Chapter Ninety-One: Farewell to Cai Yan

Before long, Liu Yao was summoned in again, this time bringing Liu Xin with him.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw the Empress Dowager Dong wearing a look of unmistakable satisfaction. As for Diao Chan, she had her head lowered, cheeks crimson, as though too ashamed to meet anyone’s gaze.

Liu Yao’s heart eased at once. If the Empress Dowager had said Diao Chan was not acceptable, he truly would not have known what to do. After all, he did not wish to go against her wishes. But now he could finally set his mind at ease.

“My dear child,” the Empress Dowager Dong said with a meaningful smile, “I have already taken Chan’er as my god-granddaughter. Since tomorrow you intend to ask your father the Emperor for a marriage edict, let her be included as well. You must not favor one and slight the other.”

“What?” Diao Chan jolted in surprise. Earlier, she had only heard the Empress Dowager say that Liu Yao had thoughts of marrying her, and so she had been accepted as a god-granddaughter. She had never imagined that the imperial marriage would be granted as early as tomorrow, and by the reigning Son of Heaven himself at that, to be wed to the Great Prince of the realm. This was like a sparrow soaring onto a branch and becoming a phoenix. For a moment, the sudden happiness left Diao Chan stunned and speechless.

“Eh?” Even Liu Yao was dazed for an instant. He had not expected the Empress Dowager to have taken Diao Chan as her god-granddaughter. With that, Diao Chan’s status had risen considerably, enough to be considered worthy of him. Yet his own intention had been to take her in marriage at some later date. But now, on the very first day they had met, they were already preparing for a swift union, even if only as an engagement. This made him feel a touch uneasy.

Still, Liu Yao soon let it go. It was only a matter of time, after all, and the road ahead was still long. One truly had to admire the adaptability of modern people. “If Chan’er is willing, then your grandson shall of course do as instructed.”

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager turned her questioning gaze to Diao Chan and asked with a smile, “Chan’er, are you willing?”

Diao Chan grew a little shy and awkward. “This servant is willing.”

“Chan’er, you are now my god-granddaughter. How can you still refer to yourself as a servant?” the Empress Dowager said in dissatisfaction.

At this, Diao Chan hurriedly corrected herself. “Chan’er is willing.”

Satisfied, the Empress Dowager looked back and forth between the two of them with evident approval. Beside her, the little girl Liu Xin could not help but stifle a laugh.

“Grandmother, your grandson still has matters to attend to. I must also rise early for court tomorrow, so I shall take my leave for now,” Liu Yao said quickly. Being scrutinized so intently by the Empress Dowager made him deeply uncomfortable. He also wanted to use the remaining time to visit his teacher and call on Cai Yan.

“Go on, my child,” the Empress Dowager said, waving her hand. “Take Xin’er and Chan’er with you as well.”

Liu Yao hesitated, then agreed. Thinking it over, he found it rather good. After all, he did have his own residence within the imperial palace, but it was far too deserted. Over the past more than ten years, he had scarcely gone there at all.

Thus, upon returning to Luoyang this time, he still intended to stay at Cai Yong’s estate. Bringing Diao Chan and Liu Xin along to Cai Yong’s home might seem somewhat improper, but Liu Yao cared nothing for such things. Besides, letting Diao Chan, Liu Xin, and Cai Yan meet beforehand was no bad thing. And given Liu Yao’s status, it was destined that he would not have only one woman in his household. Cai Yan surely understood this already. Liu Yao believed Cai Yan and Diao Chan were not the jealous sort, and their ages were not far apart, so they ought to get along.

By now, after what the Empress Dowager had said, Diao Chan naturally already considered herself Liu Yao’s woman. Of course she would follow at his side. As for Liu Xin, that wild little princess who bore no resemblance to a princess at all, she was even more delighted. So long as she could leave the palace and see the world outside, she was willing to go anywhere.

At Cai Yong’s residence in Luoyang,

Liu Yao led Diao Chan, Liu Xin, and Shi A into the Cai estate with practiced ease. Just thinking of seeing the beloved girl he had longed for day and night made him feel stirred with excitement.

As soon as he entered the main hall, he saw Cai Yong and Cai Yan already waiting there.

“Yan’er!”

The moment Liu Yao saw that familiar figure, he called out.

Cai Yan came to herself and, upon seeing that familiar face, her eyes reddened. She hurried forward in a swift step and threw herself into Liu Yao’s arms. “Brother Yao, Yan’er has missed you so much.”

Ordinarily, a young lady would never behave so openly, even with a betrothal in place. This only showed how deeply Cai Yan had missed Liu Yao.

Just as the two were lost in their own tender world, a cough startled them both back to reality. The owner of that cough was none other than Cai Yong, Liu Yao’s teacher and future father-in-law.

The two separated at once. Cai Yan looked somewhat bashful toward her father, Cai Yong.

As for Liu Yao, he was naturally a bit thicker-skinned before Cai Yong. He bowed respectfully. “Teacher, I trust you are well.”

“Yao’er, you have finally returned. If you had not come back soon, I fear Yan’er and I might both have been tempted to run all the way to Youzhou to look for you,” Cai Yong teased with a laugh.

“Father.” Cai Yan stamped her foot in embarrassment, speaking in a soft, coquettish tone. Liu Yao merely rolled his eyes at the old scoundrel.

Cai Yong coughed twice, embarrassed, then looked toward the three people behind Liu Yao. He naturally recognized Shi A, but the other two were unfamiliar. “Yao’er, who are these two young ladies?”

“Teacher, this is my imperial younger sister, Princess Wanning, Liu Xin,” Liu Yao said first, pointing to Liu Xin.

“Greetings, Your Highness,” Cai Yong and Cai Yan said at once, bowing to Liu Xin.

“There is no need for such ceremony. Before long, I may have to start calling Sister Yan my imperial sister-in-law,” Liu Xin said with complete lack of airs. Perhaps this was the result of spending too long around a person as unconstrained as Liu Yao.

At those words, both Cai Yan and Diao Chan blushed in unison.

Liu Yao coughed and then, pointing to Diao Chan, awkwardly explained her situation to Cai Yong and Cai Yan.

When Cai Yan heard that the marriage would be personally decreed by the Son of Heaven himself, she was nearly so delighted she might have fainted. Cai Yong, too, smiled so broadly that he could hardly close his mouth.

But when Cai Yan heard about Diao Chan, her expression suddenly darkened. Very quickly, however, she recovered her smile. After all, she had long been prepared for this. Cai Yan was broad-minded by nature and soon let it go. She stepped forward, took Diao Chan’s hand, and praised her, saying, “Sister Diao Chan, you are so beautiful.”

Diao Chan had initially worried whether Cai Yan would reject her, since she had come later. Yet this sudden warmth moved her deeply. Years of surviving within the palace had taught her that the girl before her was speaking from the heart, with not the slightest trace of falsehood or sarcasm.

“Not at all. Younger Sister Yan’er is the prettier one,” Diao Chan replied with equal sincerity.

Seeing the harmony between the two, Liu Yao could not help but smile with relief. “Yan’er, Chan’er, Xin’er, why don’t the three of you go to the inner hall and have a chat? I still have matters to discuss with my teacher.”

Cai Yan was a sensible girl. She made a playful face at Liu Yao, then took Liu Xin and Diao Chan by the hands and went toward the inner hall.

Who would have thought that as soon as the three left, Cai Yong pointed at Liu Yao, his beard bristling high, and declared, “Yao’er, let me tell you this in advance. No matter how many concubines you may have in the future, Yan’er must be your principal wife.”

As Cai Yan’s father, Cai Yong naturally had to fight for his daughter’s standing.

Liu Yao was not offended in the least. This had already been his intention from the start, and he said with a smile, “Teacher, you may rest assured. I said long ago that I would treat her as my principal wife, and I will not go back on my word. However, Teacher, I treat everyone equally. I will not distinguish between principal wife and secondary wives in any other respect. I ask only that you understand this.”

Cai Yong nodded in satisfaction. So long as the position of principal wife was secured, Cai Yan would very likely become empress in the future. The rest was no longer important. Moreover, Cai Yong believed Liu Yao would not mistreat Cai Yan.