Chapter 223: The aging spinster of the Cai family wants to repay a debt

Liu Bei did not leave Huang Zhong's home until late at night. He glanced at Huang Zhong, who was still standing at the doorway watching him depart, and sighed inwardly.

Huang Zhong spent his whole life in the saddle; even at over seventy, he could slay Xia Xia Houyuan in battle, yet he ended up without an heir.

Now, Liu Bei intended to have Huang Zhong join him seven or eight years early, allowing him to shine during his prime.

At the Cai residence,

Cai Mao slammed the table in anger.

"What is this Liu Bei playing at!"

Just as the Cai family was about to marry into the Governor's mansion, Liu Bei had to show up and extend the life of the Chen woman!

Although Cai Zhong and Cai He were somewhat annoyed, they still advised,

"Big Brother, Lord Liu Xuande's might shakes the nine provinces. You must not cross him."

Cai Mao waved his hand.

"I know that, of course. We have no conflict of interest with Liu Bei; I am just furious that a plan I have been preparing for years has been delayed again."

In a room adjacent to the main hall,

A woman with vermilion lips, pearly teeth, an apricot face, peach-blossom cheeks, a delicate nose, and skin as white as snow was eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Lord Liu Xuande cured the Chen woman? Then I won't have to marry that old man Liu Biao!"

"A great hero like Lord Liu Xuande can even heal the sick? He is my benefactor!"

She was the Lady Cai, the Cai family's aging spinster (twenty years old).

She had no desire to marry a fifty-six-year-old man. Thinking of the look on Liu Biao's old face when he had stared at her recently, she felt like vomiting!

"Xiao Qiao accompanied Lord Liu Xuande to the plague zone and they became a couple? I can do that too!"

"I hear Lord Liu Xuande is very handsome?"

Lady Cai's eyes darted around, and she quietly slipped away.

Liu Bei did not wake up until noon the next day.

Lady Ding Yuan helped Liu Bei tidy his clothes, the resentment in her eyes visible to the naked eye.

Liu Bei pulled her into his arms.

Lady Ding Yuan was secretly delighted and bowed gracefully.

"I shall leave everything to my husband's arrangements."

In the afternoon,

Liu Bei went to the Governor's mansion again to check on the Chen woman's condition.

She had regained consciousness and was in good spirits.

"Many thanks to Lord Liu Xuande for saving this old woman."

Liu Bei smiled.

"Sister-in-law, there is no need for thanks. Liu Qi has already thanked me many times."

The Chen woman sighed.

"Qi'er is the most filial, but unfortunately, Brother Jingsheng..."

Liu Bei knew that Liu Biao favored his second son, Liu Cong.

"Liu Qi is a man of filial piety. I believe Brother Brother Jingsheng will not make the wrong choice when the time comes."

The two chatted for a while, and Liu Bei performed acupuncture on the Chen woman again.

At this time,

Huang Zhong was also at the Governor's mansion.

"What? You want to resign?" Liu Biao was somewhat surprised.

Huang Zhong cupped his hands and explained the situation.

Liu Biao sighed.

"Of the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the greatest. That is true. If Liu Xuande can cure your son Huang Xu's illness, that would be excellent."

"But you don't need to resign; Jingzhou cannot do without you."

Huang Zhong also sighed, clutching his waist.

"My Lord, I am already fifty-three. My health is not what it used to be. I had to get up six times last night; I fear leading troops into battle is difficult now."

Liu Biao felt the same way; he had gotten up five times last night. He was indeed getting old... Thinking that he had gotten up one less time than Huang Zhong, he felt slightly relieved.

He felt that Huang Zhong was already quite old and could lead troops for at most another year or two.

"Very well. You are going to get your son treated; I naturally cannot stop you."

Huang Zhong left after expressing his profuse gratitude.

Once out of the Governor's mansion, Huang Zhong straightened his back.

"Hmm, tonight I must drink three measures of wine with Lord Liu Xuande!"

(agfh) Liu Bei found Liu Biao again,

stating that he had stayed too long and wished to hold a concubine-taking ceremony in Xiangyang.

Liu Biao naturally agreed.

"It is a matter within my own household that delayed your departure, Liu Xuande. I shall send a generous gift when the time comes."

Liu Bei was taking a concubine, and although it was Ding Yuan Shu's daughter, Liu Biao did not intend to attend in person.

He still held a grudge over Huang Zhong's resignation earlier.

Liu Bei did not care; he used the wedding banquet to build relationships with the Jingzhou gentry, and with Liu Biao present, he would only feel uncomfortable.

In the afternoon, Liu Bei returned to the guesthouse.

Gan Ning had already arrived and was still competing in archery with Taishi Ci.

"Lord Liu Xuande, I never expected Taishi Taishi Ziyi's archery to be so remarkable!"

Liu Bei looked on; both were hitting the bullseye from a hundred paces, evenly matched.

"Then how about one hundred and fifty paces?"

Both men praised the idea.

In the end, Gan Ning was slightly inferior.

Gan Ning was somewhat unconvinced.

"This isn't on a boat."

The implication was that without big waves, he couldn't perform at his best!

Zhang Fei naturally scoffed; he was jealous. Everyone else was so good at archery, and he...

Just then,

Huang Zhong came to visit.

Liu Bei smiled.

"Quickly, invite General Huang in."

Huang Zhong walked in and cupped his hands.

"Lord Liu Xuande, I am old and frail, and have already resigned from the Governor. I can follow you to Chang'an now."

Liu Bei was overjoyed.

"Good! With General Huang's help, my heart is greatly comforted!"

Gan Ning?? This old man Huang actually defected first!

Zhang Fei muttered,

"Why did Big Brother recruit an old man?"

Liu Bei glared at Zhang Fei.

"Zhang Yide, show some respect!"

Huang Zhong looked at the target one hundred and fifty paces away.

"Are you competing in archery? May I join?"

Clearly, he wanted to show off.

Liu Bei smiled.

"Very well. General Huang, show them what it means to be 'old but still vigorous'."

Huang Zhong took down his three-stone bow, nocked an arrow, and drew.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three arrows in a row, all hitting the bullseye one hundred and fifty paces away!

Even better than Taishi Ci and Gan Ning!

Huang Zhong didn't even pant; clearly, he hadn't used his full strength.

Zhang Fei was stunned.

"This old man is actually this powerful! 'Old and frail' and resigned?!"

Gan Ning?

"I have long heard of General Huang's superb archery, but only now do I know you are this formidable!"

Taishi Ci was also deeply impressed; if he could still be like this at fifty, he would wake up laughing in his dreams!

The livestream chat exploded too.

"Holy crap, this Huang Brother Hansheng is so badass!"

"His archery is better than Taishi Ci's, and the key is he's already over fifty!"

"The Big-Eared Thief really manages to find treasures every time!"

"I still don't believe this old man can stay fierce for another twenty years!"

Liu Bei laughed.

"Let's go inside and drink!"

In the guesthouse,

Everyone was drinking and toasting.

Zhang Fei held up his wine bowl.

"Old Man Huang, I didn't expect you to be so powerful. I toast you!"

"Old?"

Huang Zhong was unhappy the moment he heard the word 'old'.

"Today I will let you see the drinking capacity of Huang Brother Hansheng!"

The two started competing, bowl for bowl.

Liu Bei shook his head and began drinking with Gan Ning, Taishi Ci, Guo Jia, and the others.

Lu Xun was forbidden from drinking by Liu Bei; he wasn't old enough!

Lu Xun...

After a dozen rounds of drinks,

Liu Bei took Gan Ning's hand.

"Gan Xingba, I am still missing a naval commander. Are you willing to come and help me?"

Liu Bei's might shook the nine provinces, and he had beaten him into submission; he suited his temperament perfectly. Gan Ning was naturally a hundred percent willing!

He had been waiting for this moment. He knelt on one knee.

"My Lord, I have finally met a wise master!"

"I shall go and bid farewell to Liu Brother Jingsheng tomorrow!"

Liu Bei helped Gan Ning up.

"Good! With Gan Xingba's help, it is like a tiger gaining wings! Come, let us continue to drink!"

Everyone drank until late at night before finding a place to fall into a deep sleep.

At the Governor's mansion,

Cai Mao reported Liu Bei's itinerary for the day to Liu Biao.

"My Lord, after Liu Bei left the Governor's mansion, he spent the whole time drinking at the guesthouse. Gan Ning and Huang Zhong were both present."

Liu Biao snorted at the mention of Gan Ning's name.

"He seems to get along quite well with Liu Bei. It would be good if he could leave with Liu Bei this time!"

Cai Mao frowned.

"My Lord, the moment this Liu Bei arrived, he poached two fierce generals from our Jingzhou. Although Huang Zhong is old, and Gan Ning is just a ruffian..."

Liu Biao waved his hand.

"No matter. Those who want to leave, I have no desire to keep."

Liu Biao then thought that Liu Bei would be staying for another twenty-plus days.

"This Liu Bei's hoe..."

The next day, Liu Bei only went to treat Huang Xu's illness and spent the rest of the time at the guesthouse preparing for the wedding banquet two days later.

Two days later,

Xiangyang was livelier than ever.

Lord Liu Xuande was taking Ding Yuan Shu's daughter as a concubine.

All the prominent figures near Xiangyang were invited.

"That is the legitimate daughter of the four-generation, three-ducal Ding Yuan Shu!"

"Lord Liu Xuande is amazing; he broke Shouchun and soundly defeated Cao Cao and Sun Ce!"

"Indeed, even Ding Yuan Shu sent his daughter out."

"Lord Liu Xuande also has superb medical skills; he cured the Governor's wife and resolved the plague in Yuzhang!"

In the guesthouse, the hall was filled with distinguished guests.

Liu Bei raised his cup.

"Thank you all for attending my wedding banquet."

People from the Cai, Kuai, Huang, Ma, Pang, and other families of Jingzhou arrived one after another.

Huang Huang Chengyan cupped his hands.

"Lord Liu Xuande, this old man Huang Huang Chengyan has also come to beg for a cup of wine."