Chapter 916: The Three Letters and Six Etiquettes

In the end, Ma Chao still chose not to reconcile with Fa Zheng. His pride would not allow him to accept such a near-dismissive attempt at reconciliation.

"Why am I so weak!" At this moment, Ma Chao longed for power more than ever. He understood that his mind could never catch up to Fa Zheng’s in this lifetime, and the only way he might earn Fa Zheng’s respect would be through his martial prowess.

"From our first encounter, he still seemed to take me seriously. But after seeing my strength, he lost all interest. It’s clear that in his eyes, I’m simply too weak. My martial skills, which I’ve always prided myself on, are nothing compared to a true expert. Even my achievements in leading troops in Yongliang are just laughable to him."

Ma Chao glanced at the people around him. Each one of them was beyond his reach—whether it was martial prowess, military command, or both. These were now the figures he aimed to surpass.

"Such arrogance," Fa Zheng’s mouth curled into a slight smile. Having been surrounded by powerful individuals for so long, he had little reason to take Ma Chao seriously. The only thing notable about Ma Chao was his potential, but in battle, potential alone meant nothing.

"Be careful, Xiaozhi," came Zhao Yun’s voice, transmitting directly to Fa Zheng. "That guy has incredible talent, especially his innate constitution, which is similar to how I was in my youth. He could very well become a top-tier expert."

Although Zhao Yun understood that talent alone didn’t guarantee strength—after all, Guan Yu’s talent was considered average—there was no one in the world today who dared face Guan Yu in a single strike. Talent might save time, but someone like Ma Chao, already at such a high level, would surely become a formidable general in due time.

"Don’t worry," Fa Zheng smiled, turning his head. "He has his pride. If one day he reaches another level, he will naturally seek me out to settle our grievances. For now, he simply can’t let go of his face. In his mind, he probably thinks I look down on him."

Fa Zheng’s words were transmitted using the secret method they had all long since mastered.

"Actually, it’s not even about contempt—it’s about indifference," Fa Zheng thought to himself, shaking his head slightly. "If it were just contempt, Ma Chao might not act like this. At least contempt means I still acknowledge his existence. Indifference, though, is something else entirely."

"Maybe, at one point, I found him interesting. But now that I’ve truly seen him, he’s small and fragile. Does he really deserve my attention?" This fleeting thought passed through Fa Zheng’s mind before he dismissed it. It was unimportant.

Liu Bei, as befitting his status as a warlord, hosted a banquet for Xiahou Yuan and Ma Teng. The previous incidents were treated as if they had never happened. However, during the banquet, some subtle details did not escape Xiahou Yuan’s notice. Chen Xi’s seat, while not at the head of the table, was clearly not one of a mere subordinate.

"What’s going on?" Xiahou Yuan glanced at Chen Xi seated next to Liu Bei, puzzled by the unusual arrangement. Though he found it strange, he didn’t dwell on it for long.

"Brother, I have a request," said Zhang Fei suddenly, stepping forward and bowing, a wine jar in hand. Everyone had already drunk quite a bit by this point.

"We’re brothers, there’s no need for requests," Liu Bei laughed in response.

"I wish to take someone as my wife. I hope you can approve, brother," Zhang Fei said, his usual boisterousness tempered by an unusual seriousness, though his boldness remained.

"Hahaha! My dear brother, who have you set your sights on? Do you need me to act as a matchmaker?" Liu Bei was momentarily stunned but then burst into laughter.

Liu Bei thought to himself, "My third brother isn’t getting any younger. We’ve been through so much turmoil that there’s been little time to think about such matters. Now that things have settled, of course he would be thinking about marriage. I was worried there wasn’t a good match for him, but it seems he’s already solved that problem."

As for the mention of matchmaking, it was merely Liu Bei’s way of ensuring that the woman’s background wouldn’t place undue pressure on Zhang Fei. If he were to step in, Zhang Fei would have less to worry about in terms of her status.

At this moment, Xiahou Yuan’s face had darkened considerably. Even though he had somewhat prepared himself after Xiahou Juan’s previous stunt, that didn’t mean he was happy about it.

"Xiahou Juan," Zhang Fei said with a slight twitch of his lips. He didn’t care much about the possibility of dropping in status by marrying Xiahou Yuan’s niece. His only concern was whether Liu Bei would approve of the marriage.

All the civil officials immediately opened their fans to cover half their faces, their expressions hidden as they collectively reacted in perfect synchronization, leaving the military officers on the opposite side somewhat perplexed.

"What’s the deal with Xiahou Juan?" Chen Xi asked, covering his mouth with his hand. While he had guessed that the so-called Xiahou Juan was Zhang Fei’s wife-to-be from the Xiahou clan, he had no idea when this all happened.

The civil officials quickly exchanged information via secret communication, soon piecing together the whole story, after which they collectively adopted an expression of amusement.

"What’s the problem? It’s a good match in terms of family background. What’s wrong with it? Men should marry, and women should wed. My third brother is a heroic figure, and Xiahou Juan is a lady from a noble family. It’s appropriate and reasonable. What do you say, General Miaocai? Are you willing to agree to this marriage?" Liu Bei, after a brief moment of surprise, laughed heartily and nodded. Then, he turned to Xiahou Yuan, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

In truth, Liu Bei had already approved the marriage between Zhang Fei and Xiahou Juan before even asking Xiahou Yuan for his consent. Regardless of how Xiahou Yuan might respond, Guan Yu, seated next to him, had already begun tearing a strip from his sleeve and using it to wipe his Green Dragon Crescent Blade—right in front of Xiahou Yuan.

It was obvious that, for the sake of Zhang Fei’s happiness, Guan Yu had silently made his stance clear: Zhang Fei’s happiness mattered more than any decorum.

Even Xiahou Yuan and Ma Chao, both seated nearby with their swords by their sides, felt immense pressure as Guan Yu drew out his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and began polishing it. The restrained but overwhelming aura made their hearts tremble. Guan Yu was one of the few who would casually handle such a heavy weapon in such a setting.

"I hope Lord Xuande will understand. It’s not that I don’t approve, but I once swore to my cousin that I would never let Xiahou Juan suffer any grievances. If Zhang Yide wants to marry her, he must follow the proper traditions—the three letters and six etiquettes, not a single step can be skipped! And Xiahou Juan must agree to the marriage of her own will, or else I cannot allow it!" Xiahou Yuan said, his tone steady at first but becoming increasingly firm by the end.

Liu Bei turned to look at Zhang Fei, who quickly responded, "You heard her answer earlier, and as for the three letters and six etiquettes, I won’t miss a single one."

"Then I’ll be waiting," Xiahou Yuan grunted, sitting back down.

The biggest challenge with the three letters and six etiquettes was that they required the bride to be present at her family’s home, meaning Xiahou Yuan could take Xiahou Juan back with him. Whether she had been coerced would be clear after questioning her upon their return. If there was no coercion, he would have no grounds to object. Even if he was dissatisfied, he would have to accept it.

On the other hand, if Zhang Fei had used force, Xiahou Yuan would naturally have a valid reason to reject the match. And if Zhang Fei tried to take her by force, well, the Xiahou family would not use women as bargaining chips for peace. If it came to that, a fight would follow—whoever dared could come!

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