Chapter 129: Cai Yan

Seeing the steward still standing there in a daze, Cai Yong couldn't help but feel a bit displeased.

"What are you 'ah-ing' for? Go, quickly!"

Upon hearing Cai Yong's angry reprimand, the steward finally snapped back to reality and immediately replied to Cai Yong repeatedly:

"Very well, Master. This servant will go and invite the Young Miss over right away!"

Having said that, he vanished in a puff of smoke, hurrying toward the back courtyard.

Upon arriving in the back courtyard, the steward saw a young girl dressed in light green robes sitting in a pavilion, playing the zither.

Behind her stood a maidservant, about thirteen or fourteen years of age, watching the girl play the zither in silence.

From the sound of the zither, it was not difficult to tell that this young girl had attained a very high level of mastery in the art.

The moment he saw the girl, the steward hurried to her side and bowed, saying:

"Young Miss, the Master requests your presence."

This girl was none other than Cai Yong's daughter, the renowned talented woman of history, Cai Yan, also known as Cai Wenji.

However, at this time, her courtesy name had not yet been changed to Cai Wenji; she was still Cai Zhaoji.

At this moment, Cai Yan was somewhat surprised to see that her father had sent the steward to find her.

After stopping the movements of her hands, she asked the steward with some confusion:

"Steward Zhou, why is Father suddenly looking for me?"

"Replying to the Young Miss, this servant does not know. However, the Master has been very happy ever since he returned from the palace today."

"After returning, the Master wrote calligraphy in the study for a while before ordering this servant to invite you over!"

The steward recounted Cai Yong's behavior since returning from the palace to Cai Yan and then waited for her quietly.

"Oh! Could it be that some major event has occurred at court?"

Cai Yan said with some doubt upon hearing this. Afterward, she said to the steward:

"Steward Zhou, let us go find Father then!"

Cai Yan said this to the steward and stood up.

"Young Miss, please follow this servant!"

The steward said respectfully and led Cai Yan toward Cai Yong's main hall.

A short while later, Cai Yan and the others arrived at the main hall to find Cai Yong staring blankly at the ceiling, a smile occasionally flickering across the corners of his mouth.

Seeing this scene, Cai Yan couldn't help but ask Cai Yong with confusion:

"Father, what has happened to you? Steward Zhou said you have been very happy since returning from the Imperial Palace today!"

At this moment, Cai Yong, having heard Cai Yan's words, snapped back to his senses. Seeing that Cai Yan had arrived, he immediately revealed a smile and said to her laughingly:

"Hahaha, Zhaoji, you have come!"

"Father, what has made you so happy?"

Seeing Cai Yong's face full of smiles, Cai Yan was also filled with curiosity and asked Cai Yong with a smile.

"Hahaha, Zhaoji, you don't know! Today, His Majesty sent back news of a great victory."

Cai Yong said to his daughter, full of smiles. From the joy radiating from his face, one could see just how happy he was.

"Father, are you saying that His Majesty has succeeded in his expedition to Liangzhou!"

Upon hearing Cai Yong's words, Cai Yan asked in disbelief. Afterward, she looked at Cai Yong with pleasant surprise, waiting expectantly for his answer.

Seeing the expression on his daughter's face, Cai Yong's expression froze. From the surprise and expectation in his daughter's eyes, Cai Yong perceived a change in her.

If this were truly as he suspected, it would not be good news.

Cai Yong looked at his daughter, who had grown into a graceful young woman, and faced with her expectant gaze, he hesitated to speak.

"Father, what is wrong? Why are you looking at your daughter like that?"

Seeing her father staring at her with a hesitant expression, Cai Yan asked with some confusion.

"Zhaoji, tell me honestly, do you have feelings for His Majesty..."

Cai Yong looked at his daughter and asked with some trepidation.

"Father..."

Upon hearing Cai Yong's words, Cai Yan's face instantly flushed with shyness, and she called out to him bashfully.

Seeing his daughter's expression, Cai Yong already knew the result.

Immediately, he pointed his finger at Cai Yan and said in disbelief:

"Daughter! Do you know that this path does not lead to a good outcome!"

"The current Emperor possesses literary and martial achievements unparalleled throughout the ages."

"Following a person like this, if things go well, it is a cause for great celebration—to be beneath one person but above ten thousand!"

"But if..."

Having said this, Cai Yong did not continue with the rest of his words.

And Cai Yan, knowing his thoughts, looked at Cai Yong with a face full of determination.

"Father, your daughter's mind is made up. I ask that you, Father, grant your blessing!"

Currently, Liu Bian's prestige in Luoyang City was unparalleled.

Back then, he had executed Dong Zhuo, Li Ru, and others in the court hall.

After regaining power, he had distributed high-yield sweet potatoes to the people of Sili.

There were even rumors that Liu Bian was protected by the heavens and was a heavenly god descended to earth.

Back then, all the people of Luoyang had seen the golden Divine Dragon flying and circling above the city.

Moreover, the might emitted by that Divine Dragon did not seem fake at all.

Everyone believed this without a shadow of a doubt.

As Cai Yong's daughter, Cai Yan was even more clearly aware that Liu Bian possessed the ability to help people become stronger.

Her father was also cultivating the technique imparted by Liu Bian.

It was just that without Liu Bian's decree, no one dared to pass the cultivation technique on to their families.

However, the children of officials in Luoyang City were all clearly aware of this matter.

Their fathers had also told them that before long, Liu Bian would spread the cultivation technique to the common people.

This was also what Liu Bian had personally told them when he first imparted the technique to them.

It could be said that in the hearts of these people, Liu Bian was the most formidable existence.

Especially for a young girl in the boudoir like Cai Yan, the attraction was self-evident.

"Sigh! Very well, very well!"

"Since your mind is made up, then your father will support you!"

"Rest assured, even if your father has to exhaust all his strength, I will fulfill your wish!"

Seeing the look of determination on his daughter's face, Cai Yong, who knew his daughter's personality well, felt quite helpless.

He had no choice but to follow her wishes. Besides, who could say what would happen in the future?

If Liu Bian were to treat his daughter very well, that would be the best destination.

The reason he did not want his daughter to enter the palace was simply because he feared that with Cai Yan's personality, she would suffer in the palace.

"Thank you, Father, for your blessing!"

Seeing that Cai Yong had agreed, Cai Yan was instantly overjoyed and thanked him with gratitude.

"Sigh! You! Your father doesn't even know what to say to you anymore!"

Seeing his daughter's appearance, Cai Yong said helplessly, yet the doting in his eyes could not be concealed.

"Alright, now that your wish has been fulfilled, and it just so happens that His Majesty has won a great victory."

"You shall accompany your father for a few drinks to celebrate His Majesty's great victory!"

Cai Yong looked at the smiling Cai Yan and said to her happily.

"Since Father has such refined interest, your daughter shall pour the wine for you."

"Steward Zhou, go and instruct the kitchen to prepare two more good dishes for Father!"

At this moment, Cai Yan, in high spirits, instructed the steward at her side.

"Very well, Young Miss!"

After the steward responded respectfully, he withdrew.

Leaving only Cai Yong and his daughter to chat in the main hall. ===== CHAPTER 130 =====