Volume 1: Kyoto Winds and Clouds Chapter 58: Repaying a Debt with One's Body

  Qiao Xuan really doted on his youngest son, and as he watched him run off, Zhou Yi smiled and said: "Crown Prince Hou, Cai Da Ren, since the matter has been resolved, I'll take my leave!"

  "Slow down, Lord Zhou!" Liu Zhang and Cai Yong exchanged a bow with Zhou Yi, who then led his men away from the Qiao residence.

  "Master, those three bandits told me something else!" Liu Zhang saw that there were no outsiders around and whispered in Cai Yong's ear: "The one who instructed them is the Yuan family!"

  "What?" Cai Yong was startled, and then looked at Liu Zhang seriously, asking softly: "You're not taking revenge for personal reasons, are you?"

  "Master, what do you take me for?" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "I'm just telling you! The fact is that if you don't believe it, I have no way. However, since the Yuan family can lay hands on the Qiao family, you should also be careful, after all..."

  Looking into Liu Zhang's clear eyes, Cai Yong nodded. He still trusted his disciple. However, the conflict between Liu Zhang and the Yuan family was not small, and he suddenly turned his spearhead towards the Yuan family, which made Cai Yong suspicious. Cai Yong smiled: "It's my fault as a teacher, don't tell others about this! If it's really the Yuan family, I..."

  Liu Zhang smiled and said, "Master, you're being too serious! Isn't this just between the two of us? Besides, I'm only worried that Master will also be schemed against by the Yuan family, so I'm just reminding you. As for dealing with the Yuan family, let's leave it to the disciple!"

  Cai Yong nodded and said: "Let's go take a look at Qiao Gongzi!"

  Liu Zhang and Cai Yong slowly walked to the Qiao family's main hall, where Qiao Xuan had just finished examining his youngest son. Except for being a bit frightened and having eaten some anesthetic, young Master Qiao was fine, so those three bandits must have brought their own poison. Thinking about it, kidnapping and extortion are serious crimes in any dynasty, and in the Han Dynasty, where corporal punishment still existed, being caught by the authorities would be worse than death. Since they dared to put their lives on the line for this crime, they should be prepared to lose their lives at any moment.

  "Thank you, Elder Qiao! Thank you, Crown Prince!" Qiao Xuan saw Liu Zhang and Cai Yong, excitedly thanked the two, almost kneeling down to kowtow.

  "Thank you, young master, for saving my brother. We have no way to repay you, and are willing to serve you with our bodies, as slaves or servants, without any complaints!" Qiao Xuan did not kneel down, but the two little girls knelt in front of Liu Zhang.

  Liu Zhang was startled, he rescued people with good intentions, how could he really let the two girls become slaves? Moreover, if these two girls were really Qiao and Daqiao, wouldn't Zhou Yu and Sun Ce be crying? Liu Zhang helped the two girls up and said: "You two girls, as the saying goes: when you see injustice on the road, draw your sword to help. My actions are all just doing my duty. If I accepted you, wouldn't that make me a petty person who expects repayment for kindness?"

  "Gentleman, you have a noble character. However, my family, the Qiaos, have received great kindness from you. If we don't repay it, wouldn't that make us ungrateful and unrighteous?" The older girl said: "My family is poor and honest, and there's really nothing to repay with. If you're not disgusted by our humble appearance, I hope you'll accept us!"

  Liu Zhang felt a bit helpless, how could there still be women thinking of sticking around at this age. No, it's girls who are thinking of sticking around! Looking at these two five or six year old girls, Liu Zhang cast a pleading glance at Cai Yong, but Cai Yong seemed not to have noticed. Helpless, Liu Zhang could only turn to Qiao Xuan, only to find that Qiao Xuan also seemed not to have noticed, lost in thought by the side.

  "Can't I really enter your eyes, sir?" The slightly older girl's eyes were filled with tears, looking pitiful, making Liu Zhang feel both amused and annoyed. If it was a grown-up beauty doing this, Liu Zhang would probably have been unable to resist. But since it was just such a young beauty, wouldn't taking her back be like raising a child-bride? The thought sent shivers down Liu Zhang's spine.

  "Ah, noble nephew!" Just as Liu Zhang was about to decline, Qiao Xuan smiled and said: "I know that you, noble nephew, are a man of high integrity, but my daughter's words are also reasonable. I've always heard from your uncle that you are upright and capable, and now that I see you, it's indeed true. My two daughters may be a bit mischievous, but they are also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and can do all kinds of needlework and women's red work. They can be said to be suitable for both the hall and the kitchen. I hope you will treat them well!"

  "Huh... what's going on here?" Liu Zhang felt more and more uneasy as he listened, how did Qiao Xuan seem to be selling his own daughter?

  At this time, Cai Yong also said: "Zhuang er, I heard that you study hard every day and don't even have a maid. Today you showed kindness to Qiao Gong, Qiao Gong promised his two daughters to be your concubines, so just reluctantly accept it!"

  Got it! Old Cai is even more direct! Both elders said so, and Liu Zhang really couldn't decline. Liu Zhang thought for a moment, and could only use the delaying tactic, so he smiled and said: "Qiao Gong, Master, this matter I'm really not good at making decisions, why don't I go back and ask my father?"

  "Indeed!" Qiao Gong and Cai Yong exchanged a smile, but made Liu Zhang's whole body feel cold. Then Cai Yong said: "Zhang'er, it just so happens that there is nothing to do today, so Qiao Gong and I will go visit the Governor of Youzhou!"

  "What?" Liu Zhang was sweating profusely. These two old men went to visit Liu Yan, let alone Qiao Gong's daughter being a beauty, even if they were two ugly women, Liu Yan would still make Liu Zhang take them in. What is most important for an official in the imperial court: connections! Cai Yong and Qiao Xuan, one was a Grand Commandant, the other a great Confucian scholar, their disciples and former subordinates lined up from the capital to Youzhou! Marrying Qiao's daughter or even becoming her concubine, this kind of good fortune, others would beg for but couldn't get, if Liu Yan were to refuse, he must be out of his mind!

  With a worried and bitter face, Liu Zhang reluctantly brought Cai Yong and Qiao Xuan to his home. Liu Yan, who was recuperating at home, heard that Cai Yong and Qiao Xuan had come together and hastily ordered the main gate to be opened wide, almost to the point of taking it off its hinges! Liu Zhang looked at the formation in his house and knew he would have two more little servant girls.

  As expected, after Cai Yong and Qiao Xuan explained the situation, Liu Yan was indeed overjoyed. Given Qiao Xuan's status, even if an emperor or imperial prince wanted to marry his daughter, they wouldn't be able to get a position as a proper wife. The fact that Liu Zhang could get Qiao Xuan to offer his daughter as a concubine made Liu Yan both surprised and delighted. However, when Liu Yan found out that these two concubines were obtained by Liu Zhang at the cost of his life, his expression didn't look very good.

  They sent away Qiao Xuan and Cai Yang, but the two girls were left behind. As Liu Zhang's personal maidservants, they were naturally thrown into Liu Zhang's bedroom. Poor Liu Zhang was scolded by Liu Yan for more than two hours. Watching Liu Yan's lips moving up and down, Liu Zhang felt a strange warmth in his heart, perhaps this is fatherly love!

  As he scolded, Liu Yan also discovered Liu Zhang's abnormality. He shook his head and was speechless towards this son. Being scolded could still be endured, but why was he so moved? Was he a masochist? Thinking of this, Liu Yan lost interest in continuing the conversation and waved his hand to let Liu Zhang go deal with the little beauty in the house!

  "Pay respects to the young master!" Liu Zhang thought about Liu Yan's kindness as he walked, unknowingly arriving at his own room. The two little beauties saw Liu Zhang enter and immediately stood up to pay their respects.

  "Never mind! From now on, there's no need to be so polite in my room, just relax!" Liu Zhang sat down on the bed and saw that the two little girls were still standing, couldn't help but laugh: "Sit down!"

  Two obedient girls were spending the night at someone else's house for the first time, and although they would later become part of the Liu family, they still felt a bit constrained in front of Liu Zhang. After receiving Liu Zhang's order, one of them found a chair and sat down carefully, lowering her head and remaining silent for a while.

  Liu Zhang smiled wryly and rubbed his nose, saying: "Two ladies, there are many ways to repay a debt. Actually, you don't have to do this. Otherwise, I'll send someone to escort you back tomorrow?"

  "No!" The older girl said: "In our Jiao family, what we say must be done, and once it's done, there will be results. Since my sisters and I have decided to repay kindness with our lives, we absolutely won't go back on our words! Unless...we die!"

  "Alright! You're still a fierce girl!" Liu Zhang rubbed his head in some frustration and said, "Then you two stay here for now! By the way, what are your names? I can't just not have something to call you, right?"

  "My name is Qiao Ying, and that's my sister Xi Yan!" The slightly older girl blushed and said: "At home, Father calls us Big and Little Qiao!"

  "What a coincidence! I knew that Jo was Jo Hsuan's daughter, and now hearing the names of the two girls, he is even more convinced of his judgment. To confirm the identity of the two Qiaos, Liu Zhang smiled and asked: "Where are you from?"

  Daiyu replied: "My ancestral home is in Lujiang, Anhui Province, and I am a native of Yangzhou!"

  Now it's correct, Daqiao and Xiaoqiao were indeed from Lujiang. According to legend, Qiao Xuan was heartbroken and depressed after the death of his youngest son, and as he had also grown old, he returned to his hometown in Lujiang. Later, Sun Ce attacked Jiangdong, conquered Lujiang's Wu County, and discovered the beautiful Daqiao and Xiaoqiao, so he and Zhou Yu each married one, but it is unknown whether they were wives or concubines.

  Looking at the two timid beauties, Liu Zhang sighed helplessly. In his previous life, he had deeply loved his girlfriend, but unfortunately, that woman betrayed him. Now, with two more beauties before him, he didn't know what to do. If it were someone else, Liu Zhang would have treated them as unrelated maidservants at most, but Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were not only famous beauties of the late Han Dynasty but also two pitiful people.

  Liu Zhang had never allowed anyone to serve him since he was born, no matter what Liu Yan and his wife said, he didn't want any servants or maids. Because he knew that after a long time, there would be feelings, and this world has never been a place where emotions can be used as a guide. For a while, Liu Zhang was confused, he was somewhat annoyed and let Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao go to rest, but didn't know how to treat them. In the end, he covered his head and fell asleep.

  In his dream, Liu Zhang saw Sun Ce, Zhou Yu and Cao Cao, all of whom wanted to seize Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, who were hiding behind him with a terrified expression! Just when Liu Zhang was helpless, he found that there were many people standing around him, some familiar and some unfamiliar. At the forefront of these people were Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei!

  Liu Zhang woke up and found that Da Qiao was actually sleeping on the edge of his bed. In her arms, she was still holding a thermos of warm water, probably prepared to prevent him from getting thirsty at night. Looking at the sweet smile of the little girl, her crystal face, Liu Zhang suddenly felt a burst of heroic spirit exploding in his chest. The beautiful scenery, the divine soldiers and horses, the fine steeds - which one is not the heroic spirit of this era? Since he was lucky enough to get Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, he should take good care of these two tragic beauties, lest they be ruined by Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, those two short-lived ghosts!