Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

“My lord's worries are now resolved,” Jia Xu said with a smile, cupping his hands.

“Really?”

Liu Bei asked again, somewhat excitedly, to confirm.

“I believe it to be true, and furthermore, Zikun's intention is likely to befriend Cai Yong, in order to gain his approval.”

Jia Xu said with considerable certainty.

For the past three days, Xiahou Lan had reported almost every detail of Li Ji's movements and actions.

Therefore, Jia Xu, who knew that Li Ji's actions often had a strong purpose, was certain that Li Ji would not purely seek to befriend Cai Yong out of a desire for friendship.

Cai Yong was now being persecuted by the Ten Attendants, forced to flee into obscurity, possessing only three things: reputation, books, and his “talented daughter,” Cai Zhaoji.

Reputation, Li Ji no longer needed;

Books, Li Ji could easily borrow from Cai Yong through Liu Bei;

Then Li Ji's purpose became quite clear. Perhaps Cai Yong, being in the midst of it, couldn't see through it, but Jia Xu, as an observer, could guess it clearly.

“Excellent!”

A hint of excitement flashed in Liu Bei's eyes as he spoke.

“Previously, Zikun often mentioned his dislike of women, and if he were to marry, he should seek someone much older. I was worried that Zikun would be so focused on his career that he wouldn't want to start a family.”

“Mister Zikun actually has such a preference?” Xiahou Bo was shocked.

Zhao Yun also looked surprised, unable to understand. He couldn't see that the handsome and refined Mister Zikun had such an interest.

Jia Xu listened from the side, wondering if Liu Bei had misunderstood something, but he didn't explain for Li Ji. Instead, he continued to push the matter forward.

“This is very much in line with Zikun's style. Zikun has always been so independent.”

Liu Bei said with a sense of relief.

“Fortunately, Miss Zhaoji is indeed a talented woman. I believe it was the last time I instructed Zikun to go to the side courtyard alone to search for books, based on Miss Zhaoji's usual time spent organizing books there, that allowed them to meet, and thus Zikun was moved.”

“Of course, I saw Zikun bring back a young man named Gu Yong from the side courtyard, speaking highly of him and recommending him. I thought Zikun hadn't seen Miss Zhaoji and felt quite disappointed, but I didn't expect that he ultimately wouldn't let me down.”

Saying this, Liu Bei was in a great mood. He patted his robe and stood up, saying.

“Although Zikun has no parents to look after him, I am his lord. How can I let Zikun ask Master Cai for this important marriage matter on his own?”

“I will go see Zikun later. As long as Zikun speaks up, I will, no matter what, ask Master Cai to give Miss Zhaoji to Zikun on his behalf.”

Liu Bei pondered slightly, then said to Xiahou Bo, “Ji Chang, time is of the essence. You should return to the government office immediately and prepare all the betrothal gifts.”

Xiahou Bo thought for a moment and said, “My lord, the most important gift for betrothal is a live goose, and it may be difficult to find one in a short time.”

Zhao Yun cupped his hands and said, “This is easy. Yun can ride a fast horse out of the city to find a flock of geese. With the three-stone bow in Yun's hand, I can definitely bring back a goose for Mister Zikun.”

“Good, then I'll trouble Zilong,” Liu Bei readily agreed, instructing Xiahou Bo and Zhao Yun to quickly prepare, before heading towards Li Ji's residence with Jia Xu and Xiahou Lan.

Li Ji had only been back in his residence for a short while when Liu Bei arrived.

Before Li Ji could go out to greet him, Liu Bei walked in with a joyful expression, saying.

“Zikun, what do you need me for?”

The matter was of great importance, and Li Ji didn't mince words, especially since there were inconvenient things like etiquette in this world.

In this era, Li Ji couldn't be like the纨绔公子 in some TV dramas, leading servants to carry gifts and propose marriage to Cai Yong.

Not to mention Cai Yong being a great scholar of the time, even if the woman was from a small noble family, such an approach without a matchmaker and without asking the elders would be seen as a great insult by the woman's family.

Therefore, unless Li Ji was willing to recognize Jia Xu as his adoptive father, he had no choice but to entrust the matter to Liu Bei.

“Zikun, rest assured.”

Liu Bei agreed to this almost without hesitation, and immediately set off in a flurry.

The next day.

Li Ji had just woken up when he heard a servant reporting Liu Bei's arrival.

After Li Ji quickly washed up and went to see Liu Bei, he learned a piece of news from Liu Bei.

Cai Yong had already agreed.

‘So fast?’

Li Ji felt as if he hadn't woken up yet and was still in a dream.

Although he knew that Cai Yong had no reason to refuse this marriage, especially since Cai Yong had recently married his second daughter, Cai Zhenji, to Yang Dao of Mount Tai, Liu Bei's efficiency was a bit too astonishing, right?

It was as if he had prepared everything in advance, as if he was afraid that Li Ji would change his mind.

Looking at Liu Bei's excited appearance, Li Ji inexplicably felt that Liu Bei seemed even more excited than he was.

‘So, I woke up from a sleep and immediately had a great talented woman as my fiancée?’

Everything came so quickly and easily that Li Ji didn't even know what to feel.

However, Li Ji was also very clear that the reason why things went so smoothly might be because his family background, even if it wasn't a famous clan, could be considered a good match given his abilities and great reputation.

In addition, with Liu Bei acting as a matchmaker, Cai Yong really had no reason to refuse this marriage.

Moreover, in this era that emphasized etiquette, many people often didn't even know what the other person looked like before getting married, and there was no possibility of free love at all.

Feelings would only develop over time after marriage.

Furthermore, compared to marrying a young girl of twelve to sixteen years old, Li Ji would rather marry Cai Zhaoji.

“In any case, I thank you, my lord,” Li Ji cupped his hands and said.

“It's nothing, nothing…”

Liu Bei waved his hands repeatedly, then said.

“I am already preparing for the next three letters and six rituals. Zikun only needs to stay at home and wait for good news. I will definitely prepare Zikun's wedding properly, and I want to make Zikun's wedding a joyous event for the entire Wu Commandery.”

“No.”

Li Ji quickly said, “Now that Wu Commandery is in need of restoration, we must not be extravagant. This matter can be discussed with Cai Yong, and everything should be kept simple.”

“This…”

Hearing this, Liu Bei frowned involuntarily.

In Liu Bei's plan, he was prepared to hold a grand wedding for Li Ji, even preparing to exceed the scale in some areas at the expense of countless money and grain.

“Zikun, marrying a wife is a major life event and should not be too simple, and all expenses can be paid from my private treasury, so there is no need to worry,” Liu Bei advised.

Li Ji looked at Liu Bei helplessly and couldn't help but mutter in his heart.

‘Where does my lord get a private treasury? Isn't it the government treasury of the government office? And how much money and grain is in the treasury, can I not know? That is all my capital for developing Wu Commandery in the future.’

‘However, my lord has not yet started a family, so he has not specifically established a private treasury. I need to pay attention to this issue in the future.’

As soon as he thought of the possibility of Liu Bei emptying the government office, Li Ji instinctively began to conceive a plan to separate Liu Bei's private treasury and the public treasury in the future, and replied.

“My lord, we must not start a trend of extravagance. Look at how many refugees outside the city are still not full and have no clothes to wear. I really don't have the heart to hold a grand wedding.”

“Even if a grand wedding is really needed to celebrate, I hope that wedding will be called a prosperous age.”

Hearing this, Liu Bei was silent for a long time before standing up and saying solemnly.

“I am taught, Zikun.”

Previously, with the smooth control of Wu Commandery and the pacification of bandits, the treasury was full, and everything seemed to be gradually getting better in an orderly manner.

This could not help but make Liu Bei feel a little inflated, and he had the idea of holding a grand wedding for Li Ji at the expense of countless money and grain, gathering hundreds of thousands of people in Wu Commandery to celebrate with my Zikun.

Now, startled by Li Ji's words, Liu Bei realized that there was something wrong with his thinking.

‘Hoping that the wedding will be called a prosperous age? It is truly deafening and makes people reflect.’

Liu Bei couldn't help but praise in his heart, while firmly remembering these words in his heart, to constantly urge himself, with great ambitions unfulfilled, how can he be extravagant?

Immediately, Liu Bei, who had changed his mind, also dispelled the idea of spending a lot of money and grain, and prepared to listen to Li Ji's proposal, respecting Cai Yong and complying with etiquette, while simplifying things to a certain extent.

However, when Liu Bei asked Li Ji for information such as his birth date, this completely stumped Li Ji.

Helpless, Li Ji could only take the moment he opened his eyes in this era as his birth time for the purpose of “Naji” (divination).

Li Ji also took the opportunity to ask about Cai Zhaoji's age, and found that Cai Zhaoji was only about three years older than Li Ji, and when Cai Zhaoji married Wei Zhongdao, she was still on her way to Hedong when Wei Zhongdao died.

Therefore, the Hedong Wei family, who originally wanted to marry Cai Zhaoji to bring good luck and make the frail Wei Zhongdao healthy, instead believed that Cai Zhaoji was an ominous person who killed Wei Zhongdao, so they drove Cai Zhaoji away again.

In this regard, it can only be said that it was fortunate for Wei Zhongdao and the Hedong Wei family, otherwise, with Cai Zhaoji's appearance, reputation, and family background, how could she not have truly become a woman until she was in her early twenties?

However, Li Ji was also getting married for the first time in this era, and he had no experience, so he could only leave all the ceremonies to Liu Bei to handle.

Liu Bei was also very efficient. Before Li Ji's head had time to remove the cloth strips, Liu Bei had already discussed a wedding date with Cai Yong, and it was set on an auspicious day about half a year later.

At this point, everything was settled.

Li Ji then walked out of the residence again and went to visit Cai Yong in the name of seeking advice.

However, when he met Cai Yong again, Li Ji couldn't help but feel a bit more awkward, as if he was seeing his father-in-law.

Last time, they were like friends despite their age difference; this time, they'd directly become father-in-law and son-in-law.

As a result, after both parties took their seats in the main hall, they both maintained a formal and upright posture, yet neither knew how to start the conversation.

‘Should I continue to call him Elder Cai? Or Teacher Cai? Or perhaps Father-in-law?’

Li Ji suddenly felt that his visit this time was a bit presumptuous, so much so that he felt his feet were about to dig an extra sub-level into his father-in-law's mansion.