although she was eager to go to the Broken Army Camp and learn from Fa Mulan's father, she also knew that even if her father doted on her, it was impossible for a daughter to join the army. A hint of melancholy appeared on her face as she said in a low voice, "Thank you, General Chen, but without permission from my elders at home, Yuan Fang cannot take the liberty, and I apologize sincerely."

  Li Yuan looked at his daughter, who seemed a bit unhappy, and hastily stepped forward, saying, "Yuan Fang, I have a jar of fine wine in my study. Go and get it for me. Today, I want to treat General Chen well. From now on, Shi Min and Xuan Bei, those two unfilial sons, will be following the general, so please take care of them more. If there's anything they don't understand, please discipline them for me."

  "Tang Gong said, "Wherever the two young masters go, they will shine brightly. Moreover, I also get along well with them, and we hit it off immediately. From now on, I will naturally be closer to them."

  Before long, a servant from Li Yuan's side brought over some fine wine and informed them that Miss Yuanfang was feeling unwell and had gone to rest. Chen Kefu knew that Yuanfang was Li Yuan's daughter, so he didn't ask any further questions. Anyway, having another young lady by their side would probably make everyone feel a bit more at ease during dinner.

  In the military camp, the food is not comparable to that at home. Although there are more than a dozen dishes, most of them are simple and rough, such as large chunks of beef and mutton, and big bowls of wine, which can be considered characteristic of the military.

  Li Shimin and Li Xuanbei, who had obtained Chen Kefu's consent, repeatedly toasted Chen Kefu during the banquet. Even Yuwen Huaji took advantage of this opportunity to show off his drinking skills and kept toasting Chen Kefu. The fine wine served today was also a famous wine from the Western Regions called San Le Fen, which is a strong white wine. After being persuaded by several people to drink, Chen Kefu soon felt overwhelmed.

  After three rounds of wine, Yuwen Huaji smiled and said, "Brother Pojun, today I have already spoken to Tang Gong on your behalf about your concerns. Whether this matter succeeds or not, I will ask Tang Gong again for you. Tang Gong, how do you consider it now? Will the matter succeed or not, give my brother a clear answer."

  Li Yuan held his wine cup and pondered for a moment before asking Chen Kefu, "General Chen, what do you think of Yuan Fang's performance just now?"

  Chen Kefu was now somewhat half-drunk and mumbled, "Yuanfang brother, ah, not bad, with a clear brow and bright eyes, looks like a girl."

  "General Chen, I wasn't intentionally hiding it from you just now. Yuanfang is indeed my third daughter, Xiu Ning, also known as San Niang. General Yuwen previously told me that you have a liking for my San Niang, so he asked Young Master Yuwen to act as matchmaker. Is this true?"

  Chen Kefu was already half awake and half drunk at this time, "Li Xiuning? I know, she's a good girl, it's natural to be happy to marry such a girl." At this time, Chen Pojun's brain heard the three words Li Xiuning, but thought of the princess who led the army in history. The historical Li Xiuning was an extraordinary woman, although she was a woman, she raised a daughter's army and fought for many years, achieving great military achievements.

  "Tang Gong, you see I can still deceive you, my brother somehow heard the news about your family's third daughter and suddenly became infatuated, otherwise he wouldn't have dragged me to be the matchmaker. Tang Gong, what are you hesitating for? Where else can you find a son-in-law like Bojun? Just agree already." Yuwen Huaji was very enthusiastic about this matter, repeatedly urging Li Yuan to quickly agree. If he had a sister, Yuwen Huaji would have already promised her to Chen Kefu, and wouldn't have left such an opportunity for Li Yuan.

  "This matter is still unknown to the young girl's intention, I'll go ask the young girl, if she also agrees, then this matter is settled."

  "Goodness, this marriage between a man and a woman, isn't it always the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words? You're the father, I'm the matchmaker. As long as these two points are present, won't things be settled?" Yuwen Huaji said somewhat discontentedly.

  Li Yuan said somewhat embarrassed, "If it were another daughter, it would be fine, but this daughter has been spoiled since childhood. I'll go ask her about this, you all wait a bit, I'll be right back." After saying that, Li Yuan hastily got up and walked towards his daughter's tent.

  "What? Father said Chen Pojun wants to ask for my daughter as his wife?" Li Xiuning heard her father's question, with a surprised face, somewhat disbelieving. She had just met Chen Kefu for the first time, but now he was already asking for her hand in marriage. For a moment, her mind was in chaos, and her heart was racing wildly.

  "Xiu Ning, you've seen it for yourself. Although Chen Po Jun's family background isn't great, that's all in the past now. He's still young and already a third-rank official, soon to be promoted even higher. He's highly favored by the Emperor. His future prospects are boundless. Moreover, you know your own temperament, with your personality, if you were to marry into one of those high-ranking families, you wouldn't be able to adapt to their rules and regulations. The Chen family is different, only Chen Ke Fu would be a suitable match for you, no one else would control you. And Chen Po Jun is a talented individual, skilled in both martial arts and literature. Today, Father saw his handwriting, it's truly beautiful, and he's also handsome. If you let someone like him slip away, it'll be hard to find another."

  "Dad, how can you say that? Are you thinking of marrying me off to get rid of me and have an easy time?" Li Xiuning's face was all red as she coquettishly said to her old father.

  "Yes, get married early and I'll be at ease earlier. I think Chen Kefu is a good kid, are you willing? If you agree, I'll arrange it for you; if not, your father will decline." Li Yuan said with a smile.

  Li Xiuning couldn't help but think of Chen Kefu, whom she had just met outside. His every word and action, his elegant demeanor, made her heart flutter for a moment. Suddenly remembering that her father was still waiting for her response beside her, she felt extremely embarrassed, turned her head away, and said softly, "Father, I've heard that children's marriages are always arranged by their parents, with the matchmaker's words being decisive. There's no such thing as a daughter making her own decisions. Now that Mother is not around, this matter will be entirely decided by Father. As for me, I have no opinion of my own, but I'll follow Father's decision."

  Li Yuan smiled and said, "This girl, you're speaking so eloquently now. When the Pei, Chai, and Yang families came to propose marriage earlier, why didn't you say 'parental orders, matchmaker's words'? Last time your mother mentioned marrying you off to the Duan family, you were dead set against it, but now you're choosing someone who suits your heart's desire and speaking like this."

  Li Xiuning stomped her foot and said with a pout, "Dad, you're still teasing me. Dad, go keep our guests company quickly, don't let them wait too long."

  "Alright, not married out yet, and already looking down on her father. Don't worry, even if Father is late, Chen Pojun will still be your husband, no one dares to come to the Li family to steal the groom." As he spoke, Li Yu also turned around with a relieved heart and left the room, leaving only Li Xiuning sitting in front of the copper mirror, holding a horn comb and repeatedly combing her hair. Thinking about Chen Pojun's handsome appearance and his brave deeds that were circulating everywhere in the camp, she couldn't help but become a little dazed for a moment.

  Li Yuan returned to the banquet, smiling at Yuwen Huaji and said, "San Niang has already agreed to this marriage, so it's settled. This is one of San Niang's hairpins, take it as a token." He handed over the golden hairpin he had taken from Li Xiuning's dresser earlier to Chen Pogun.

  At this time, Chen Pojun was already unclear about everything except that he hadn't fallen down, and it all felt like a dream. Yuwen Huaji looked at Chen Pojun for half a day without any reaction, hastily stretched out his hand to search Chen Pojun's body, and after feeling around for half a day, found a beautiful jade pendant on his waistband, pulled it off and handed it to Li Yuan, saying: "Duke of Tang, this jade pendant is a pair with that swing, just like the phrase 'gold and jade are a perfect match'. Let's use this as a token. This matter can be settled for now, I think Pojun has had too much to drink today, so I'll send him back first, and when we return to the capital, let him bring the betrothal gifts. If the gifts aren't generous enough, don't give it to him."

  Li Yuan was overjoyed that the matter had been settled, and his third daughter was not only his eldest daughter but also the one he loved the most. However, she was also the one who worried him the most. At the age of 28, she was still unmarried, which made her parents anxious. Now that they had found an excellent son-in-law, it was a wish come true for them.

  "Shi Min, Xuan Ba, don't delay in sending Chen Pojun back to the military camp and packing up his things. You two have passed by today and will be staying at the camp from now on. Although Chen Pojun is family after marriage, he must still follow military discipline within the camp, just like at home. After the military camp is settled, it's also like your own home, you all need to help Chen Pojun take care of things a bit. Hurry up and go, in your free time learn from your brother-in-law a bit. I don't expect you two to become great generals, but if you can be half as capable as your brother-in-law that would be good enough." Li Yuan has already completely accepted Chen Kefu as his son-in-law, even instructing his own sons to help their sister's husband out a bit.

  Li Shimin and Li Xuanba carried the completely drunk Chen Pogun back to the military camp, sending this brother-in-law who still didn't know he had become someone else's son-in-law back.

  It's another Monday on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and this week is still during the new book period. I'm seeking everyone's recommendation votes, thank you all!