Chapter 35

She was a proper "leftover woman" of this era.

And Cai Zhaoji’s marriage had become a heartache for Cai Yong, the old father.

Unable to relieve the bitterness in his heart, Cai Yong had to play the zither every day to try to alleviate it.

And Dong Zhuo, a very busy man, had come to visit him specifically today.

Cai Yong immediately guessed that this fellow must have something he needed help with.

So, after sitting down, Cai Yong got straight to the point:

"Speak, what matter is it that requires the dignified Chancellor to personally condescend to come to my residence?"

"Uh... actually, this isn't a big deal, but I really can't make up my mind, so I wanted to ask you to help with this favor."

Dong Zhuo rubbed his hands with a smile.

If he had any culture, he would have directly given Gu Yi a courtesy name.

But the damn point was,

although Dong Zhuo was literate,

having been born on the frontier, he really couldn't be said to have much culture.

The ink in his belly was just better than nothing.

Fortunately, he knew such a great Confucian scholar as Cai Yong.

As the saying goes,

it is easy to get things done when you have people in the court.

This matter is actually the same in the literary world.

With Cai Yong’s cultural level, who in the world would dare to say that the courtesy name he gave was not good?

"Fine."

"Since it is a favor for you, Dong Zhongying, I naturally cannot refuse."

"However, to be honest, I also have a favor to ask of you."

A flash of cunning passed through Cai Yong’s eyes.

In fact,

even if Dong Zhuo had not come to find him,

he would have gone to visit Dong Zhuo at the Chancellor’s residence in the near future.

Since Dong Zhuo had come personally today, it was fine to just let Dong Zhuo help with this favor.

"Damn!"

"Cai Bojie, you old fellow, you aren't going to set me up, are you?"

Dong Zhuo feigned fear and leaned his body back slightly.

Seeing Dong Zhuo show this appearance, Cai Yong’s face darkened, and he said in a deep voice:

"Pah!"

"You are the dignified Chancellor."

"With me, a person who has no strength to truss a chicken, could I possibly harm you?"

"Actually, it’s nothing else."

"It’s just Zhaoji’s marriage."

"You also know that ever since Wei Zhongdao died, no one in all of Luoyang dares to marry Zhaoji."

"I am old, and if I can't marry Zhaoji off, how will I face her mother who passed away long ago in the afterlife!"

Hearing this, the smile on Dong Zhuo’s face also faded.

Cai Zhaoji’s marriage had long become a worry for Cai Yong.

Cai Yong wanted to find a reliable young talent to marry Cai Zhaoji off to.

But the problem was,

let alone noble sons,

even commoners and the lower classes were quite wary of Cai Zhaoji’s reputation.

In the Xiliang Army, there were indeed many bachelors.

But... with Cai Zhaoji’s weak personality, could she marry this group of killers who only knew how to fight?

Certainly not!

Just as Dong Zhuo was wondering,

Cai Yong suddenly said:

"Zhongying, I heard that you have a young strategist in your camp, seems to be named Gu Yi, right?"

"If you marry Zhaoji to him, what do you think?"

"Bang!"

As the words fell, it was like a heavy hammer smashing onto Dong Zhuo’s head.

"Good for you, Cai Bojie, I treat you as a close friend, yet you want to steal my grandson-in-law!?"

……. ===== CHAPTER 73 =====

Being spoken to like that by Dong Zhuo, Cai Yong was also a bit confused.

He had only just mentioned it, did Dong Zhongying have to be so angry?

Even if he was reluctant to part with Gu Yi, it shouldn't be like this, right?

Wait... something seems wrong!

"Steal your grandson-in-law?"

Cai Yong exclaimed.

Dong Zhuo’s precious granddaughter, Dong Bai, Cai Yong naturally knew of her.

But he didn't expect that Dong Zhuo actually wanted to marry Dong Bai to Gu Yi!

You know, Dong Bai was like the apple of Dong Zhuo’s eye.

Especially after his son passed away.

Dong Zhuo transferred all his guilt for his son onto his granddaughter.

Such a precious granddaughter, Dong Zhuo was actually willing to marry her to Gu Yi?

"My judgment will not be wrong."

"Gu Yi’s talent is absolutely worthy of Bai Er."

Dong Zhuo said leisurely.

Many years ago, when his eldest daughter married that poor kid Li Ru, most people were not optimistic either.

But what were the facts?

With Li Ru’s assistance, the Xiliang Army grew faster.

Dong Zhuo jumped to become a high official on the frontier.

Cough, cough, of course, there were times when he misjudged.

For example, Dong Zhuo’s second son-in-law, Niu Fu.

This fellow was completely a straw bag.

No ability, no talent.

But there was no help for it; Dong Zhuo’s tendency to protect his own was extremely severe.

Although Niu Fu did not contribute even a tiny bit to the development of the Xiliang Army,

Dong Zhuo still gave him a good position in the army.

Thereby letting Niu Fu gain a firm foothold.

Now,

Gu Yi, this rising star, was not only an excellent grandson-in-law in Dong Zhuo’s eyes, but also the future hope of the Xiliang Army.

In fact,

the phenomenon of talent gaps in the Xiliang Army was very serious.

People like Li Ru, Hua Xiong, Li Jue, and Guo Si were all over thirty.

They could not be called young talents. ===== CHAPTER 74 =====

And among the young talents of the Xiliang Army, aside from Gu Yi, there was only Zhang Xiu left.

But Zhang Xiu was a pure martial artist.

Fighting was fine.

Let him handle strategy?

That would be better to just wash up and go to sleep!

Therefore, in Dong Zhuo’s eyes, Gu Yi’s importance was self-evident.

As for Gu Yi’s background, Dong Zhuo did not care.

The high command of the Xiliang Army, including himself, could almost all be called poor.

And to make Gu Yi completely one of his own, the best way was marriage.

This move could also find a very suitable husband for Dong Bai.

It could be called killing two birds with one stone.

After hearing Dong Zhuo’s thoughts, a trace of resentment appeared on Cai Yong’s face.

"Good for you, Dong Zhongying!"

"So my Zhaoji’s matter is not urgent at all, right?"

"You also know that she is already twenty-one!"

"I am old, and I don't know when I will suddenly pass away."

"If Zhaoji hasn't been married off by the time I pass away, I’m afraid she really won't be able to get married in the future."

Thinking of Cai Zhaoji’s marriage, Cai Yong felt even more anxious.

"I say Cai Bojie, why are you so conflicted!"

"There is more than one good man in the world like Gu Yi."

"Wait a little longer, it will definitely be arranged for your Zhaoji’s marriage."

Dong Zhuo said as if it didn't hurt his back to stand and talk.

Hearing this,

Cai Yong felt even angrier.

A Gu Yi finally appeared, and he was snatched away by your grandfather and granddaughter, and you still have the nerve to turn around and counsel me?

Saying this, Cai Yong was about to drive Dong Zhuo out of the residence.

"Good for you, Cai Bojie, you just wait for me!"

Dong Zhuo walked out of the Cai residence, cursing.

However, if one looked closely, one could see

a smile always hung on the corner of his mouth.

Don't look at how this fellow Cai Yong drove him out of the residence.

But the matter of having Cai Yong give Gu Yi a courtesy name was nine times out of ten settled.

Next, he only needed to let Gu Yi and Dong Bai have contact.

When the time was ripe, he, the elder, would stand up and play matchmaker.

This marriage should be very easy to facilitate.

Thinking of this, Dong Zhuo’s mood instantly became very good.

However...

Dong Zhuo ultimately underestimated Cai Yong’s determination to find a good husband for Cai Zhaoji.

Watching Dong Zhuo’s departing back,

a calculating smile also appeared on Cai Yong’s face.

A good man, a golden turtle son-in-law, is not so easy to find another one.

From the conversation with Dong Zhuo just now, Cai Yong inferred that Gu Yi had likely not met Dong Bai yet.

Therefore,

all of Dong Zhuo’s self-satisfaction was, in Cai Yong’s view, just self-delusion!

This golden turtle son-in-law, Gu Yi, had not yet completely fallen into Dong Zhuo’s hands.

In other words,

Cai Yong believed that Cai Zhaoji also had a chance.

After all,

with his daughter Cai Zhaoji’s beauty, what young man could see her and not be infatuated?

As long as Cai Zhaoji was allowed to contact Gu Yi first.

And the two of them fell in love.

Even if this fellow Dong Zhuo wanted to stop it, he would eventually have to accept the fact that the rice was already cooked.

And the reason Cai Yong feigned anger just now was actually to make Dong Zhuo relax his vigilance.

Only in this way could he overtake on a curve!

"Zhongying, oh Zhongying, you, the Chancellor of the court, are still a bit too green compared to me."

Cai Yong couldn't help but feel smug in his heart.

……. ===== CHAPTER 75 =====