Chapter 48: Choice

  All eyes were on her, everyone was waiting for her response.

  But no one knew that at this moment, Huang Yueying was suffering from what kind of torture.

  Huang Yueying behind the screen, her white teeth biting her red lips, her slender fingers randomly rubbing the hem of her clothes, her clear and beautiful face with clouds and mist appearing and disappearing, expressing unspeakable tension.

  If I say yes, it would go against Father's wishes and get the Huang family involved with Yan Liang, a troublesome character.

  If you say no, it's equivalent to going back on your initial bet.

  Huang Yueying's heart was surging with emotions, and after much deliberation, she found it difficult to make a decision.

  Behind the screen, Huang Chengyan, who was originally calm and composed, gradually became suspicious and uneasy.

  He originally thought his daughter would refuse without hesitation, but he couldn't think of a reason why she was reluctant to utter a simple "no".

  Others were also suspicious, but Yan Liang's expression became increasingly confident.

  "What am I supposed to do?"

  Huang Yueying's heart was struggling, asking herself repeatedly, but still without an answer.

  "Go ahead and speak freely, General Yan won't mind." Huang Chengyan grew increasingly uneasy, urging him on.

  Huang Yueying knew that she couldn't delay any longer, the arrow was already on the string, and she had to make a decision.

  She closed her eyes, and the scene she couldn't shake off involuntarily emerged in her mind.

  Yan Liang held her in his arms and galloped through the chaotic army, with swords dancing like wind and blood splashing in the sky like a rain of flowers.

  His chest was so solid, his face was so confident, that feeling, as if only in his arms, there was not a single thread of fear in his heart.

  Her thin lips moved slightly, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

  Then she suddenly opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly said three words:

  "I'm willing."

  This remark was like a thunderclap, splitting those people outside into two factions.

  Huang Chengyan was shocked with a stiff expression, his eyes wide and mouth agape. His demeanor was as if he thought his own daughter had gone mad, or that his ears were malfunctioning.

  Yi Jie was equally astonished and couldn't figure out why Miss Huang had agreed.

  Yan Liang remained calm and composed, for everything was going just as he had anticipated.

  Although they had only met once, Yan Liang firmly believed that Huang Yueying was a trustworthy woman and could clearly sense the feelings she had for him.

  Even so, when he heard those two words "I do", his heart was still moved.

  Yan Liang cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, miss, for your kindness. I didn't misjudge you, you are indeed a woman who values loyalty."

  Huang Yueying at the screen said with a sense of relief and pleasure, as if she had finally unburdened herself, and her previous embarrassment was gone.

  She stood up and curtsied slightly, saying softly: "As for other matters, please discuss them with General and Father, Moon Ying will take her leave first."

  Having said that, she then came out of the side hall.

  "Huang Gong, since Miss Qianjin has already agreed, I think this marriage is settled then." Yan Liang said with a smile.

  Huang Chengyan caught his breath from the shock, although he had endless confusion and unwillingness in his heart, but things had come to this point, what reason did he have to refuse again.

  Helpless, he could only force a smile and nodded reluctantly.

  Yan Liang smiled with satisfaction, turned his head and said: "Bo Ji, the matter of my marriage will be handled by you. Calculate which day is the auspicious day, I will welcome Miss Huang to our home."

  Dazed I Jie came back to his senses from surprise, busy pinching fingers and calculating carefully.

  "In six days, it will be a lucky day on the solar calendar, most suitable for marriage." Yijue exclaimed.

  Huang Chengyan was taken aback and said with a bitter face: "Six days later, won't it be too fast? Since the marriage has been settled, I think there's no need to rush."

  Yan Liang waved his hand and said: "Good things shouldn't be delayed, six days later Yan will marry your daughter, it's decided."

  Huang's family is one of the six major families, and Yan Liang is related to Huang's family by marriage. This will inevitably cause a stir in Jingzhou. To avoid any potential problems, Yan Liang naturally wants to settle this matter quickly.

  Huang Chengyan could only sigh silently, thinking to himself: "What's wrong with Ying'er? How could she agree to marry Yan Liang? What's going on..."

  Xiangyang City

  In the study, Liu Bei was sitting quietly reading a book.

  His eyes stared at the bamboo slips, but his mouth was constantly sighing and muttering to himself, occasionally gritting his teeth. The old man's face also kept changing with hidden emotions.

  It is clear that Liu Biao was having a headache over the matter of Yan Liang.

  Originally thought that taking advantage of Yuan Shao's defeat, Cao Cao would be too busy to look south and could easily dispatch troops to quell the rebellion in the three southern prefectures of Jing Province, but unexpectedly, this good opportunity was ruined by Yan Liang, a troublemaker.

  "Yan Liang, Yan Liang... how can I get rid of you..."

  Liu Bei felt like he had a thorn on his back, gritting his teeth and muttering to himself in hatred.

  At this time when he was in a bad mood, his attendants came to report that Kuai and Cai had an urgent matter to see him.

  Liu Biao's heart tightened, thinking that Yan Liang had stirred up some trouble, and he hastily ordered the two to be summoned inside.

  Before long, these two pillars of Jingzhou entered together, both with a hint of joy on their faces.

  "Heaven is helping our lord, and now there's an excellent opportunity to get rid of Yan Liang, that scourge." Cai Mao exclaimed.

  Liu Biao was initially overjoyed, but soon restrained his emotions.

  Liu Biao would not forget that the last time Cai Mao and others said they had a great opportunity to get rid of Yan Liang, but as a result, he lost Deng Sai's grain, accompanied Yan Liang with 200,000 bundles of grain and grass, and even gave Yan Liang a large batch of military equipment.

  "What's going on?" Liu Biao asked calmly.

  Cai Mao said, "Our spies in Xinye have just sent back an urgent report that Yan Liang has brought only a few dozen of his personal guards out of the city secretly, disguised as merchants to visit Huang Chengyan's mansion in Deng County. Now he is being foolish and has delivered himself right under our noses, isn't this a perfect opportunity to kill him?"

  Tsai Ing-wen was excited and foaming at the mouth.

  Liu Biao said suspiciously: "What is Yan Liang doing at Huang Chengyan's place?"

  Cai Man was unable to answer this question.

  Kuai Yue said beside him, "The Huang family has many industries in Xin Ye, and they are also a prominent clan. Moreover, they do not serve under our lord, so in my humble opinion, he wants to form an alliance with the Huang family."

  Kuai Yue's analysis was reasonable, and Liu Biao's suspicious expression gradually faded away, replaced by a murderous aura on his aged face.

  "My lord, what are you waiting for? Quickly dispatch troops and let me annihilate these scoundrels!" Cai Mao urged.

  Liu Biao calmly said, "This is indeed a good opportunity to kill Yan Liang, but if we mobilize our troops and make a big move, it's likely that Yan Liang will become aware of it. If he escapes first and then uses this as an excuse for revenge, what should we do?"

  Liu Biao was afraid of Yan Liang, fearing that this time he would not be able to kill Yan Liang and instead bring disaster upon himself.

  Kuai Yue sank into thought for a long time, then said: "My lord's concerns are reasonable. I think it would be better to choose an unknown general, lead a few hundred elite soldiers, disguise themselves as ordinary bandits, and go to Deng County to assassinate Yan Liang. This way, on the one hand, we won't alarm the enemy, and on the other hand, even if we fail, my lord can claim that it has nothing to do with him. What does my lord think?"

  "This plan is excellent, De Cai. Do you have a capable general under your command who can undertake this task?" Liu Biao nodded repeatedly.

  Cai Man thought for a moment, his eyes lit up: "Under my command, there is a Duwei who has quite impressive martial arts skills. However, he comes from a humble background and doesn't have much of a reputation, so I haven't made use of him yet. He's actually a suitable candidate."

  Liu Bei asked with delight: "I wonder what this man's name is?"

  "This man's name is Wei Yan." replied Cai Mao.